Class rjS^^yj Book T\0 >J^&l^ Gopyiight ^.. COPYRIGHT DEPOSm r6.tl^^^l<^-^^o^^<^ Rushford and Rushford People Planned, Edited and Published by Helen Josephine White Gilbert Historical Committee of Rushford's Centennial 1910 Printed by Chautauqua Print Shop Copyrighted 1910 BY MRS. HELEN WHITE GILBERT (T CI.A28O07O PREFACE This book is a result ol the Rushford Centennial which was held August 16-21, 1908. It has been written to keep in memory not only the names but the noble deeds and the bright sayings of those who helped to make the town what it was and is. The preparation of the material which appears here was begun February i, 1908, and has been continued to the present time. Old letters, diaries, deeds, records of various kinds, and copies of the Republican Era, the Neivs Letter and the Spectator have been used. The books which have been consulted are "75th Anniversary of the Baptist Church of Rushford, N. Y.," "Home Life in Colonial Days" by Alice Morse Earle, "Nathaniel Ely and his De- scendants," compiled by Heman Ely, "History of the Gene- see Conference" by Conable, "Allegany County Directory" (1874-5), "History of Allegany County" (1879), "Allegany and its People" (1896), "Pioneer History" by Turner, and "History of Cattaraugus County." I must express my great obligation to my son, Allan H. Gilbert, for his assistance in copying the manuscripts and for his valuable criticisms; also to Miss Ellen Lyman for her aid in getting school matter ready for publication. In preparing the roster of soldiers I gladly acknowledge my indebtedness to Miss Mildred Hil- dreth, Philander D. Ellithorpe, John R. Heald and Abram J. Lyon. The list of pastors of the Free Methodist Church was furnished by the Rev. C. E. Pike, that of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Miss Ellen Gordon. In writing the sketch upon the Methodist Episcopal Church I received help from a paper written by James Benjamin, and in writ- ing the one upon the Presbyterian Church I was aided by Preface Mrs. Aurora Thompson Green. Martin Lyon, F. E. Ham- mond, S. E. Kilmer, Chauncey Williams, Newell White, Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf, Chester Perry, and last but not least, my husband, Eddy C. Gilbert, have been especially helpful to me in my work. I wish to express my appreciation to the many for their interest, their good wishes and their generous response both to numerous questions and to requests for written contributions. In any revision of the papers it has been my aim to preserve not only the thought but the individuality of the writer. Owing to the great variety of matter, there is something in the book to interest everyone. As a work of reference it will be of value since no pains have been spared to make sure of accuracy. If the readers of the book receive in its perusal some- thing of the pleasure and profit which have been derived from its preparation, I shall be satisfied. Helen J. White Gilbert. Rush ford. New York, July, 19 lO. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE. CHAPTER. I Centennial AcUli-ess ^ II Soil and Forests— F. Engene Hammond 4 III Families • ^^ The Gary Family— Frank Eneas Woods n The Swifts ^7 William Vanghan ^9 Abel Belknap 20 The Gordons 22 Josephus Young 3i The Woodses— Clarissa Woods Calkms 2,2 Abraham J. Lyon 39 Thomas Pratt 4i The Bennetts— Allan H. Gilbert 42 Samson Hardy 47 The Bannisters— Albert W. Bannister 49 The Bannisters— Amelia Bannister DeBerczy 51 The Bannisters— The Ely Book 56 The Thirds— Nancy E. DeKay 58 The Perrys "0 Luther Woodworth 02 John Hammond o4 Amba Alderman ^ The Freemans ^7 The Goings— Harriet Going Colby 08 The Orcutts— Allan H. Gilbert 7i Matthew P. Cady 75 James McCall 70 Levi Benjamin 79 Samuel Persons oi David Board °3 James Kendall °5 David Kinney 88 Daniel Ely— Julia Williams Straight 89 The Gillettes, including a story told by Charles B. Kendall— V. R. Gillette 9° Asa Benjamin 94 Elijah Lyman 95 The Butterfields 97 Charles Hapgood — Emer Corse lOO The Taylors 100 B. T. Hapgood and Family 102 The Tarbells I05 Chapman Brooks I07 The Searls I09 Contents Samuel White— Helen J. White Gilbert in The Griffins Ii6 George Scott 120 Charles White 122 Joseph Bell— Mary Bell Dickey 124 Riifus Adams — Viola Adams Farwell 127 Micah Hall 128 The Sextons 131 Alvin K. Morse 132 The Smiths — Irene Smith Kendall 134 The Kingsburys 138 The Leavens 142 Billings and Hannah Walker — Julia Tarbell Merrill 149 Newbury Eddy — Eddy C. Gilbert 151 Nahum Ames — Augusta Ames Woods 153 A. W. E. Damon — Charles M. Damon 153 Harmon Hvde — Mary Ann Hyde 157 Harris Gilbert— Eddy C. Gilbert 158 Aaron Rice 161 Israel Thompson — Julia Thompson 162 The Hillarys — Maude Howard Brady 164 The Rev. Elijah Metcalf — Flora Mctcalf Thomas.. 166 James H. Green — Ellen Green Nye 172 The Moores— Eddy C. Gilbert 174 The Colburns 175 Robert English — Victoria English Gordon 177 John Lamberson — Frank Lamberson 180 Randolph Heald 181 John G. Osborn 183 Isaiah Lathrop — Alice Lathrop Holden 184 David Babbitt— Allan H. Gilbert 186 Michael Warren — Albert L. W^arren 189 The Beecher.s — David Herbert Beecher 190 The Georges — David Herbert Beecher 193 The Georges — Agnes George Taylor 193 Robert Morrow 196 John W. Hill — Jennie W. Bush 197 The Thomases — John J. Thomas 198 IV The Churches 201 The First Baptist Church 201 Mission Circle — Jennie A. Westcott 207 Social — Jennie A. Westcott 208 The First Methodist Episcopal Chureli .?oq Reminiscences — Frank Eneas Woods 219 Reminiscences — ^Esther B. Woods Eldridge 220 Reminiscences — T. W. Chandler 221 Remodeling of the M. E. Church — Anon 225 Ladies Aid Society — Ellen E. Gordon 227 F.pworth League 230 Contents The Freewill Baptist Church 231 The Presbyterian Church .. .^ J> The Wesleyan Methodist Church • ■ J>^ The UniversaHst Church-Ellen Green Nye 236 The First Free Methodist Church. 239 Bequests or Requests-Arhe White Ives 241 V The Schools / ■ " V^,", t 9i\ History of the Schools— Ellen Lyman 243 Snuifscences of V. R. GiUette-EUen Ly-an 248 Reminiscences of W. F. Bennett-Ellen Lyman.... 250 Memory Pictures-Sarah Ford Crosby .....■• -53 The^FiSt ^PhUomlthean' Society^W . ' F. Bement . . . 258 The Mystic Association-E L., H. J. VV. G -bo The Second Philomathean Society ^^^ The Polyhymnian Society ■•■•■■.••••• ^ •>••■ 'tV" " V The Present Philomathean Society— E. L., n. J. Alumni Poem— Lucy Marsh Poate ^73 College Graduates, etc '. ' ' 279 Artists 280 VI Physicians ; 280 The Medical Profession ^g^ Anecdotes, etc • _• X ' '• ' ' V ' Cf o^,"r -^.Sfi Recollections of a Physician-Ornn T. S acy 285 VII Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks .... . . -94 VIII Societies • • • • •; : ^^q Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons 29» Rushford Lodge ■ • • • • • ■ ■„; , ■ • • ^ Joseph Enos Lodge-Eddy C. Gilbert. 303 Banquet of the Rushford Historical Society....... 304 ^^ ^ An' Interesting ' Letted' of " War "Time-A.' W. E. Damon ,q„ Roster of Soldiers -f ^ War of the Revolution i' War of 1812 ^^^ Celebratim/in Rushford 'of the' Taking of Richmond 338 ^ ^^The Historv' of' "M'usic-S'ophi'a 'Benjami'n Taylor. . 340 The Rushford Band-Sumner E. Kilmer, Abram ^^^ The 'Rns\°fo'rd 'Cornet 'Band-Frank Eneas Woods.. 347 XI Our Bells ^S^ XII Reminiscences .••••. ~ Reminiscences— Maria Benjamin ^5 Wolves— Julia Williams Straight 35^ Recollections— Ellen White Hubbell .^. . . . . . .^ - • • • 3-° Reminiscences of Rushford-Corneha Gilman Green 358 Contents XIII XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII • XXIII XXIV XXV Recollections — B. J. Jewell 361 Reminiscences — Esther B. Woods Eldridge 36^ Reminiscences of Podonque — Esther B. Woods Eld- ridge, Clarissa Woods Calkins 364 Rushford Reminiscences^Harrison L. Wilson.... 366 Recollections of Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East Rushford— Hosea B. Ackerly 3/6 Reminiscences — Mary Smith 386 Recollections and Characteristics — Helen M. Judd.. 392 Reminiscences of Rushford— Charles M. Damon... 399 Rushford and Rushford People— Mary E. Lane 414 Recollections — Orrin Leslie Elliott 433 Retrospection — Clara Bristol Tiffany 437 A Picture — Florence Octavia Munger 444 Moriturus Ave !— G. W. F. Buck 445 Great Celebrations 449 Semi-Centennial 449 A Leaf from My Journal — Cynthia Woodworth. . 455 Rushford's Centennial and Home Coming Week... 458 The Relics 470 The Choir, the Orchestra, the Double Quartet and the Band— Clara Elizabeth Poate, Helen J. White Gilbert 477 The Farmers' Parade— Russell M. Wilmarth 481 The School Day Parade— Lucy Marsh Poate, Clara Elizabeth Poate, Allan H. Gilbert 486 Old Home Week at Rushford— Mary Sherwood 494 Baseball Team — Abram P. Benjamin 497 Cheese 500 Early Cheese Making 500 Pineapple Cheese 50i The Rushford Cheese Factory ._ 502 Cheese Box Factories *.'. S03 Fires 505 Asheries 5ii The Storm of 1838 513 The Flood of August 16 and 17, 1864 514 Railroads 5^7 Our Lost T. V. and C. R. R 5i7 The Railroad— Lucretia Elmer Morse 518 Miscellaneous 521 Public Entertainments 532 Movements— Ellen Lyman 543 The Press— Eddy C. Gilbert 548 Rushford 554 An Editorial, Entitled Rushford— H. E. Puidy 554 Rushford in 1848 555 A Comparison 560 Rushford 564 List of Illustrations PAGE. Helen White Gilbert Frontispiece Old Home Week at Rushford, 1908 10 Mr. and Mrs. William L. Gary 15 Jedediah Buckingham Gordon 23 Daniel Clark Woods 29 Mrs. Ely ( Nancy Gary) Woods 33 Marena W^oods 38 H. Nelson Hammond 65 John Hammond 65 Mrs. Myra A. Persons Farwell 82 Charles Han ford Kendall 86 Hiram B. Gilbert 91 Mrs. Hiram B. Gilbert 91 ^Irs. Cynthia A. Woodworth 108 Frank E. White and sons Thomas and Robert 112 Henry Kirke White 1 14 Store Built by Oramel Griffin 119 Mrs. Harriet Swift White 123 C. K. B. Smith 135 Grover M. Pratt 143 Inez L. Leavens 145 Eddy C. Gilbert i59 Residence of George Gant 160 Rev. Elijah Metcalf ; 167 Levi Metcalf 167 Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf English 169 John R. Heald 182 Obed T. Wilmot 202 William Gordon 210 William H. Thomas 242 Rushford Acadeniv 246 Allan H. Gilbert. ." 278 Orrin T. Stacy, M. D 281 Alamanzo W. Litchard 297 Sumner E. Kilmer 329 Harvey Crocker 385 Mr. and Mrs. Abraham J. Lyon 450 Samuel White 453 Rev. Thomas L. Pratt 453 Mr. and Mrs. Irving McCall 467 Among the Relics 471 Farmers' Parade— Old Home Week 482 Old Home Week — School Parade 487 Clothing Rooms and Post Office, 1859 507 Jesse P. Bixby, AL D.. and grandson, Clarence Wilmot 563 Tarbell House 565 Upper Main Street 567 The Man with the Shovel 570 Map I CENTENNIAL ADDRESS Helen J. White Gilbert ALTHOUGH the writing of the history has been a task, it has been a pleasant one. At first it seemed as if a thick veil were hung before our eyes, through which we were vainly trying to peer into the past, but at times the curtain has been lifted and we have seen visions. The dry bones of the valley have been clothed with flesh and we have walked and talked with the worthies of old. The relationships in our town are marvelous to con- template. Probably there is no man in the country who has more relatives than Fred G. Gordon,* belonging to the large family of Gordons and related to all the Garys, all the Tar- bells, all the Kendalls, and — as if that were not enough, he must marry a Woods. H Mr. Gordon should make a din- ner party some day and invite all his relatives we would all go. The Holland Purchase was an immense tract of land in western New York, comprising (with the exception of the State mile strip along the Niagara River and the Indian reservations) Niagara. Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties and the western portions of Orleans, Genesee, Wy- oming and Allegany counties. It was owned by a number of rich merchants of Amsterdam, Holland, who formed the Holland Land Company. In a deed dated 1818, their names were Wilhelm Willink, Henry Vollenhoven and Rutger Jan Schimmelpennick. The surveyor and local land agent who had charge of the settlement of the Holland Purchase was *W. H. Leavens rivals Mr. Gordon in the number of relatives. Centennial Address Joseph Ellicott, an able man, rich, single, and melancholy. His name still lives in ElHcott Square, Buffalo, and in Elli- cottville. It was to Ellicottville that the settlers went to make their payments. The first six to take out articles for land in Rush ford, in 1808, were Chas. Swift, Eneas Gary, Othniel Perry, William Vaughan, Andre Bennett and Joshua Wilson. The Indians who roamed through the forests belonged to the tribe of Senecas, a part of the Iroquois Confederacy. As many of the inhabitants came from Windsor County, Vermont, they decided to name the town Windsor; but it was given up as there was already in the State a place by that name. Wilson Gordon of Topeka, Kansas, says that it was named Rushford because of the rushes growing along the Caneadea Creek. Samuel White said that it was named after Dr. Rush of Philadelphia, an eminent physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The pioneers were not effeminate but men of strength with interesting individualities. If intemperance and pro- fanity were more common then than today, it was the fault of the times. The cause of temperance has made great progress since 1808, when the members of the first temper- ance organization in the country agreed not to drink rum, except at public dinners and when they did not feel well. During the first fifteen years no indictable offense was com- mitted in town. Some one has said that Rushford, with its industry, its thrift, and its morals, was a second New Eng- land. For the golden days of Rushford we must look back before the Civil War took the flower of our youth, before steam power was used in manufacturing, before and soon after the Erie Railroad was completed, when timber was Centennial Address abundant, when children numbered nine, and when the gar- ments a man wore, the chair he sat upon and the wagon in which he rode to church might all have been labeled "Made in Rushford." Before 1850 Rushford was the liveliest place in Allegany County. In 1855 the population was at its height, numbering two thousand. The past of our town has been glorious. If we develop the best that is in us and are loyal to her institutions her future may be glorious. The territory of the following towns of Allegany County was included in the Holland Purchase : Centerville, Rushford, New Hudson, Cuba, Clarksville, Genesee, Hume, Caneadea, Belfast, Friendship, Wirt, Bolivar. When Can- eada was formed, March 11, 1808, it embraced the terri- tory of all the towns named above except Centerville and Hume. Rushford was formed from Caneadea in 1816, and Haight, now New Hudson, was formed from Rushford April 10, 1825. The present township of Rushford was known as township five, range two, in the survey of the Holland Land Company. It was divided into lots by Wm. Rumsey in the summer of 1807, and the land was imme- diately offered for sale. The township is divided into sixty- four lots. Lot number i is in the southeast corner of the township, north of it is lot number 2, and west is lot num- ber 9. The village of Rushford is in the center of the town- ship where lots 28, 29, 36, and 37 corner. II SOIL AND FORESTS (Farmers' Day Address) F. Eugene Hammond. Mr. President, Friends and Fellow-Farmers: IT is a pleasure to be here this day of the "Old Home Week," and take part in your exercises by presenting to you a short address relating to the soil and forestry of Rush ford township. This subject has been of deep inter- est to me from boyhood — an inheritance, perhaps, from my mother, who passed most of her life in this vicinity, and who had, like myself, an especial love for those lesser chil- dren of Nature — the trees of the forest. During the ages past — an eternity to us — the rocks were formed at the bed of the sea. Later, these were elevated above sea-level, and in a still later period, were broken to pieces and changed into soil through the two giant forces, ice and fire, or in other words, through the action of water, heat and cold. Through all of the western part of the State of New York, as well as in the township of Rushford, the soil that lies upon the surface, varying in depth in valley and upland, has been produced from the primitive rocks in this man- ner, and largely, too. in a comparatively recent age known as the "Drift or Ice Period." Prior to the "Drift Period," the surface of this area was, in all probability, at a higher elevation than the pres- ent hill-tops, and also nearly level. The bed rocks as we find them now along the western slope of the Alleghany Mountains, lie nearly horizontal, dipping a little faster to Soil and Forests the southwest than the average level of the surface. In proof of this, we find the pebble sand-rocks of Venango County, near Oil City, Pa., that lie nearly four hundred feet below the river-level along the Allegheny River, grad- ually rise to the surface at Warren, Pa., and coming still further northeast, remnants of this same rock strata are found in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties on the hill- tops, known to us as "Rock Cities." Lying under these sand-rocks are shales and slates that make a rich soil when broken or dissolved into dirt. You may ask, "How is it known that the slates and shales make good soil, and that the rocks He horizontal, also, that our hills are formed by erosion instead of vol- canic action ?"' One answer is, we have found these facts in drilling for petroleum or rock-oil. In this work, we find that our uplands and hills have slates and shales that are not found when drilling in the valleys, while the bedrocks be- neath the soil of our valleys are found under our hills, at a depth equal to the elevation of the well being drilled above the level of the valleys. As to the quality of the soil formed from shales and slates, we have set fruit trees in the drill- ings brought to the surface from these rocks, and found that the trees grew faster and larger than in common soil, also that the surrounding vegetation was afifected in a like man- ner. Geologists who have made a study of that area of the Imited States which extends from the New England States southwesterly to the Mississippi Valley believe that the time which has elapsed since the close of the "Ice Period," to be from forty thousand to sixty thousand years. This seems a very long time to us, but it is merely yesterday when compared to the total age of the rocks which form Soil and Forests the planet on which we Hve. How this immense field of ice (which is believed to have been a mile or more in thick- ness) happened to be placed on this part of the earth, as well as over northern Europe, is a matter of mere conjecture. There are many theories, but not one that wholly explains the phenomenon. However, it seems certain to have been here, and to have remained centuries before the alternating temperature of summer and winter came to change it into rushing, whirling waters, that tore the rocks to pieces and cut channels and gorges in a mad rush to the sea. The 'Tee Period" was ushered out in a slow and grad- ual manner, which, while it tore the sand rocks, slates, and shales in pieces, also mixed the substances composing them in varying proportions, and left a part along our val- leys and dells, even as we see the process being carried out in a small way today. Some of the deposits of this mixture of rocks, left along our streams and valleys, compose the banks of gravel with sand and clays mixed, making the loam-land soil found in the eastern part of this township. In other places on our hills and hill-sides, the clay made from the shales predominated, with little or no sand and gravel. The continued action of the seasons on this soil, further dissolving it and making it finer, at length prepared and made it ready for that new life which we name the tree kingdom, to come, take root, and flourish. And it came, but from where, and in what manner, we do not know. But we do know that for centuries it was here in all its beauty and majesty, adding its contributions of wood and leaf-mold to the soil, which through the whole process become the best for producing a greater variety of fruits, grains, and grasses than any other on the planet. Soil and Forests Here, a century ago, only a century, stood the most magnificent forest on the globe. Rooted to this soil was a variety of trees unequaled in value. Here stood the white pine, tlie hemlock, the maple, the beech, the ash, the cherry, the oak, the chestnut, the birch, the elm, the basswood, the cucumber, the hickory and other smaller kinds. Thick they stood, each kind rooted to the soil best adapted to its needs, reaching their twigs and branches from the long trunks, high and higher in the struggle of life, that each might drink in through its foliage the breath of the sunlight. Beneath them, in the shadow, close to earth, nestled the vege- tation — vernal wild-flowers, ferns and mosses. Such luxu- riance, such panoramic pictures of sun and shade, such changing scenes of virgin wilderness could only be por- trayed by one hand — the Artist-hand of God painting the pictures of Nature. Among these forests, as our earth gradually became fitted for his life and maintenance, came another form of life — Man. A pygmy he seemed, in com- parison to the giant trees beneath which he crept. One hundred years ago the first white settler came to this town- ship to make his home. Many others, year by year for a period of thirty or more years, followed. Each settled upon a parcel of the forest-land, usually a hundred acres or less, dividing a section of three hundred and sixty acres into three or four parts. Each settler, on arrival, with ax in hand, and a pair of oxen, either his or borrowed from a neighbor a mile or more away, began to cut and dispose of the trees that cov- ered his ground. He could utilize for fuel and a log habita- tion only a mere fraction of them. Acre after acre of timber was cut, logged and burned on the ground. Nearly all the timber was destroyed in this manner, the work continuing Soil and Forests until 1850. Since then the waste has gone steadily on in other ways, until now hardly an acre of virgin forest stands in the township. Practically the some condition prevails all over New York and Pennsylvania. The fact is, we are facing a timber famine. From the State of Maine to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, and south to where the long and short leaf pitch-pine grows, there is prac- tically no timber of any consequence. Even that outside of this area is disappearing so rapidly that it is no wonder the government has taken steps to save the remaining timber- lands of our country. It would have been almost impossible for our early settlers to have lived in this hilly district, with its rugged winters, had it not been for the protection offered them by the forest, and the wonderful capability of a soil, made fertile by centuries of forest mold, to produce a diversity of products. What a change in this place today ! The for- ests gone ; the soil impoverished through lack of proper cul- tivation ; land abandoned, except for the scanty pasturage it affords! Would it not be well for the farmers and land- owners to give serious attention to more scientific methods of agriculture, and to use every effort for the preservation of the little ill-kept timber we have left? If we would all begin a systematic effort to set out trees in waste places, such as ravines and steep hillsides, it would accomplish much. Future generations would heed the lesson given, and continue the work. Our children would thank us and re- member us kindly for our forethought. We should soon see the reward for our efforts, for trees grow rapidly in this climate with its natural tree soil. I hope the Grange in this township will take the initiative in this tree preserva- tion and culture, thus starting and extending the educational work to other agricultural societies of our State. 8 Soil and Forests Something of the story of the rocks, soil and forests of this township, as I have endeavored to tell it, is por- trayed in the following brief poem of twelve lines: About the trembling, palpitating Earth, Their weapons Ice and Fire, with ruin soiled, A thousand epochs ere the Pygmy's birth. The planetary Giants fought and toiled. The Artist-dream of an eternity — They wrought the ^"ision as the ages fell — A varied Eden, clothed with flower and tree From shining upland to each dusky dell. Then, while they slept, the crafty Pygmy came With tiny ax — and in a century's haste Crept o'er the Picture — gave it bounds and name, And marred the Vision to his human taste. Ill RUSHFORD FAMILIES . THE GARY FAMILY F. E. Woods ENOS GARY, the first settler of the township of Rush- ford, New York, was born in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, September 23, 1757. He with two brothers, Seth and Loved, and one sister, Hannah, comprised the children of the household. These brothers kept the family lines of their descendants separate by each spelling the sur- name differently as Gary, Garey and Geary. Governor Gerry of that State, said to be a relative by one versed in Gary genealogy, had still a different spelling of the name. The daughter of the sister Hannah married a Mr. Bridg- man. Their daughter, Laura Bridgman, was in her day about as celebrated as Helen Keller, having been rendered deaf, dumb and blind by scarlet fever when two years of age. Dr. Samuel G. Howe, husband of Julia Ward Howe, won great notoriety by educating Laura Bridgman, and has been called the Cadmus of the blind. Miss Bridgman became a skillful teacher of the blind at Perkins Institute, Boston. Charles Dickens, the English novelist, visited her and wrote of her in his 'American Notes." Enos Gary early moved to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he enlisted for the Revolutionary War. He was in the mer- cantile business as an importer. His partner, a relative, took funds to England to pay on account and make purchases but died while on this business, and as no papers of pay- ment were found on him, Mr. Gary was again obliged to send funds for settlement which he made in full and closed the firm's business. The opening of the Holland Purchase Rush ford Families attracted eastern people so Mr. Gary, as the records in the Allegany County Atlas show, took up lot number thirty, about half a mile north of Rushford Village, in 1808, moving his family from Weathersfield, Vermont, where he had been in business about one year. The journey was made with an ox team. The party consisted of himself and wife, his son William and wife, and three other children, the youngest about five years of age. Arriving at Center- ville, where Mr. Maxson had a few years before begun the settlement of that township, and leaving most of his family there, he and his son William and the lively girl Nancy, then nearly nine years of age, drove south six miles, having previously blazed the way through the unbroken forest, on January i, 1809, to found a home and begin life anew in the wilderness. It was a great change from a mercan- tile life. On the ox-sled they had brought a kettle of coals the fire from which was probably kept for many years and kindled again on the hearth stones of many newly arriving settlers. Going to the neighbors to borrow fire was no un- common thing in those days. The son William felled the first tree. They put up that day a log shanty, a lean-to, covered it with cotton cloth and there spent the night, hav- ing tied the oxen to trees and built seven fires about to keep ofif the wild beasts. The rest of the family came soon, and the next year his sons-in-law, William Gordon and Cephas Young, arrived, and a year and a half later his son, Charles Gary, and wife, also. After making improvements for five years on this well located place, now the Isaac Weaver farm,* Mr. Gary sold it for $1,000 and moved on to the road west, a half mile farther north, to what is now called the Thomas farm. *This farm has since been sold to Benjamin Williams. 12 The Gary Family liere he built a two-story house and set out an orchard, perhaps the first one in town. His son-in-law, Mr. Young, lived on the same farm on the lower road. Of course Mr. Gary had to keep open house for the new comers, and as he was very sociable and friendly, his home was somewhat of a hotel for a while. Born about thirty miles from Boston, living in the stormy times that preceded and followed the long struggle for liberty, him- self a soldier in it, he had a fund of anecdotes, stories and reminiscences and withal business experience, fitting him for an agreeable entertainer. How he became acquainted with the Gordons is not known. Mr. James Gordon, a Scotchman, came to this country as a British soldier, but afterwards joined the Con- tinental army. In one of his genial banters with his friend, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Gary, alluding to Gordon, said to those about, "This is the man I took prisoner." "Well," Mr. Gor- don replied, "my son captured two of Mr. Gary's daughters, so I guess we are about even." Just how much of the taking prisoner was warlike no one now living can say. Mr. Gor- don said as he took his pension, "I came over to fight you Yankees and now you are paying me for it," and also, "I have held the stirrup many a time for Washington." Mr. Gary surveyed what is now Rushford township and marked the center by embedding a grind-stone in the middle of Main Street a little below the High School grounds. Nearly opposite this point, in a cottage which is now the rear of the Morgan home, the early settler and his wife spent some of their later years till, too old and feeble for house- hold duties, they were tenderly cared for in the home of their son-in-law, William Gordon. Mrs. Gary, honored and respected, filled well her sta- tion, caring for her family and welcoming the new settlers. 13 Rushford Families Before her marriage she was Miss Esther Buckingham, daughter of Jedediah P. Buckingham of Lebanon, Con- necticut, a man of large family and of name somewhat noted in that State. A letter to Rev. F. E. Woods from the war governor. William A. Buckingham, also born in Leba- non, states concerning "Gary-Buckingham" genealogy, "no doubt we are relatives, for I have known no person bear- ing my name, residing in this country, unless it be a family in Maryland, who is not a descendant of Thomas Buckingham, one of the first settlers and one of the 'seven pillars' of the church, in Milford, Connecticut." Mr. and Mrs. Gary were people of refinement and rather genteel manners. He wore continental style of cloth- ing (knee breeches with gold buckles), powdered hair and a wig for dress up. Mrs. Gary had silk and satin dresses. They were Presbyterians and had family prayer. Mrs. M. B. Champlin of Cuba when a young girl called on these her grandparents one morning and finding them at family prayer waited at the door till their devotions were over. Mr. Gary was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, record of which is with Miss Ellen Gordon of Rushford. Until their golden wedding anniversary and three years after, this worthy couple were permitted to journey together, then the beloved wife fell asleep, August 27, 1841, aged seventy-eight years, and Mr. Gary died three years later, August 17, 1844, aged eighty-seven years. On the morning of his departure he said, "I saw Esther last night and she was just as beautiful as when I married her." Their re- mains rest in Rushford cemetery. Seven children and about forty grandchildren survived them. COMMENDATORY With due honor to his helpmeet, we may say of Mr. Gary that by his service to his country in the long and un- 14 William L. Gary and Wife Rush ford Families certain struggle of the Revolution ; by beginning again when past fifty years of age bravely to battle with difficulties and regain a competence; by his service to the community in which he lived ; by his love for his f ellowmen and to God ; by these things he made himself an honored pioneer in the founding of a well-famed town. DESCENDANTS The children of the first settler were : William, called Capt. Gary. Esther, wife of Josephus Young. Mira, first wife of William Gordon. Charles. Martha, second wife of William Gordon. Nancy, wife of Ely Woods. Caroline, wife of Oramel Griffin. These all lived and died in Rushford, excepting Charles, who with his family embarked on a raft at Olean, went down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and settled in Rising Sun, Indiana. His eight children grew up to honorable estate; two of them were Methodist preachers in Kansas. Two of Enos Gary's sons-in-law, William Gordon and Oramel Griffin, were prominent business men in Rushford. The latter earned his first hundred dollars by felling trees for a clearing. With this money he early opened a store in Rushford and continued in that business over twenty-five years, accumulating, it was supposed, $100,000. The daughter Nancy, by accompanying her father, Mr. Gary, on the first day of settlement, became thus the first white woman to stay in the town over night. On March 31, 1818, she was married to Ely Woods. For a wedding trip they drove with an ox team from Mr. Young's down to the present site of Rushford, where the people gathered 16 The Swifts to attend the raising of the first tavern, a log structure, at the present location of the village. To begin housekeeping they placed the furniture on an ox-cart and drove to the farm on which they both lived and died, having reared a family of eight children. A year after celebrating their golden wedding Mrs. Woods departed this life aged nearly seventy, Mr. Woods about ten years later aged nearly eighty- five. They were both earnest, religious people, he a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly forty years. Descendants of Eneas Gary who reside in town : Miss Ellen E. Gordon, Fred G. Gordon, Mrs. Verna Gordon Tarbell, Bertram Crocker, Fred H. Crocker, Nora B. Crocker, Carrie D. Crocker, Mrs. Minnie Osborn Jagers, Albert Far- well and Dorrance Farwell. THE SWIFTS H. J. W. G. MOSES WARD of Cheshire, Ontario County, said in his reminiscences that when he was a boy he staid for a time with his sister, Mrs. Andrey Hawley, who lived on Oil Creek (Cuba was at first called Oil Creek). Speaking of the settlers who came in the summer of 1807, he mentions Mr. Swift, eight miles north. The Holland Purchase records show that the first man to take a contract for land in township five, range two, was Charles Swift, from Cazeno- via, Madison County. In 1809 he was probably living on what was later called the English farm, on the Cuba road ; his son Neman lived* farther west on the same road. The late Porter Swift of Wisconsin said that his father, Heman, *The farm on which Heman lived is now owned by the Ack- erly Company, and joins the English farm. 17 Rush ford Families came to Rush ford "when the Indians were painted up and were going to kill the whites off," and that his father moved back to Cazenovia three times because he was afraid of the Indians. The children of Heman and Ann Swift were Harriet (Mrs. Charles White) born in 1806, Van Lansing, Heman and Porter. Harriet said that one afternoon when she and a woman sat visiting they saw a bear come down the road and go into the cellar. They went out and stopped up the window\ When the men came home they shot the bear. The skin sold for forty dollars. Heman and Ann Swift both died in 1853. lone, William, Charles and George VanDusen are the great-grandchildren of Heman Swift who live in Rushford. Charles Swift was a Revolutionary soldier.* His grand- son, the late Porter Swift, thought he set out the first or- chard in town. If he did not have the honor of being the first permanent settler he had the distinction of having the first horses and sleigh in the settlement. The whiffletrees were attached to the runners of the sleigh. Charles Swift kept a tavern. There was a great demand for taverns in Rushford because people were passing through to a new country or driving cattle or hauling lumber. Oats were a shilling a bushel, lodging a sixpence, meals a shilling, and whiskey sixteen cents a gallon. Charles Swift, Jr., was elected to office at the first town meeting. March 18, 181 7. he became one of the char- ter members of the Rushford Masonic Lodge, having pre- viously belonged to the Angelica Lodge. He married Electa, daughter of the widow Butterfield, about 1820. In 1847 l^^ sold his farm to Robert English and moved to Pennsylvania. Jackson Swift, another son of Charles Swift, lived on *See list of Soldiers of Revolution. 18 J William Vaughan the same road nearer the village. He moved to Wisconsin in 1842. Mrs. Johanna Swift, wife of Charles Swift, in 1838 went to Missouri with many others from Rushford. She went ahead of the ox team and picked out the places to stop for dinner and to camp at night. Later she came back to Rushford. One Christmas she was in a sleigh with the Gillettes and ]\Irs. Amanda Baird on her way to the home of her grand-daughter, Mrs. Harriet White, where they were to spend the day. The horses got into a big snow drift near the Enghsh schoolhouse and the grandmother, although eighty-three years old, insisted on walking to the house, which was in sight. When she reached it she went onto the bed and by the time all were in the house she had gone to her long home. WILLIAM VAUGHAN H. J. W. G. WILLIAM VAUGHAN, the grandfather of Chester Perry, Jay Vaughan, the Rev. Frank Himes, Mrs. Philo Taylor and Mrs. C. C. Gould, was brought up by a sailor. Since he suffered from fever and ague in Oneida County, in 1808 he took a contract for land in township five, range two, upon the Holland Purchase. In 1809, when he came, there were only three families in the township, those of Eneas Gary and Charles and Heman Swift. He boarded with Charles Swift and cleared ten acres of the land now owned by Jay Vaughan. In April, 1810, he brought his wife and five children to their new home, a log house with a stone fireplace. 