Chautauqua County, New York - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 43 of those read), 1894

THIS town in the northeast corner of the coiinty, contains 30,402 acres, is well watered, having Lake Erie and Cattarangus creek on its northern border, Silver creek and Walnut creek flowint; through it into Lake Erie with numerous smaller streams. The soil is mostly gravelly loam and is in the grape belt." The land rises gradually as it recedes from the lake. In the south part the hills must be 500 or 600 feet above the lake, yet the rise is so regular that from most of tlie farms a view of the lake is had. From some a broad fine view, from others only glimpses. This slope is being rapidly covered with vineyards. In the northeast part is the northern extremity of the Cattaraugus Indian reservation with six Indian families. Walnut creek received its name from large black walnut trees growing on its banks. A notable one grew near Silver creek. (See page 37).

At the time of the Holland Land Company's survey of Hanover into lots, it was an almost unbroken wilderness. There were forests of great hemlocks, blackwalnut, whitewood, elm, beech, etc. Not fifty years ago it was no unconnnon thing for boys and young men while chestnutting to cut down a large chestnut tree three or more feet through for the nuts, or that of any other kind to capture a coon." No one complained or thought it waste, as the owner's great desire was to clear the land for the plow as soon and as easily as possible. The few white settlers that were here when the survey was made were along Cattaraugus creek and at Silver Creek. Mr. Ellicott, in his field notes of the survey, mentions ''Ezekiel Lane's shanty on lot 48 of Cattaraugus village, and Amos Sottle's clearing on lot 59, C. V. There was also on the Cattaraugus at that time Charles Avery, William G. Sidney and John Sidnor ; and at Silver Creek Abel Cleveland, David Dickinson and John E. Howard,

Sottle was probably the first white settler. It is believed at Irving, where he lived, that he came into the country in 1796, remained there from that time except when he was with Ellicott while the survey of the township lines were being made and two years spent in Ohio near Sandusky ; that he came back to Cattaraugus in 1801 or 1802, with Sidney as he claimed. Just what year he came back is disputed. He was on lot 59, C. V. with a clearing there wlieii the survey was made. He and Lane both talked Seneca. He married a colored woman at Buffalo and lived with her until her death about 1844. His son John died at Cattaraugus and was buried in the graveyard in the sandbank near the lake. This was the first cemetery in the town. Sottle, after he built on lot 61, C. V., about 1845, moved John's remains to lot 61 near the house. Many of the remains of the other early inhabitants buried there were moved to Hanover Centre cemetery and the railroad company has since carried away the sand bank, cemetery and all. It has bct'U said that Chloe, Sottle's wife, was a mulatto, but as I recollect her she seemed a genuine negress - decidedly black. She was a good neighbor and kind-hearted. They had about the only orchard in the vicinit\' in the early (la\'s, and seldom a boy went to Aunt Chloe" for iipj^les in time of apples but what lie got some, 'j^his was no small tax as apples were scarce nnd boys were numerous. All who knew her gave her credit for accumulating and .saving the property vSottle had. He was intemperate. vSoltle was fairly well educated, somewhat eccentric, and fond of using large words. One of his neighl^ors had a small yard near vSottle's house where he had ) arded sheep, but he plowed it and planted corn. The ground being rich the corn grew large. Sottle was passing one day when the neighbor asked if he did not think it was a good field of corn. Sottle said yes, there was only one objection to it, that was the circumference." He died in 1848 at Irving.

