Grand Lodge of New York Masonic Lodge Histories Lodge Nos. 201-230
Oriona Lodge No. 229, Fillmore, Allegany, New York
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- ----- Hiram Watkins
- Augustus Beach
- W. M. of the Masonic Lodge
- Colonel Sebe [or Seba] Brainerd
- Wellsville lodge No. 230
- Carlton Lee Farnum [ July 18, 1811 - June 18, 1898]
- Past Master of Wellsville Lodge 230
- 33 Degree
- Dr. Edgar, who was in the 85th Regt. N.Y.S.V
- Joshua Hathaway [Jr.] .
- Jay Hathaway, Joshuas son.
- Hathaway representing the citizens of Rome, passed the ceremonial shovel to Young
- Joshua Hathaway (spelled Hatheway in the old sources) first held the shovel which he passed to Young
Oriona Lodge No. 229, Fillmore, Allegany, New York Warrant: 5 Jun 1873 The number has never been changed. The first name was Pike , 23 Jun 1851. It received its present name 8 Jun 1871. Oriona Grove Lodge No. 229 was formed from the consolicdation of Oriona No. 229 and Maple Grove No. 761, 7 May 1969. Minutes: Not intact. All of its records were destroyed by fire 30 May 1873. The destruction of all the records and papers relating to the early life of the Lodge is unfortunate. There are no papers on file to throw any light upon its birth and organization. The first reference to it is found in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge under date of 5 Jun 1851, when the Committee on Warrants reported to favor of granting a warrant to Pike Lodge at Pike, Wyoming County, NY. The report of the Committee was adopted, and on 23 Jun 1851 a warrant was issued which named as officers: Hiram Watkins, Master Charles W. Richards, SW Elisha Hempstead, JW The Lodge remained in Pike until 4 Jun 1858 when it obtained permission from the Grand Lodge to remove to Cold Creek in the town of Hume, Allegany County, where it remained until 1891, when it petitioned the Grand Lodge for permission to remove to Fillmore. The petition was referred to the Committee on Warrants, and on 4 Jun the committee made the following report: “It appearing that Oriana Lodge had not been regularly summoned as provided by the Statutes, but the facts in the case, as presented, being favorable to the petition, “Resolved, That the Committee declines to act in the premises, but we recommend that after the said Lodge shall have been duly summoned, and the required vote obtained, the Grand Master issue a dispensation permitting the removal of the said Oriana Lodge, as petitioned for.” On July 20 the Grand Master gave the Lodge permission “To meet in the village of Fillmore, without change of jurisdiction, until the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge.” At a session of the Grand Lodge held 9 Jun 1892 the Committee on Warrants made the following report, which was adopted: “In the matter of the application of Oriona Lodge No. 229, for permission to remove its place of meeting from the town of Hume to the town of Fillmore and to locate permanently at the latter place, your Committee recommend that the petition be granted.” Its first place of meeting in Hume was in a building known as Mechanics’ Hall, where it remained until 1867, when it moved into rooms over a store on the main street of the village. Thesse quarters were destroyed by fire 30 May 1873, the Lodge losing all of its property, including its warrant. The present quarters are on the third story in the Brooks Block. On 5 Jun the Grand Lodge authorized the issuing of a new warrant, naming as officers: R. Duane Sweet, Master Augustus Goodrich, SW Calvin E. Couch, JW In 1871 a change of the name of the Lodge was suggested by one of its members, which resulted in a pettion being presented to the Grand Lodge requesting a change in the name of Pike to Oriona. On 8 Jun 1871 the request was granted. Grand Lodge Officer Charles Ricker, DDGM 1851 Hiram Watkins 1852 Hiram Watkins 1853 Charles W. Richards 1854 Hiram Watkins 1855 Hiram Watkins 1856 Alanson Skiff 1857 Alanson Skiff 1858 Alanson Skiff 1859 Hiram Watkins 1860 Jonathan Nye 1861 Jonathan Nye 1862 Orson Beardsley 1863 Henry H. Lyman 1864 Henry H. Lyman 1865 Henry H. Lyman 1866 Henry H. Lyman 1867 Henry H. Lyman 1868 Egbert P. Sweet 1869 Henry H. Lyman 1870 Egbert P. Sweet 1871 Egbert P. Sweet 1872 R. Duane Sweet 1873 R. Duane Sweet 1874 Augustus Goodrich 1875 Henry H. Lyman 1876 Henry C. Brown 1877 Henry H. Lyman 1878 Henry C. Brown 1879 Henry H. Lyman 1880 Edson A. Hammond 1881 Jonathan Nye 1882 Henry C. Brown 1883 Henry C. Brown 1884 George W. Harding 1885 George W. Harding 1886 George W. Harding 1887 George W. Harding 1888 Osborn Randall 1889 William Foote 1890 William Foote 1891 William Foote 1892 Charles Ricker 1893 Charles Ricker 1894 Henry C. Brown 1895 Henry C. Brown 1896 George Minard 1897 C. K. Farnsworth 1898 William Foote 1899 Charles E. Wells 1900 Charles E. Wells 1901 John H. Howden 1902 John H. Howden 1903 Sherman S. Scott 1904 John F. Burgie 1905 Carl Fritz 1906 Carl Fritz 1907 Milton E. Gordon 1908 Milton E. Gordon 1909 Sherman S. Scott 1910 William Foote 1855 Masonic Return PIKE LODGE, NO. 229. Pike, Wyoming County. No Returns received. Hiram Watkins, Master, Alanson Skiff, Senior Warden, George McKown, Junior Warden, H. H. Lyman, Secretary. Orson Beardsley, b. 29 Sep 1824, d. 11 May 1898; m. Sarah E. Smith, b. 1848; d. 9 Oct 1902; both bur. East Koy Cemetery, East Koy, Wayne, NY. Children: 1. Hiram J., b. 12 May 1848; d. 13 Jun 1849. 2. Ottelia, b. 06 Feb 1851. 3. Delia, b. 06 Feb 1858. 4. George W. -----