19 Rushford Families No man in the settlement was so strong as he to cHmb upon the corner of a log cabin when it was being built and put the logs in place. Once when his neighbors were without food he killed a deer and thus saved them from starving. He was able to make plows and drags and was so quick and strong that he could get a bushel and a half of potatoes' for a day's work when others received only a bushel. He used to tell of a race that took place when there was a neighborhood party. It was between oxen and horses over logs and against stumps. The oxen won. He was the first one in the settlement to capture a swarm of bees. Saw- ing off the part of the log containing the swarm, he carried it home and set it up in his yard, using it for a beehive a number of years. He built one of the first frame houses in town. He was eccentric, honest, and a reader of the Bible, although he made no profession of religion. His children were Betsey (Mrs. Stewart, later Mrs. Joseph Dolph), William, David, Daniel, Laurana (Mrs. Ran- dolph Himes), Abram, Julia (Mrs. Austin Perry), Henry and Charles. Charles was a drummer of unusual skill. He lived eighty-one years on the land taken up by his father. Five generations of Vaughans have lived on the same farm. ABEL BELKNAP H. J. W. G. ABEL BELKNAP first saw the Hght of day in Massa- chusetts the January before the battle of Concord. The latter part of 1809 he and his wife Clarissa Torry with four children set out for the Genesee country. Abel wished to remain at Rochester, but Clarissa said, "No." Abel Belknap "When a woman will, she will, You may depend on't, But when she won't, she won't, And that's the end on't." She didn't like the water ; she wanted to settle near a spring, so they traveled till they came to the sulphur spring near the Cuba road, on the farm now owned by James Wil- son, and there on the south side of the road they built their log house. January 20, 1810, there came to their home the first white child born in the settlement. They called her name Bethiah. Eight more children were born to them. All but two of the thirteen children lived to maturity. Sally (Mrs. John Bristol), born in 1828, was the youngest. Once the family heard a frightful sound under the floor of the house. Polly tried to have the dogs go down, but they would not go. At last Ezra, a strong, strapping fellow, came home. Taking his gun and the dogs he went down and killed a large gray wolf, probably driven there by hunger. A man once came to look at Abel Belknap's oxen. "How much do you ask for them?" he said. "One hundred dollars," was the reply. The man started to go. "Hold on there," called Mr. Belknap, "I can be beat down half." One day when Mrs. Belknap was alone several Indians stopped and asked for something to eat. She generously shared with them her fresh bread and doughnuts. Then they wanted salt pork, but she said, "No, you can't have any." They insisted, brandished knives and threatened, but she stood her ground. Then one of the Indians said, "Me like you, you spunky." In character Abel Belknap was of the Puritan type, upright, and strict and stern in his family. Novel-reading was one of the forbidden things. His daughter, Sally, bor- Rushford Families rowed novels and read them secretly. By mistake she left one where her father found it. He read it and became so interested that he never afterward said anything against novel-reading. He knew his Bible from cover to cover. Mention a passage of Scripture and he could quickly turn to it. He was one of the first assessors and one of the first inspectors of schools in the town of Rushford. He lived to be eighty-one years of age, surviving his wife by only seven weeks. His grandson, E. R. Belknap, son of Erastus, has done a commendable work for the prevention of cruelty to calves while they are being shipped to the city. TPIE GORDONS H. J. W. G. JAMES GORDON, "the root of all Gordons," was born in Leeds, Perth County, Scotland, in March, 1752. His father's name was James and his mother's name was Kastorn. He came to America with the British forces under Burgoyne. but he afterwards joined the Continental army. He mar- ried Jerusha Tarbell, sister of Edward Tarbell. She was born in Groton, Massachusetts, September 25, 1753. The cliildren of James and Jerusha Gordon were Thomas, Kas- torn, James, Tarbel, William, John, Wilson and Samuel. Thomas, Kastorn and Samuel never lived in Rushford. James and Jerusha Gordon came to Rushford in 181 5. The old Gordon farm in Cavendish, Vermont, was afterwards occupied by Joab and Isaac Eddy, relatives of Newbury Eddy who settled in Rushford. James Gordon died De- cember 9, 1844. Jerusha, his wife, died March 8, 1834. Jedediah Buckingham Gordon Rush ford Families James Gordon, Jr., was born in Mason, New Hamp- shire, October 30, 1783. January 10, 1808 he married Abi- gail Bowen, who was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. They came to Rushford from Cavendish, Vermont, in 181 1, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by their son Bowen. James and Abigail Gordon were the parents of eleven children, all born in Rushford. The seven who grew to maturity were Nancy (Mrs. Isaac Rowley), born September 14, 181 1; Maria (Mrs. Eliab Benjamin); For- dyce, who married Sarah Smith; John D. Fletcher, who married Saphronia Adams; Mary Ann (Mrs. Baxter George) ; Laura (Mrs. John C. Nobles) ; Isaac Bowen, who married Malinda Rice of Sardinia; and Julia E. (Mrs. Tony Fletcher), who was born in 1834. Isaac Bowen of Rushford and Julie E. of Pony, Montana, are the only Hv- ing children. Fordyce made his home in Cuba. The grand- children of James and Abigail Gordon whose homes are in Rushford are James G. Benjamin; Frank and Lucy Gordon, children of Fletcher ; Dean Gordon and Mary Gordon Wil- mot, children of Bowen. Tarbel Gordon was born in Mason, New Hampshire, January 21, 1785. His wife, Lucy Lawrence, was born April 12, 1783. In 1810 he came to Rushford where he cleared some land and built a log cabin, then he returned to Vermont, coming again to Rushford, with his family, in 181 1. He settled on lot 29. His land joined that of his brother John on the south, and that of his brother William on the north. The children of Tarbel and Lucy Gordon were Laura (Mrs. David Foy), born Feb. 7, 1806; Louisa (Mrs. Calvin Davenport of Randolph) ; William, who married Lois Gardner; Simon, born May 11, 181 1, who married Laura Griffin ; Ely, who married Martha Thing and after her death her sister Emily; Adaline (Mrs. David Huntington of Na- 24 The Gordons poll) ; Myra (Mrs. Lyford Leavens) ; Elvira (Mrs. Harry Howe) ; L.uthera (Mrs. Perry Corse) ; Salome (Mrs. Elijah Metcalf ) ; and Cyrus, who married Orra Morris of Lyndon. Tarbel Gordon "possessed a strong mind and a sur- prising clearness in opening and explaining Scripture." On the evening of February 20, 1845, Isaac Stone, who had pur- chased the William Gordon farm, called upon him and re- mained till nine o'clock. Their conversation was chiefly upon Christian purity, upon which Mr. Gordon talked with his usual cheerfulness and animation. It was startling the next day, when the word passed from mouth to mouth that "Tarbel Gordon is no more." The Tarbel Gordon farm remained in the family imtil June, 1898, when it was sold by Orra Gordon and her daughters to A. L. Ewell. It is now owned by Fred Baker whose daughter Ethel is a great-great- grandchild of Tarbel Gordon. The grandchildren of Tarbel and Lucy Gordon, now living in Rushford, are Mrs. Lucy Gordon Gant, daughter of William, Willis H. Leavens and Mrs. Flora Metcalf Thomas. William Gordon was born in Mason, New Hampshire, October 7, 1787. He married in Vermont Mira, daughter of Eneas Gary. They came to Rushford about 1810* and settled on the east road north of the present village, on the farm now owned by Romain Benjamin. Here June 12, 1810, was born Samuel, the first white male child born in Rush- ford. On the same farm September 7, 1812, Jedediah Buck- ingham was born ; the mother died the following November, but the young child was tenderly cared for by a neighbor, Mrs. Samuel H. Morgan, who then lived near the brook on the crossroad that extends from Hard Scrabble to Po- donque. William Gordon afterwards married Martha, sister *\A'illiam Gordon came to the township first in 1808 in com- pany with Eneas Gary to look the land over. 25 Rushford Families of his first wife. She was the mother of Lorenzo Dow, who married Orrisa Rawson of Lyndon, Kastorn (Mrs. Avery- Washburn ), Stanbury, who married Juha Short, Stoddard, who married Harriet Jacobs of Portage, Salome (Mrs. Rus- sell Bell), John Copeland, who married in Kansas, Mrs. Mary Nichols Sellows, whose early home was in New Hud- son, New York, John Wesley, who married Louise C. Springer, Asbury, who remained single, and Tarbel, who miarried EHzabeth Morrow. Late in life William Gordon married Mrs. Laura Wilson Woods, widow of Daniel Woods. He brought into Rushford the first bake-oven and the llrst cook-stove ever seen in the town. His home for many years was in Gordonville. Here, near the end of the road, about 1830, he built a carding-mill, to which in time was added dressing of home-made cloth, and finally weaving of cloth. One hundred yards of flannel and fullcloth were n^ade daily. People came many miles to this mill, bringing Iheir wool to exchange for cloth. In the spring of 1842, Avery Washburn entered into partnership in the woolen mill with the firm of W., S. & J. B. Gordon. The name of the firm was afterwards changed to Gordon & Washburn. In 1873 when the woolen mill burned, it was owned by J. B. Gordon & Son.* East of the woolen mill, William Gor- don built a sawmill. In 1836 southwest of his home, and across Caneadea Creek, he built a grist mill. At a later period, the name of the firm owning the grist mill was J. B., J. W. Gordon & Co. When it burned in 1883, it was owned by J. B. Gordon & Son.f In politics William Gordon became an Abolitionist. He *Albert. fFred G. 26 The Gordons was for many years a prominent member and a useful local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In June, 1829, at the twentieth session of the Genesee Conference, at Perry, New York, he was ordained deacon. He was noted for his generosity; the needy, the unfortunate always found in William Gordon a friend. His home was on the corner near the bridge; across the road, farther east, in the first house lived his daughter Kastorn ; Samuel lived just beyond in the house now' owned by Mrs. Margaret Bullock ; in the next house but one lived Jedediah ; on the main road not far from the corner Stanbury built his home; and farther north in the house now owned by Frank Fuller, Lorenzo lived. Of William Gordon's eleven children only Jedediah, Stanbury and Wesley remained in Rushford ; the others sought their fortunes in the West, Samuel, Salome and Lo- renzo in Illinois, and Kastorn. Stoddard, Copeland, Asbury and Tarbel in Kansas. William Gordon died at his home in Gordonville, April 5, 1870. When Jedediah was a young man, people would say to him, "Jed. why don't you get married?" He would reply, "I am afraid if I married in Rushford I would marry one of my relatives." Attending the Baptist Church one Sun- day, while at school in Middlebury, he was strangely drawn to one of the alto singers in the choir. He afterwards sought an introduction to the young woman. Miss Juliette Hovey, who, February 21, 183Q, became his wife. Sometime after their marriage, when Mrs. Gordon was visiting her rela- tives, one of them said to her, "Juliette, what is your hus- band's name?" "Jedediah Buckingham Gordon," was the reply. "Where did he get the name Buckingham?" said her relative. Tracing back they found that the great-grand- mothers of J. B. and his wife were twin sisters. 27 Rushford Families In the presence of J. B. Gordon, a man was once re- lating something removed from the truth. Turning to Mr. Gordon he said, "You remember, don't you, Mr. Gordon?" "Some things I remember," he repHed, "but I don't remem- ber things that never happened." He was not a member of the Methodist Church, but the following little incident will show his attitude. The Rev. W. B. Wagoner said that one hot Sunday when he was preaching in Rushford, the con- gregation seemed listless, even J. B. Gordon did not give his usual attention, so he resolved to repeat the sermon at some future time. After the repetition, Mr. Gordon came to him and said, "I am glad you preached that sermon again, I heard it this time." Erect in stature, perhaps standing with his thumbs in the armholes of his vest, his hair slightly gray, his face smooth, his countenance lighted up with interest in aflfairs, a man whom everybody knew and whom everybody re- spected — such was J. B. Gordon when he had passed four- score. Ellen E. Gordon, Fred G. Gordon and Mrs. Verna Gor- don Tarbell are the only grandchildren of William Gordon who live in Rushford. John Gordon was born in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont, August 4, 1789. In January 24, 1810, he married Harmony, daughter of Luther L. Woodworth. Early the next year they started for the Holland Purchase where they settled in township five, range two, on the south- ern part of lot twenty-nine. Here were born James, who married Polly Bresler ; Luther, who married Florilla Cooley of Attica, New York, April 24, 1848; Matilda (Mrs. George Green), who later lived in Fairport, Monroe County; Walter, who remained single; and Wilson L., whose first 28 Daniel Clark Woods Rush ford P\imilies wife was Marcia Remington. John Gordon was a farmer, a brickmaker and a lumberman. Before 1830 he and his brothers, WilHam and Wilson, owned a sawmill at Kellogg- ville. He was the most unconventional of men; his dress and his pleasures were such as pleased him best. In the forties his sons, James and Luther, were among Rushford's hustling business men. They were afterwards engaged in the lumber business in Brockport; the partnership con- tinued till 1870. Walter became a Methodist minister. Wil- son L. of Topeka, Kansas, who was born in 1828, is the only living child. John Gordon died February 12, 1842. The land on which he settled is owned by his grand-daugh- ter, Mrs. Alice Gordon Hooker of Fairport. Wilson Gordon was born in Cavendish, Vermont, June 4, 1794. He came to Rushford, March 20, 1812, and took up land below East Rushford on Caneadea Creek. After his land was partly cleared, he married Lydia Pratt, who was the mother of his four children: — Sophia (Mrs. William Merryfield), born September 23, 1818; Jerusha (Mrs. Newell McCall) ; Thomas L., who married Mary Lewis; and Orson, who never married. Thomas and Orson died of fever in January, 1864, followed by Mary, wife of Thomas, in February. Lydia Pratt Gordon died in 1859. Wilson Gordon's second wife was Paulina Walker; after her death he married Mrs. Elizabeth Ward. Mr. Gordon, beside being a farmer, was a lumberman, having a sawmill on his farm. The land on which he settled is now owned by Mrs. Fannie McCall whose children are great-grandchildren of Wilson Gordon. Wilson Gordon died February 27, 1879. Of the five Gordon brothers who settled in Rushford, all but John were Methodists, and many were the efiforts to get John converted. In 1834 "the Gordons were many and 30 Joseph us ^'oung strong" ill the Methodist Church. Though there were a number of people in the cluirch who were opposed to the use of musical instruments in worship, the bass viol was introduced into the choir. When James Gordon heard the music, he turned around and looking at the choir, said, "Ahem, fiddlin' and no dancin'." Tarbel Gordon went out during the performance, but returned to hear the sermon. William Gordon said, "We'll fiddle and sing the twentieth hymn." The bass viol disappeared from the choir. The Gordons did much in the development of the town of Rush ford. JOSEPHUS YOUNG H. J. W. G. OCTOBER 13, 1808, Esther, daughter of Eneas Gary, became the wife of Josephus Young. She was seven- teen years of age and he twenty-six at the time of their marriage. In 1810 they left Weathersfield, Windsor County, Vermont, with an ox team and in twenty-two days reached Rushford. To them were born twelve children. Winthrop G., the oldest, was born in 1809. The others who survived infancy were William P., Esther (Mrs. John G. Osborn), Harriet (Mrs. Albert W. Bannister), and Stephen. Josephus Young signed his name Joseph, but he was called Cephas. He located on lot thirty-one, north of Eneas Gary's, but later owned land on the Caneadea Road, joining that of Luther Woodworth, and kept tavern in a building long since burned, that stood on the west side of Upper Street on land now owned by Mrs. James G. Benjamin. According to all reports it was well patronized. Five times town meeting was held in this tavern, the first in 1818, the 31 Rush ford Families last in 1828. December i, 1819, he joined the Rnshford Masonic Lodge. He was a quiet, peaceable man, living to be sixty-five years of age. His wife Esther lived to be over ninety. His sons were all farmers. Winthrop, who married the widow Snow, served his town two years as Supervisor. Stephen, who never married, died when only thirty-three } ears of age ; he was the first toll-gate keeper at the Rush- ford end of the plank road. The toll-gate stood near the site of Mrs. Luther Thomas's house. The children of Josephus and Esther Young passed their lives in Rushford, with the exception of Mrs. Bannister, who after living some years in Churchville, New York, moved to Pasadena, Cali- fornia. The daughter, Esther, died when eighty-one years of age. We have never ceased to miss her sitting by the window or her friendly greeting when we entered. Mrs. Minnie Osborn Jagers is the only descendant of Josephus Young who lives in Rushford. THE WOODSES Clarissa Woods Calkins TEN sons and daughters of Daniel and Ruhama (Ely) Woods, all born in Windsor, Vermont, came to Rush- ford, New York, when the country was new. Clarissa was born in 1783; Sally, who remained in Vermont, in 1785; Lucy, in 1788; Laura, in 1791 ; Daniel, in 1792; Ely, in 1794; Riley, in 1798; William, in 1800; Maila, in 1802; Al- bert, in 1804; and Louisa, in 1806. Daniel Woods married Laura Wilson in Rushford, February, 1810. His first frame house was north of the en- trance to the Podonque Cemetery. No buildings are there 32 Mrs. Ely (Nancy Gary) Woods The first white woman who stayed in the town of Rushford, N. Y., over night. Ritshford Families now. In later years he bnilt the tirst honse north of the Podonque cheese factory. His farm lay each side of the road toward Centerville and the road toward Hume. Uncle Daniel was a host spiritually. He could sing the sweetest and pray the loudest, and like Daniel of old he was willing the whole world should hear him. His children were Lucia Spencer (Mrs. O. D. Benjamin). Myra Ann (Mrs. Thomas Eaton), Leverett Ethelbert, who married Ann Hill, Rebecca Ruhama (Mrs. Randolph Heald), Sarah Louisa (Mrs. John Knaggs), Lucy Lovett (Mrs. Edward Hill), Daniel Clark, who married Armena Peck, Laura Cornelia ( Mrs. Edwin Weaver), Milton McCall, who married Emily Fuller, and Mary Jane (Mrs. Frank Warren). All of his children were born in Rushford except Rebecca R. and Sarah L. who were born in Caneadea. Ely Woods taught school in Caneadea. When the Mc- Calls built their grist mill at East Rushford, he assisted in building the dam which in part remains. He bought a farm just north of his brother Daniel's, and his first frame house was a little farther north than Daniel's, near where the old butternut tree stands. He later built a house on the Hume road, as his farm crossed both roads. His house was the first house south of the schoolhouse. He and his brother, Daniel, with others, built a sawmill in the gorge just east of his second house, and sawed logs there for ?ome years. He married Nancy Gary, the first white woman who came to Rushford, with whom he lived in harmony over fifty years. He was class leader for many years and kept a record of those who attended the class meetings of the Rush- ford Methodist Church, Sunday noons. He also held a prayer meeting in the schoolhouse Sunday evenings, which was well attended for years. He was gifted in prayer and sang the good old hymns in such a way as to convince the 34 The Woodses hearers that they were the sentiment of his heart. His wife was there too and sang the high tenor which sounded so well to me when a child. She was present at the Methodist Clnirch without missing a Sunday for eighteen years. Their children were William Watson, who married Harriett B. Drury and after her death Eleanor Blanchard ; Caroline Gary (Mrs. John Persons); Maila (Mrs. John DuBell) ; Percy (Mrs. Asa Worden) ; Esther, who married Gilbert Richardson and after his death John W. Eldridge ; Catha- rine (Mrs. William H. Shaw); Wilbur Fisk, who married Elizabeth Claus and after her death Emma Glaus ; and Frank- Eneas, who married Mary M. Huff. Laura Woods married David Board. Riley Woods married in Chester, Vermont, November I, 1822, Abagail, daughter of John and Esther Heald. His home was close by the entrance to the Podonque Cemetery. His children were Daniel Heald, who married Elvira Lam- berson; Albert, who married Polly Lamberson ; William Riley, who married Mary F. Champlin ; Fanny Savage; Mary Caroline (Mrs. Joseph Vinson); John Randolph; Edwin Skeels; Ann Eliza (Mrs. Stephen Tobias); and George, who married Caroline Gardner of Illinois. William Woods married in Weathersfield. Vermont, June, 1824, Rosannah, daughter of Richard and Marian Farwell. After coming to Rushford they settled on the farm south of Calvin Leavens' and east of Mr. Board's. Their house was near the corner where the crossroad joins the East Rushford road. To them were born in Rushford six children: Marcia (Mrs. John A. Wells) ; Marian (Mrs. Alonzo Older) : Richard, who married, in Moscow, Phebe E. Grant ; Maria (Airs. Dalzell) ; John ; and William Wilson, who married, in Hinsdale, Emily D. Searle. After the death 35 Rushford Families of his first wife. William Woods married, in 1853, Philena Peck. He died in Franklinville. Albert Woods married in Windsor, Vermont, April 2, 1825, Betsey, daughter of Ebenezer Kendall. Leaving his wife with her parents he came to Rushford ; she died before his return. He married in Rushford Emily Lyman, sister of the late Alonzo Lyman. They had one child, Wiley. Albert Woods afterwards married, in Rochester, Abigail McCord Hagaman. Their children, born in Somerset, Michigan, were Laura Ruhama and Emma Phebe (Mrs. J. De Con). Albert Woods died in Quincy, Michigan. Lucy Woods married Calvin Leavens. Maila and Louisa Woods were unmarried sisters who came from Vermont with Mr. and Mrs. Leavens. Maila became a first-class teacher and founded a school in Kalama- zoo, Michigan. After she was too old to teach she came back to Rushford and died at the home of her nephew, Clark Woods. Louisa was a tailoress and for years owned and occupied the first house north of Frank Fuller's in Gor- donville. In 1804 Clarissa married Thomas Richards in Wind- sor, Vermont. Their children were Edward Palmer, who, in Broome County, married Betsey Launders ; Hallam, who in Monroe County, married Catharine Wilcox ; James Madi- son, who married Hester Ann Bannister ; Mary Palmer (Mrs. C. G. Leavens); Sarah Gardner, unmarried; Lucy Leavens (Mrs. Albert Gallatin) ; and Clarissa Woods (Mrs. Oscar Board). The children were all born in Windsor, Ver- mont, except Lucy L. and Clarissa W., who were born in Lisle, Broome County, New York, where Thomas Richards died in 1822. After his death Mrs. Richards moved to Rushford and occupied a house on the corner opposite her 36 The Woodses brother William's, not far north of Jacob Van Dusen's. Clarissa Richards died in Farmersville, New York. Daniel Woods was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1837 he was elected deacon. Cona- ble's History of the Genesee Conference describes him as a large, fine-appearing, good man. Only two of his children, Mrs. Cornelia Weaver, who lives in Podonqtie, and Mr. Clark Woods, who lives in Rush ford village, are now living. Mr, Clark Woods, although past four-score years, is still (1910) able to start the hymns in prayer meeting. Of the ten Woods bj-others and sisters who settled in Rushford, Clarissa, Lucy, Laura, Daniel and Riley have de- scendants in the town. Frank Board is a grandchild of Clarissa and Laura; W. H. Leavens is a grandchild of Lucy; Mrs. Sylvia Williams, daughter of Lucia, Mrs. Myra Litch- ard, daughter of Leverett, John R. Heald, son of Rebecca, Mrs. Ella Claus, Mrs. Jennie Gordon, Jason, Grant and Wilson Woods, children of Clark, Charles Weaver, son of Cornelia, and D. W. and Newman Woods, sons of Milton, are grandchildren of Daniel Woods ; and Frank Woods, son of Albert, is a grandson of Riley. When the Woodses came to Rushford, they brought with them the gift of music and it is here yet, even to the fourth generation. Through all the years it has been a cheer and an uplift to a multitude of people. It has been heard in the church choir, the prayer meeting, the class meeting, the social gathering, the public entertainments, the orchestra and the band. .37 Marena Woods Aliraham J. Lyon Joshua and Rebecca (Spencer) Wilson, whose daugh- ter married Daniel Woods, came to Rushford from Wind- sor, Vermont, in 1810. Their three sons, Simon. Freeman S., and r.evvis, afterwards settled in Caneadea. ABRAHAM J. LYON H. J. W^ G. ABRAHAM J. LYON, one of eleven children, was born- in W^allingford, Connecticut, in 1789. His wife, Mary ( Bratt ) Lyon, whom he familiarly called Bolly, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1792. They came to Rush- ford from Nelson, Madison County, about 1810. and set- tled on lot thirty-five, on a farm which until recently has been owned by some member of the Lyon family. Their coming to the uplands was due to the prevalence of fever and ague on the Genesee fiats. Their first home was a bark shanty, their second a log cabin, and their third a frame house. On this farm four children were born to them, Ebenezer P., Eliza A. (Mrs. Orrin Phelps), Emeline (Mrs. J. Nelson Kingsbury), and Merritt. April 24, 1818. Abraham J. Lyon was appointed Cap- tain of a battalion of infantry in the County of Allegany "whereof George P. Ketchum, Esquire, was Major Com- mandant." The appointment was made by "DeWitt Clin- ton, Esquire, Governor of New York State, General Com- mander-in-Chief of all the Militia, with the advice and con- sent of the Council of Appointment at our City of Albany."' Mr. Lyon was a pettifogger or lawyer. His judgment must have been good as his services were in frequent de- mand in different parts of the county. He held the office of Justice of the Peace more than thirty years. February 30 Rushford Families i8, 1840, the Senate having consented, William H. Seward, Governor of New York State, appointed Abraham J. Lyon "Judge of the County Courts of the County of Allegany, in the place of John Collins, whose term of office would expire on the eighteenth day of March next." After this appointment he was usually spoken of as "Judge" Lyon. When he was called to marry a couple, his daughter Emeline would sometimes accompany him, riding behind him on the same horse. The marriage fee would be, per- haps, a pig. Once, when intending to be absent from home, he hired a man to break flax for him. When he returned he said to the man, whom he had boarded, "Would you be willing to take for pay all the flax you have broke?" He replied, "I would if you would give me enough leather for a pair of boot tops, besides." It is said that there is now a general desire for an easy job with big pay, but there were traces of it in the good old times "when people hadn't learned to cheat." Once when Abraham J. Lyon was try- ing a law suit the counsel for the plaintiff said that Mr. Lyon, his opponent, had been to his house and begged for something to eat and cried. "Yes," said Mr. Lyon, "I did go to his house and beg for something to eat, and I did cry, and you would have cried too if you had seen what I got." In a letter dated February 27, 1838, written by Abraham J. Lyon to his daughter Eliza, then in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, one may read the words, "I have settled in two new counties. I know all about it. People set much more by each other than they do in an old country and take more comfort." He was sunny in disposition and wanted everybody to have a "good time." When his daughter would correct her child he would say, "Sis, I wouldn't quar- rel with a little child." He doted on circuses and enjoyed going to them with his grandchildren. After his daughter 40 Thomas Pratt was converted she refused to let her Httle girl go to the circus. Being displeased, he said, "Sis, what a religion, to vent it on a Httle child !" He was so accommodating that he would unhitch from a drag to lend it to a neighbor. Noted for his generosity, he said a man was to blame for nothing but being stingy. The late Mrs. Mary Ann Charles of Cuba resembled her grandfather, Abraham J. Lyon. Mrs. J. G. Benjamin and Martin and Abraham J. Lyon are his grandchildren who reside in Rush ford. Abram Benjamin is his latest namesake. T THOMAS PRATT H. J. W. G. HOi\L'\S PRATT, better known as "Uncle Tom," came to Rushford from Madison County when about six- teen years of age. He settled on the land now owned by Hosea B. Ackerly. This and the land now owned by Drew M. Seeley had been granted by the Holland Land Company to Ebenezer Lyon. He was drowned while returning to Madison County, so the land was taken by his brother, Abraham J. Lyon, and part of it made over to Thomas Pratt. He cleared nearly all of his farm alone, taking corn meal pudding with him to the woods. At noon he would listen for the cow bell, milk the cow, and have warm milk and cold pudding for dinner. Once when his boon companion lay dead drunk on the floor. Uncle Tom, dancing the pigeonwing around him with a broad-axe in his hand, said he was measuring him for a coffin. But a change came. Mr. and ]\Irs. Thirds lost a young child to whom he was much attached. It seemed to 41 Rush ford Families him as if he could not endure it. He jumped onto a horse and rode for miles. While riding the thought came to him that he ought to get ready to meet the child ; this led to his conversion. He became a Freewill Baptist preacher,* working on his farm during the week and preaching Sun- days. He had a maiden sister who kept house for him. She needed lielp and Sally Herrick from the "River" came. The bachelor of fifty became enamored and Thomas Pratt and Sally Herrick were made one. much to the discom- fiture of the sister. It was "Uncle Tom's" ambition to be- come worth ten thousand dollars. By labor and economy he surpassed his goal and accumulated quite a property for the time. At tlie Semi-Centennial he spoke with so much power that peojile today speak in praise of his address. Everyone was listening so intently you could have heard a pin drop. People were so moved that tears streamed down their faces. When old and feeble his housekeeper thought he ought to have some stimulant, but he said, "Ma'tha. Ala'tha. you don't know the blood," and refused to have it. He died in 1873 '" the seventy-ninth year of his age. Mrs. Abraham J. Lyon, Mrs. Wilson Gordon and Mrs. Oliver Cromwell Bennett were his sisters and Morton Pratt was his brother. His only child, George Pratt, is living in Lowellville, Ohio. THE BENNETTS Allan H. Giljaert OLIN'ER CROMWELL BENNETT came to Rushford in 1812. He passed by the flats to escape the frosts and settled near what is now the site of the house of Charles *He was the first pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church at Rawson. 42 The Bennetts Baker. Though he was born in Follet, \'ermont, and had hved in Connecticut he came to Rushford from Cayuga County, New York. When a Revolutionary soldier he was present at the execution of Major Andre. The noble bearing of that unfortunate English officer so moved young Bennett, then twenty years old, that he named his second son, born in 1/88, Andre. Cromwell Bennett had studied medicine in his youth but he became tired of the human family and practiced vet- erinary medicine. The first sawmill on Rush Creek was built by Cromwell Bennett, who spent all one summer going to Vermont after the mill irons. In pioneer days cows wore bells and ran in common. Cromwell Bennett once paid the "White Woman" at Gardeau three dollars for taking care of one of his that had strayed. One of those elected to office at the first town meeting in Rushford was Cromwell Bennett. Though a Democrat he was elected Supervisor at the second town meeting and was twice re-elected. More than once he held three town offices at the same time. He was also Justice of the Peace as early as 1820, when Justices were not elected at town meetings. In 1818 he was one of three judges in the county courts in Allegany County. On April 8, 181 7, Cromwell Bennett was one of the five who were the first initiated by the Rushford Masonic Lodge. His third wife, Zeruah Pratt,* mother of four of his fourteen children, he married in Allegany County. Seventy-five years ago he closed his eyes to earthlv things and now lies buried in Lyman Barber's meadow, not far from his pioneer home. In the year* 181 1 .\ndre Bennett, the sixth man to take up land in Rushford, drove his ox team from Cayuga ^Formerly wife of Wm. Thirds. 43 " Rushford Families County and settled on Taylor Hill, at the Six Corners.* Andre, who was twenty-three years old at the time, brought with him his wife, Rachel Orcutt Bennett, and their daugh- ter, Sophronia, born in Cayuga County the year before. When the War of 1812 broke out, he enlisted and went north, leaving his wife and her child alone in the woods. On the night of September 10, 1813, Rachel Bennett in her anxiety for her husband paced the floor all night, for that day she had heard the cannonading of the battle of Lake Erie. But Andre Bennett's danger was not from the Brit- ish, for he was sick of a fever so severe that he crawled to the water's edge to cool himself. While her husband was away in the army, Rachel went through the woods to the home of William Vaughan where her son, Bushnell, was born. Andre Bennett was well read, especially in history. One might infer something concerning his religious belief from his occasional attendance at the Universalist Church. ITis daughter Sophia (Mrs. Nelson Hammond) said that when in her childhood she came home from meeting terri- fied by descriptions of hell, Daddy comforted her by telling her that there was no such thing as a lake of fire. One of his sons, Elhanan Winchester, born in 1823, was named after a Universalist preacher well known in New England. This sont and another, Charles P., born in 1820, are still Hving. After the death of his youngest daughter, Jeanette, he and his wife adopted Aseneth, daughter of John Orcutt. Andre Bennett was independent in thought and life, not disturbed by the fashions of the world. If he wanted to wear a buckskin vest with ten-cent silver pieces for but- tons, he did it. He never forgot an ofiPense or a kindness. *Formerlj^ six roads met at the Six Corners. One was given up years ago. Another has recently been abandoned. iDied July 9, 1909. 44 The Bennetts The following story of an incident at general training which has been handed down in the family, is given as follows in the manuscript of Moses Ward: "We were warned to appear on the Swift place, two miles south of where the village of Rush ford now stands. My brother Salmon wished me to go and fill his place. The day came; I took his rifle and went. It was eight miles that I had to go. Soon after I got there we were called to fall into line. As soon as the line was formed the general offi- cers rode along the line before us. A man at my right hand — the second man from me — said, 'There comes Ken- nedy.' He said that he was a soldier under the man on the lines in the war that had just passed, and had been shame- fully abused by him; and that he would make him confess before he left the ground, if it cost him his life. I looked at the man that was speaking, and thought he meant what he said. He was a man, I should say, that would weigh two hundred, of a dark complexion and stout-built, and his eyes looked terrific. While he was speaking it was ordered to pay attention to the call of the roll, and all was silent, the roll was called and we were ordered to file ofif in platoons and were soon marched out into the field. Thence we were ordered back to where we were formed in the morning. We were ordered to form a hollow square. It was soon done, and the officers were in the center. The man at my right hand, that had spoken so earnestly in the morning, said to the man between me and him, 'Take my gun.' He took it. I asked him who he was. He said that the man's name was Andre Bennett. Bennett went with a quick step up to the officer and said, 'Do you know me?' I heard no more; they talked together, I should say about a minute, and then Ben- nett stepped back a little distance. The officer took off his hat and called the attention of all, and said he was an officer 45 Rush ford Families on the lines, and that Mr. Bennett, the man that stood be- fore him was a soldier under him, and he had not treated liim as an officer should but had abused him — 'and in the presence of this assembly I ask his forgiveness.' Mr. Ben- nett bowed and returned to his place in the ranks." (The foregoing extract was taken with slight alterations from ■'History of Allegany County, New York," 1879.) Andre Bennett was younger at the time of his death than many of the early settlers but older than John Gordon of Matthew P. Cady. His tombstone in the West Cemetery bears the inscription. "Andre Bennett, died March 19, 1851, aged 63 years." Reuben Bennett, the oldest son of Cromwell Bennett, was born at the foot of Rattlesnake Hill, near Canterbury, Connecticut. He came from Cayuga County in 18 12 and settled on the farm later owned by Thomas Baker. A rail fence which he built in front of his house is still in use, though the house has long since disappeared. After browsing thirteen winters on Rush Creek, he moved to Mount Monroe where he built a log cabin near the pres- ent home of his son, Milton Bennett. Here Milton was born and rocked in a sap trough. Charles Strong, grand- son of Reuben Bennett's son Oliver, lives on the farm of his grandfather. Although his father and his brother Andre were Democrats, Reuben was a Whig. He was elected In- spector of Schools at Rushford's first town meeting. Early in June in 1859, one severe frost was followed by another a week later. When others with lack of heart were plant- ing again, Reuben Bennett went ofif fishing. In 1820 he ploughed up a .Spanish dollar bearing the date 1805. Milton Bennett has been keeping it for a mar- riage fee, but the time to use it has not yet come. Still he 46 Samson Hardy lias not been completely deprived of one of the advantages of niatrimon}', that of laying things onto a wife. One day when a peddler cv.Wed on this bachelor, Milton said he would ask his wife, who was down cellar, to come up. Step- ping to the cellar door he called several times. Then turn- ing to the iJcddler he said, "She don't want anything, she won't come up." In the year 1852, the inhabitants of Rushford were alarmed by the screeching of a panther. Uncle Tom Pratt went out and called. "Bos, bos." The people who went out I with their guns heard the sound first in one place, then in another. One man said he was not afraid because it did not make any tracks. It was finally discovered that the panther was nothing but a thin, tapering piece of board with beveled edges, tied by a three-foot string to a pole. When this was whirled rapidly, then drawn through the air. it made an unearthly sound. The person having it would then run to another place. One night the runner mistook the width of a stream and did not land on the opposite bank as he expected. Only one person in town was angry over the joke which was perpetrated by two grandsons of Oliver f| Cromwell Bennett. SAAISON HARDY H. J. W. G. IN 181 1, Samson Flardy and his wife, Mary Spaulding, with their nine children came to Rushford from Cav- endish, \>rmont. The children, all born in Cavendish, were Polly (Mrs. Samuel iJpham), born in 1787; Rachel (Mrs. Blakesley) ; Lucy (Mrs. Matthew P. Cady) ; Hannah (Mrs. Ezra Nott) ; Lucinda (Mrs. Dutton) ; Stephen, born in 47 Rushford Families 1797; Samson, born in 1799; Betsey (Mrs. M. LaFayette Ely) ; and Rebecca (Mrs. Phillips). Mr. Hardy bought of the Holland Land Company two hundred acres, at two dol- lars and twenty-five cents an acre, on lot thirty-seven, which corners in the center of the town. The Baptist Church stands on what was a part of his land. Samson Hardy kept tavern on what is now the south corner of Lewellen and Buffalo Streets. He, also, owned and ran a distillery. In his tavern the second town meeting was held; here, also, in September, 1820, was held a meeting of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Mary Hardy was a member of a Baptist Church in Chester, Vermont. Samson Hardy is one of the soldiers of the War of the Revolution, buried in Rushford. His tombstone in the First Burying Ground is an ornamental flagstone with this inscription — "In memory of Samson Hardy who died Nov. 29th, 1 83 1, AE. yy years & 11 months. "Behold and see, as you pass by ; As you are now, so once was I ; As I am now, so you must be. Prepare for death and follow me." Stephen Hardy lived at Hardy's Corners ; and the place still bears his name. Samson Hardy, Jr., in 1823 married Saphronia Wright from Westford, Massachusetts. At the time of her mar- riage she was living in Rushford with a sister, Mrs. John