These were evidently the earliest settlers. Kzekiel Lane appears to have been a roving man. We first hear of him at Buffalo in October 1798. (See Turners Hist. Hoi. Purchase page 41S, where Mr. James Brisbane sa)'s There were then at Buffalo the loghouse of IVIiddaiigh and Lane.") Lane was son-in-law of Middaugli. In iSoo IC/ekiel Lane was one of the three who paid taxes at Buffalo (Id. page 391), then, in 1803, he took up lands at Tonawanda [U\. page 453), yet when Cattaraugus village was surveyed he lived on what became lot 48 C. V. I can get no exact date of his settlement. In my boyhood I knew Lane well. He was frequently at my father's house, spending days and weeks there. He was alone, his wife having died before 1830. She was buried on lot 48, C. V., where the Cattaraugus now runs. He made his home in a small house belonging to Sottle, built for a cheese house. Lane was very old then (from 1837 to 1845) and was fond of talking of his early life and journeys. My brothers and I liked to hear him talk. He told of coming from Canada with the Indians, crossing the Niagara just below the falls, getting down the bank on the other side by help of the bushes and projecting rocks, crossing the river in canoes, and climbing on this side by pulling themselves up by the bushes. , They followed the river to Lake I-^rie to Buffalo when there was not a house in New York west of Rochester. They came along the lake near the shore in canoes, and he crossed overland with them through the woods to the Conewanoo and went down tlic Allegany to Pittsburgh, He talked vSeneca apparently as well as the Indians. He was familiar with this whole county and the adjoining country before other whites came. Chautauqua lake, Cassadaga, and the Conewango country he often spoke of as being the best hunting and trapping sections. He married a ** Mohawk Dutch " woman, and, as he used to say, she was "short, stubbed and stout.'' He was tall and ra\i^boned. She just came under his arm. He boasted of her strength and said she could stand with both feet in a half-bushel measure and shoulder two bushels of wheat without taking her feet out. He remained at Irving until about He built the house on lot ,);, C. \*., known as the rionmy House. It was ** raised" the day of the total eclipse, June 16, 1816.

The Cattaraugus settlement was at or near the mouth of the creek and was known as Cattaraugus, and the harbor made there by the government was called " Cattaraugus harbor." Vet the first postoffice there was called " Acasto." It must have kept this name until the formation of the Irving Company in The first map of what was afterward " Irving village jplot " was called " the map of the village of Acasto," Dr. H. P. Wilcox's Albany papers came as late as 1850 addressed " Acasto," Some time about 1836 the name must have been changed. The postoffice was located at the lower village, Irving. The upper village, now Irving, was then called La Grange. During President Tyler's administration C. R. Leland was appointed postmaster, and the office moved to La Grange. The name of the oflice was not changed, but La Grange village gr(,idually took the postoffice name, Irving. Yet the place was so generally known as Cattaraugus that letters were frequently (especially by sailors) directed to Cattaraugus.

