^c;^^ - ^S> * » « o ' -?,'^ . t.. .& ' /^V/k^ ■% <,^^ '^o^ • ^ iV* *-^ oV.-^"..-^o^ /\'i:^-\ ^°-^<.°- ./. "°^*'^"'\o' "^^^'-H?-,/ %.*^-'>° ""^^ . ». « ^ <. 'M ' ^'"^ or:;;:^ ^^-n ■^^ -^ ; J. y o4U^V-^-^J ' ^p_ ^7- TT ORIGINAL PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHI&S OLD PIONEEES AND CONGRESSMEN OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY: A&EICULTUEAL SOCIETY, WITH THE STATISTICS OF EACH TOWls^ A.]SrD CIVIL LIST, FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY TO 1857. ■ COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES, By JOHN MANLEY. LITTLE YALLEY, N. Y., 185t: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MANLEY. HOSPOED k CO., ST.VTI0NEH9 AND PRINTERS, 57 k 59 WILLIAM ST., NeW TOBK. AND LADIES' SE]VEIlSr^E,Y, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N. Y. BENJ. CHAMBERLAIN, Pkes't. ¥ee1)onia advertiser, Devoted to ihe dissemination of General Intelligence, and advocating the Prin- cijdcs of the American Party. Published Weekly, at $1.50 per Annum, At FREDONIA, CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. N. Y., By L. L. PRATT & CO. ^ ^ M^ ^&^l( ® ^^ ^5\^ ^s "^ ty; fe) ^ 9 H. H. GIFFORD, Proprietor, CORNER OF CENTER AND MA!N STREETS, ' H. & E. S. COLMAN, WEST FRONT STREET, Dealers in Western Produce, Salt, Plaster, WATE R LIME, FISH, &c. ORDERS FOR ALL KINDS OF GRAIN, FLOUR, &c., PROMPTLY FILLED. DUNKIRK, N. Y. SEAMAN & FINKEL, Proprietors. NEAREST HOUSE TO DEPOT. ISAAC N. SEAMAN, WALTER FINKEL. CATTABAUCtUS COUNTY: EMBRACING ITS A.aRICUi:.TUIlA.L SOCIETY, NEWSPAPERS, CIVIL LIST, (From the Orga.vizatiox of thk Cou.vry to 1857.) BIOGRAPHIES OF THE OLD PIONEERS, (Wiril rORTRAITS.) BENJAMIN CHAMBERLAIN, PETER TEN BROECK, FREDERICK S. MARTIN, CIIAUNCEY J. FOX, ALSON LEAVENWORTH, STALEY N. CLARKE, AND OF CONGRESSMEN FRANCIS S. EDWARDS and REUBEN E. FENTON; Cclonial aiib Sfcitc ©okrnors of Utto fork; .WUIES OF TOWNS AND POST OFFICES, WITH THE STATISTICS OF EACH TOAYN. Secretary of tue Agriccltukai. and IIorticli.tural Societt. 1857. LITTLE VALLEY^ N. Y.: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MANLEY. HCSFOKD & CO., gTATiOKKKS AND rwMHvS, £7 AXD 53 WiUJAJi Sjtreet, N, T. nMV 1883 ^fy^r'-^'-^^'''" F THE OBJECT OF THIS PUBLICATION Ig to present brief sketches of some of the pioneers of Cat- taraauus County — men who have made their mark, and are emphatically a part of the county's history — to the citizens of the present time ; not with the expectation of doing full jus- tice to the characters of those eminent citizens, but as a sug- gestion, to those suitably qualified, to prepare a full history of the county, with sketches of all of the pioneers to whom the TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE is due. If the skctches here presented fail to accomplish all that could be desired, there is a public satisfaction in preserving the very correct portraits of those worthy men. For the very satisfactory manner in Avhich the engraved portraits are executed, and the neat typography of these pages, credit is due to Messrs. Hosford & Co., of New York City. The portraits and sketches of Messrs. Edwards and Fen- ton are presented because their Congressional service belongs to Cattaraugus as well as to Chautauque, and because the writer of this, and many others, desired it on grounds of per- sonal friendship. The Agricultural Society's and town Statistics, and the civil list, as well as the advertisements of honorable business men, will be found of interest. For a large part of the original matter credit is duo to the kindness of Hon. Wm. Pitt Angel and David H. Bolles, Esq., of Ellicottville; James T. Henry, Esq., of Olean; L. L. Pratt, Esq., of Fredonia; and James Parker, Esq., of Frews- burg; and for assistance in collecting statistics, thanks are due to Moses Beecher, Esq., and Mr. George E. Nev»'Gomb, Deputy County Clerk, of Ellicottville. TO THE HONORED OLD PIONEERS, BENJAMIN CHAMBERLAIN, PETER TEN BROECK. FREDERICK S. MARTIN, CHAUNCEY J. FOX, ALSON LEAVENWORTH, and STALEY N. CLARKE, WHO HATE PERFORMED settlers' duties and defended settlers' RIGHTS, AND EXERCISED HIGH PUBLIC TRUSTS, CONFIDED TO THEM BY THE PEOPLE OF CATTARAUGUS, WITH ABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND PATRIOTISM, TUIS EUMRLE TRIBLTE IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. THE CATTARAUGUS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. OFFICERS FOR 1857. BOARD OF MANAGERS, LORENZO STRATTON, President, NATHAN CR08BY, Vice Prt.sident, JOHN MAN LEV. DAN[EL BUCKLIN, CYRUS W. FULLER, .WILLLAM PENNEY, NATHANIEL WALKER, HARDY R. FINCH, LEICESTER TRACY, WILLIAM H. EDDY, Secretary, Treasurtr, 1 Directors, Little Valley. do. do. do. do. do. Mansfield. Niipoli. New Albion. Mansfield. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE AT THE FAIR, ADDISON CROWLEY, Sheriff of the County. TOWN VICE-PRESIDErjTS, JAMRS StRO.VG, AtEXANDER 8C0BEy, JOU.V BOARnMA.N-, - Chase Fl'lt.er, - Ebknkzer Pi.jce, ASAHKL Brown', Norman M. Alles, AVm. Somervii.le, Charlis T. Beach, PniNEAS Case. - -Pcter Ten Bkoeck, Jonas K. Button, Ebeb Holmks, Wm. Cross, - • holus scotp, Alhiiany AAhfoi d Bucldnoth CarrnlUm Cold Spring Cimuewango Dai/lnn EltiaMviUe ■ Kast UUo •* Elffin FarmeysviUe FranJclinuiUe Pieeilom Great Valley Hinsdale Mason S^mitd, Virgil Rkkd, - N. l.ysDl KMAN, - n. C. Brand, N. Crosby, ex-officio, W. M. Farrar, James M. SiaiTH, HORACK Cro.ss, Horace C. Young, Samuel Bradley, - Ephraim Elliott, Wm. II. Stkwart, - L. E. l.OCKLING, .Smith Parisu, f'-PKNCER SCUDDER, John Crooks, Yorkuhire. ■ Hon. Peter Ten Broeck, Abram Seari.k, Hon. Chauncey J. Fox, Alexandbr Chambers, EX-PRESIDENTS, Farmem'ille EliicoUoiUe dn. Great Valley John S. Harvev, .Samuel Harvey, Asaup:l Crowley, Horace Howe, Humphrty Jsclata Lenn Little Valley ilachi'is . Manyfield Napoli Aew Albion Vtean Persia Perryshurgh PortriUe Jiandolph South Valley New Alhion MansJieVl linndiiljih LiUle ValUy. HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, Col. Benjamin P. Johnson, Albany i Col. Lewis G. Morris, Mt. Fcrdltam. N.T. Hon. Lewis F. Allen, Black Rock, N. F. Hon. A.miirose Stkvkns, BataHa, N. Y. Hon. Franos S. Edwards, Fredonia, N.Y. | Hon. Reuben E. Fe.\ton, Frewsburg, N.Y. G. M. Gaston, Esq., New Yark. LIFE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, (GY the P.iYMENT OF Tta* DOLLARS,) STo. 1. John R. Fitch, - - LiUle Valley No. 7. Daniel Buckun, - LilMe Valley •2. Lbici'Ster Tract, ■ New A Ibiiin 8. Jambs Chapman. Little Valley 3. EoRKXzo Stbatton, ■ Little Valley 9. Hardy R. Finch, - Najmli 4. Lyman Twomley, - Little Valley 10. W.M. Sam'l Johnson, E^licoltiilU 5. John Manley, ■ Little Vallev 11. John K. Comstock, Olean 6. Horace Howe, LiUle Valley 12. Sam'l \Vm. Johnwon, Ellicotlville. LIST OF PEEMIUMS Offered hy the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, for the Sixteenth Annual Fair, to be held at Little Valley, September 16th, 11th, and 18th, 1857. THE ANNUAL ADDRESS Will be delirered at 2 P.M., Friday, tlie 18tli September. By Hon. JAMES SHELDON, of Buffalo. Will furnish the Music for the Fair, and give a GRAND CONCERT iu the Evening of TflliRSDAY, the 17th SEPTEMBER. *^SimsO^T CSlOtVI^S-:^, Esq., SherifTt .Superintendent of Police. RULES. I. All property must be entered in the name of the bona fide OTrners, and Grain, Fruit, and Vegetables, Dairy Products, Household and Mechanic Manufactures, must have been raised or made by the exhibitors thereof. II. Stock (except horses) must be entered upon the Secre- tary's books during Wednesday, be on the Fair Grounds by 10 A. M., Thursday, and remain until 3 P. M., Friday; entries of horses and all other property, and for plowing or trial match- es, will close at 2 P. M., Thursday; and horses, of all kinds, must be on the Fair Grounds by 9 A. M., Friday, and remain until 3 P.M.; equestrian entries will close at 9 A. M., Friday. 8 III. Competitors on Dairy Products must give in writing the mode of manufacture; on Crops, the soil, tillage, amount of land, quantity per acre, by weight, according to the New York standard of 1857, cost of raising, &c., verified on oath. The Committee on Crops must be furnished with statements and sami)lcs of grain by competitors, on or before the 1st Sat- urday in December, and the awards will be made at the An- nual Meeting. IV. No Animal or Article can compete but for a single premium. V. Premiums will not be paid on Animals or Articles of inferior merit, although there may be no competition. VI. No person shall act as a Judge for awarding premiums, for which he is any way a competitor. VII. No member, not a resident of this County, shall com- pete for prizes, (except Diplomas and Transactions,) at any Fair of this Society. VIII. Any person who shall knowingly violate the regula- tions of this Society, or who shall seek to obtain a premium by false pretences, or by improper interference with the Judg- es, shall be excluded from competition. IX. Hay for Stock on exhibition during the Fair, shall be furnished by the Society gratis. X. Door and Gate Keepers are prohibited from receiving money for admissions to the Fair Grounds, and must return all tickets received for admissions immediately to the Secretary. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS. 20 per cent, of premiums, amounting to $5 to one person, to be paid in books. 25 per cent, of premiums, amounting from $5 to $10 to one person, to be paid in books. 33 per cent, of premiums, amounting to over $10 to one per- son, to be paid in books. Persons awarded premiums, to whom the above rule may 9 apply, to select their books from C. M. Saxton & Go's list of Agricultural Books; any Agricultural paper publiijhed in the State of New York, or any Cattaraugus County paper. Ladies to whom Silver Ware may be awarded, will receive it marked, and of such articles as they may select. PREMIUMS OTHER THAN MONEY. In the following list, premiums with ' s' prefixed to figures refer to the numbers in C. M. Saxton & Co's list of Agricul- tural Books, appended to this list. Those marked ' D' are Di- plomas; 'Tr.' are Transactions New York State Agricultural Society, or American Institute; ' P' are Patent Office Reports. NOTICE TO JUDGES. Judges are requested to attend at their office on the Fair Grounds, promptly at the time specified for each class. If any persons cannot act, they will please notify the Secretary be- fore the first day of the Fair, that the vacancy may be filled. FIRST DIVISION. NATHANIEL WALKER, Marshal. Judges of all classes in this division are requested to meet at the Judges' Office at 2 P.M., Thursday, make their examin- ations, and return their report to the Secretary by 11 A. M., Friday. Competitors must conform to Rule II. Stock will be ar- ranged under the supervision of the Division Marshal. 10 Class 1. — Durhams, Devons, Ayshires. Durham Bull, over 2 years $8 f 6 $3 do do under 2 years 6 4 2 do do Calf 4 3 2 do Cow, over 3 years 7 5 3 do Heifer, under 3 years 6 4 2 do do Calf 4 3 2 Devon Bull, over 2 years 8 6 3 do do under 2 years 6 4 2 do do Calf 4 3 2 do Cow, over 3 years- 7 5 3 do Heifer, under 3 years 6 4 2 do do Calf 4 3 2 Ayshiro Bull 8 6 3 do do Calf 4 3 2 do Cow, over 3 years 7 5 3 do Heifer, under 3 years 6 4 2 do do Calf 4 3 2 Evidence showing the purity of blood and authentic pedi- grees of all animals to compete in Class 1, must be presented to the Secretary at the time of entry. No others allowed to compete in this class. Judges. — Mason ^mMh, Yorkshire; Amos T. Mead.KerimYfo; Earl Eaton, Perrysburg; John S. Harvey, Jfew Albion; J. A. Brewer, Machias. Class 2. — Grade Bulls — Milk, &c. Oracle Bulls $5 13 $2 Cows, 3 years and upwards 5 3 2 Heifer, 2 years 4 3 2 do 1 year 3 2 I do Calf 2 1 Tr. Best Milk Cow * $6 ] To be paid in sil- 2d do do 5 j- ver ware to the 3d do do 3 ) wife of owner. * The Milk Cow to be kopt on grass only, during the experiment, and for fifteen days previous to each period of the trial. 11 The time of trial from lOtli to 20th July, and from 20tli to 30th August. Statement to be furnished, containing 1st. The age and breed of Cow, and time of calving. 2d. The quantity of milk in weight, and also of butter, dur- ing each period of ten days. 3d. The butter made to be exhibited with the Cow, at the Fair, and the statement to be verified by the affidavit of com- petitor and one other person conversant with the facts. Judges. — Wm. Somerville, Ellkottville; David Sandei'S, Per- ry shurg; Sylvester M. Cox, Otto; Nath'l Manley, Mansfield; Samuel Allen, Randolph. Class 3. — Working Oxen, over 4 years old. Team of G yoke oxen, owned in one town. . .$12 $6 $4 Single yoke oxen 5 3 2 A yoke of cattle, competing in teams, cannot compete as a single yoke; nor can a single yoke, competing for premium, be allowed to compete in the town teams. At 3 P. M., Thursday, the working oxen to be thoroughly tested on loaded stone-boats, to be entitled to a premium. Judges. — John Perkins, East Otto; Jonas K. Button, Frank- linville; Thos. Little, Otto; Alson Leavenworth, JSTew Albion; E. Culver, Little Valley; Wm. P. Crawford, Bucktooth. Class 4. — Steers, 3, 2 and 1 year old. Yoke steers, 3 years $5 $3 |2 2 " 4 2 1 1 " 3 1 Tr. To boys tinder 16, training Steers, to be tested on loaded stone-boat, at 3 P. M., Thursday, $3, Ag. books: !it2, Ag. books. 12 Judges.— Chauncej J. Fox, Ellicottville ; Dari'l Bowen, Con- newnngo; Zina Holdridge, JVa^w/i; Wm. Knowlton, Perrysburg; Philip S. Pratt, East Otto. Class 5. — Sheep. Fine wool Buck -14 $2 b49 4 Ewes 5 3 s49 4 Lambs 5 3 Tr.. South Down Buck 4 2 s49 " 4 Ewes 5 3 s49 4 Lambs 5 3 Tr. Long wool Buck 4 2 s49 4 Ewes 5 3 s49 4 Lambs 5 3 Tr. Judges. — N. N. Langmade, J5raf^/brrf, Pa.; Anson Stebbins, Otto; Silas Miller, A''apoli; II. W. Wedge, Mansfield; Joseph Colman, Great Valley. Class 6. — Swine. Lot Berkshire Swine, pure $4 $2 Tr. " Essex " "..... 4 2 Tr. " Suffolk " "....; 4 2 Tr. Boar, common 3 2 Tr. Breeding Sow, common 3 3 Tr. Lot Spring Pigs, " 3 2 Tr. Judges. — E. C. Bliss, Westfield, Chautauque Co.; A. W. Steb- bins, Mansfield; Nathaniel Bryant, Little Valley; D. C. Brand, Leon; J. R. Babcock, Persia. Class 7. — Poultry. Lot domestic Fowls $3 s75 sl6 " Turkeys 3 s75 sl6 13 Lot Geese $3 s75 slG " Ducks 3 s75 sl6 " Doves ■ 3 s7G sl6 " Canary Birds 3 s75 slG Judges.— R. H. Shankland, D. E. Sill, F. A. Saxon, Ellicott- vUk; J. T. Henry, Olean; B. F. Morris, Randolph. Class 8. — Plowing and Spading Matches. JJt 9 J2. M., Friday. Eighth of an acre plowed the best, (with horses or oxen,) in one hour. $4 $3 $2 Tr. P. Rules. — Each plowman to strike his own lands, and plow en- tirely independent of adjoining lands. The width of furrow to be 11 inches, and not less than 6 inches in depth. The teams to start at one time, under direction of the Division Marshal, and each plowman to do his work without a driver or assistant. Ji@°' The Judges will not be present during the trial, but when the plowing is completed and the competitors withdrawn, they will examine the grounds and make their awards on the merit of the work. The Judges will pursue the same course on the spading match. Spading grounds 20 by 10 feet, and not less than 10 inches deep, ill one hour. $4 $3 $2 Tr. P. Judges. — Spencer Scudder, Randolph; S. Harvey, Mansfield; Hugh Orr. Little Valley; Luther Cram, Bucktooth; Jonathan Jewell, J^ew Albion. SECOND DIVISION. HORACE CROSS, Marshal. ANiiiALS in this division must be sound; the entries will u close at 2 P. M., Thursday, and they must be on the Fair grounds at 9 A.M., Friday, when they will be arranged by the Division Marshal, and the Judges will examine them at the hours specified in each class. Any person entering teams or single horses, without being a bona fide competitor, to evade buying a carriage ticket, will be. with his team, ejected from the fair grounds. Class 9. — Stallions, Brood Mares with Foals. J2t 9 J2.M., Friday. Stallions, over 4 years $6 14 s2 " 3 years and under 4 3 si Brood Mare, with foal at her foot 5 3 si Judges. — J. W. Ed son, Jl/acAia^; Wm. Cooper, Perrysburg; J. C. Benson, Ellicottville; Chas. Noble, Great Valley; E. Mc- Millen, Little Valley. Class 10. — Gelding and Mare Colts. M 10 A.M., Friday. Gelding, 3 years old $4 $2 s70 " 2 " ...3 2 si Mare, . 3 " 4 2 s70 2 " 3 2 si Colt, 1 " either sex 2 si s70 Judges. — L. D. Cobb, Yorkshire; L. D. Chadwick, Perrys- burg; Byron Graham, JVew Albion; Wm. Buffington, Cattarau- gus; Nathan Crosby, Little Valley. Class 11. — Carriage and Saddle Horses. At 11 A.M., Friday. ^®* Racing prohibited. See Rule in Class 12. 15 Matched Horses, in harness $6 $4 s2 Single " " 4 3 si Saddle '' " 4 3 s70 Match draft Horses, " 5 3 s2 Judges. — Wm. S. Johnson, EUicottville ; Wm. Lootnis, Ma- chias; Alonzo Hawlej, Hinsdale; A. 0. Smith, Allegany; P. G. Strong, Randolph. Class 12. — Equestrianism. Jit \}i P.M., Friday. 'Racing Horses in this (or any other) class is prohibit- ed. For a violation of this Rule the offender will not be awarded a premium, but will be ejected from the fair grounds. Lady Equestrianism, 1st premium, as many dollars as there are competitors—not exceeding fS.OO — and lessening one dollar for each rider. Should there be more than five com- petitors, the sixth, &c., premiums will be paid in books. Lady driving Horse with buggy, premiums same as above. Each lady may be accompanied by a gentleman. Judges. — Sam. Wm. Johnson, Ellicottville ; N. F. Cooper, Leon; S. J. Merserau, Portville; E. Price, Coldspring; Henry Hoyt, Little Valley. THIRD DIVISION. A. P. RUSSELL, Marshal. Class 13. — Dairy — Sugar — Honey. To Dairy Women— 1st. 2d. 3d. Butter, 50 lbs Dip. and $6* $4* $2* Half doz. Butter Firkins " 2 Tr. P. To Girls under 18 years of age — Butter, 25 lbs Dip. and $5" $3* $2*=" 16 A statement — without signature or marks to indicate the maker's name or residence — of the mode of making and pre- serving the butter must be attached to each package; a duplicate written statement, with signatures, must be given to the Secretary at time of entry. To Dairy Women — Cheese, 100 lbs Dip. and ^G- $4* |2* Half doz. Cheese boxes '^ 2 Tr. P. A written statement of the mode of making cheese must be given to the Secretary at the time of entry. * To be paid in Silver Ware. . Maple Sugar, 25 lbs Dip. and $2 $1 s62 The process of manufacturing and clarifying must accom- pany the samples offered. Honey, 20 lbs $2 s62 s64 Judges. — J. J. Guernsey, Randolph; Enos Austin, Cattarau- gus; J. K. Comstock, Olean; N. M. Allen, Dayton; J. R. Fitch, Little Valley. Class 14. — Flour, Bread, Grain Bbl. Flour Dip. and $3 do Crackers. Dip. and 2 Domestic Flour Bread , do Brown do Wheat, 1 bushel Corn do Oats do Rye do Barley do Beans do Peas do Seed Corn, 20 ears braided ^3 s7 Tr 2 s7 Tr s8 Tr. s8 Tr s7 P. s7 P. s8 P. s8 P. s9 P. s9 P. s9 P. s9 P. 17 In deciding upon Flour exhibited, tlie premiums to be award- ed for the best barrel of Flour made from the least quantity of Wheat, to be accompanied by a statement of the actual quan- tity of Wheat used in the manufacture of a barrel of Flour, and the Wheat to be grown in this county. JuDCxEs. — John BoQ-i'dman, Bucktooth; Fuller Bucklin, Little Valley; Addison Crowley, Randolph: S. ]\IcCoy, Ellicottville; II. Frcncli, East Randolph. Class 15. — Fruit. Flowers, Wl\e. Apples, 1 bushel $1 slO Tr. Fears, i do 1 ell Tr. Peaches, 1 peck 1 slO Tr. Quinces, do 1 slO Tr. Plums, do 1 slO Tr Grapes, 1 pound 1 s73 P. Tomatoes, ^ peck 1 slO P. Preserved fresh Fruit 1 s-14 P. Dried Apples, Peaches, or Plums, each. 1 sil P. House Plants, 4- doz. pots 2 sG8 P. Floral design or ornament 2 sG9 P. Quart Currant or Elderberry Wiuu... 1 sTO P. Judges. — Benj. Chaml)erlain, Randolph; L. ?. Jenks, Gc- wanda; Thos. ^tlorri^-, Ellicottville ; S. T. Ivelsey, Gnat Valky; L. Whitney, Olean. Class 1(5. — Vegetables. Potatoes, A bushel $1 Beets, do 1 Turnips, do 1 Carrots, do 1 Onions, do 1 Caulidowers, ^ doz. heads 1 2 sO Tr. s9 Tr. s9 Tr. s9 Tr. s9 Tr. s9 Tr. 18 Cabbage, -| doz. heads $1 s9 Tr. Radishes, 1 2 summer 1 s9 Tr. do 12 winter .1 s9 Tr. Squashes, lot of 3 1 s9 Tr. Pumpkins, do 1 s9 Tr. Largest variety of the above Vegetables, not less than 8 kinds, raised and owned by the exhibitor, in addition to speci- fic premiums s7 s37 For 6 new varieties, not enumerated above, of quantities specified above s25 s22 Judges. — R. Lamb, Ellicottvilk; C. W. Fuller, Little Valley; J. A. Kinnacut,jVei« y5/6ton; Horace Prescott, Jlfoc/iia*; Solo- mon Plowe, Yorkshire. Class 17. — Farms and Field Crops. Best conducted Grain and Grazing Farm — a Life Membership. Best conducted Dairy Farm, do do Corn, 1 acre, over 70 bushels $3 $2 870 Wheat, do do 35 do 3 2 s76 Oats, do do 40 do 3 2 s76 Barley, do do 35 do 3 2 sl9 Rye, do do 30 do 3 2 sl9 Buckw't,do do 30 do 3 2 sl9 Potatoes, I acr. do 100 do 3 2 sl7 Carrots, ^ acr. do 200 do 3 2 sl7 Turnips, \ acr. do 50 do 3 2 sl7 Judges. — J. G. Staunton, Ellicottvilk; Porter "Welch, Per- sia; Peter Ten Broeck, Farmersville; John Green, Great Val- ley; Levi B. Eddy, Mansfield. Class 18. — Quilts and Blankets. Bed Coverlet, silk, $3 $2 s36 do cotton 3 2 s36 do wool 3 2 b36 19 Bed Quilt, silk $3 $2 s36 do cotton 3 2 s36 Bed Spread 3 2 s3G Judges. — Mrs. J. J. Gurnsey, Randolph; Mrs. H. H. Holt, East Randolph; Mrs. L. S. Jenks, Gaujanrfa; Mrs. Ira R. Jones, Leon; Mrs. G. Barrow, Little Valley. Class 19. — Caepets, Rugs, Flannel. Carpet, Rag... . $3 %2 s36 " Striped or fancy 3 2 s36 " Star 3 2 s6 Hearth Rug 1 0.75 sl6 Lamp Mats 1 0.75 sl6 Flannel, 10 yards White 3 2 s36 " 10 " plaid or striped 3 2 s36 Judges. — Mrs. C. Morgan, Leon; Mrs. J. W. Edsoa Machi- as; Mrs. P. G. Strong, Randolph; Mrs. L. Tracy, Mew Albion; Mrs. J. R. Fitch, Little Valley. Class 20. — Embroidery, Paintings, (fee. Embroided Skirt 1 2 $1 50 Collar 1 0.75 50 Undersleeves 1 0.75 50 Cape 1 0.75 50 Shawl 2 1 50 Shoes 1 0.75 50 Painting, in oil 2 1 50 " water colors 2 1 50 ambrotypes 1 & D. D. P. " daguerreotypes 1 & D. D. P. " crayons 2 1 50 " penciling 2 1 60 20 Table or other Covers $1 $0.75 50 Tidy 1 0.75 50 Hose, cotton 1 0.75 50 " woolen 1 0.75 75 Mittens, do 1 0.75 50 Gloves, do 1 0.75 50 Judges.— 'Mrs. C. I\[cGlaslian, Connewango ; Mrs. E. W. Cooper, Leo7i; Mrs. C. V. B. Barse, Olean; Mrs. C. S. Trevitt, EUicottvilk; Mrs. Lorenzo Stratton, Littk Valley. Class 21. — Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous articles of merit not enumerated in any other class, will receive premiums in money of $1, 50 cts.. Diplomas, Transactions, or Patent Office Reports, at the discretion of the Judges. Judges. — Wm. H. Carap and Lady, Randolph; W, L. Haven and Lady, Pcrryshurg; Geo. Van Campen and Lady, Alle- gany; B. F. Chamberlain and Lady, East Randolph. FOUHTH DIVISION. NATHAN CROSBY, Marshal. Class 22. — Plows, — Farming Tools. Plow $2 & D. " sub-soil 1 & D. " sub-hill 1 & D. Harrow , Tr. Cultivator 1 & D. Grain drill D Seed sower D MowinGc raacliine D Horse ralce ]) Grain cradle D Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. Tr. P. 21 Fannino; mill D. Tr. P Hay and Straw Cutter §1 tfe D. Tr. P Ox yoke Tr. Tr. P Cheese press D. Tr. P '' sicamcr D. Tr. P Churn . D. Tr. P Judges. — Elijah Hixwkms, Persia ; Stephen Gladdin;^,", JVqjo/?"; Howard Puller, Cold Sprivg; Luther Chadwick, Perryshurg; P. C. Brainard, Bucklooth. Class 23. — Cakeiages and H.\rness. Wagon, 2 horse farm $3 & D. Tr. P democrat 3 & D. Tr. P Buggy 3 & D. Tr. P Cutter 2 & I). Tr. P Ox Cart 2 & D. Tr. P Harness, 2 horse 2 & D. Tr. P single 2 & D. Tr. P Judges. — Ashabel Bushnell, Mapoli; Jas. Nelson, Great Val- ley; A. Y. Dockstadcr, Conneivango; C. Morgan, Leon; N. G Otis, East Randolph. Class 24. — Manufactures. 2 Doors D. 2 Sashes 1). 3 pairs Blinds D. Specimens Cabinet ware $3 & D " Tin ware 2 & T> " Blacksmith's work .... 2 & D " Shoemaker's Avork 2 tfc D Tailor's work 2 & D Leather 1 ct D " Stone ware 1 A: D Judges. — C. C. Rice, Okan; Wm. Penney, Little Valley; Anson G. Scager, Connewavgo; W. H. Eddy, Ma-asjicld; P B. Harrington, Ellicottvillc. Tr. Tr. Tr. Tr. Tr. Tr. I'r. Tr. Tr. Tr. .A.C3rH.IOTTXjTTTH.ja.Ij ISOOSSIS. C. M. S^XTON^ & COMPANY, 140 FUJL,TOJ¥ ST., MEW YOItK, PUBLISH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS FOE THE COUNTKT, And will send them, Free of Postage, to any part of U. S. upon receipt of Price. 1 Dadd'8 Modern Horse Doctor, $1 2 Dadd's Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse, 2 3 Badd s " " " " colored plates, 4 4 Dadd's Am. Cattle Doctor, 1 5 The Stable Book, 1 6 The Horse's Foot, and how to keep it Sound; paper 25 ct3., cloth... 7 Bridgeman's Gardener's Assistant, . . 1 8 " Florist's Guide, i cl. 50, cL " Gardener's Instructor, i cl. 60 cts., cl 10 " Fruit Cultivator, i cl. 50, cl. 11 Field's Hand-Book of Pear Culture, id 50, cl 12 Cole's Am. Fruit Book, 13 Cole's Am. Veterinarian, 14 Buist's Am.FIower Garden Directory 1 15 Buist's Family Kitchen Gardener, . . 16 Browne's Am. Bird Fancier; paper '25 cts , cloth 17 Dana's Muck Manual, cloth 1 18 Dana's Prize Essay on Manures, — 19 Stockhardt's Chemical Field Lectures 1 20 Norton's Scientific & Pract. Agricul. 21 Johnston's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry (for Schools) Johnston's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology, 1 Johnston's Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology, 1 24 Downing's Landscape Gardening,.. 3 25 Fessenden's Complete Farmer and i. Gardener, 1 26 " Am. Kitchen Gardener, cl. 27 Nash's Progressive Farmer, 23 Richardson's Domestic Fowls, 29 Eichardson on the Horse, SO Ivichardson on the Hog, 81 Eichardson on the Pests of the Farm, 82 Eichardson on the Hive & HoneyBee, 38 Milburn and Stevens on the Cow and Dairy Husbandry, 3t Skinner's Elements of Agriculture, .. 85 Topham s Chemistry Made Easy, . . . 28 Breck's Book of Flowers, 1 37 Luclmr's Hot Houses & Green Houses, 1 83 Chinese Sugar Cane & Sugar Making, 39 Turner's Cotton Planter s Manual, . . 1 40 Allen on the Culture of the Grape 1 41 Allen on Diseases of Domestic Animals, 42 Allen's American Farm Book, 1 43 Allen's Eural Architecture, 1 44 Pardee on the Strawberry, 45 Pedder's Farmer's Land Measurer, . . 60 I 83 00 46 47 00 00 48 00 00 49 50 50 50 51 fiO 52 m bS 60 54 60 55 60 56 60 25 67 75 58 60 59 00 25 60 00 61 60 62 63 25 64 ri5 00 06 ?5 67 50 6y ^5 69 50 70 71 fiO V'5 vr> <3 25 V4 25 75 145 76 77 25 7S ii5 79 25 00 81 25 SI 25 82 00 S:? 00 84 00 S6 25 86 60 87 Phelps' Bee-keeper's Chart, Guenon's Treatise on Milch Cows; paper 88 cts., cloth Gunn's Domestic Medicine — a book for every married man and woman 8 Eandall's Sheep Husbandry, 1 Touatt, Eandall, and Skinner's Shep- herd's Own Book, 2 Touatt on the Breed and Manage- ment of Sheep, Touatt on the Horse, 1 Touatt, Martin, ifc Stevens, on Cattle 1 Touatt and Martin on the Breeds and Management of the Hog, Munn's Practical Land Drainer, . . . Stephens' Book of the Farm, com- plete, 450 illustrations, The American Architect, or Plans for Country Dwellings, 6 Thaer, Shaw, & Johnson's Principles of Agi'iculture, 2 Smith's Landscape Gardening, Parks end Pleasure Grounds, 1 "Weeks on the Bee : paper 25 cts., cl. Wilson on Cultivation of Flar, .... Miner's Am. Bee-keeper's Manu.il, . . 1 Quinby's Mysteries of Bee-keeping, . 1 Cottage and Farm Bee-keeper, Elliott's Am. Fruit Grower's Guide, . 1 The American Florist's Guide, Hyde on the Chinese SugarCane paper, Ever}' Lady her own Fldwcr Gar- dener ; paper 25 cts., cloth TheEose Culturist ; paper 25 cts., ci. History of Morgan Horses, 1 Saxton's Eural Hand Books, 4 vols., 5 Eabbit Fancier; paper 25 cts., cloth Eeemelin's 'Vino-Dresser's Manual,. Neil's Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Gardener's Companion, 1 Browne's American Poultry Tard,. 1 Browne's Field Book of Manures, . . 1 Hooper's Dog ami Gun, Skillful Housesvife; paper 25 cts., cl. Chorlton's Grape Grower's Guide; paper 50 cts., cloth "White's Gardening for the South, 1 Eastwood on the Cranberry, Persoz on the Culture of the Vine,. Boussinganlt's Eural Economy, . . . Thompson's Food of Animals; paper 50 cts., cloth Eichardson on Dogs; paper 25 cts , cl Liebig's Famili.ar Letters to Farmers, Cobbett's American Gardener, Waring's Elements of Agriculture, . 25 00 25 00 75 25 25 75 50 4 00 00 00 25 50 25 1 00 1 00 50 1 25 75 25 60 50 1 00 5 00 50 60 1 00 1 00 1 25 50 50 60 1 25! 