Adams, who was a neighbor of the Hardys. The children of Samson and Saphronia Hardy were Rolon, Susan, Ar- thur, born in 1827, Maria (Mrs. Andrew Kimball), Lucy (Mrs. D. C. Butts), Webster, born in 1832, Saphronia (i Mrs. H. A. Kimball, 2 Mrs. D. D. Persons), Asa W., born in 1837, Martha (Mrs. A. H. Claus), and Mary. "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of 48 The Bannisters the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." In 1836. when Elder Absalom Miner was pastor, Samson and Saphronia Hardy were received into the Bap- tist Church. Samson Hardy, Jr., was usually spoken of as Col. Hardy 'since he had held the office of colonel in the militia. During the administration of James Buchanan he was postmaster in Rushford. Arthur, Webster and Asa all settled on farms in Rush- ford. Mrs. A. H. Claus, who resides in Rushford village,, is the only one living of the ten children. L. E. Hardy and Grace Claus Taylor are the grandchildren of Col. Sam- son Hardy who reside in town. The Hardy s have always added much to the musical life of the town. They have been found in the band, the church choirs, the orchestra, in vocal quartets and as organists of dififerent organizations. Note — Alarquis La Fayette Ely, bom in West Windsor, Vt., was the son of Abishai Ely ("Uncle Bish Ely") and the grandfather of Mrs. Blanche Bixhv Mnlliken. THE BANNISTERS A. W. Bannister MY grandfather, Silas Bannister, saw some service in the War of the Revolution, as attested by the cap- ture of an English account book, bound in rawhide and stamped with English coat of arms. It was opened by Major Gordon, July 20, 1776, in command of a company of "artificers" building sheds for military stores at St. John's and Chambli. It has been in my possession for the past half century, and has in it this obituary written by his son. Warren: "Silas Bannister, a friend of Literature and Sci- 49 Rushford Families 'ence, a belie\'er in Christian Theology and Gospel Ethics. JDied in peace April 29, 1827 — Aged 75 years." The home of Silas and Thankful Ely Bannister at Windsor, V^ermont, was the native home of six sons and six -daughters, all of whom lived to mature age. The home had ;a local reputation as the "Methodist Tavern" — a sort of headquarters or resting place for circuit riders in the early •days of Methodism. One of the sons, Warren, joined the troop and won something of name and fame in that line. Tradition says he planted a grindstone at the center of the town of Rushford, which, although not a conspicuous land- :mark, may still be in place. His brother Roderick made a long mark, illustrating a mode of travel a century ago, in driving a pair of steers and sled from Windsor to Rushford in the winter of 1812. He cleared up a farm on the west road just at the outskirts of the present village ; the land in later years was owned by Israel Thompson. Pliny and Wayne also joined the colony. Wayne and Warren's wife were among the first burials in the west side cemetery. Roderick married Lydia Place in 1819, and later he and Pliny owned mills at the Gorge of Caneadea Creek where they lived neighbors for a generation. There was my boyhood home. I do not re- member the incident, but tradition says my father, Roder- ick, took me to the kitchen to show me to the hired man December i, 1825. My only married sister, Mrs. Jonathan Charles, was born in Rushford in 1820. We reverently cherish the memory of that noble band who endured the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life; although, no doubt, there was compensating novelty in the simple life, and a sustaining enthusiasm in building homes in a wilderness surrounded by wild beasts and roaming bands of Indians ; but I must leave to abler 50 The Bannisters pens than mine the portrayal of those sturdy virtues that have left their impress upon the intellectual, moral and spir- itual life, not only of Rushford but of Western New York. THE BANNISTERS Amelia Bannister De Berczy WINDSOR, Vermont, noted for its staunch patriotism and resolute citizens, became interested in the in- ducements the Holland Purchase Company held out to set- tlers to buy their lands in Western New York, and their young men who had grown to manhood sharing the hard- ships and industry of their parents embraced the plan as a desirable method of getting lands and homes of their own. So they emigrated, in some instances many members of the same family. Among the many I will mention the Ban- nisters, Woodses, Elys, Hapgoods and Benjamins. They called their settlement Rushford, but it was an undivided portion of Caneadea. Pliny Bannister emigrated to the settlement in 1811, Roderick Bannister in 1812, and Wayne Bannister in 1813. Warren Bannister, a traveling preacher in the Methodist Church, brought his family, consisting of wife and two children and sister-in-law. Miss Lydia Place, to Rushford. Pliny Bannister took up a plot of land and as the brothers came they labored together on the new farm. Roderick Bannister married Miss Lydia Place and lived in Rushford and vicinity. His wife died in Rushford in 1850. He lived a number of years at Churchville, New York, where he died, but he was buried in Rushford. His children, Rowena and Albert, survived him. Miss Rowena Bannister married Mr. J. Charles of Caneadea and moved to Churchville and from there to Fort Scott, Kansas. Both 51 Rushford Families Mr. and Mrs. Charles died in 1903. Mr. Albert Bannister resides in Pasadena, California. Pliny Bannister was bom in West Windsor, Vermont, February 5, 1790. Following the custom of the days he worked on the farm with his father. His fondness for books led him to teaching school. His first certificate, signed by the committee, Beaumont Parks and Bancroft Fowler, ministers of the Gospel, is dated Wind- sor, Vermont, September 20, 1809. Another is dated Bromfield, Massachusetts, December 6, 1809, signed by or- der of committee, Warren Fay, minister of Gospel. He taught two months to the satisfaction of the district, signed Eben Nutting by order of committee, dated February 16, 1810. There is a history of this short term. The prevailing religion of that period was Presbyterian, quiet, severe, silent and stifif. It was a community of the one faith. A Methodist revivalist opened out upon them with noise and power. Church members and sinners took on the spirit of excitement, confessed their sins, received the Holy Ghost and fell into trances. This emotional excitement swept the entire Bannister family into the new faith, except the absent son who was teaching in far away Massachusetts. The loving father went after Pliny with his sleigh, but the boy refused to return. The school committee protested. Then the solicitous, determined parent demanded in the name of the law and the minor son yielded and heard the new Gospel but could not accept it as truth. He took to studying and searching the Bible and claimed the Bible did not teach destruction of God's children, but taught that God was love and every soul should in time confess his name. This was a great disappointment to the brothers and sisters who considered the church the only gate to Heaven. This little family episode serves to show the man Pliny as he was, 52 The Bannisters an investigator, and independent thinker who tempered rea- son by kindness. The following year Pliny Bannister re- turned to Massachusetts and taught the same school he had taught the year previous. He then went to Rushford in i8ii and taught school in 1814 and 1815. His certificate was issued by Dyer Story and Abel Belknap, Inspectors of Com- mon Schools. In April, 18 16, Pliny and Wayne Bannister took a tract of land of two hundred acres each, four miles east of Rushford village on Caneadea Creek. They built a saw and grist mill at the head of the gorge on Caneadea Creek. Lucy Bannister, a sister at Windsor, Vermont, joined them as housekeeper. May, 1820, Wayne fell from the dam and when found was dead. Sister Lucy could not endure the strain so returned to Windsor. Roderick with his wife came to the valley and formed a partnership to operate the sawmill with Pliny, which continued for a number of years. Later the mill was sold to other parties. Pliny Bannister on February 19, 1823, at Angelica, New York, married Miss Abigail Whicher, daughter of Stephen Whicher, Esq., of Rochester, Vermont. Before her mar- riage she taught school and had been employed by Mr. Burbank.* Mr. Hopper and Mr. Ketchum to teach their children. Mr. and Mrs. Bannister lived in the home they built in the valley of Caneadea Creek near the mills for forty-three years. Mrs. Bannister possessed good health, executive ability, intelligence, a cheerful disposition and a willingness to help share the burdens present in an unde- veloped country, not only in her own home but in her neigh- bors' as well. She was a prized friend in sickness. Nine children grew to maturity in this home. The eldest, Thank- *Eleazer Burbank and George P. Ketchum settled in Caneadea in 181 2, and Rockwell Hopper in Belfast the same year. 53 Rushford Families f ul Esther, married Luther Gilman of Centerville ; Silas married Liicinda Emmerson of Rushford ; Henry C. died of fever at the age of nineteen ; Stephen Whicher died of fever also at eighteen years ; Mariett married Alfred Kel- logg of Rushford; Amelia married Chas. A. De Berczy of Toronto, Canada ; Fanny S. married Linus Kendall of Rush- ford ; Julia married Dr. V. W. Sunderhn of Michigan ; An- drew J. enHsted in Company D, 64th New York Volun- teers, Captain Woodworth, and died a martyr to his coun- try's call. He is buried in the Richmond National Cemetery, Virginia. Mrs. Amelia Bannister De Berczy is the only surviving member of Pliny Bannister's family. She lives at Fort Scott, Kansas. Pliny Bannister was generous and kind to all, a loving friend and good conversationalist. He would always illus- trate his point by telling a story and leave his opponent in good humor but with something to think of. In that com- munity every person had opinions of his own. There were some spicy debates at the church at noon recess between the hours of twelve and one. When the church bell rang all became seated in expectant silence. Pliny Bannister was a liberal supporter of all religious denominations and was one of the builders of the Rushford Universalist Church. He was a fine musician and taught his children sacred music. His admonition to his children was, "Be true for truth's sake." He attended church in all seasons. His habits were temperate and his mind evenly poised. He was inter- ested in public improvements and in the development of the coimtry, especially in good schools and good roads. He opened quarries to furnish stone for building the locks on the Genesee Valley Canal and furnished plank for the New Hudson. Rushford and Caneadea Plank Road. He built a sawmill and planing mill in the Gorge to work up his pine 54 The Bannisters timber, but the fire bugs got in their dastardly work and he saw his labor and capital go up in smoke. This was fol- lowed by the Belfast Bank failure, making a total loss of his surplus funds. Still undaunted he went to Michigan and purchased timber lands to begin anew, but again suf- fered disappointment because of his failing strength. He then thought of the l)eautiful prairie country and came to Fort Scott, Kansas, to be with his daughters Amelia and Julia. I have mentioned but a few of the incidents of this one life in the new wild country but enough perhaps to give a glimpse of the many hardships of the brave little band of voung men who came to conc|uer the wilderness and did conquer it. They made for themselves homes of com- fort and reared their children. Their descendants today oc- cupy places of prominence at home and abroad and are proud to speak of their birthplace, Rushford. A'Irs. Pliny Bannister died in Fort Scott. Kansas, Janu- ary, 1870, and Mr. Pliny Bannister died in the same place October, 1870. In the childhood days of the Bannister children their acquaintance was limited in a degree by the school district. It gives me great pleasure to mention the worthy people we called i"eighbors, but who to us were like near relatives. From the Bannister house we could see the homes of Uncle Bill Woodworth, William Wheeler, William Ackerly, Mr. Persons, John Orcutt, Dan Balcom and Len Walker. Al! the children from these families met in a small schoolhouse builded by Pliny Bannister on a lot donated by Roderick Bannister. We were all interested in each other, ever not- ing the absence or presence of the expected ones. There was no dissension among the pupils, the little school was a veritable Arcadia. Nor is it a wonder when the strand and Rushford Families beautiful scenery surrounding, with its changing loveliness was ever an inspiration. There were bright sunshine, flitting clouds, quick showers, green lawns, singing rivulets and cool springs, indulgent teachers and loving homes to run to. Truly it is a beautiful oasis in the restrospection, this far away home of our childhood. Note — Mrs. Belle Kellogg Lane is the only grandchild of Pliny Bannister living in Rushford. THE BANNISTERS From the "Ely Book" PLINY BANNISTER came to Rushford when twenty- one years of age. He assisted in surveying the town- ship, and was the first town clerk, the first school teacher and the first music teacher in town. Lucy Bannister, daughter of Silas and Thankful Ely Bannister, was born in 1784 in Windsor, Vermont, where in 1832 she married Rufus Root. After his death, which occurred in 1837, she moved to Rushford where she re- mained until her death in 1855. She had no children. Warren Bannister, son of Silas and Thankful Ely Bannister, was born in West Windsor, Vermont, July 26, 1781. He married in Rochester, New Hampshire. February 5, 1810, Sarah, daughter of Paul and Judith (Brown) Place. Warren Bannister was a Methodist preacher, having joined the New England Conference in 1800. In 18 17 he removed to Rushford, New York, where three brothers then resided. In August, 1820, his wife died leaving him with four chil- dren, the youngest two weeks old. After spending more than ten years in the State of New York he returned to Vermont. Later he went to Rochester, New Hampshire. 56 I The Bannisters In September, 1834, he consented to occupy temporarily the pulpit of a church in Nashua, New Hampshire, but after preaching three Sabbaths, he was prostrated with typhoid fever which resulted in his death on the 19th of October after two weeks' illness. His death was peaceful and triumphant. His children were Pluma (Mrs. Alonzo Persons), born in 181 1 in Rochester, New Hampshire; Adam Clark, born in Barnard, Vermont; and Hester Ann (Mrs. Madison Richards), and Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Delano), born in Rushford, where they all married. Mrs. Persons and Mrs. Richards died in Rushford, Adam Clark Bannister in An- gelica, and Mrs. Delano in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Epitaph in the First Burying Ground in Rushford Sacred to the Memory of Sarah Bani/ter, Wife of Elder Warren Bani/ter Who wa/ Neat, ludustriou/, Economical and Pious. An Ornament to her Sex. Died Aug. 13th, 1820 Aged 29 yrs & 23 dys. Till Christ Return/ Thy dear Remains My Bosom Friend Lies here for Worms 57 Rush ford Families TflE THIRDS. Nancy E. De Kay OUR father, James Thirds, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, December 27, 1806, of Enghsh and Scotch parents. His father was from London, England, and his mother from Boston, Massachusetts. Owing to the death of his father, which occurred when he was six years old, his mother, with her children, James and a younger son, WilHam, went to Rush ford, travehng all the way by stage, the only mode of conveyance in those days. She made her home with her brother, the Rev. Thomas Pratt. Father was a tailor by trade but followed that business only the first years of his life. Our mother, Parthenia G. Oilman, was born in Cam- bridge, N. Y., August 16, 1807, of Scotch and American parents. She was a descendant of an old and distinguished Virginia family, that of John Randolph of Roanoke. She went to Rush ford as a guest of Dr. and Mrs. Horatio Smith, who persuaded her to remain. She there followed her oc- cupation of millinery and dressmaking. As the days passed by, she and the young tailor "met by chance the usual way." Their acquaintance ripened and resulted in a happy mar- riage which occurred on May 28, 1828, the ceremony being performed by Samuel White, Esquire, at that time Justice of the Peace. They immediately went to housekeeping in a very modest way on the upper street. We have heard our mother relate with some little sense of pride and merriment that they moved, settled and had company to tea, all in one day. There were born to them four children, two of whom died in infancy. The two remaining are Mrs. Nancy E. Thirds De Kay, born .August 28. 1832, and Miss Zeruah 58 The Thirds Isabel Thirds, born February ii, 1835; they Hved to hear the interesting and thrilhng events of their parents' life in a new country. The following is one of many. When a boy. father was often sent to the mill with grist. One day he was detained there unusually long and it was dark before he left for home. After going some distance he was chased by a panther. Whipping up his horse he rode into Uncle Luther Woodworth's barn. There he was kindly protected and sheltered until the next morning. In looking backward over the cherished lives of our be- loved parents it gives us great joy and comfort to remem- ber their earnest Christian faith, a rich legacy they left to us. They were faithful members of the Baptist Church and took great interest in all the events pertaining to the wel- fare of the town. Our father was very quiet and a man of few words. The following incident will give an illustration: In our early childhood we used to sleep in a trundlebed, a bed much used for children in those days. My sister and I fell into the habit of contending about which of us had the "most room," our mother often bidding us be quiet. One winter evening after being put to bed, she and father sitting by the table reading, we began our song of contention for the "most room" as usual. After a time father came to our bedside, gently removed the covering and left the room. He presently returned with a four-foot log, well decorated with snow, ice and moss, which he carefully laid between us. He then replaced the bedding and resumed his reading. Of course quiet prevailed in that little bed immediately. After a time father asked us if we thought we could cease from further contention. W^e quickly and meekly replied, "Yes sir." He then removed the log and our dear mother ap- peared on the scene and tenderly removed the wet night dresses, replacing them with dry ones, putting us in her own Rush ford Families bed until she could make ours dry and comfortable again. No words were exchanged during the episode nor any al- lusion ever made to it afterward. In later years sister and I have referred to it with considerable amusement. Per- haps it is needless to say that the punishment had its lasting effect. It was the only one our father ever administered to us. We are still holding the fragrant memories of our happy childhood days in the beautiful village of dear old Rushford. THE PERRYS H. J. W. G. IN the early part of the nineteenth century there lived in the old Bay State, near Deerfall River, twenty miles from Boston, three brothers, Othniel, Ebenezer and Ephraim Perry. There must have been something of the spirit of adventure in the family, since as early as 1808 Othniel took out articles for land on the Holland Purchase in township five, range two. As he soon died the land was taken by Ebenezer P. Perry who came to Rushford about 18 13 and settled on land now owned by Mrs. Chauncey Williams, on the Mount Monroe road, three-quarters of a mile south of the schoolhouse on the corner. At the first town meeting he was elected one of the overseers of the poor. He passed his life as a farmer. Addis Perry of Belfast, son of Josiah Quincy and Em- ily (Knickerbocker) Perry, is a grandson of Ebenezer P. Perry. On an interesting gray-brown headstone in the graveyard west of the village, one may read the following: "In memory of Ebenezer P. Perry who departed this life Sept. 3rd, 1844, aged 67 yrs. 60 l^he Perrys "jMy flesh sliall slumber in the ground Till Gabriel's joyful trump shall sound." His good wife, Hannah (Spear) Perry, lived to be four- score years of age. Ephraim Perry, so far as we know, was the only one of the early settlers who had attended college, though his superabundance of life did not allow him to graduate. On perhaps an unlucky day, to accommodate a friend, he signed a paper with him and thus lost the bulk of his property, so in 1818 with a team and covered wagon, he started for the Holland Purchase where his brother already lived. He settled on the Mount Monroe road, south of his brother's farm, on the farm now owned by C. E. Hartman. For a short time he lived in a log house on land near the Gordon- ville bridge. A stranger calling there, said afterwards that he found the woman weeping; she longed for the comforts and friends left behind in old Massachusetts. Ephraim being educated beyond his fellows, taught school and was made town superintendent of schools. He was one of the brightest men in Allegany County. He had an excellent memory, was well informed in public affairs and an excellent story teller. It is refreshing, since the majority of the early settlers were Whigs, to find that he was a Democrat. As he had lived so near Boston he must have been somewhat imbued with its intellectual spirit. This, together with the fact that he sharpened his wits by fre- quent discussions with his Whig neighbors, made him so formidable an antagonist that he worsted that ardent Whig, J. B. Gordon, in political controversy. Ephraim Perry had six children, four of whom were born in ^lassachusetts. Since Massachusetts people ate rye bread, on their journey to the new country, the children had 61 Rush ford Families their first wheat bread and milk. What a treat it was ! When they came to Rushford there was a log fence up and down Main Street. The roads were so rough that withes were braided and fastened to the carts so that those riding in ihem could have something to hang onto and would not be spilled out. Ephraim Perry was born in Chesterfield, Massachu- setts ; he died in New Hudson, New York. Chester and Foster Perry, sons of Austin and Julia Perry, are grand- children of Ephraim and Hannah C Jones) Perry. The Perrys are of English descent and are related to the bold and dashing Commodore Perry who won the Battle of Lake Erie and gave us the words, "We have met the enemy and thev are ours." LUTHER WOOD WORTH, SR. H. J. W. G. LUTHER WOOD WORTH was born in Coventry, Con- necticut, October i8, 1770. He emigrated to Caven- dish, Vermont ; from that place he moved to Saratoga Springs, and, in 18 13, he settled (as Parker Wood worth says) in "righteous Rushford," where his oldest daughter. Plarmony, who had married John Gordon, already lived. Mr. Woodworth's son, Luther, in company with John W^hite, walked from Vermont to Rushford. Mr. Woodworth lo- cated on Caneadea Creek, on lot twenty-eight, where G. C. Woods now lives. The Indians had underbrushed the woods and used it for a camping ground. A few brush- heaps then marked the site of Rushford village. He and his son Luther rolled back the logs from what is now Main 62 Luther Woochvorlli, Sr. Street, and early in the forties some of them still formed a part of the fence. Luther Woodworth, senior, married for his second wife the widow Wheeler, mother of Gilbert and William: and Luther Woodworth, junior, married Lucy, daughter of the widow Wheeler. When Parker Woodworth, a son of Luther, Sr., by the second wife, was about eight years old, his father moved to Kelloggville, having bought of James Button a part of what was later known as the Colburn farm. Since this land bordered on Caneadea Creek, it was the first land taken up on Rush Creek. In political belief Mr. Woodworth was a Democrat. When he was feeling well he had a way of holding his lines so his horses would dance. They usually danced when he came from town. Mr. W^oodworth played the clarinet and his son Parker the drum, giving much pleasure to the neighbors. Taking life easy, he never accumulated much property, but he lived to the ripe age of ninety years. Capt: William W. Woodworth, after whom the Rushford Post of the. Grand Army of the Republic is named; and Charles W. Woodworth. so many years lawyer, postmaster, super- visor and justice of the peace in Rushford, were grandsons of Luther Woodworth, Sr. Other grandchildren were Mar- tha (Mrs. Alpheus Howser), Maria (Mrs. James Napier), Helen (Mrs. R. Bonham Laning), and Georgia (Mrs. John Berry). Mrs. Helen Laning, whose home is on the corner of Church and Main Streets, is the only living child of Luther Woodworth, Jr. Parker Woodworth, eighty- nine years old, is living in Girard. Pennsylvania. Chas. Howser, Ralph B. Laning and Genevieve Laning are grand- children of Luther Woodworth, Jr., who live in Rushford. 6.3 Rnshford Families JOHN HAMMOND IT. J. W. G. JOHN HAMMOND was born in Saratoga County. In 1814 he came from Cayuga County to Rushford and settled on Barber Hill on the land now owned by William Barber; after a number of years he moved to Taylor Hill, living on the farm now owned by E. M. Olney, at the four comers. His oldest son, Horatio Nelson, was born in Cuyaga County in 1812. While living in Rushford, John Hammond married Eliza Butterfield, by whom he had nine children, Lucretia, Hannah, Mary, Ruth, Minerva, Luthan, Thankful, Elizabeth and Benton. These all became iden- tified with spiritualism. Thankful was a medium. John Hammond was a scholar for the times and all of the children were school teachers. Although in political be- lief he was a Jefifersonian Democrat, two years he was elected supervisor of the town of Rushford. He was promi- nent in the Masonic fraternity. He had been to Olean to address a lodge of Freemasons, when returning home afoot, he became weary and lying down by a spring on Mt. Mon- roe, slept till morning. By trade he was a carpenter. He was also a surveyor. In 1822 he was captain of a company of militia. When his son, Horatio Nelson, was united in marriage to Sophia S. Bennett, he, being justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. John Hammond moved with his family to Pennsylvania in 1850. When H. Nelson Hammond was a boy, for two or three winters he walked daily from Barber Hill to Mount Monroe to attend school in a log building that stood on the farm now owned by Reuben Lewis; later he attended the Academy at Middlebury (now Wyoming) six weeks. His father in- structed him in land surveying, an avocation which he fol- 64 John Hammond John Hammond Horatio Nelson Hammond lowed a large part of his life. Much of his fund of knowl- edge, which was unusual for that time in Rushford, was ac- quired by reading. When seventeen years old he commenced teaching winter schools ; fourteen of his twenty-six terms were taught in Rushford. Some time in the thirties he was captain of a company of militia which in accordance with the requirements of the law frequently met to drill. F. Eugene Hammond of Cuba recalls with pleasure the shining epaulets, the cockade hat and the sword with scabbard once worn by his father. H. Nelson and Sophia L. Hammond were the parents of seven children: F. Eugene, who in 1867 married Emma L. Scott of Cuba; H. Jerome, who married Susie Hendy; Flora A., wife of W. D. Hale; C. De Alton, who married Laura Farwell of Rushford, daughter of Lemuel Farwell ; Aurora S., who died when two years old ; and the twins, Emma F. (Mrs. Elbert Cady). and Eva L. (Mrs. Walter Finch). H. Jerome. Flora A., Emma F. and the widow of 65 Rush ford Families De Alton live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Eva L. was living at the time of her death. Intelligence has ever been a mark of a Hammond home. AMBA ALDERMAN H. J. W. G. AMBA ALDERMAN was born in Hartford, Connecti- cut, and came to Rnshford in 1814. He bought of the Holland Land Company one hundred acres, four miles northwest of Rush ford village, at three dollars an acre, pay- ing for it in oxen, a pair at a time. He married Rhoba Johnson, daughter of Pomeroy Johnson, who came to Rush- ford in 1814, and lived on the farm now owned by George Cole, on the east road north from the present village, near the bridge. It was Rhoba Johnson who longed for a silk dress. Fnally she possessed the coveted treasure. To be sure jealous eyes looked on, and some said, "How big she feels," while others said, "She hasn't got anything to go with it," but what cared she? She had her dress. Arthur Alderman, son of Amba Harvey, tells the fol- lowing creepy story about his grandfather: A squaw laid her pappoose down by the fence and a hog belonging to Mr. Alderman ate it up. The squaw ran and told her Indian, who shot the hog. Mr. Alderman's blood was up. He seized the Indian's gun and made him. pay for the hog. The squaw mourned for her pappoose. To Mr. Alderman the loss of a hog meant much. Two of his sons, Amba Harvey and Chauncey L., served in the Civil War. Amba Harvey came to Rushford village in 1872 and built a steam sawmill in which for more than twenty years he sawed an average of 250,000 feet of 66 .*! The Freemans lumber a year. Amba Alderman died January 4, 1868. Mrs. Flora Colburn of East Rushford is a granddaughter of Amba Alderman. THE FREEMANS H. J. W. G. IN 1808 Josiah Freeman took a contract for land in town- ship five, range two, of the Holland Purchase. After he had made a few payments, the first of which was three dollars, he died, in 1812. His father, Junia Freeman, being next to kin, came to Rushford in 1814 from Hamilton, Madison County, to secure the title to the land. He brought with him six children, Elijah, Eleazer, Maria, Sally, Zenas and Bethuel. Peter came later. Mr. William Dunham (Uncle Bill Dunham) had been hired to come and clear a place and put up a house in 1813. Junia Freeman lived north of Rushford village, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lutlier Tliomas and occupied by George Cooper. When Elijah married he lived just above and when Eleazer mar- ried he lived next above him toward Centerville. Junia Freeman had a deed, dated 1818 of the southern part of lot thirty-two, one hundred and ninety-five acres. Three of Junia Freeman's sons were Baptist preachers, and one daughter, Sally, married the Rev. Eliab Going. Junia Freeman and one of his sons went to Sardinia to build a church. They traveled ride-and-tie, that is, one started on the road on foot; the other, mounted on the horse, rode about a mile, dismounted, tied the horse and walked on. When the one who had started on foot reached the waiting horse, he mounted and rode on past the other for a mile or so. then dismounted, tied and walked on. This was re- 67 Rushford Families peated until the end of the journey was reached. Bethuel Freeman was thrice married and was the father of eight children: Addison and Burton; Cynthia (Mrs. Mason La Sell), Ellen, who remained single, Albert, and Sarah (Mrs. Asa Hardy) ; Wilbur and Albert. Burton Freeman of Shiocton, Wisconsin, Albert Freeman of Franklinville, and Wilbur Freeman of Rushford are still living. D. W. Leavens, in reminiscences written in 1890 from Pasadena, California, after visiting with Mrs. Nelson Mc- Call, says, "I could see how old Junia Freeman's high- backed wagon looked as he drove to church on a Sunday morning. It brought to mind the sermons of Eliab Going who always stammered till he got well started. It seems to me now that he always preached from the text -'Godli- ness with contentment is great gain.' (Of course I have no feeling but reverence for these old worthies.) It brought back the time when I used to sing in the Baptist choir and the later time when I was promoted to lead it, and I could almost hear the tenor of Eliab Benjamin and the deep basso profundo of Andrew Kimball and Harrison Hapgood. It brought back the time when 'Thuel Freeman — bless his memory! — brought us a ham for my services as chorister, and good Mrs. John Holmes gave Mrs. Leavens a fine cake of maple sugar for her services as organist." THE GOINGS Harriett Going Colby CAPTAIN JONATHAN GOING came to Rushford from Reading, Vermont, in 1814, and settled on the Cen- terville road on what is known as the Talcott farm. The children of Jonathan and Sarah Going occupied the 68 The Goings northern part of the farm and James, who had married Anna Young in Vermont, occupied the southern part. Early in 1832 James was ordained in Rush ford by a council of delegates from several churches. He afterwards moved with his family to Pennsylvania. Eliab came to Rushford from Ovid, Seneca County, with James AlcCall, in whose employ he was for some years. On the 5th of March, 1818, he married Sarah Freeman, daughter of Junia Freeman. Their children were A. Judson, J. Bradley, Harriett, Kate R., Jonathan R., and J. Freeman. Three are now living, Bradley, eighty-six years of age is living in Michigan, Har- riett, in Holland, New York, and Kate, in Spokane, Wash- ington. In 1819 Ezra received a letter of dismission and commendation from the Baptist Church in Rushford, since they thought he possessed the gift of preaching. The same year the sister of Eliab Going married and his mother died, so he took the farm and his father lived with him. Capt. Jonathan Going was a Revolutionary soldier. He died in 1848 in Aurora, New York, but is buried in the Rushford Cemetery. Eliab Going commenced preaching about 182 1. He attended Middlebury Academy, under the tuition of Rev. Joshua Bradley. In 1823 he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Rushford. He was connected with an enterprise to benefit the Indians on the Genesee River. A school was established and sustained until the Indians were removed. In 1832 he moved to Franklinville arid preached there one-fourth the time. He organized churches in Hins- dale and Olean and supplied them. He was in Hins- dale, twelve years ; Holland ; Aurora, eight years ; Wales, and other places. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was preaching in Newport, Kentucky, where his sons were in business ; but they all moved to McHenry, Illinois, where 69 Rush ford Families Eliab Going and his wife died. They were buried in one grave February 28, 1896. EHab Going was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Rushford in its early existence, and, as an old lady said, "he never pronounced" it, though for many years he did not meet with the order. In the time of the war, a chaplain was needed in the lodge at McHenry so he again met with the order. Some two hundred Freemasons participated in his burial. Elder Going was often called upon to marry a couple and many pleasing incidents occurred upon such occasions. He married a couple the week before he died ; no one else was wanted. He stammered badly at times ; this was a great annoyance to him. Once when he was very tired, a man, who came for him to marry a couple, said to him, "Elder, you stammer so, I bet you a quart of wine you can never pronounce them husband and wife." The Elder got the wine. One fellow wanted to be married and wait till he harvested his beans before he paid the fee. Once he went horseback twelve miles over poor and muddy roads to attend a stylish wedding at Great Valley. The bridegroom gave him a fee in a sealed envelope. He felt the coin, it was about the size of a five-dollar gold piece. He did not open the envelope, but when he reached home, he gave the fee, as his custom was, to his wife. She opened the envelope and — lo, a new penny. One Saturday, in later years, when he was traveling in Michigan, he wished to find a place to stay over Sunday ; seeing a man working in a field he drove up to the fence and asked where there was a Baptist tavern. The man said, "li I am not mis- taken, this is Elder Going ; you do not recognize me ?" "No ; I don't" replied the Elder. Then the man asked if he re- membered attending a wedding at Great Valley. "I am the 70 The Orciitts man that was married. I thought since I was engaged in a lottery I would venture a penny ; I won a prize. Come stop with me." The Elder staid over Sunday and went away with ten dollars. THE ORCUTTS Allan H. Gilbert THE Orcutts, a family of Scotch-Irish descent, were settled near Hartford, Windsor County, Vermont, at the time from which the first records have come down. The chief source of information for this time is an old rhyme relating the death of one of the family, which has been handed down to the present time by word of mouth. One Isaac Orcutt was his name Who lately into Hartford came Residing with his brother James One afternoon went so it seems To cut some runners for his sled. The snow being deep he had to wade Near forty rods to an ash tree The top being dead as you shall see. He cut the tree off from the stump. The top being lodged flew back a chunk Which fell and hit him on the head And crushed him though he was not dead. There the poor sufferer senseless lay All the remainder of the day His charming face plunged in the snow While from his head the blood did flow. No search was made by anyone 71 Rush ford Families ITntil the setting of the sun When Mr. Donley and his -son Alarmed set out upon the run. They soon beheld him with surprise And gazed on him with steadfast eyes. They then supposed him to be dead Till by a motion of his head. They took him up and bore him home Put him to bed in a warm room. They rubbed his limbs and dressed his wound And tried to force a cordial down. P>ut all in vain the passage choked, His blood was chilled, his skull was broke. All medicine was then applied But he on that same evening died. The friends and neighbors gathered round The sermon preached by Elder Brown. His corpse with care was borne away To mingle with his native clay. James Orcutt, the brother, with his wife, Deborah Rood Orcutt, and their children came to Cayuga County where at Auburn, January 15, 1808, their daughter Rachel married Andre Bennett. In 181 1 Andre and Rachel, with their daughter Sophronia borne the year before, came to Rush ford and settled near the Six Corners. Some three years later, Rachel's brothers, Samuel and Stephen, arrived in Rushford and settled on land adjoining the farm of Andre Bennett. They were soon followed by their brothers, John and Daniel, their sister, Deborah Orcutt Seavey, and their mother. James Orcutt, the father, lived in Rushford a few years in a house near the Six Corners. In 1814 his name is found in a list of the lieutenants of militia in Allegany 72 The Orcutts County and in 1816 in a list of the captains. February 12, 1816, he was one of six whose names appear in a petition for the estabhshmcnt of a Masonic lodge in Rush ford, and on March 18, 1817, he left the Angelica Lodge, of which he had been a member, to become a charter member of Rush- ford Lodge. However, he seems to have had no further connection with the lodge for in a list of members from the organization. March 18, 1817, to June 24, 1818, his name does not appear. James Orcutt was elected one of three commissioners of highways at the first town meeting in April, 18 16. The date of the last entry in the town records which contains his name is November 23, 1816. About the year 1820 Stephen went down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to Lidiana. He enlisted in the Seminole war in 1840 and was never heard from again. In 1827 Samuel and Daniel followed Stephen to Indiana. Though Daniel Orcutt left Rushford so many years ago his memory has been preserved by some of his witty sayings. Once when he went north with a party of men to assist in the wheat harvest of Livingston County one of his companions named Wilcox fell sick. "The great fool," said Orcutt. "ate all he wanted the first meal." The change from the scanty diet of leeks then attributed to Allegany County had been too much. Daniel Orcutt was once work- ing for Deacon Rawson on the County Line Road between Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. One Saturday the Deacon promised to give each of the men a drink of whiskey if they would finish a certain piece of work by night. The work was done, so the Deacon brought out a jug and a glass and commenced to pour out the whiskey which he said was eight years old. ?Ie was not very generous with his whiskey, giving only about a third of a glass to each man. When Orcutt's turn came, taking the glass, he said, Rush ford Families "Deacon, did you say this whiskey is eight years old?" "Yes," answered the Deacon. "Well," replied Orcutt, "it looks pretty damned small for its age." Even the Deacon laughed. Though not a steady drinker, Daniel Orcutt some- times indulged in larger amounts of whiskey than that fur- nished by Deacon Rawson. Once he hired two men to help him drink a barrel he had bought. One of them came at seven o'clock in the morning. Orcutt turned him off, say- ing that he didn't want him if he couldn't get there earlier than that. Daniel Orcutt worked for a widow on Rush Creek. When his time was up the woman, who owed him nearly a year's wages, promised to pay him as soon as she sold her oxen. After waiting a long time Orcutt took her oxen from the pasture in broad daylight and drove them off. She had him arrested for stealing, partly, it was hinted, because her hopes of marrying him had been disappointed. When he was brought into court and asked whether he were guilty or not guilty, he replied, "Guilty as hell." So he was sent to State's Prison at Auburn. While he was there he learned to make beautiful coverlids. His sister, Mrs. Andre Bennett, used to think that it did him good to go to prison, because while there he studied the Bible so thoroughly that he was able to repeat large portions of it. He was soon pardoned. One day Elder Warren Bannister, a Methodist circuit rider, labored with Orcutt because of his wild life. The latter listened in silence till the Elder finished. Then he asked permission to reph^ in rhyme and jingled off: "Elder Bannister's face Is an open disgrace To every human creature. I wonder what the Almighty thought In making him a preacher." 