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/george-hyatt-nye/a-genealogy-of-the-nye-family-volume-3-gey/page-2-a-genealogy-of-the-nye-family-volume-3-gey.shtml Dr. Henry H. Lyman, b. 17 Feb 1827; died 1898; son of Henry D. Lyman; m. 2 Sep 1852, at Hume, Cornelia C. Cowing, b. 15 Oct 1832 at Hume, NY; died 1890. He received his M. D. at Buffalo University and practiced in Hume, NY. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wildbill&id=I9988 Henry was justly classed among the represenative men of the medical fraternity of the country. Possessing the endurance, ambition and the economy characteristic of many of the boys of his day, he worked for low w ages and paid his way in school at the best institutions of learning wi thin his reach at times doing chores for his borard, until enabled to e ngage as a teacher. He was a student at Alfred Universsity 1845-1848 and University of Ney York, Medical Dept. 1850- 1851. He graduated from B uffalo Medical College in1861. He married Cornelia of Hume on 28 Sep 1852 where during the previous year he began the labors of his profession and still enjoys a large and remunerative practice. He was a member of the De Molay Commandery No 22 of Knights Templar of Horenville and has served the Hume Lodge as Master for eleven years and the Wyoming Chapter as High Priest for the same length of time. (History of Allegany County pp. 388, 310) Father: Henry Daff LYMAN b. 14 May 1800 Mother: Sophia BUCKMAN b. 1792 Children: Jennie M. LYMAN b. 30 Dec 1854 Almon Henry LYMAN b. 09 Apr 1861 Mott Valentine LYMAN b: 11 May 1862 Mary E LYMAN b: 07 Feb 1867 ----- http://books.google.com/books?id=Nr46AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA321&dq=%22Jonathan+Nye%22+%22hume%22&hl=en&ei=eizMTqS-D6f00gHtkPH1Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Jonathan%20Nye%22%20%22hume%22&f=false page 321. Jonathan Nye (Jonathan,450 Ward,153 David,37 Jonathan,5 Benjamin1), b. at Brookfield. NY, 13 Feb 1811; d. at Hume, NY, 28 Mar 1887; m1. 1 Nov 1836, Catherine Mathers, b. 10 Jul 1819; d. 8 May 1851. d/o Charles and Prudence Mathers; m2. Sarah Howard, d. 8 May 1883, d/o Alexander and Ruth (Axtell) Howard. Children: Mary Ann, b. 01 Aug 1839; m. 18 Oct 1858, John S. Minard, of Fillmore, NY James Dwight, b. 12 Apr 1851; d. 8 Oct 1871. (2d wife) William V., b. 07 Feb 1858; m. 1 Oct 1890, Alice Van Dresser, and lived at Perry. NY. Frank, b. 26 Mar 1865; lived in Menominie, Wisc. -----
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=vmeachum&id=I39832 Alanson B. Skiff, b. 20 Mar 1808 in Hartwick, Otsego, NY; d. 1886 in Wyoming, NY; son of Edmund SKIFF b. 6 Mar 1783 in Kent, Litchfield, CT, and Betsey ROBINSON b. 30 Apr 1784 in Dudley, Worcester, MA; m. Martha B. MILLS b. 22 Jun 1809 in Canajoharie, Montgomery, NY Children: Marietta A. SKIFF b. 07 Jun 1832 in Wyoming, New York Harlene B. SKIFF b. 1835 in New York Roger Mills SKIFF b. 15 Jun 1840 in Hume, Allegany, New York Emma L. SKIFF b. 1844 in New York ----- Hiram Watkins b. 8 Jul 1798, Rutland, Vermont; d.20 Dec 1881 poss. Pike, Wayne, NY; son of Moses Watkins and Lois Mills; m. 8 Dec 1825 Eliza Morgan b. 12 Mar 1801; d. Aug 1856 poss. Pike, Watne, NY. Wellsville Lodge No. 230, Wellsville, Allegany, New York Warrant: 24 Jun 1851 The number has never been changed; previously known as Scio No. 230, 24 Jun 1851. Wellsville 230 and University 944 consolidated to form University Lodge No. 230, 17 Jan 2008, Almond, NY Lodge Website: http://www.universitylodge.com/Web%20Pages/index2.htm Minutes: Intact There are no existing records which throw any light upon the organization of Wellsville or Scio Lodge. The Charter Members and officers were: Augustus Beach, Master Nathaniel Johnson Nathaniel Covel, JW Jonathan Richardson, SW The first recorded meeting after the warrant was issued was held 2 Oct 1851 when the officers were publicly installed by Wor. Samuel Olin, Past Master of Evening Star Lodge No. 44. It retained its first name until Jun 1868. At a session of the Grand Lodge held Friday evening, June 5, the following resolution reported by the Committee on Warrants was adopted: “Resolved. That the petition of Scio