60 ; 25 1 25 75 60 50 50 75 J3 Y-L A.AV or THE CATTAKAUGUS CO" (As amended to August lOtli, 1857.) P R E A IVl B L E . Sec. 1. The style and corporate name of this Society is the " Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Horticultural Society." It -was organized on the 28 th day of January, 1856, under authority of an Act of the Legislature of tlie State of New York, passed April 13, 1855. Said Act is printed in Volume fourteen, "Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society, 1854," pages vi. to X.; and Said Act is hereby declared to be the Constitution of this Society. This Society is a reorganization of the "Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society," originally formed on the 11th day of November, 1841. The objects of this Society are — To improve the condition of Agriculture, Horticulture, Household and Mceluinic Arts, within the County of Cattaraugus, by means of Essays, Ad- dresses, Annual Fairs, and Prizes for meritorious productions in each department. 24 OFFICERS. § 2. The officers of this Society are a Tresident, Vice- Peesident, Secretary, and Treasurer; Who shall be elected annually by ballot, and hy a nmjority of the votes cast; and • SIX DIRECTORS, Two of whom shall be elected nnniially by ballot, and by a ma- jority of the votes cast, and shall hold their oflice for thi-ee years. The Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be residents of the Town v/licre the Fairs are held. The above officers constitute a "Board of jManageIrs." § B. The Board of Managers may appoint a Vice-President in each town in the County, excepting in the town where the Society is located. § 4. No person shall be elected to office who is not a mem- ber of this Society. § 5. Vacancies in office shall be filled only in the modes prescribed in Sections 2 and 3, and at a monthly meeting, MEMBERSHIP. § 6. Membership in this Society begins on the first day of January, and terminates on the thirty-first day of December : Provided nevertheless, the officers named in Section 2 shall hold over in the next year until the election of their successors. § 7. Any resident of this State may become a Member of this Society by paying One Dollar to the Treasurer. Members shall be furnished with tickets entitling them to enter proper- ty to compete for prizes, and admit the owner, lady, and minor children to the Fairs— or a § 8. Life Member, with all the privileges of annual mem- bership, by paying Ten Dollars to the Treasurer at one time, who shall be furnished with a diploma certificate of life mem- bership, and with admission tickets each year, with the owner's permanent number thereon. 25 § 9. IIoN'ORARY Membership may be conferred upon non- residents of tills comity, as a mark of respect for services rendered in any dcparlnient coining witliin the objects of this Society; and such persons sliall be furnished witli certificates of the fact, and the President shall annually furnish each one ■with a " Conrplinientary Ticket." § 10. PucLisiiER.s OF Newspapers in this County, wlio pub- lish the Society's notices, are liereby constituted inembers of this Society; and the Treasurer shall annually issue to each publisher a Member's Ticket, and charge the Society there- with. • MISCELLANEOUS FAIR TICKETS. § 11. Any member of this Society may enter the Fair grounds with horses and carriage, by buying of the Treasurer a Ticenty-five (^ent Carriage Ticket, Avhich he shall give to the door-keeper before entering. § 12. Any Peddler, by buying of the Treasurer a Peddler's Ticket at Two Dollars, and an additional ticket for each assistant at One Dollar, may enter the Fair grounds and sell goods, except li(|uors of all kinds of an intoi-icating nature, the sale of which is hereby forbidden on the Fairgrounds; but he shall be subject to the orders of the President in his loca- tion, and shall not sell at auction during the delivery of Ad- dresses or reading Reports. § 13. During the Fairs the Treasurer shall sell Single Admission Tickets at One Shilling each. § 14. The President may issue Complimentary Tickets at discretion, with the advice of the Board of Managers. BOARD OF MANAGERS. § 15. The authority hereby vested in the Board of Mana- gers is (vide Cons.) 1st. To hold monthly meetings at the same time and place with the Society; and special meetings on the call of the President. 26 2d, To make all appropriations and investments of tlie Society's moneys, but only at monthly meetings; provided, if the funds will warrant, they may extend the premiums during the Fairs. 3d. To vote the premiums to be awarded by the Society at the Annual Fairs, and the amount of the Treasurer's bond. 4th. To appoint Adjudging, Revising, and Finance Com- mittees, Marshals, Door-keepers, and Police for the Fairs. 5th. To fix annually the amount of compensation to the Secretary and Treasurer, and the amount to be paid to Policemen at the Fairs. . 6th. To establish a Library, to be the property of the Society, by purchase and donations, and make rules for its care, extension, and use; and 7th. To purchase or lease real and personal property, neces- sary for the use of the Society. ANNUAL AND MONTHLY MEETINGS. § 10. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Society, to be held in the village of Little Valley, on the first Saturday in January, at 1 o'clock, P.M., for the election of Officers, and reports of Officers and Committees of the preceding year. § IT. Monthly Meetings of the Society shall be held on t\\Q first Saturday in each month, (except January,) at 1 o'clock, P. M., in the village of Little Valley, for the discussion of questions coming within the "objects" of the Society, and for the transaction of general business. ANNUAL FAIRS § IS. Of this Society shall be held in the village of Little Valley, on the third Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the month of September — the programme to be arranged by the Board of Managers; and the following Regulations must be strictly adhered to, and should be printed on the Fair Show Bills: I. All property must be entered in the name of the bona fide 27 owners; and Grain, Fruit, and Vegetables, Dairy Products, Household and Mechanic Manufactures, must have been raised and made by the exhibitors thereof. II. Stock (except horses) must be entered upon the Secre- tary's books during Wednesday, be on the Fair Grounds by 10 A. M., Thursday, and remain until 8 P. M., Friday; entries of horses and all other property, and for plowing or trial match- es, will close at 2 P. M., Thursday; and horses, of all kinds, must be on the Fair Grounds by 9 A. M., Friday, and remain until 3 P.M.; equestrian entries will close at 9 A.M., Friday. III. Competitors on Dairy Products must give in writing the mode of manufacture; on Crops, the soil, tillage, amount of land, quantity per acre, by weight, according to the New York standard of 1857, cost of raising, &c., verified on oath. The Committee on Crops must bo furnished with statements and samples of grain by competitors, on or before the 1st Sat- urday in December, and the awards will be made at the An- nual Meeting. IV. No Animal or Article can compete but for a single premium. V. Premiums will not be paid on Animals or Articles of inferior merit, although there may be no competition. VI. No person shall act as a Judge for awarding premiums, for which he is any way a competitor. VII. No member, not a resident of this County, shall com- pete for prizes, (except Diplomas and Transactions,) at any Fair of this Society. VIII. Any person who shall knowingly violate the regula- tions of the Society, or who shall seek to obtain a premium by false pretences, or by improper interference with the Judg- es, shall be excluded from competitors. IX. Hay for Stock on exhibition during the Fair, shall be furnished by the Society gratis. X. Door and Gate Keepeos are prohibited from receiving money for admissions to the Fair Grounds, and must return all tickets received for admissions immediately to the Secretary. 28 AN ADJUDGING COMMITTEE § 19. Shall be appointee], consisting- of five or more per- sons, to examine and award premiums in each class of property exlnbited at the Annual Fairs; three of whom shall form a quorum. A REVISING COMMITTEE § 20. Shall be appointed at the monthly meeting in Sep- tember, consisting of three members of the Society, (not mem- bers of any adjudging committee,) to examine the entries on the Secretary's books and the awards of the several adjudging committees, see that the regulations are complied with by com- petitors and committees, and report. to the Board of Managers daring the Fairs: and after the Revising Committee's Reports are accepted, the President shall announce the awards. A FINANCE COMMITTEE § 21. Shall be appointed at the monthly meeting in Decem- ber, consisting of three members of the Society, to examine the books and vouchers of the Secretai-y and Treasurer, and report at the Annual Meeting; and also to report the receipts, expenditures, liabilities, resources, and amount and condition of the Society's property. PRINTING COMMITTEE. § 22. The President and Secretary shall procure annually, by contract, the necessary printing for the Society. ANNUAL REPORTS § 23. To the Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, shall bo made by the President, Secretary and Treasurer of this Society, immediately after the annual meeting. (Vide § 9 Cons.) PRESIDENT'S DUTIES. § 24. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, or of the Board of Managers; see that the Constitu- 29 tion and Cy-Laws are complied witli; have general supervision of the Fairs; see that the rules are strictly enforced, and that the officers and employees of the Society faithfully perform their duties; draw his warrant on the Treasurer for the pay- ment of all moneys voted by the Board of Managers, and none other; and for the delivery of miscellaneous premiums, other than money. In the absence of the President, the above duties shall be performed by the elective Vice-President. SECRETARY'S DUTIES. § 25. It shall be the duty of the Secretary — 1st. To record the proceedings of each meeting of the So- ciety and Board of Managers, and enter upon the record the names of the members of the Board present at such meetings. 2d. To certify to the Treasurer copies of all resolutions appropriating moneys, and miscellaneous premium.s other than money. 3d. To countersign and keep a register of all warrants drawn on the Treasurer by the President, for the payment of the Society's moneys, and miscellaneous premiums other than money. 4di. To carry on die correspondence, issue notices, prepare the premium lists, (voted by the Board of Managers,) and Transactions of the Society and of the Board of Managers, for publication. 5th. To prepare certificates of "Lite ^fcmbership" and '•Honorary Membership," and deliver them to such members; prepare miscellaneous premiums, (other than money.) deliver them to the Treasurer, and take his receipt therefor. t)th. To prepare " Members," "• Life Members," " Single Ad- mission," "Carriage," and " Peddler's tickets," keep distinct accounts of each class of tickets, deliver them to the Treas- urer, and take his receipt therefor. 7th. To enter, class, and number all property designed for exhibition at the Annual Fairs; when the entries are closed, 30 prepare duplicate lists of the entries for the n?e of the several Adjudging Committees: Provided, that no entry of property shall be made by the Secretary unless tlie owner thereof pre- sents a member's ticket. 8th. To act as Librarian for the Society. 9th. The Secretary shall not hold any oLher office enumer- ated in §§ 2, 3, 19, 20, and 21. TREASURER'S DUTIES. § 26. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer— 1st. To receive and take charge of all funds, securities, and vouchers of the Society. 2d. To receive from the Secretary registered " Members," " Life Members," and "Peddler's" tickets, "Carriage" and "Sin- gle Admission" tickets, which he shall sell at the prices fixed by §§ 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13. He shall keep distinct accounts of each class of tickets, the numbers of the tickets, names and res- idence of purchasers, and write their names and residence plainly upon the face of the registered tickets, per form § 8. 3d. To pay all orders drawn on him by the President or Vice-President, from moneys appropriated for the purpose named in the order, which orders must be numbered and coun- tersigned by the Secretary; and deliver miscellaneous premi- ums, other than money, upon like orders; and he is hereby for- bid paying moneys of the Society in any other manner. 4th. To keep accounts of the financial operations of the Society; exhibiting clearly and fully the receipts, from the State and all other sources, disbursements, investments, and cash in his hands; make concise statements thereof monthly; have his books and vouchers open to the inspection of the So- ciety, at the stated meetings, and of the Board of Managers, or Finance Committee, on demand. 5th. At the close of the fiscal year, (Friday before the 1st Saturday in January,) he shall make a full report, in writing, of the entire business of his office; and deliver all funds, se- curities, books and papers of his office to his successor, or to the Board of Managers. 31 6th. Before entcrin*^ upon the duties of his offce, he shall execute a bond, with two sureties, in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars, to the acceptance of the Board of Mana- gers, which acceptance shall be endorsed on the bond by at least six of their number. The bond shall run to the Presi- dent and Directors, and to their successors in office, and be kept by the President. 7th. The Treasurer shall not hold any other office enum- erated in §§ 2, 3, 19, 20, and 21. AMENDMENTS. § 27. These By-Laws, after the monthly meeting in May, 1856, shall not be suspended, amended, or repealed, except ai an annual or monthly meeting of the Society, and by a two- thirds affirmative vote of all the members present, after six months' notice has been submitted in writing by two members. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The Society take great pleasure iu acknowledging from Col. Lewis G. Moiims, Mount Fordbam, a copy of " Davy's Devon Herd Book," American Edition. Col. B. P. Johnson, Secretary New York State Agricultu- ral Society, " Transactions N. Y. State Agricultural Society," and Seeds. The Commissioner of Patents, " Patent Office Reports," and Seeds. Hon. Francis S. Edwards, M.C, a very large number of Public Documents, and Seeds. Hon. Reuben E. Fenton, M.C, several valuable Public Documents. Prof. Joseph Henry, Secretary, for a full set of " Reports of the Smithsonian Institution," to 1855. LETTERS FROM HONORARY MEMBERS 'OF THE SOCIETY. Agricultural Rooms, Albany, April 6tk, 1851. John Maxley, Esq., Se,c''y Ca'Jnraugns Ag. Soc. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the reception of jour letter advising me of my election as an honorary member of the Cat- taraugus Agricnltural and Horticultural Society. Nothing can be more grateful to me than the apj^robation of the farmers of New York, for whose benefit I have labored for many years, to the best of my ability; and the assurance of approl)atioa by the respected So- ciety of Cattaraugus will ever be cherished ly me with the liveliest eraolious of gratitude. Be pleased to communicate to the Society my best thanks for the honor conferred, with an assurance that I shall, to the best of my ability, aid them in the noble work in which they are engaged. For the kind manner in which you have conveyed the proceedings of the Society, I am greatly obliged. Very respectfully your ob't serv't, B. P. joexsoN. 33 Mount Fordham, April 22d, 185T. John- Manley, Sec'y, ^c, Litlle Valley. Dear Sir : — Your beautifully gotten up certificate electing me au honorary member of your Society, was duly received, as was also the very complimentai'y letter accompanying it. Please present for me, at your next meeting, my sincere acknowl- edgments; I only hope I may be deserving of a small portion of their high encomiums. 1 remain yours, very respectfully, L. G. MORRIS. Black Hack, Aivil 1th, 1857. Dear Sir: — Your favor of 2d instant, accompanied by a certificate of honorary membership in the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, is received, with many thanks for the compli- mentary terms in which it is presented. I thank you for this unde- served appreciation of ray humble merits and labors in a worthy cause. Be pleased to present my acknowledgments to your Board of Man- agers, and accept for yourself, personally, my best consideration. Very truly and respectfully your friend and ob't serv't, LEWIS F. ALLEN. John Manley, Esq., Secretary, S^-c, ^yc. Ncio York, April Cdk, 1851. John Manley, Esq., Secretary. Dear Sir: — Your esteemed favor of the 4th inst., accomj)aiiying a certificate constituting me an honorary member of your Society, was duly received. Please accept for yourself and the Society you so ably represent my warmest thanks for the honor thus conferred, and my assurances of a hearty co-operation in your efforts to promote the interests of Horticulture and Agriculture. I remain yours, very truly, C. M. SAXTON. 3 34 Fredonia, April Uth, 1857. John Manley, Esq. My Dear Sir: — I have the pleasure of acknowledging tliroiigb you as Secretary, &c., the receipt of a certificate constituting the under- signed an honorary member of the " Cattaraugus County Agricultu- ral and Horticultural Society." The favor, in my own mind, possesses a peculiar consequence from the fact that it originated from those who were almost as strangers to each other. It was as beautiful as it was unexpected, and I shall ever cherish ■with feelings of more than kindly regard those who have been so earnest in its procurement. I fear I shall fail in meriting the good wishes of the numerous friends of agricultural science in your county, but such offerings ;is I may have are at your command. Please convey to the several officers of your Society my warmest assurances for their health and prosperity, and my grateful thanks for their beautiful compliment. Your obedient servant, F. S. EDWARDS. Frewshurg, July 23i, 185t. Dear Sir: — I owe you an apology for so long neglecting to ac- knowledge your favor of April 8th, informing me of my election as an honorary member of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Tile honor of being esteemed worthy of a place with the members of your Society, would seem to demand an immediate response; and while I have allowed pressing business engagements to occupy my mind to the neglect of this, I beg to assure you that I am not insen- sible to the honor conferred, nor wanting in grateful appreciation for the (lattering terms you are pleased to employ in communicating the intelligence. I wish I had time to speak of the delights and advantages of that most noble of human pursuits, for the advancement of which your Society is founded. In all ages, among re6ned and civilized nations, the pursuit of agriculture has constituted a favorite theme for the best 35 and most exalted miuds; and really, a people can furnish no stronger evidence of a high standard of domestic, moral, and intellectual worth than by the display of a general taste for rural occupation. Agri- culture may be said to be the foundation impulse of society; " it origi- nates and carries forward the civilization of our race ;" therefore, re- garded not only as the purest of pleasures and the greatest refresh- ment that labor can bestow on mind, it is an indication of a Nation's having attained the highest degree of freedom and refinement. Thus it is that the pursuit which stimulates you to associated efforts in its behalf, is worthy of the services, the favor, and the homage of all good men; and believing that Societies formed upon the basis and with the objects of yours, are calculated to advance this great end, I cannot fail to view with pride and congratulation the effort to place your Society and the agricultural interests of your people in the front rank among the counties of the State. With best wishes for you and the Board of Managers personally, and the cause in which you are engaged, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. FENTON. John Manley, Esq., Secretary, ^-c. ABSTRACT OF TREASURER'S REPORT 0» THS CATTARAUGUS COUNTY ^griniltiinil anb llortintltiiral Sotutg, For Ihc yettr en^ittg JOecember 31s/, 1856. Receipts: 501 Member's Ticlcets, at $1 $501 00 8 Life " " " $10 80 00 37 Peddler's " " $1 37 00 4 Carriage " "2s 1 00 2,4G0 Single Aduiission Tickets, at Is 307 50 State appropriation 86 00 Eent of tent 40 00 Cloth and irons sold 9 66 Loans of Lorenzo Slratton 200 00 Total receipts for 1856 . $1,262 16 Expenditures: Premiums of 1854 and 1855 $ 60 50 of 1856 236 75 Fence, yards, flag staffs and offices 550 00 Lease of Fair Grounds for 10 years and renewal .... 11 00 Blank books, stationery and printing , . 99 25 Annual Address and Indian Band 100 00 Hay and water for the Fair 22 20 Police service during the Fair 51 00 Re])airing tent 48 07 Treasurer, Secretary, and assistants 27 50 Miscellaneous bills, and balance on hand at date .... 55 89 Total expenditures in 1856. . . • .. $1,262^16 DANIEL BUCKLIN, Treasurer. Little Valley, January 2, 1857. 37 Standard Weight of Grain and Vegetables op New York. [Char. 5fi0, Laws of 1857.] An Act to amend section thirty-six of title two of chapter nine- teen of part one of the Revised Statutes, relating to Weights and Measures, as amended by chapter three hundred and seventy-four of the laws of eighteen hundred and thirty-six. [Passed April 15, 1857. J The People of the State of JYcio York, represented in Senate and .'issernhly, do enact as folloios : Section 1. Section thirty-six of title two of chapter nineteen of pai't first of the Revised Statutes, as amended by chapter three hundred and seventy-four of the laws of eighteen hundred and thirty-six, is hereby amended so as to read as follows: § 15. Whenever wheat, rye, Indian corn, buckwheat, bar- ley, oats, bcaus, peas, clover seed, timothy seed, flax seed, or potatoes shall be sold by the bushel, and no special agreement shall be made by the parties as to the mode of measuring, the bushel shall consist of G2 pounds of Beans, 60 " Wheat, Peas, Clover seed, or Potatoes, 53 " Indian Corn, 56 " Rye, 55 " Flax Seed, 48 " Buckwheat, or Barley, 44 " Timothy Seed, and 32 " Oats. 38 CATTARAUGUS COUNTY NEWSPAPERS. CATTARAUG-US REPUBIiICAN; (DEMOCRATIC,) Published Weekly, at Ellicottville. Terms: $1.50 per annum. F. A. Saxton, Proprietor. CATTARAUGUS FREEMAN; (REPUBLICAN,) Published Weekly, at Elliott ville, Teb.ms: $1.50 per annum. Delos E. Sill, Proprietor. AMERICAN UNION; (AMERICAN,) Published Weekly, at Ellicottville, Terms: $1.50 per annum. Robert H. Shankland, Jr., Proprietor. RANDOLPH REPORTER; (DEMOCRATIC,) Published Weekly, at Randolph, Terms: SI. 50 per annum. B. F. Morris, Proprietor. THE OLEAN ADVERTISER; (INDEPENDENT,) Published Weekly, at Olean Terms: $1.50 per annum. James T. Henry. Proprietor. GOWANDA PHCENIX; (Now Suspended,) PUBLISHED AT GOWANDA. L. S. Morgan, Proprietor. 39 ;^^5^ THE AMERICAN ELK DOMESTICATED. [From the Transactions of the State Agricultural Society.] Mr. LoEENZO Stratton, of Little Valley, has becu experi- menting for a few years past, with a view to test the practica- bility of domesticating Elk; and for this purpose enclosed a tract of very hilly land, well wooded, for ranging and brows- ing. His animals are so amiable that he has driven several of them to the three last Fairs of Cattaraugus County, with- out difficulty, w^here they attracted great attention. In answer to a note of inquiry, Mr. Stratton has kindly furnished the following interesting paper, and it is hoped that the sugges- tions it contains may attract attention. The success attending Mr. Stratton's experiments thus far, certainly argues well for more extended eiiorts. (from CATTARAUGUS COUNTY REPORT.) Mr. John Manley : Dear Sir — I have received your letter, asking, as Secre- tary of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Horticultu- 40 ral Society, some statement in relation to my experience in domesticating the American Elk, or " Great Wapiti " Deer. To commence at the beginning, I came in possession of my first pair in the spring of 1853, in the course of trade with the agents of a Western Fur Company, who had purchased the fawns of a tribe of Indians on some of the head branches of the Missouri River. At the time of my purchase I had no other object in view than the hope of reproducing a few, and having the pleasure of seeing a herd of these magnificent for- esters quietly feeding on the identical grounds where nature had once planted and provided for their ancestors, in untold numbers. In view of their rapid decrease on the approach of civilization, and the threatening prospect of exterminating the entire race, I have deemed it something more than idle curiosity to preserve from destruction some of the characteristics of our American forests. It is not yet fifty years since the Elk were so numerous in this county that the Indian or pioneer trap- per, after finishing his store of provisions for his breakfiist, might with confidence expect to sup on a choice cut from the surloin of an Elk; and the Indian is now living who can boast of killing three Elk in one day, within a hundred rods of where you have held your three last Agricultural Fairs; and another Indian informs me that he once killed an antlered buck within rifle shot of the Cattaraugus Depot, and, as near as can now be ascertained, the famous forester fell on the pre- cise ground whore since has been reared the elegant and sub- stantial residence of Judge Leavenworth. But Avhat a change has been wrought since ? It has now been some years since the last track of the Elk has been seen in the fastnesses of the Pennsylvania woods. It is said there may yet a few be found on the western shore of Lake Huron, in the vicinity of the Au Sable River, Where next may we find them ? Within some six or seven years, herds of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, were to be found in the vicinity of St. Paul, Minnesota; but now we might as well look for them in Orange County. Their western range being large prairies, skirted with narrow strips and small patches of woodland, they were easily slaughtered 41 and driven off by the lirst settlers; and at the present time they are only to be found by at least a week's journey beyond the lines of civilization. The first thing that called my atten- tion to this matter, as likely to afford any pecuniary profit, was a document laid before the Senate by Wm. R. King, Vice- President of the United States, and also President of the Sen- ate, by Professor S. F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institute, at the instance of Thomas Ewbanks, Commissioner of Patents. The substance of which document was a call on the Govern- ment for means to procure, domesticate, and re-stock certain portions of land in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and other States which were nearly or quite worthless for agricul- tural purposes, but would still be a most inviting place for this purpose — citing as sufficient proof of its practicability, that formerly tliis country produced Elk asntiturally as it does now brush and xokite rabbits. Now, as I had a pair of Elk and a quantity of this descrip- tion of land at the time my attention was called to this view of the subject, it readily occurred to me that I might indulge my fancy in this business, with a fair prospect of remuneration. I therefore set about it in a business way, by purchasing at difi'erent times three more Elk, and preparing them a pasture of one hundred and twenty-five acres of well-fenced wood- land, in which they have now been for three years, without any additional expense worth naming, beyond a visit to the ])ark some three or four times a week, at which times I always carry a pocket of corn, oats, or a handful of clover heads, in summer, all of which they are very fond: and in this way I keep on excellent terms with them. My success in domesticating them by this sort of treatment has been quite satisfactory; instead of scampering away like wild animals, when I approach them, they crowd around me like so many pets. My original number, of five purchased Elk, have in- creased to ten, with a prospect of an additional increase of four next spring. During the winter, and in time of deep snows, they gather into a thicket of brush, (which embraces about one-half these grounds,) which they trim with great ap- 42 parent relish; and notwithstanding the deep snows and severe winter of 1855-6, they remained in high order, with no other resources than the staddle timber or brush, which they laid waste by the