74 Matthew P. Cady The Elder said, "That will do," and walked into the house. While in Indiana, Daniel Orcutt did not marry the girl he loved because he feared his drinking habits might cause her unhappiness. Nothing is known of Daniel Or- cutt after he went to the Seminole war. He is thought to have perished in the massacre of Major Dade's command in 1835- Deborah Orcutt Seavey lived in Rushford until her death. The stone erected over her grave by her daughter Martha, second wife of Parker Woodworth, bears the sim- ple inscription, "My Mother's Grave." After the death of Andre Bennett, his wife, Rachel, lived with her daughters, Deborah and Rachel. She was one of the early settlers present at the Semi-Centennial. Mrs. Flora Hammond Hale says that she and the other children felt proud to think that grandma who lived with them sat on the stage. M MATTHEW P. CADY H. J. W. G. ATTHEW P. CADY, of Irish descent, was born in Windsor, Vermont, 1786. It is not known when he came to Rushford, but he was a resident of the place February 12, 1816, since at that time his name appears on a petition to the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of New York. At the first town meeting he was elected one of the assessors. In 1819 he was elected town clerk, in 1820 supervisor, which ofifice he held for five consecu- tive years. At a session of the board of supervisors held at the public house of Alexander D'Autremont in Angelica, November 16, 1825, he was made clerk of the board. Feb- Rush ford Families ruary 26, 1822, he was one of the justices of the peace in Rushford. In 1835 he was one of five elected county superintendents of the poor. June 4, 1822, he married Lucy Hardy, by whom he had six children, Patrick, Lucy (Mrs. Charles Smith), Perry, Sophia (Mrs. Peter Pettit), Henderson and Har- rison. In accordance with the wishes of his wife, after her death, he married Lucy Tarbell, June 26, 183 1. Two chil- dren were born to them, George Washington and Andrew Jackson. Mr. Cady owned land on the west side of the Creek road just beyond the bridge, but he lived in the house on Buffalo Street, now the home of Mrs. Caroline Crocker. Matthew P. Cady, John Spencer and others built on Canea- dea Creek, in 1816, the first sawmill in Rushford. Mr. Cady caught cold while lumbering in the Pine Woods and in a week was gone, at fifty-nine years of age. The last day of his life he uttered the words, "Two o'clock and I must give it up." In the First Burying Ground in Rush- ford one may read his epitaph, "Though lost to sight to memory dear." The only descendant now living in town is Bessie Cady, daughter of George Cady, JAMES McCALL H. J. W. G. IN 181 5 James McCall, his wife Elizabeth and eight chil- dren came from Ovid, Seneca County, to Rushford where he purchased eight hundred acres of land. He set- tled on the east road, north of the present village, where, in 1816, in one of the first frame buildings in the settlement, he opened the first store. Before long. he moved to the farm on the Caneadea road, now owned by Watkins James. 76 James McCall He bought and ran the grist mill which had been built in 1813 by Warren. It stood on land now owned by Mrs. Julia Walker. "After the almost entire loss of the small crops of the new settlers, in the cold season of 1816, there, as in most of the new settlements upon the Purchase, extreme scarcity of provisions prevailed. The Judge, own- ing a mill, controlled all the grain in the neighborhood, except a little corn that the Indians had upon the Caneadea reservation. He gave orders to sell to no one man over forty pounds of flour or meal; and not to sell to those who had teams, and the means of procuring breadstufif by going out to the older settlements after it. And when his sup- plies became reduced, he restricted the amount to be sold to any one man, to twenty pounds. In this way, the poor- est and most destitute of the new settlers were carried along until the harvest of 1817." In 18 16 he owned a sawmill on Caneadea Creek. His first grist mill at East Rushford was built in 1818. The second burned many years ago, but the foundation still re- mains and forms part of the wall of the present mill. Carved on a stone at the east end, one may read, "J. McCall & Sons, 1831." In 1847 James McCall & Sons sold their mill to G. Grimard. For seven years he was a member of the State Legis- lature,* being three years in the Assembly and four in the Senate. "April 10, 1818, an act was passed by the Legisla- ture appointing Thomas Dole of Nunda, John Hoyt of Caneadea, and James McCall of Rushford commissioners to lay out a road on the west side of the Genesee River through the Caneadea Reservation, and to 'agree with and satisfy the Indians owning and possessing said land for their reasonable damages for said roads passing through *After he came to Allegany County. •77 Rush ford Families their improved lands.' $i,ooo was appropriated for the purpose." 1817 was the year of his first appearance as a mem- ber of the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. From this time he was called Judge Mc- Call. He was one of the constituent members of the "First Baptist Church in Rush ford,'' which w^as organized in 18 16. The family altar which he reared was never neglected, though there were those who thought, since he had so many men in his employ, that it was a great loss of time. Thursday evening the chairs were put into the wagon and he and his family went to the house of prayer. ]\Ir. H. B. Ackerley said that he had heard his mother say that he often closed his testimony in Covenant meeting with these words, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is. that they might be saved." James McCall died March 24, 1856, when eighty-two years of age, having hved an honored and useful life. One, riding from Rush ford to Caneadea, observes in a field about a mile from Rushford village, on the left side of the road, a monument. It was erected to the memory of James McCall, his wife Elizabeth, his wife Lydia, his daughter Sophia Gofif, her husband Richard S. Goff, and other mem- bers of the AlcCall family who years ago were buried here in a family lot on the farm : Children of James and Elizabeth McCall. Sophia (Mrs. R. S. Gofif), born i8cx). Milton, born j8oi. Matilda (Mrs. E. K. Howe), born 1803. Emily (Mrs. D. Searl), born 1805. Seneca, born 1807. Nelson, born 1810. 78 Levi Benjamin Maria (]\Irs. A. Miner), born 1812. Ansel, born 1814. Naomi (Mrs. Ezra Cbase), born 181 5. Eliza (Mrs. A. K. Benjamin), born 1819. James, born 1820. Ira Newell, born 1821. Catharine (Mrs. P. Rappleye), born 1822. Jacob, born 1824. Nelson McCall left Rushford in 1855, but in the seven- ties his son, Elbert, was engaged in the mercantile business in Rushford, on the corner of Main and Church Streets. One grandchild of James McCall, Mrs. Sophia (Benja- min) Taylor, lives in Rushford. LEVI BENJAMIN H. J. W. G. EVI BENJAMIN was born in Ashburnham, Massa- L chusetts, in 1777. His first wife, Nancy (Willard) Benjamin, mother of Betsey and Nancy, died in 1800. His second wife, Abigail Kendall, was the mother of Sally,* Lucy, Albert, Eliab (1812), Almond (1813), Albert and Charles (1817). His third wife, whom he married in 1842, was Deborah Kendall, a widow. Levi Benjamin had lived in both Windsor and Woodstock, Vt., but came to Rushford from Ovid, Seneca County, in 181 5. How long he had been in Sen- eca County is not known. He settled on lot thirty, on land now occupied by Charles Hall, son of the late Arcelia (Benja- min) Hall. Here he built one of the first log taverns in the town. In one end of the tavern was a loft, the, other end was enclosed for chambers, both w^ere reached by a ladder inside. In the loft prayer meetings were sometimes held. *Mrs. Daniel Chase, grandmother of Arthur Chase, the vio- linist. 79 Rushford Families I The bar below, the altar above— incongruous, you say. It 1 would be today, not so a hundred years ago when at funerals there was a bountiful supply of liquors, and minister and mourners, in fact all but the dead, drank. When Levi Benjamin first came to Rushford his neigh- bors on the north were Josephus Young, Pomeroy Johnson and the Freemans, on the south James McCall, William Gor- don, Tarbel Gordon and John Gordon. Levi Benjamin was one of the constituent members of the Baptist Church and the first deacon. His log tavern was a historic place for in it was held the first town meeting, at which he was elected constable and one of the overseers of the poor. In 1816 a mail route was opened from Perry to Olean. Rushford then had a postoffice and Levi Benja- min was the first postmaster. May 29, 1817, he joined the Rushford Lodge of Freemasons. Meetings of the lodge were sometimes held in his tavern. Once when there was a candidate for initiation, the girl in the kitchen was heat- ing a griddle red-hot. "What are you doing that for?" said the candidate. "Oh, I don't know," said the girl, "they always have me do that when there is any one to be ini- tiated." The would-be Mason disappeared. When Levi Benjamin came to Rushford he was in the prime of Hfe. After living forty-nine years on the same farm, he was called hence January 27, 1864. The grand- children who reside in Rushford are Mrs. Sophia E. Tay- lor, daughter of Almond Benjamin; James G. Benjamin, son of Eliab, and Romain Benjamin, son of Charles. Har- rie Hall, who so beautifully decorated the Academy Hall Old Home Week, is a great-great-grandson of Levi Benja- min. 80 SAMUEL PERSONS H. J. W. G. O AMUEL PERSONS, son of a Universalist preacher, *- Cynthia A. Woodworth The Searls did not look up. Again, "Uncle Chapman." Still he did not look up. "Mr. Brooks." Then he heard. He was justice of the peace many years. His mental powers were good and with opportunity he would have made a scholar. He died in Rushford in 1880. THE SEARLS. H. J. W. G. DAVID SEARL was born in Rowley, Massachusetts, September 5, 1776. July 20, 1787, he married Judith Cragin of Temple, New Hampshire. Here three of their children were born. In 1791 they moved to Cavendish, Ver- mont, where fourteen other children were born to them. About 1814 David Searl with three children, David, Dolly and Lucy, set out for the Genesee country ; they reached Centerville, New York, and made their home on the top of Hamilton Hill. The next year the remaining members of the family came to Centerville. They lived here until 1823 when Mr. Searl bought improved property in Rushford. His land was on Lower Street extending from Main Street south to the Chase farm, the boundary line of which was between what are now the residences of George Gant and Frank E. White. The Searls family lived in one of the first framed houses in the village. A part of this house is now a part of the dwelling of W. F. Benjamin, and it was built by Elder Warren Bannister. Later, on the east side of the street farther south, Mr. Searl built a house and shoeshop combined, back of which on land now owned by Miss Ellen Lyman, he had a tannery. He donated the land for the First Burying Ground in Rush- ford, reserving a right of way from West Main Street near 109 Rashford Families the big elm. The deed of this property from David and Judith Searl to David Searl, Horatio Smith and Matthew P. Cady, trustees, bears the date May i, 1832. David Searl and his wife returned to Centerville. He and his neighbor, James Tubbs, were both deaf in their later years. They used to meet at the line fence, and of course talked very loud. Afterwards Mr. Searl would say that he and Uncle jimmy had been talking privacy. David Searl died February 4, i854, and Judith Searl December 16, 1859, at ninety-two years of age. Seventeen children were born to David and Judith Searl, two of whom died in infancy. Sarah married Lawson Hoyt of Connecticut. Dolly married Packard Bruce, one of the pioneers of Centerville. They were the parents of Mrs. Henry M. Teller, who was once a student in Rush- ford Academv. Salome married Justice Dayton of Canea- dea Saphronia married Rufus Adams. Alfred and David died at two years of age. Mary and Judith remianed single. Teremv remained single ; he is buried at Centerville. Nancy Harriet married Harry W. Bullock of Belvidere ; she died in 1831. Lucy married Milton McCall. David, 2nd, mar- ried Emily, sister'of Milton McCall. Daniel H. married Julia Lasell of Centerville. Steadman B. married Olive Lasell of Centerville. John D. V. died in 1830 at the age of twenty-four. David, 2nd, and his wife joined the Baptist Church in 1825. Steadman Searl and Lucy Searl McCall were also members of that church. The father and mother, Mary, Judith. Nancy Plarriet, Lucy, John and Olive, wife of Steadman, are buried in the First Burying Ground in Rush- ford. Daniel H. Searl was born in Cavendish, Vermont, Feb- ruary 22, 1804. At first he was connected with his father in the shoe shop and tannery ; later he conducted the busi- Samuel White ness alone. James Green was foreman of his shop in 1832, followed by John Doland in 1840. ATr. Searl sold his land to Washington White. In a Republican Era of November, 1847, D. H. Searl advertises "Boots, Shoes and Clothing for sale in No. 5 Union Block at Riishford." About 1852 he purchased the Oramel Grififin corner and carried on mer- chant tailoring for a few years. He was a far-seeing man. In the fifties he prophesied the steam harvester and the automobile. The Searls were prominent in the development of the town. XoTE — In writing the Searl paper I am indebted to Mrs. Har- riet Searl Haskins and Mrs. Augusta Searl Sheldon. — H. J. W. G. SAMUEL WHITE Helen J. White Gilbert SAMUEL WHITE, son of Thomas and Betsey (Lincoln) White, was born on his father's farm in Cavendish, Vermont. January 16, 1795. Percy Snow was born Novem- ber 8, 1797. She lived in a part of Cavendish called Whites- ville. Samuel White and Percy Snow were married, or, as Homer White of Randolph, \"ermont, once said, "Snow was made White," November 26, 1818. In the fall of 1821, with two small children, Washington and Henry Kirke, they left Cavendish for the Holland Purchase. After reach- ing Rushford they purchased seventy-five acres of land on the east side of Upper Street, portions of which are now owned by Ida (White) Woods of Rushford and Newell White of East Aurora, grandchildren of Samuel White. The house which he built by degrees is in part occu- pied by Airs. Jane \Miite and her daughter, Jennie. In the early day it was of New England fashion, with a long slop- ing back roof, a large hall in the center and small window Rush ford Families Frank E. White and Sons, Thomas and Robert lights. It was painted red, trimmed with white, and had green blinds. Stone steps led from the street to the front door and in the narrow front yard were balsam trees. It is said that in this house he kept store and kept tavern, a fav- orite occupation of the early settlers. The first schoolhouse in town was a log building which stood where the store of F. H. Metcalf and Company now stands. It was here that Samuel White, the teacher, said to a strapping boy, "Take off your coat, sir!" Someone has said that nothing has made so many boys smart as the black birch of New England. Wilson Gordon of Topeka says that Samuel White was the best mathematician in town. His I Sanuicl White name appears as a surveyor in the town records of Rush- ford of the year 1822. He framed the Academy and all but one of the churches in the village. Six years he was supervisor of the town, having been elected the first time in 1826. He was justice of the peace so many years that he was usually spoken of as "Square" White. More than anywhere else one could find Samuel White seated before a large desk writing. Among the papers which he left is a letter with regard to two Revolutionary pension claims. It is dated July 21, 1854, and signed by Jeft'erson Davis, Sec- retary of War. How fond he was of children ! One of his grand- children recalls with pleasure the following little incident : Arlie.* Frankf and George§ were standing back of a chair, playing they were calves, and grandpa with a bowl of bread and milk was feeding them between the slats. When grandma said, "You'll spill that milk feeding them in here," he answered, "No. I won't," and on he kept. Wlien Henry brought home his young bride, Marena Sears, the mother, an embodiment of New England thrift, started them in life with this advice, "You must make one hand wash the other." In speaking of washing machines Mr. White once said, "In the old times they had washing machines that could scold." When the grist mill at East Rushford burned, Mr. White vvith many others took his pail and went to the fire. The next morning when the family were speaking of the fire he said, "What fire?" To their surprise he knew nothing of having been out the night before. The foundry that stood on the corner of Main and Church Streets, next to Mrs. Laning's, was erected in 1844 by James and Luther Gordon, but during almost its entire *Mrs. A die White Ives. tF. E. White. §George Blanchard. 113 jii.*SS»». Henry Kirke White Samuel White existence it was owned by one or more members of the White family. Samuel White had the first cider mill in town. His second cider mill was built on the hillside back of H. K. White's (now Mrs. D. W. Woods') house. In the upper part of the mill were two upright wooden cylinders, on one of which were knobs fitting loosely into holes in the other. Between these cylinders, wliich worked in opposite directions, the apples were crushed, the pomace falling into a large shallow vat. A horse walking in a circle around the vat, moved the lever which turned the motor wheel. In the lower part of the mill was a grooved platform on which straw was placed, then a layer of pomace, then straw, and so on till the cheese was about three feet high. A board cover was then placed on top and the mass pressed by means of blocks, a screw and a hand lever, until all the juice had trickled into the tub below. The cider was then barrelled and drawn away by the farmers who had brought their ap- ples to be ground. Not long since a man spoke of Oliver Benjamin, E. P. Richards, James Green and Samuel White, supporters of the Universalist Church, as men noted for uprightness of character. Samuel White was too honest to trade horses. He would bring a rack-a-bones into the yard and take it away fat, to return with another hungry horse. Since he was extremely hospitable, no one was ever in his house about meal time without being urged to stay to the meal. Although he was temperate in all things, the pitcher of cider was always on the bureau, near his compass, and each caller was asked to partake. This was courtesy. He used to say that he was one-quarter Irish. He might have said that his grandfather, Samuel White, was a Revolutionary captain, that he was descended from one \\'illiam White, a Mayflower pilgrim and that John White, 115 Rush ford Families a bishop in the Church of England, was an ancestor of his, but he did not, he was a modest man. I can see him now, short, square-built, dignified, kindly. How I love to do him honor! Samuel White died May 15, 1874, and Percy White died September 20, 1875. Four of their children were born in Rushford, Ouincy in 1823, Thomas Jefferson in 1826, Ellen in 183 1, and Stellah in 1835. Washington White and Abigail Willard were married by the Rev. C. W. Gillam, at the home of Joel Griffin, January 25, 1844. Washington was for many years a merchant in Rushford. He, with Congdon and Dickinson, built the Concrete Block. Henry White and Marena Sears were married at the home of Elmer Sears in Great Valley, July 16, 1843. Quincy White and Emily Blanchard were married by the Rev. Mr. Lord, October 23, 185 1. After the death of Emily, Quincy mar- ried, September 10, 1862, Jane Blanchard, a cousin of his first wife. For many years he and Barnes Blanchard owned the foundry. Stellah married Barnes Blanchard, July 18, 1855. Henry, Quincy and Stellah lived nearly all their lives on the street on which they were born. Thomas mar- ried Adaline Swift, June 21, 1856. He died in the Civil War. Ellen married John A. Hubbell, May 13, 1856. She now lives in Oklahoma and is the only surviving child of Samuel and Percy White. The other children all died in Rushford, Washington in 1889, Quincy the same year, Henry Kirke in 1894, and Stellah in 1900. THE GRIFFINS H. J. W. G. ORAMEL GRIFFIN, son of Joel and Submit Griffin, was born in S wanton, Vermont, March 26, 1794. In early life he removed with his parents to Malone, then in 116 The Griffins St. Lawrence County, where he experienced the struggles incident to a pioneer Hfe. After laboring all day he would study at night by the light of burning chips. On reaching maturity he started out to seek his fortune, commencing in Moscow, Livingston County, where he was first a clerk, then a teacher, and finally a partner of one of his employers. In 1822 he opened, in a log building, the second store in Rushford. For a time he boarded at Cephas Young's tavern where he was taken ill and was nursed by Miss Caroline Gary, daughter of Eneas Gary, who afterwards became his wife. Mrs. Griffin died February, 1848, leaving in his care three children, Lovina, Solon W., and Jackson. Mr. Griffin never married again. When Mr. H. B. Ackerly was a boy he went with his mother to Oramel Griffin's store. Hearing music he asked his mother what it was. "It's a piano," she replied. It belonged to Miss Achsah Griffin, daughter of Oramel Griffin, and was the first piano brought into town. In 1848 Mr. Griffin seemed to be preparing to leave Rushford as he wished all notes and accounts to be paid, and advertised for sale "his valuable property on the corner of Main and Commercial Streets in the village of Rushford, consisting of a store and dwelling house attached, a store house, two dwelling houses, an office, barns, and lots of about one-fourth acre each." About 1850 he made a large purchase of land in the town of Caneadea and moved to Oramel, a place named in his honor, which sprang up as if by magic on the Genesee Valley Canal of which it was for some time a terminus. Later in life he was engaged in business operations in the Western States where three of his four children settled. Mr. Griffin was an energetic and successful business man, able to help those less favored than he. He was 117 Rush ford Families also a liberal contributor to public institutions. After he retired from business he resided during the winter of each year with his daughter Lovina (Mrs. George Prentis) at Detroit, Michigan, and during the summer with his daughter Achsah (Mrs. Alarshall B. Champlain) at Cuba, Allegany County, where he died September 5, 1877. JOEL GRIFFIN, JR. Joel Griffin, Jr.. brother of Oramel, was born in 1800. In 1838 or 1839 he and his wife, Clarissa, with their only child, Wolcott, moved from Malone, now in Franklin County, to Rushford. They lived at first on the west side of Upper Street across the road from Samuel White's. The house was afterward owned and occupied by James Wier. By occupation Joel Griffin, Jr., was a small farmer and pro- duce dealer. In 1864 Wolcott Griffin was engaged in the mercantile business on the corner of Main and Lower Streets. The back room of his store where his father had stored some honey, went down the stream at the time of the flood. That night he called his father and told him that the lower part of the town was all being washed away. "Is my honey safe?" was the reply. Clarissa Griffin lived in Rushford until her death, October 16, 1869. Joel Griffin, Jr.. died in Michigan, April 22, 1871. Wolcott Griffin married for his first wife, Rosina G. Bush of Pike, daughter of Alexander Bush. She was the mother of his only child, Ella. He was an active member of the IMethodist Episcopal Church and at one time super- intendent of the Sunday School. In 1870 he moved to Michigan where he passed the remainder of his life, dying May 4, 1892. 118 Rushford Families GEORGE SCOTT H. J. W. G. GEORGE SCOTT, born February 9, 1795, was the son of Calvin Scott, a doctor, who Uved in Belchertown, Massachusetts, and had slaves to do his bidding, both in- doors and out. With his fair complexion and sharp blue •eyes, George Scott was a fine looking young man. Febru- ary 22, 1 82 1, he and Mariah Converse were married. In two years he set out for the Holland Purchase, leaving behind him his wife and two young children, George and Calvin. With the assistance of Lowell Wright, they soon followed Mr. Scott to Rushford and settled on the "Old Injun Road" long since discarded. ( It extended from the Cuba road to the West Branch road.) On the farm of the Ackerly Company there is a clearing of about twelve acres which, until recently, was surrounded by woods and known as the Lowell Wright clearing. It was on the "Old Injun Road." From this place George Scott moved to the Amos Rose farm, now owned by Walter Howard. Later he moved to Taylor Hill, south of the Six Corners. Eight children were born to George and Mariah Scott in Rushford : Laura (Mrs. Elisha Straight), 1824; Dwight, 1826; Martha Malona (Mrs. Wm. Drake), 1828; EmeHne (Mrs. Thomas Dunlap), 1830; Lyman L., 1832; John, 1836; Jason, 1840; and Henry, 1842. Mr. Scott's brother William always lived with him. George Scott had a running horse that could not be beat. The race course was Lower Street and the rider Henry Kirke White. Some men came from a distance to purchase the horse. They thought Mr. Scott asked too much so they invited him down town, thinking that if they treated him the horse would be cheaper, but instead he George Scott came up ten dollars. They treated him again and he came up ten dollars more. When someone was laughing at him be- cause he did not have any wood split he replied, "It's a mighty lazy man that can't get up in the morning and split enough wood for his wife to get breakfast." After a gen- eral training he was on a horse with another man to ride home; when the horse commenced to kick up, "Go on," he said, "my end's going." No one in all the country round could draw forth from a violin such strains of music as George Scott. The instrument would almost speak under his touch. He fre- quently played for dances. He played upon the violin at the weddings of Alvin Frost and Sally Bosworth, Thursa Frost and George Scott, Jr., and Margaret Scott and Mar- cus Eaton, enlivening with his music the weddings of three generations. The jaw-breaking names of the Holland Land Company were set to music and sung by him. Four of his children are now living, Henry in New Hudson, Jason in Troy, Michigan, Lyman in Canandaigua, and Dwight in Rushford. George Scott lived to be eighty- one years old and his wife nearly ninety-one. They are buried in the Bellville Cemetery. The grandchildren of George and Mariah Scott living in Rushford are : Mrs. Marga- ret Eaton and Milton Scott, children of George ; Mrs. Min- nie Cooper, Mrs. Bertha Hogg and Jason Scott, children of Dwight; and Mrs. Belle (Dunlap) Lafferty. Note — George Scott, Sr.. sold his farm on the Cuba road to Daniel Baird who in turn sold it to Robert Morrow. 1^1 c Rush ford Families CHARLES WHITE H. J. W. G. HARLES WHITE, son of Thomas and Betsy (Lin- coln)* White, and grandson of Capt. Samuel and Thankful (Gilbert) White, was born on his father's farm in Cavendish, \^ermont. in September, 1800. He and his brother Samuel were the only children of his father's family who settled in Rushford. In 1825 he married Harriet Sophia Swift, daughter of Heman and Ann Swift. In October, 183 1, Charles White was baptized by Elder Absalom Miner and received into the First Baptist Church of Rushford. His wife, Harriet, joined this church at the same time, hav- ing previously been a member of the Freewill Baptist Church. At the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organiza- tion of the First Baptist Church, "Aunt Harriet" was pres- ent and made some remarks, since she had been a member of the church fifty-nine years. She was a helpful, sweet- faced woman whom everybody loved. The children of Charles and Harriet White were Sophia (Mrs. Ebenezer Perry), George, Luther, Otis, Martin and Percy (Mrs. Jacob S. Van Dusen). In the forties Charles White and family were living in the EngHsh district on the Mt. Monroe road. On the run about a quarter of a mile south of the schoolhouse, was his cooper shop. His house was on the high land twenty rods north of the shop. Charles White died at East Rushford, February 16, 1857. Harriet White died in Podonque at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Van Dusen, September i, 1892. Sophia White Perry died in Wisconsin in i860, when *The descendants of Betsey (Lincoln) White are distantly re- lated to Abraham Lincoln. Mrs. Harriet Swift White Rush ford Families thirty-four years of age. George White married Ann Eng- lish in 1850. In 1850 he was running a blacksmith shop on Upper Street in Rushford. The next year he went to Wisconsin where he remained until 1906, when he and his wife returned to Rushford where he died in October, 1909. at the home of Victoria Gordon. Luther married Achsah Chamberlain. After her death, he married Kate Van Dusen. Of her the Rev. Mark Kelley once said, "Very often there rises before me the picture of Sister Kate White speaking in prayer or class meeting. More than once did she overcome by the word of her testimony, and in my soul, at least, 'she being dead, yet speaketh.' " Luther White was a blacksmith and lived in Rushford on LTpper Street, in the house now owned by Irving Glaus. Otis mar- ried Julia Van Dusen. For a number of years they lived on his farm in East Rushford. The latter part of his life he was a Wesleyan Methodist minister. Martin died in the Civil War. lone, William, Charles and George Van Dusen are the only grandchildren of Charles and Harriet White now liv- ing in Rushford. JOSEPH BELL Mary Bell Dickey JOSEPH BELL, the youngest of the twelve children of Jonathan and Deborah Bell, was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, August 10, 1805. His father fought in the battle of Bunker Hill and did other service in the War of the Revolution. Joseph Bell, when a lad, was appren- ticed to learn the shoemaker's trade in Manchester, New Hampshire. At the age of nineteen he started for New 124 b Joseph Bell York State where his brothers, Russell and Rodney, had already settled in New Hudson. At Rochester he was of- fered a hundred acres of land for his horse, but he refused the offer and continued his journey to Rushford where he soon found employment. In 1830 he married Lydia Elvira Dunham to whom were born the following children : Minerva M., Martin A., William R., Lois A., James J. and Lauraette, whose death at the age of three years, March 15, 1843, ^^^ the first in the family. The m.other died March 22. 1849, just after moving into the new house. September 14, 185 1, Mr. Bell was married to Matilda Coburn at the home of her brother, Miner Coburn, in Covert, New York, by the Rev. Chaun- cey Wardner, who had formerly been pastor at Rushford. To them were born two children, Mary C. and Nellie E. When Mr. Bell first came to Rushford he was em- ployed in a shoemaker's shop, later he became a partner and finally sole owner of the business. Many pairs of boots with red morocco tops, at five dollars a pair, were made in his shop in the chambers of the old town hall. By severe toil and close economy he built up a prosperous business. Beside his shoeshop, he managed his farm, which he bought of Samson Hardy, and his tannery. At first the bark used in the tannery was ground by hand, afterwards horse power was used and finally, in 1849, steam was put in. Some years later, the townspeople, by subscription put in a steam whistle which was blown three times a day and in case of fire. November 29, 1867, his youngest son, James J., was killed by an explosion of the boiler in the tannery. A. J. Colburn then bought an interest in the tannery and it was repaired and enlarged. Mr. Bell bought a great many hides, and frequently made trips to the West for them. At the beginning of the 125 Rush ford Families cheese industry, he often went to Canada, bought cows and drove them home. In 1872 Mr. Bell with his wife and younger children moved to Michigan. He first located in Jonia. Afterwards he went into the mercantile business in. Maple Rapids. While he lived in Ionia, Mr. O. T. Higgins of Rushford and Mr. D. B. Sill of Cuba visited him, after taking a trip into the pine woods of Northern Michigan buying land. On this trip Mr. Higgins and his guide were lost in the woods for several days. He said that the bounti- ful dinner of which he was then partaking did not taste as good as his meal in the woods during those days of short rations, when he held hard-tack under a piece of pork to catch the drippings. But nothing could wean Mr. Bell from the associations of former days, so after a residence of five years in Michi- gan, he returned to his home in Rushford where he passed his declining years among his friends and relatives, whom he was so fond of entertaining at his home. The old-time hospitality was often mentioned by him as one of the pleas- ant features of his early days, and emphasized by the statement that at one time he was acquainted with every man in the township. He was early associated with the Baptist Church of Rushford. He was baptized in the spring of 1838, in a hole cut in the ice in the creek back of the tannery. For forty- five years he was a faithful member of the church and gave very substantially to its support. In politics Mr. Bell was an Abolitionist and also a great admirer of Mr. Cole of Wellsville, "the father of the Republican party." During the war a group of men, including Mr. John Holmes, Mr. Latham Higgins, Deacon Hapgood and Mr. Bell, used to gather at the store of Mr. O. T. Higgins where Deacon Hapgood read aloud the war news in the N'cw York Daily 126 Rufus Adams Tribune. This meeting was laughingly called the "Con- gress." For two years prior to his death Mr. Bell's health grad- ually failed, and he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lois Ferguson, in Geneseo, October 3, 1883, while on his way to Avon for treatment. His life was full of vicissi- tudes, such as are common to humanity, but at his death he was an honored and substantial citizen of Rushford. Note — The house now owned by "Sirs. ArHe Ives was Mr. Bell's home. The tannerj- was back of his house. He also owned the house now belonging to Robert Murray. A. Fraser was the last owner of the tannery. — G. RUFUS ADAMS Viola Adams Farwell RUFUS ADAMS belonged to the great family of Adamses of Massachusetts, among whose members have been men distinguished in letters and in affairs of state. Rufus Adams was born in Chelmsford, Massachu- setts, in 179T. About •1817 he came to Arcade, Wyoming County, where he bought land and commenced building a carding mill, but he was taken ill so he returned home. In 1819 he married Saphronia, daughter of David Searl of Rowley, Massachusetts. With his wife and son, Alfred, he came to Rushford from Cavendish, Vermont, in 1824, and bought the farm one and one-half miles north of the village, now occupied by his great-grandson, Dorrance Farwell. He lived in a log house about three rods south of the pres- ent framed one. which was built in 1828 from pine grown on the farm. Some of the trees used were four feet in diameter. In the house were four fire-places and a large Rush ford Families brick bake-oven. He occasionally made a trip to Caven- dish. Vermont, to visit his sister, Mrs. Joseph White, whose husband was a relative of Samuel White of Rushford. The children of Rufus and Saphronia Adams were: Alfred Rufus. who in 1846 married Lucinda Acker; Saphro- nia Gilbert, who in 1848 married John Fletcher Gordon; and Salome Searl, who in 1848 married Jacob Weslar of Cuba. After living in Cuba a number of years. Jacob Weslar and his family moved to Pine Grove, Michigan. Rufus Adams was frugal, yet on the Sabbath day he appeared in broadcloth. In matters of religion he was strict, yet emotional ; he was one of the original members of the Free Methodist Church. He died at Pine Grove, Michigan, October 2C. 1871. Among his grandchildren are Frank W. and Lucy R. Gordon, Viola Adams Farwell and Arvilla Adams Farwell. MICAH HALL H. J. W. G. MICAH HALL was born in 1807 in Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York. When about twelve years of age he came with his father, Thomas Hall, to Wayne County, traversing the whole distance with an ox team. When six- teen years of age he came to Rushford where his brother, Solomon Hall, was living. Angeline Furlong from Galen, Wayne County, came to visit her sister, Mrs. Solomon Hall. Young Micah Hall saw her, loved her, and married her at the home of her sister who lived on a crossroad then ex- tending through the Alma lot back of the house now owned by George Eaton. Her father objected to the marriage be- cause Micah was a poor man; and so he was, for after pay- 128 Micah Hall ing the preacher he had only enough money to buy an axe. He bought fifty acres of land of the Holland Land Company and they commenced housekeeping with nothing but a chest in a log house on the County Line Road. The neigh- bors gave them a teakettle, a few dishes and a quilt. Mr. Hall soon built a bedstead into the corner of the room, by fastening saplings to the walls, so that only one post was needed. When Mrs. Hall's father came from Wayne County to visit them and saw they were getting on in the world, he said, "Some folks will get a living ofif a stone." As Thomas Hall, then living in Rushford, was a Baptist exhorter, he was called to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to preach. Micah Hall then bought of him one hundred acres of land partly improved. Later he purchased fifty acres of Sam Moore and fifty acres of Mr. Hicks, making two hun- dred and fifty acres in his home farm. At one time there were four houses on his farm. When he lived in a log house, south of the house now owned by Thomas Tapp, the trees were so near the house that his wife went out of doors while they were being felled. Later he lived in a log house by a spring north of the place where, about 1850, he built the large frame dwelling where his grandson. Herman Morrison, now lives. Below the house near the bridge was a deer lick where he would climb a tree to watch for deer. He started out one morning before breakfast and was gone so long that his wife became anxious and taking her six-months-old baby in her arms started to find him. She met him carrying a large fish. Pie took the baby and she took the fish, saying that he had the better end of the bargain, the fish was so heavy. About seventy-five years ago when he was working in the woods, a swarm of bees lighted on some brush near him. He went to the house, sawed a barrel in two and put 129 Rushford Families them in. That was the beginning of what came to be two hundred swarms. Mrs. Hall always cared for the bees. One year he raised one thousand bushels of wheat on a forty-acres lot which he plowed in one land, going round it twice in one day, plowing by starlight in the morning and hy starlight at night. Mr. and Mrs. Hall enjoyed the com- pany of young people and treated them to delicious warm biscuit and honey when they came to visit them. Mr. Hall was a quiet man fond of reading, especially of reading his- tory. His family enjoyed listening to him when he read aloud. He was an upright man, frugal yet ready to help in a worthy cause. Mrs. Hall was baptized in 183 1 by Rev. Absalom Miner, pastor of the Baptist Church in Rushford. Mr. Hall never belonged to any organization and even re- fused the nomination to the office of supervisor. He always voted with his party which was first Whig, and then Repub- lican. His children were: Elmira, who died young; Arvilla, who lived to be twenty-one years of age; Harriet (Mrs. Chauncey Williams, deceased) ; Henrietta (Mrs. Randolph Morrison), and Sylvester, who enlisted in the Civil War and died while home on a furlough. Julia Baker, a niece of Mrs. Hall, was one of the family from the time she was nine years of age until her marriage to Albert Pettit. Micah Hall died September 29, 1879, in the house which he built on his land below Hardy's Corners. Note— Part of the matter for this paper was furnished by Mrs. Henrietta ?iIorrison. 