Lodge No. 230 to have the name of said Lodge changed to Wellsville Lodge No. 230 be granted, the town of Scio, wherein the Lodge was formerly located, having been divided, and said Lodge being now within the limits of the new town known as Wellsville.” The first meeting place was on the corner of Main and Dyke Streets. The next place of meeting was in a building on the west side of Main Street, near the Baldwin Theater. While the Lodge had quarters in that building it was moved to the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets, and while the building was enroute to the new location and injunction was secured which for a time held up the work, but the Lodge continued to meet, the members gaining access to its rooms on the second story by climbing a ladder. Soon after this the Lodge moved into a building on the west side of Main Street nearly opposite its last quarters, remaining there until Feb 1867, when the building was destroued by fire, the Lodge losing the most of its property. The next meeting place was in a building on Loder Street owned by Henry Wilcox, remaining there until 24 Feb 1868, when it moved into the Plum Block, corner of Main Street and Madison Avenue. On 7 Nov 1871 it moved to Good Templar Hall on Main Street, where it remained until 21 May 1872, when it moved into the Puller Block on Main Street, remaining there until Apr 1889, when it moved to its present quarters in the Duke Block on Main Street. Men in Public Life
Baldwin, Sumner, State Senator, d. 1903 Bellamy, William H. Sheriff Bunnell, W. D., Supervisor Elliott, F. E., Supervisor Farnum, C[larence]. A., County Judge Fuller, O. A., District Attorney Granther, J. L., Supervisor Green, George A., County Clerk McEwen, William R., Assemblyman Smith, William E., County Clerk Tuttle, S. B., Supervisor Wilcox, George B., Supervisor Wright, J. S., Supervisor
Grand Lodge Officers William Buck, DDGM William H. Bellamy, DDGM Masters
1851 Augustus Beach 1852 Augustus Beach 1853 Augustus Beach 1854 Alanson Holt 1855 Carlton L. Farnum 1856 Carlton L. Farnum 1857 Carlton L. Farnum 1858 Carlton L. Farnum 1859 Carlton L. Farnum 1860 Carlton L. Farnum 1861 William A. Baldwin 1862 William A. Baldwin 1863 William A. Baldwin 1864 Horace H. Nye 1865 William A. Baldwin 1866 William A. Baldwin 1867 George O. Russell 1868 George O. Russell 1869 William H. Miller 1870 William H. Miller 1871 Peter A. McDonald 1872 Peter A. McDonald 1873 George O. Russell 1874 George O. Russell 1875 Charles F. Kendall 1876 Joshua A. Pittenger 1877 Benjamin Palmer 1878 John Foland 1879 George O. Russell 1880 George O. Russell 1881 George O. Russell 1882 Charles F. Kendall 1883 Charles F. Kendall 1884 William W. Nichols 1885 William W. Nichols 1886 James R. Duncan 1887 Harry D. Baldwin 1888 Carlton L. Farnum 1889 Harley C. Jones 1890 Thomas H. Sweeney 1891 Thomas H. Sweeney 1892 John Fay 1893 John Fay 1894 John Fay 1895 Henry G. Belz 1896 John M. Newman 1897 John M. Newman 1898 William H. Bellamy 1899 William H. Bellamy 1900 Lee L. Wilcox 1901 William Buck 1902 William Buck 1903 Frank M. Leonard 1904 Frank M. Leonard 1905 Fred Arnold 1906 Fred Arnold 1907 William F. Spargur 1908 William F. Spargur 1909 Frank E. Richart 1910 Frank E. Richart 1855 Masonic Register SCIO LODGE, NO. 230. Wellsville, Allegany County. Date of Charter, June, 1852. Meets on Tuesdays on or before the full moon. Carlton L. Farnum, Master, S. O. Thomas, Senior Warden, Hiram York, Junior Warden, Wm. Pooler, Secretary, Edwin B. Hall, Treasurer, John Cotton Smith, Senior Deacon, Eben E. Enos, Junior Deacon, L. Winchell, Tiler. PAST MASTERS. Augustus Beach, Alanson Holt.
A. Black, S. F. Blood, Clark Bradford, D. Bush, F. Chapman, Wm. Churchill, J[ohn]. B.Clark, S. C. Conable, Henry W. Early, Wm. Farnum, H. P. Graham, W. H. Hale, O. W. Hicox. N. Johnston, J. H. Jenkins, James F. Lancey, H[enry]. N. Lewis, O. P. Macklem, John McCarn, S. H. Mills, James M. Mott, Cyrus Pratt, H. G. Prescott, Randall Reed, A. Rice, J. Shaw, Joel Shives, C. C. Solomon, H. H. Spencer, W. Stanton, E. Stephens, Elijah Stowell, A. P. Talcott, L. S. Thomas, S. Tracy, J. R. Weston, S. Wilcox http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/john-stearns-minard/allegany-county-and-its-people-ani/page-48-allegany-county-and-its-people-ani.shtml Baldwin Brothers. William A. Baldwin, born at Ithaca, NY. 10 Dec 1830, married, 1858, Minerva J. Hamilton, and had two children, Herbert E. and Dr. Evelyn Baldwin, both now residents of Rochester, and died 15 Mar 1895. He was trustee of the Congregational church rnany years, W. M. of the Masonic Lodge, H. P. of the Chapter and Commander of St. Johns Commandery of Olean. William A. Baldwin came from Seneca county to Hornellsville in 1853, and, in 1854, with Major Sam Alley started a grocery and provision store in Wellsville.
