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History of Schuyler co., NY - written c.1877
Beaver Dams Burdett Dix / Catlin Reading Center
This is a History of Schuyler County found in an
attic.
It was from strips cut from the Watkins
Democrat newspaper,
and the only date I can
find is 1877. There is no name of an author and
nothing
to show the order that it appeared. The Propietor was
William H. BALDWIN. I will type it as it is and show
where something has been
torn away, as I think it should
be saved. [typed by Helena Howard].
LOCAL HISTORY
"It would be well for the vast multitudes who, during
the Centennial epoch, are so busily engaged in making imaginary bows
and courtesies to fancied processions of departed greatness and
illustrious ancestors, to pause occasionally in their reverential
exercise of filial duty, and turn an eye towards the habits of
economy and industry, once practised by the subjects of their
visionary and ideal reverence.
Our respect
for our fathers' memories is copius, diffusive and immense, our
regard for their simple habits of (?) labor and frugality is
sickly, (?) and contemptible.
Although the
foregoing is not exactly "local history," we trust our
readers will excuse its introduction here, suggested by the following
extracts from the Town Roll of Catlin, which was made in 1835, upon
six sheets of fools-cap paper. This Roll is made with manifest
precision and completeness, and contains as many written lines as are
now embraced, within the Roll of Dix. It is signed by S. L.
ROOD, Smith CLARK and Abraham HYATT, assessors, and certified to by
A. G. EVERTS, supervisor:
1835
Catlin Town Tax Roll
Names
Acres Value
Tax
Joseph
F. BABBITT 168
$850 $3.91
Chas.
BENNETT
106 600
2.76
Willis
BALDWIN, 6 village lots
200 .92
Czar
BARNHAM
10 45
.21
Jonas
BLOWERS
38 370
1.70
Jacob
BUCHER
108 337
1.60
Watson
COLE
50 215
.99
Thomas
CULVER
172 588
2.70
Johnson
CARTER
183 550
2.00
John
DIVEN
150 925
5.14
Alanson
G. EVERTS
50 290
5.02
Lewis
EDMINISTER
79 222
1.02
Phillip
GANO
67 320
1.48
Squire
GRISWOLD
67 300
2.48
Robert
GORDON
grocery 75
.35
Gilbert
S. GILBERT 207
656 3.03
Abraham
HYATT
100 336
1.55
Joseph
HASTINGS
150 934
4.30
Jonathon
KING
100 434
1.95
Jacob
KING
214 859
3.94
Miles
KELLOGG
30 100
.46
Hiram
JACKSON
100 630
2.90
Masters
WILLIAM
300 1035
5.50
Philander
NORTON ashery & lots
150 .69
Daniel
PRATT
62 296
1.36
Edward
QUINN
6 lots 275
1.27
Daniel
RACE village lots
75 .34
William
R. SMITH
110 360
1.00
John
STILES
100 300
1.30
Jacob
SNOOK
520 2470
11.36
Abel
N. SWEET
100 340
1.56
Jacob
M. SHOEMAKER 193
579 2.66
Daniel
TRACY
286 940
4.29
Daniel
TUTTLE
personal 500
2.30
Tunis
VOORHEES
302 1000
4.65
John
VanVLEET
8 lots 425
1.75
William
R. WILLIAMS tavern
300 1.30
WILLOVER
& MITCHELL lots
400 1.84
Roswell
WAKELEE
128 991
5.47
Samuel
WATKINS
3444 24,160
111.14
Stephen B.
MUNN, a non-resident, had 1234 acres in the N.W. section of township
No. 1, Watkins and Flint Purchase. His lands were bounded on
the south by Big Flats, Chemung co., NY.
There
were 2,944 acres remaining unsold of the tract known as Smith's
Section, for the sale of which Hector MAXWELL, of Elmira, acted as
agent.
The tract designated as Moreland
Manor belonged to the heirs of Charles CARROL, and was situated in
the southeast and southwest sections of township No. 2, Watkins &
Flint Purchase. Dr. Joseph SPEED, of Caroline, Tompkins Co.,
was agent for this estate, and Judge CRAWFORD a sub-agent.
There were over 4,000 acres of these lands not disposed of in 1835.
Richard C. JOHNSON, another non-resident, had
555 acres at that time. Harmon POMPELLY, of Owego, was his
agent.
Daniel NORRIS, Esq., of Reading, was
the representative of the interests of the heirs of Richard
HARTSHORN.