130 THE SEXTONS H. J. W. G. THE Sextons came to Rushford in 1825 from the town of Phelps, New York. When they reached the top of the Centerville hill the first driver stopped and said, "We will camp here for we will never get any higher." They were a week on their journey. In 1826 David Sexton re- ceived from the Holland Land Company a deed for sixty acres of land on both sides of Lower Street, extending from the land now owned by George Gant to that now owned by Verna Gordon Tarbell. In 1830 he bought of William Gordon twenty-seven acres -which included a part of the present Chase farm and extended to the Gordon- ville bridge. He lived several years in a log house just north of Caneadea Creek on land now owned by Lannis Damon. There was a black ash swamp near what is now Fred G. Gordon's feed store, north of the abandoned roadbed of the T. V. and C. R. R., and a swamp extending from Lucian Hardy's house back of Dr. Ballard's house, to West Main Street, but the rising ground between them was always dry. There w^ere great numbers of elm trees on the Sexton farm where Indians came and camped every summer. They made baskets, killed deer, built stone piles and smoked meat. One day as Mrs. Sexton sat spinning, she heard a sound and looking up saw two Indians with a great buck deer on their shoulders stalking through the house. The large doors were opposite each other. An- other day after being out picking berries she came back to the house to find an Indian asleep in front of the fire place. The latch string was always out and the fire never. Note — Miss Ruth Tousley of Jamestown, a great-grand-daugh- ter of David Sexton, contributed part of the matter for this paper. 131 Rush ford Families She did not disturb him, but when he awoke gave him some bread and meat which he never forgot. In 1835 David Sexton sold his farm to Caleb Chase and worked at his trade, that of carpentering. The chil- dren of David Sexton were Sophia (Mrs. Chauncey Mc- Donald) ; Clark, a merchant, who married Matilda Pear- son of Brooklyn ; Farrington ; Crane, who married Maria Babcock of Cazenovia ; Thomas ; Cornelia, who married John Holmes, a wagon maker; Ruth, who married Stephen Parker, a hotel keeper, and Bradford, who • died young. The frame house which Chauncey McDonald had built for himself was one of the first in town. It stood near the Lower Street bridge, north of the creek. It was occupied for a number of years by Mrs. Orsavilla Hall, grand- daughter of David Sexton. Having been undermined by high water, it has recently been torn down. In 1827 Ruth Sexton was given a certificate to teach school, signed by E. B. Wightman, James Going and Chapman Brooks. The Sextons were Republicans. Crane Sexton was Deputy Sheriff a number of years, an office of which he was very proud. They were all church-going people. David Sexton died in 1839, aged seventy years, and lies buried in the "First Burying Ground" in Rushford. Myron Sexton, cousin of David Sexton, and father of Morris Sexton, was a well-to-do farmer. ALVIN K. MORSE H. J. W. G. AL\TN K. MORSE was born in Connecticut about half way between Hartford and New Haven, March 9, 1794. He and his brother Harden came to Schoharie, New York, and learned the hatter's trade. They then went 132 Alvin K. Morse from city to city, as to Pittsburg and Philadelphia, work- ing for one firm in a place. Monday morning the fur for the week's work would be weighed out. Mr. Morse some- times earned sixty dollars a week. He said that fur must be worked according to the motion of the animal, that on mink fur one must work like lightning. He was employed in Buffalo by a man named Bull, when the War of 1812 broke out. After the city was burned he enlisted. He received from the government a land warrant for one hundred and sixty acres near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, which he sold for one hundred and sixty dollars. March, 1816, in Penfield, New Jersey, he married Sally Rolph. After two years they with their two children, Squire and Phineas, came in a covered wagon to Perry, New York, having traveled four hundred miles. He bought one hundred acres of hard wood timber in the town of Covington. After clearing a part, he put in a piece of winter wheat. When he came to Perry wheat was worth three dollars a bushel, but the next year it was worth only two shillings sixpence and must be drawn to York Landing. At this time calico was worth five shillings a yard, but it was fine, firm and glossy. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morse in Covington, Louvisa, Marcia and James. Mr. Morse became discouraged because of the low price of wheat, so, since his brother-in-law, Thaddeus Elliott, kept writing to him to come to Allegany County, after his spring's work was done, he came to Centerville on a visit. The trees had just leaved out and he thought he had never seen so fine a country, so he moved his family to Rush ford, having bought the farm now owned by John J. Thomas. They lived in constant fear of bears and wolves. Once when Mrs. Morse was alone she saw a 133 Rush ford Families bear near the house. Elijah Freeman was passing, so she called to him to come and shoot the bear through the win- dow. He said that he had never fired ofif a gun. "Then load it and I will fire it off." "I never loaded one." "Then call John Johnson." The bear heard the man's voice and went through the woods to Eneas Gary's where two men were chopping. One of them slung his ax at the bear, but bruin escaped. Later Mr. Morse moved to Podonque near Asa Benjamin's onto what is now the Hallstead farm. Alvin K., Jr., Lewis, Asa G., Amos, Ellen, Cynthia (Mrs. Wm. Hallstead) and Sarah (Mrs. L. Meade) were all born in Rushford. Asa G. Morse says that when a boy he came with oxen and sled to revival meetings in the old Methodist Church. Alvin K. Morse lived seventy years. THE SMITHS Irene Smith Kendall ALFRED SMITH, a son of Elihu Smith, who was a Connecticut sailor, was born February 4, 1798, and was married to Polly Brandow at Windham, Greene County, New York, February 5, 1821. On April 13, 1824, a son, Cornelius Kimber Benham Smith, was born to them. About two years after this happy event they decided to move farther west, so they started out with an ox team and cart containing a few necessities, including their pewter dishes, Polly's sampler and the set of pink and white china dishes given to them by her mother, Elizabeth Brandow, on their wedding day. They located a few miles east of Leroy, in the nighbor- hood where Alfred had two sisters living, and stayed there 134 C. K. B. Smith Rushford Families until the spring of 1828, when they again started out with the ox team and cart, locating on a hundred acres of land in the western part of the town of Rushford and building a log house on the south side of the Rushford and Farmers- ville road, just east of the county Hue. Later he got out timber and built a frame house on the West Branch and Hardy's Corners road, now owned and occupied by their grandson, Grant H. Smith. Alfred was an industrious and thrifty farmer, proud of a good ox team, one of which ihe always owned. Some of the old neighbors tell the story •of his winding a log chain around his body and walking three times in one day to Rushford village to have it welded, feeling very proud that he owned an ox team strong ■enough to break it so many times. I have been told that Alfred and Kimber in clearing a certain piece of land got up at three o'clock in the morning and worked until nine ■o'clock at night, day after day, coming home to dinner and carrying a lunch both forenoon and afternoon. That is working, and let me add that Polly milked the eight cows and did all the other chores as well as the housework. Alfred died May 21, 1873, and was buried at Rushford. Polly Brandow was the seventh child of Henry and Eliza- beth Austin Brandow. She was born at Windham, New York, January 19, 1803. She studied medicine for several years before her mar- riage with the local doctor, Benham. and became thor- oughly acquainted with all medicinal herbs, the proper time and manner of gathering and preserving them, also what each was used for and how to prepare and administer it. In later life she spent many days at different seasons of the year walking through the woods and pastures with a basket on her arm gathering roots, barks and herbs. She used one room of her house as an "herb chamber." People 136 The Smiths came from near and far to consult "Aunt Polly" and get her herbs. She boasted of having many times cured people after the regular physician had given them up. Her suc- cess was due partly to the fact that she would go into their homes and give them good care. She loved the society of young people and would amuse them and herself also by telling fortunes and especially by telling ghost stories until even the young men dared not go home alone, then to her great delight, she would escort them home. She was a strong temperance woman but did love her snuff. She died December 6, 1880, and was buried in the Rush ford Cemetery. C. Kimber B., their only child, was a bright, studious boy. He obtained his higher education by attending "select school" at Farmersville and Rushford. He taught very successfully several terms at Cream Ridge, on the Grant (as Hardy's Corners was then called) and at Podonque where in 1845 ^^ had fifty-four pupils according to a reg- ister kept by him at that time. November 6, 1849, at her home on the farm now owned by Evan James at Hardy's Corners, C. Kimber Smith was united in marriage to Martha Maria Howe, second daughter of E. Kingsbury Howe and Matilda Mc- Call Howe, and a granddaughter of Judge James McCall. M. Maria was born September 30, 1827. She, being very pretty and lovable, was called one of the belles of the town. She was a tailoress by trade and a fine seamstress. Before her marriage she went round from one house to another doing up the annual sewing for the family. She and her husband started housekeeping in a part of the house where Alfred and Polly lived. It is now occupied by Grant H. But in the spring of 1852 they built the frame house across the creek and lived there until their deaths. Mrs. Smith was an excellent woman and by her thrift and in- 137 Rush ford Families dustry greatly aided her husband in his success. She died ]\lay 22, 1907, and was buried beside her husband in the Rushford Cemetery. They added more land as they could, until the home farm contained three hundred and sixty- eight acres, and owned several other farms, in all, over a thousand acres. It was Kimber's ambition to leave a farm and home for each of his children. They had six children grow up and marry, one daughter, Elizabeth, having died at five years of age in 1857. The others were Henry A., 1850-1903; Lawrence King, 1856-1903; EHza D. (wife of D. E. Lewis), 1859-1893; Arlouine (wife of F. D. Kings- bury), t86o ; Grant H., 1865 ; Irene S. (wife of E. Kendall), 1872 . Kimber was a strong temperance man. He voted the Republican ticket until the Prohibition party was organ- ized, after which he always voted that ticket. He did not care for office but was assessor for several years, elected on the Republican ticket. He was one of Rushford's most successful and influential farmers, and was held in high esteem. He was a deep thinker, was well informed on all matters of public interest and fearlessly advocated what he believed to be right. He died December 14, 1900, and was buried at Rushford. THE KINGSBURYS H. J. W. G. DANIEL KINGSBURY, a clothier by trade, came to Rushford with his family in 1828 and settled on Rush Creek near the farm of Luther Woodward, Sr. The old cellar of his house may be seen across the road from Hugh Barber's home. Mrs. Kingsbury's maiden name 138 The Kingsburys was Dorothy Otis ; she was a relative of the late H. H. Otis of Buffalo. About 1840 Mr. Kingsbury went to Ar- kansas to see his son Daniel ; while there he sickened and died. The children of Daniel and Dorothy Kingsbury were : Almeda (Mrs. Bishop) and Permelia (Mrs. Spencer), who never lived in Rushford ; Dorothy (i Mrs. Pierce, 2 Mrs. Bettes) ; Lucy; Sophronia; William O. ; Daniel P.; J. Nel- son, and Laura, who died young. Lucy Kingsbury was born in Rome, March i, 1809. In 1832 she married in Rushford Ebenezer P. Lyon, son of A. J. Lyon ; they went to housekeeping in the Lyon home- stead where were born their four children, Martin, Mary A. (Mrs. R. D. Charles), Laura and Abram J. Mrs. Lucy Lyon died February i, 1900, in the house where she had passed her married life. William O. Kingsbury was born in Rome, New York, May I, 18 1 5. September 19, 1837, he and Maryette Barr, who was living at Orville Boardman's, were married by Elder Absalom Miner, pastor of the Baptist Church in Rushford. Their oldest son, James, was born in Rushford village in the house now owned by Mrs. Susan Beaumont. At this time William O. Kingsbury was employed by Mr. .Boardman in his ashery which stood near by. Otis, the second son, was born in a log house on the hill, which forms a part of the farm of John Haynes. The public highway then ran past the house. About 1843 ^^^- Kingsbury moved to Farmersville where Percival, Maryette (Mrs. Frasier of Arcade) and Lowella (Mrs. Knowles Baldwin) were born. In 1871 Mr. Kingsbury moved to Podonque, having bought the place where Thomas Williams now lives. Late in life he built the house on Lower Street now owned by his daughter. Mrs. Baldwin, lumber for which came on one r.39 Rush ford Families of the first trains of the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Rail- road. In this house Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury celebrated their golden wedding and passed their closing days. Mr. Kingsbury was an ardent Republican ; when the Civil War broke out he gave his three sons to his country in her need. Like the other Kingsburys he was of a me- chanical turn of mind ; when two of Rushford's daughters married, he presented each one with a clothes fork of his own making. Beginning in 1836, the year of her conversion, when twenty-one years of age, Mrs. Kingsbury read the Bible through each year until her death, October i, 1888. J. Nelson Kingsbury was born in Brighton, Canada West, October 23, 1823. March i, 1846, he married Eme- line Lyon, daughter of A. J. Lyon. Their home was on Upper Street in Rushford village. Mr. Kingsbury was a carpenter and contractor. About i860 he bought the land where Cephas Young's tavern had stood ; two years later he moved his dwelling house to this place. The prop- erty is now owned by his daughter, Imogene, Mrs. James G. Benjamin. Mrs. Lucy Lyon, J. Nelson and William O. Kings- bury were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Not far apart, on Lower Street in Rushford village, live three grandsons of Daniel Kingsbury : Otis Kingsbury, whose war record covers four years ; Abram J. Lyon, the veteran drummer ; and Martin Lyon, a strong pillar in the Methodist Church. Benjamin Kingsbury was a brother of Daniel Kings- bury, who settled on Rush Creek. Benjamin Kingsbury and Joanah Jennings were married in Cherry Valley. New 140 The Kingsburys York, where were born seven children: WiUiam W. (in 1817), AdeHa, Daniel, Hannah, Benjamin, Alvin and Ed- ward. They all came to Rush ford about 1830 and settled west of the village on a farm which in later years was part of the Israel Thompson farm. Here Julia (Mrs. Sayres) and Sophia (Mrs. Dodson) were born. Benjamin Kingsbury was a carpenter and cabinet maker. Having been engaged by Deacon Solomon Raw- son, the first settler of Lyndon, to build a dwelling house for him at Rawson, Mr. Kingsbury walked from Rushford village to Rawson, carrying his tools on his back. A few years after Benjamin Kingsbury came to Rush- ford, he bought of the Holland Land Company sixty acres about half a mile northeast of Hardy's Corners. He lived on this farm until his death in 1850. The land was after- wards owned by his son Edward, later by William W. and now by George H. Kingsbury of Topeka, Kansas. Daniel Kingsbury, father of Benjamin, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution; Benjamin was in the War of 1812, and his three sons, Benjamin, Alvin and Edward, served in the Civil War. William W. Kingsbury was a carpenter and joiner and contractor. He went to Independence to built a house for John C. Basset. There he met Miss Betsey Basset who, October 10. 1848, became his wife. Their son. Frank D. (now deceased), was born while they were living at Black Creek. In 1852 they moved to Rushford where George H. and William C. were born, and where, in 1891. William W. died. Mrs. Betsey Kingsbury lives on the old homestead near Hardy's Corners. William W. Kingsbury once told a man he would give him an acre of land for a building lot when he got mar- ried. Some time after, the man said, "Mr. Kingsbury. I'm 141 Rush ford Families married now, where is the building lot you were going to give me?" "Well, sir," said Mr. Kingsbury, "I will give you a strip of land the length of my sixty-acre lot and wide enough to make an acre." THE LEAVENS H. J. W. G. JOSEPH LEAVENS emigrated from Scotland to Kill- ingly, Connecticut. His son Charles in 1780, moved to Windsor, ^^ermont. Llere Calvin Leavens, son of Charles and Lydia (Grover) Leavens, was born August 18, 1784. In the same place, December 8, 1808, Calvin Leavens mar- ried Lucy, daughter of Daniel and Ruhama (Ely) Woods. They moved to Rushford in October, 1828, and settled in Podonque on the road north from East Rushford. Their children, Calvin Galusha, Grover. Laura, Lyford, Lucy Loraine, Daniel Woods and Louise, were all born in Wind- sor, Vermont, except Calvin Galusha, who was born in Reading, Vermont, in 1809, and Louise, who was born in Rushford in 1830. Beside being a farmer, Calvin Leavens was a skillful blacksmith. The hoes which he made had thin, well-tempered blades ; the eye of the blade held the handle. Calvin Leavens died May 5, 1862, and was buried in the Podonque Cemetery, Calvin Galusha preceded his father to Rushford. He "left Windsor for the Holland Purchase February 7, 1828, coming with two uncles, two aunts and a cousin in a large, heavy lumber wagon covered with cotton cloth. The snow was a foot and a half deep until they crossed the Green Mountains, then it was mud, mud all the way to the Pur- chase, where they arrived after seventeen days of hard trav- 142 ■\ i Grover M. Pratt Rush ford Families eling."' He married in Rushford, in 1834, his cousin, Mary Palmer Richards. After years of labor upon an unproduc- tive farm, he bought one just north of the Podonque school- house, now owned by Edwin Weaver, where there was a sawmill which he owned and ran in company with O. D. Benjamin. In 1867 he moved to Hamilton, Michigan, where his wife died in 1871. In 1876 he returned to Rush- ford where he married Mrs. Lucia (Woods) Benjamin, a cousin of his first wife. Their home was just south of the entrance to the Podonque Cemetery. "What is the best time of the year to trim apple trees?" a person once asked Galusha Leavens. He replied, "I have trimmed apple trees all times of the year, and I have made up my mind that the best time is when your saw is sharp." Mr. Leavens died September 6, 1888. During his closing hours, in reply to a niece, he said, "O, I am so happy ! If this is the beginning, what will it be by and by?" Grover Leavens married Mehitable Roberts of War- saw. In the forties he was attorney and counselor at law and justice of the peace in Rushford. In 1847 h^ was mem- ber of Assembly from Allegany County. He and his wife both died in Horseheads, New York, in 1865, without children. Laura Leavens married Edward B. Pratt, a Metho- dist minister, in 1842. Their children were Grover M., born in Rushford, and Mary L., born in Bolivar. Both are now living in Rochester, New York. Grover M. is at the head of the department of domestics in the wholesale department of Sibley, Lindsay, Curr & Co. Mary L. is an unusually efficient grade teacher. Laura L. Pratt died at the home of her son on West Main Street in Rushford April 24, 1 89 1. Lyford Leavens came to Rusliford in 1830. In 1837 144 The Leavens Inez L. Leavens he married Myra, daughter of Tarbel and Lucy Gordon. After Hving on the farm in Podonque many years they moved to Rush ford village. Their home was on the corner of Church and Lewellen Streets where Mr. Leavens died December 20, 1875. Lyford Leavens was a farmer and a maker of butter firkins, sap buckets and straight barrels. A well-known man who objected to being disputed, was talking at some length in one of the stores in Rushford. After he was through, Lyford Leavens said that when he was a young man and lived in Vermont he drove a four- horse team with a lumber wagon to Boston. A terrible 145 Rush ford Families storm came up, so he asked a man if he could drive into his -barn. The man said that his barn was full but he could drive around back of the barn, so he did. Finding large cabbages growing there, he drove under a leaf and was protected from the storm. "That's a pretty big story," said the first speaker. Mr. Leavens replied, "I thought 'twas lies you were telling." A daughter, Eliza, wrote the following lines of her childhood days in Podonque : 'Twas just beyond the old schoolhouse, How well I remember the spot, The dear old wood so enchanting Is it strange that I never forgot How at noontime we strolled through the woodland In search of the wildwood flowers. Or fashioned some wonderful playhouse Just under those green, leafy bowers? On the knolls grew the moss and the bears' wheat. Which we made into bracelets and chains. Though the early spring flowers have faded. Their soft, lovely perfume remains. And often we've taken our luncheon To that cool and pleasant retreat. And listened while one of our number Would some wonderful story repeat. And then methinks of "Old Deacon," So old and lonely and queer, No one in the wide world to cheer him. No friends or kindred near. In winter he tended the fire 146 The Leavens And fastened the schoolhouse door, And was ever glad of the fragments Which we left on the schoolroom floor. So we emptied our pails and our baskets And gave the "Old Deacon" a share; How his old, wrinkled face would brighten When he saw we had something to spare. 'Twas only a step to the mill pond, While close beside stood the mill With the bridge and the cold spring of water Just down at the foot of the hill. How my thoughts still go back to the wayside. Where we passed on our way home from school, And surrounding the trough that was moss-grown, We drank of its water so cool. But the once noisy mill wheel is silent. The old sawmill has gone to decay, Yet the miller and mill by the wayside Are fresh in my memory today. W. H. Leavens, the only living child of Lyford Leav- ens, resides on Lower Street in Rushford village. Lucy Loraine Leavens married in Rushford, in 1839, Giles Hollister Chapin. She died in Toledo, Ohio. Their older son, Henry Harrison (deceased), was editor of the Rushford Weekly News Letter when only nineteen years of age. The other son, Charles Theodore, is living in Cadil- lac, Michigan. Daniel Woods Leavens taught school in Rushford in 1845. The schoolhouse was on the south side of West Main Street. Among his pupils were Julia Thompson, Juliet 147 Rushford Families Crocker, Amelia Tarbell and Otis White. January 3, 1846, he and Mary Louisa Burr were married in Rushford. In the Republican Era of September i, 1847, one may read the following advertisement : "D. W. Leavens. Painter — Near the foot of Main Street opposite Union Block, Rushford, N. Y." It is said that he ofifered to paint free of cost a sign for John Doland if he could paint what he liked. He and Edward Pratt put their heads together with this result: "I work for those who pay the best, And when I've time I serve the rest. I've trusted many to my sorrow, Pay today, I'll trust tomorrow." For years this sign hung in front of Mr. Doland's shop, attracting the attention of every passerby. In 1882 Daniel Leavens was a druggist in Bay City, Michigan. He afterward lived in Pasadena, California. Of this place he once wrote, "Pasadena is the church- goingest place I ever lived in. Rushford is by no means to be sneezed at, and Decatur, Michigan, does fairly well, but Pasadena can give them points and discount them. From half-past ten to eleven Easter Sunday, the streets were thronged with church-goers, and long processions of teams came in from the country. Flow they did come in! Preferring to be with God we took the opposite direction." The children of Daniel Leavens were Charles Andrew and Walter Calvin, born in Rushford, Edward P. (de- ceased), born in Oramel. and George F.. born in Horse- heads, New York. Louise Leavens married Cenclaire Dayton in Horse- heads, March 24, 1864. She died in Elmira, New York. Mrs. Clarissa Woods Calkins in her paper Old Home 148 Billings and Hannah Walker Week said that the children of Calvin and Lucy Leavens were all of a quiet, even temperament, lovely in their lives as their father and mother were before them. B BILLINGS AND HANNAH WALKER Julia Tarbell Merrill ILLINGS WALKER, son of Gideon and Hannah (Bil- lings) Walker, was born August 31, 1767, at Brook- field, Massachusetts. In 1796 he married Hannah Proctor, daughter of Leonard and Mary (Keep) Proctor. Hannah Proctor was born at Westford, Massachusetts, July 3, 1778. She afterwards moved with her parents to Proctorsville, Vermont. In 1828 Billings Walker and wife moved to Rushford ; but this was not their first trip to this place, since in 182 1 Mr. Walker drove through from Vermont with his daughter Hannah and her two little boys, Leonard and Rolin, her husband, James Tarbell, having come the year before, and a few years later Mrs. Walker came from Vermont on horseback to visit this daughter. Billings and Hannah Walker had ten children, nine of whom came to Rushford to live. Their names were Hannah Billings (Mrs. James Tarbell), Thomas B., John Witherspoon, Leonard Proctor, Mary Keep (Mrs. John Adams), Gideon Dana, Experience Paulina (Mrs. Wilson Gordon), Artemus Barnard, Jabez Proctor and Solomon Cutler. After residing in Rushford for a time Billings Walker moved to Farmersville, where he died in 1852. While liv- ing in Vermont he was justice of the peace for many years. When he married a couple, he always gave the wedding fee to the bride. This made him very popular in that capacity. Among those whom he united in marriage were Samuel 149 Rush ford Families White and Percy Snow, father and mother of Mrs. Ellen White Hubbell. He was a prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a Royal Arch Mason, a distinction enjoyed by comparatively few in this country at that early date. After the death of her husband, Hannah Walker moved back to Rushford where she died in 1863. Grandmother Walker, as she was always called, was a kind-hearted, generous woman, beloved by all who knew her. The esteem and love in which she was held was shown by the fact that for years, upon her birthday, she was serenaded by the Rushford Cornet Band. She antici- pated their coming and always invited them in to have re- freshments which included birthday cake. It is said that no one could go into her house and get away without hav- ing something to eat. Many, now, remember Grandmother Walker's good ginger cookies. She was a capable woman, full of fun and extremely witty. She was an aunt of the late Senator Redfield Proctor of Vermont, whose son, Fletcher Proctor, is the present governor of that State. At a Masonic banquet held in Rushford, when Grand- mother Walker was an old lady, she was an honored guest. Mr. John Hubbell procured a horse and carriage and took her to the hall for the supper and social time, which she enjoyed so much that she often referred to it afterwards. In regard to the Walkers, Mrs. Ellen White Hubbell of Arnett, Oklahoma, says, "The family were the cream of the country, able to meet any demand upon them in a busi- ness or social way. For intelligence and uprightness the Walkers were beyond the ordinary and did well their part in the development of the country." Billings and Hannah Walker have nine grandchildren now living (1908). One of them, Dr. Hiram D. Walker of Buffalo, after several years of research and experi- 150 Newbury Eddy ment has recently astonished the medical profession by his theory as to the origin of the cancer germ. The descend- ants of Billings and Hannah Walker are numerous. There are twelve of the sixth generation, ten of whom are great- grandchildren of Hannah Tarbell Lines, one of whom, Ethel Hyde of South Lima, is a great-granddaughter of Andrew J. Walker, and one of whom, Merrill Luther Thomas of Silver Springs, is a great-grandson of Dana O. Tarbell. The only descendants of Billings and Hannah Walker now living in Rushford are Juha (Tarbell) Mer- rill, wife of W. W. Merrill, and her daughters. NEWBURY EDDY Eddy C. Gilbert NEWBURY EDDY was born in Vermont, in 1799. He was a descendant of Wm. Eddy, who was born, prob- ably in Bristol, England, about 1550. Newbury Eddy mar- ried Amelia Tarbell, sister of Abel Tarbell. They were familiarly called "Uncle Newb" and "Aunt Milly." They moved from Mount Holly, Vermont, to Rushford in 1829. He drove through with a four-horse team, bringing his wife and daughter, Sophronia, and some household goods. He settled two miles west of the Center, as the village was then called, on the Farmersville road, buying the land of the Holland Land Company in two separate parcels. The farm yet remains in the family. A virgin forest, principally hemlock, maple and beech covered the farm. He com- menced to cut logs for a log house but after getting three ready, he gave up the job and decided to build a frame house, part of which is still standing. Two more daughters were born, Sophia and Lucy. Sophronia and Lucy died Rush ford Families in 1854. vSophia married Hiram R. Gilbert and to them were born four children, Eddy C, Frona L., Nettie M. and Daniel W. Newbury Eddy was a typical early settler, honest and industrious. His jolly good nature won him many friends. He was rather tall and of massive build. He cleared his •own farm, in winter cutting and drawing timber, handling chains in zero weather barehanded. He had one of the copies of the first issue of the New York Tribune and was ever after a subscriber. Like his neighbors he kept drovers with their droves of cattle and sheep. He was original in his sayings. He said that his team could draw more down hill than up because they could get a better foothold, and that he had lost a good deal of money by not having cattle to sell when the drovers came along. If Abel Tarbell came in while he was at at meal he would ask him to eat and when Mr. Tarbell would say "No," he would say, "It is manners for me to ask but for you to refuse." A negro came to his house in war-time and asked for something to eat. He was given a supper of warm biscuit and honey. Overcome by the kindness he shed tears. A bed was of- fered him for the night but he refused and slept in the barn. The next day Mrs. Eddy sent Mr. Eddy to the barn for some eggs. He came back without any, saying, the only nest he found was a nigger's nest. Once when he was driving back from town with his wife who had just bought her a new bonnet, she asked why he was driving so fast ; he replied that he wanted to get home before the bonnet was out of fashion. Newbury Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, was named after him by his brother. Wilson Eddy. His wife died in December, 1866, and he followed her in January. N AH I'M AAIES Augusta Ames Woods NAllL'Al AAIES married Edith, daughter of Edward and Rachel Hildreth Tarbell. They came to Rush- ford in a covered wagon from Mount Holly, \'ermont, in the fall of 1830, bringing with them two children, Fletcher and Augusta. Mr. Ames went on foot to Ellicottville and obtained an article for one hundred acres of land covered with timber, in what is' now called the Cream Ridge district. His family remained at Newbury Eddy's during the win- ter, while he cleared enough land to build a log house into which they moved in the spring of 1831. Clarissa and Horace were born in the frame house which was built seven years after the log one. Both Nahum Ames and his wdfe were members of the Baptist Church. He died at the age of eighty-three years on the land which he cleared. Newton Ames of Warsaw is a grandchild A. W. E. DAMON C. M. Damon AMONG the substantial families of Rushford's citizens of fifty years ago, were four Damon brothers, War- ren, Alonzo. Martin and DeSalvo, who, for the most part, spent their lives in Rushford. Warren, the eldest of five sons and three daughters, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, May 15, 1 81 2. His father, Dimick, was a son or grandson of another of the same name. About 1824 he removed with his family to the Black River country, somewhat north and east of the central part of New York, and some years later set- 153 Rushford Families tied in Rushford, probably near where Alonzo spent his life, on the Creek or Bufifalo road. Later still he removed with his daughters and younger sons to the southeast cor- ner, of Indiana. On a return trip, for a visit, he was taken sick and died suddenly in East Sewickley, Pennsylvania! He was said to be an industrious and peaceable man, some- what noted for athletic feats, but irreligious and unobserv- ant of the Sabbath Day, until converted rather late in life. Brought up under the influences implied above, the subject of our sketch was converted in 1831, at the age of nineteen, and became at once a zealous Methodist whose most prominent characteristic in hfe was his devotion to Christ and the church and the strictness with which his family of three sons and two daughters were trained in religious habits and like devotion. Notwithstanding, how- ever, his ardent devotion to Methodism, he courted and married Emily, daughter of Nathan C. Kimball an equally ardent Baptist and a pillar in that church. About eight years thereafter, she joined herself with him in church fel- lowship, in part that their children might have the benefit of a united family in religious training. Of the years of his married life, four or five were spent in his father's neighborhood, six just east of Hardy's Corners, and then a half mile south of Hardy's Cor- ners on a new farm which he opened up, clearing and drain- ing and, like others in a comparatively new country, turn- ing his hand to various employments, as making his own sleds and other tools, cobbling shoes, making his own sap buckets and such like. It was while building his barn here that he cut his foot so badly that it resulted in a mort- gage on the farm which stuck to it thirty years beyond the ten he spent there. He had broken his leg when a young man working for Judge McCall. "the old Judge." His last 154 A. W. E. Damon thirteen years were spent on the dairy farm which he bought of Robert Morrow, one and a half miles from Rush ford on the Cuba road, where he died in November, 1870. Of the brothers named above, three were farmers and Martin,* a first-class carpenter. All were industrious and made good homes for their families, but among them Alonzo was the most rugged and the most prosperous. A. W. E. Damon was a man of intelligence, a great reader, alive to national and world-wide events. To the extent of his ability he promoted education in his neigh- borhood, often charged with the responsibility of choosing teachers, seeing that his children were well supplied with necessary books, and later giving them the benefit of the Academy for advanced training. In politics he was a Demo- crat until the organization of the Republican party, when he entered heartily into the campaign for Fremont and freedom. When the news of its defeat and the election of Buchanan came, his brother-in-law, Reuben Lyman, came in one morning and said, "Well, Warren, we've lost our vote." "I should have voted the same way if I had known I should lose it," was his reply. As a boy and youth he had imbibed some of the politico-religious opinions growing out of the abduction and murder of Wm. IMorgan, which entered into the politics of the State and nation for some years, and while little was said in public, owing to the transcendent influence and importance of the question of slavery, he remained strongly opposed to the influence of Free Masonry in church and State. He was an admirer of W. H. Seward, the cultured and able statesman and Secretary of State, and like most New Yorkers would gladly have hailed him as presidential candidate when Lin- coln was nominated. Once at table the conversation turned *He married Caroline Chase. Lannis Damon is their son. 155 Rushford Families to politics and he remarked that he was a Seward man. "I'm not," said his wife ; "I'm a Sumner man," and the little daughter chimed in, "I'm on Ma's side," and that of course settled the controversy. Sumner was more of an AboHtionist. Uniformly industrious and public spirited, without try- ing to do excessive things, and contending steadily and cheerfully with many heavy adversities of accident and sickness in the family, which seriously crippled his re- sources, he pursued the even tenor of his way till life's end. PTe was active and somewhat prominent officially in the church, a friend of the pastors, welcoming them to his home but not limiting its hospitality to his own denomi- nation. The writer well recalls the entertainment extended at one time to three Baptist ministers on a public occasion. Minor offices of responsibility in the business of the com- munity were also filled by him at times. He evidently en- joyed the confidence of society, as irreligious men and infidels who would not have a minister would engage him, on occasions of death in the family, to come and offer prayer in their homes. Thus lived a humble and useful citi- zen, respected by his fellow men. He died at the age of fifty-eight. Children of A. W. E. Damon: 1. Rosina (Mrs. I. W. Evans), deceased. 