Augustus Beach, son of Uriah [or Azariah], was born 14 Sep 1797 1797-9-14in Hebron, CT, and moved to Willing in 1835. He took up 100 acres of wild land, built a log house, cleared his farm and made a comfortable home. He was wellknown in town, was a farmer and carpenter, and assessor several years. He married [1st Polly Derby] Lovina Skinner [4c5r] [d/o Uriah Skinner and Azubah Brainerd] and had children: Columbus, Azariah, and Lydia A. (Mrs. Jacob Johnston). He died in September, 1862 [8 Sep 1861 at Willing, Allegany, NY], his wife in March, 1866. Note: Azuban Brainerd was the sister of Colonel Sebe [or Seba] Brainerd [b. 14 Apr 1763-d. ca 1845, Alexander, Genesse, NY] who was a member of Village Lodge No. 80, Marcellus, NY; admitted 22 Oct 1801. -----
http://history.wonderferret.org/research/biographies/c-d/503-day-charles Charles Day Wellsville Daily Reporter February 19, 1932 Passing of Charles Day Recalls Active Career Over 30 years in mercantile business here and in nearby communities and over 40 years in the oil industry in the Allegany and other fields was the remarkable record of Charles Day, whose death at the age of 85 occurred Thursday in the family home at 96 East Pearl Street, which Mr. and Mrs. Day had occupied for 40 years. No less outstanding than his business career was his long connection with the Masonic Order and, at the time of his death, he was one of the oldest active Masons in Western New York. He is believed to have been the oldest member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230 F. & A.M. Masonic rites will form a part of the funeral services; internment will be made in Woodlawn cemetery. Mr. Day was born in Elyria, Ohio, 8 Feb 1847 coming to Wellsville in 1870 when a young man 23 years of age. He found employment in the general store operated by Charles Simmons in the old block of that name at Main and State streets, which a few years ago burned. It was at the time the largest mercantile establishment in this part of the country. Two years later, he went to Oswayo, Pa., to strike out in business for himself. He entered into a partnership with Walter Wells, father of Mrs. Harry Bradley and Arthur J. Wells of this place. The firm of Wells & Day was formed to engage in mercantile business. For eight years the business prospered. In 1880, Mr. Day moved to Bolivar and joined with his brother in law, George Lyman, in organizing the firm of Day & Lyman, dealers in hardware and oil well supplies. Oil had been struck in the Allegany field and it was in the early boom period of the Bolivar Richburg field. Mr. Day had been quick to recognize the possibilities in the oil well supply business and had lost no time in setting up such a business. For three years this business was operated, after which Mr. Day returned to Wellsville to set up in the hardware and oil well supply business with T.P. Otis, father of Norman Otis of this city, in the firm of Otis & Day. This happy association continued for almost 30 years and the firm became one of the best known in this section. Always Mr. Day and his partner were recognized as men of unquestioned business integrity, whose word, to make use of the old colloquialism, was as good as their bond. The business was conducted in a building, which stood at the present location of the Weinhauer Chevrolet garage. The building burned in June 1901, and after a fire sale had served as a means to dispose of stock undamaged by the fire, Mr. Day retired from active mercantile business and devoted his time to oil interests which had during his years in other field of activity also absorbed a great deal of time and attention. He was truly one of the pioneers of the Allegany Field at one time he extended his interests to oil properties in Ohio, Kentucky and Oklahoma fields. He watched the growth and expansion of the Allegany field with interest, and though he disposed of interests in outside fields, at the time of his death he still maintained an interest in the adjacent oil territories. Mr. Day took a deep interest in public affairs, and although never an office holder in the village or township, he kept in close touch with civic activities. Although politically a Republican, he remained independent and never failed to drop his political affiliation when he was convinced that vote for a candidate of another political faith was for the best. He was interested in early railroading ventures and became a director of the Wellsville, Coudersport and Pine Creek Railroad, which in 1892 built a line from Wellsville to Genesee Pa. In 1897, this line was absorbed by the B & S Railroad Company, which extended the road to Galeton, Pa. This old line, the first of the year, became a part of the Baltimore & Ohio System. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Day attended the Congregational church regularly and contributed towards its support. During his many years of lodge affiliation, Mr. Day became well known in Masonic circles and held many important offices. In addition to holding membership in the Wellsville lodge No. 230, F&AM, he was a member of Wellsville Chapter No. 143, R.A.M; DeMolay Commandery, Hornell, and Ismailia Shrine, Buffalo. The first day of February was the 58th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Day’s wedding. Mrs. Day, formerly Helen S. Lyman; Mrs. Charles Day Jr., Tulsa, Okla. and four grandchildren are now the only near survivors. Charles Jr., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Day, died five years ago. h  ttp://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/BiographyFiles/Dean,%20Charles%20N%20Bio/Biography%20of%20Charles%20N%20Dean.htm