acre. The enclosure I have for them would be quite sufficient to sustain from fifty to sixty Elk until they have destroyed the brush, at which time their pasture would have to be extended over new territory, or trees be cut in winter for them to browse. Now, in view of the character and price of large quantities of laud in this country, and also of the fact that these mountain ranges Avere formerly the natural home of the Elk, and their perfect susceptibility of domestication, I deem it an enterprise of the first importance that portions of these lands should be re-stocked with their original denizens; and not only to the naturalist, the man of science, but to those wishing a profitable investment, it holds out every inducement. When we consider the amount of lands in this country only fitted for such purposes, I do not hesitate to say that it might be made a business of vast importance. While the world is being ransacked to obtain rare and foreign animals, which may never be acclimated to this country, and whose utility is rather questionable, if they should be, the Elk, with all its claims to our attention, with scarcely an efi"ort to domesticate, is rapidly disappearing from the land. When we consider the short space of time (say 50 years) since the Elk ranged the entire country between this and the Mississippi River, it is a fair esti- mate, with the increased facilities of travel and emigration, and what is being done in the Territories of Utah, Nebraska, and Dacotah, that within twenty-five years the race will be entirely extinct, unless proper means is resorted to for their domestication — not a very pleasant prospect, when our forest might produce, at comparatively small expense, an abundance of venison, the quality of which is the very crowning dish of the epicure, adding materially to the wealth and the impor- tance of the country. The Elk, although having many characteristics of the Deer, has yet a strong individuality of his own: it is not particularly timid, or liable to stampede or sudden fright like the Deer, 43 but depends more upon prowess tliau flight, in case of danger. The Elk is not so restless in disposition, and therefore more disposed to fatten. I have been much surprised to see my whole number (ten) in higher condition than any ten animals that could be selected among all the domestic cattle on tlie farm, which had the advantage of good pastures. The weight of a full-grown buck is from five to six hundred pounds; that of a Doe, from four to five hundred. They ma- ture at about four years of age. The bucks only, have ant- lers, which they shed yearly, like the Deer. The engraving I send you does not give very flattering portraits, but the best I could get executed in the countrv. Yours respectfully, LORENZO STRATTON. Littk Valley, JY. Y., February, 1857. lOGRAPHIES. BENJAMIN CHAMBERLAIN. It can hardly be expected that, in the brief hniit allowed for that purpose, anything like justice can be done to the character and history of one of the most remarkable men of Western New York. Yet in the general results of his life there is so much of interest and lessons of such practical value in his experience and example, that no one can contemplate his history without profit, or fail to draw encouragement from the evidence he has furnished of what may be accomplished by energy and perseverance, even under the most discouraging circum- stances. Benjamint Chamberlain was born July 31, 1191, in the town of Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, in the State of Maine, where he resided until he was ten years of age, when his father and his family removed to the County of Alleghany, in this State, and settled in the town of Belfast, on the Genesee Iliver. At that time the whole of Western New York was little better than a wilderness, and the re- wards of industry and enterprise here were only to be reached through scenes of toil and trials and privations that often tried the sternest energies of those who possessed the courage to encounter them. The family of Judge Chamberlain were in humble hfe. Their lot was cast amongst the millions whose fate it is to toil, endure, and suffer, and to win their way to such position of prosperity or distinction as it may be their fortune to attain, unaided and alone.' At that early period, the educational advantages of this portion of the state were extremely hmited. Schools of any description were scarcely known, and the instruction of children was mostly confined to // Ihiblish/-^/ bv Johih il,mJev,/AUl>'l'a//tr.X \ ' A'/J/ 45 siK'h iufonnatlou as the parents were al)le to impart, or as might be secured by their own unaided efforts. The subject of our sketch had none of the advantages that are phxced within tlie reach of the youth of the present day, and he was compelled by a stern necessity, not only by a want of opportunity, but a want of means, to set out in the jour- ney of life without any of the aids derived from a proper training in the schools. In March, 1801, when only sixteen years of age, Ch.^mberlain left his home to commence a career seldom equalled in its leading features, among the self-made men of the country. Without money, or clothes, exce))t such as were upon his back, barefoot and alone, he went to Glean, in this county, in search of employment. This place was then known as the village of Hamilton, and was for a long time, and until (lie oi)ening of the Erie Canal, known all over the State and New Eng- land, and famous as the point where emigrants to the Western States of Ohio, Indiaiia, and Illinois began their long journey down the Alle- ghany and Ohio Rivers, upon "rafts," and in "flat boats," and such other craft as were accustomed to navigate those waters. Here he comnaenced work for Major Adam Hoops, the founder of the village, and labored diligently, by the month, for five years. His employment was mostly in saw-mills, and at the various branches of lumbering, which was at that time the principal business of the country. The five years here s})ent were unvaried ))y any incident worth relat- ing, yet it was the school in which his mind was formed, and the scene wlierc his business character was laid. This time of toil was produc- tive of jn'ofit, small, it is true, l)ut sufficient for his wants, and still more of discipline and preparation. As he increased in years and grew in strength, his intellect expanded and his powers enlarged, until the po- sition of a laborer in a saw-mill, at w\ages by the month, could no longer satisfy his amI)ition or afford a sutficient licld for his energies and active capacity for business, and he began to look abroad for ii wider avenue to usefulness and wealth. Chances for business adven- tuix's, even for men of capital, in a wilderness country as Cattaraugus theu was, were extremely limited and rarely to be found. The idea formed by Chamberlain', of " setting up in business," without capital, without friends or influence, may be regarded as disj)laying more of courage and determination than sagacity or discretion. But he pos- sessed in his own mind and energies, in his stout heart and iron will, a " capital " that not only sujiplied the want of money am] friends, Imt 46 a fund that was soou found equal to the emergency. In company with a Mr. M'Kay, now deceased, he erected a saw-mill in Great Valley, and engaged in the business of lumbering, which he has steadily fol- lowed to the present time. After considerable exertion, the mill was completed and put in successful operation, and about one hundred thousand feet of boards manufactured, ready for the market. At this point, the fortitude and courage of the parties were severely tried by a terrible calamity. The mill and all the sawed lumber took fire, and were entirely consumed. Chamberlain lost all he had in the world, and was not only left witliout a dollar, but not entirely free from debts contracted in his business; and M'Kay was found to be utterly insol- vent. A less hopeful and determined man would have yielded to a misfortune so overwhelming; and for a time even his iron enei'gy seem- ed paralyzed. At this critical moment he received unexpected encour- agement and valuable aid in the warm affection and calm judgment of his wife. With a philosophy that no calamity could shake, and a faith in the future that nothing could disturb, she counselled her husband to a renewed effort to retrieve his fortunes. She called his attention to the fact that they were still young, blessed with health and vigor, and that with industry, perseverance, and economy they could overcome the loss they had sustained, and yet secure a competence. The resolution was soon formed to rebuild the mill, and Chasiberlaix set to work alone, to procure the means. At this time there was but one mer- chant doing business in the county. This was Capt. IIexry De Forest, who was trading at Olean. To him Chamberlain applied for aid, and told him the story of his loss, and laid before him his plans for the future. Capt. De Forest readily granted him a credit of $1,000 in goods, which enabled him to reconstruct his mill, and again embark in business. We have occasion to know that Chajiberlain attributes his successful commencement in the world to Capt. De Forest, and to this day regards him in grateful remembrance as the founder of his for- tunes. At this period, the business of the county was carried on under cir- cumstances of great disadvantage. The prices of provisions and fam- ily goods were enormously high, and the articles difficult to be pro- cured. Flour was $20 per barrel, pork $40, coarse satinet $2. To per yard, cotton shirting five shillings a yard, commonly known as " hum hum," and coarse l^rogans from $2.50 to $3 a pair. It was under sucli circumstances that Chamberlain's second effort 47 was begua, aud the obstacles which were overcome may be better un- derstood when it is known that all the iron-work for the mill had to be transported from Pittsburgh, in canoes, on the Alleghan}* River; and pork and flour were obtained in the same laborious and expensive manner. From the period last mentioned, Mr. Cha.mberlAi.n has been largely engaged in lumbering on the Alleghany, and for thirty-five years has enjoyed a degree of prosperity and an unbounded credit, seldom secur- ed by any individual. He often makes gratefal mention of his friend, the Hon. Ai.LEX Ayrault, of Geneseo, who early accommodated him with loans, as President of the Livingston County Bank, and never in any emergency refused to discount his pa}ver. Tiiroughout the entire field of his operations, dnring the long period referred to, his Ijond has l^een regarded entirely safe, and his draft honored at sight. In conducting his business, his office was not alone that of a mere overseer. His hands were alike familiar vfith the axe and the oai", and during the earlier years of his career he labored as constantly and as hard as any workman in his employ. In his operations he received essential aid from his wife, who is no less remarkable in her sphere than he in his. While absent at market with his lumber, she directed the management at home — employed hands, prepared aud disjiatched the boards at every freshet, and maintained the same vigilant and success- ful care over the operations of business as though it were her })roper place in life. To her should ])e given a large share of credit for the achievements of her husband, who now counts his wealth by hundreds of thousands, the result of their joint industry, inlelligencc, and perse- verance. Aside from business transactions, Mr. Chajiberlaix is largely identi- fied with the political history of the county. The Act erecting the county into separate territory, taken from the old County of Genesee, was passed March 11, 1808, but it was not politically organized until ?slarch IS, 181T, with the following gentlemen as county officers: Timothy H. Pouter, First Judge; Sands Boutox, Connfy Ckrk ; Israel Curtis, Sheriff; and Jerejiy Wooster, Surrogate. Under the old Council of Appointment, Mr. Ciiamberlaix lield the office of Sheriff, from February 17, 1820, to June 1, of the same year, and from February 12, 1821, to December 31, 1822. By the Constitution of 1821, the office was made elective by the people, aud at the second election, in November, 1825, he vras chosen Sheriff, and served until 48 December, 1828. Having- previously served as Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county, with Hon. Alsox Leaven- worth as First Judge, Mr. Chajiberlain was appointed by the late Gov. Marcy, First Judge of the Common Pleas, of Cattaraugus County, Feb. 15, 1833; reappointed by Gov. Marcy, in 1838, for a second term of five years, and again appointed for a third term by Gov. BoucK, in 1843, and served until June, 184t, when he was suc- ceeded by the Hon. Rensselaer Lamb, under the new Constitution of 1846. Although Judge Chajiberlain had no advantages of educa- tion, nor the benefit of legal training, he possessed an unsurpassed prac- tical business capacity. To an intuitive knowledge of the motives and character of men, he united a sagacity that penetrated clearly the for- ensic myths of the bar, enabling him to dispel the legal fogs, sift con- flicting evidence, and present every case iu a plain, intelligible manner to the jury. His "charges" to juries are remembered as models of directness, brevity, and perspicuity; and although not bred a lawyer, v.'hile on the liench it was often remarked tliat " he had it the natural way." In political afliuities, Judge Chamberlain has acted with the Demo- cratic Party. Although never a noisy partisan, he has possessed the confidence of his party, and frequently been selected as their standard bearer. In 1852, he was elected and served as a member of the Elec- toral College of New York, which cast the Presidential vote of the State for Franklin Pierce and William R. King. Judge Chamberlain has participated in all the efforts at improve- ment of a public character in the county, and manifested a substantial iid:erest in schools, contributing liberally towards the establishment of the Randolph uicadcmy, which has attained a just popularity under the careful mauagement of the Trustees, of which Board Judge Chamber- lain has been tlie President from the begiuniug. The munificent pro- visions for endowing a professorship in a neighljoring college, which it is understood he contemplates, attest his interest iu the cause of edu- cation, and is an honor to his liberality. Physically, possessing an " iron constitution," united to large men- tal capacity and enduring energy, Judge Chamberlain is one of the remarkable men of Western jN^ew York. He at present resides at East Randolph, where he enjoys the comforts of an elegant home, and is ever ready to welcome his friends with a warm-hearted and generous hosjntality, which he and his amiable wife know so well how to dis- I'uiUshcd by John Ma/i/cyMlllcVaUcy-.TVY/SS, 49 pense. Though now sixty-six years of age, he is one of the most active business men in the county. His business extends to farming, himber- ing, deahng in lands, mercantile and banking operations, all of which come constantly under his careful eye and personal supervision. He makes weekly visits to Cuba, sixty-seven miles from his home, to give direction to the officers of the Cuba Bank, of which he is President, and the principal stockholder. The great element in Judge Ciiambkrlaix's success has been an iron will and unyielding perseverance. He commenced the great battle of life resolved to conquer and overcome, and the results he has accom- plished over the opposing forces that beset his early efforts, show how wisely and how well he has maintained the contest. In his history, no man can fail to fiud encouragement. The most formidable obstacles yield to the force of a steady determination, and often when least ex- pected the resolute heart finds illustrated, in its own experience, the beautiful Irish aphorism, that '^ there is a silver lining to every cloud P PETER TEN BROECK. Peter Ten Broeck, as his name imports, is of German extraction, and was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, on the 1st day of May, 1793. He was the eldest of five sons, and the second of a family of ten children. In 179*1 his father, Reoloff Ten Broeck, a farmer in moderate circumstances, removed with his family to Otsego County in this State. The country was thinly settled at that time, and schools and school-houses "few and far between." Up to the age of 13, young Peter had not seen the inside of a school-room, and the little educa- tion he possessed had been imparted to him by his mother. The near- est school was three miles distant, and there he spent three months in the winter of 1806, acquiring a knowledge of figures. He had learned to read and write tolerably well at home, and when he came to enter the public school he readily acquired a knowledge of "Addition, Mul- tiplication, and Division." This was all the "schooling" young Ten Broeck could boast until he attained his majority. When he be- came of age he felt his need of a better knowledge of grammar and 4 50 other rudiments of au English education. To gratify this ambition, so unusual for one of his age, he entered an academic institution then located at Sangerstield, in Oneida County. He applied himself dili- gently to his studies to the close of the term, which was just six weeks; and this, to use his own language, "completed his education." In 1816, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Ten Broeck left his fath- er's house to seek his fortune in the " far West." flis outfit was scanty, consisting of a single change of clothing and barely ready money enough to defray his traveling expenses. "With his pack on his back, he traveled alone and on foot — for railroads, canals, and stage-coaches were scarce in those days — the entire distance from his father's house to Erie, Pennsylvania, reaching that borough the latter part of May. He had examined with considerable care the country over which he had passed, and after a rest at Erie of three or four days he set out on his return. Taking his route "across the country," through May- ville, Chautauque County, to Connewango, Little Yalley, and Ellicott- ville, he reached a small settlement on the Ischua Creek, now known as the village of Franklinville, on the 6th day of June, 1816. Spend- ing a day or two hereabouts for rest, he renewed his journey home- ward, where he arrived in the early part of July. The balance of the summer of 1816, or until October following, was spent at his father's house. In October Mr. Ten Broeck, accom- panied by his younger brother Cornelius, (who died in Farmersville in 1843,) and Richard Tozer, again started, on foot, to seek a home in the West. They carried their own provisions, which were replenished by purchase from farmers and others living along their route. They were nearly a month on the road, reaching Farmersville the latter part of October. As they were on a "voyage of discoveiy," they traveled over what are now the towns of Farmersville, Frankhnville , Ellicott- ville, Little Yalley, Great Valley, and a part of Napoli and Conne- wango. They saw nothing particularly attractive after they left the valley of the Ischua, and finally resolved to return to Franklinville or Farmersville, and take up farms in that vicinity. Soon after their return to Franklinville Mr. Ten Broeck was deputed by his associ- ates to go to the Land Office at Batavia, and contract with the Hol- land Land Company for three farms. This he did, contracting for 600 acres; 200 for himself, 200 for his brother Cornelius, and 200 for Mr. Tozer. Cornelius and Tozer accompanied him "out" as far as the Genesee River, where they worked by the day during Mr. Ten Broeck's 51 absence. On his rctnrn they had earned money enough to purchase a month's supply of flour, beef, and butter. The flour was baked into bread, and the "supplies" divided into three equal parts, and each taking his "sack on his shoulder," the three again sought their "wil- derness home." Arriving there m due time, they set about stakmg and "blazing" out their lots. The winter coming on, and no preparations having been made for a stay through it, they returned to Otsego County. In February following the three returned again, their little company increased by the addition of Capt. Peleg Robbixs and Levi Peet, Esq., both of whom are now prominent and wealthy citizens of Parmersville. Before leaving the fall previous, the three "new settlers" had hewn and put together a small log house. They could find no boards or mill to saw them nearer than ten miles, so they left it till spring, minus a roof. The first business of the party on their return was to procure the necessary covering for their "log mansion." The first two nights were spent in the enclosure, which was partially covered with canvass. This illy protected the stout-hearted pioneers from the storm which began the evening they reached there, and continued for thirty-six hours. Snow fell to the depth of three feet, but notwithstanding this, as their necessities were great, Mr. Ten Broeck and Mr. Tozer with an ox team made their way through the woods and snow, to McClure's saw-mill, ten miles distant, for boards to cover their only log house, which was to serve as an abiding place for the whole party. They were obtained, the house finished as well as it could be, and soon the curling smoke of an old-fashioned log fire was making its way above the surrounding forests. Here the five " new settlers" labored together, ate, drank, slept, and whQed away their leisure hours, until the follow- ing May. Meantime improvements had been made, and three or four additional log shanties erected, and it began to look like a really pros- perous and thriving settlement. About this time Mr. Ten Broeck caught the "Western fever," and disposing of his land interest to Mr. Peet, one of his companions, he, accompanied by Capt. Robbixs, left for the West. They traveled on foot, carrying their own provisions, and generally looking out their own road. They traveled thus over a portion of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mich- igan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. The greater portion of the country over which they passed was thinly settled, and many nights they spent in the open air, but their rugged constitutions carried 62 them safely through all exposure. They had many narrow escapes, which Mr. Tex Broeck and Capt. Robbixs to this day take great pleasure in rehearsing. We must mention two incidents which occur- red to them while travehng through Indiana. The scene of the first incident is laid at or near Brookville, la. As they approached the settlement, they were overtaken by five or six men on horseback. Riding up to our travelers, they slackened their speed and began a conversation upon various subjects; after ex- hausting everything on their part, our heroes made a few inquiries touching the prices of land, the prospects for growing crops, &c., &c., and among other questions, asked where they belonged, whither they were going, and what they were looking for ? Instantly the captain of the band, (who afterwards " proved himself," as Capt. Robbins expresses it, " a true gentleman,") replied, " we are looking for just such fellows as you are," and, suiting his actions to his words, sprung from his horse, and, clapping his hands upon Mr. Tex Broeck and Capt. Robbixs, said, " I arrest you for burglary and robbery I" Here, indeed, was a situation! Astounded at the charge made against them, they contented themselves with a simple denial of all knowledge of the transaction, and declared themselves able to establish beyond a doubt their entire innocence. They were, however, conducted to Brookville, then a mile or two distant, under a strong guard, four of the six horse- men dismounting, and seizing the prisoners by either arm, the more effectually to prevent escape. Upon reaching the settlement the whole town was in commotion. Men, women, and children were hastening to the pu])lic square, whither "the robbers" were conducted. Here they were the observed of all observers, and from various quarters of the crowd Mr. Tex Broeck and Capt. Robbixs had the pleasure of hear- ing their " suspicious looks " and "rascally countenances" descanted upon. Capt. Robbixs contends now, that Mr. Tex Broeck was the most remarked; he says he was the largest man, and not by any means the handsomest, and he could hear from a looker-on now and then remarks like the following : " That big fellow looks lilie a high- wayman," — " he's an ugly customer," &c., &c. But Mr. Ten Broeck preserved his equanimity, as did also Capt. Robbixs. They demanded a trial, and were forthwith marched to the office of the village magistrate. They were accompanied by six men armed with muskets, three before and three behind, into the presence of the court. Here they demanded to know the nature of their 63 crime. Tlie charge was made, and among other items stolen was $80 in specie! The two together had about this amount in silver, and how to account for the possession of it they did not Icnow. Tliey had ob- tained it on their journey, and as specie was scarce, and everybody knew it, this circumstance, if disclosed, would tell strongly against them. But they demanded to be searched, and declared their willing- ness to submit to anything but personal violence and insult. They exhibited their proofs, and satisfied the court, jury, and the citizens that they were innocent, wholly and entirely. They were not searched, and Capt. Robbixs attributes their discharge, which of course follow- ed, to Mr. Ten Broeck's boldness and perfect self-possession in their trying situation. That night they were made the guests of the town, and were feasted and toasted to their fill. Capt. Robbins says he thinks he was " boozy" when he went to bed, and is quite positive Mr. Ten Broeck " felt well." The next morning they called for their bill, and were told by the landlord that no cliarge had been made, and he refused to take anything. The proprietor of the hotel proved to be the leader of the band who the day before had arrested the travelers for burglary and robbery, and he wished to do all in his power to regain their good opinions, and they then parted with the very best understanding. A large deputation of citizens accompanied them a mile or two on their journey, and when they left there was a general shaking of hands. Many congratulations and a thousand good wishes were bestowed upon the young Iravelers. From criminals they had become honored guests, and were proud of the good impression they had left. The next day, as they were nearing an Indian trading house upon one of the principal rivers of Indiana, and at least forty miles from Brookville, they were overtaken by an Indian on horseback, fantasti- cally dressed with feathers, skins, &c., &c. Upon coming up, JNIr. Ten Broeck inquired " how far to Indian trading house ?" The In- dian replied, " you give me whiskey, I tell!" This Mr. T. declined to do, very emphatically, for their supply was very low. The Indian was told they did not need his services, and Ijid begone. In an instant he sprang from his horse and drew a long-bladed, two-edged knife, and made for Mr. Ten Broeck. Both Mr. T. and Capt. R. were without means of defence, if we except their walking sticks. Mr. Ten Broeck had a very large one, and when he discovered the intention of the In- dian, he raised that and made sundry warlike demonstrations not en- tu'ely satisfactory to the red man, who, seeing the odds he had to con- 54 tend with, made the best of his way into his saddle, and, with a yell and whoop, was soon lost to view in the forest. Mr. Ten Broeck and his companion, it may well be imagined, kept a keen look-ont the bal- ance of their way to the trading house, lest Mr. Indian should fire upon them from some secure liiding place along the road. They were, how- ever, not molested, and reached the settlement in safety. After spending some days at the trading house looking for a chance to locate, which they failed in securing for want of money, they turned their steps homeward. They arrived at FrankhnvCle in the latter part of August, 1811. Here they remained for a few weeks, when Mr. T£n Broeck and his brother Cornelius returned on foot to Otsego County, by the way of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, &c. But little of the wealth and splendor which now mark these three places was then visible. Buffalo had three years previously been burned, and