2. Albert, died of wounds received in Civil War. 3. DeSalvo, resides in Rushford. 4. Charles M., a Free Methodist minister, resides in Mitchell, South Dakota. 5. Emily (Mrs. James Cook), resides in Plymouth, Iowa. 156 HARMON HYDE Mary Ann Hyde HARMON HYDE, eldest son of Erie and Pamelia Hyde, was born in Burlington, Vermont, July 28, 1807. His people came to Rush ford in the fall of 183 1, and bought a farm, two miles north of the village, of Mr. Pomeroy Johnson. It is now owned by Mr. George Cole. Harmon Hyde learned the jewelers' trade in Buffalo of a Mr. Stevenson. According to the contract, he was to board himself and pay one dollar a week for learning the trade. At the end of the first month Mr. Stevenson told him that he was a genius and of such service to him that he was wilhng to give him the dollar a week instead of taking it. After finishing his trade, he returned to Rush- ford and established himself in business, in 1834. in a build- ing that stood north of the house now owned by Mr. Re- main Benjamin. He boarded at Mr. James Thirds'. June 25, 1837, he married Miss Tabitha Oilman, a sister of Mrs. Thirds'. On account of illness in the Thirds family, the marriage occurred at the residence of Mr. Oramel Griffin, whose residence and place of business were on the now vacant corner of Main and Upper Streets. In 1840 Mr. Hyde built his home and place of business on Main Street. This was the second or third building on Main Street. The prop- erty is now the Hyde estate. Mr. Hyde was widely known and honored as a strictly honest man. Mrs. Hyde was an active woman, and a mat- ter of necessity to the sick in town. They had nine chil- dren in their family: Lestina (Mrs. Gifford), who with her daughter lives in Washington, D. C. ; Henry, who died September 11, 1871 ; Mary Ann, who lives in Washington, D. C. (1908); Lauretta, who died September 9, 1866; Charles, who died February 6, 1849; Cornelia (Mrs. Web- 157 Rush ford Families ster Hardy), who lives in Rushford; Cordelia (i Mrs. Rob- bins, 2 Mrs. Hardaway), who died May lo, 1900; Harmon, who lives in Silver Springs; Fred, who lives in Rushford. Cornelia and Cordelia were twins. Mr. Hyde died Sep- tember 16, 1867, and Mrs. Hyde September 5, 1884. HARRIS GILBERT Eddy C. Gilbert HARRIS GILBERT, son of William and Hope Gilbert, came to Rushford in 183 1 with his wife and two sons, John and Daniel. He first lived about a mile west of the village where Amanda, Mrs. George Cady, was born. In 1834 he was keeping the tavern, now occupied by Miles Tarbell, at the corner of West Main and Buffalo Streets, where a third son, Hiram Butler, was born. The same year he was elected one of the highway commis- sioners, the only town office he ever held. After leaving the tavern he learned the trade of blacksmith with John Osborne, and afterwards they were partners for a few years in both Centerville and Rushford. Later he moved to Fair- view and soon after to a farm joining Micah Hall's on the County Line road. This farm is in the town of Farmers- ville. • By this time he had moved so often that his wife re- monstrated, saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss." ?Ie replied that he did not want to be all mossed over. With the exception of one year, 1858, he lived on his farm until 1864, when he moved to Rushford village where he died April 6, 1870. He was associated with Peter Pettit in a meat market and in ])uying and seUing cattle. Later he and Stephen 158 Eddy C. Gilbert Rush ford Families i. Laning was present with a pile of books from which he frequently read to make more con- vincing his arguments. When Mr. Higgins was called upon, he rose, saying that he had not prepared himself for the debate, that he hadn't consulted any libraries or brought any with him. Sometime during the organization of the Philomathean the Podge of Good Templars disbanded and offered for sale their curtains and other stage belongings. At one of the regular meetings of the Philomathean, one of the mem- bers proposed that the society purchase these effects since they were going to give a public entertainment and these things could be bought cheap. They would also be helping the Good Templars by so doing. The proposal did not meet with a very hearty response. Mr. Babbitt, rising, said : "Mr. President, I understand that the gentleman wishes to purchase these things to help the Good Templars, at the same time we are to fleece them all we can." At one meeting of the society there was a unanimous opinion of those present concerning some subject under dis- cussion. Mr. Paning then appeared and not being in ac- cord with the prevailing sentiment, by persuasion soon changed the complexion of the meeting. The feelings of those whose complexion did not change need not be de- scribed. That much benefit was derived from this organization of the boys is undoubted. Mistakes in the conduct of the primaries in the town, sometimes causing much trouble, 26=; The Schools have not been made by those who were once Philomatheans. The members as recalled were Ralph B. Laning, Wilham H. Benson, Frank Babbitt, RolHn Houghton, Eddy C. Gil- bert, Thomas James,, Alex Conway, S. E. Talcott, Alfred Green, William Worden, William B. Kivilen, De Forest Aiken. Lucian E. Hardy, Frank Beaumont and O. Leslie Elliott. THE POLYHYMNIAN SOCIETY H. J. W. G. THE society was organized during the principalship of Marvin L. Spooner. One afternoon a paper was cir- culated among the pupils of the Academic Department for any to sign who would like to join a society for the purpose of studying literature, since there was no opportunity for such study during school hours. At a preliminary meeting held October 3, 1878, the following persons were present: Prof. Spooner, H. C. Elmer, O. L. Elliott, D. Callahan, H. R. Charles, F. E. White, C. Crowell, H. E. Tarbell, G. D. Ryder, E. C. Gilbert, Helen J. White, Jennie Laning, Kate Lundrigan, Nellie Persons, Esther Wilmot, Myrtie Nye, Vernie Gordon and Ella Farwell. All of these except D. Callahan became members. The officers elected were : President E. C. Gilbert Vice President Helen J. White Secretary O. L. Elliott Treasurer Jennie Laning Corresponding Secretary H. C. Elmer Three committees were appointed : 1. To frame constitution and by-laws, H. C. Elmer, O. L. Elliott and Vernie Gordon. 2. To select reading matter, Prof. Spooner. Helen White and H. R. Charles. 266 The Polyhymnian Society 3. For miscellaneous exercises, F. E. White and Myr- tie Nye. At the first regular session after a "long and earnest debate" it was decided that the society should meet every Wednesday evening at seven o'clock unless otherwise or- dered. Elections occurred every few weeks. The vice pres- ident always took charge of the lesson, which occupied an hour. A critic was appointed for each session who gave his report at the close, sometimes seriously and sometimes humorously. One of Shakespeare's plays was read two evenings in succession, the third evening was devoted to a poem selected from some other author. Among the plays and poems studied were "Ji^i^i^s Caesar," "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "Merchant of \'enice," "King Henry the Eighth," "The Winter's Tale," "Snowbound," "Cotter's Saturday Night," "The Deserted Village," "The Cry of the Human," "Hager in the Wilderness," "The Holy Grail," "Locksley Hall," "Lady of the Lake," and "The Princess." A favorite in miscellaneous exercises was a five-minute extemporaneous speech by one of the boys. The speaker took the floor, the president announced the subject, then there was vacancy of mind and frantic endeavors to say something, while before the speaker sat a smiling audience. Finally the president would say, "The time is up," and the victim would eagerly take his seat. F. E. White was given the subject "Forefathers" and Prof. Spooner "Among the Stars." In a spelling exercise, sides were chosen. Prof. Spooner's side won, then E. C. Gilbert spelled the society down. In a parsing exercise H. C. Elmer's side was vic- torious. There were discussions, as "Resolved, that the printing press is more beneficial to man than steam." Af- firmative, F. E. White and C. H. Crowell. Negative, E. C. Gilbert and H. C. Elmer. It was decided in favor of the 267 The Schools negative. The society was entertained by music each evening. Perhaps it would be a solo, "Under the Daisies," by Phin- nie Bliven, or a quartette, "John Brown" (with variations), by Nellie Persons and Phinnie Bliven, Leslie Elliott and Obed Wilmot, when listeners were in high glee and singers not far from it, or the whole society would sing "Daniel in the Pion's Den," or Prof. Spooner would perform upon the organ producing instrumental music which was instrumental. "This is instrumental." (Applause.) Hattie Stacy, Katie Hardy, May Lundrigan, Lizzie Kyes and Flora Metcalf were frequent organists. Select readings by the girls were without number and recitations were numerous. January, 1879, a committee consisting of F. E. White, H. C. Elmer and O. L. Elliott was appointed to wait upon the school board for the purpose of gaining permission to change the room occupied by the society for a more desir- able one. The committee having received a favorable an- swer the society moved from the old Lyceum room in the southeast corner of the third story to a room in the south- west ])art of the first story. February 12, 1879, on motion of O. L. Elliott the constitution was amended to include the appointment of a janitor. Mr. Elliott had the honor of being the first janitor. H. C. Elmer from the committee on miscellaneous ex- ercises reported a murder trial which after being amended was accepted as follows: Lawyers for the People : Prof. Spooner, O. L. Elliott. Lawyers for the Prisoner : E. C. Gilbert, F. E. White. Sheriff H. E. Tarbell Nurse Phinnie BHven Prisoner C. H. Crowell Mother-in-law Jennie Laning Judge H. C. Elmer 268 The Polyhymnian Society Clerk H. R. Charles Physician G. D. Ryder Second Wife Nellie Persons Witnesses for people : Jennie Laning, G. D. Ryder, Mary Briia, Hattie Stacy, Katie Hardy, Phinnie Bliven. Witnesses for prisoner: C. H. Crowell, Myrtie Nye, Ella Farwell, Viola Crowell, Nellie Persons, Vernie Gordon. Deceased died Jan^iary, 1878. Second marriage, July 4, 1878. This trial of C. H. Crowell for the alleged murder of his wife was opened by Prof. Spooner, the District Attorney, and continued four sessions. E. C. Gilbert summed up for the defense, reviewing the testimony and showing the in- competency of Dr. Ryder. O. L. Elliott closed the case for the people, endeavoring to show, first, the impossibility of Dr. Ryder administering arsenic, and second, the probability that Mr. Crowell did. Judge Elmer charged the jury in an able manner. After the jury had been out about twenty minutes they brought in the verdict "Not Guilty." The trial aroused much interest in the town. In October, 1879, the heavy volumes of Shakespeare with fine print were discarded and it was decided to use Rolfe's edition of Shakespeare, each play bound separately, instead. Among other things for entertainment was a charade. Vernie Gordon came in sewing, followed by Myrtie Nye sighing. O. L. Elliott marched in with a teapot and com- menced steeping his exhilarating beverage. Helen White guessed the word which was So-cie-ty. Hon. O. T. Wilmot was introduced and favored the society with an oration which was very fine. Affording much amusement to those present was a tableaux, "Married Life," by Phinnie Bliven 269 The Schools and E. C. Gilbert. Scene i, Just Married. Scene 2, Married a Year. One night in November, 1879, the members re- mained after the session, upon invitation by one of the girls, to "a candy pull" which was a "sweet and sticky" affair. "O childhood's joys are very great Swinging on somebody's gate, Eating candy till his mouth Is all stuck up from north to south." One of the young men who wore a Prince Albert that evening was told by his mother the next morning that he had better go and sit in the creek. An open session was given by the society in the Academy Hall December 19, 1879, the leading feature of which was a Breach of Prom- ise Suit — Miss Nettie Adams vs. Homer E. Tarbell. This trial although funny did not awaken so much interest as the former one. What are wounded affections by the side of poisoning a wife? Other general exercises given from time to time show what life and spice there was in the Poly- hymnian. Silent Song — ]\Ir. Gilbert at the organ. Chase Reading — Misses Persons, Bliven and Gordon. Calisthenic Exercises. Original Poetry by each member. Riddles. Query Box. A discourse in which F. E. White took the society to the planet Mars with his dog. A Game, Verbarium, conducted by Anna Kendall. Autobiography — Prof. Spooner. Select Reading, "Bonnie Leslie" — Myrtie Nye. Reading, "Story of Deacon Brown" — Frona Gilbert. Poem, "Old Maids in Council"— F. E. White. 270 Present Philoniathean Society Poem, "Old Bachelors in Council" — Rose Olthof. Selections from Mother Goose— The Society. Paper, "Items of Interest"— Flora Lyon (it proved in- teresting). Auctions were held occasionally to sell copies of Shake- speare's plays. They were not marked by solemnity. De- cember 24, t88o, a public entertainment was given, followed by a Christmas tree. This was during the principalship of H. J. Van Norman. March 23, 1881. the following decision was made by the president, May Lundrigan: "Members must not nominate themselves." An appeal was made but the house sustained the decision. January 31, 1883, the society was edified by an excellent essay upon Victor Hugo by Louis B. Lane. The last session was held May i, 1883. There were those who said that the Polyhymnian was a place for the "hims to go home with the Pollys." Per- haps it was true, but a taste for good reading was inculcated and the poems read and discussed at the Polyhymnian seem a little nearer than any others. "O didn't we have a jolly time?" Good-by dear old Polyhymnian. THE PRESENT PHILOMATHEAN SOCIETY E. L. and H. J. W. G. SOON after Frederick Leighton became principal of the Rushford High School, in 1901, the subject of form- ing a literary society was agitated among the students, and the outcome was a meeting in the room of the principal and the election of the following officers : 271 The Schools President Ethel King Vice President Ethel Tait Secretary Allan H. Gilbert Treasurer Katherine Baldwin Teller Earl Kingsbury Philomathean was the name chosen for the society. The first meeting was held in October; there were present forty-two active members and five associate mem- bers; the program consisted of music, recitations and read- ings, follov/ed by a debate on the question: "Resoh^ed, That women should have poHtical e<:|uality with man." It was de- cided in the affirmative. Under the auspices of the society, a series of enter- tainments was furnished which was liberally patronized, and in connection with the school, a paper called The Banner was pubhshed every month. It contained happenings, orig- inal poems, essays, communications from former pupils and friends of the school, and spicy editorials; but its life was brief, because of added work for the pupils and insufficient financial backing. The subscribers missed its cheery pres- ence. When Kate Proctor was president of the society, a special session was called, to meet immediately after school. After the meeting had been called to order. Earl Kingsbury inadvertently made some remark. Ilie president informed him that he had not been recognized, whereupon Earl turned round in his seat and, addressing the society, said, "Don't you know me?" While Allan Gilbert was president. Justin ]\Iacklin's name was on the program for an extemporaneous speech, the subject to be given by the president after the speaker had taken the floor. Justin took his stand with both hands flown 272 Alumni Poem deep in his pockets. He was given the subject, "The Use of Pockets." The society is still a prominent feature of the school. There is a good attendance and much enthusiasm. Good music is one of its leading features. The present officers (1909-10) are: President Ward James Vice President Ethel McCall Secretary Blanche Lane Treasurer Millard Smith ALUMNI POEM (A Poetic Hash.) Lucy Marsh Poate. This is the night on which our dreams FHt backward thro' the misty years. Forgot our present hopes and fears, The vanished past the present seems. .The same hall echoes to our tread, The old familiar faces smile, Dear friendships are revived a while And gaily the old greetings said. Fellow alumni, you recall This night your own commencement day. Picture once more as best you may Yourself within this dear old hall ; You sat upon this selfsame stage. You felt yourself admired of all, 273 The Schools You heard the plaudits in the hall And rose to read your essay sage. It was an effort trite and true And writ on some time honored theme. Of paper it required a ream, And it was tied with ribbon blue. It settled the affairs of state Or censured fashion's foolish laws. You dealt in proverbs and wise saws Or dabbled with the hand of fate. Your subjects deep were scorned by some, Unlettered these, an untaught few, For our alumni, since they knew Their own past follies, would be dumb. Ah, there upon the stage that night What hopes you had for future days. With what high hearts upon life's ways W^3uld you life's hardest battle fight. For one he would a lawyer be. And one would in the pulpit stand, And some to be physicians planned. And some old maids — like me, you see. (Kate P. Proctor.) A lawyer grave would be our Kate, An engineering stunt she'd do. With dabs of art, and Latin too. But she's turned schoolma'm, such is fate. Alumni Poem (C. Han ford Kendall.) One lad he would a trapper be, For Christmas gifts he sold the hide; But at the Christmas tree he sighed, The girls all gave him traps, you see. But blush not though your dreams be far, Within your hearts we cannot see. We know not what you hoped to be. We only see you as you are. Five score and more there are of you, Of some we fain would further speak, These from among you let us seek. An honored and a favored few. (Cora Beaumont.) And there is one for whom we know A pride too deep to be expressed. Chosen among our ranks the best, Across the broad Atlantic go. Your honor we must feel as ours. Our Alma Mater's daughter you, A daughter earnest, gracious, true. Redeeming fully all your powers. And there are some who from our school With scholarships to college went. To Syracuse, Cornell we sent, And they proved wonders as a rule. 275 The Schools (Allan H. Gilbert.) For one, the country with his costumes rung; Broken the promise of his youth, For then he ran but now, forsooth, He rides the country roads among. (Herbert S. Babbitt.) One laddie sails the ocean blue. Brave Herbert is a midshipmite. Strange tidings he doth homeward write, O Temperance Union, be they true? (Mrs. Myrtie Metcalf Bush.) For one, our next year's president, A matronly and gracious dame, Will surely win undying fame On parliamentary learning bent. (Mrs. Ruth Mason Watson.) Wits would our Rushford pace deride. But courage, we are not so slow, We have our weddings too, you know. All honor to Old Home Week's bride. (J. Edward Lundrigan.) This lawyer in a western town In boyhood loved the dance so gay. The waltz and two-step, so they say, But now he talks the wisest down. (Abram P. Benjamin.) And one, that golden-headed youth, A gallant swain in days of yore. But married now he flirts no more. A printer's devil he, forsooth. 276 College Gradutes, Etc. (Earl D. Kilmer.) A cat has nine lives, so they say, Seven operations on one's pet, xA.nd seven from nine leaves two lives yet. The doctor's cat lives to this day. P'ellow alumni, I am through. My muse is halting at the best. At more of her you would protest, So let me bid you each adieu. Dear school, I cannot say good-by. Could I forget those pleasant ways Through which I walked in school girl days, Then could I part without a sigh. O Alma Mater, tender true, We have no need to say Farewell For always in our hearts you dwell, An ever present memory you. COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC. F. E. Woods, A. B., 1866; A. M., 1868. Genesee Col- lege (now Syracuse LTniversity). H. C. Elmer, A. B., 1883, Cornell University; Ph. D, 1888, Johns Llopkins LTniversity ; Europe, 1885-1886. Mem- ber of faculty of Cornell LTniversity since 1888. O. L. Elliott, Ph. B.. 1885 ; Ph. D., 1890, Cornell Uni- versity. Instructor in English. Cornell University, 1886- 1891 ; Registrar of Leland Stanford, Jr., University since 1891. 277 The Schools Allan H. Gilbert C. Hanford Kendall, C. E., 1895, Cornell University; M. S., 1896, University of Minnesota; Scholar and Instruc- tor in Civil Engineering 1 895-1 897, University of Minnesota. R. Talcott Brooks, B. Arch., 1900, Cornell University. Frederick W. Poate, M. E., 1905, Cornell University. Ruth H. Mason Watson, A. B., 1905, Alfred University. Ernest M. Poate, M. D., 1906, Cornell University. Allan H. Gilbert, A. B., 1909, Cornell University; A. M., 1910, Yale University; Fellow in Enghsh, 1910-11, Cor- nell University. J. Edward Lundrigan, Albany Law School, 1901. Frank James, LL. B., 1904, University of Buffalo. 278 Artists Clyde Wheeler, LL. B., 1906, Syracuse University. M. Raymond Atwell, LL. B., 1900, Syracuse Uni- versity. Frank Himes, University of Rochester, 1898, Theology. Arthur L. Warren, Crozer, Pennsylvania, 1901, The- ology. Edward L. James, University of Rochester, 1905, The- ology. William W. Bush, D. D. S., 1903, University of Buf- falo. Clarence H. Thomas, D. D. S., 1903, University of Buffalo. George Benjamin, D. V. M., 1905, Toronto Veterinary College ; Graduate Course, 1907, Chicago. Herbert S. Babbitt, United States Naval Academy, 1906. Myrtie Emily Nye, Industrial Art School, Philadelphia, 1893. May Gordon Wilmot, Normal and Fine Arts Course, Mechanics Institute, Rochester, 1897. Lena Warren, Ithaca Conservatory of Music, 1902. A ARTISTS MONG the artists may be mentioned Mrs. Mary Thomp- son Gordon and Mrs. Plelen Doland Judd, whose paintings in oil beautify homes in Rushford. Miss Julia Thompson has hanging on her walls an exquisite tapestry painting done by her sister, Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. Judd paints, in water colors, roses so true to nature that they seem to lack only the fragrance. 279 E VI PHYSICIANS THE MEDICAL PROEESSION H. J. W. G. BENEZER HYDE, who settled in Belvidere in 1804, was the first practising physician in Allegany County. His practice extended as far north as Wyoming County. Dyer Storv. the youngest son of Captain Zecheriah Story, was born May 17, 1789. He received such common school education as the first settlers were able to give their children. He determined upon the study of medicine, and as a means to that end engaged in school teaching through the winter months. In the autumn of 181 3 he completed his medical studies at Hanover, N. H. In 1814 he went to Rushford, N. Y., where he remained for three years, hav- ing a large practice. He was the first practising physician in Rushford (then Caneadea) and so far as known the second in Allegany County. In 1817 he was prostrated by a severe illness which lasted three months, and upon recov- ering sufficiently to endure the journey, he determined upon a visit to his friends in Windsor, Vermont. Here he was induced to settle permanently, living with his father upon the home farm many years. He died November 13, 1868, having spent fifty years in the practice of his profession. Dr. Story held various public offices, delivered addresses on public occasions and in 1846 and 1847 was a member of the legislature. Dr. Jesse P. Bixby met him at Ludlow, Ver- mont, years after he left Rushford. Horatio H. Smith was a doctor in Rushford in 1819. 280 Orrin T. Stacy, M. D. Physicians He was then twenty-four years of age. In 1827 he was a member of the Allegany County Medical Society. William Smith came to Rushford about 1840. He would drive about the country with his reins loose reading some book upon medical science. Drs. Charles W. and John H. Saunders studied medicine with Dr. Smith and later in accordance with his wishes were graduated from Bellevue Medical College, New York City. J. M. Ward ofiFered his professional services as early as 1844. He lived in the house now occupied by W. F. Benjamin on the west side of Lower Street, the second door from the bridge. T. M. Copp was in Rushford in 1845. He was associ- ated with Dr. Wm. Smith, probably as a student. He after- wards practised in Machias. L. B. Johnson in 1846 lived two doors north of the Washington House on Buffalo Street. His office was in the Union Block. He was living in Rushford in 1855. H. H. Smith, formerly of Angelica, located in Rushford about 1846. Wm. McCall in 1847 and 1848 was practising medicine with Dr. H. H. Smith. In March, 1848, he said that he had so far recovered his health that he had relinquished all other business and was ready to attend to all calls per- taining to his profession by day or by night, in storm or sunshine. William B. Alley, in 1847, introduced himself to the public, saying that his business was to combat all diseases of this climate. His office was in the Union Block, He removed to Angelica, then later to Nunda. A. B. Stewart was a physician in Rushford in 1850. Ripley practised medicine in Rushford a few years, leaving in 1852. His wife was a sister of William The Medical Profession Bradley, a wagonmaker of the town. He lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Helen Laning. Tesse P. Bixby was born in Mt. Holly, Vermont, in 1822. He was graduated from the Medical College in Cas- tleton, Vermont, in 1852. The next year he located in Rush- ford where he is still practising. William A. Stacy. See "Recollections of a Doctor." James Pitts was in Rushford in the late fifties. John C. Pitts was one of Rushford's physicians in the early sixties. John P. Colgrove was a medical student under his uncle, James Pitts, then for a year (1860-61) he studied in the College of Medicine and Surgery, Cincinnati. He then followed his profession with another uncle, John C. Pitts of Rushford, until November, 1862, when he assumed the practice of John L. Eddy in Allegany. In 1892 he was liv- ing in Salamanca. Orrin T. Stacy, son of William A. Stacy, was born in Centerville, New York, in 1835. He read medicine in his father's office and was graduated from the INIedical College in Buffalo in i860. He practised medicine in Rushford tweny-five years. In 1885, when he removed to Rochester. Rushford suffered a great loss. He is president of the O. T. Stacy Company, candy manufacturers, Rochester, New York. Corydon C. Mason was a student of Dr. Colgrove of Sardinia. lie attended lectures in New York City and Buf- falo and located in Freedom, Cattaraugus County. In 1866 he came to Rushford where he practised a short time. He was a well-read physician. He died in Rushford Janu- ary 21, 1891. Robert Y. Charles was graduated from the Medical College in Buffalo in 1870. The same year he came from 283 Physicians Angelica to Rushford where he practised medicine about twelve years. P.. B. Grover came to Rushford in t88o and remained about a year. He is now living in Colorado Springs, Colo- rado. W. F. Wells was graduated from the Medical College in Buffalo in 1883. He was a practising physician in Rush- ford for a number of years, but is now a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church in East Aurora, Erie County. Charles W. Guild located in Rushford in 1889 where he remained about two years. He died in 1900. Charles O. Sayres was born in New Hudson in 1869. He read medicine with Dr. E. B. Burdick of Olean. In 1892 he was graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Buffalo. The same year he came to Rushford where he practised medicine five years, then he moved to Belfast where he now resides. Fred C. Ballard, a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo, began his practice in Rushford in 1897. He is one of the resident physicians. C. I. Dodge located in Rushford in 1902. After re- maining in the place two years, he moved to the State of Maine. Earl D. Kilmer was born in Rushford, and was gradu- ated from her High School in 1897. In 1904 he was gradu- ated from the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo. He is the last physician to locate in Rushford. ANECDOTES, ETC. DR. WILLIAM SMITH lived on Main Street in a build- ing that stood at the west end of the Brick Block. It was afterwards used by C. W. Woodworth as a postofiice 284 Anecdotes, Etc. and law office. Dr. Smith's land extended to the Hyde lot, and on the grounds of the present High School building was his orchard. Mrs. Smith made so tempting pies that if she placed one on the shelf before the pantry window to cool, it would disappear. Dr. Smith thought he would find out the cul- {)rit, so the next time that Mrs. Smith made pies he doctored one with ipecac. This pie also disappeared, but it was not long before the doctor was called to see a sick boy. AXECDOTF. OF F. E. WOODS. The services of Dr. William Smith as a physician in Rushford are worthy of special mention. He was a gradu- ate of a medical school in New York City, and was noted far and near as having a high standing in his profession. Dr. Gillette told me at the Centennial of Rushford that he studied under Dr. Smith and was with him at his death. My parents related that Mr. Asa Benjamin once had an attack of lop-jaw, and a physician was called who endeav- ored to reduce it, but after some time acknowledged his failure and said, "I guess you will have to send for Dr. Smith." He came and seeing what was needed to be done, said to the other physician, "Please see if my horse is stand- ing where I left it." While the other was looking out of the window. Dr. Smith quickly pressed the lopped jaw into place, then quietly took his departure. Dr. Smith was re- lated by marriage to Drs. John and Charles Saunders of Belfast, having married an aunt of theirs from Franklin- ville. ANECDOTE OF A^^0N. Dr. James Pitts was located in Rushford before his brother John. John took James' place. When John came to town Newell De Kay was taking him around to intro- 285 Physicians duce him to people. They met on the sidewalk a man to whom he introduced Dr. Pitts as Dr. James Pitts' brother. He shook hands with Dr. John and said that he never had the pleasure of his brother James' acquaintance, thank God. He was an early Methodist and added, "Thank God," or something similar to every sentence. Sometimes it was not very appropriate. RECOLLECTIONS OF A PHYSICIAN Orrin T. Stacy THE spirit which animated the medical profession and the services which they gave in the pioneer days of Western New York, are worthy of consideration in any review of those times. The early settlers came to a wilder- ness with scanty supplies and little money. They endured many hardships and lived under unsanitary conditions. Pov- erty was nearly universal and sickness prevalent. Nearly all business was barter or exchange of one farm product for another. The services of the physician were at times of epidemics in almost constant requisition night and day. All the roads were miserable and some were merely logways or trails through large tracts of forest so that horseback rid- ing was the only practicable way the physician could make the rounds among his patients. Fatigue or loss of sleep did not excuse the pioneer physician in his own mind from re- sponding to the call of the sick. His pay was pitifully small and totally inadequate to properly provide for the needs of a large family. Any physician who collected one-half of his small fees would have made a major general of finance if he had lived in these times. There was a prevailing feeling of sympathy and comradeship among the early settlers. If 286 Recollections of a Physician a man was sick his neighbors planted, cultivated and har- vested his crops freely without pay. Why should not the physician doctor him without fees? In the absence of any records to consult, I am obliged to write wholly from memory and I wish it understood that the physicians mentioned and incidents related are typical and that many physicians were animated by the same spirit, were equally well qualified and met with similar experiences. It happened that the first physician with whom I became acquainted was my father. Dr. William A. Stacy. He took three courses of lectures at Castleton Academy, Vermont, and at the University of Vermont, in 1822, 1823 and 1824. In the intervals between the lecture courses he studied in the office of Dr. P. B. Havens in Hamilton, Vermont. He was twenty-six years old when he commenced the study of medi- cine, had a good academic education, had taught school and was therefore fitted by age and discipline to profit by his medical instruction. In the summer of 1824 he married Nancy Bingham, only child of Nathan Bingham. As soon as arrangements could be completed, my father with his bride seventeen years of age, with her parents, started in a land schooner for the Holland Purchase in New York State. They reached Centerville the last of October, 1824. Dr. Stacy bought the home and practice of Dr. Weld and on election day Dr. Weld took Dr. Stacy to the election to in- troduce him to the people. In those days every man went to election in the morning and stayed till night, devoting the whole day to athletic sports and corn spirits. Dr. Stacy was soon challenged to wrestle with some local athlete. For- tunately that part of a boy's education was not neglected in Vermont. The challenge was accepted and in the bout the challenger was thrown to the frozen ground with such force 287 Physicians that his kneepan was broken. He became the patient of the new doctor who had thus won his first patient by his muscle. Dr. Stacy soon had a practice sufficient to tax to the utmost his hardy constitution. His practice extended into all the surrounding towns, including a considerable portion of the north half of Rushford. Probably at that time more than one-half of that country was covered with dense for- ests. At one time night overtook him in the woods near Crystal Lake and he found himself traveling in a circle. He was unable to get out of the woods and was obliged to hitch his horse and spend the night sitting on a log. At another time he was riding on a road through woods late at night when his horse and himself were frightened by the menacing growl of some wild animal a few feet from the road. The horse turned in a flash and raced back to the house that they had started from. In the morning some hunters and dogs traced the animal to the east side of the Genesee River, found him in a treetop and shot him. It was a lynx. In November, 1833, Dr. Stacy was riding home from Rushford at about three o'clock in the morning when he witnessed one of the most startling and brilliant natural phenomena re- corded in history, the great storm of meteors of that year. In 1856 Dr. Stacy moved to Rushford and continued the practice of medicine. He had a keen sense of humor and was usually able to get some fun out of the most vexa- tious circumstances. After attending a family in which the various members had taken turns in having typhoid fever, the sickness covering a period of about four months, the first payment he received on the bill came in the shape of a dressed pig so poor and skinny that he credited the debtor with one-hundred-sixty-five pounds of pork rind. He never made any complaint to the man but got full value received out of the amusement he extracted from the transaction. He 288 Recollections of a Physician left Elijah Aletcalf s house on the Creek Road one dark night and had been but a short time on the road when the horse stopped and looked back at him. The doctor hit the horse a gentle cut with the whip and he started up again on a trot. After going a few rods farther he stopped again and looked back. The doctor got out in the dark to investigate and found that one of the thills was not in the loop which holds it up and the horse had recognized the fact. The doctor said that he took off his hat and made all apologies due from one gentleman to another. He ever after drove that horse, night and day, without any bits in his mouth. One morning Dr. Stacy was called in great haste to the top of Lyndon Hill to see a sick boy. On arriving at the bedside of the small patient, he found the grandmother of the motherless boy in a state of great alarm over the condition of the boy. After the doctor had carefully examined the patient, she anxiously inquired if the boy would get well. She then said that if he was sure that the boy would get well she would tell him what she had done. She said the boy got up in the morning and didn't care for any breakfast and wanted to be excused from going to school. She thought that inasmuch as it was so far to call a doctor she would first see what she could do for him. After thoroughly examining the cupboard the only medicine that she was able to find was some eye- water so she gave him a teaspoon of that which acted as a prompt emetic and also terribly frightened the grand- mother. After forty-one years of service among the sick, I da not think that Dr. Stacy was ever accused of slighting any patient because there was no prospect of receiving pay. His last sickness was caused by blood-poisoning, contracted from a patient whom he was attending. One of the oldest physicians that I remember in Rush- 289 Physicians ford was Dr. William Smith. I only knew him from the general reputation which he bore when I first went to Rush- ford, fifty-eight years ago. I think he came from New York City. He had a large practice and was so entirely devoted to it that in a busy time he made no charges. He rarely if ever presented a bill for any services ; people paid him when .and what they saw fit. It was said of him that every spring time he was made sick trying to eat the veal that his patrons brought him. He was a well qualified physician of excellent natural ability. Dr. John Saunders of Belfast, a relative, studied medi- cine with him and imbibed a large share of his spirit of de- votion to the duties of his profession. When I commenced practice in Rushford, forty-eight years ago, pioneer conditions existed in spots, especially in what was known as the Pine Woods. Two or three inci- dents which I will mention will serve to illustrate the joys of medical practice in the "good old days." In the first month of my practice, March, I received a call in the night to go to Porter Swift's; I was told to go to East Rushford. turn to the right and go up the hill to the second house. I went to East Rushford, crossed the bridge and began to climb the hill. There was a violent storm of snow and sleet and it was so dark that I could not see any object. I got to the top of the hill without seeing a house. My horse ran into some object which I got out of my sulky to investigate and found to be an old-fashioned drag. I discovered a small