The averaged assessed valuation
placed upon the non-resident lands was not far from three dollars per
acre, and the aggregate number of acres was something in excess of
10,000.
In 1835 the statute provided that
individuals who were in debt for their land should receive credit
upon the payment of taxes, corresponding to the amount of their
indebtedness, at [bottom of column torn off] highest per acre of any
land upon the roll.
Lewis EDMINISTER, who
was for sixty years a well known citizen of Tioga and Chemung
counties, and became a large land owner and farmer, died at his
residence upon Big Flats within the past year.
Phillip GANO, father of Levi M., Jonas D. and Halsey GANO, still
occupies the premises assessed to him forty-one years ago. They
are situated about one mile west of Havana.
Abraham HYATT, whose name appears as one of the assessors on the
roll, lived about one half mile east of Catlin Centre school house.
He was an active influential man, and father of three sons. The
eldest, Nelson HYATT, has been a publisher in Waterloo, N. Y., and
now resides at Ovid. The second son, who is a prominent and
respected citizen of Iowa, has served as Mayor of the city in which
he resides. The third is an attorney at Buffalo, N. Y.
Jacob and Jaduthan KING were brothers, who came from Tompkins
county to Martin's Settlement about half a century since, and while
they remained in town were counted among its most intelligent and
worthy citizens. they became disgusted with their location,
however, and emigrated west within a year or two subsequent to this
assessment.
Miles KELLOGG came from Danby,
Tompkins Co., and located where M. H. GRAY now lives in Moreland.
William MASTERS, another thriving farmer, in
the southeast part of the town, continued to reside upon the farm he
first "took up," and died there only two or three years
since.-- His brother for several years resided at North Reading, in
this county.
Daniel PRATT, who is
represented as the owner of sixty-two acres of land, assessed $296,
and upon which, according to the same authority, he owed considerable
more than that sum, lived upon the place lately bought by Col. L. G.
RENO of Mr. WOODWORTH. We have heard Mr. PRATT say that
when he lived upon this place it was no unusual thing for him to take
a cord of wood to the village with his oxen, and trade his load for a
gallon of molasses, valued at five shillings. But this was not
the kind of commerce which Nature had intended Mr. PRATT should
follow. He soon gave up his farm, and settled in Havana.
Before coming to this part of the country he had acquired some
knowledge of the manufacture of woolen cloths, and at that time
determined to abandon farming and engage in manufacturing pursuits.
He leased and occupied (we think) the "Woolen Mills"
of Major SKELLINGER four years. At the expiration of that time,
together with his brother Ransom PRATT, he established in Elmira the
business which subsequently grew to large proportions, and from which
the family derived a handsome fortune. Mr. PRATT has long been
regarded as one of Elmira's "solid" men, and not
withstanding all his opportunities for observation, and the
acquirement of varied knowledge, afforded by extensive travel and
intercourse with able men, he still attributes much of his success in
life to the stern discipline and habits of economy enforced upon him
in his early life by that "new, stumpy, sterile farm in Dix."
Wm. R. SMITH, whose farm is now occupied by
Capt. TEN BROOK, lived about one mile south of Judge CRAWFORD's
place. He was associated, for a time with Charles COOK, of
Havana, [bottom of column torn off].
Hiram CHAPMAN, at
Irelandville.-- These premises were soon after sold, when his
son went back to Martin's Settlement, and bought a farm near to his
father's former home. He, the son, is one of the most
enterprising and successful farmers now living in the town.
Tunius VOORHEES, who had three hundred acres, where Wm. SAYLER, M.
K. PALMER and the Sylvester GOODWIN place now are, sold out and went
to Beaver Dams, Wisconsin.
Roswell WAKLEE
pays taxes on the same premises now that he did then, and although
middle aged in 1835, is still a sprightly, active, cheerful man.
The disbursements for the year in which this
toll was made, were $999.27. Of this amount, $202 were for town
expenses, $210 for highways, $145 for schools, $413 for county
charges, $12 bad debts, and $8 for a rejected tax.
Burdett, and Irelandville, were then of as much importance as
Salubria. This was before Wm. HARING, Geo. B. GUINNIP or Alva
NASH had come to Jefferson, and not a single clergyman, attorney or
physician now remains in either the town of Catlin, or the town of
Dix, who was at that date engaged in his profession within the limits
of the town. So far as our information reaches, Esq. PECK,
Michael WILLOVER and Wm. H. WILLIAMS are the only survivors of those
who had engaged in business enterprises prior to that time."