< Charles Nathan Dean, Wellsville, NY; Born 7 Feb 1880 at Belmont, NY; son of John William Dean and Mandana Williams; m. Nov 26 1901 Florence Hosley d/o William A Hosley and Ida G. Lanphear. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have two Children Elizabeth Dean (now Mrs. T.J. Ahern of Larchmont NY)-Graduated from Wellsville high school, class of 1922 and later attended Ithaca Conservatory of Music and Oberlin College, and Virginia Dean( now Mrs. Nelson A Potter of Chevy Chase, Md) -graduated from Wellsville high school class of 1923 and from Katherine Gibbs School. Mr. Dean attended Belmont High school and was graduated from the University of Buffalo with degree P.H.G. Class of 1900. He is a member of St Johns Episcopal Church of Wellsville, Wellsville Lodge 230, F&AM; Dunkirk Chapter 191 RAM, B.P.O. Elks 1495, Wellsville Beta Phi Sigma Wellsville Chamber of Commerce, Wellsville Country Club, Western New York retail Druggist Association and the National Association of Retail Druggist. He has served as a vestryman in st John's Episcopal Church at Wellsville and a Vice President of Allegany County Amateur baseball League. Mr. Dean's Business career began in 1900 when he was employed as a pharmacist by the M.A. Lyon Drug Co of Westfield, NY. in 1905. He moved to Dunkirk, NY, where he was employed as manager of the West Drug Co. until 1916 when he returned to Wellsville and opened his own drug store, which he continues to operate until the present time." Sept 20 1937 (He died 2 May 1947) http://www.paintedhills.org/bulliten/members/viewtopic.php?p=492&sid=3b8de66e0c4002f4804f583279d3fcfe THE BOLIVAR BREEZE Th. 31 Aug 1944 p1c2 John Fay, a well known oil operator and lifelong resident of Allegany county, died at his home, 429 North Main Street, Wellsville, at 7:30 o'clock Monday evening, August 28. He was born in Bolivar 4 Mar 1850, a son of Patrick and Ann Kelly Fay. On 20 Mar 1883, he was married to Hattie Strayer who died 13 Oct 1934. Surviving children: Cecil Fay, Mrs. Edith McAhon, Miss Mildred Fay, and Mrs. Helen Briggs, all of Wellsville, and Allen* Fay of Scio; also one sister, Mrs. Electa Stamm of Long Beach, CA; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mr. Fay was a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&AM, and a member and former treasurer of the Past Masters Association. Burial was at Woodlawn cemetery, the services at the grave were in charge of the Masons. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/john-stearns-minard/allegany-county-and-its-people-ani/page-49-allegany-county-and-its-people-ani.shtml Patrick Fay, born in Ireland, in March, 1811, married Ann Kelley, emigrated to America about 1840, and worked on the Erie canal for a short time. They later resided in Friendship, and about 1844, Mr. Fay purchased a farm in Bolivar. He had a family of 10 children. He died 17 Feb 1890, his wife, 20 Dec 1883. John Fay, son of Patrick, was born in Bolivar, March 4, 1850. He was educated at the common schools of his native town. In 1880 Mr. Fay commenced producing oil, has 30 wells in Allegany oil field, and an interest in 12 wells in Corning, Ohio. In 1883 he married Hattie L. Strayer, daughter of Lorenzo D. Strayer. His children are Cecil, Allen R., Edith I. and Howard D. In 1889 Mr. Fay removed to Wellsville. He is a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&AM, has been master 3 years, and has taken the 32d degree in masonry. -----
Thomas Francis Fisher, son of John P. Fisher and Matilda Jackson, is of English birth and parentage. His boyhood and school days were passed in Rochester, N. Y. He came to Allegany county in January, 1861, and for 5 years was employed at the Genesee Flouring Mills in Wellsville. In March, 1866, he formed a co-partnership with H. G. White and purchased the dry goods and grocery business of Hiram L. Jones, continuing until 1877 when Mr. White sold is interest to T. F. Fisher who sold it to his brother Chas. H. Fisher. They continued the business as " Fisher Brothers " until 1883 when T. F. Fisher became sole proprietor. In January, 1885, Ira E. Jones became his partner and as T. F, Fisher & Co. This firm has continued and is one of the leading mercantile houses of Wellsville. In 1868 Mr. Fisher married Elizabeth S. Stowell, daughter of Elijah and Susan Stowell, and has one son, William Edgar Fisher. In 1880 he erected a very pleasant and commodious residence on Main street (West). For 35 years Mr, Fisher has been a resident of this county and, progressive yet safely conservative, has always taken an active working interest in its affairs, religious, social and political. For 30 years he has been intimately connected with the commercial advancement of the town, has been a factor in educational matters as a trustee of the Academy and High school, also of the Library Association. He is a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230, Wellsville Chapter, R. A. M. No. 143, and St. John's Commandery K. T. -----
George J. Osborn, son of Sheldon, was born at Owego, NY, in 1828. He came to Andover when a boy and subsequently kept the hotel at "Shoemaker's Corners." In '71 he purchased a farm in Wellsville where he resided until '88 when he moved to the village. He died in February, 1892. He married Marcia Hincher. They had 9 children. His widow resides with her oldest son, Edwin A., who was born in Andover, 7 Jun 1857. He married Belle Proctor in '80 and has one daughter, Maude. Mr. Osborn is the leading music dealer in this part of the county, engaged in the business in Wellsville in '85. He was supervisor here in '86-87. He is a member of the Wellsville Lodge No. 230, Wellsville Chapter, No. 143, De Molay Commandery of Hornellsville, and Ishmalia Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Buffalo. -----