had, altogether, not more tlian twenty new buildings, and these of the smallest and cheapest kind; Niagara Falls was a wilderness, and what are now its streets, parks, and princely private mansions and public buildings, were but tramping and hunting grounds for the bor- der Indians; whUe Rochester was only a respectable country village, not unlike the many which dot the County of Cattaraugus at this day. The greater part of the fall and winter of 1811-18 Mr. Ten Broeck spent at his father's house. In February, 1818, accompanied by Cornelius, he returned to Farmersville, the settlement he and his com- panions had begun two years before. In the fall following he contract- ed for 50 acres of land, and immediately set himself to work to build a log house. This he completed and moved into during the winter, being his own cook and house-keeper. This log house Mr. T. Uved in, with an addition or two, until 1838, we beUeve, when he built a new and modern mansion. The " old log house," though somewhat dilapidated, is now used as a hay barn, and stands within thirty rods of his present residence. The young pioneer, as we have intimated, kept "bachelor's hall;" but he, not unlike young men in his situation, thought "it not good to be alone, and so after a residence of two or three years in his log house, he married Miss Freeman, a daughter of Judge Freeman, then one of the Judges of the old Court of Common Pleas of this county. Mrs. Ten Broeck is a model farmer's wife, frugal, industri- ous, and is distinguished for her simplicity of manners and great moral worth. She is as active now in her old age as our modern gh-ls are at twenty. Her health is good and her constitution imimpaired, and we 55 trust she may live many years to enjoy tlie fruits of Iter own and lier husband's industry. Soon after Mr. Ten Broeck's marriage in 1822, he began to enlarge his borders, adding a little every year — fifty or one hundred acres — and has continued these additions for thirty-five years. Now he numbers his acres by the thousands, and his worldly wealth by tens of thousands. He is to-day the possessor by deed of between five and six thousand acres of land, made up entirely of improved farms; it lies in a straight strip, of about six miles long and a mile wide, adjoining the old home- stead farm. This extensive farm, or rather this multitude of farms, has his personal superintendence, and some estimate may be formed of his abilities and his active mind, when we say that he directs the whole machinery of his vast estate, even to the smallest and most unimportant matters. Although now over 64 years of age, he rises at four o'clock, winter and summer, and after three or four hours' attention to the business of "the farm," or by nine o'clock, he is ready to attend the calls of his friends, purchase cattle, buy lands, or do any other business which may require his attention. He manages his business with an eye to profit, endeavoring to accomplish the greatest amount of labor with the least possible force. Not that he over-works his men, but that he may so employ all, that when the day, week, or month is ended, he will not need a telescope to discover where they have worked, or what they have done. His present force is six men! These are so dis- posed upon every part of his lands that the whole farm is heard from every night. During haying and harvesting this force is increased to twenty-five, and often thirty. Raising, purchasing, and driving cattle is the principal business Mr. Ten Broeck carries on. He usually winters six or eight hundred head of cattle. Last year he wintered five hundred head, and notwithstand- ing the great scarcity of hay, oats, corn, and every kind of fodder, they were brought out this spring in good condition. He buys in the spring and through the summer two and three year old cattle, keeps them through the winter, and starts them for the eastern market as early as September following. During the summer his herd is largely in- creased, so that by July or August he seldom has on hand less than twelve or fifteen hundred head. Tins immense cattle business makes it necessary that he should have a large portion of his lands in mea- dows and pastures. His usual hay crop amounts to about five hundred tons. This is all housed, requiring the use of nearly, if not quite forty 86 barns. His home barn is a model of its kind. It is forty feet wide and one hundred feet long, perfect in all its arrangements, and is capa- ble of affording shelter for one hundred or more head of cattle. It is worth a day's drive to see how substantial, handy, and perfect it is in everything. We hardly think its equal, made of wood, can be found west of Cayuga Bridge. Notwithstanding this vast cattle business, Mr. T. cultivates yearly some two or three hundred acres of land. He has tliis year large fields of wheat, oats, corn, peas, beans, potatoes, &c., &c.; probably not less than three hundred acres are thus employed. In 1822, Mr. Ten Broeck was appointed by Gov. Yates an Asso- ciate County Judge. His term of office expired in 182*1. In 1837 he was reappointed by Gov. Marcy, and held the office and discharg- ed the duties faithfully, acceptably, and honorably, until the adoption of the new Constitution in 1846. During the interim from 1827 to 1837, he was appointed an Agent of the Holland Land Company, charged with the duty of collecting the debts due the company, in the Counties of Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming. It was his habit to traverse these three counties twice a year, collecting money where he could get it; and when this was not to be had, and the settler de- sired to turn out cattle instead, he would drive these to a convenient station, and when a drove was obtained send them to market, whither he went, superintending their sale, and returning the proceeds to the Holland Land Company's Office. He held this appointment until the Holland Land Company sold their interest to other parties, and was for two or three years the agent of the company's successors, repre- sented by Hon. Stalky N. Clarke. Thousands of dollars passed through his hands, every fraction of which he accounted for. He left a clean record — an indisputable evidence of his strict honesty and rigid uprightness. In all the public trusts committed to Judge Ten Broeck, he has exhibited the same fidelity and devotion to the right, and the same in- dustry in the discharge of his duty. No man can, with truth, say, Peter Ten Broeck has knowingly wronged him in person or prop- erty. Honesty and honorable dealing have been his characteristics through hfe. He never took advantage of the poor, or broke liis word with the rich. An incident which occurred many years ago will illus- trate more forcibly his determination to keep his engagements, even at a sacrifice. 67 He had a large quautity of oats on the ground, as he thought, two or three thonsaud bushels. Being at Olean, he was asked by Hon. F. S. Martin if he had any to sell Yes, he had, he thought, a thousand bushels. Judge Martin agreed to take that quautity aud give him eighteen pence per bushel, deliverable when called for. The oats were harvested, threshed, aiid sold to other parties, Judge Ten Broeck for- getting entirely the sale he had made to Judge Martin. Late in the fall Judge Ten Broeck was at Olean again, and Judge Martin told him he expected the oats he had purchased, aud would like to have him (Ten Broeck) begin to haul them pretty soon. The Judge was amaz- ed. He had forgotten all about the trade, and had sold all his oats! " However," said he, " a bargain is a bargain. I agreed to let you have 1,000 bushels of oats at eighteen pence per bushel, and you shall have them." Notwithstanding there was no writing to hold him to his trade, and the fact that oats were then worth twenty-eight cents per bushel, he actually purchased one thousand bushels and delivered them to Judge Martin, suffering a loss of ten cents on each bushel, that his contract might be fulfilled and his word kept good. The soul of honor and integrity himself, he abhors and despises a departure from the right in others. He deals honestly and fairly with every man; scorning to take any advantages himself, he scorns alike him that would, and him that would submit to them. In politics. Judge Ten Broeck, as his judicial appointments would indicate, is a Democrat, and he quotes Jefferson and Jackson as the exponents of his political faith. He has never sought official honors, but his position has been so prominent that he could not, and has not escaped party preferment. His first elective office Avas in 1821. He was then elected Supervisor of the town of Farmersville, or Ischua, then made up of Farmersville, Lyndon, Franklinville, Ashford, York- ville, and Machias. He has been elected to the same office many times since, and usually without serious opposition. In 1842, Judge Ten Broeck was nominated by the Democrats of this Congressional district a candidate for Congress. Hon. Asher Tyler, now Land Agent for the New York and Erie Railroad Co., was his competitor, on the Whig ticket. Of course, he was defeated, for the district was, as the Judge expresses it, "ruinously AVhig," but he ran far ahead of his ticket. In his own town aud immediate neighborhood he got two votes to his opponent's one, and thus he had the assurance that those who knew him best were most desirous of conferring upon him additional honors. 58 We should have said before that Judge Ten Broeck was in actual service in the war of 1812; was stationed at Sackett's Harbor, and, we believe, held an ensign's commission. After peace was declared, with something of the war fever upon him, he attained the rank of Colonel in the State mihtia, and held that position for many years after he came into this county. This, we dare say, makes up the whole of his military career. The Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society was organized No- vember 11, 1841. Judge Ten Broeck was elected its first President, and Avas subsequently re-elected in 1842-3. Judge Ten Broeck is now over 64 years of age, and yet he is hale, hearty, and as vigorous as at forty-five. A man of iron nerve and ample proportions, being over six feet in height, and still possessing a rugged, unbroken constitution, he bids fair to retain his health and strength for years to come. In private life he is courteous, of easy manners, and cordial and confiding to his friends. He is generous to the j)Oor, prompt with aid in case of need, and gives with a liberal hand whenever and wherever necessity requires. He attained his pres- ent high rank as a private citizen, and has become the largest land owner in western New York, by the closest attention to his business and the practice of frugality, without being in the least open to the charge of covetousness or penuriousness. But we have extended this sketch to a much greater length than we at first intended. We may remark, in closing, that Judge Ten Broeck is estimated to be worth $200,000, every farthing of which he has ob- tained in the legitimate prosecution of his business, and no man is the poorer by reason of his success. He is now, in his old age, a living exemplification of the truth of the adage, "honesty is the best policy," for every business act of his life has been made to square with the strictest rule of right. Speculations he has avoided, and that too while possessing means, and knowing pretty certainly of ways hi which he might enrich himself ten fold. Having thus briefly sketched Judge Ten Broeck's history, we leave him to the quiet enjoyment of his old age, only wishing that he may live many years to enjoy the fruits of his hard-earned competence, the full measure of his worth as a man, and the friendship and companion- ship of troops of friends and admirers. Jlf-^t PnhKihpd In- JnhrcMan/ni/ J.iJlle iaZievli' //>S/ 59 FREDERICK S. MARTIN. Frederick Stanley Martin was born iu the County of Rutland, Vermont, on the 25th day of April, 1794. He was the youngest of six children, three of whom were boys. His education, like most farm- ers' boys of that day, was obtained at the district school, which he attended until he was seven years old. Al)Out this time he left his mother's house, (his father died before his recollection,) and spent three or four years with his relatives, who resided iu that vicinity. At the age of ten years he left Vermont, and became a member of his uncle Frederick Stanley's family, at New Hartford, in this State. There he remained five or six years. In 1810, young Martin having arrived at an age, as he. thought, that warranted him in looking out for him- self, left his uncle's hospitable roof and proceeded to Whitehall, where, after a short time, he obtained a situation as clerk in the mercantile estabhshment of a Mr. Anderson. There he spent two years, and then received the appointment of steward of the Steamer " Vermoiit," Capt. Winans, Master. The " Vermont " was employed in the service of the Government, and ran to and from all ports on Lake Champlain. The captain, clerk, pilot, and in fact all of young Martin's superiors, were addicted to drinking, and when either was unfit for service, he sup- plied his place, and not unfrequently he was compelled to act as cap- tain, clerk, pilot, steward, and cook at the same time. The war of 1812-13 followed, and during its continuance he resided at Burlington and Shelburne, Vermont. Immediately after peace was declared in 1815, he shipped from Newport, R. I., having gone thither for that purpose, on board a merchantman as a common sailor. The vessel sailed in the spring of 1816, to New Orleans, where she took on board a cargo of cotton, and thence she cleared for Liverpool. He returned to New Orleans in the same ship, where he was honorably discharged, and soon after returned to New York, after an absence of eighteen months, improved in health and possessed of considerable nau- tical knowledge. He hastened home, and after a short sojourn among his friends and relatives, he left the " Green Mountain State" for the western part of New York, then in common parlance " the far West." He reached Cauandaigua late in the fall of 1817, where he remained during the winter, " looking about," and doing little or nothing to 60 increase his possessions. In the spring of 1818, he came to Olean, and here he has lived ever since. He brought with liim a stock of goods, consisting mainly of dry goods and groceries, and these he bar- gained off for lumber, which he rafted and sent to Cincinnati. By this transaction he realized a good profit, and upon his return he invested his increased means in lumber, and again sought the Southern markets. Succeeding as before, the following year, 1820, found him a large dealer. Failing, however, to get off with his rafts, arks, flat boats, &c., in season, misfortune overtook him, and when he did reach the market, lumber had become a drug. It fell to such a figure as to be ruinous to all engaged in its traffic. Mr. Martin lost heavily, in fact, his all, and was besides nearly $2,000 in debt. He failed, with a score of others, and while he owed $2,000, which he could not pay at once, he asked no compromise, no discount — nothing but "time" to meet all his engagements. This was given him, and soon by industry and economy he was enabled to pay every dollar of his indebtedness. In February, 1820, Mr. Martin married Miss Cornelia Russel, daughter of Samuel Russel, of Pike, Allegany County, N. Y., one of the earliest settlers of that section. Mrs. Martin is still living in the enjoyment of good health, an ornament to the circle in which she moves, and beloved and esteemed by all who are brought within reach of her kindly influences. In 1821, he leased of Frederick A. Norton "The Coffee House," a small hotel then standing upon the present site of the Olean House, in the village of Olean. Together with the lumber business then just beginning to be developed, and the steady, though not large emigration to the west and south, " via Olean Point," this new busi- ness proved to be profitable. He kept this hotel ten years, and during that time had enriched himself sufficiently to become owner as well as proprietor of the property, and have a handsome surplus besides. In 1831, he leased his hotel and entered actively into mercantile pursuits, associated with his brother-in-law, Oliver M. Russel. The business of the new firm extended over a large tract of country, and fortune smiled upon him and his efforts. In 1834, his brother-in-law left the concern, and Mr. Martin con- tinued alone, gradually enlarging his business and constantly improv- ing in financial ability. In 1836, a year memorable for its land specu- lations and unparalleled " high prices," Mr. Martin made his first bold stroke for wealth. He sold the property now known as the " Lyman 61 Farm " for $26,000, and in clue time received every dollar of that amount. By this single transaction he was made one of tlie " wealthy men " of Cattaraugus County; for in those days a $30,000 citizen was looked upon as being " very rich." He continued his mercantile busi- ness up to 1851, when he transferred it to his son, Stanley Martix. During these twenty years of mercantile life, Mr. Martin maintain- ed an unsullied name and fame. His integrity and uprightness was acknowledged l)y all, and he was known here and elsewhere as a clear- headed, substantial merchant. During this long period he had, be- sides Mr. RussEL, but one partner, and this was Mr. J as. G. Johnson, whom he had reared from a boy of fifteen, and who is now a respected and prominent citizen of Allegany, in this county. Since his sons Stanley and Russel succeeded him in his mercantile operations, he has given his undivided attention to his extensive fai'ming and lumbering interests. While ]Mr. Martin has been accumulating an ample fortune, he has not been lax in his determination to build up the village of his adop- tion. Monuments of his enterprise are visible on every hand. In 1842 he rebuilt the Oleau House upon so extensive apian, that at this day it is the largest hotel under a single roof in this county. Without referring to his dwelling houses, of which he has built many, we may .mention his flouring mill, built in 1852. This is a model structure, costing not far from $10,000, and is perfect in all its appointments, and second to no mill in this region for size and power. Last year he built a large gang saw mill, capable of manufacturing fifty or sixty thousand feet of lumber daily ; and it is safe to say that it is not excelled by any water mill on the Allegany River. In all public enterprises Mr. Martin has been among the first in li)> erality and public spirit. In the village of Olean are four handsome churches, to the building of three of which, at least, he has contributed bountifully. To the Olean Academy he is a large contributor, and was the first President of the Board of Trustees, an honor he has well earned and a position he was well calculated to fill. He holds this appointment at the present time. Mr. Martin is the father of nine children, seven of whom are now living. It is frequently remarked that the sons, of whom there are four, partake strongly of their mother's energy, industry, and perse- verance, while the daughters, three in number, resemble iu mind and manner the quiet, uniform solidity of the father. 62 Mr. Martin has been mucli in public life, and in each and every po- sition to which he has been called, either by the partiality of his fellow citizens, or through the appointing power of the party to which he has for more than thirty years been attached, he has exhibited the same devotion to the right — the same determination to do his whole duty. His public life began in 1826, when he was appointed by Gov. Clin- ton a Major of the 226th Regiment New York State Militia. He held this commission and performed the duties imposed upon him untU 1830, when he was promoted by Lieut. Gov. Throop, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He resigned this appointment in 1833, the mili- tary spirit of this region having " died out." In December, 1830, he was appointed Postmaster at Olean. This was during Gen. Jackson's first term. He neither sought the appoint- ment, nor expected it, for all his political sympathies were at variance witli the party then in power. He did not know at the time why he was appointed, but learned subsequently that his friend, Jno. McGee, then a representative in Congress, had secured the appointment con- trary to party usage. He held this office through three successive ad- ministrations, and was removed by Mr. Yan Buren's Postmaster General, in 1839. During the campaign of 1839-40, Mr. Martin be- came an active opponent of the party in power, and rendered efficient service to the "hero of Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and for this was stripped of his official robes, greatly to his relief. The office was a tax upon him, and he frequently asked his Democratic friends to seek and obtain his removal, and they finally gratified him. In January, 1840, he was appointed by Gov. Seward "a Judge of the County Courts of Cattaraugus County." Judge Martin has the honor of being the only Whig who ever received the appointment of Judge under the then organization of the County Courts, it so happen- ing that when a vacancy occurred, before and after his term, the Dem- ocrats were in power. He held the office of Judge for five years, and performed the duties devolving upon him, faithfully and acceptably, and left the bench universahy respected. He was succeeded by Ash- BEL HuRD, of Gowauda. The Genesee Yalley Canal was authorized by the Legislature of 1836, and from that time to this, (and long before it, in fact, for he and his friends David Bockes and David Day, and their compeers from Olean to Rochester, began the agitation of the subject as early as 1823,) he has exerted all his influence, devoted much time, and expend- 63 ed not a little money, in securing the completion of this " outlet for south-western New York." His devotion to this great work kept him prominently before the people of this county, and in 1841, this, with other less important questions, induced his nomination by the Whig party of this district, for State Senator. He was elected, and the manner in which he discharged the duties of this high station gave very general satisfaction. Against his wishes, he was made a candi- date for re-nomination, but was defeated in the convention by the old political hacks of the district, who had other " axes to grind." This defeat so exasperated the people of his Assembly district, that at their Assembly district convention, which met soon after, he was nominated by acclamation for member of Assembly, and was, of course, elected. During his term in the Senate he was a member of the " Canal Committee," one of the most important committees of that body. In the Assembly he was made a member of the same committee, and l^y this means he was enabled to render essential service to the interests of a large portion of his constituents. Among the members of the popular branch of the State Legislature of 1849, and there were many able men in it, none commanded more respect or were more universally regarded as clear-sighted, far-seeing, conscientious legislators, than Hon. F. S. Martix. His sacrifices the three years he was in the Legislature — the neglect of his private affairs — the loss of the comforts of a home, &c., were very great, yet he had the satisfaction of knowing, that through his instrumentality the work upon the Genesee Yalley Canal, which had long been suspended, was resumed, and its ultimate completion provided for. In the fall of 1850 Judge Martin was nominated and elected to the thirty-second Congress. This was during the most fearful political ex- citement the country had ever experienced. Gen. Taylor had died, and Millard Fillmore had succeeded him as President of the United States. The agitation of the slavery question consequent upon the organization of territorial governments for Utah, Oregon and Washington, and the admission of California with a constitution prohibiting slavery within her borders, had aroused a storm North and South, East and AVest, that came nigh sundering the bands of the Union. Mr. Fillmore marked out a plan of adjustment in regard to the difficulties which threatened so seriously the peace and harmony of the nation, and Judge Martin, as the representative of a strong Whig constituency, while opposed to some of those measures of settlement, deemed it to 64 be his duty to accept and support them as a whole, convinced " they were the best that could be obtained." This is not the occasion to dis- cuss the propriety or wisdom of his course. No man, we dare say, will question the purity of his motives or doubt his honesty in what he de- termined, after mature reflection, to be his duty both as a man and a patriot. Having decided to support the " compromise measures of 1850," and +he leading acts and policy of Mr. Fillmore's administra- tion, he did not falter or turn to the right or left in doing what he could to render that administration efficient and acceptable to the peo- ple of his district. His course in Congress was marked, as his whole public life had been, with a consciousness of the important trust com- mitted to him, and every act of his while there will bear the closest scrutiny. He earned the confidence and esteem of his colleagues, and won for himself an enviable reputation for industry and integrity. His acute discernment and comprehensive hne of thought made him a dis- tinguished man among his fellow members; and when he rose to give his views upon any subject — and these cases were rare, for he is a man of few words — he commanded close attention, and was listened to with more than ordinary gratification. Since the close of his Congressional term, Judge Martin has with- drawn, almost wholly, from public life. As the weight of years creep upon him, he becomes more and more attached to his family circle and its comforts, and less occupied with the busy scenes transpiring about him. He is the possessor of an ample fortune, the care and supervis- ion of which requires his whole attention. His "home farm" contains 1,200 acres, 600 of which are improved. He owns, besides his saw and grist mill, farm buildings, &c., two timber lots, containing together 1,100 acres of land, and a large amount of village property. He is doubtless worth $125,000 above and beyond all indebtedness. In privati; life Judge Martin is hospitable to the stranger, frank and free-hearted with his neighbors and friends, and kind and generous to the poor. He is a constant thinker, and one is liable to mistake his seeming abstracted manner for unsociability or lack of courtesy. This is not the case. When "out of thought," and freed from the cares and perplexities of business, he is one of the most companionable and sociable of men. Judge Martin's word is his bond. He deals hon- estly with all men, and requires the same fidelity from others that he practices himself He will not stoop to do a "small thing," nor suffer it to be done by others if he can prevent it. He early conceived a 65 hatred of distinctions among men based solely upon wealth, and is, therefore, generous towards all, rich or poor, high or low; he is high spuited, without exhibiting the least ostentation or pomp, and emi- nently just from an inherent love of right. Judge Martin is now more than sixty-three years of age, and pos- sesses a strong, vigorous constitution, and is in the enjoyment of good health. We trust he may live many years to adorn the position he now occupies — a self-made, honest, sagacious, prudent citizen — and be known and appreciated for his worth as a man, and his cordiality as a friend and neighbor. In 1849, Judge Martin accepted the invitation of the Committee, and deUvered before the County Agricultural Society the Annual Ad- dress. This document contains so much of interest to our citizens, re- ferring as it does to the earl}'^ history of the county, and exhibits in so clear a light the natural turn of the author's mind, that we are unwil- ling to let the occasion pass with simply an allusion to it. We make such extracts from it as we deem most interesting. The following occurs at the opening of the Address: "The earth is termed our mother; from her bosom all draw their support. The rich, the poor, the bond, the free, the prince and the peasant, are equally dependent on her for the temporal blessings with which their daily