house near the road and roused the occupant who in- formed me that I was on the wrong road, that I should have turned to the right before I came to the mill pond. I started to go back and proceeded a few rods in the total darkness when suddenly, without my knowing what had done it, the horse, sulky and myself were pitched into the corner of 290 Recollections of a Physician the fence. I was able to crawl out of the heap, the horse floundered, the sulky cracked and I could smell from the wreck all sorts of odors which came from my demolished medicine case. After quite a long struggle the horse gave it up and quieted down. By the sense of feeling I unhitched, unhooked, and cut straps enough so that I could pull the sulky av/ay. After getting the horse on its feet I got on its back in quite a dilapidated condition and rode home, leaving the patient to get well without my interference. I went back the next day and found that I had tried to run over a pine stump about four feet high and three and one-half feet in diameter. This stump stood in the center of the highway. In 1863 I received a call one July day to visit a patient at John Ryecraft's who lived where he now lives, but in- stead of the present stately buildings set in well tilled fields, there was a pioneer cottage set in a field of stumps, sur- rounded by a considerable forest and reached by a logway extending from near the pond to his house. The logway ran for a considerable distance through primeval forest and was worn from a half foot to a foot deep. I reached his house near night and realized that a great storm was coming from the southwest. After hurried attentions to the patient I started for home. Mr. Ryecraft offering to go with me to the highway. We had not gone far when the storm broke on us in great fury, the wind almost amounted to a tor- nado, the rain came in torrents, the lightning was almost continuous and the crash of falling trees freely mingled with the almost continuous roar of thunder. We took the horse out of the sulky and Mr. Ryecraft took his place and drew it, I following behind leading the horse through what was now a canal. We had not gone far in the woods when Mr. Ryecraft came up against a tree that had just fallen across the logway and called back to me what he had found. I 291 Physicians led the horse to the fallen tree and the same moment a flash of lightning revealed a woman standing on the other side of the tree, her face a few inches from mine, and emitting an unearthly shriek. Mr. Ryecraft and myself both recog- nized her by the lightning flash, but she seemed to think that we were some demons of the storm and continued to scream for some time, but at last recognized the voice of Mr. Ryecraft who was one of her neighbors. It was Mrs. Ned Mountain. She always maintained that she nevef re- covered from the fright and exposure of that night. Mr. Ryecraft was a stalwart and resolute man equal to almost any occasion but he could not turn aside falling trees or ward off lightning. I have always gratefully remembered his kindness in going through the woods with me that night. In length of practice and constancy to his calling through more than one-half a century of faithful service, I think that Jesse P. Bixby holds precedence over all the physicians who ever lived in Rushford. He has many of the elements of a skillful surgeon. Since the pioneer physician made his rounds among the sick there have been many refinements in the practice of medicine and some improvements, but there has not been a remedy discovered in the last hundred years, except the diphtheria, tetanus and rabies antitoxins, which the mod- ern physician could not dispense with and still practise med- icine with the most brilliant success. More than sixty years ago most physicians believed that all infectious diseases were caused by germs and confidently anticipated the ulti- mate discovery and identification of these germs. More than sixty years ago my father was convinced that pulmon- ary consumption was infectious and was communicated by disease germs but he had no correct idea how that germ was transferred. The development of antisepsis has made 292 Recollections of a Physician a new epoch in the science and practice of surgery and has resulted in the saving of an enormous number of hves. My twenty-five years of medical practice in Rushford was at times strenuous and exhausting but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed it. All the unpleasant features have long been forgotten and a thousand pleasant memories re-' main. All the gratitude and appreciation which I ever de- served were freely given. The intimacy with so many families which only the physician enjoys, served to increase my respect for human nature and to lead me to believe that I was fortunate in the people with whom I lived and worked the best part of my life. 293 VII TOWN MEETINGS, SUPERVISORS AND TOWN CLERKS MONEY belonging to the town of Caneadea before the same was subdivided, remaining in the following hands, viz. : In the hands of Cromwell Bennett: A balance of Charles Swift $32.21 In the hands of Ebenezer P. Perry : James Orcutt's Note for License $5-00 Lorin Francis' Note for License 5.00 At the first annual town meeting of the town of Rush- ford held at the house of Levi Benjamin in said town agree- able to the Act of the Legislature on the day of April, A. D. 1816, the town officers for said town were chosen as follows, viz. : Supervisor — Doct. Dyer Story. Town Clerk — Pliny Bannister. Assessors — Abel Belknap, Matthew P. Cady, Roderick Bannister. Commissioners of Highways — Tarbel Gordon, Jerry White, James Orcutt. Collector — Daniel Woods. Constables — Levi Benjamin, Thomas L. Pratt, Overseers of the Poor — Ebenezer P. Perry, Levi Ben- jamin. School Commissioners — Eliab Going, William Vaughan, Wm, L, Gary. 294 Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks Inspectors of Schools — Doct. Dyer Story, Abel Belknap, Reuben Bennet. Overseers of Highway, Fence Viewers, Damage Prisers and Pound Keepers — Joshua Wilson, Danial Woods, Junia Freeman, Joseph Young, Leonard Farwell, Jonathan Going, Amba Alderman, Charles Swift, Jr., William Vaughan, Cromwell Bennet, Matthew P. Cady. Also the following resolutions were passed : Resolved, that there be raised $250.00 town's money for the use of the Commissioners of Highway. Resolved, that the Commissioners of Highway be di- rected to divide the town money raised for their use amongst the several districts according to the length of road in each. Resolved, that Hogs shall not be free Commoners. Resolved, that our next annual town meeting shall be held at the house of Samson Hardy, innkeeper. SECOND TOWN MEETING. The town clerk being absent, Roderick Bannister was appointed to serve in his stead by James McCall, Eneas Gearey, Jesse Bullock, Justices of the Peace on the first day of March, 181 7. Resolved, that in case the law granting a State bounty for the destruction of wolves be repealed, this town give five dollars for each and every full grown wolf killed in the town by a person residing in the town. And in case the County bounty for the same purpose be removed then this town pay the sum of ten dollars in lieu of the afore- mentioned five. At the seventh anniversary town meeting of the in- habitants of the town of Rushford held at the Baptist meet- ing house agreeable to adjournment on the fifth of March, 1822, 295 Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks Resolved, that inspectors of common schools have fifty cents per day for their services. Inspectors of Schools — ^James Going, Samuel White and Joel Burlingame. Supervisors of the town of Rushford since 1816: Cromwell Bennett, 1817-19. Matthew P. Cady, 1820-24. William Hull, 1825. Samuel White, 1826-27, 1841-44. Tarbel Gordon, 1828-30, 1832-34. Samson Hardy, 1831, 1837-38. John Hammond, 1835-36. Abraham J. Lyon, 1839-40. Isaiah Lathrop, 1845-46. Orville Boardman, 1847-48. Samuel Gordon, 1849-50. James Gordon, 1851-52. Avery Washburn, 1853-4, 1863-65. Ebenezer P. Lyon, 1855. John W. Hill, 1856. Town Clerks since 1816: James Going, 181 7. Eneas Garey, 1818, 1822-26. Matthew P. Cady, 1819. Chesterfield Parsons, 1820-21. Oramel Griffin, 1827, 1835-36. Orville Boardman, 1828-34, 1845- 46. Charles Gilman, 1837-38, 1841-42. Harmon Hyde, 1839, 1840, 1847. Isaiah Lathrop, 1843-44. State Senators resident in Rushford: James McCall, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827. Members of Assembly resident in Rushford : James McCall, 1818, 1819, 1823. Orrin T. Stacy, 1874, 1875. Grover Leavens, 1847. Alanianzo W. Litchard, 185 Orville Boardman, 1849. 1899, 1900. Lucien B. Johnson, 1855. Winthrop P. Young, 1857-58. Washington White, 1859-60. Bates T. Hapgood, 1861-62. Charles W. Woodworth, 1866-74, 1884-86. Jedediah B. Gordon, 1875-76. William E. Kyes, 1877-78. Willard A. Stone, 1879-81. Charles B. Kendall, 1882. A. L. Litchard, 1883, 1894-1905. Henry A. Holden, 1887-88, 1893. William H. Benson, 1889. Grover M. Pratt, 1890-92. Elmer A. Gere, IQ06-1907. Ralph B. Laning, 1908 — Harvey George, 1848-50. A. W. Colby, 1851. W^ashington White, 1852-54, 1856- 57- Harry Howe, 1855. Lucius C. Kimball, 1858-75. Watson W. Bush, 1876-1903. John A. Benjamin, 1904-07. Frank W. Damon, 1908-09. William W. Bush, 1910. 296 \ Alaman:?o W. Litchard VIII SOCIETIES LODGES OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS THE RUSH FORD LODGE. Compiled by H. J. W. G. PETITION for a lodge in the town of Rushford in the County of Allegany: to be called. Recommended by Angelica Lodge, No. 167. To the Right worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. Your petitioners Master Masons members of the An- gelica Lodge and others from dififerent parts of this State — Resident in the Town of Rushford & County of Allegany — beg leave to represent that we live remote from any Lodge of M. Mason — Angelica being the nearest and that eighteen miles from the most of us — and we, though few in number feel a desire to promote the Happines/ of Mankind by ex- tending the benefits of the Ala/onic In/titution to all who may be found worthy and well qualified well knowing that it is founded on a firm ba/is and good principles to create Harmony — friendship and Brotherly love — we therefore pray the worshipful Grand Master to grant a dispensation to work in the several degrees of Masonry for such Length of time as to him may see proper — To Initiate, pa/s and Rai/e Candidates To the degree of Master Masons and we Take the liberty To recommend our worthy Brother Lyman Blake/lee for Worshipful Master — and our worthy Brother Matthew P. Cady for Seignior Warden & our worthy Brother Charles Swift for Junior Warden and pray that Free and Accepted Masons they may be appointed accordingly and your petitioners will ever pray. Canneadea February 12— in the year of Masonry 5816 — of our Lord 18 16 — Jedediah Nobels Samuel Upham Matthew P. Cady Cornelius D. Board Charles Swift James Orcutt Lyman Blakeslee. The foregoing petition was addressed to "Daniel Crager, Esq., Postmaster Bath, Now at Albany N. Y." It was marked "Free" and dated "Angelica, Feby. 13, 1816." It was desired that he would forward the petition to the Grand Lodge and endeavor to obtain a dispensation for them while he was in Albany. RECOMMENDATION. To the right worshipful Master, Warden and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York Free and accepted Masons — The officers & Brethren of the Angelica Lodge Being personally acquainted with the Gentlemen whose names are annexed to this Petition these know them to be men of good morals and we think they will conform to all the rules and regulations of masonry — we therefore feel free to Recommend them to the Grand Lodge for a Dispensation. By order of Angelica Lodge Amos Peabody Secretary of Angelica Lodge Names of persons initiated passed, or admitted as Members of Rush ford Lodge No. 275 from the i8th March 5817 to the 24th June 5818. 299 Societies Names. Place of Birth. Place of Res. Lyman Blakeslee' .Weathersfield, Vt. Rushford Matthew P. Cady' Windsor, Vt. Rushford Charles Swift, Jr,^ Rushford Cornelius D. Boards Rushford Wm. Hull4 Mason, N. H. Rushford Samuel Upham^ Weathersfield, Vt. Rushford James Orcutt , Rushford Sam. H. Morgan Friendship Z. Z. Caswell Norton, Mass. Angelica Cromwell Bennett Rushford Levi Benjamin Ashburnham, Mass. Rushford Alanson Thomas ..Rensselaer, N. Y. Rushford Joshua L. Delano Rushford Alfred Forbes Colerain, Mass Pike Wayne Banisters Windsor, Vt. Rushford Richard B. White Hartland, Vt. Rushford Simon C. Moore Friendship Asa Harris Brooklyn, Conn. Caneadea Eliab Going Reading, Vt. Rushford Jacob S. Rappleye New Jersey Rushford Joseph Wilson Caneadea Joseph Maxson ■ Pike Andrew Sherburn Warren Banister Windsor, Vt. Rushford Adin Spalding^ Cavendish, Vt. . Rushford Darius Spalding Cavendish, Vt. Rushford Jeremiah L. Rappleye New Jersey Rushford ' Initiated in Vermont Lodge, No. i. 2 Initiated in Angelica Lodge, No. 167. 3 Initiated in Washington Lodge. 4 Initiated in Brothers Lodge, No. 147. 5 Initiated in Eastern Star Lodge, No. 41, Vermont. 6 Initiated in Rising Sun Lodge, No. 22, Ohio. 300 Free and Accepted Masons Ephraim D. White Hartland, Vt. Rushford Enos Gary Rushford Names of Persons who have been entered as Members of Rushford Lodge, No. 275, from the 24fh day of June, A. D. 5819, to the 27th day of December, A. D. 5822. Names of INIembers Age. Occupation. Residence. Daniel Huntley 34 Farmer Ischua Richard Tozer 30 Farmer Ischua Peleg Robbins 25 F'armer Ischua Levi Peet 35 Farmer Ischua Aden Griffith 33 Farmer Caneadea Jonathan Carpenter 22 Farmer Ischua Ebenezer K. Howe 21 Farmer Rushford Thomas Morris 43 Farmer Rushford Jonathan Post — Preacher Angelica Horatio Smith 24 Doctor . Rushford Adolphus Mavey — Carpenter Rushford Peter Ten Breock 25 Farmer Ischua Joseph Young 37 Farmer Rushford John Brown 32 Trader Richmond Simon Wilson 37 Farmer Caneadea Wm. L. Gary (1820) 30 Farmer Rushford Andre Bennett 32 Farmer Rushford Zechariah Lawrence 38 Farmer Rushford Amos Rose 37 Farmer Rushford Stephen Hardy 22 Farmer Rushford Samuel Upham (withdrew) . . Oliver Plumb 43 Carpenter Centerville Lewis Wilson . . . . — Farmer Rushford Freeman S. Wilson — Farmer Caneadea Daniel Ingersol — Farmer Caneadea Timothy S. Daniels (1822). — Carpenter Caneadea 301 Societies James Green — Great Valley Jacob S. McCall 22 Farmer Rushford George P. Ketchum 38 Farmer Caneadea Cyrus H. Clement 25 Joiner Caneadea Allen P. Torrey 30 Farmer Rushford Charles Gary 27 Farmer Rushford Pliny Bannister — Farmer Rushford Roderick Bannister — Farmer Rushford In the report of June 5818 to June 5819, the names of John Hammond of Rushford, Joseph McClure of Ischua and Titus Gillet are found. To the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. Be it known that on the 21st day of December 5825 at a regular meeting of the Rushford Lodge No. 275 held in the town of Rushford County of Allegany in the State of New York our worthy Brother John Hammond was duly elected and instated Master our worthy Brother Joseph Youngs seignior Warden and our worthy Brother Stephen Hardy Junior Warden of the said Lodge for the ensuing year. In testimony whereof we the members of said Lodge have caused the Seal thereof to be hereunto affixed and our Secretary to sign the same. Oramel Griffin, Secty. NOTES. Jedediah Nobels, whose name appears on the petition, kept the first tavern in what is now Belfast. It was at his house that the first town meeting for Caneadea was held in 1808. Joseph Maxson of Pike was the first settler in Center- ville. Centerville was formed from Pike in 1819. 302 Joseph Enos Lodge Alfred Forbes of Pike was later the first town clerk of Centerville. Sam. H. Morgan and Simon C. Moore lived in what was later called Cuba. At this time Cuba was a part of the town of Friendship. Richard Tozer, Peleg Robbins, Levi Peet and Peter Ten Rroeck were the first settlers of Farm- ersville. In 1820 Ischua embraced the towns of Franklin- ville, Farmersville, Lyndon, Ellicottville, Freedom and York- shire. James Green was the first permanent settler of Great Valley and the first supervisor of Olean. Mrs. Harriet Going Colby of Holland, New York, says that the meetings of the Rushford Lodge were held in a building that stood where William Woodworth's grocery* used to stand. In the second story of this building the Masons kept their "goat," a terror to small children. The lodge went down because of the Morgan excitement. JOSEPH ENOS LODGE Eddy C. Gilbert JOSEPH ENOS LODGE of Free and Accepted Masons commenced work under dispensation May 4th, 1853. August 19th, 1854, the lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of New York, and the following officers were duly installed : Hiram Johnson Master George Cole Senior Warden Henry Kirke White Junior Warden Ira Bishop Secretary David Babbitt Treasurer "^rhe site of William Woodworth's grocery is now the flower garden of Mrs. Ida Litchard on Upper Street near the head of Main Street. 303 Societies The following have served as Masters : Henry Kirke White 1885 A. Fraser 1880 David Babbitt 1856 Myron Claus 1882 S. F. Dickinson 1857 Eddy C. Gilbert i^ C. W. Woodworth 1859 Wm. Barber 1887 E. George i860 W. F. Wells 1889 W. White 1862 A. Fraser 1891 E. George 1863 Eddy C. Gilbert 1892 C. W. Woodworth 1865 M. B. Nye 1894 J. P. Bixby, M. D 1866 Daniel W. Gilbert 1897 W. E. Kyes 1870 Abel M. Tarbell 1902 E. F. McCall 1876 Eddy C. Gilbert 1904 W. E. Kyes 1877 W. H. Thomas 1910 David H. Brooks was Secretary for twenty-three years. In 1858 they moved to the hall over the drug store in the Concrete Block which had recently been built. They still occupy the same hall. In the early years lodge meetings were held in the afternoon. Dr. H. R. Palmer was a mem- ber of this lodge at the time of his death. The lodge was named from Joseph Enos, a prominent Mason, who was Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York 1822- 1824. BANQUET OF RUSHFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY THE evening of February 22, 1890, the Historical Society met in the pleasant parlors of Mrs. L. E. Hardy to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of George Wash- ington. Among the guests were some notable in the his- tory of our country. Over the company beamed the benig- nant faces of General* and Mrs.f Washington. The years *Cyrus Croop. tMrs. Edward Magiiire. 304 Banquet of Historical Society seemed to have touched them hghtly. The general's com- manding figure was still unbent, his dress was faultless from his silver shoe buckles to his powdered hair; Martha was still as charming as when a blooming widow she won the heart of George Washington. Molly Stark's smiling face beneath her matron's cap spoke plainly that the country was saved and she not a widow. This was confirmed by the presence of General Stark± himself in full uniform. Mrs. Sedgwick with her intellectual face set off by a high cap- was also present. There was Israel Putnam§ with a collar too high, and' a stock which gave him considerable trouble ; he also had a fatal tendency to tread on the trains of the ladies; but still he bore himself with the dignity becoming an old vet- eran in the presence of his beloved general. When Master Holmes Wallace gave a select reading upon the doings of Israel Putnam, the old soldier declared that he remembered them as if they had happened yesterday. Mr. Munger then- remarked that he had understood that Washington had a charmed life, that no bullet could hit him; he wondered if the solution was not to be found in these words, "A pru- dent man foreseeth evil and hideth himself : but the simple pass on and are punished." The latter part of the proverb he thought would apply to Putnam who was the only dis- abled veteran present. Putnam was then called upon for a speech, but he declared that he was a fighter and not a maker of speeches. After "ye old time musique" the company repaired to the dining room, the walls of which were decorated with the national emblems and pictures of the associates of Washington. The hanging lamp was draped with red, white tDr. C. W. Guild. §Eddy C. Gilbert. 305 Societies and blue; perforated tin lanterns hung about the room; and the tables, lighted by candles, were spread with delicious viands, fitting the occasion. The banquet was presided over by Prof. E. Maguire, master of ceremonies. At a table apart were General and Mrs. Washington; on each side was a long row of tables for the other guests. When all were seated quotations were given from the sayings of Washington. The toast, "George Washington, the father of his country," was responded to in a happy manner by the Rev. W. L. Hunger. A telegram was then brought to the door by Washing- ton's private page. It read as follows: "The Rushford in- nocents abroad send greetings from Mt. Vernon." Mrs. Alice Lathrop Holden, a member of the Historical Society, was one of the "innocents abroad." When rising from the table, with waving of hands and handkerchiefs, three rousing cheers were given for Wash- ington, the first president of these United States, — "first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." Again assembling in the parlor, Dr. W. F. Wells read the only letter in existence written by Washington to his wife. A library chair, once belonging to General Herkimer of Rev- olutionary fame, then in possession of his grand niece, Mrs. J. E. Wallace of Rushford, was brought forward and its history given by the Rev. J. E. Wallace. A patriotic song was sung by "ye ancient choir" amid the merriment of the com- pany. Miss Stacy (Mrs. D. Wilkin) rendered a piece of instrumental music with pleasing eflFect. Mrs. Maguire sang that sweet and touching song, "The Old Folks at Home," and the company began to break up, declaring they had spent a delightful evening. (Arranged mainly from an article in the Rushford Spectator, 1890.— H. J. W. G.) 306 IX WAR AN INTERESTING LETTER OF WAR TIME THE following was written by A. W. E. Damon to his nephew during the stirring times of the Civil War Some of the older people of Rushford will remember Mr. Lyman as an active young man and school teacher who at the age of twenty-one, in the fall of 1856, went to northern Illinois. That was a comparatively new country at that date and seemed to be the "Far West," Chicago being hardly twenty-five years from settlement and the Erie Railroad to Cuba only five or six years old. He was ambitious but met with one heavy reverse after another until plunged, by fraud probably, some $8,000 or $9,000 into debt with nothing to show. By dint of energy and perseverance he came out from under it, became a prosperous banker, engaged to some extent in manufactures and was a director in a rail- road company. He was one of the most prominent laymen, perhaps the foremost, in the great Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church. Rushford, Dec. 2d, 1861. Dear Nephew and family. Yours of Oct. 3d came to hand in due time. The time had been so long since you had written us that we had almost concluded your business absorbed your time and attention too much to write us. We were happily disappointed and hope we shall not have occasion to think so again. More- over we will try and answer you sooner than we have this time. Yesterday, Sunday, was the first wintry day we have had. People have continued to plow till last Saturday. 307 War Our crops of all kinds were just about middling fair for this country. Dairies sold very low this fall, 5)^ to 6^^ cents. * =^ * Mr. Evans has enlisted for three years. He has been at the camp at Elmira for two months. Was home last week. Some 4,000 men there. They leave this week for Washington. He is in the 64th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Col. Parker. He has three brothers in the army. John Worth- ington's two youngest boys are in the army. The youngest was at Bull Run. Ira Ames was also there. Albert Babbitt was killed there. Rushford and vicinity, Rushford being the nucleus, has sent off at three different times about 130 men, and Rev. (Capt.) John C. Nobles has enlisted about 40 more in this region, who go into winter quarters at Leroy. Uncle John Worthington goes with them. The Colonel of the regiment is Rev. James M. Fuller of Genesee Confer- ence, Presiding Elder for five or six years. I am glad you Western Patriots are doing so much in this our country's trials; but when you go ahead of old Rushford let us know about it. We had at one meeting here over $2,000 pledged for the benefit of the families of volunteers. Old York State is right side up with care: 130,000 men in the field within seven months of the time Beauregard with his* legions roused the slumbering fires of ^jd from their ashes. See what Gen. Dix, one of New York's patriot sons, has just accomplished in Accomack and Northumberland, with- out the loss of a single man. And see what the brave old Gen. Scott said of the N. Y. 69th (Col. Bendix I think), "The best disciplined regiment reviewed at Washington be- fore he left for Europe." It is supposed at the present time that N. Y. has furnished more than her quota, but enough of this. Excuse boasting, won't you ? Clark Bannister has just enlisted in the Navy for three years. Wm. O. Kings- bury has three boys in the army, and a Mr. Merrill, on the .108 Roster of Soldiers old Hardy farm, has two sons there. James Tapp and two brothers just over from England have enlisted, two of Clark Kendall's sons, also Lyman B. Metcalf and a son of his. Lyman Eaton's two oldest boys are in a cavalry company, and so it goes. The mass of the people here are fearful of the effect of Fremont's removal, but we hope the govern- ment has not done it without good cause. * * * Your Uncle Alonzo Lyman has been sick but is better. The rest of the family are about as usual. The M. E. Church has had two or three years of trial in Western N. Y. from Nazaritism, but we have stood the storm, and think the bow of promise indicates a more pleasant future. I must bid you an affectionate farewell. Be faithful unto death, and a crown is in waiting. A. W. Damon and family. N. E. Lyman and family. ROSTER OF SOLDIERS H. J. W. G. HE roster contains the names of those who lived in Rushford at time of enlistment, those who now live in Rushford and those who are buried in Rushford. Those of the Civil War marked with an asterisk (*) did not live in Rushford until after the War. Each soldier was a private unless otherwise stated. T 309 War SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION BURIED IN RUSHFORD OLIVER CROMWELL BENNETT served as a pri- vate in Capt. Eell's company, Col. Durkee's regiment, Connecticut Line. Being but sixteen at the opening of the war he first accompanied the regiment in 1776 as a cook or officer's servant. He was in the battle of Long Island Au- gust 27, 1776, narrowly escaping capture. Later, in 1780, he was a regularly enlisted man under arms. The records show that he served all of the year 1781. Ephraim Morrison enlisted April or May, 1780, and served nine months, Captain Levi Stockwell ; enlisted April, 1781, and served six rnonths. Captain Dial Sherwood; en- listed October, 1781, and served three months. Captain John Armstrong, Colonel Webster. He engaged in a skirmish between Bloody Pond and Fort George. At time of enlist- ment he lived in Salem, N. Y. He applied for a pension October 30, 1832, while living in Rushford. He was born in Salem, Washington County, Sept. 10, 1763; died Oct. 15, 1847 at Rushford. He married at Salem, October, 1781, Lucretia Henderson. He moved to Ovid, N. Y., soon after the close of the war and thence to Rushford. There were three sons and a daughter, Rachel, who married David King, Aug. 16, 1798. Widow was allowed a pension in 1848 while a resident of Rushford, aged eighty-five years. James Gordon — No record in Bureau of Pensions. Eneas Gary — Age 18; private; enlisted at Lebanon, Conn., January or February, 1776, served two months, Cap- tain Jeremiah Mason ; enlisted May or June, 1776, served six months. Captain John Isham ; enlisted August, 1776, served two months, Captain Green ; engaged in battles of Long Island and White Plains. October 30, 1832, while 310 Soldiers of the Revolution living in Rushford, he applied for a pension. The claim was allowed. Jonothan Going — Age i8; private; enlisted at Lunen- burgh, Worcester County, Massachusetts, July or August, 1779, served seven months, Captains Nathan Smith and Jacob Haskins; enlisted July, 1780, under Justin Ely, com- missioner at Springfield, served six months. Captain Phineas Bowman; enlisted July, 1781, to October, 1781, Captain Jonathan Sibley. June 19, 1834, while living at Hinsdale, Cattaraugus County, New York, he applied for a pension. The claim was allowed. He was born at Lunenburgh, Mas- sachusetts. He lived in Vermont from 1782 until 1814. Daniel Kingsbury of Enfield, Hartland, and Sandis- field, married, February 7, 1771, Rose Pease, daughter of Benjamin Pease of Enfield. He lived in Enfield on land given him by his father; he was sergeant of the company raised in Enfield for the Lexington Alarm, under Major Nathaniel Terry. — "Connecticut Men in the Revolution." He was appointed ensign in the Second Battalion of State Troops, November, 1776, and served in Rhode Island under General Wooster the following year. Joshua Wilson of Gofifstown, New Hampshire, private in Capt. Samuel Richard's company in Col. John Stark's regiment. Entry— April 23, 1775. Signed receipt for coat money October 10, 1775. Private in Capt. Samuel Blodgett's company in Col. Enoch Poor's regiment ; mustered at Goffs- town, March 22, 1777. The selectmen's return of Goifs- town men engaged in Continental Army during the war also- contains his name. Charles Swift — Enlisted May 15, 1775; service, Decem- ber, 1777; rank, private; captain. Waterman Clift. Enlisted 1780; service, two months; rank, sergeant; captain, Noel Potter. Enlisted 1781 ; service, three months; rank, sergeant; 31 T War captain, Noel Potter. Enlisted 1781 ; service, eleven days; captain, Ichabod Robinson. Residence at enlistment. Clar- endon, \"erinont. Engaged in the battles Dorchester, New York and Germantown. May 7, 1818, while living in Rush- ford, he applied for a pension ; his claim was allowed. He ■was born June 26, 1754, and died February 20, 1820, at Rushford. He married at Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont, August 17, 1779, Johanna Jackson, born March 31, 1764. She was allowed a pension on application executed July 21, 1837, while a resident of Rushford. The children were Heman, Abigail, Lorain, Rachel, Charles, Jackson, Samuel, Lurany, Harry, Claricy, Amanda, Van Ransalaer, Betsey, Lorena and George. Samson Hardy: Appears with rank of private on Lex- ington Alarm Roll of Capt. John Moore's company, which marched on April 19, 1775, from Bedford, Mass. Length of service, nine days. Town to which soldier belonged, Bedford. The name Samson Hardy appears on a company re- ceipt, given to Capt. John Ford for wages to October i, 1776^ dated Ticonderoga, October 2, 1776, and endorsed. "25 July 'j^ marched from Chelmsford ; discharged at Albany I Jany yy-'' SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812 BURIED IN RUSHFORD David Babbitt. Andre Bennett, sergeant — Fuilisted at Caneadea, N. Y., September 5, 1814, and served until November 8, 1814. Captains Gregor and John Kennedy. March 31, 1871, while living at Cuba, N. Y., Rachel Orcutt Bennett applied for a pension. The claim was allowed. Ira Bishop, private — Enlisted September 9, 1812, at Windsor, \''ermont, April 6, 1871, while living in Rushford, 312 2T^vd X. Y. Vol. Infantry he applied for a pension. The claim was allowed. He mar- ried Sarah Patrick, May 22, 181 5, in Vermont. Their chil- dren were Louisa (Mrs. Isaac Amsden), John (married Abi- gail Benjamin), George (married Marietta Spencer), Char- lotte (Mrs. William Flagg), Matthew (married Roxana Alvord), Ira (married Caroline Elmore), Albert (married Celestia Amsden), Adaline (Mrs. Andrew J. Ackerly). His second wife was Mrs. S. Couch. He died July 5, 1873, aged eighty years and is buried in the Podonque Cemetery. Leonard Farwell — Died September 24, 1846. Benjamin Kingsbury — Went to Fort Niagara from Cherry Valley, N. Y. John Lamberson, private — Enlisted September 7, 1814, and served until November 14, 1814. Captain Samuel Bant, Major Mclntyre. Applied for a pension April 19, 187 1. The claim was allowed. Alvin K. Morse — Died in 1870. Amos Peck — Married Mary Kellogg at Middlebury (Wyoming), October 20, 181 5. Their children w^ere Sarah (Mrs. Reuben Rogers), Philena (Mrs. William W^oods), Lorenzo, Philetus, Igel (married Amelia Tarbell), Mary (Mrs. Jason Miller), Arminda, Armena (Mrs. D. Clark Woods). Amos Peck came to Rushford from Wyoming about 1850. He died November 6, 1866. E. Jabesh Peck — Died February 17, 1850. His curious tombstone in Podonque Cemetery was made b}' his brother, Dan Peck. Ebenezer P. Perry. SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR 23RD NEW YORK A^OLL^NTEER INFANTRY COMPANY B. Otis Kingsbury — Aged 21; enlisted May i, 1862; dis- charged May 22, 1863, by reason of expiration of term of 313 War enlistment. Subsequent service in 13th Heavy Artillery. Henry Wallace — Age 21 ; enlisted Aug. 29, 1862, for three years; discharged June 24, 1865, at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. 26TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY C. *James Wilson — Age 22; enlisted August 13, 1861, at Rochester to serve three years ; mustered in as private Sep- tember 5, 1861 ; promoted corporal January i, 1862; wounded September 17, 1862. at Antietam, Maryland; re- turned to ranks February 28, 1863; mustered out with com- pany May 28, 1863, at Utica, N. Y. COMPANY I. *Everett S. Thompson — Age 19; enlisted April 19. 1861, in State service; mustered in U. S. service May, 1861, for three months ; after the expiration of the three months turned over for the remainder of two years ; wounded at the second Battle of Bull Run ; discharged January 10, 1863. Subsequent service in 24th New York Cavalry. 27TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY I. (Formed at Angelica.) Most of the Rush ford boys were enrolled at a mass meeting in Academy Hall on May 3. The company was mustered into State service on May 13 and into United States service on May 21. The company was mustered out at Elmira on May 31, 1863. Ira Ames — Age 25; mustered in May 21, 1861 ; dis- charged because of disability February 11, 1863, at White Oak Church, Virginia. Albert Babbitt — Aged 26; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; killed 314 27th N. Y. Vol. Infantry at Bull Run, July 21. 1861. He was the first Rushford man to give up his life in the war. Remain W. Benjamin — Age 20; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; discharged August 9, 1861, by order of General Mansfield. John W. Bishop — Age 21 ; enlisted July 5, 1861 ; pro- moted to corporal ; died at Richmond while a prisoner of war. Wilbur S. Chamberlain — Age 18 ; enlisted July 5, 1861 ; discharged September, 1862, at Bakersville, Maryland, by order of Secretary of War. Timothy C. Charles — Age 23; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; tie of Bull Run. Mustered out with company. Philander D. Ellithorpe — Age 20; enlisted May 3, 1861 ; mustered into United States service at Elmira, New York, May 21, 1861, as private of Capt. C. C. Gardner's company; promoted for meritorious service to corporal, March i, 1862 ; to sergeant, March i, 1863; discharged with company. Sub- sequent service in 2nd Mt. Rifles. Burton Freeman — Age 32 ; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- tered as sergeant May 21, 1861, at Elmira; promoted to first sergeant, to second lieutenant, to first lieutenant, to captain. September 26, 1862; was color sergeant at the bat- tle of Bull Run. Mustered out with company. John R. Heald — Age 18; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- tered out with company. Enoch Hibbard — Age 34; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; died July I, 1862, at General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. Dennis Hurley — Age 21; enlisted August 31, 1861. at Elmira ; mustered out with company. Subsequent service in 13th New York Heavy Artillery. Thomas R. Merrill — Age 18; enlisted January 16, 1862; mustered out with company. Subsequent service in 13th New York Heavy Artillery. 315 War Winfield Tufts — Age i8; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- tered out with company. Subsequent service in 13th New York Heavy Artillery. George Waters — Age 24; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; dis- charged August 9, 1 861, by order of General Mansfield. Charles A. Woodruff — Age 21 ; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; promoted sergeant ; wounded at Gaines Mills, Va., June 27, 1862; discharged from General Hospital at Philadelphia. (The state records say that Charles A. Woodruff was dis- charged from the General Hospital, Baltimore, Md., but Mr. John R. Heald says that he knows Mr. Woodruff was in a hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., for he was with him.) Tra C. Worthington — Age 19; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mustered out with company. Aaron H. Wright — Age 28; enHsted May 13, 1861 ; mustered out with company. (The best company cook we 'ever had, ready with the rations wherever we were — on picket, skirmish or battlefield, always "Johnny on the spot." —P. D. Ellithorpe.) 64TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY D. (Enrolled at Rushford.) Andrew J. Bannister — Age 2,2; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks Vir- ginia; captured July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died of dis- ease February 19, 1864, while a prisoner of war at Rich- mond, Virginia. Ralph L. Benjamin — Age 18; enlisted August 14, 1862; wounded in action December 13. 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. ; promoted corporal ; killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3, 1863. Alonzo Brown — Age 23; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 316 64th N. Y. Vol. Infantry wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; died of disease June 12, 1862, at Fifth Street Hospital, Phil- adelphia, Pa. Henry Chamberlain — Age 24; enlisted Sept. 13, 1861, for three years ; discharged Nov. 14, 1862, at Frederick, Md. Henry B. Colburn — Age 25; enlisted October 15, 1861 ; mustered in as corporal October 19, 1861 ; promoted ser- geant; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Vir- ginia; discharged for disabihty February 5, 1863, at Phil- adelphia, Pa. Enoch M. W. Cheney — Age 31 ; mustered in October 5, 1861 ; killed in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia. William A. Day — Age 23 ; enlisted August 14, 1862, at Rushford ; discharged for disability January 15, 1864, at Elmira, New York. John L. Daball — Age 20; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; promoted corporal ; promoted sergeant ; discharged for dis- ability May 28, 1862, at Columbian College Hospital, Wash- ington, D. C. Daniel T. Ely — Age 19; enlisted August 14, 1862; killed May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. William Ely — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; pro- moted corporal; wounded in action June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. ; discharged for gun-shot wound. May 6, 1865, at Rochester, New York. Isaac W. Evans — Age 27; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; discharged for disability September 27, 1862, at Elmira. John H. Farwell — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; wounded and missing in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellors- ville, Virginia. Alonzo S. Gunn — Age 34; enlisted August 14, 1862; killed in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. 