The date of settlement of many of the pioneers cannot be definitely fixed. In some cases it can be gotten at from family traditions, but in many cases we can only fix on the time they were here by the date of their contracts for land. Sometimes the parties had been here a year or more before making contracts. After the survey was made settlers began to come in more rapidly. In 1804 Charles Avery took lot 3, C. V. He kept a store there and remained there as late as 1816, in which year he was pathmasterat Cattaraugus. Avery was the first person who took up land in Hanover. He was on the land at the time of the survey. He had evidently located his land and bought as soon as it was in the market. This same year William G. Sidney took up lots I and 2 C. V. which he transferred to Capt. John Mack. Sidney kept the " Cattaraugus House," which he sold to Mack. Sidney came to Cattaraugus in 1801 or 1802 and remained there until he died in 1807. Capt. John Mack wlio bought of Sidney, came in 1806, and kept the hotel and ferry there a long time. His daughter Elizabeth married Judge Richard Smith at the Cattaraugus House in January 1807. This was the first marriage in Hanover. Judge Smith then lived in what is now Erie county but soon after moved to Hanover near Forestville and taught school there and at Silver Creek. He was one of the earliest teacliers. Rev. Chalon Burgess was one of liis scholars at Silver Creek. After Captain Mack's death, his son John kept the tavern some years, and then bought lot 68 on the lake where he built and kept a tavern until 1840 when he built the farmhouse near the railroad. Some years later he removed to South Bend, Ind. Capt. John Sydnor as early as 1803 1804 came to Cattaraugus and was there a number of years. A number of the early settlers of the county speak of having put up over night at Sydnor's, and often they sjK-ak of his being a splendid ])cnman. Sydnor seems never to have taken up land in Hanover, but died here. February 23, 1S05, Abel Cleveland and David Dickinson bought lot 74, T. 6 R. 10. The <^reater part of Silver Creek is on this lot. It is probable they selected the lands before the survey and took title or the contract soon as surv^ey was made, as on the land company's books is this record : " The above lot was taken up in the year 1804 or the latter part of 1803. For date see contract." The greater part, all but about thirty acres was conveyed either by the land company or by Cleveland & Dickinson, to John E. Howard before 1805. C. »S: D. built a sawmill on the thirty acres - the first in town. To this mill they attached a mortar and pestle " for pounding corn into meal. This was the first gristmill in town. Those mills were sold to John E. Howard in 1805 or 1806. I get no trace of either Cleveland or Dickinson after 1S06. In 1805 Jesse and John Skinner took up lot 73, the southern part of Silver Creek, and John Tyler took up lot 10, near Nashville. Tyler apparently gave tip his contract. I do not hear of him after 1805 ; in 1 810 the land company sold this lot to Guy Webster. Turner in his history (p. 461) says that in 1S06 Aaron Dolph, William Tuttle, Ivlijah Lane and Henry Johnson took up lands at Irving." It is very doubtful if they settled there or perfected their titles, as none of the early residents seem to have known them, and I know of no transfer of lands there by any of them. In 1806 Abner Cooley bought lot 61, north of Forestville. In 1806 John E. Howard was the only resident at Silver Creek, and owned lot 74, including the mills built by Cleveland & Dickinson. Artemas Clothier and Nonnan Spink came into Hanover this year and lived near Silver Creek. In 1806 also Sottle first bought in town. He bought lots 55 and 59, C. V. In 1807 John Smith and David Scott articled lot 73 (afterwards sold to Artemas Clothier), part of the same lot articled to Jesse and John Skinner (in 1805) at Silver Creek. In August 1807, Samuel Johnson took up lot 68 on the Lake adjoining Cattaraugus Village. He sold lot 68 and in 1809 bought lot 51 near Forestville, moved there and remained until his death. This lot was afterwards bought by John Mack. Ezra Puffer bought this same year

(1807) lot 58 C. V. ; he seems never to have located there, but went to that part which became Villenova. He held a number of town offices in Hanover, was the first supervisor of Villenova, and moved to Indiana in 1843. 1808 Rufus Washburn bought lot 57 near Forestville, and Benjamin Kenyon bought lot 63, C. v., built a house and lived there until his death about 1830. Walter Lull and Martin B. Tubbs bought lot 50, (1808) near Forestville and the same year Sylvanus Mayl^ee took up lot 7. In 1808 Jehial Moore settled at Forestville. He is said to have ])uilt the first house in lM)rcstville, and in 1809 he moved his family in, and also built the first sawmill below the Falls, and the first gristmill in 18 10. In February 181 4 he moved to Ohio.

In 1809 Amos Ingraham bought lot 5, C. V. Ingraham was drowned about 1835 in Cattaraugus creek. This gave the name ''The Ingraham Hole " to a deep place in the creek which it still retains. Daniel Holbrook bought lot 58, P^orestville, built and lived there. While Hanover included Villenova and Sheridan, the town-meetings and elections were held at Mr. Holbrook's. This year in September Guy Webster bought lot 3, Nashville. The little settlement in the southeast part was called " Webster settlement " until after 1814. Artemas Clothier this year bought part of lot 73, the south part of Silver Creek. He was a farmer and surveyor, and lived near Silver Creek until his death in 1879. Josej:)!) Brownell in December 1809 bought lot II near Nashville. He was, by the town records, the first supervisor elected and held other ofiices. The same year Asher Cooley bouglit lot 33 near Forestville. In 1810 Ivphraim Ilall came from Lowell, Mass., to La Grange. He located on lot 44, C. V., where he built and lived a few years. He also bought lot 43, C. V., known as the " Island." While living on lot 44, there was an ice-jam in Cattaraugus creek, setting the water back over the flats. Hall was awakened in the night by running water. He jumped out of bed into about a foot of water, got his family upstairs, and they lived in the chaml)er three days with no fire or light except one candle. At length .some men ran the bow of a boat into the open door and the family were relieved. By this jam Mr. Hall lost about ninety head of young cattle. Half v/as justice of the peace of Pomfret, and frequently held court at Fredonia. He had 11 children, all dead except Rev. William Hall of Salamanca^ from whom I got these facts about his father. After the ex])erience with high water Mr. Hall bought part of lot ii,C. V., and 1)ui]t on its high grounds, and lived there until about 1832, when lie sold and bought part of lot 48, including the sawmill on the creek. In the war of 181 2 a British war vessel chased an American schooner into the creek. The schooner ran as far up as it could to escape, and the crew quickly gathered the settlers and Indians to protect the schooner. The British fired a few shots and gave up the chase. Esquire Hall was one of the whites, and Morris Halftown one