http://history.wonderferret.org/research/obituaries/allegany-county-obituaries/e-f/1103-farnum-sarah-gaylord Mrs. Carleton L. Farnum [Sarah Gaylord], who died on Saturday morning, July 23rd [1892], from the effects of paralytic strokes, was laid to rest on Monday afternoon in the family plot at the Farnum Cemetery. Rev. E. P. Hubbell officiated and spoke beautiful words of condolence and cheer to the family and friends assembled. Sarah Gaylord Farnum was born at Plymouth, PA, 10 Mar 1811. She was married to Carlton Lee Farnum [July 18, 1811 - June 18, 1898] 31 Jan 1839. The couple came to Wellsville in 1848, then a village of scarce 200 inhabitants. They have since resided in Wellsville, except from Apr 1862, to Oct 1870, during which time they lived upon a farm in Michigan. Deceased was one of a family of seven children, three only remain, a brother in Michigan and two sisters in Hartford, CT. Five children are left, Edward, a resident of Michigan, Charles, Clarence, A., G. Eugene, and Mrs. C. D. Macken, all of this city. Carleton L. Farnum, the sorrowing husband was 81 years of age on July 18th, and with his brother, Hon. E. J. Farnum, are the survivors of a family of eleven children. -----
http://books.google.com/books?id=RnkfAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA592&dq=%22Wellsville+Lodge+230%22&hl=en&ei=JGnMTuHVFITj0QGf6K0-&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Wellsville%20Lodge%20230%22&f=false page 592. Harry T. Johnson, president of the Manhattan Electrical Supply Company of New York City, died Wednesday, 5 Mar [1913], at Daytona, FL, whither he had gone several weeks before for a rest. The end came after a short illness, the immediate cause of death being blood disease. Mr. Johnson was 52 years of age and is survived by his wife and mother, the latter 92 years old. 25 years ago Mr. Johnson and Mr. J. J. Gorman, then both young telegraph operators, established the company of which Mr. Johnson was president. From small beginnings the concern has grown until it now occupies a leading position among the manufacturing and supply firms of the country, operating three factories and five branch offices. Mr. Johnson was a member of the New York Athletic Club, Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&AM, Ancient Chapter No. 1, Palestine Commandery, and Mecca Temple. http://history.wonderferret.org/research/obituaries/allegany-county-obituaries/i-j/802-jones-david-s Allegany County Reporter – 17 Dec 1913 David S. Jones, for years a well known resident of Wellsville, died this morning at 10 o’clock at the hospital, where he has been for treatment for about a week. Mr. Jones has been living on Scott Avenue the past year, since he sold his Main Street residence, and had only recently packed his household goods with the intention of going to Bradford to live with his son, Edward. He was taken ill and went to the hospital for treatment. Death was due to old age and a general breaking down. Funeral services for the late David S. Jones will be held from the home of Earle D. Jones, East Genesee street, The services will be in charge of Wellsville Lodge No. 230 F. & A.M. of which the deceased was a member. [Allegany County Reporter 13 Jan 1914] David Stillman Jones came to Wellsville (then Genesee township) in 1848; located on Brimmer Brook as a farmer, where the Wellsville Glycerine Co., now is. Was a carpenter and joiner by trade and was associated with the late Chas. Story in the building of the residences of E. B. Hall, A. Howard (now Oak Duke’s resident), Wm F. Jones, Charles Simmons (now Mrs. Anna B. Robertson’s) and E. J. Farnum (now Harder residence on W. State St.). When the first road bed of the Erie RR was being built he furnished some of the ties. As a young man he was one of the pioneers of this region and spent all the rest of his eighty three years in this town. At the death of his father Lewis Jones, he moved from the farm into the village in 1877; and in October of that year entered the undertaking business in which he was active until 1906. In 1894 the firm was changed to David S. Jones & Son. During the period from 1877 to 1906, he and his son officiated at more that 4,500 funerals. He was active in religious and fraternal circles, being one of the founders and deacons of the Broad Street Church of Christ and an active member of the Masonic Order. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in the village. Over 100 Masons were in the procession of mourners. The burial was with full Masonic honors, the following officers officiating: F. M. Leonard, Master; Lee Fassett, SW; L. H. Davis, JW; J. M. Newman, Treas; O. S. Wight, Secy; F. B. Boyce, SD; C. H. Longshore, SMC; C. L. King, JMC; F. P. Fisk, Tiler; William H. Miller, Marshal; R. A. Mills, Chaplain. Brother Masons; J. S. Wright of Scio, F H. Elliott of Wellsville, A Cole, C. M. Tompkins, E. W. Coats of Wellsville and Frank Farwell of Scio acted as bearers. The Masonic service was held at the house at 2:30 o’clock, after which the remains were taken to the Broad Street Church where the pastor, the Rev. Charles Filson, preached. Interment was in Woodlawn cemetery. Mr. Jones is survived by four sons and a daughter; Eugene of Alma, Edwin of Bradford, Willard, living in the West and Earl D. and Edith of Wellsville.