317 War Sylvester Hall — Age 19; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; discharged for disability March 6, 1862, at Camp Fitz Hugh, Fairfax Court House, Virginia; died August 30, 1862. George W. Hapgood — Age 25; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; discharged for disability September 30, 1862, at U. S. A. Hospital Philadelphia, Pa. George W. Howe — ^Age 18; enhsted October 15, 1861 ; mustered in as a musician November 2, 1861. William H. Hutchins, Jr. — Age 30; enlisted August 31, 1862; wounded May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Virginia; died June 8, 1864, at Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C. David R. James — Age 18; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; killed in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Clayton G. Jewell — Age 23 ; enrolled at Elmira to serve three years; mustered in as second lieutenant December 10, 1861 ; as first lieutenant February 26, 1862; discharged July 6, 1862; enhsted in 13th O. V. C. ; killed July 30, 1864. Philander Kellogg — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; killed May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. James H. Kingsbury — Age 22; enlisted September 17, 1861 ; discharged, because of wounds received in action, June 23, 1864, at De Camp General Hospital, Davids Island, New York. Abram J. Lyon — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered in as musician ; promoted drum major of his regi- ment; promoted drum major of first division, second army corps; discharged May 30, 1865. Lyman B. Metcalf — Age 46; enlisted September 4, 1861 ; discharged at Fortress Monroe November 9, 1862, by reason of disability. Nathan B. Miller — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged July 3, 1863, at Elmira, New York. .118 64th N. Y. Vol. Infantry Alfred W. Morrison — Age 24; enlisted September 15, 1861 ; mustered in September 24, 1861 ; wounded in action June I, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; discharged for dis- ability August I, 1862, at Elmira. George Pelton — Age 33; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Virginia; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; mustered out Sept. 24, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia. Warren B. Persons — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pa., confined at Belle Isle, Va., until February i, 1864, then at Andersonville, Ga., where he died July 9, 1864. John Peters, Jr. — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; wounded May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va., and July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps September i, 1863. Further record unknown. Howard Root — Age 18; enlisted September 13, 1861, at Rushford; died of disease January 16, 1862, at Franklin- ville. New York. Dwight Scott — Age 33; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; discharged for disability June 7, 1862, at St. Elizabeth Hos- pital, Washington, D. C. Henry H. Scott — Age 20; enlisted Sept 16, 1861, for three years; wounded June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; wounded Sept. 16, 1862, at Antietam. Md., and also wounded and captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. ; paroled; discharged April 11, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. Nathaniel Seavey — Age 35 ; enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, for three years; discharged May 30, 1865, near Alexandria, Va. (Company cook.) Harrison T. Smith — Age 22 ; enlisted August 14, 1862, at Rushford; mustered in as private; promoted sergeant; wounded at Spottsylvania, Va. ; captured August 25, 1864, 319 War at Ream's Station, Va. ; paroled ; promoted first sergeant, promoted sergeant-major; mustered in as captain Company H March i, 1865; killed in action March 25, 1865, at Hatcher's Run, Va. Louis E. Tarbell — Age 25; enlisted October i, 1861 ; mustered in as sergeant October 5, 1861 ; discharged June 9, 1862, at vSt. Eliza Hospital, Washington, D. C. William Starkweather — Age 31; enlisted August 14, 1862; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericks- burg, Va. ; captured July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died Oc- tober 16, 1863, at Belle Isle, Va., a prisoner of war. Leonard Van Alst — Age 32; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; died of disease January 26, 1862, at Camp California, Va. Charles A. VanDusen — Age 21 ; enlisted October i, 1861 ; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericks- burg, Va. ; promoted corporal; killed in action May 12, 1864, near Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Martin White — Age 24; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; mustered in as private in Company K, October 19, 1861 ; transferred to Company D, February 25, 1862; died at Har- rison's Landing, Va., September 15, 1862. Thomas J. White — Age 36; enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered in Oct. 16, 1862; captured October 14, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Va. ; taken to Belle Isle, Va., then to Ander- sonville, Ga., where he died August 9, 1864. John F. Wier — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps November 15, 1863; discharged October 10, 1865. Roswell S. Wilmarth — Age 23 ; enrolled September 13, 1861 ; promoted sergeant; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. (lost right arm) ; promoted 320 70th N. Y. Vol. Infantry second lieutenant March i, 1863; discharged for disability December 15. 1863. Thomas Russell Wilmarth— Age 23; enlisted August 14, 1862; promoted corporal; killed in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. Warren D. Withey — Age 24; enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, for three years; discharged for disability Jan. 12. 1863, at Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C. George W. Woods — Age 19; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; discharged for disability July 9, 1862, at Carver Hospital, Washington, D. C. Henry C. Woods — Age 18; enlisted August 14, 1862; mustered in October 16, 1862 ; discharged for disability November 14, 1862, at Frederick, Maryland. Oliver E. \\'oods^ — Age 21 ; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; discharged for disability April 8, 1862, at Clermont Hospital. William W. Woodworth — Age 41 ; enhsted at Elmira for three years; mustered in as first lieutenant December 10, 1861 ; promoted captain February 26, 1862; died of disease December 28. 1862, near Falmouth, Va. ; buried in Rushford. Lewis Wright — Age 25; enlisted August 14, 1862; dis- charged for (hsabilit}' February 10. 1863, at rendezvous of (Hstribution, \'irginia. ( Sun-struck on the march to Get- tysburg. ) 70TH XE\\' YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY H. EHjah ]\Ietcalf — Age 22; enlisted at Boston, Mass., to serve three years; mustered in June 21, 1861 ; transferred to Company H, 71st New York A'olunteer Infantry. 81 ST NEW YORK \'OLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY K. George W. Cady — Age 33 ; enlisted at Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 321 War mustered in as private April 7, 1865 ; mustered out with company August 31, 1865, at Fortress Monroe, Va. 83RD NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (9th New York Militia.) COMPANY F. John DuBell — Age 21; enlisted May 27, 1861, at New York City; discharged for disability July 2, 1861, at Camp Cameron, Washington, D. C. 85TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY F. *Charles H. Himes — Age 26; enlisted October i, 186 1, at Black Creek, N. Y. ; mustered in as private October 16, 1861; wounded in action May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; promoted sergeant August 5, 1862; returned to ranks, re- enlisted as veteran and promoted sergeant ; captured in action April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C. ; paroled; mus- tered out with company June 27, 1865, at New Berne, N. C. *Harvey McElheney — Age 24 ; enlisted September 2, 1861, at Black Creek, N. Y. ; mustered in as corporal Sep- tember 7, 1861 ; returned to ranks; re-enlisted as veteran January i, 1864; captured in action at Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 1864; confined six months at Andersonville, Ga., and four months at Florence, S. C. ; re-captured by Union forces at Wilmington, N. C. ; mustered out with company June 27, 1865, at New Berne, N. C. *John A. O'Connor — Age 35; enlisted August 26, 1861, at Black Creek, N. Y. ; discharged for disability November II, 1862, at New York City. COMPANY — . James Patterson — Enlisted 1861 : died at Anderson- ville, 1864. i22 86TH NEW. YORK \^OLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY D. *Alamanzo W. Litchard — Aged 19 ; enlisted August 29, 1861, at ITornellsville ; discharged for disability December 9, 1862, at Alexandria, Va. *AIexander L. Litchard — Aged 19; enlisted August 29, 1861, at Hornellsville ; discharged for disability November 13, 1862, at Washington, D. C. 104TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY A. Thomas D. Bradford — Enlisted Sept. 30, 1861, as mu- sician, for three years ; discharged. 105TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY D. Howard P. Lafferty — Age 34; enlisted December 9, i86t ; discharged July 4, 1862, from General Hospital at Falls Church, Va., on surgeon's certificate of disability. 120TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY D. Charles Pettit — Age 17; enlisted September 3, 1864; prisoner of war at Libby and Pemberton, Richmond, Va. ; discharged June 2, 1865. Henry Pettit — Age 19; enHsted September 3, 1864; dis- charged June 2, 1865. 149TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY E. James Augustus Hitchcock — Age 17; enlisted April 11, 1865, for one year; discharged May 3, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. 323 189TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY B. Lyman J. Cole — Age 16; enlisted at Dunkirk Septem- ber 20, 1864; mustered out at Arlington Heights; dis- charged May 30, 1865. COMPANY F. George S. Marsh — Age 18; enlisted October 2, 1864; discharged May 30, 1865, near Washington, D. C. SECOND NEW YORK MOUNTED RIFLES COMPANY B. (Mustered out at Petersburg, Va., August 10, 1865.) Watson W. Rush — Age 22; enrolled January 12, 1864, at Buffalo, N. Y. ; commissioned first lieutenant March 29, 1864; taken prisoner September 30, 1864, at Pegram's Farm, \"a. ; paroled from Libby ; exchanged March 10, 1865 ; com- missioned captain July 31, 1865, vice Runyan, promoted; mustered out with company. John Cole — Age 18; enlisted at Rushford December 23, 1863; sick in hospital at mustering out of company; died in hospital. George Franklin Durkee — Age 20 ; enlisted December 15, 1863; mustered out with company. Philander D. Ellithorpe — Enlisted January 4, 1864, at Gainesville, N. Y. ; mustered into V. S. service as sergeant of Capt. Henry Runyan's company. Col. John Fisk com- manding; severely wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 17. 1864; discharged July 20, 1865. from U. S. A. General Hospital. Chester, Pa., by reason of loss of arm by wound received in action and the close of the war. 324 2nd N. Y. ^lounted Rifles Henry Elmer— Age 35; enlisted December 25, 1863; mustered out with company. Leroy C. Ely— Age 18; enlisted December 19, 1863: transferred to Company G, 19th Veteran Reserve Corps, :\ray 19, 1865, from which discharged September 5. 1865. at Buffalo, N. Y. George S. Hackett — Age 19; enlisted December 22, 1863; mustered out watli detachment June 18, 1865. in Whitehall Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. George W. Hapgood — Age 23 ; enlisted December 23, 1863; appointed sergeant; wounded July 30, 1864, in front of Petersburg ; mustered out with company. Abram A. Howell — Age 40; enlisted December 12, 1863; appointed bugler; mustered out with company. Lucian L. Lewis — Age 18; enlisted December 16, 1863; appointed corporal May i, 1865; sergeant July 20, 1865; mustered out with company. Lafayette Meade — Age 18; enlisted December 14, 1863; wounded June 18, 1864. in front of Petersburg, Va. ; died of wounds July 17, 1864, at Emory Hospital, Washing- ton, D. C. Lyman Metcalf — Age 48; enlisted in Rushford. Dec. 25, 1863 ; discharged August 9, 1865, at Washington, D. C. *John A. O'Conner — Age 35 ; enlisted December 18, 1863, at New Hudson, N. Y. ; mustered in as corporal Janu- ary 5, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April 5. 1865, from which mustered out July 21, 1865, at Roches- ter, N. Y. DeWitt C. Pelton — Age 29 ; enlisted December 22. 1863 ; appointed corporal; killed on picket May 14, 1865. Riley W, Pettit — Age 20; enlisted January 4, 1864; died of disease September. 1864, at Field Hospital. City Point, Va. 325 War Channcey Williams — Age 28; enrolled December 24, 1863; appointed farrier; mustered out with company. 130TH VOLUNTEERS or FIRST NEW YORK DRA- GOONS (Mustered out June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va.) COMPANY B. John S. Dewey— Age 37; enHsted August 30, 1864; mustered out with company. COMPANY c. Elijah Bishop— Age 22; enlisted August 30, 1864; mus- tered out June 29, 1865, at Jarvis U. S. Army Hospital at Baltimore, Md. Julius R. Ford — Age 34; enlisted August 30, 1864; mustered out with company. Nathan E. Heald — Age 26; enlisted August 30, 1864; mustered out with company. Anson T. Lawton— Age 33 ; enlisted September 2, 1864; mustered out with company. Dwight Scott — Age 37; enlisted September 3, 1864; mustered out with company. Velorus Swift — Age 24; enHsted August 19, 1864; mustered out with company. Warren D, Withey — Age 26 ; enlisted August 30, 1864 ; mustered out with company. COMPANY D. James K. Hitchcock — Age 42 ; enlisted August 30, 1864 ; mustered out with company. COMPANY E. Alonzo D. Abrams — Age 22; enHsted Aug. 16, 1864, for one year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va. (Substitute for Orrin T. Higgins.) 326 130th X. Y. A^'oliinteers Amba H. Alderman — Age 42; enlisted September 3, 1864, at Centerville, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. Chauncey L. Alderman — Age 30; enlisted at Center- ville September 13, 1864; mustered out with company. Lyman G. Beecher — Age 28; enlisted at Rushford August 2, 1864; mustered out with company. Edwin A. Burr — Age 22; enlisted August 30, 1864, at Rushford ; mustered out with company. James Demcey — Age 30; enlisted Aug. 30, 1864, for one year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va. Hosea B. Persons — Age 36; enlisted September 3, 1864; discharged June 8, 1865, because of illness in his family. Alvin C. Taylor — Age 33 ; enlisted Sept. 2, 1864, for one year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va, PHn A. Taylor — Age 29; enlisted September 6, 1864, at Elmira, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. Cyrus Westcott — Age 21 ; enlisted September 3, 1864, at Centerville ; wounded in the hand at the battle of Five Forks, April i, 1865; discharged at Mower U. S. Army General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., June 14, 1865. COMPANY F. *Byron Vaname — Age 22; enlisted August 9, 1862, at Centerville, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. COMPANY 11. William Babbitt — Age 36; enlisted September 3, 1864; never joined company. Otis White — Age 30; enlisted August 30, 1864, at Rushford; mustered out with company. COMPANY K. Philetus Gratton — Age 40; enlisted September 2, 1864, at Rushford for one year; wounded in action at Liberty 327 \\'ar Mills, December 22, 1864; discharged ^lay 17, 1865, at U. S. General Hospital. York, Pa. 5TH NEW YORK \TJLUNTEER CAVALRY COMPANY E. *Leonard Adams — Age 36; enlisted August 26, 1861, at Black Creek, N. Y. ; discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability because of injuries received in a railroad wreck when returning to seat of war with enlisted men ; discharged September, 1862. Charles W. Beardsley — Age 25 ; enlisted August 25, 1861 ; discharged March 31, 1862, by order of General Mc- Clellan ; re-enlisted August 2Tii. 1864 as saddler; discharged June 13, 1865. *Roswell N. Byington — Age 21 ; enlisted August 29, 1861, at Farmersville. N. Y. ; re-enlisted December 31. 1863; wounded in the leg at Cold Harbor, Va. ; discharged July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va. James H. Chase — Age 18; enlisted August 28, 1861, at Rush ford to serve three years ; mustered in as bugler August 31, 1861 ; re-enlisted as private January i, 1864; wounded, no date ; transferred March i, 1865 to Company G, 14th \"eteran Reserve Corps, from which discharged as corporal August 19, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Aaron Eaton — Age 22 ; enlisted August 24, 1861 ; quar- termaster sergeant; re-enlisted January i, 1864; mustered out with company July 19, 1865, at Winchester, \^a. William A. Eaton — Age — ; enlisted August 28, 1861 ; re-enlisted January i, 1864; taken prisoner; mustered out June 24, 1865, at New York City. Adelbert E. Gould — Age 16; enlisted August 28. 1861 ; appointed commissary sergeant ; discharged as private Octo- ber 22, 1864, by order of General Torbert. 328 Sumner E. Kilmer War Sumner E. Kilmer — Age i8; enlisted at Rushford August 26, 1861 ; discharged December 31, 1863, by reason of re-enlistment as veteran volunteer at Stevensburg, Va. ; finally discharged July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va., by reason of special order 78, Headquarters of Army of Shen- endoah, July 11, 1865. Charles McMullen — Age 34; enlisted August 30, 1861 ; appointed wagoner; re-enlisted January i, 1864; mustered out with company July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va. John S. Trowbridge — Age 24 ; enlisted August 28, 1861 ; mustered as sergeant August 31, 1861 ; wounded at Han- over, Pa., June 30, 1863; died July 6, 1863, at Hanover; sent home and buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Hume, N. Y. Sylvester T. Upgrove — Age 21 ; enlisted August 30, 1861 ; appointed corporal ; re-enlisted as corporal February 22, 1864; promoted sergeant; wounded twice; taken pris- oner October 6, 1864 ; escaped October 9, 1864, during fight at Tom's Brook; mustered out with company July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va. Leonard M. Worthington — Age 18; enlisted August 28, 1861 ; appointed teamster; re-enlisted as private February 6, 1864; captured June 29, 1864, at Ream's Station, Va. ; pa- roled April I, 1865; mustered out June 24, 1865, at New York City. loTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY COMPANY L. William Beaumont — Age 27 ; enlisted at Buffalo Sep- tember 15, 1862; orderly for Lieut. Tucker on General Smith's staff; mustered out at Clouds IMills. Va., Julv 19. 1865. 330 24TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY COMPANY F. *Everett S. Thompson — Enlisted December 19, 1863; mustered in LL S. service January, 1864; discharged May, 1865. Prior service in 26th New York Infantry. I ST NEW YORK \^ETERAN CAVALRY COMPANY F. Lyman Barber — Age 34; enHsted September 3, 1864; discharged June 8, 1865, at Camp Piatt, W. Va, 5TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- LERY COMPANY A. Charles D, Jenison — Age 18; enlisted January 4, 1864, at Friendship; mustered in January 4, 1864; captured April 6, 1865, at Keyes Ford, Va. ; paroled; mustered out with company, July 19, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. COMPANY D. John Small — Age 38; enlisted December 19, 1863; dis- charged July 19, 1865. 8TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- LERY COMPANY I. Albert K. Damon — Age 23; enlisted January 4, 1864, at Caledonia to serve three years; mustered in January 5, 1864; wounded in front of Petersburg, Va. ; died of disease July 25, 1864, in New York Harbor. 331 COMPANY H. George B. Walker — Age 19; enlisted December 28, 1863, at Elma; died in Libby prison, Richmond, Va., on June 8, 1864, of wounds received June 3. 1864 at Cold Harbor, Va. 9TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- LERY COMPANY E. *Alamanzo W. Litchard — Age 23; enlisted September 6, 1864, at Conesus; mustered out June 16, 1864, at Phila- delphia, Pa. Prior service in 86th New York Infantry. 13TH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY COMPANY D. Chester Beecher — Age 20 ; enlisted July 8. 1863 ; mus- tered in as corporal August 4, 1863 ; transferred to Company L, Sixth New York Artillery, June 18, 1865, from which mustered out; discharged September 2, 1865. Orange Cole — Age 38; enlisted September 6, 1864; discharged June 24, 1865, at Norfolk, Va. Silas A. Gilley — Age 18; enlisted July 11, 1863; mus- tered in as private August 4. 1863; promoted corporal; tiansferred June 18, 1865, to Company L, Sixth New York Artillery, from which mustered out ; discharged August 24, 1865. James Healey — Enlisted July 11, 1863 for three years; discharged Aug. 24, 1865. Charles J. Hurlburt — Enlisted July 15, 1863; died at Portsmouth, Va., March 11, 1864. 332 I4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery Dennis Hurley — Enlisted June 22, 1863, at Cuba, N. Y. ; corporal ; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artil- lery, June 18. 1865; mustered out Aug. 24, 1865. Prior service in 27th New York Infantry. Benjamin Kingsbury — Age 36; enlisted July 13, 1863, at Rush ford; transferred to Company L, Sixth New York Volunteer Heavy Artillery, July 18, 1865; mustered out August 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C. CJtis Kingsbury — Age 23; enlisted June 11, 1863; mus- tered in as first sergeant August 4, 1863; promoted second lieutenant September 14, 1864; discharged June 17, 1865. Prior service in 23rd New York Company B. Thomas R. Merrill — Enlisted June 23, 1863, at Rush- ford ; private Company D and first sergeant Company E ; mustered out July 18. 1865, at Norfolk, Va. Charles P. Tufts — Age 18; enlisted June 29, 1863; mustered in as corporal August 4, 1863; promoted ser- geant; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artillery, June 18, 1865, from which mustered out; discharged Sep- tember 2, 1865. Winfield Tufts — Enlisted June 29, 1863, at Rushford; sergeant; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artil- lery, June 18, 1865 ; mustered out August 24, 1865. COMPANY F. Ira Petty — Age 44; enlisted September 3, 1864, at Rush- ford; died of disease January 6, 1865, at Gosport, Va. Eber Lafferty — Age 38; enlisted September 3, 1864; transferred to D; discharged at Norfolk, Va., May 24, 1865. 14TH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY COMPANY K. Adelbert Hall — Age 18; enlisted December 16, 1863, 333 War at Leyden; wounded June 17, 1864; mustered out May 12, 1865, at Mower Hospital, Philadelphia. 50TH NEW YORK ENGINEERS' BRIGADE BAND Albert Bishop — Age 25 ; enlisted Oct. 9, 1862, as mu- sician, Co. D, 50th N. Y. Engineers; transferred to Brigade Band July i, 1863; discharged June 8, 1865, at camp near Washington, D. C. Isaac Bowen Gordon — Age 30; enlisted Oct. 9, 1862, for three years, Co. E, 50th N. Y. Engineers ; appointed mu- sician; transferred to Brigade Band July i, 1863; dis- charged June 8, 1865, at camp near Washington, D. C. REGIMENTS UNKNOWN Henry Boardman — Buried in Rushford. J. Wiley Woods — Enlisted from Rushford. iiTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY B. (The three following brothers were Englishmen who had not been naturalized so could not have been drafted.) George Tapp — Age 25; enlisted April, 1861, at Lock Haven for three months ; re-enlisted for three years or until close of war ; made orderly sergeant ; promoted second lieu- tenant ; shot in both ams at first Battle of Bull Run ; after returning from hospital was made first lieutenant ; wounded in both thighs at Battle of Gettysburg; officer of the guard at the Long Bridge the night Lincoln was shot ; discharged at close of war. 334 42nd Regiment, Penna. Reserve James Tapp — Age 3.0; enlisted at Elmira, N. Y., in September, 1861 ; discharged June 3, 1863, at Washington D. C, for disabihty; re-enlisted Co. F, 141st N. Y. Inft. ; marched "from Atlanta to the Sea;" promoted to wagon master of twenty-four wagons; taken prisoner twenty-two miles from Goldsboro, N. C, while foraging for his com- pany ; exchanged ; discharged at close of war. William Henry Tapp — Age 19; enlisted August 16, 1861 ; taken prisoner August 28, 1862; exchanged Decem- ber 13, 1862; transferred to Battery L, Second U. S. Artil- lery, in February, 1864; discharged at Cape Disappointment, Washington Territory, February 9, 1867, having served five years, six months and seven days. 42ND REGIMENT, iST RIFLES, PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE VOLUNTEER CORPS (BUCKTAILS) COMPANY I. William A. Lafferty— Age 18; enlisted at Bradford, Pa., August II, 1861 ; wounded twice and taken prisoner at Fair Oaks, Va. ; discharged August 13, 1864, at Harris- burg, Pa., at expiration of service. (Height, five feet, six and one-half inches; light complexion; blue eyes; brown hair; occupation, laborer.) Philip G. Ellithorpe— Age 18; enlisted at Smethport, Pa., May 30, 1861 ; wounded by gun shot in the knee at the Battle of Gettysburg (Peach Orchard), July 2, 1863; leg amputated three times; died at Gettysburg, October 3, 1863; buried at Rush ford. 335 War 199TH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY COMPANY H. William G. Lafferty- — Age 44 ; enrolled September 3, 1864; discharged June 28, 1865, at Richmond, Va. 2 1 ST PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY COMPANY E. Edward \V. P)eecher — Age 23; first sergeant; enlisted Jan. 15, 1864; discharged July 8. 1865, at Lynchburg, \'a. 32ND REGIMENT. UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS *Corydon C. Mason — Age 48 ; assistant surgeon ; en- rolled February 26, 1864, having been appointed by Secre- tary of War; joined for duty March 5, 1864. When Sher- man evacuated Charleston, S. C, to go north, Dr. Alason picked two dandelions growing in one of the principal streets of the city. Discharged August 22, 1865. 2ND OHIO BATTERY— LIGHT ARTILLERY ''AVarren Clark was enrolled at age of 23, as a private, on the 1 2th day of August, 1862, at Conneaut, Ohio, by T. J. Carlin, and was mustered into U. S. service on the i6th day of September, 1862, at Columbus. Ohio, by Captain Dodd, and was discharged February 7. 1863, on surgeon's certificate of disability. 336 J 8TI1 ILLINOIS \OLUNTEER CAVALRY COMPANY L. Charles Gordon — Age 21 ; enlisted October 4, 1864, at Marengo, 111. ; mustered into U. S. service as a recruit for one year. Height, 5 ft. 11 in.; hair, brown; eyes, gray; complexion, light ; occupation, farmer ; native. New York. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Residence at date of enlist- ment. Spring. Boone County, Illinois. 3RD WISCONSIN BATTERY— LIGHT ARTILLERY Titus B. Chapin — Age 27; enrolled September 16, 1861, at Almond, Wis., for the term of three years ; mustered into service of \J. S. October 10, 1861, at Racine, Wis.; taken prisoner September 20, 1863 (Chickamauga) ; died of scor- butus January 7, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga. ; cemetery, Danville, Va. NAVY Daniel D. Persons — Age 43; landsman No. 151, on U. S. Steamer Paw-Paw; enlisted Sept. 3, 1864; discharged June 28. 1865. Extract from a letter written by William Seiver of An- gelica, late of Co. I, 27th Regiment, N. Y. V. : "My impression is that Eugene Ferrin of West Almond, N. Y., was the first Allegany soldier who was killed in the Civil War. Our regiment had but just got onto the fighting ground of Bull Run under command of Col. Henry W. Slocum (later Major General Slocum) when directly in our front were two Rebel regiments ; the first volley they fired Eugene Ferrin was struck in the forehead, standing at my 337 War side. If Babbitt was killed in the morning, before the bat- tle of Bull Run I did not learn of it." Extract from a letter written by Philander D. Elli- thorpe of Buffalo, late of Co. I, 27th Regiment, N. Y. V. : "I have no recollection of Ferrin but I do know when and where Albert Babbitt was killed ; I saw him receive the second shot, after he was down; it was down in the valley, near the house and not far from where Col. Slocum was wounded. The Eighth Georgia regiment was on the skirm- ish line down the valley and there were two other regiments of Rebs in ambush; we did not see them until they opened fire upon us." THE CELEBRATION IN RUSHFORD OF THE TAK- ING OF RICHMOND H. J. W. G. THE news came that Richmond had been taken. Then suddenly there was a relaxation of the tension of four years. Men were beside themselves. They must cele- brate. Bonfires were built at intervals along Main Street, but the greatest one of all was in front of the Globe Hotel from which flowed spirits that gave enthusiasm to the oc- casion. It was night and the dark moving figures seemed like spectres against the monstrous fire. "Uncle Sam. Persons," full of joy, began to dance. He knew that it is written, "There is a time to dance," and he tliought if there ever was a time this was it. When a cer- tain man whose political ideas were not in accord with those of the celebrants was passing by, he was lifted wagon box and all onto the porch of the hotel. After a time he was allowed to pursue his journey. The next day he 338 Celebration of Taking of Richmond sought legal advice, only to be told that he had no cause for complaint, that he had been greatly honored by his com- patriots. A man highly esteemed in the community and owner of varied interests v^^as in a high state of patriotic en- thusiasm, adding much zest to the celebration. One who belonged to the professions and was respected by all, was in a new role that night, a bearer of liquid hilarity which he handed out in a dipper from a ten-quart pail. The fire was replenished, the flames leaped higher and with them rose the spirits of the celebrants. The sign-post with its square top, saying from its four sides "Globe Hotel" succumbed to the occasion and helped light the fires of liberty. The firewater flowed on. The crowd was jubilant. A minister of the gospel whose war speeches had helped to awaken the slumbering fires of patriotism, having strolled to the Globe as an onlooker, soon found himself douced with the fiery liquid which was causing so much exhilaration. A genial, warm-hearted fellow, one of the business men of the town, with a lighted cigar in his mouth was carrying a half-emptied keg of powder. Meeting a good doctor of the place, he said, "You take the powder; you're not smok- ing." Upon being accused of being a church member, he pointed to the bottle in his pocket, saying, "My religion is in here tonight." For a few hours pandemonium reigned, and the wonder is that no one was injured. When a substantial citizen returned home, his daughter- in-law said to him, "Why didn't you bring Jonathan?" "I had all I could do to get home myself," was the reply. Two men (they lived on Upper Street) went home that night in their right minds. So ended the celebration of the taking of Richmond, the end of a long and bloody struggle for the preservation of the Union and the freedom of the slaves. 339 X MUSIC HISTORY OF MUSIC Sophia Benjamin Taylor THE history of music would not be complete without a few words concerning the ministry of music. Music is a unifying force in family life, an inspiration for good in social life and the power of God in church life. The popular thing for the young people of fifty years ago was to "get together" and have a "sing." For lack of data the subject will be developed in a general way. It is stated in the records of the Baptist Church that in June, 1821, Oliver Butterfield was chosen standing chorister. The few people remaining to tell the story say that among the early worthies who pitched the tunes and led the singing were Daniel Woods, Levi Benja- min, Deacon Delano, the McCalls and the Beechers. The hymns were evangelistic in character and were sung more for the gospel they taught than for the music in them. The tuning fork helped to get the proper key. The human voice was the only channel of expression. Avery Washburn came to town in 1840 and was soon made chorister of the Methodist Episcopal choir; he also taught singing school and was interested in the music until he left town in 1865. Milton Woods was chosen to fill the vacancy. His genial nature and sweet voice made him popular as leader and in- structor. The Methodist choir has been served by him or some other Woods, with one short break, to the present time. In the early forties musical instruments began to be used in church service, the despised fiddle being the first, de- 340 History of Music spised, because of its association with the dance. Some of the Christian fathers objected strongly to its use. However, as usual, the singers liked to have their own way, and in the Baptist Church, Justin Delano played the violin accom- panied by his brother Chester on the bass viol. In a few years an instrument called the seraphim was installed -to swell the volume. Mrs. Daniel Leavens was the first player. The instrument was manufactured in a shop at East Rush- ford where Horatio R. Palmer was an apprentice. All these years the candlesticks had to be kept in shining order, both for singing school and church meetings, for if anyone ex- pected to see well he must have a candle. H the people of those early days were to speak of these things, they would tell of the old "Boston Academy" (the singing book used) with its buckwheat notes and fugue tunes. These were the days when Norman Beecher led the Presbyterian people in the service song, when "Auntie" Goff and Aunt Maria Benjamin delighted all listeners with their effective alto voices. The art reached its climax in the fifties when Rush ford Academy had a musical department in the Academy of Music ( the old Methodist Church ) where were three pianos in as many rooms on the first floor, and a vocal class taught two evenings a week during the school year in an assembly room on the second floor. Prof. J. Vickery was teacher for a time; when he left town H. R. Palmer took up the work with great vigor. He was leader in the Baptist choir, and was also instrumental in organizing a cornet band. In 1859 he brought out the '"Cantata of Queen Esther," tak- ing the part of king himself. Bowen Gordon took the part of Mordecai ; Asa Hardy, Haman; and Minerva Simpson. Queen Esther. It was a great success. Mr. Palmer, by his kindly disposition, endeared himself 341 Music to all his pupils. In 1861-2 he attended Bassino's Normal Music School at Geneseo. A year or two later he went out from Rushford to win for himself a name and a place among the most brilliant and successful composers of music and among the best equipped teachers in the country. His "Yield not to Temptation" which he sent back in leaflet form to the Sunday Schools has been translated into sev- eral languages. He became an eminent chorus leader, serv- ing annually at several Chautauquas. During his last visit at Rushford when speaking of his love for the town, he said for what he had accomplished in the world, he was in- debted to Elder Simpson and other friends in Rushford who stimulated him and made him believe in possibilities for himself. During these years, little by little, the opposition to musical instruments in the Methodist Church was over- come. The first instrument, after an occasional violin, was a little melodeon that one of the brethren loaned them. Finally Uncle William Gordon* signed the first ten dollars toward purchasing a larger instrument, provided they would not play between the verses. After Mr. Palmer's departure, Asa Hardy took the leadership of the Baptist choir, continuing in that position nearly twenty-five years. He loved music. Since his home- going Stephen Wilmot, Dean Gordon and Robert Warren, the present incumbent, have led in sacred song. Martha (Hardy) Claus, Julia Thompson, Alice (La- throp) Holden, Alice (WiUiams) Brecht, Lena Warren and others have kept alive the love and demand for good instru- mental music. The singers, the band and the orchestra of *It was at the solicitation of his granddaughter, Ellen E. Gor- don, who was inspired by her uncle, Avery Washburn, to ask him for a contribution. 342 The Rush ford Band Home Coming Week. August i6, 22, 1908, were witnesses of what has been and is still being done. THE RUSHFORD BAND SOMETIME away back in the thirties, over seventy years ago, the first blast of Rushford's pioneer brass band rolled up the log-fenced streets, down the corduroy avenues, and went singing through the original forests, till echoed back by the grand old sentinel hills. It was truly a gala day. Almost all the population of the striving, thriving hamlet were in the streets and dooryards. Rushford had a brass band, bringing joy and pride to every loyal heart, and it has hardly been without one since. Who were those pre- cious fellows who organized so much exultant harmony? Well, the leader was Ransom Dennison, one of the most consummate clarinet players ever heard in grand old Alle- gany. Men and women who remember him say no other player on that instrument, before or since, has ever tingled their nerves, ravished their ears and dissolved their souls as did he. The members of his band so far as ascertained were Archibald Adams, Harry Howe, James Jewell, Isaac Xoble, William Woodworth, Smith W. Tuller, Ely Gordon, J. B. Gordon, E. P. Lyon and Andrew Kimball. After a few years Mr. Dennison, who did not live in Rushford, was succeeded by Archibald Adams, who was the leader of what may be called the second band. It was com- posed of most of the members of the first band, to which were added Justin Palmer, a man of exquisite ear and taste, father of H. R. Palmer, Cyrus Gordon, Justin Delano, Cyrus Maxwell, Jedediah and Riley Hubbard, Lucius C. Kimball, Note — Arranged by S. E. Kilmer and A, J. Lyon from "The Rushford Band" with omissions and additions. 343 Music Arthur Hardy and Alfred Wier. In 1844 the band rode to ElHcottville in a hayrack to a big pohtical meeting to hear Millard Fillmore speak. There were sixteen members and they easily took first position in competition with a half- dozen other bands. INIr. Johnson, who was their teacher for a short time, led them upon that occasion. Rush ford was without a band about ten years. In 1857 H. R. Palmer organized what was called Palmer's Band. The first band wagon was bought when H. R. Palmer was leader and Palmer's Rush ford Band was printed in large letters on each side. The original members of Palmer's Band were H. R. Palmer, Barnes Blanchard, Asa Hardy, DeWitt McDonald, Arthur Hardy, Horace Howe, Milton Woods, Eowen Gordon, George Howe and A. J. Lyon. Horace Howe took H. R. Palmer's place as leader of the band. Under the training of E. Prior of Corning the music increased in volume and expression. About i860 or '61 Asa Hardy, who had developed sur- prising mastery of the E flat or leading horn, became the leader and gave to the Rush ford Band a standing that was easily at the head of the band organizations in Allegany and nearby counties. Just who of the old members re- mained it is impossible to state for the nature of all bands is a continual change. The wonder is that an efficient or- ganization was ever maintained as it has been for so many years. Asa Hardy was leader and instructor of the band about twenty-five years. The members of his band for many years were Barnes Blanchard. Charles Howe, S. A. Hardy, D. C. McDonald. John Quinton, J. F. Wier. Lewis Ely, Clarence Hardy. Irving Flardy. M. M. Tarbell. Albert Bishop and .A. J. Lyon. The veteran drummer, A. J. Lyon, still remains on duty. During the skating-rink craze in 1884 a few of the band under the leadership of Charles Howe .^44 i The Rush ford I'and furnished music at tlic rink in the hasement of W. W. Mer- rill's hardware store. ]n i