In 1 8 10 Thomas Chapman bought part of lot 13 north of Nashville, James Webb part of lot 10, Uriah Nash, No. 19, at Nashville, and Daniel Farnham lot 51, Joseph Lrull lot 50, Thomas White lot 57, James Bennett lot 59, Forestville, and William Jones lot 33 and James Knapp lot 18, both between Forestville and Nashville. In iSii Job Knight bought lot 63, Hezekiah Fish lot 53.

Dr. Jacob Burgess came into Hanover, settled at Silver Creek in 181 1. He was the first physician in town. In 181 2 he bought lot 74, south of Silver creek. He lived at Silver Creek until his death in 1855. He left one son, Rev. Chalon Iiurgess, and two daughters.

Isaac Smith from Whately, Massachusetts, came to Sheridan in 1810, and to Hanover that year or the next, bought with Erastus Scott lots 45-53, west of Smith's Mills. He was in the war of 181 2 at Buffalo, contracted fever in the service and died. Rodney B. Smith, the founder of Smith's ]\Iills, was his sou. When but 15, in 1812, he took his brother's place in the army, and was in tlie battles of Chippewa, Black Rock and Williamsville.'' His son, Major Hiram Smith, of Jamestown, was quartermaster in the civil war, and lias been twice the nominee of the Democratic party for member of Congress. Major (jeorge R. Smith, son of Major Hiram, is a graduate of West Point, and in 1882 was appointed paymaster in the U. S. Army.

Reuben Edmonds came in 181 1, took lots 55-77. Lot 55 was near Hanover Center, and lot 74 in Silver Creek. In 181 2, Nedabiah Angell l^ought lot 47 at Aui^clTs settlement (Hanover Center). He soon took a prominent part in affairs. It is tliought that he was the acting supervisor in 1813. Yet there is no record of liis election. There seems to have been no lands taken up in 1^13. In 1814 Jonathan L. Bartoo settled at Forestville, bought a farm and resided there a number of years. In 1816 he sold his farm and mill to Nathan Mixer, moved to Erie county and died in 1852. In 181 4 Benjamin Smith bought- lot 45, and Otis Tower lot 69 near Angell settlement. Otis Tower remained in town until his death. In 1816 David Convis bought lot 54, south of Angell settlement. Norman Spink lot 52 near Forestville; he bought afterwards between the creeks near Silver Creek, and died in vSilver Creek. George E. Kirkland, No. 5, on the east side of the town and Walter Libbey, No. 12, l)etween Smith's Mills and Nashville. In 181 7, Thomas Nevins bought lot 37 west of Smith's Mills; William McManus lot 32 soutli part of town ; Samuel P. McKee, lot 35 east of Forestville. In 1818 Solomon Gregory bought part of lot 59, Forestville; in 1822 James Beach bought lot 33 ])etween Nashville and Forestville ; in 1S23 William Patter- .son bought lot 53 north of Forestville, and Israel Patterson No. 43 east of

Forestville ; in 1826 George Love bought No. 3 near Nashville; in 1827 William Dinsmore bought lot 32, south line, and Belinus Green bought lot 36, C. V. He built on this lot and resided there until his death in tlie seventies.