wants are supplied. How important, then, its study; are we certain that we are not misled by the dim light of nature ? Should we not give an impulse to the already awakened activity — study into the wonderful economy of Mature, its order and agencies ? "An all-wise Providence has placed man here for some good. The sanctuary of Nature is thrown wide open, and he may fearlessly enter and partake of its blessings. The earth, aided by sun and light, is en- dowed with capacities to produce vegetable matter sufficient to sustain and support life. "The useful and the beautiful are harmoniously blended — the former in the substantials necessary to a healthy condition of body; the latter in objects gratifying to the sight, as the soft blending tints of a far-oif landscape, the shifting play of light over waving fields of grain, the 5 66 meandering stream impatient of restraint, revealing a world of untold magnificence, and producing as it were within us an ideal world, open- ing on the mental eje. It varies in form and properties, and its particles go to make up what we denominate soil. It appears to us a heterogeneous mass of matter, covered with vegetable and mineral remains, which by the wonderful economy of nature are undergoing change; at one time maturing, at another decaying and yet never lost. Were it not so, the earth would be constantly diminishing in size, and bounds set to its existence. "The vegetable may grow, mature, and decay; collected to the bosom of the earth by its proper agencies, it affords nutritious food to the new organized plants. In its last stages of decay, the seed, from specific lightness, may be wafted to parts remote, and there germinate as in the parent soil; other particles floating in the atmosphere are again brought down in the refreshing shower — the more evanescent ones by the nightly dews. Whatever falls on the mountains gradually washes in to enrich and fertilize the valleys — whatever falls on the ocean affords support to its teeming millions. " The relation between vegetables and animals is of the most inti- mate kind; being mutually convertible, one into the other, and depend- ing on each other for existence. In fact, they are the only natural means by which animal life can be sustained. And as all vegetable matter differs in form, we at once infer that every soil has its natural productions. On sandy portions of land the pine springs up spontane- ously. On our lovr and wet lands, the spruce and willow; while our openings abound with scrub-oak and hazel. Soils charged with excess of moisture, rarely, if ever, produce plants desirable to man or beast; their tender and delicate fibres must have a lighter bed in which to re- pose, sufficiently dry to admit easily the rays of the sun. Timothy and red-top grow best in moist lands; but constantly saturated with water they soon run out, giving place to tufts of wild grass, destroying the beauty of the farm, and that which is of greater importance, the profits of the farmer. "Hence the first study of the cultivator should be tlie properties of the soil, enabling him to adapt the crop to its peculiarities; to pre- pare it in the proper season, and in the most economical manner; to give a proper rotation to the different grains and grasses; to ascertain approved breeds of domestic animals, which are useful for food, and necessary to aid him in his labors, and will produce the greatest profit 67 in market; the improvements made in farming implements and modes of culture. These, and a great variety of matters which it is important for the farmer to make himself acquainted with, will give employment to his leisure hours; and the time thus spent will produce as profitable results as his more active labors in the field. Having made these general remarks on the subject of Agriculture, it may not be inappro- priate to give a brief sketch of the early history of this county, and then pass on to the more practical part of the subject which has brought us together. "The first purchase of lands from the Holland Company within our county limits was made by Major Adam Hoops, Birdsey ]S[orton, Ebenezer Norton, and Joel Steel, in 1804. Their tract of twenty thousand acres was located on each side of the Allegany River and Olean Creek, and mostly in the first township of the 4th and 5th ranges. They commenced a settlement the same year, and soon after laid out the village of Hamilton, (better known as Olean Point,) which was considered the head of navigation on the Allegany; and I. think it is the highest point to which any steamboat has ascended above tide-water, being 1,470 feet: this was performed by the Steamer Allegany, in the spring of 1830. "From the commencement of the settlement at Olean until the com- pletion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the Allegany was used by thousands of emigrants on their way to the South-western States. They passed down in arks, flat-boats, skifi's, and on rafts. I can call to mind one raft that left Olean with 350 persons on board, in the spring of 1818. In March, 1808, this county, Chautauque, aud Niagara were taken from Genesee, and erected into separate counties. The west part of Cattaraugus was attached to Niagara, and the east part to Allegany County, for judicial purposes. The town of Olean was organized by the same Act and embraced the whole county. The first town meeting- was held on the Ischua Creek, at the house of the late Gen. Joseph McClure, in the spring of 1809. James Green was elected the first Supervisor from this county at that town meeting. The first saw mill erected in the county was on Haskell Creek, about three miles above Olean, and was built by James Green, in 1805. Henry Conrad built the first grist mill, on the Ischua Creek, about the same time; this was situated two miles below the present village of Frankhnville. "The town of Ischua was organized in 1812, (since changed to Frankhnville, ) Perrysburgh in 1814, Great Yailey and Little Valley in 1818, Ellicottville, Freedom, Hindsdale, and Yorkshire in 1820. The county was fully organized in the year 18 It, and the first County Courts were held at Hamilton, (now Olean,) in July of that year. Timothy H. Porter was the first Judge; Jaaies Brooks, Ashbel Freeman, Francis Green, and William Price were Associate Judges. Israel Curtis was the first Sheriff; Sands Bouton, County Clerk; Henry Wooster, Surrogate; Sylvenus Russell, County Treasurer. But two of the first commission on the bench remain with us, and they have fully complied with the command given to Noah and his sons, and bid fan' to remain for long years to bless their posterity and reap the reward of well-spent lives. The first courts were held in Ellicottville, in July, 1818, at the house of Baker Leonard; that house and the Company's Laud Office were all the dwellings then erected in that place. A court house and jail in one building was built soon after; this was burnt down in the winter of 1829, and the present court house and jail were built the same year. "Settlements were commenced on the Cattaraugus Creek, and on the waters of the Conewango, as early as 1810, but no general settle- ment of the county by a farming population can be placed anterior to 18n; and singular as it may seem to the younger portion of this audience, the fact is nevertheless true, that lands were held higher in this county up to 1820, than they were in Niagara or Chautauque; and your county records show that village lots in Hamilton, {now Olean,) sold at a higher price until 1822, than they were bringing in Buffalo. "The Allegany River was then used as the great commercial high- way to the valley of the Ohio and Mississippi, and was deemed of more importance than lake navigation. The completion of the Erie Canal changed the whole order of things, the tide of emigration changed to the upper lakes, and Cattaraugus was almost forgotten by the hardy pioneer. The splendid white pine on the Allegany and its tributaries had attracted the attention of men fully equal to the task, and every portion of the county gave promise to all who would obey the Divine command. The sound of the woodman's axe rung along the valleys, and the sides of our hills became dotted with the dwellings of civiliza- tion ; the war path of the red men gave place to the more comfortable highway ; the howl of the wolf to the bleating of our flocks. "The scenes of the present day are of a different character in Catta- raugus from those of 1818, when I became a resident of the county; 69 and when reviewing the numerous difficulties which have been over- come, and the present condition of things, I see no cause to regret for the past, and much to hope for the future. "The completion of the Erie Canal more fully developed the re- sources of Western New York, and the prominent men of that day who had given that splendid work their most hearty snjiport, never lost sight of the importance of its connection with the Allegany River. From them emanated the project of the Genesee Valley Canal; and it had an important influence with the first movers of the New York and Erie Railroad. When these two works shall have been completed, our county may with truth be ranked among the best in the State for grazing purposes. This may seem a bold assertion, unsupported by facts; but when you contemplate her secluded situation, and the rapid progress already made under her local disadvantages, what will be her condition in a few years after the completion of the New York and Erie Railroad and the Genesee Yalley Canal, and in an agricultural point of view? As an evidence of her capacity to produce cattle, sheep, butter, cheese, &c., permit me to make some extracts from the census of 1845: "Our population in 1830, v/as 15,126; in 1845, it was 30,169; in the year 1844, the county produced 177,000 bushels of wheat, 13,000 of barley, 96,000 of corn, 459,000 of oats, (omitting fractions.) It contained in 1845, 45,256 neat cattle, one-third of which were cows; from which 1,284,535 lbs. of butter and 567,807 fbs. of cheese were made. We also had at that time, 6,908 horses, 102,780 sheep, 30 churches, 220 common schools, 24 grist mills, 144 saw mills, 67 clergy- men; besides lawyers, doctors, merchants and land officers to our heart's content. That our next census will show a large increase in our population and products, no one at all acquainted with the county will doubt. "The difficulties attending the first settlement of a heavy timbered region to a great extent have passed. We are now in a position to improve and better our condition as farmers, and to give an impetus, energy, and activity to the various improvements connected with Agri- culture. I would not be understood as recommending what is often termed book farming in its fullest extent; but allow me to say, that a prejudice exists, which cannot too soon be removed, against improved farming implements, improved breeds of animals, new modes of culture, 70 and more especially against all books and periodicals on these interest- ing and valuable subjects. "This county, in common with most others in the State, organized a County Agricultural Society in 1841, and tlie Hon. Peter Ten Broeck was the first President. This society, like most improvements, has had its share of difficulties to encounter, but they have been met and over- come in a sphit which Avill not be conquered. The display and attendance during the present Fair give undoubted evidence of its valuable services, and should urge the officers and members to still greater exertions. The duties committed to you are of a high char- acter, for it is through the agency of the county societies that we are to look for knowledge of the various and important improvements being brought home to our agricultural population. Your annual county fairs have done much in this Avay, and their continuance will prove their usefulness. "Allow me to call your attention to the importance and value of the various agricultural papers and periodicals. Many of these can be ob- tained at fifty cents or one dollar per year. These would give you a monthly catalogue of the improvements which are continually being made in farming husbandry. No farmer who desires to prosper in his business can afford to be without one or more of them. Our School District Libraries, from their location, can be made of great value to the farmer. The influence of this society will soon procure men quali- fied to make proper selections, and these libraries in a few years will contain all the valuable publications in relation to cattle, horses, sheep, and swine; their mode of management; the diseases to which they are liable; the remedies adapted to their cure; the best mode of cultiva- ting our various crops; and their preparation for market. "These books would then be within the reach of all, and it strikes me that it is a very practical way of sowing knowledge, as it were, broad-cast over the county; that a rich harvest would be the result, no one can doubt, who beheves that ' knowledge is power.' The for- mation of farmers' clubs has been tried in many of our towns through- out the State, and are highly commended by all those who have seen their benefits. Town fairs at stated periods, say spring and Ml, would prove of great advantage as regular market days, and the information obtained on such occasions would fully repay the outlay of time in at- tending them. The cattle raised in Cattaraugus already take a high rank in the eastern markets, and are sought for with a zeal which gives 71 substantial evidence of their value. Let us continue to improve as we have done for a few years past, and our stock will rank with any in the State. The greater portion of tliis county is well adapted to grazing purposes; our soil, climate, and elevation secure us against the severe droughts which so often destroy the pastures of the more central parts of the state. And the fact that the average time of foddering is less here than in the majority of the counties in the state, is a strong in- ducement to enlarge as well as improve in this branch of husbandry. The same organic laws of consanguinity govern the whole animal creation, and should never be neglected by any who are desirous to improve their stock. The expense of raising a superior horse is no more than one of our common breeds. And this fact holds true through the whole catalogue of domestic animals. The difference in the market value fully repays for all the trouble and expense of pro- curing valuable crosses of the different breeds, besides the gratification of a laudable state, county, and individual pride to excel. "This county is peculiarly well adapted to the raising of sheep; our hills affording them the richest and most reliable pasturage during the season, and our winters are mild in comparison with a large portion of the state, where wool growing is considered a lucrative business. Some more attention is required to improve our flocks, and in the manner of preparing the wool for market. In this branch of husbandry there is nothing to prevent our taking a high rank, but want of atten- tion on the part of farmers. "The dairies of our county have proved eminently successful, and the exports of butter and cheese have become a large item. They are holding a respectable rank in the market: the county can well sustain a very large increase, and every inducement to those engaged hi it to enlarge and improve is offered in the enhanced price and ready sale of their products. The grazing farmer has a decided advantage over those who are engaged in the growing of grain crops; the soil on grazing farms receives a proper return for the crop taken from it with very little expense to the cultivator — and at least sustains itself — and more generally increases in its products. This is not the case on grain farms ; they can only be kept up by a proper rotation of crops and the addition of manures more or less expensive. "Although the largest portion of the county is better adapted to grazing than the growing of grain, the latter should not be neglected, and the supply of animal and vegetable manures, always at the control 72 of the grazing farmer, will enable him to ensure a plentiful supply of grain for his own use: and those portions of the county which are better adapted to the raising of wheat, can with proper attention furnish a sufficient supply to prevent so large an import of flour from other sections of the State. Spring wheat has proved to be a profit- able crop in almost all parts of the county, and my own experience has satisfied me that winter wheat can be cultivated with profit on our pine lands in the vicinity of the Allegany. I have raised it to some extent for twenty years past, and seldom failed of a fair crop when the ground was properly prepared, and the wheat sown as early as the first of September. I have this year raised about thirty acres of winter wheat, a sample of which has been exhibited here, and I have the opinion of wheat farmers that it would be called a fair article in any market. In one field of six acres — clear of stumps, the soil a sandy loam underlaid with gravel, with a rolling surface — the original timber was white pine and oak. Two acres of it are occupied by a young apple orchard; the land was well manured from the barn yard in the spring of 1846; sowed to oats, and seeded with red clover, mowed twice in the summer of 184*1. In June, 1848, it was plowed under, ten inches deep, was cross plowed twice, and harrowed between each plowing. Twelve bushels of Hutchinson wheat, rolled in plaster, were sowed upon it the last week in August; fifteen bushels of lime were sown broad-cast on it, soon after it was harrowed in. This wheat was harvested between the 15th and 25th of July last; thrashed a few days since, showing a yield of 21 bushels to the acre, weighing 60 lbs. The remaining 24 acres, which had not been cleared of the pine stumps, were sowed about the same time with 1| bushels to the acre of the same kind of wheat, and produced 25 bushels to the acre. " I have in previous years raised wheat equal to this, and it is men- tioned at this time to induce others to try it. " There is one marked feature of our national character which is often displayed in our county: I allude to the great desire of change. The often futile hope of bettering their condition, by some lucky turn in the wheel of fortune, has induced many a farmer who was doing well to abandon all, and seek a new home upon the rich prairies of the west. A large proportion of this class would be very glad if they could return to their old localities, and exchange the ague and chill fevers imbibed in their land of promise for the bracing air and pure water of Cattaraugus. 73 "There is to some extent a want of taste in the construction of our farm liouses and the ont-buildings connected with them. All persons, in traveling through any country, form their opinion of its inhabitants by the appearance of their dwellings. A neat and well-ordered dwell- ing exercises a moral no less than a physical influence over its inmates, and is seldom found in the abode of ignorance, vice, or intemperance. One great advantage attending the judicious construction and location of buildings on a farm, is in fixing the value of the homestead in the minds of the family, thereby rendering the hearthstone more sacred. "The amount of capital invested in agricultural pursuits is always safer than in mercantile operations; commercial revulsions, the hazards of floods and of fires, often destroy the earnings of a life spent in the latter pursuit. The success of a very few of tliis class of men is not a proper criterion by wliich we are enabled to form a correct judgment. They are only the exceptions to the general rule. Of the numbers who have commenced in mercantile business, it has been estimated that ninety-five in every one hundred have failed. "The professions offer but little better encouragement. The me- chanical branches are not so much overstocked, and proffer more inducements to such as prefer leaving the safer pursuits of Agriculture. And when we inquire of a healthy, robust man, sixty-five years of age, what his calling has been, nineteen out of every twenty will inform us that they are farmers. Many other reasons offer themselves to my mind in favor of agricultural pursuits, but I forbear wearying your patience with this self-evident truth. "And in conclusion allow me to impress upon every young man, that the pursuits of the farmer are not incompatible with the character of a gentleman. He is in a position which enables him to feel a degree of independence which few, if any, professional or commercial men can arrive at, and an education is as important to him as to the profession- al man, and no substantial reason can be given why it is not. It may not be important for you to be able to conjugate the verbs, and trace out the roots of the dead languages, but it is important for you to know the chemical analysis of the different soils which are daily under your feet, and ascertain their adaptation to the various kinds of crops. Do all in your power to sustain your County Society: its influence is humanizing and exalting. Instead of wishing things better, go to work and make them so. Instead of spending your time in vain re- grets for some advantages in our neighboring counties, strive to equal 74 and to excel them; and not five years will have passed until cold frosty Cattaraugus will take a rank among other counties of the State, to which her natural resources and wealth justly entitle her." CHAUNCEY JOHNSTON FOX. Few men in the County of Cattaraugus are more intimately connect- ed with its history, or have borne a more conspicuous part in its public events since its organization, than the subject of this sketch. A his- tory of the early settlers of the county, who are identified with its fortunes, would be incomplete without mention of Mr. Fox; and in looking for examples of successful effort to overcome the adverse influ- ences of poverty and humble origin, in the road to honorable distinc- tion, no better illustration can be found in our midst. Mr. Fox was born on the 21st day of August, 179*7, in Tolland County, in the State of Connecticut. His father was a man of limited means, and unable to give his children any advantages of education beyond a meagre training in the Common Schools. In the year 1818, in the month of August, Mr. Fox left his home, with a view of estabhshing himself in business, or seeking some occu- pation that would furnish him a living, and, in company with a younger brother, came to Olean in this county. Not meeting with any em- ployment to his satisfaction, he conceived the idea of going down the river to Cincinnati. He accordingly purchased a skiff, procured a sup- ply of bread and cheese, and, with his brother, set out upon the voy- age, with no distinct idea of the geography of the country, or the dif- ficulties of the task he had undertaken. With the ardor of youth, and under the influence of a sanguine and hopeful nature, he did not hesitate to commit himself to the waters, never doubting that it would prove itself to him the "stream of fortune." After sailing down the cur- rent for an entire day, they found them.selves at night still surrounded by the wilderness, not having seen a white man since they started, and spent the night in their boat upon the water. The next day they pro- ceeded on their voyage, and towards night saw a white man crossing C^-^/ty ^-Uiuyt^ty^c^-^'V l\ML^hcJlyJchnUa7dey.L7UhlkUc<^y/S5. the river, and landing, they followed him to his house, which proved to be that of a settler by the name of Tome, well known in the early history of this section of country. At the suggestion of Tome, who offered to employ both the young men, the further prosecution of the voyage to Cincinnati was aban- doned, and the next day they went to work. Immediately upon the commencement of their labors, the brother of Mr. Fox was taken sick with tyi^hoid fever, and confined for a period of eight weeks. The ex- penses of this sickness exhausted all the means of both of the brothers, and they eveu sold then* clothes to discharge the liabilities incurred; and so severe did the burthen prove, that Chauncey exchanged the last suit he had for an old suit of regimentals that had "seen the wars," for the sake of the difference received. In procuring a physi- cian, he was compelled to travel to Ellicottville, the nearest point where one of these dignitaries resided, the distance being over thirty miles. The nearest physician was at this time in practice at Ellicott- ville, and although a good physician and an honorable and benevolent man, was in the habit of looking closely to his worldly interest, and demanded pay in advance. To accomplish his purpose, Mr. Fox dis- posed of some necessary articles of clothing, procured the means, and secured the attendance and services of the doctor. Soon after the recovery of his brother, Mr. Fox came to Great Val- ley, and for several years was engaged at lumbering, in the employ of Francis Green and Judge Chamberlain. Finding the labor too severe for his constitution, and fcehng that the instincts of his mind and genius were not directed in the jn'oper channel, he turned his attention to the study of the law. He commenced reading in the office of John A. Bryan, Esq., then the leading lawyer of the county, and in Janu- ary, 1826, was admitted to practice in the Court of Common Pleas of the county, and was finally admitted as an Attorney in the Supreme Court, in January, 1833. From the period above mentioned, Mr. Fox has followed the profession of the law until after the passage of the Code, in 1848, when he retired to his fiirm in the neighborhood of Ellicottville, where he now resides, and is engaged in the peaceful oc- cupation of the agriculturalist. In his practice at the bar Mr. Fox was eminently successful. His strength was mainly as an advocate, and few men in the ranks of his profession possessed the power over a jury, and control over the minds of men, that he exhibited during his entire professional career. His 76 manner in speaking was earnest, energetic, and while indulging in few of the embellishments of oratory, he was gifted with a native eloquence that took deep hold of the minds and feelings of his auditors. Aside from his professional career, Mr. Fox has been prominently con- nected with the politics of the County and State. His connection with the i^arty that opposed the election of Gen. Jackson, and subsequently composed the Whig party of the country, gave him an opportunity of attaining the distinction to which the partiality of the people called him. In 1832 and 1833, he was elected to the Assembly from the County of Cattaraugus, and served through the sessions the following winters. In the fall of 1834, he was elected in the Eighth Senate District, a member of the State Senate, in the place of John Birdsall, resigned. In the fall of 1835, he was re-elected for the full term, and served until 1840, when his term expired. During his service in the Senate, many important questions affecting the interests of his constituents were be- fore that body, and on all occasions received from him a zealous and efficient support. He was mainly instrumental in securing the passage of the bill to construct the Genesee Valley Canal, and has lived to see that important work in successful operation. In 1833, while in the Assembly, he advocated and secured the pas- sage of a law taxing the debts of non-residents; and while in the Sen- ate in 1838, brought forward, and sustained almost alone, an Act tax- ing the lands of non-residents, for the support of roads and bridges. These two measures were of great importance to the mterests of the county, and for many years had great influence upon its prosperity. In many of the towns a large revenue is still derived from non-resident landholders for the improvement of roads and bridges, and reheves the people of a heavy burthen in maintaining the avenues of travel in sparcely settled districts. Nor should the labors of Mr. Fox in behalf of the New York and Erie Railroad be forgotten. As chairman of the Railroad Committee in the Senate, he rendered invaluable aid in securing the advancement of this great work ; and to no one man in the Legislature during the progress of important bills in aid of the road through that body, are the people more indebted for its final success, than to Mr. Fox. It must l^e no small gratification to him to know that his services are properly appreciated. In the exciting political debates in that body he also took a promi- nent part, and mamtained a high position among such men as Young, l'„/,li..