"Its location - Origin of the name - surroundings - Churches, Hotels and Mills - Business, Professional and industrial interests, &c., &c.
The village of Burdett is situated in the
southwestern section of the town of Hector, three and a half miles
northeast of Watkins, on the stage and mail route leading to and from
the last name place and Ithaca, and about six miles north of
Havana. The location is an elevated, pleasant and
healthful one, and the village contains quite a number of fine
residences and beautiful residence grounds. It is
surrounded by a rich and fertile agriculture country, and though slow
of growth for a term of years past, has nevertheless much wealth and
many elements of prosperity. It received its name many years
ago, at the suggestion of Richard R. WOODWARD, Esq., brother of the
late Horatio H. WOODWARD, in honor of Sir Francis BURDETT, a
distinguished English nobleman of high character and excellent
repute, and probably is the ancestral line of Miss Burdett COUTTS a
distinguished English lady of the present day.
The stream of water which, broken into a number of beautiful
cascades, aggregating more than 200 feet in height, when falling into
Seneca Lake a mile west of the village, is known as Hector Falls; it
passes through the center of the village, furnishing a good water
power, for flouring and other mills, and is a valuable natural
feature and element of prosperity, the loss or absence of which would
be severly felt. It is a well established fact that Sullivan's
expedition against the Six Nations, or Seneca Indians, of the
Genessee country, in 1779 -- 98 years ago -- crossed this stream but
a little west of Burdett and between the village and Hector Falls, on
its way northward, after leaving the head waters of Seneca Lake.
GLEN ELDRIDGE
Named after Dr. Edwin ELDRIDGE, late of Elmira (who was
formerly a resident of Burdett, and engaged in medical practise there
many years ago), a beautiful and attractive summer resort, which has
in the past five years attained to no little celebrity, and become a
popular picnic ground, is but a mile and a half northwest of the
village, at the lake shore, and only half a mile north of Hector
Falls.
In former years, during the days of
those two remarkable men -- BAKER and Charles MILLER, Burdett did an
immense grain, flour, dry goods, grocery and provision business, the
village and Hector Falls, then, while their career lasted, having
been two of the most stirring localities now embraced within the
limits of Schuyler County. The failures of BAKER and MILLER
were severely felt by the surrounding farming community, which lost
heavily by both, and [?] depressing effect upon the village
[?] some extent still visible, although a fair and encouraging
amount of business is being done at the present time. It
is the place at which the polls of the 3rd election district of
Hector are held, in general elections and henceforth on town meeting
days.
CHURCHES, HOTELS, MILLS, STORES, SHOPS, &c.
Presbyterian Church - Rev. E.W. TWICHELL, pastor
M. E. Church - Rev. Daniel CHASE, pastor.
Baptist church - Rev. Silas DURAN, pastor.
Two good common or district schools.
Jackson House - Mrs. M. F. KIRKENDALL, proprietor - N.T. WILLIAMS,
assisstant manager.
Fuller House - John A.
LAMPHIER, proprieter.
N. N. NIVISON, M.D.,
physician and surgeon and professor in Syracuse Medical University.
J. A. NORTHRUP, M. D. , physician and surgeon.
J. W. LYON, dentist, veterinary surgeon, &c.
A. PATTERSON - Postmaster.
W. M. LAMBERT - Justice of the Peace.
Wm.
C. COON, Grant ELLIS, Allen C. BECKER, James ROWE - Notaries Public.
Willow Grove Flouring and Custom Mills -- Wm.
C. COON, proprietor. Has an excellent water power, three
run of stone, first class machinery, and does an extensive and
profitable business. Its proprietor purchases all kinds
of grain for cash, and deals largely in flour, feed, meal, &c.
A valuable property, and exercises a most salutary and beneficial
influence on the business of the village.
W.C.
GEROWE - saw and lathe mill, picket, scroll and ornamental work for
fences buildings &c. Manufacturer of picture frames,
mouldings, &c., &c. Good water power, excellent
machinery and facilities, and its owner and manager is a first class
mechanic.
J. F. ROE - plaining and shingle
mills, turning, and cottage chair manufacturing.
Norman N. THOMPSON - dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats
and caps - general merchandise. North side of stream and
opposite Fuller House.