Albert G. Dow, a native of New Hampshire, came here in 1827, after a residence of 19 years removed to Randolph. He was early elected to office at Silver Creek and was for eight years a justice of the peace at Randolph and served as supervisor ten years ; in 1863 and 1864 was member of assembly from the Second District of Cattaraugus county. In 1873 he was elected state senator in the Thirty-second District (Cattaraugus and Cliautauqua counties), and served one term (1874-75). From i860 to 1880 he was engaged in private banking business; in 1881 he organized the Salamanca National Bank at Salamanca, and was its president until his resignation in 1890: His son, Charles M. Dow, has been president of the Jamestown National Bank since its organization.

After 1827 settlers began to come in rapidly. Tliose who took up lands were not the only residents. There were many who came and remained who do not appear on the company's books, eitlier never bought or bought of individuals. As early as 1818 Philo Newton, from Massacliusctts, came and remained until his death. Nine sons came with him who settled at La Grange, and many of their descendants live here. Henry J. Newton, of Silver Creek, the last surviving son of Philo, died in the s])ring of 1894. Rufus L. Bonney, a soldier of 181 2, cauie in soon after the war. Pionney died at Irving in 1886, aged 86, He married a daughter of John Smith who came about 1807. Nathan Mixer came to Forestville in 181 7. He was supervisor for ten years, three terms a member of Assembly, and for a time associate judge of the county. He died at Forestville in 1871. Geo. Love in 1820 settled for life near Forestville. Forestville was early known as Walnut Falls. The first postoffice there was called Planover, and it is said Mr. Love brought the change of name to F'orestville. Jeremiah Ellsworth, M. D., came in 1828, settled at Silver Creek, practiced medicine until 1846, moved to Ellington and from there to Corry, Pa. He was supervisor of Hanover three terms. While at Ellington he was twice elected member of assembly. In 1873 he was elected mayor of Corry. Comfort P>irdsey came to Portland from Oneida in 1828 with his mother, a widow with three sons and three daughters. They came to Hanover the same year and settled between Hanover Center and Silver Creek. Mr. Birdsey was a man of good, safe judgement, and much respected, holding various offices. He died in 1893.

In 181 2, when Hanover was formed, there was a scattering population, in various parts. There were four r^v/Av-.v, hardly villa;4es : Silver Creek then Fayette, Irving then Cattaraugus, Forestville and Nashville (Webster Settlement). At the first election for member of assembly, April 181 3, in

Hanover, wliicli comprised Sheridan and Villenova, the whole number of votes cast was only 112. James Williams received 67, and Jacob Houghton 45. There is no record showing any town election in 181 2 or 18 13. The first town-meeting of which there is record preserved is thus recorded : " Resolutions and proceedings of the annual town-meeting held at the house of Daniel Holbrook for the year 1814, April 5th. Bethel Willoughby chosen moderator. Resolved, that Joseph Krownell be and is hereby appointed supervisor for the year ensuing. Resolved, that Samuel J. vSmitli be and is hereby appointed ck-rk for the year ensuing. Resolved, that Ivzra Puffer, Nedabiah Angell and Miles Wcljstcr is hcre])y appointed assessors." The date 1813 " given by Mr, Young and Judge Foote as that when Daniel Russell was chosen supervisor is wrong. The record is some pages later in the record book and says 181 5.'' The error arose from mistaking a 5 for a 3. The supervisors have been : Joseph Brownell, 1814-16-17-18-19 ; Daniel Russell, 1815-28-9-30 ; Natlian IMixer, 1820-1-2-3-4-6-7-31-2-6 ; Seth Snow, 1825; Oliver Lee, 1833-4-5 ; William Colville, Jr., 1837-46-50-1 ; Ebenezer R. Avery, 1838; Adolphus F. ]Morrison, 1839-48; Ezekiel B. Gurnsey, 1840; Thomas C. Hale, 1841 ; Jereniiah Ellsworth, 1842-44-45 ; Orson Stiles, 1843 5 Henry H. Hawkins, 1847 ; Charles H. Lee, 1849-52 ; Hiram Smith, 1853-4; Clark C. Swift, 1855-6; Hiram Smith, 2d, 1857-8-9; Chandler Scott, 1860- 1-2-7; Cyrus D. Angell, 1863 ; William D. Talcott, 1864; Nahum S. Scott, 1865-6; Jolin D. Ililler, 186S-9; Norman B. Brown, 1870-1 ; Smith Clark, 1872-3 ; Le Roy Andrus, 1874 ; Carlos Ewell, 1875-6 ; O. Lee Swift, 1877-8 ; John G. Record, 1879; Seth ]\L Tompkins, 1880-1 ; Jason Knapp, 1882-3-4- 5; Albert IL Stcbbins, 1886-7-S-9-90-1-3 ; John McAdani, 1892; Asa Dye, 3894. ,