-h,;i l,yj.,l,,i \l,tiil<\- LillJc Val/e^■.yy fSS7. ?7 Maynard, and Seward, and others who from time to time were his as- sociates. He has also lield various otlier poHtieal and ofliieial stations, by elec- tion from the people. He was nominated by his party as a candidate for delegate to the Constitutional Convention, in 1846, but declmed to run. He has ever possessed a strong hold upon the aifections of the people, and whenever a candidate for their suffrages he has run largely in advance of his ticket. In addition to his civil honors, he has somehow obtained the mili- tary title of " Colonel," but whether from a legitimate claim to the of- fice, as actually one of his " country's defenders," or from the fact of owning in his early years and wearing the above mentioned suit of regi- mentals, we are not advised; but be that as it may, he would do no discredit to the position if he were called upon to fill it now. Mr. Fox has succeeded in accumulating a handsome competence, and is now enjoying a life of retirement on one of the finest farms in the county. His taste is particidarly gratified in raising stock, and al- though he may not boast of his " cattle on a thousand hills," his con- tribution of animals at the County Fairs is at once evidence of his success in this branch of agricultural industry, and his enterprise and liberality in an effort to improve this great and leading interest of our population. ALSON LEAVENWORTH, M. D. The subject of this sketch, Hon. Alson Leavenworth, was born in the town of Woodbury, (near Roxboro',) Litchfield County, in the State of Connecticut, on the 12th day of October, 1788. In his boy- hood — as was the custom in the good old "land of steady habits" — • he was sent to the common schools to receive that mental culture, to fit him for future usefulness, that the early New England school-mas- ters knew so well how to impart, and, when necessary, how to impress, upon the minds of the rising youths committed to their charge; and, at home, that careful moral training which can alone be imparted under the parental roof, and which seldom fails as the monitor to right through hfe. 78 During the summer seasons, young Leavenworth worked on the farm with his father and brothers, until he became of age ; when he commenced the study of Medicine under experienced practitioners, and pursued his studies diligently until May, 1811; when, having success- fully passed the rigid examination peculiar to the allopathic faculty, he was licensed to practice medicine and surgery in his native State. On the 11th October, 1811, Dr. Leavenworth married Miss Sally Canfield, of Woodbury, who has been his accomplished wife for the long period of forty-six years. In the course of his first year's profes- sional service in his native town, he became convinced that the mere study of books and ordinary practice did not qualify him to perform, with confident skill, surgery in the varied forms in which cases were likely to occur. The necessary education in this most difficult branch of the medical profession could only be supplied at some medical col- lege, located in a large city, in connection with daily hospital practice. Now, there could be no difficulty in supplying this deficiency; for the novice in Litchfield County could take his seat iu the cars of the Housatonic Railroad, and in four hours enter the portals of the Albany Medical College; iu sixteen hours, via the N". Y. Central Rail- road, be received as a student in the medical department of the TJni- versity at Buffalo. This is true of 1851; but the time young Dr. Leavenworth thought of completing his education in Surgery was anno 1812. Buffalo did not possess a village corporation; Albany was a small city; there was no Housatonic nor a N. Y. Central Rail- road — nor even an Erie Canal. The University of Pennsylvania, located in the City of Philadelphia — the then commercial metropolis of the Union — presented the most eligible opportunity for young Leavenworth to perfect himself in his chosen profession; having am- ple daily hospital practice in medicine and sm'gery, the most eminent professors in its faculty, and easily accessible 1iy the trading vessels that frequently visited that port. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1812, Dr. Leavenworth made the voyage to Philadelphia, and entered the University as a student. The Professors of the University, headed by Dr. Rush, were each eminent in the department of his professorship, and presenting a com- bined array of learning, talent, and practical medical and surgical skill unsurpassed— justifying its distinguished reputation, and giving it the pre-eminence as the first Medical University on the continent. During his year oi practice, he did not relax his studies of the best medical au- 79 thors; so that in attending the several "courses of lectures" at the University, and the hospital practice, he was enabled to make more rapid proficiency than the average of his 500 fellow students. It was the fortune of Dr. Leavenworth to be one of the class that attended the last course of lectures prepared and delivered by the cele- brated Bexjami.v Rush, M.D., one of the Professors of the University, a distinguished revolutionary patriot, and a Signer of the Declaration or Independence, as a delegate from Pennsylvania, in the Continental Congress. Graduating in the spring of 1813, Dr. Leavenworth returned to his home in Connecticut, and resumed the practice of his profession, and soon after received the appointment of Surgeon in the Connecticut line of militia, ordered into the service of the United States, in the war with Great Britain, 1812-14. But the well-known dispute between the authorities of the General Government and the State, regardmg the right of each to appoint the regimental and general officers to command the State Militia, when called into the service of the L^nited States, prevented Dr. Leavenworth seeing active service under this appoint- ment. The State was undoubtedly right in its claim to officer its own militia — a right that the volunteer regiments in the late war with Mexico exercised, by electing their own officers. During the four or five years following the war of 1812-14, many of the young men of Connecticut turned their attention to the public lands granted to that State, by Congress, for her services during the Revolutionary War. These lands were in the State of Ohio, constituting a large territory in the northern portion of the State, and bordering on Lake Erie, and were reserved to the State of Connecticut, (as before observed,) embracing the district now familiarly known as the " Western Reserve,"- — then, as the " Connecticut Reserve." In the spring of 1818, Dr. Leavenworth decided to emigrate to that far-distant State. Accordingly a large covered wagon was prepared and fitted up with the household goods; a yoke of working oxen were purchased; the arrangements being all completed, the solemn (and final, as all believed,) leave-taking ended; in June, bidduig farewell to the " land of steady habits," the long journey was began, and in four weeks the party arrived in the village of Batavia. There they halted to recruit their team and rest themselves after the fatigues of the slow, tedious journey. Reader, think of that journey of four weeks, with ox teams, that could now be performed in sixteen hours! While sojourning at Batavia, Dr. Leavenworth became acquainted with the agents of the Holland Land Company, by whom he was posted up in regard to the lands m Cattaraugus County. Meeting occasion- ally with persons who had settled there, and from their representations of the healthfulness of the climate, its unsurpassed, pure spring water, the good quality of the soil, and the great quantity of fine timber, he decided to go and examine for himself. After about a week's tedious journey, with the ox team, through the almost unbroken wilderness of "cold Cattaraugus," on the 25th of September they reached "the vil- lage" of Ellicottville, consisting of the "public square," thickly studded with the stumps of the recently fallen trees, the Land Office, a few log tenements, and a "hotel." To revert back, one would naturally sup- pose that the demand for a doctor and the prospect for a cornucopia were equally dubious! Xot so, however; for the "ills that flesh is heir to" follow ahke the back-woodsman, the villager, or the denizen of the crowded city; and it was not long before the doctor had patients — many, doubtless, severely taxing his patience without replenishing his garner, though extending his fame. As the settlers located here and there over the country. Dr. Leavenworth received calls as necessity demanded: sometimes near by, frequently a few miles off, quite often long distances; from whatever quarter came the summons, true to his tutelar divinity, (J^sculapius,) the horse was saddled, the saddle-bags and axe prepared, and the doctor was off upon the rough journey of mercy, hope, and danger. In those days the axe was to the doctor a necessity to "spot trees" to find his way back, and when at the pa- tient's shanty or log house, to cut browse for his faithful horse, and not unfrequently to cut firewood for the inmates. The patient served — a hearty meal of mush or samp disposed of — the invalid's blessing — the doctor remounts and starts on his homeward journey, when he is met by messengers who require his attention in other directions; and after a few miles through the woods, strike an Indian trail, which is followed up the Little Valley Creek, over by the Drew gulf valley, till the sec- ond patient's house is reached — the sufferer's necessities attended to, the horse browsed, when a "bee line due north" is struck, and over hills and valleys goes the doctor, 20 miles, to a thkd patient, on the Cattaraugus Creek. A sound night's sleep on a hemlock brush bed, and in the morning taking the settler's trail, the doctor wends his way homeward, which he reaches at nightfall, after several days' absence. His practice extended from Kinzue and Corydon, in Pennsylvania, on 81 the South, to CoUius, in Erie County, N. Y., North; among Indians as well as whites was he called to visit the sick. A doctor's life, in its best phase, is one not to be envied; but to one, like the venerable subject of this notice, who has performed laborious pioneer service, his memory, at least, should be held in grateful remem- brance. Doubtless the doctor's genial humor, and his inexhaustible fund of wit and anecdote, often served to alleviate (if not the antidote) the patieut's sufferings. Dr. Leavenworth, as a physician, was often called to the perform- ance of difficult cases of surgery, which, at the present day, with the improved surgical instruments now in use, could be more easily accom- plished. A case of importance, (and the first one ever performed in the county,) was related to the writer of this notice, that required the amputation of a limb of a middle-aged Indian, residing upon the Alle- gany Reservation, which at once shows the ready resources of the doc- tor, and the unflinching nerve of his counseling friend and assistant in the operation, John Greex, Esq. The Indian had suffered for several years with a lame knee, that finally became so dangerous as to threaten Ms life; when his condition became knov.n to the Quakers residing at the Quaker Mission, near the southern end of the Reservation, these benevolent Friends applied to Dr. Leavenworth for medical advice, who, upon examination, decid- ed that amputation was absolutely necessary to save his life. Accord- ingly the doctor made (from necessity) his surgical instruments from a carpentei''s chest of tools, and the following day, assisted by John Green, Esq., and another resident of Great Yalley, amputated the poor Indian's leg. As the doctor began his work, the latter assistant fainted. Green made a brisk application of sole leather upon his nether person, and he speedily revived and left, when the doctor, assisted by Green, successfully accomplished the painful task, and the Indian so far regained his health and strength as to live to a good old age. A friend relates a good anecdote of the doctor, that shows self-reli- ance on his part, as well as it illustrates the old saw, that "in a multi- tude of doctors there is danger." The doctor was taken suddenly and violently sick, and of course other doctors volunteered their offices; but the doctor sent for his old personal and valued friend, Samuel Ewing, Esq., to whom he stated his case, prepared a written "prescription," and told him that, from the nature and situation of his disease, he feared that he might become deranged; "but," said the doctor, "let 6 t2 the disease run as it may, I charge you to follow my prescription to the letter, and at all events hep the doctors aicaij !'' Besides his multifarious cures as a physician, Judge Leavenworth has held various public offices, and served his fellow citizens in any ca- pacity where they deemed his services useful. On the 25th of Janu-^ ary, 1823, he was appointed First Judge of the County Courts of Cat- taraugus County, which office he continued to hold until February 15, 1833, when he was succeeded by Hon. Benjamin Chamberlain. Al- though not educated to the bar, and having but slight knowledge of law as a science, he brought to the performance of his duties a large fund of common sense, an intuitive perception of legal principles, and a deep appreciation of the equitable obligations and duties of the citizen in all his varied relations. With an integrity above suspicion, and be- yond the reach of all extraneous influences, he held the scales of justice with an even hand, and parties and suitors in his Court seldom had oc- casion to appeal from his decisions, or complain of his administration of the law. His intercourse with the bar was always pleasant and famil- iar, and while he presided in his Court with a spirit of kindness, and a familiar and unrestrained bearing and manner, the innate integrity and dignity of his character was reflected upon his office, and commanded the respect of all who had occasion to appear before him in his official character. He has also held the office of Supervisor of the towns of Coldspring and New Albion ; a Commissioner to superintend the erection of the County buildings at Ellicottville ; Commissioner of Loans; and a Commissioner to lay out public roads on the Indian Reservation, and various other positions, of which we have no data. In all these various public trusts he has maintained a course of sterling honesty that has never been im- peached, and we are not aware that a charge of official delinquency of any sort has ever been made against him. He has brought to the discharge of official trusts the same principles of action that governed his conduct in private life, and has ever acted upon the rule, that dis- honesty and craft, in pohtical affairs and public stations, was no more to be tolerated than knavery in affairs of business, or his social rela- tions. Judge Leavenworth has participated to a considerable extent in the public enterprises of the county. We may mention with propriety his exertions in procuring from the Holland Land Company a reduction on the price of the lauds, and an entire surrender of the accumulated ^^^-^^^^ \^ I'lihUshci hy J,:/,n .l/crn/,-\ , l.itile \aUey,.\.\.ia57. 83 interest on land contracts, held by the Company against the early set- tlers. This measure was of vast importance to the settlers, and gave an immediate impulse to the population of the county, a fact probably not well understood now, but was and is appreciated by the pioneers of the county. The Judge was one of the original projectors of, and a liberal contriljutor to the fund for the erection of the Randolph Academy. Judge Leavenworth, by diligence, liberal economy, and judicious in- vestments, is in possession of a competency; and long may he live to enjoy the fruits of his well-filled cornucopia! Whoever has traveled on the IS^ew York and Erie RaOroad, has, of course, as the cars swept around the crescent at Cattaraugus Station, noticed the elegant brick mansion resting on the southern edge of a hundred acres of table land, forming the handsomest plateau on the line of the road. That is the homestead of Judge Leavenworth; there he enjoys life, pets his fine herd, hospitably entertains his friends; can tell many a pleasant anecdote of the early pioneer hfe in the county; and there, as elsewhere, in his green old age, perhaps no man in the coimty is more sincerely esteemed. STALEY NICHOLS CLARKE. The real value to society of an individual member consists not so much in his exhibition of those shining powers of intellect which com- pel our admiration, as in the daily manifestation of those more attrac- tive qualities of heart which win our confidence and love. Great abilities assuredly have their uses, and when their destiny is properly unfolded, the world is a gainer by their existence, and a loser by their decay. But the virtues of charity, largeness of soul, and an ever- actuating sympathy for and with one's kind, are essential elements in every pleasure. The great die and are buried. The good are buried but never die, for their souls are so inwrought into the lives of those around them, that the aggregate existence of the community is, to some extent, a continuous and permanent embodiment of their character. Their names may not live upon the lips of men, but the actual effects of their influence and example descend from generation to generation, a precious and perpetual inheritance of strenuous, but unobtrusive virtue. The man, therefore, who unites goodness of heart with intellectual ability, has a claim upon our esteem while living, and upon our affec- tionate remembrance when dead, which, for the honor of our race, we should never disregard. It is a worthy, and should be a pleasurable task, for each to contribute his share, however slight, towards a prop- er recognition of the value of such a character. It is with a feeling akin to this, that the present sketch of one more thoroughly identified than any other with the history and prosperity of our county, is under- taken. Stalei' Nichols Clarke was born in Prince George's County, in the State of Maryland, on the 29th day of May, 1794. At the age of twenty-one he emigrated to Western New York, and began his career in life as a clerk in the Bank of Niagara, at Buffalo. In 1819 Mr. Clarke removed to Batavia, where he was employed as a clerk in the office of the Holland Land Company until January, 1822, when he took charge of the office of the Company at Ellicottville as their agent. The County of Cattaraugus was then a comparative wilderness, whose aboriginal beauty of hill and valley, of heavy forest and unob- structed water-courses, had suffered but little waste from the hands of men. Olean, from its situation on the Allegany River, was even then a place of considerable consequence. The surface of the county was dotted here and there with an occasional clearing, but in general nature reigned in undisputed sway. Even Ellicottville was closely environed by forests; it was a mere island in an ocean of verdure. The settlers were necessarily poor. Like all who immigrate to un- settled territory, they came, to a great extent, destitute, either driven by necessity or impelled by enterprise. With no capital, but stout hearts and hands willing to toil, it was no light task to grapple at once with the exigencies of debt and the stern hardships of backwoods life. Separated by an almost impassable distance from home and birth-place, in the heart of a wilderness, invulnerable to aught but endless toil; cut off from all but occasional communication with the friends they had left behind, and provided with but scanty means to meet an accumulat- ing indebtedness, it would not have been surprising if even their iron nerves had yielded to the crushing burden of their lot, and repudiated the uno-rateful task of redeeming an unwilling soil. But they were not f- 85 the men to repine or succumb. Tlieir work was before them, and they did it well. To their spirit amidst discouragements, to their hope amidst reverses, to their fortitude iu trial, to their determined and per- sistent energy at all times, we, whose comforts are the fruits of their privations — whose labors are lightened by their toil — whose possessions are enriched by their exertions, are imder an obligation which wc do not appreciate, and cannot discharge. To these hardy pioneers the advent of Mr. Clarke was an inestima- ble blessing. Their scanty crops, wrung with strenuous and painful effort from a reluctant soil, barely sufficed to meet their immediate wants, and afforded but meagre encouragement of means for liquidat- ing the claim of the landlord. In him, however, their embarrassments found a ready appreciation. Gifted with that true generosity of heart which constitutes the only genuine nobility, those in need of kindness and indulgence met from him not the oppression of the task-master, but the sympathy and encouragement of a friend. His fidelity to those who employed him was scrupulous and unquestioned; but to lend a willing ear and a helping hand to the appeal made by penury and dis- tress he has ever regarded as a duty paramount to all, and imposed upon him by the very fact of his manhood. Those who have experi- enced kindness at his hands, and their name is legion, will bear testi- mony to the assertion that in no case of actual need was an applica- tion for lenity or kindness ever made in vain. Many of these objects of his beneficence are now living, rich in the enjoyment of this world's goods, in herds of cattle and acres of cultivated land, but neither age nor prosperity has dimmed their gratitude for the kindness he has shown them in their hour of need. The confidence and affection with which he was regarded led to his election as County Ti-easurer in 1824, an office which he continued to fill through a period of seventeen years. In November, 1840, he was elected to Congress, where he served his constituents during his term of office. Since then he has- filled no public place. Though deeply interested in all that concerns the welfare of the country, he has no craving for the stormy and unsubstantial excitement of political war- fare, and readily yielded his place to more ambitious men. Mr. Clarke was married in October, 1816, and has raised a family of eleven children. Sorrow and death, from whose melancholy visi- tation none are exempt, have cast their unwelcome shadows across his threshold. His estimable wife, with whom time has dealt so tenderly 86 that but few of its footprints are left to mark its passage, with vigor undiminished and faculties unimpaired, still lives, the stay and compan- ion of his declining years. For forty years they have traveled on through Ufe together. They have seen the young grow old, and chil- dren ripen into maturity around them. They have lived to witness changes, such as in an earher age men would have called miracles, and ascribed to the gods. They have seen a wilderness transformed from a luxuriant waste, and made to bloom and blossom as the rose. They have beheld villages shooting up around them into flourishing cen- tres of enterprise and intelligence. And more than all, they have lived in an abundant experience of the daily blessings which acts of sympa- thy and kindness, even in this world, shower upon hmi who performs them. For him who has thus lived, the future can have no terrors. Happy in the enjoyment of his family, in the consciou^ess of not having lived in vain, and in the affectionate regard in which all hold him, it would be strange indeed if old age were not to him the sunny side of exist- ence; and there are none who will not join in the expression of a prayer that his Ufe may be long preserved, as fruitful a source of unclouded en- joyment to himself as it has proved prohfic of benefit and happiness to others. FRANCIS SMITH EDWARDS. It is given to but few men to attain high position in social and po- litical life before reaching the merichan of manhood. The history of Mr. Edwards furnishes one of these few instances, where public confidence and favor are promptly bestown in appreciation of merit. Mr. Edwards was the second son of Joseph and Abigail Edwards, and born at Norwich, in the State of Connecticut, May 28, 1818; and is consequently now in the fortieth year of his age. He originates from families strongly imbued with heroic patriotism. His grandfather on the maternal side was Captain Samuel Buel, an active and promi- nent hero of the Revolution. His grandfather on the paternal side was also a soldier of the Revolution, and likewise engaged in the pubUc (^ i^/try,^ . . ^ / /■iihli.y/>r,< hv John \ht,,/,'V J.ill/,- V.t//,x .\ )/.■>.. 