Wm. A. HURD -
dry goods, groceries, hardware, &c. - general merchandise,
including boots and shoes, hats and caps, crockery and glassware, &c.
LAMBERT & BURGE - groceries and provisions,
clothing, drugs, boots and shoes, hats and caps, etc.
Wm. C. COON - groceries, provision etc., etc.
Ansel ELLIOT - groceries, boots and shoes, drugs, notions, etc.
Located in north part of Jackson House. Recently started and
doing a lively business.
H.B. MILLER -
grain dealer , cash for all kinds of grain, grass seed, etc.
Grain warehouse at lake shore, north side of Glen Eldridge.
Best grain market in the town of Hector; purchases only on
commission; pays cash on delivery, and does a large business.
Alanson BAILEY - cattle dealer, buys and sells fat cattle, sheep,
etc.
A. PATTERSON & Son - harness
making. All kinds of light and heavy harness, plain, fancy and
ornamental -- latest styles and trimmings. None but first
quality oak-tanned leather used, and prices as low, or lower than at
any other harness making establishment in Schuyler County or
elsewhere in this section of the State.
Burge's Hall - Robert BURGE, proprietor. Good sixed village
hall, and only one in the place.
James ROWE
- custom boot and shoe manufacturing, repairing, etc.
C.F. REYNOLDS - boot and shoe shop.
Ira
ROSENCRANS - wagon making shop, repairing, etc.
Amos JOHNSON - wagon making etc.
POWERS
Bro's - meat market, etc.
WILCOX &
BENJAMIN - meat market, etc.
BEYEA &
Wheat - blacksmithing, general jobbing, carriage ironing, etc.
Horseshoeing a speciality; long and practical experience in the
business; no machine made shoes; special attention given to difficult
cases and satisfaction guaranteed.
C.C.
CARRIGAN - blacksmith and general jobbing shop.
E. AMES - cooper shop.
C.F. REYNOLDS,
Wesley REYNOLDS, Hobart TYRRELL - carpenters and joiners.
John S. HOWELL - mason, paper hanger, and general house repairer
and removator.
SPECIAL NOTES
The proprieter of the Willow Grove Flouring and
Custom Mills has probably been in the milling business longer than
any other man in the county, with the exception of Hobert Mills of
Watkins, having been engaged in it for the past 20 years. He
has been in the grocery trade for many years, longer if we mistake
not, than any other man now living within the County limits.
He has also (in former years) been a school teacher, town
Superintendent of common Schools in Hector territory (10 miles
square), represented Tompkins County once in the Legislature before
Schuyler was formed, and twice represented the last named County in
that body in the years 1870 and 1871.
But
few of the old settlers of Burdett remain. Joseph CARSON - long
and familiarly known as "Uncle Joe Carson" having been one
of the last to pass away. General Daniel JACKSON, long
identified with the place, and for many years proprietor of the
Jackson House, which still bears his name, is now a resident of
Watkins. The same may be said of H. M. RAKER, senior proprietor
of the Fall Brook House in Watkins, who was a resident of Burdett for
many years though not one of the first settlers. Rev. F. S.
HOWE, former pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Watkins, has (on
the other hand) become a resident of Burdett, and Mrs. D.
LACY(formerly) Mrs. Hiram CHAPMAN) of Watkins, also resides there
with her husband (a former resident of Yates County) both families
having pleasant and comfortable homes.
THE HOTELS
The Jackson House, Mrs. M. F. KIRKENDALL, proprietor; Mr. N. C. WILLIAMS (late of Watkins) assistant; is a well and pleasantly conducted house, and does a good business; and the new proprietor of the Fuller House, J.A.LAMPHIER, comes well recommended, and intends that his house shall be conducted creditably to himself and the village.
THE MILLS
The flouring and custom mills of Wm. C. COON, the saw, lath, scroll work, moulding and picture frame mill of W. C. GEROWE, and the planing shingle and chair making mill of J. F. ROE are all three valuable aids and adjuncts to the place, and should, in all possible ways, be encouraged by the community. We are happy to see unmistakable signs of their prosperity, among which, as far as Mr. GEROWE is concerned, is the building of a new and really attractive, and inviting residence on the route leading to his place of business, which speaks as much for his good taste and mechanicle genius as does the splendidly working machinery (much of it of his own invention) which can be seen in operation at his mill.