Mr. Mills was a Past Master of Wellsville Lodge 230, F&AM, and a Past Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge of New York; a member of the Past Masters Association; the Golden Age Club and the First Methodist Church of Wellsville. Masonic memorial services were held, and burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery. http://www.genealogybuff.com/ny/allegany/webbbs_config.pl/read/2 Ralph M. ‘Tim’ Tompkins, 94, of 484 N. Main St. died Friday (25 May 2001) in Jones Memorial Hospital after a long illness. He was born 16 Aug 1906 in Wellsville, the son of Charles M. and Pearl Stoup Tompkins. On 28 Jan1940, in Wellsville, he was married to Mona Cochran, who died 22 Apr 1995. From 1928 until 1971 he was a self-employed Pennsylvania crude oil producer. In the late 1930s he also began to drill both oil and gas wells in the local area. From 1938 until 1945 operated the Gartwait Torpedo Co., shooting wells with nitroglycerine. He was a graduate of the Wellsville High School and the class of 1929 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Finance and Commerce in Philadelphia. Mr. Tompkins was a former secretary of the board of trustees for the Allegany County YMCA in Wellsville. He was a member, former treasure, trustee and deacon of the First Congregational Church of Wellsville, where he also taught Sunday school and was a member of the Men's Club. From 1940 until 1991 he was President of the Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum Association. From 1943 to 1947 he was chairman of the Wm. F. & Gertrude Jones Memorial Hospital board of directors, and from 1948 to 1950 he was vice chairman of the board. In 1957 he was president of the Wellsville Centennial Association. He was also a member of the Wellsville Exchange Club, director of the Wellsville Parks Commission, member of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce and a director of the United Way. A very active Mason, he was crowned a 33 Degree in the Scottish Rite in 1939 and was a member of the Supreme Council. He was a member and Past Master of Wellsville Lodge 230, F&AM, District Deputy Grand Master of the Allegany County Masonic District in 1978 and 1979, a member of the Wellsville Chapter 143, RAM, and was High Priest of the Chapter in 1941. He was knighted in the DeMolay Commandery in Hornell in 1937. He was a member of the Corning Consistory Class of 1929, and was its Commander-in-Chief from 1949 to 1955. Mr. Tompkins became a member of the Ismalia Shrine Temple 1929, was an honorary member of the Tigris Temple of Syracuse and the Kalurah Temple in Binghamton, and was a member of the Loyal Order of Jesters, Buffalo Court, in 1958. He is survived by a daughter, Marilyn T. (John) Depew of Stow; a son, James F. Tompkins, Elmhurst, Ill.; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NYCATTAR/2003-01/1042753963 C. Dean Whipple, longtime Wellsville resident, passed away at his home in Lakeland, Florida on 13 Jan 2003. He was born 13 Sep 1922 in Little Valley, NY, the son of Morgan J. and Elva Stevens Whipple. After serving in the Army during World War II, he moved to Wellsville in 1949, where he retired from Air Preheater Corp., moving to Lakeland, Florida in 1988. Mr. Whipple is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sarah Vanderbrook Whipple, of Lakeland, Florida; a daughter, Patricia Bilson, of Paoli, PA; a son, John M Whipple, of White Deer, Texas; a daughter, Sheila Whipple, of Buffalo, NY; a sister, Lillian Stratton-Smith [Palmer], of Salamanca, NY; 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Goodrich. Mr. Whipple was a longtime member of the Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&AM, and the Corning Consistory. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/BiographyFiles/Biographies%20Alma/BiographiesAlma.htm Robert A. McCutcheon was born at Big Bend, PA, in 1857. When he was 12 years old, he commenced to work pumping oil and received $1.25 per day, and has been engaged in the oil business since. When 14, he learned telegraphy, attended Janes’ Academy at Clintonville and high school at Emlenton. He was in the Clarion oil-field from 1876 to 1880, in the Butler oil-field one year, in 1881 went to Bradford, and after remaining three years, in 1884, he came to Allentown as operator and engineer for the National Transit Co., and has been with it since. In 1882, Mr. McCutcheon married Kate Richardson and has 5 children. He is special agent for the Pennsylvania Mutural Life Insurance Co., is a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&AM, Wellsville Chapter R.A.M. No. 143, St. John’s Commandery of Olean No. 24, Ishmalia Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Buffalo. -----