The population of Hanover in 1835 was 3,520, in 1890, 4,616. Silver Creek had 666 inhabitants in 1870, in 1890, 1,678. Forestville in 1870 had 722 population, in 1890, 788. This shows the increase of the town in fiftylive years to have been 1,096, that the increase in Silver Creek in the twenty years from 1870 to 1890 was 1,012, and in Forestville the gain was 66 - in both villages 1,078. This leaves only eighteen more in tlie town outside these villages than there was in 1835. This shows if any gain has been made in Smith's or other smaller villages, that there has been a loss of population ill the town outside the villages since 1835. This seems to be the case all through the town. In 1879 the assessed valuation of real estate was $1,691,015, personal, $i8S,8oo; in 1888 real estate, $1,540,253; personal, $152,540; in 1S93 real estate $1,528,020, personal $118,375. There are in 1894, 34 stores, 2 tanneries, 7 sawmills, 18 manufactories, 23 cheese factories, K) l)lacks!nith shops, i canning factory, and 2 banks in town.

1828 Oliver Lee had bought of Jolin E. Howard the mill property and other lands on lot 74 at Silver Creek^ and opened a store. He soon built up a large -trade with the Indians and settlers reaching to the south line of the county. When Lee came there were but eight or ten houses in Silver Creek. Oliver Lee died at Buffalo in 1846. C. C. Swift came from Rata via as a clerk for O. Lee vsent by Ellicott in answer to Lee's request for a man who talked Seneca. He remained with Lee as clerk and partner until Lee closed business at Silver Creek. He married Lee's daughter and now lives at Silver Creek. The early merchants at Silver Creek were Stephen Clark, John E. Howard and Manning Case. After these came John M. Cummings. The village was west of Walnut creek before 1828. The postoffice, then Fayette, was kept in a store on that side when Oliver Lee came. In 1832 Wm. Van Duzer was postmaster and moved the office to Lee's store, east side of Walnut creek and between the two creeks. O. Lee C. C. Swift continued in mercantile business until about 1846. Afterward there were engaged in business there Ammi IMarchant «S: Daniel Rumsey in 1829 » ^'oot <S: Rumscy ; Rumsey <Sc H. N. Farnham. The firm was H. N. Farnham <S: Co. W^ith Farnham as the '*Co." were at different times Justin Clark & Joseph Wells. Farnham's business was sold to IMack Montgomery «Sc Charles Wells and continued by Chas. Wells to 1872. E. R. Ballard, and H. H. Hawkins traded in the O. Lee store. Silas Gates, O. Lee Swift and Porter Smith w^ere also traders. There are in trade now Stewart &. Co. ; Horton Brothers ; Montgomery & Talcott; F. C. Mathias Co. ; C. J. Newendorf ; Mr. Ailing ; Charles Taber ; George Gaston ; Mrs. Weston ; George Shofner & Son ; Wm. Campbell & F. Lipsey.