AS A SUMMER RESIDENCE
Burdett has but few equally healthful, pleasant and inviting rivals in Schuyler County, being within easy distance of Watkins and Havana Glens, the Magnetic Springs at the late named village, and in the near vicinity of several beautiful ravines, waterfalls and Seneca Lake, on which unrivaled and truly magnificent sheet of water splendid views are obtained on the routes to Havana, Watkins, Hector Falls and Glen Eldridge; and those who make the summer acquaintance of this village and its kind, intelligent, neighborly and social inhabitants, will not wonder that they are strongly, and many of them enthusiastically, attached to the locality. M.E.
Although Schuyler, as organized in
1854, was formed from Tompkins, Steuben and Chemung, there was a
period not remote in its history when all its territory was embraced
in one county. And we know of no authentic evidence that
indicates that Montgomery [county] was in any wise discommoded or
inconvienced by the possession of so large and extensive a domain as
Schuyler's present area. The region now known as Schuyler
remained wholly within Montgomery county until 1789, when that
portion afterward belonging to Steuben, was set off with Ontario.
In 1796, Steuben was organized, and fifty-seven
years later, in "fifty-four", helped beget Schuyler.
The towns of Hector, Catharine, Dix and Cayuta
remained in Montgomery two years after the erection of Ontario.
And in 1792, Herkimer and Tioga were also formed: Chemung being
taken from Tioga in 1836. The towns of Dix, Montour, Catharine
and Cayuta were therefore first in the original county of Albany,
then Montgomery, then Tioga, next Chemung and finally in Schuyler.
While Hector commencing in Albany successively
belonged to Montgomery, Herkimer, Onondaga, Cayuta, Seneca and
Tompkins.
Although it has been a
constituent element of eight different counties, during the past
century, Hector has, by no means been used up or exhausted by its
frequent mutations and transfers, since it still contains over sixty
thousand acres of land, and nearly or quite one-fourth the population
of the county
There appear to have been few
or no really permanent settlements in Schuyler prior to 1790, or
thereabouts. After Sullivan's raid, and the exploring parties
who followed in its wake but little is known of the region until
1790, when George MILLS, the McCLUREs and two or three other families
settled on the flats near the village of Havana. An apparently
unsuccessful effort to establish a beginning in the woods was made
about the same time, nearer the head of the lake, upon the present
site of Watkins. A year or two later, in 1791-2 the WICKHAMs
with one or two neighbors also moved into Hector. But
immigration was feeble, and the "newcomers" few and far
apart, until the years 1797-8, when the advent of pioneers and
adventures became more frequent, and the occupation and development
of the country was actually commenced.
At
this time, John DIVEN and Wm. BASKIN with their families, removed
from Pennsylvania, and settled upon the county line road, about 1
mile west of the head of the lake. Mr. BASKIN "took up"
the premises known as the Alexander ROSS place, and DIVEN the farm
still occupied by members of the family, just above the county line
burying ground. There were several children born of these
families and their names have long been prominent in local and public
matters.
Clark J. BASKIN, Esq., now
residing in the town of Reading and the longest resident practising
attorney and counsellor in the county, is a son of Wm. BASKIN, and if
we are not in error, was the first native born citizen of the town of
Dix who received the advantages of a collegiate course of study
Rebecca BASKIN, a sister of Clark J., married
Jarius CHAPMAN, who came with his father from Saratoga Co., NY to
this section in 1820, and located near what has long been known as
the Partridge tavern stand in Reading.
John
DIVEN had several sons and daughters of whom the Hon. Wm. DIVEN, late
of the town of Reading, and Gen. A. S. DIVEN, of Elmira, have
been the most conspicuous before the public.
Wm. DIVEN was, for many years, Justice of the Peace in the town of
Reading, and in 1847 he represented the county of Steuben in the
legislature of this State. He was three times married.
His first wife was a CULVER, the second Mrs. Clarissa HEBARD, and the
third a daughter of the late Daniel NORRIS, Esq., of Reading.
The character and services of Gen. A. S. DIVEN are too well known by
our readers to require mention in these notes.
When Messrs. DIVEN and BASKIN settled in this county, the
surrounding country was of course a wilderness, and for several years
after their arrival their neighbors to the south and east were George
MILLS at what is now Havana, and Judge CATLIN, who resided near the
present village of Odessa. The MILLS and CATLIN families were
also large, and for a long time the children of these four families
constituted the young society of what would now be considered a
pretty widely scattered neighborhood.
Dr.