87 service in the French War, having been present at the taking of Que- bec, and assisted in carrying from the field the gallant dying General Wolfe. The father of our subject, who was a farmer by occupation, emi- grated from Connecticut while the latter was an infant, and settled at Windsor, Broome County, N. Y., where he engaged in the lumbering business, and prosecuted it extensively about five years, after which he removed to North Norwich, Chenango County, and purchased a farm of two hundred acres, on which he resided about twenty years, and then removed to Wisconsin, where he died in the year 1852. The son lived under the paternal roof until 1834, having been meanwhile a diligent student with books in and out of school, save while assisting his father in the labors of the farm. At this period, at the age of six- teen, young Edwards entered the Hamilton Seminary, now Hamilton University, at Hamilton, where he remained three years in close study of the Enghsh branches and the classics. In the spring of 183t, he commenced the study of the law in the oflBce of Messrs. Wait and Cook, at Norwich, the former a distin- guished member of the bar in that section of the State. After a thor- ough study of three years, he was admitted to practice in all the vari- ous courts of the State, at the May Term of the Supreme Court in the City of New York, when an examination, memorable for its rigid severity of trial, was had under the express injunctions of the Chief Justice presiding, who appointed for examiners the following distin- guished men, then or thereafter known as Judges Strong, of Tioga, Edwards, of New York, and Hon. Mr. Kirkland, of Utica. It is sufficient to say, to show how thorough and unrelaxing was this ex- amination, that but twenty of the class of seventy proposed passed successfully through this ordeal, which oc(;upied eleven hours in sittings continued two days. Thus honorably passed upon, Mr. Edwards immediately opened a law office at Sherburne, Chenango County, where he prosecuted a successful business for the term of four years. Meanwhile, he was twice elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. So satisfactorily had he discharged the duties of the office during the first term, that on the latter occasion he succeeded as the only candidate on his ticket. It was while residing here also, that he entered the nuitriinonial state, and in October, 1840, was married to Miss Julia S. White, (daughter of the late Squire White, M. D., of Fredonia,) by whom he subse- 88 quently had two children. In 1841, he was appointed a Master in Chancery for the County of Chenango, by nomination of Governor Seward and confirmation of the Senate, and held the office till his re- moval from the comity. In the autumn of 1844, Mr. Edwards removed to the City of Al- bany, where he entered upon an extensive practice in his profession, in connection with his brother-in-law, Wm. D. White, Esq. He re- mained in Albany until April, 1851, when he removed to Fredonia, (the native home of his wife, and the place of residence of her father and numerous kindred, ) and commenced practice in his profession in eompany with Messrs. P. S. Cottle and S. Snow. In this firm he continued one year, when the partnership was changed to Cottle & Edwards, and so continued, extensively patronised, until November, 1855. In 1852, Mr. Edwards was elected on the Whig ticket, to which he was unanimously nominated, as Special Surrogate of the County of Chautauque, for the term of three years. The duties of this office, apart from those when acting as substitute for the Surro- gate, are the same as those devolved upon the Justices of the Supreme Com't and County Judge at Chambers, and it is proper to say, that they were discharged with fidehty by him during his term. From early hfe, Mr. Edwards has been an ardent politician, in the original sense of the term before Ijecoming charged with derogatory signification. He early embraced the doctrines of the Whig party, as taught by Clay and Webster, and always acted in sympathy with the conservative Whigs, imtil the commencement of the American movement, which at once enlisted his sympathies and secured his bold and efficient advocacy, as it did the approbation and support of the conservative Whigs generally throughout the Union. Without going into a history of the canvass for member of Congress in his district (composed of Cattaraugus and Chautauque) during the fall of 1854, full of events complicating that interesting and exciting contest, it is sufficient to say, that Mr. Edwards was nominated as a candidate by the American party, acting independently, in a secret convention held at Dunkirk, on the Wednesday evening preceding the election; that he was present at that convention, and twice declined the nomination, but on the third tender of the position, accepted it only under a view of the necessity which required an exposed champion and leader for the new party, who in the then aspect of the canvass was in all pro- bability to be made a martyr by the other parties, leaving scarce a 89 hope of the alternative result of coming out a successful hero; and that, contrary to all expectation, until the blunders of the combmed opposition had opened the matter to doubt on the day preceding the election, he was elected by a heavy majority over all others. Mr. Edwards took his seat in the United States House of Pv^epre- seutatives in December, 1855. The first session of the Thirty-fourth Congress, to which he had been thus elected on the American issues, was made, by what he and his political friends regarded unnatural diversions of one sort or another, one of the most exciting and painfully interesting in the history of the Groverument ; and the second was little behind the first in attracting the anxious attention of the people, save that the novelties of a bitter sectional agitation had then become ordhiary ap- pearances, and the public mind v/as turning toward the ensuing Presi- dential election. The first Session was made memorable by the tedious and exciting contest for the Speakership. It was during this contest, which, to a certain extent, was unfairly made a struggle between the two sections of the country nominally dividing on Mason & Dixon's fine, but really separating and subdividing widiout reference to geographical lines, on other bases, that the course of Mr. Edwards became of great embar- rassment. Himself altogether opposed to sectional agitation of what- ever origin, and bent on giving prominence on all occasions to the questions on which he was elected, it was not strange that he should favor, during several weeks of contest, the election of some Northern man not so closely identified with sectionalism as was Mr. Banks, and that he should afterward, on coming to the conclusion that the organ- ization of the House could he secured in no other way, give his sup- port to Mr. Banks, for that end, and for the reason, also, that Mr. Banks solemnly pledged himself to the maintenance of American Prin- ciples. In all his votes on the ballots for Speaker, on the Whitfield contest- ed election case, on the Topeka Constitution, and the restricting sec- tion in the Appropriation Bills, and in all matters of similar character, Mr. Edwards deferred to what appeared to be the will of his constitu- ents, inasmuch as he felt it to be the duty of the Representative to truly reflect the views and feelings of the people of his district in his official conduct, though it might sometimes require the sacrifice of his own personal opinions. In his speeches he also endeii^vored to give &0 to the House and the country a faithful expression of the sentiments and wishes prevailing at the time among his constituency. The same rule of conduct, imposing obedience to popular will when definitely expressed, was permitted to govern him in all his ac- tion at the Second Session. It is unnecessary to go into detail as to his votes or speeches on different subjects. It is believed that all of the important votes given by him were satisfactory to the great ma- jority of his constituents, and that his speeches truly reflected their sentiments. The illness of his wife, which commenced soon after the first assumption of his Congressional duties, and, ere long, signified the slow, but certain fate of the consumptive, served to distract his mind, and embarrass him in the performance of his official labors. It was while absent from Washington, on a visit to the beloved partner of his bosom, an idol of his early and constant manly worship, wast- ing away without the most distant expectation of recovery to tempt to resort to the consolations of hopeful anticipations, that some im- portant votes in Congress were taken. This cloud, dark with im- pending calamity the most distressing man can feel, hung over him throughout the first Session. It finally burst upon him soon after the adjournment. Mrs. Edwards expired on the 14th September of that year — 1856. Just before the close of the Thirty-Fourth Congress, to which Mr. Edwards was elected, he resigned his seat. He felt that it was alike due to himself and his constituents, that he should take this step. He knew, better than all others, that he had been unjustly charged with corrupt conduct in reference to the bill granting Public Lands to aid in constructing Railroads in the Territory of Minnesota; that he had been most unfairly tried before a secret inquisition; and that he could not re-open that trial before the House, which, notwithstanding, was to pass upon his case summarily, with party and personal interests, without any future responsibilities to restrain their conduct thereon, also combined with an ex-parte attack against him. It is very proper here to say, that while the bill in question was represented to be tainted with corruption, it passed the Senate nearly unanimously, and also through the House, where it received the votes of at least two of the Corruption Investigating Committee, by a very heavy majority, after the ichole affair had been gone through with. It is due to Mr. Edwards also to say, that he has in his possession a document, signed by one hundred and sixty-nine fellow Representa- I'uhhshr.i hy ./,,/,,, l/,i,l/i-i . hllll,- Vil/lfy ,.\ X. /h'oi 91 tives, not only testifying to his honorable conduct generally, in and oat of the House, lut solemnly declaring their belief of his entire inno- cence of all the charges brought against him. This triumphant acquit- tal by the House itself in one sense, as it includes the signatures, in the proper hand of each member, of more than two-thirds of that body, is but a just award, while it is a most gratifying result to himself and his district. It is but just to say further of Mr. Edwards, that he has made a deep impression on his district, in moulding popular sentiment on the great questions of the day. He has written much and spoken more that will serve to influence political action throughout his district for a long time to come, and be attended, as his friends believe, with very salutary results. REUBEN EATON FENTON. The subject of the present memoir, Hon. Reuben Eaton Fenton, was born in what now is the town of Carroll, County of Chautauque, and State of New York, on the 4th day of July, 1819, and is now thirty-eight years of age. His early years did not develope any very striking peculiarities, if we except his strong desire and constant en- deavor to excel his associates while attending the common school, at which institution he received the greater part of those business qualifi- cations and that practical education which has rendered him successful in all the active transactions of his after-life. He, Uke most other boys, the sons of the hardy pioneers of Western New York, endured many hardships and privations, spending the most of his time till he was fifteen years of age, except a few months in the year while attending the winter schools, at hard work upon his father's farm. In the years of 1834-5 he attended, in its incipient state, "College Hill Academy," an institution that has since expanded into the "Farm- er's College," one of the first institutions of learning in Ohio. His progress and proficiency while at "College Hill," or "Pleasant Hill," as it was then called, were such as to receive from his teachers the 92 highest encomiums. Leaving "Pleasant Hill," he spent a brief period in the year 1836 or 1837 at the "Fredonia Academy," in his native county, but his health failing, he left this institution. This constitutes the whole of his educational privileges. Mr. Fenton early evinced more than an ordinary penchant to min- gle in the exciting scenes of the political arena, and at the village club or evening debate was usually a successful speaker, and while quite young discovered much speaking talent. Regaining his health some- what, he entered in 1838 the law office of Joseph and Fraxklin H. Waite, Esqrs., in the village of Jamestown, and remained for nearly a year; more, however, with a view of becoming qualified for those ac- tive business transactions in which he was about to engage, and becom- ing familiar with those principles and forms of law with which every business man should acquaint himself, than Avith any intention of pur- suing the profession of law as an occupation. In the year 1840 he commenced those successful operations in the lumber trade which have since rendered his name a household word among lumbermen, from the head-waters of the Allegany to the mouth of the Ohio; having also engaged, the year previous, in the mercantile business in the village of Frewsburg, in Chautauque County, being then twenty years of age. No memorandum of the active and eventful life of Col. Fenton could be complete, without an allusion to his extensive and uniformly successful transactions in this branch of his .business. Commencing, as we have said, in 1840 on a small scale, and owing to the failure and inability to assist him of those on whom under other circumstances he might have leaned for aid, with a very small capital he has gradually extended and enlarged his operations, imtil he is now numbered among the most extensive lumber dealers whose rich and valuable products float annually down the endless maze of our beauti- ful Western rivers. His uniform and we may say never-failing success has become proverbial with lumbermen; it has been by them attribu- ted to his "good luck." It is often facetiously remarked that "it is impossible for his property to be injured, because he is so lucky." This, however, is not the secret of his success, either in business or in the political arena. One of the principal characteristics of Mr. Fen- ton's career is untirimg sleepless vigilance and personal attention to all the details of his business; never trusting anything to others that it is possible to do himself, and never putting off till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day. This personal care and superintendence of his affairs, and promptness to execute at the right time, more than any favoritism of dame fortune, is the cause of his uniform success in busi- ness and poUtics so far in life. In 1843, being then twenty-four years of age, he was elected with much unanimity Supervisor of the town of Carroll, in Chautauque County, and remained for the eight succeeding years a member of that body, and for three of those yeax's was chosen Chairman of that Board. This fact, at a time when Chautauque was strongly adverse to the po- litical party to which Mr. Fenton had attached himself, gave early evidence of that growing popularity with the people that has since enabled him to measure swords successfully with some of 'the oldest veterans among his political opponents in the Thirty-third Congressional District. His course as a County Legislator was marked with much ability, there developing those qualifications which afterwards rendered him distinguished in the National Legislature. In 1849, Col. Fenton received the nomination for Assembly in the Eastern District of Chautauque, by the Democratic party, against the Whig candidate, Maj. Saaiuel Barrett, of Jamestown. The Whig majority in that county and district was then strong, Chautauque at that time being the banner Whig County in the State. The contest was close and animated. JMr. Fenton was beaten in the district by only 21 votes, many of his friends claiming that if the canvass had been perfectly fair, he Avould have distanced his competitor. Be that as it may, the result broke that prestige of success that had for years ren- dered the Whig party invincible in Chautauque. The Democratic party of his Congressional district, becoming satis- fied that, added to his other quahfications, he possessed that of run- ning well, in 1850 gave him the nomination for Congress, in opposition to Hon. F. S. Martix, of Olean. This nomination Mr. Fextox de- clined, Hon. F. H. Wao'e, of Jamestown, being substituted. In 1852, Col. Fentox received and accepted from the Democratic party the nomination for Congress against Hon. Gr. A. S. Crooker, of Cattaraugus. This was a very exciting canvass. Mr. Crooker was a Whig lawyer, possessed of brilliant speaking talents, which he exerted to the utmost. In a district so strongly Whig in politics, it seemed a wild adventure for a young man, a leading Democrat, to enter the lists, with any prospect of success ; but Mr. Fenton entered the can- vass with his usual vigilance and laborious determination to succeed, with entire confidence that he should come out triumphant. After one 94 of the hardest contested battles ever fought iu the district, Mr. Fen- ton was declared elected with an official majority of 56 votes. With the career of Col. Fenton, iu the famous Thirty-third Congress, all are famihar. Elected as a Democrat, with known Free Soil tenden- cies, and equally well known Free Soil antecedents, he entered that Congress an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of the Administration of Franklin Pierce, under the solemn assurance from the National Con- vention of that party, that assembled at Baltimore in 1852, that the "subject of Slavery should not be agitated in Congress or out of Con- gress," and by the equally strong pledges of non-agitation by the Dem- ocratic party in Mr. Pierce's Inaugural Message. But he had not long held a seat in that body before it became appa- rent that a submission to new demands of the slave power, involving no less a sacrifice than the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, that an- cient and honorable barrier to the northwardly spread of African Sla- very, was to l^ecome a test of Democratic church-membership. The Nebraska BQl was very soon introduced into that Congress, and was at once adopted by the President, as a leading measure of his administra- tion ; and it was of course supported by all v/ho desired or expected to retain their position in the party. At this juncture, Col. Fenton, though enjoying to a flattering de- gree the confidence and esteem of the President and his Cabinet, broke away from his Ufe-long associations, and ardently espoused the cause of Freedom, which had been jeopardized by what he believed to be the unfaithful course of the administration. During the remainder of his term iu Congress with Senators Foote and Sewakd, Preston King, Charles Hughes, Daniel Mace, N. P. Banks, and many othei's, he became a leading spirit in the formation of the Ptepublican party. His untiring assiduities and attention to theu- wants, and the busi- ness intrusted to his care by his constituents, at once placed him in the front rank of the working members of that Congress. He received a place upon the Committee on Commerce, at that time second to no other, save perhaps the Committee of Ways and Means, in the impor- tance of its duties. His efficient labors on that Committee gave hun at once a prominent position before the country, and he received many well-deserved compliments for his tact and laborious attention to all the details of then* duties. This Committee reported the bills to the House of Representatives, which carried into successful operation the celebrated " Reciprocity 95 Treaty " with the Canadian Government, by which the area of free trade and commerce has been extended over nearly the entire North American Continent. Mr. Fexton was very successful in his efforts to procure the just demands of the ohl sokhers and their widows for pen- sions, bounty lands, &c. His speeches in Congress on the Nebraska Bill — in opposition to the bill of Mr. Olds, to change and increase the Rates of Postage— in favor of River and Harbor Improvements — and in favor of the bill to Extend Invalid Pensions, vfere all able efforts, and were almost universally endorsed by his constituents. His elo- quent and fearless speech against the Nebraska Bill, in which he had occasion to measure weapons with Gov. Smith, of Yirginia, was one of the first demonstrations that was made by a Northern Democrat against that measure. In the fall of 1854, a successor to Mr. Fexton was to be chosen; he had come to the conclusion only in a certain event, dependant upon the action of the Whig Congressional Convention, to become a candi- date for re-election. It was very uncertain who would receive the nomination of the Whig Convention. In the event of their nomina- tion of one who had Ijeen Mr. Fenton's most bitter opposer, and who was considered their strongest man, he had given his friends assurance that he would again enter the canvass and try titles with his rival. The action of the Democratic Convention was delayed for several weeks while the Whigs were deliberating upon a candidate. They at length succeeded in nominating Hon. G. W. Patterson, of Chautauque. The Democratic Convention then assembled and nomi- nated Col. Fextox by acclamation. This nomination he declined; his business, which had been neglected, demanded his personal attention; besides, the pohtics of the district was not then so much Whig and Democratic as it v.'as Nebraska and Anti-Nebraska, and the nomina- tion of ]\lr. Pattersox, a reliable Anti-Nebraska man, had removed the only inducement to Mr. Fentox to again enter a political canvass. The Democratic Convention then put in nomination Hon. W. P. AxGEL, of Ellicottville; thus the Anti-Nebraska party seemed sure of a member in any event. But it w-as during this campaign the wild storm of Americanism burst upon this section of the State, and swept with u-resistiV)le fury over this district. Before the election, it became apparent that this secret Order did not intend to support either of the then nominees for Congress, and it was also apparent that they held within their organization a majority 96 over either the Democratic or Whig parties. Two days before the election some of the leading friends of each of the nominees held a con- sultation, and came to the conclusion that their only hope of success against the war of Americanism that was sweeping past, lay in the withdrawal of both the Whig and Democratic candidates, and a union upon some new candidate. Mr. Fentox, at that late hour in the canvass, much against his judgment and advice, reluctantly consented to enter the fight as the " People's Candidate," against Hon. F. S. Edwards, who had been nominated in secret, by the Americans. There being but two nights and one day in which to work before election, and a cold drizzling rain setting in and continuing during the whole time, the people, being but half informed of the causes of the change of candidates, became confus- ed and suspicious, and went over by scores to the Americans ; the re- sult, as might have been expected, was disastrous, Mr. Edwards beat- ing him some fourteen hundred votes. But this defeat, instead of weakening his popularity with the masses, seemed only to strengthen him. He remained unscathed amid the seeming ruin. Though defeated by one of those uncontrollable and unaccountable risings of the masses that will at times sweep over a country controlled by the popular suffrages of the people, to redress real or imaginary wrongs — still, though he received the IjIow, it was evident it was not aimed at him, but the people of his district hastened with alacrity to bind up the wounds which they could not avoid in- flicting. Two years had not elapsed, ere it was evident that with singular unanimity the popular mind pointed to him as Mr. Edwards' successor. Mr. Fenton did not, as his enemies expected, sink under the blow, or curse the hand that dealt it. In the summer of 1856, the Presidential canvass opened with great bitterness and excitement. Col. Fenton had been a delegate to the National Pittsburgh Convention, that was presided over by Francis P. Blair, and was also a delegate to and member of the National Re- publican Convention, that assembled at Philadelphia, on the 11th of June in that year, and which put in nomination for the Presidency, Col. John C. Fremomt. He participated actively in that exciting and memorable contest. He was himself unanimously nominated in September by the Republi- can Congressional Convention. He was opposed again by Hon. F. S. 97 Edwards, as the American, and Hon. C. J. Allen, as the Democratic candidates for the same office. Never was a fiercer battle fought iu the old Thu-ty-third District. The canvass was exceedingly bitter and virulent on the part of the Americans; particularly against Mr. Fen- TO-V in Cliautauque County. But he came out of the canvass bearing upon his shoulders the unprecedented majority over Mr. Edwards of eight thousand six hundred and ten, and a majority over both compet- itors of over five thousand. During all these political conflicts, the fiercest and among the most memorable in the political history of the State, and the formation of new organizations, which resulted in the association together of those who had once been politically opposed — "the gain of enemies and the loss of friends'' — his feelings were never so embittered as to prevent those polite interchanges of gentlemanly intercourse and regard with the most bitter and virulent of his opponents; this, too, perhaps, when his presence to them was almost intolerable, while he, perfectly cogni- zant of this fact, could address them with the most affable smile, as if their mutual relations had never been distrusted or out of harmony. It requires no affectation on his part to thus deport himself; it is the impress of an open and frank disposition and a natural generosity of bearing; a consciousness of his own strength and the justice of the cause he espouses, and the rectitude of his acts. And while he is not averse to an honorable subjugation of his enemies or opponents, no one pei'haps is more magnanimous and generous iu his triumphs. As Mr. Fenton's political life has been by far the most eventful and stirring, we have dwelt at greater length upon that portion of his ca- reer. But neither the extensive business operations that have engaged his attention, or the exciting pohtical scenes through which he has passed, have precluded him from devoting a share of his thne to the more quiet and peaceful avocation of literary and agricultural research. The noble science of agriculture has engaged much of his time dur- ing the hours of relaxation from business, and those who have heard or read his agricultural addresses — finished literary productions — will not fail to perceive that this ennobling art has engrossed a due share of his attention and study. Of his benevolence as a private citizen, and his many acts of per- sonal and public liberality, we may with propriety pass over in silence; they will form a more fitting theme of comment and fiiture sketch when the subject of them shall have passed from active life. 7 98 Col. Fenton is still in the prime of life and in the noon-tide of his usefulness. He has a fine figure, a commanding appearance ; as a pub- lic speaker he is fluent, extemporaneous, effective, and often eloquent; and were it not for the small compass of his voice, would always be listened to with riveted attention, whether addressing a select audience in the lecture room or the excited swaying masses of an out-door po- litical assembly. We know not that he has any aspirations for further political pre- ferment; but if he acts wisely, honestly, and fearlessly in the great struggles through which he is to pass in the present Congress, taking the dictates of conscience, the admonitions of enlightened humanity, and the demands of the mass of the people composing his constituency as his guide, we can but predict for him a more brilliant and exalted future than has been his past. CIVIL LIST OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. Cattaraugus County was, by au Act of the Legislature of New York, passed March 11, 1803, taken from the territory of the then County of Genesee, and erected into an independent county, with its boundaries fixed as they exist at the present time; but its political organization was not effected until March 28, 1817. Prior to the latter date, the west part of the county was attached to Niagara, and the east part to Alle- gany County, for judicial purposes. Hon. Timothy H. Porter, First Judge, and Hon's Francis Green, Ashbel Freeman, James Brooks, and William Price, Associate Judges, constituted the " Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace," for the County of Cattaraugus. The first Court was held in Clean, in July, 1817, in pursuance of the following order : Whereas, an Act of the Legislature of the State of New York, for organizing the County of Cattaraugus, passed March 2Sth, 1817, has made it a duty of the Judges for the time being to appoint a place for holding the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, in and for said county: Therefore, we, Francis Green, Ashbel Freeman, and James Brooks, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county aforesaid, convened at the house of William Baker, in the town of Glean, in the county aforesaid, have 100 (conformably to the Act above mentioned) appointed, and by these presents do appoint and declare, the house of William Baker, in the said town of Olean, in the county aforesaid, to be the place for holding the first Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, in and for the County of Cat- taraugus. In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 5th day of June, 1817. (Signed,) Francis Green, AsHBEL Freeman, James Brooks. Israel Curtis was the first Sherifi", with Benjamin Cham- berlain for his Deputy; Sands Bouton, County Clerk; Jer- emy WoosTER, Surrogate; and Sylvenus Russell, County Treasurer. The first deed was recorded on the 3d day of July, 1817, which was a Sheriff's deed, from the Sheriff of Allegany Coun- ty, to Benjamin Chamberlain. The offices of first First Judge, 1817 — first State Senator, 1823 — first District Attorney, 1824 — and the first Member op Congress, 1825-27, selected from Cattaraugus County, were successively held by the late Hon. Timothy H. Porter, of Olean, who had previously, in 1816 and 1817, represented the Counties of Allegany and Steuben, and subsequently, in 1838 and 1840, this county in the State Assembly; all of which honorable positions were filled with ability and to the public acceptance; and it is a matter of public regret that no portrait exists of that distinguished man, who was so largely connected with the early history of the county. " The Courts were first held in Ellicottville, in July, 1818, at the house of Baker Leonard; that house and the Holland Land Company's Office were all the dwellings then erected in that place. A Court House and Jail, in one building, was built soon after; this burnt down in the winter of 1829, and the pres- ent Court House and Jail were built the same year." — Judge Martin. 