At Cattaraugus, soon after 1830, the U. S. government commenced building a harbor and expended much money in building piers, etc., to protect and keep the channel open. Thus a village grew up at the mouth of the creek and was known as Cattaraugus. Stores and storehouses were built there. Considerable freighting business was done, and large quantities of lumber shipped, as the harbor gave an outlet to market for lumber, and soon five or six lumber mills were built at La Grange, a mile and a half above the harbor. The Irving Company was formed August 17, 1836, and bought about 20 C. V. lots at the mouth of the creek. The comj)any was composed of William Kent, lycwis Eaton, Augustus C. vStevens, Henry P. Wilcox, Thurlow Weed, Erastus Corning, Thomas W. Olcolt, William Samuel Johnson, Hamlet Scranton, John V. S. Pruyn, Pierre A. Barker, Hiram Pratt and Thomas B. Stoddard. The title to a large amount of land bought by the company was owned by Rufus Reed, who conveyed it to Augustus C. Stevens in 1835. He conveyed lots 1-2-3-4-5-6-7, C. V. The Irving village plot included the first 24 C. V. lots.

county, came to Portland in 1829, and to Hanover in 1830 and located at La Grange. Thorn bought of Squire Ephraim Hall lot 11 C. V., and Sackett lots 47, 48, C. V. of Holland Land Company and of C. A. H. McGregor, a nephew of Ellicott, lots 43, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, and 58, C. V., and lot 59 of vSottle. Sackett afterward owned the two sawmills on the creek, and carried on lumbering and merchandising there along with his farming. A large part of his lands he sold afterwards to John J. and E. B. Guernsey. He was elected for several terms justice of the peace, and was fi^r a number of years one of the judges of the court of common pleas. He died at Irving in 1869 aged 72. He was ''aflable and courteous in his manner, decided in his convictions, a man of strict integrity and of comprehensive mind, and scrupulously just ; evincing in his judicial character those qualities of mind and heart which made him botli able and the just judge." His children were Jehiel, John J., Joseph T., ^Marcus, Seuiantha and Xiram, Jr.

Forestville, after the building of the sawmill and gristmill in 1809 ^^^^^ -I 8 10, was the center of much business, and early had a large trade in pot and pear! as] ICS.

Tlie Holland Land Company laid out a road from Fredonia through Forestville and Nashville. This road became the road dro\'ers took in driving their cattle, liogs and sheep to New York and Philadelphia. Taverns were about as frecpient there as on the main road along the Lake, This road helped the south i)art of tlie to\/ns and F^orestville and Nashville very much. F"^orestviHe received early a nnmber of enterprising men who materially assisted in building it up, .Vmong them were John Hurlbut, Nathan Mixer^ Albert 11. Camp, Daniel and Harvey Holbrook, \Vm. Colville, Jr., :\mos Avery, M. J)., Adolphus and ( )rrin Morrison, and later, Daniel Sherm.an, L. J. Pierce, P. (). Tower.

After the F^-ie and Lake Shore railroads came in 185 1-2 the whole character of the town was changed. The road from Fredonia to Nashville ceased to be used by drovers. I know of no hotels except at P'^orestville in town on that once very busy highway. A similar change took place in the northern part of the town. After the Lake Shore railroad came through in 1852 the long lines of emigrant wagons going to the west were no longer to be seen,, and the hotels closed for the want of custom. The main road along the lake shore from the old Mack tavern to Silver Creek was principally abandoned for a more direct new road from upp-r Irving to Silver Creek. Where the old road ran in 1838, Lake Erie has washed it away, and the gardens and lots where three houses stood, and carried off 10 or 15 acres east of the road. During the winter of iS.^0-1 on lhat n^ad Jndge vSackett kept over night for drovers 18,000 hogs, besides great numbers of cattle and sheep. He kept no. hotel, but his farm, like nian\' others, was fitted for keeping droves, and this, business furnished a home market for his hay and grain, .\fter the next winter few stock were driven. The railroad carried them. The government made no more appropriations for tlie liarbor, and piers and harbor went to decay. The business at Irving and Silver Creek was much reduced by the cutting off the trade with the southern towns. Forestville also lost its part of the southern towns trade. The lower village of Irving was entirely abandoned ; except one or two fishing shanties near the lake. From the coming of railroads I'orestville, and Silver Creek more largely, invested more in manufacturing, and increased in population and wealth until they are thriving places. Forestville had a disastrous fire in 1870 which burned most of its business places and checked its growth for years. Silver Creek's most enterprising citizens after 1853 built factories, machine shops, etc. They have developed a large business in manufacturing and selling the Eureka snmt and separating machines. This was built up by Simeon Howes, Ezekiel Montgomery & Son, Alpheus and Norman Babcock, \V. W. Huntley and others. This business commenced in 1856. There have been many changes among the proprietors, Simeon Howes from 1859 to 1864 was out of the business but resumed it in 1864, and after having had others connected with him took in the business Albert Horton as a partner, who sold to Carlos Ewell. About 1888 Mr. Simeon Howes bought the interest of the Babcocks and Ewell, who had all died, and became sole proprietor. Mr. Howes died in 1892, and the business is carried on by his executors. 120 machines machines were made and sold in 1856-7, in 1S92 more than 2,000.