Madison MILLS, a son of George MILLS, has long held a distinguished
position in the Medical Department of the regular army. Phineas
CATLIN, Esq., a highly respected and wealthy citizen of Catharine, is
a son of Judge CATLIN, and his sister Mary became the wife of the
late Judge John CRAWFORD, of Crawford's settlement.
The homes of these early prominent settlers served as stopping and
resting places for the tired and exhausted parties who came on later,
and were pushing their way farther on, over the hills and into the
wilderness toward the western boundaries of the county.
There are numerous citizens still living in the towns of Dix,
Orange and Tyrone, who can recall with grateful recollection the
favors thus afforded them, by those who were already established in
the new country, and who were in a situation that enabled them to
proffer the hospitality calculated to restore and renew the strength
and courage that had been so heavily taxed by a long and wearisome
journey through the woods.
In the
southwestern part of the town of Dix there were no actual residents
previous to the year 1818.
HACKETT,
HASKINS, PALMER, a man by the name of PERRY, and Edward LEE first
located in the region at and about Beaver Dams. HASKINS lived
on the place now owned by Truman G. BEECHER. HACKET had a
shanty near the foot of the hill, on the farm now owned by W. C.
SAVORY and Frederick PALMER had built a house on the corner now
occupied by Wm. S. BEERS before 1820.
Edward
LEE, father of David and Emory LEE, had pitched his tent at the foot
of the high hill, on the southern portion of what is now SAVORY's
place, and Wm. HAINES lived on what has long been called the COLE
farm, about half way back from the north and south road, towards the
foot of the hill, where Elijah PHELPS located a few years later.
In 1824 Underhill FROST, father of Capt. David
FROST, and George FROST, Esq., of Watkins, removed from Hector, and
bought the premises adjoining and opposite the Beaver Dams cemetery.
The first school house erected in the Post
Creek valley was built in 1826, by the volunteer labor and
contributions of the community, and Miss Amanda HOTCHKISS, sister of
the Rev. Edward HOTCHKISS, taught the first school.
The first grist mill in the town was located in what is generally
known as the VanZANDT's hollow, near its northwest bodudary(sic), by
a Mr. HUBBELL. Daniel KENT soon after bought it, and kept
in operation for several years. In 1831 or 2, Ira DODGE built
the first mill located upon the mill seat now owned and occupied by
John RHODES.
In the portion of the town
known as Crawford's Settlement, or Moreland, John CROUT was the first
settler. He had a lot south of Esq. BARTLETT's residence, given
to him by the agent of the Harper tract as an inducement to settle
there, and for several years was quite alone in the dark and gloomy
hemlock forests.
Judge Crawford, Col. Green
BENNETT, the CLEAVLANDs [CLEVELANDs], Joshua PEARCE, the LOOMIS
family and Wilson BAILEY were all in the neighborhood, however, over
fifty years ago, and may justly be regarded as its pioneers.
Fifty-six years ago Wm. LANE, father of Frederick LANE, of
Beaver Dams, located upon the hillside west of the valley, and with
his brother-in-law, a Mr. EASLING, was for sometime the only
occupants of that vicinity.
At the period
of which we write, the territory now included in the Town of Dix was,
of course, known as the town of Catlin, which extends from the
northern boundary of Big Flats to the head of Seneca Lake. Then
Post Creek, Martin's Hill, Hubbard's Run and Edminister's settlement
were in the same town with the "county line," Watkins and
Townsend. John CORNELL, who after the division of the town
became a resident of Dix, was for fourteen consecutive years Town
Clerk of Catlin and of Dix; and it is no disparagement to his
successors in office to remark that a more beautiful and correct
record has never been kept by a subsequent clerk in that office.
At Townsend, Claudius TOWNSEND, Mr. EVANS, Dods
BENSON and Samuel PRICE were among the earliest settlers. Benj.
PRIEST, Rockwell and Hon. Simeon L. ROOD and Daniel TRACEY, father of
John G., Albert and Ebenezer TRACY came soon after the first
settlements were made, and their descendents constitute a large
portion of the present population.
[torn off]
READING CENTER
Early
Settlement and Location.--Present Condition.--Business
Names---Industries, &c.,&c.
Reading
Center, the most important village in the town of Reading, Schuyler
county, N. Y. (aside from that portion of Watkins embraced within its
southeastern boundaries) seems to have been so named because of its
central position in the town. -The territory of Reading, or a
considerable portion of it, was formerly a part of the old county of
Cayuga, but was many years ago annexed to Fredericksburg, in the
county of Steuben, from a part of which large town Reading was
subsequently formed, and, in 1854, became a part of the county of
Schuyler.