101 FIRST JUDGES— COUNTY COURTS. Timothy H. Porter,. . .March, 28, 1817. I Benjamin Chamberlain, .P\-b. 15, 1833. James Aditins, June 1, 1820. Ren.sselaer Lamb, elected June, 1847. Alson Leavenworth,. .. .Jan. 25,1823. | Chester Howe, " Nov. 1851. Nelson Cobb, elected Nov. 1855. ASSOCIATE JUDGES— COUNTY COURTS. (The dates are when the officers qualified.) Francis Green, May 5, 1817. Ashbel Freeman, " " JamesBroolis " " William Price, " " James Brooks, July 7, 1818. James Adkins Feb. 28,1820. James Brooks, " " Israel Curtis, " •' Daniel Allen •' " Ira Norton July 25, 1820. William Kimball, '• 28,1820. Royal Teft't August 1, 1820. Daniel Allen, Sept. 16, 1820. Israel Curtis, March 3, 1821. Thomas Morris " 5, " Alson Leavenworth, ... '" 12, " James Green, " 28, " Lewis P. Thorp,. . Griswold D. Warner. . . .Feb. 18, 1823 Benjamin Chamberlain,. " " Phineas Spencer " " Peter Ten Broeck, "• Daniel Allen Feb. 28, Henry Day, June 17, Andrew Mead, March 18, Daniel Allen, March 8, Thomas J. Wheeler, .... " Israel Day, March 11, Richard Wrisrht '* 23, Peter Ten Broeck, " 14, Thos. J. Wheeler, '• 19, Isaac Hull, " 24. Fred. S. Martin, Jan. 27, Ashbel H. Hurd, Feb. 27, Thos. J. Wheeler, .January 29, 1846. 1828. 1828. 1831. 1833. 1834. 1836. 1838. 1840. 1843. The office was changed to two Justices' Sessions, 1847, and elected annually, SURROGATES. In 1847 the office of Surrogate was merged in that of County Judge; but was again created a distinct office in April, 1857. Jeremy Wooster, March 28, 1817. I Moses Beecher April 16, 1830. Walter Wood June 1, 1820. R.H.Shankland,Feb. 9,'38 to June,'47. Jeremy Wooster, Feb. 12, 1821. | Allen D.Scott, April, 1857. SHERIFFS. Israel Curtis, Ap'd March 28, 1817. Benj Chamberlain, " Feb. 17, 1820. Jacob Downing. . . " June 1. 1820. Benj. Chamberlain, '• Feb. 12, 1821. Ebenezer Lockwood,. . .Elected, 1822. Benj. Chamberlain, '■ 1825. Henry Saxton " 1828. Henry Wooster,*. .Ap'd Jan. 19, 1831. John Hurlburt,t.. . " Oct. 20, 1831. Addison Crowley,. Samuel Barrows Elected 1831. AbramSearle " 1834. Richard Wright, " 1837. AbramSearle " 1840. George W. White " 1843. John Palmer. J . . . . Ap'd Oct. 1 0, 1846. Alonzo A. Gregory, Elected 1846. Addison Crowley " 1849. I Alonzo A. Gregory, " 1852. Elected 1855. * In place of Saxton, resigned, f In place of Wooster, deceased. X I"^ place of White, deceased. 102 COUNTY CLERKS. Sands Bouton,.. .Ap'd March 28, 1817. Ebenezer Lockwood, Ap'd June 1, 1820. Joseph McClure. ... " Feb. 12, 1821. David Goodwin " Mar. 6, 1822. Sands Bouton, Elected 1822. Henry Wooster, " 1824. John TV. Staunton, Elected 1825. Francis E. Baillet, . . George W.Gillett,.. Francis E. Baillet,. . James G. Johnson,. . Enos H. Southwick,. Thomas Morris,- Elected 1855. 1837 1840. 1843. 1849. 1852. COUNTY TREASURERS. Sylvenus Russell March 28, IJ'IT. Daniel Hodges Staley N. Clarke, 1824 to 1841. Marcus H. Johnson, Elected 1841. Truman R. Colman, . . Daniel I. Huntley Charles P. Washburn,. . John P. Darling,, .Elected 1844. . " 1847. . " 1848. , . " 1851. Stephen McCoy, Elected 1854. DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. (The dates are when qualified.) Timothy H. Porter, June 16, 1824. I Daniel Reed Wheeler,. . .Feb. 5, 1841. John A. Bryan, June 19. 1827. Wm. Pitt Angel, Feb. 7, 1844. Anson Gibbs, Oct. 13, 1829. William H. Wood Dec. 23, 1850. James Burt, Oct. 10. 1834. I Alexander Sheldon, Nov. 29, 1853. Wm. Pitt Angel, Jan. 3, 1857. LOAN COMMISSIONERS. Eleazer Harmon, 1838. Peter Ten Broeck, " Moses Beecher, 1840. Alson Leavenworth " Bethuel McCoy, 1843. David Day " David Day, 1845. Ashbel Busbnell, " C. V. B. Barse, 1848. Joseph E. Weeden, " C.V.B. Barse, 1850. Byron Graham, " Byron Graham, 1853. Richard L. Cary, " Byron Graham, 1855. Charles M. Beecher, '• Byron Graham, 1856. Moses Beecher, " Moses Beecher, 1857. Ashbel Bushnell, •' DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. CONVENTION OF 1821. Cattaraugus, Chautauqde, Erie, and Niagara: Augustus Porter, Samuel Russel. CONVENTION OF 1846. Cattaraugus Countt: 1st district, Alonzo Hawley. 2d district, George A. S. Crocker. 103 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. (Those living ia Cattaraugus County only, are given.) 19th Congress, 1825-1827, Timothy H. Porter, Olean. 27th " 1841-1843 Staley N. Clarke, Ellicottville. 28th " 1843-1845, Asher Tyler, 32d " 1851-1853, Frederick S. Martin, Olean. STATE SENATORS. (Those living in Cattaraugus County only, are given.) Timothy H. Porter, Olean, (old 8th district,) 1823, one year by lot. Timothy H. Porter, " " 1828, '29, '30, "31. Ch^LnncQj }.¥ ox. Ellicottville, " 1835, to fill vacancy. Chauncey J. Fox, " " 1836, '37, '38, '3!). Thomas J. Wheeler, Connewango, (6th district,) 184G-1847. Frederick S. Martin, Olean , (32nd district,) 1848-1849. Robert Owen, Jr., jRa?i(/o//>/(, " 1850-1851. Roderick White, Olean, " 1856". Died in office. John P. Darling, ^Vfjc ^/6io/j, " 1857, vice White. MEMBERS OP ASSEMBLY. Joseph McClure, 1814-'15. Stephen Crosby,* 1823. Phineas Spencer, 1824. Daniel Hodges 1825. James McGlashen, ] 826. John A. Bryan, 1827. James McGlashen, 1828. Flavil Partridge, 1829. Stephen Crosby, 1830. Russel Hubbard, 1831. George A. S. Crooker, 1832. Chauncey J. Fox 1833. Chauncey J. Fox 1834. Albert G. Burke 1835. David Day, 1836. Tilly Gilbert, Phineas Spencer,. .1837. Nelson Green, T. H. Porter 1838. G. A. S. Crooker, Hollis Scott,.. .1839. *The first member elected T. H. Porter. G. A. S. Crooker,. .1840. Alonzo Hawley, Chester Howe,. .1841. Samuel Barrows, Lewis P. Thorp,.1842. Alonzo Hawley, Elijah A. Rice... 1843. James Burt, Marcus H. Johnson,. 1844. Roderick White, Seth Field 1845. Gideon Searle, E. A. Rice, 1846. Rufus Crowley, Jos. E. Weeden, 1847. Jas. G. Johnson, M. H. Johnson.. 1848. S. R. Crittendon. H. C. Young:,. .1849. Fred. S. Martin, H. C. Young,. . .1850, A. A. Gregory, Wm. J. Nelson,. .1851. S. S. Cole, Alex. Sheldon, 1852. Daniel Hickox, M. H. Barker,. . .1853. Wm. H. Wood, Jas. Kirkland,. . . 1854. Alex. Storrs, Jas. Kirkland, 1855. L. D. Cobb, Daniel Bucklln, 1856. Alanson King, Rufus Crowley,.. .1857. from Ciittaraugus alone. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. (Those residing in this County only, are given.) 1824, Timothy H. Porter, Elected, but did not attend. 1836, Thomas J. Wheeler, Connewango. 1844, Robert H. Shankland, Ellicottville. 1848, Delos E. Sill, " 1852, Benjamin Chamberlain, Randolph. 1856, Delos K Sill, Ellicottville. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK. The Executiye power in New York, while a colony, was rested in a Governor and council of twelve members, appoint- ed at will, by the king, who issued instructions for their guid- ance, extended to every common contingency, changeable at the royal pleasure, but seldom materially altered. At the beginning of the Revolution, the salary of the Gov- ernor was £1,500 currency, and perquisites amounting to as much more.* From 1717 to 1822 the Governor was elected triennially. He was a member of the council of revision and president of the council of appointment. Under the late and present Con- stitution the Governor is elected biennially. He is command- er-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State; may convene the Legislature, or Senate only, on emergencies,' and possesses the pardoning power.' His qualifications and general duties are defined by the Con- stitution," and he receives a salary of $4,000 per annum. He recommends to the Senate the appointment of officers hereinafter mentioned, and appoints commissioners of deeds in 1 Smith's History of New York, Historical Society's edition, volume 1, page 361. 3 Until 1821 the Governor might prorogue the Legislature from time to time, not exceeding sixty days in a year. 3 Under the first Constitution, this extended, in cases of murder and treason, to a respite until the next session of the Legislature only, when the latter might pardon, commute, or direct the execution of sentence. In treason and cases of impeachment, he is still thus limited. 4 Article 4, sections 1 to 5. 105 other states, notaries public, and such other officers as are from time to time directed by special Acts; he fills most of the va- cancies occurring in office (excepting assemblymen, state sena- tors and congressmen,) until a regular election or appointment can be made, and -may remove, under limitations prescribed by statute,^ most State and County officers." He communicates to the Legislature at the beginning of each session, and from time to time by message, a statement of the financial condition of the State, and recommends such measures as he may deem expedient. He is charged with the general execution of the laws, and may adopt such measures for enforcing them as emergencies may warrant. In case of vacancy his place is filled by the lieutenant-governor, or the president of the senate. The term of office of the Governor, and of all other officers not expressly excepted by law, begins with the civil year next after their election. The civil and political year formerly commenced on the first day of July," but is now defined by the Constitution to begin on the first day of January." COLONIAL GOVERNORS. Names. Administration began. Peter Miauit, Dutch, May 4, 1626. Wouter Van Twiller, " April 1633. Willem Kieft, •' March 28,1638. Peter Stuyvesant, " May 11, 1647. Richard NicoUs, English, September 8, 1664. Col. Francis Lovelace, '• May 23, 1667. Capt. Anthony Colve, Dutch, Aug. (n. s.) 12, 1673. Sir Edmond Andros, Knight, English, November 10, 1674. Anthony Brockhol.st,'^ " January 13, 1681. Col. Thomas Dongau,^ " August 27,1682. Sir Edmund Andross, " July 28,1688. Francis Nicholson,'' " October 9, 1688. 1 Revised Statutes, part 1. chapter 6, title 6. 2 In 1846 there were 289 offices filled by appointment of the Governor. 3 Act for regulating elections, passed February 13, 1787. < Constitution 1821, article 1, section 13; do. 1846, article 10, section 6. •■i President of the council, acting as Governor. 6 Dongan was removed April 22, 1688, (o. s.), and New York was united with New England under the same Governor. ' Lieutenant-Governor 106 Names. Jacob Leisler/ English, Col. Henry Sloughter, •' Major Richard Ingoldesby,2 " Col. Benjamin Fletcher, •• Richard Coote, Earl of Eellamont," John Nanfan,'' " Edward Hyde, Lord Viscount Cornbury, " John, Lord Lovelace, " Richard Ingoldesby,* " Gerardus Beeckman,^ •' Brigadier Robert Hunter, " Peter Schuyler,^ " William Burnet, " John Montgomerie, '• Rip Van Dam,' '• William Crosby, " George Clarke,"- ^ Admiral George Clinton, " Sir Danvers Osborn, Baronet,* " James De Lancey,* " Sir Charles Hardy, Knight,. " James De Lancey,* " Cadwallader Golden,-' " " Gen. Robert Monckton, " Cadwallader Golden,^ '• Gen. Robert Monckton Cadwallader Colden,-* •' Sir Henry Moore, Bai'onet, " Cadwallader Colden,'' '■ John, Earl of Dunmore, " William Tryon, " Cadwallader Golden,* " William Tryon, " James Robertson," " Andrew Elliot.-'. >* " Administration beg! m. June 3, 1689. March 19, 1691. July 23, 1691. August 29, 1692. August 2. 1698. May 19, 170L May 3, 1702. December 18, 1708. May 5, 1709. April 10, 1710. June 14, 1710. July 31, 1719. September 17, 1720. April 15, 1728. July 1, 173L August 1, 1732. March 30, 1736. September 22, 1743. October 10, 1753. October 12, 1753. September 3, 1755. July 3, 1757. July 30, 1759. October 26. 1761. November 15, 176L June 12, 1762. September 14, 1763. November 13, 1765. September 12, 1769. October 19, 1770. July 9, 1771. April 7, 1774. June 28, 1775. March 23, 1780. April 15, 1783. 1 Assumed the title of lAeutenant-Governor; was executed for high treason, May 16, IfiOl. 2 President of the Council, acting as Governor. 3 Died March 5, 1701; Col. William Smith, senior member of the Council, claimed the Gover- nor's chair, but the government was administered by the Council until May 19, 1701. * Lieutenant-Governor. s Commissioned as Lieutenant-Governor, October 30, 1736. 6 Committed suicide, October 12, 1753. T Commissioned as Lieutenant-Governor, October 26, 1761. 8 British military Governors, not recognized by the State. 107 GOVERNORS OF THE STATE. Elected. 1777.. 1780,. 1783,. 1786,. 1789,. 1792,. 1795,. 1798,. 1801,. 1804,. 1807,. 1810,. 1813,. 1816.. 1817,. 1820,. 1822.. 1824,. 1826,. 1828,. 1830,. 1832.. 1834,. 1836,. 1838,. 1840,. 1842,. 1844,. 1846,. 1848,. 1850,. 1852,. 1854,. 1856,. George Cliuton,i George Clinton,' .. . . George Clinton,! ■George Clinton,'. . . . George Clinton, George Clinton,-. . . . John Jay, John Jay, George Clinton. Morgan Lewis, Daniel D. Tompkins,. Daniel D. Tompkins,. Daniel D. Tompkins,. Daniel D. Tompkins,^ De Witt Clinton, De Witt Clintonj Joseph C. Yates, De Witt Clinton, De Witt Clinton,-'.... Martin Van Buren,^. . Enos T. Throop, . . . William L. Marcy,. William L. Marcv. . William L. Marcy,. . William H. Seward,. William H. Seward,. Votes. Opposing Candidatea. 0.391'Robert Yates, 8,440 John Jay, , 1 3,48 li Robert Yates, 16,012!Robert R. Livingston,. . . 24,808|Stephen Van Rensselaer. 30,829| Aaron Burr 35,074!Morgan Lewis, 43,094j Jonas Piatt. 43,324:Stephen Van Rensselaer,. 45.412!Rulus King 43.310|Peter B. Porter, 47,447;Daniel D. Tompkins , 128,493 Solomon Southwick,! 103.452 99,785 136.794 128,842 166,410 181.905 166,122 192,882 222,011 William C. Bouck. |208,072 i Silas Wright j241,090 John Young, |198,878 Hamilton Fish, Washington Hunt,. Horatio Seymour,. Myron H. Clark, John A. King,. . 218,776 214,614 264,121 156,804 264,400 Samuel Young William B. Rochester,, . Smith Thompson,. . . . Solomon Southwick,.. Francis Granger,. . . . Ezekiel Williams,.. . . Francis Granger, Wm. H. Seward, j Jesse Buel, ") Isaac S. Smith, William L. Marcy, William C. Bouck,... Gerrit Smith Luther Bradish, Alvan Stewart, Millard Fillmore,. . . . i Alvan Stewart, Silas Wright, } Henry Bradley ( Ogden Edwards, John A. Dix } Reuben H. Walworth, ( William Goodell,. . . . Horatio Seymour, ( Washington Hunt.. . , I Minthorne Tompkins,. i Horatio Seymour, } Daniel Ullman, ( Greene C. Bronson,. . j Amassa J. Parker,. . . 1 Erastus Brooks, 5,962 8,332 11,892 13,632 20,843 22,139 30,989 36,484 39.718 38,647 1,479 45,990 2,910 87,093 96,135 106,444 33,345 120,361 2,332 156,672 168,969 136,648 3,496 182,461 216,808 2,662 186.091 7.263 231,057 15,136 187.306 12,844 6,305 122,811 116,811 1,593 214,352 239,736 19,299 156,495 122,282 33,850 198,616 130,870 1 No record of the votes at these elections exists in the Secretary's office; they were taken viva voce, and were nearly unanimous. 2 The votes of Clinton, Otsefjo, and Tioga Counties were not canvassed, llie reason of this is recorded in the Secretary's office, Deeds, xxiv., p. 249. 3 John Tayler acted as Governor from February — to July 1, 1S17. ■" Nathaniel I'itcher acted as Governor from the death of Clinton, February 11, 1828, until the expiration of the term. 6 Resigned March 12, 1829. Enos T. Throop acted as Governor till the expiration of the term. 108 Of the Governors of this State, Martin Van Buren has been President of the United States; George Clinton, Daniel D. Tompkins, and Martin Van Buren have been Vice-Presidents; De Witt Clinton, Martin Van Buren, William L. Marcy, Wil- liam H. Seward, and Hamilton Fish have been United States Senators. 109 Towns, their Post Offices, Statistics, aud Adverlisemeuts. O L E A N, The first town orgauized in the county, was incorporated March 11, 1808, the date of the Act erecting the county, and embraced the entire territory of the county. In 1855 Olean contained 1,611 inhabitants, with 307 native and 21 natural- ized voteiis; had 280 cows, from which were made 5,310 pounds of butter and 560 pounds of cheese; contains 21,847 acres of land, of the assessed value of $282,464. Taxes in 1856, $1,688.53. The Olean Academy, an excellent institution, is located in the village of Olean; and the Olean Advertiser newspaper is published there. OLEAN BUSINESS CARDS. AT ZiAW, Will give prompt attention to all PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS THAT MAY BE INTRUSTED TO HIS CARE. R. L. PAGE, Rev. ISAAC G. OGDEN, A.M., PRINCIPAL. Mrs. I. G. OGDEN, PRECEPTRESS. This Academy is now in successful operation. F. S. MARTIN, Pres't. L. Whitxet, Sec^y. ABRAM MERRITT, AND DEALER IN WILL ALSO KEEP FOR SALE TAILORS' CHALKS, TAPES, SOIIAHES, &£. GLEAN, N. y. AXD WHOLESALE AXD RETAIL DE-iLER I.V FLOUR, GRAIN, PORK, SALT, FISH, OILS, &c, &c., CANAL BASIF, OLEAN, N. Y. 110 . A. BLAKESLEE, DEALER IN im^St (M B, lamfe, OILS, DYE-STUFFS, ^ ^"^J^J^SS^^ PBRPUMBRT, m IJ A.ETICLES, &c, OLEAN, N. Y. Ill STONE, &ENTHNEE & CO., OLEAN, N. Y., MANUFACTURERS OP AND DEALERS IN 9 A AJLA*.JWf N*, J%*ear the •lllegauy Miver E. G. & F. EATON, DKALERS IN WATSMiS, FINE JEWELRY, SILVER SPOONS, FANCY GOODS, €M$ anb ^Mik^ Classes, CLEAN, N. Y. Gold Pat. Levers, hunting cases $70 to $130 GoldDet. " •' .... 45 to 75 " '' open face 30 to 35 Gold Cylinder Esc. " 28 to 35 Silver Duplex, hunting cases 30 to S5 " " open face 25 to 30 " lev. full jew'd hunting cases.. 35 to 60 " detached levers, hunting 16 to 20 " Cylinder escapements, hunt'g.. 11 to 12 " " open face 8 " Open face Patent Levers 15 to 25 Call and examine our stocli before you pur- chase. jOg?- Repairing of Watches and Cloeks done tn good style and warranted. ffHY BIT M BilESS IP? The Subscriber has just brought into O L E ^IST, THE LARGEST STOCK OF MEN'S AND BOYS' ever before offered in Olcan. Our Store i3 filled with Goods from floor to ceiling, where you will find wagon loads of COATS, cords of PANTS, piles of VESTS, heaps of OVERALLS and OVERSHIRTS, and Car loads of other fixings; and in short, every- thing in our line to clothe a boy of 15 years to a man of 100, and at such prices as DEFY COMPETITION. I wish it dis- tinctly understood, I AM NOT TO BE UNDERSOLD, by any man, or combination of men. jeS" No charge for Showing Goods. I also keep a fine Stock of Cloths in the Merchant Tailor's Line. Custom work made to order in the best and lates styles. Jd®" Remember, at Miluer's old stand."^3a HENRY ERIEIID, Proprietor. 112 THE GREAT SOUTHERN TIER HARDWARE STORE ! STOVES, TIN AND HARDW^ARE!! The undersigned desires to call attention to his extensive and well-selected assortment of Hardware, which is now open for the inspection of the public, and will be sold at a low figure. THE STOVE DEPARTMENT Consists of cook, parlor, hall, box, coal, new Eagle hot air. elevated cook, Prairie Flower, May Queen, Premium, and many others. In this Department the most fastidious cannot fail of finding something to their tastes. New vari- eties will be frequently received. IN THE HARDWARE BUREAU May be found round, flat, square and half round iron, &c.; Mill, X cut, hand and circular saws; log, trace, binding, cable and halter chains. THE CARPENTERS' QUARTER Is literally filled with a general assortment of augers and auger bits; planes and plane irons; firmer and socket chisels; gouges and turning gouges and chisels; brace and bits; marking and mortice gauges; bevels; try-squares; lev- els; broad and hand axes; adz; brad awls; nail hammers; chisel, auger, saw and plane handles, etc., etc. IN THE BLACKSMITHS' STALL, In addition to the tons of iron briefly described above, the sons of Vulcan can find bellows, vices, (metallic vices,) sledge and hand hammers, stocks and dies. HOUSE TRIMMINGS, Consisting of door handles, rim and mortice locks, rim and mortice latches, mineral and argile door knobs, ward-robe hooks, hat and coat hooks, blind hinges, wrought and cast buts. broad and narrow glass, sasb. &c., &c. IN THE MISCELLANEOUS CABOOSE Will be found spring steel, steel springs, hay, manure and straw fork.s, spades, hoes, garden rakes, shovels, scoop shovels, scythes, fire shovels and tongs, pocket and table cutlery, silver plated, german silver, tin and iron spoons, table and butchers' steels, butcher knives, shoe knives, brick and plastering trowels, scrub- bing, shoe and varnish brushes, chain and cast iron pumps, tin and lead pipe for wells and cisterns; 20,000 rods half inch lead pipe for carrying water. IN THE DOMESTIC CORNER You will be apt to see about the largest lot of plain and japaned tin ware ever brought into Olean, which will be sold at wholesale and retail very cheap. Britannia tea pots, candlesticks, lamps for oil and burning fluid, brass pails, kettles, etc. Tin ware, gutter, conductor, etc. JOBBING DONE TO ORDER. Having one of the best workmen in the county, every person wishing jobs done can be accommodated co inatanti. C. V. B. BARSE. OUan, New York, 185t. 113 STANLEY lARTTN & CO. ARE CONSTANTLY RECEIVING ASFOLLOWS: ^ SILKSj SHAWLS AND MANTILLAS!! Bonnets, Ribbons and Millinery Goods, EMBROIDERIES AND DRESS TRIMMINGS, UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, SUMMER DRESS GOODS, WHITE GOODS, BOOTS AND SHOES, As i^ood and complete an assortment as can be found, and at prices that will suit all. Cloths, Satinets, Cassimeres, Kentucky Jeans, Plain and Fancy Linens, Summer Cloths, Tickings, Denims, Stripe Shirtings, &c., by the Cord. TEA. — 50 Cans of that splendid Gunpowder Tea just received. We will not attempt to enumerate all our large and varied stock, but would respectfully solicit those wishing to buy Goods Cheap to give us a call, where great bargains are always awaiting the people of OLEAN and vicinity. FRANKLINVILLE, The second town organized in the county, was erected from Glean, June 16, 1812, by the name of Ischua, and changed to its present name March 3, 1824. In 1855 it contained 1,686 inhabitants, with 357 native and 49 naturalized voters; had 889 cows, from which were made 77,270 pounds of butter and 78,710 pounds of cheese; contains 31,804 acres of land, of the assessed value of $353,395. Taxes in 1856, $2,147.58. Post Offices — Franklinville and Cadiz. PERRYSBURGH, The third town organized in the county, was erected from Glean and Franklinville, April 13, 1814, by the name o^ Perry, and changed to its present name April 10, 1818. In 1855 it contained 1,456 inhabitants, with 330 native and 2 naturalized 8 114 voters; had 1,234 cows, from which were made 91,890 pounds of butter and 143,994 pounds of cheese; contains 18,320 acres of land, of the assessed value of $450,207. Taxes in 1856, $2,016.39. Post Offices — Perrysburgh and Versailles. L. E. LOCKLINa, MANUFACTURER OF FOR GREEiN SWARD, SIIE-HILL, CORN AND STUBBIE WORK. THESE PLOWS ARE MADE OF The Best Materials, and of Superior Finish, And have earned the reputation at County Fairs and among Farmers as the BEST PLOW MADE IN WESTERN NEW YOEK. Also, on hand, or made to order, GRAIN AND CORN CULTIVATORS, &c., &c. LITTLE VALLEY, The fourth town organized in the county, was erected from Perrysburgh, April 10, 1818. In 1855 it contained 801 inhab- itants, with 160 native and 18 naturalized voters; had 370 cows, from which were made 39,135 pounds of butter and 16,060 pounds of cheese; contains 19,517 acres of land, of the assessed value of |215,482. Taxes in 1856, $1,944.47. Post Office — Little Valley. "ROCK CITY." One of the great natural wonders of the American Continent, which is yet to become a resort for thousands now ignorant of its grandeur, 115 is situated in the wilderness, on lot 77, in the town of Little Valley, about four miles from that Station, on the New York and Erie Rail- road. Rock City is upon the top of a hill, about 400 feet above the bed of the New York and Erie Railroad, and 2,000 feet above tide water; yet so easy and regular is the grade on the Little Valley side of the hill, a good carriage road to the " city entrance" could be con- structed for $200. Visitors can now ride in carriages to within one mile of the city. At the " city entrance" you pass down an inclined plane, about four feet wide, two rods long, and ten feet descent, into the open court, or " public square," as it is called, where is a circular flatstoue, twenty feet in diameter, elevated about four feet above the ground, upon which l^arties usually partake lunch when visiting the city. From this point streets, lanes and alleys, in innumerable numbers and directions, wind their devious ways over an hundred acres. One who was ever in the City of Boston, starting in Dock Square, and going through its crooked streets, upon visiting " Rock City" cannot but be forcibly reminded of the strong resemblance between the irregular streets and huge stone blocks of the latter " City" and the " City of Notions." Hall's Geology of New York says: "The blocks (of sandstone and conglomerate) are widely scattered along the margin of the hill, and as we approach the undisturbed parts of the rock, they become more numerous, and soon assume a regularity in arrangement which shows them to remain neai'ly in their original relative position, except that the joints are widened by the undermining of the rocks below, and partly, perhaps, by the destruction of the rock itself. The whole pre- sents an appearance like a cliflf of harder rock resting on a more de- structible one below, which has been exposed to the waves of the sea or large lakes. In some places, where the blocks are otherwise closely arranged, there are large spaces where the masses have been removed or disintegrated, presenting a fancied resemblance to court-yards or squares, in the midst of the numerous streets and alleys. The whole area occupied by the rock at this place is estimated at an hundred acres. The large trees which stand upon the top of the iuniieuse blocks at this place, have often sent their roots down the sides, where they are sustained in the deep soil, supporting the huge growth above upon an almost barren rock. The masses ofier fine exhibitions of the diagonal lamination and contorted seems of iron ore. The rectangular blocks (composQd of pure white pebbles couglutiiiated) arc from thirty 116 to thirty-five in thickness, and, standing regularly arranged along the line of outcrop, present an imposing appearance, and justify the appli- cation of the name it has received." LITTLE VALLEY BUSINESS CARDS. C. M. G. CHASE, DEALER IX READY-MADE CI.OTHXSfa, GROCERIES, CROCKERY AND HARBV/ARE, AI^© YANKEE IVOTIOI^S; And keeps fresh supplies of the Latest Styles LADIES' DRESS GOODS, BONNETS, RIBBONS, EMBROIDERIES, LACES, &C. &C.. Which will be sold for Cash, as cheap as can be purchased in the County. J. S. BSERS, LITTLE VALLEY, N. Y., DEALER IN CLOCKS, WATCHES, GUNS, PISTOLS, &c., &c. GOLD AKD SILVER PLATING EXECUTED TO ORDER. THOMAS HELLER, LITTLE VALLEY, N. Y., MANUFACTURER OF T "' AXD DEALER IN I OF ALL THE VARIOUS STYLES. GREAT VALLEY, The fifth town organized in the county, was erected from Olean, April 15, 1818. In 1855 it contained 1,198 inhabi- 117 tants, with 226 native and 30 naturalized voters; had 388 cows, from which were made 34,684 pounds of butter and 240 pounds of cheese; contains 33,715 acres of land, of the assessed value of $238,561. Taxes in 1856, $2,048.92. Post Offices — Great Valley and Klllbuck. GREAT VALLEY NURSERY!!! B. T. KELSEY 8c CO., Proprietors, Keep on hand a general dssorlment of Fruit and Ornaiiieiital Trees and Shrubs. We are also extensively engaged in the cultivation of DECIDUOUS FOKEST TREES, For other Nurserymen and Planters; all of which will be sold very cheap, at Our Wholesale Catalogues will be sent gratis to all applicants. Letters, asking further information, promptly answered. Post Office address, S. T. KELSEY «& CO., Great J^alley, JT. T. Note. — Mr. Kelsey exhibited a fine assortment of Evukgkeens at the Catta- raugus Co. Fair, 1857, which attracted much attention from visitors, and were highly commended by the judges. To people residing in this and adjoining counties, we cannot too strongly urge the merits of trees from this nursery ovtr any foreign ones. The fact that thousands of dead trees have been imposed vp- onthe citizens of this County, from the latter nurseries, forcibly suggests "buy your trees alive, and of honorable dealers!" ELLICOTTVILLE, (the county seat,) The sixth town organized in the county, was erected from Franklinville, April 13, 1820. lu 1855 it contained 1,838 118 inhabitants, with 275 native and 73 naturalized voters; had 601 cows, from which were made 43,155 pounds of butter and 22,555 pounds of cheese; contains 30,459 acres of land, of tlie assessed value of $383,900. Taxes in 1856, $2,783.03. Three newspapers — the "Cattaraugus Republican," the "Cattaraugus Freeman," and the "American Union" — are published in this town. Post Offices — Ellkottville and Plato. ELLICOTTVILLE BUSINESS CARDS. "IMIl KILL" HOTEL EENJ. BALDWIN, Proprietor, ELLICOTTVILLE, N. Y. BAILLET & MCCOY, AND DEALERS IX LAMB & BOLLES, i^itoriiens '& Coiniscllcrs AT LAW. Office in Brick Block. S. B. SEWARD, §niggist ^ i^poljjcnirij, Dealer in PURE DRUGS, MEDICIUES. CLOieS, CASSIMEIiES, perfumery, AND VESTINCS, PAINTS AND OILS. Hals. Caps, Hoots ^ Shoes,^*"*^^ n-ittfsan. '"^ '. ^ /V **'rA^^' S^^'^'",'''^'' "Si"9 the Bookkeeper pro« ? ^^^'V '^^P ^j=SJI MAY 1998 ^b *'o , * * ^ /^MMZ<^r^ »X ^'P' O /rT^^^^^L-^ u> ■^j -C IV /-•^ Cranberry Township, PA 16066 J^^H^<2■«-■ >„_ ...v ■'"C .4 o. ^o'Jk/Mf "°o .1-*^" i' '^ ,0- ,# ^^-'^-^ ,^i^- i4^v;5:i /|iM: -p. "oV A v^ ^oV^