Other manufactories are Excelsior Works, making milling machines, August Heine proprietor. Shoemaker <^ Co., manufacture buckwheat shuckers ; Staring & Co., have a stepladder factory ; Montgomery, Quail & Montgomer)' have upholstering works ; Henry Schrader has a basket factory ; there are two flouring mills and other minor industries, piaking Silver Creek a thriving manufacturing village.

Haftoc'cr Lodge^ F. df A, M. was instituted in the schoolhouse at Forestville, Feb. 5, 1824. Charter members : Luther Thwing, W. M. ; Ezra Piffer, S. W. ; Seth Snow, J. W. ; Albert H. Camp, sect. ; Warren Griswold, treas. (first officers) and Ephraim Judson, Richard Smith, William Jones and Elijah Robinson. Discontinued in 1828, it was rechartered in 1849.

Silver Lodge ^ No. 757, F. <jf A. M.^ was organized Nov. 11, 1874. The charter members were Hiram Washburn, W. jNI. ; Amos Bowen, S. W. ; G. W. Backer, J. W. ; O. Lee Swift, treasurer ; C. G. Talcott, secretary ; Frank vSwift, S. D. ; P. W. Bates, J. D. ; and F. D. Fuller, W. L. Christy, F. IVI. Gifford, James Chesbro, Ebenezer Buel, W. W. Huntley, Smith Clark, A. L. Mulkins, A. Montgomery, M. Leland, \V. S. Andrus, Squire Keith, G. D. Chesbro, H. Newton, G. W. Smith, G. B. Bishop, Membership, April 1894, 108. The present secretary is S. H. Burgess.

John G. Record, son of Israel and Mary (Gardner) Record, is a native of Hanover. He received an academical education, was admitted to the Chautauqua county bar in 1859, and has been and is a successful practitioner at Forestville. Mr. Record is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, and advocates the principles of his party with vigor. He has served his town as supervisor.

Albert W. Hull was born in Oneida county in 1825. His father moved to Cherry Creek in 1837 and here Albert received his early education. He was engaged in contracting and building for some years, and in 1868 commenced the study of law with John G. Record and was admitted to the bar of the state in 1870, and subsequently that of the United States district courts, and pursues his profession at Forestville. In 1885 he was elected justice of the sessions.

Hon. George K. Towne, a native of Keene, N. H., removed to Cattaraugus county when 13. He was graduated in 1875 from the Ten Broeck academy at Franklinville, read law with the Hon. Alfred Spring and was admitted to practice at Rochester in 1879, and commenced practice in Cattaraugus county. In iSSo he came to Silver Creek and established himself as a lawyer. He is a Republican and has been- a popular member of assembly two terms.

Edwin R. Hopkins, M. D., son of Kzra and Catherine (Johnson) Hopkins, was born at Westficld, May 21, 1849. He was educated at Westfield academy, was a medical student in Dr. J. M. Brown's office. He then went to Buffalo and after study ing two years with the professor of surgery in the medical department of the I'niversity of IhifTalo, lie entered the university and was gniduated therefrom in hV-bruary, 1877, and located at Silver Creek in November, where he has been in active and successful practice as a surgeon and ]Miysician. He is surge<jn of the W. N. V. and Pa. R. R., is a member of the Chautaiujna Conntv Medical vSociety and vice-president of the alumni of the medical department of the University of BulTalo.