THE FIRST SETTLER
In the vicinity of Reading Center was Judge John DOW, of Connecticut, who settled there in the year 1798, having previously resided eight years at the Head of Seneca Lake, where Watkins now is. Two years thereafter, in 1800, David CULVER and family settled near Mr. DOW, having also moved from the Head of the Lake. Mr. CULVER built a tavern, dwelling house and barns, &c., and the settlement, thus began by these two noted pioneers, was for a time called Culver's. Reading Center is in the very heart of a fine and fertile agricultural section, equal to the very best in the County, and the surrounding farmers are, as a general thing, in good and easy circumstances.
THE SYRACUSE, GENEVA & CORNING RAILWAY
It passes through the town, from north to south, (or south to
north), and the Depot for Reading Center will be located about a mile
southeast of the village, near the residence of John W. WARNER, Esq.,
and become a convenient shipping point for the grain, hay and other
farm produce of the northern half of the town. As a
matter of course, the proximity of the village to this Station, (not
with standing that it would have been desirable, could it have been
nearer), will have an excellent effect on its business and industrial
interests, as a great proportion of the teams, passengers, &c.,
moving to and from the Depot, will pass through the place. The
Railway will also furnish a full and cheap supply of coal, lumber,
&c., and ensure low freights on all kinds of goods coming into
the town, and all its farm products seeking a market elsewhere,
Reading Center is
VERY PLEASANTLY SITUATED,
and has a fine
site, and all the needful surroundings and conditions for a thriving
village; and we shall, henceforth, expect to see it put on more
business and manufacturing activity, enterprise and public spirit
than hitherto. Its station on the line of the Railway above
named is about 24 miles north of Corning, 4 miles north of Watkins
Glen, 6 southeast of Dundee, and 32 south of Geneva. As a
shipping point it may be classed with Dresden, Himrods and Beaver
Dams, all three of which will undoubtedly ship largely of farm
produce over the new road.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
The following is a list of the present churches,
business men, and interests, &c. of the place [Reading], and will
do to preserve for the future reference and comparison.
Baptist Church -- Rev. S. ROBESON, Pastor.
Methodist Church -- Rev. D.F. BLAINE, Pastor.
Earle's Hotel -- B.B. EARLE, Proprietor, and owner. It is a
carefully and neatly conducted House, creditable alike to its
proprietor and to the village where it is located. It is the
only hotel between Watkins and Dundee, and on the stage route between
Watkins and Tyrone, and doing a handsome business.
Roswell SHEPHERD -- Dry Goods, &c. Lev. SHEPHERD,
Manager and Salesman. Well stocked and has a good trade.
Thomas ELLIS -- Groceries, Provisions,
Hardware, Drugs and Medicine, &c. South half of SHEPHERD
Store.
David ROBSON -- Post Master
J. M. COLE -- Town clerk, Carriage painting, &c.,&c.
George CONKLIN -- Jeweler, &c.
D. A. JOHNSON, M. D. -- Physician and Surgeon.
Henry BUDD, M.D. -- Physician and Surgeon
A.
SUTTON -- Justice of the Peace.
Samuel COLE
-- Insurance Agency.
S.K. CONKLIN -- Dealer
in all kinds of Nursey Stock, Fruit, Shade and Ornamental trees, &c.
L.B.WEAVER -- Harness making.
C. B. SMITH -- Harness making.
L. P. C.
SNOW -- Meat Market, Slaughter House, Meat Wagon, &c.
Peter MORLY -- Boot and Shoe Shop.
Mr.
WOOD -- Wagon Making and Repair shop.
SANFORD
& ANDREWS, CONKLIN & PIPER, T.C. MILLER -- Carpenters and
Joiners.
Warren N. HURLEY, H.C. LOTT --
Masons.
J.T. FINLAN -- Blacksmithing and
Wagon Making.
A.S.WOODWORTH -- Blacksmith
and Wagon Maker.
Reading Center also has
a flourishing "Temperance Union" and a "Home Social
Circle" with the latter of which is connected a good circulating
library. The population, as well as that of the surrounding
town, is remarkable for the general intelligence, industry, sobriety
and economy. -- Hence the town (of which Adrian TUTTLE, Esq. has been
Supervisor for a term of years past) has but few paupers, and light
town taxes. It may, in fact, be regarded as one of the most
carefully managed towns of Schuyler County, worthy, in its internal
affairs, of emulation; and as it is hereafter to have the benefit of
two railways, running through its whole width or length, (as the case
may be), its prosperity, and that of its central village (Reading
Center) seems well assured, and on a solid and enduring basis.
M. E.
Its location and future prospects ?? Connected with the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railway, &c. &c.
The village of Beaver Dams, is situated in the
southwest section of the town of Dix, Schuyler county, and borders on
the two counties of Chemung and Steuben, from which counties over
two-thirds of Schuyler was taken. It is located on the new
Syracuse, Geneva and Corning Railway, 12 miles north of Corning, 8
south of Watkins Glen Station, and surrounded by a good and
productive agricultural region which annually sends a large amount of
grain, and other farm products, to market. The locality takes
its name from
TWO BEAVER DAMS
on a small stream, in the
vicinity, found, alive with beaver, by the early settlers, and one of
them, or rather a portion of it, remains to the present day.
The place is by no means a large one, but there is every reason to
believe that it will be much benefitted (if a liberal policy prevails
among its real estate owners) by the new Railway, and will become an
important shipping point, a good business center for quite a section
of the adjacent country, and a growing and prosperous village.
A coal yard has already been started, a
hay press will be sure to find its way there this fall; and a
grain warehouse, where "Cash For All Kinds of Grain"
attracting the farmers for many miles around, will undoubtedly be
erected within a short time after the opening of the new Road.
Those influences, with cheap lumber and fuel, cannot fail to lead to
more business, building, and a more progressive condition of things,
in the near future.
THE RECORD OF THE PRESENT
Beaver Dams has two churches -- Methodist, Rev. L.
R. CRIPPEN, pastor, and Universalist, the latter having no regular
pastor. It also has a good and nicely located Union
School House, and a good school--the district (No. 11) being made up
from a portion of the town of Dix, in Schuyler Co., and a part of
Catlin in Chemung Co., and it is a singular fact that the pastor of
the M.E. Churches preaches every Sunday in two towns and two
counties, and every other Sunday in three.
F.
W. NORTHRUP -- Dry Goods, Groceries, Provisions, &c.
General merchandise. This is the principal store in the place,
and conducted by a live business man, who buys everything that the
people of the surrounding country offer for sale, and pays cash --
butter being a leading article. The consequence is that he is
rapidly increasing his trade, which this year will amount to not less
than $10,000, whereas three years ago, when he first took the
store, its business amounted to only about $8,000 a year.
Mr. NORTHRUP is just such an enterprising, energetic and capable
merchant as the place needs at the present time. He has a
correct idea of the situation -- is a fair and square dealer,
deservedly popular with his large and increasing number of patrons,
and is therefore succeeding admirably.
Benoni
PECK -- Grocery Store. -- (Formerly in the tailoring business,
Justice of Peace, &c.)
H.D. SEAMON,
M.D. [SEAMAN?] -- (Postmaster) Physician and Surgeon. -- The only one
at Beaver Dams and has a prosperous and increasing practice in the
village and surrounding country.
Frank
SHEWMAN -- Wagon Shop, large dimensions, and does a good business,
Undertaking, &c., &c.
A.P. CROUT --
Boot and Shoe shop.
E. McCLOSKEY --
Blacksmithing Shop. General jobbing, Carriage ironing, horse
shoeing, &c.
Miss A. FROST -- (Formerly
of Watkins) Millinery.
Miss Minnie
HOOPER -- Millinery,
Present stores old and new will be
made during the next few years. A new road interchange
will be calculated to greatly benefit the locality, is in
contemplation and very certain to be opened, from the Post Creek road
(leading from Beaver Dams to Townsend) through to connect with the
road leading to Monterey, near the residence of Charles TOMPKINS, the
distance being less than a mile. This will form an
important connecting link; and the only wonder is that it has not
been opened before.
IN CONCLUSION
It may be observed that Beaver Dams, which has been hitherto numbered among the most isolated and secluded villages of the county, will shortly be in both railway and telegraphic communication with the whole country, and has a better and more cheering prospect before it. Its location is a splended one for a growing and thriving village, healthful and fertile, and its natural resources ample to make it a lively and prosperous center of enterprise, manufacture and trade. Hence we predict its steady and continous progress and advancement, commencing with the present year.