Sarah G. Green [Phillips] - Born In Alfred, May 19, 1826. She taught her first term of school at Allentown, in 1844, being 18 years of age. After closing the term she went back home at Alfred. Miss Green was preceded by a Miss Katherine Bellamy, aunt of Wm. Bellamy, and succeeded by a Miss Betsy Foster, the mother of the Hon Dr. Geo. H. Witter, our state senator of Wellsville, N. Y. Miss Green's school work was of a class that put a teacher to their best, being no blackboards, globe or other device to aid In Instruction. With all this hindrance she proved herself master of the situation and at the same time, she had an eye to business and readily saw that one dollar to one dollar and a half per week was small pay and a doubtful avocation, so she allowed cupid to use his dart, and two years afterwards at the age of twenty she joined her fate with Marshall Phillips In 1846, and came back In the vicinity of Allentown to live, and of this union were born six children, three boys and three girls. Newton M., the oldest, was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, VA, at which battle his father, Marshall N. Phillips was killed 1863. Newton M. died In January, 1900. The balance of her family are living as follows: Arthur W. at Wellsville, Nellie at Rochester, Della at Friendship, Newell M. in Canada, Alice in Buffalo and the subject of this sketch Is enjoying the best of health In her little home in Allentown and to see her move with the alacrity of a young woman of thirty Instead of four score and four years old, seems wonderful. PHILLIPS, NEWTON M. - Age 18 years. Enlisted [179th NY Inf. Vols.], 12 Feb 1864, at Alma, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. A, 5 Apr 1864; wounded in action, 17 Jun 1864, at Petersburg, VA; discharged for wounds, 10 Dec 1864, at Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, DC. Note: His father, Marshall N. Phillips, was also in Co. A, 179 NY Inf. Vols., and died of wounds in the same engagement (17 Jun 1864) at Petersburg, VA. The G.A.R. Post at Allentown was named for him. Marshall N. Phillips, b. 31 Aug 1822 in Wardsboro, Windham, VT; d. 21 Jun 1864 in Petersburg, Prince George, VA; bur. Allentown Cemetery, Alma, Allegany, NY; son of John Phillips; m. 20 Oct 1846, Alfred, Allegany, NY, Sarah GREEN b. 19 May 1826 Alfred, Allegany, NY Children:
Newton M. PHILLIPS b. 15 Oct 1847 in Alma, Allegany Co., NY Fidelia Lois PHILLIPS b: 10 Mar 1849 in Bolivar, Allegany Co., NY Adelia Alice PHILLIPS b: 10 Apr 1851 in Alma, Allegany Co., NY Antoinette PHILLIPS b: 09 Jul 1853 in Alma, Allegany Co., NY Newell M. PHILLIPS b: 28 Oct 1856 in Alma, Allegany Co., NY Francena S. PHILLIPS b: 22 Feb 1859 in Alma, Allegany Co., NY Arthur W. PHILLIPS b: bet. 1862 and 1863 in New York ----- William A. Vance, a native of Butler county, PA, was born in 1847. In 1866 he commenced dressing tools in the Pennsylvania oil field, and was drilling and pumping until 1877, when he commenced producing oil in the Butler field and was engaged in that vicinity until 1883 when he came to Alma. Here he drilled 18 wells for Anderson, Otis & Co., and wells for other parties. Since 1884 he has been in the business for himself. Mr. Vance has held many town offices, highway commissioner for three years, assessor, constable and overseer of the poor. He is a member of Wellsville Lodge No. 230, F&A M. Mr. Vance married in 1871 Emma S. Thompson. -----
Alva G. York [b. 1808/09; d. 1892] came to Scio with his father, Barnabas York, in 1808/09, when a child. They were among the pioneers of the town. Alva G. York married Amy Welch. Their children were Dr. Edgar, who was in the 85th Regt. N.Y.S.V., was in a rebel prison, now lives in Kansas, Delos and Thomas died in the army, John died about 1860, Alva B. and Delight, who married Frank Vosburg and died in 1888. Mr. York died in 1892, his wife in 1864. Alva B. York, son of Alva G., was born in Scio, in May, 1845. He worked for his father who was a lumberman for some years. In January, 1864, he enlisted in Co. I, 109th Regt. N.Y.S.V., and was discharged Aug. 6, 1865. He was a charter member of Hallett Post of Belmont. Hhe married 24 Dec 1868 Marie Ester Norton [b. 6 Sep 1847], daughter of William L. Norton. They have four children. Mr. York removed from Scio in 1882 to Allentown. He was justice of the peace four years in Scio, and four years in Alma, and has been postmaster of Allentown for five years, and is an oil producer. He is a member of Wellsville Lodge and Chapter F&AM, St. John’s Commandery of Olean No. 24. Children: Annie YORK b. ca 1871 in Town of Scio, Allegany, NY Mabel Janet YORK b. 21 MAR 1876 in Town of Scio, Allegany, NY Charles YORK b. ca 1878 in Town of Scio, Allegany., NY http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.allegany/3432/mb.ashx MARIE ESTER NORTON (William7, Ebenezer6, John5-4-3, Joseph 2, Nicholas1) b. 6 Sep1847 at Knights Creek, Scio, NY (Norton Bible in possession of Oak D. Norton); d. 15 June 1931 at Wellsville, NY. (York family Bible in possession of Mrs.Francis Junker of North Hornell, NY); youngest child of William Lytle Norton and Ester Dwinell; m. 24 Dec.1868, ALVAH B. YORK, b. 1 May 1845; d. 8 July 1921(ibid). son of Alvah G. York and Amy Welch York (ibid). During the Civil War, as an eighteen year old boy, Alvah B.York enlisted at Scio, NY, for three years service. He was mustered in as private, Co.1, 109th Infantry, 14 Jan 1864. On 31 May 1865 he was transferred to Co.1, 51st Infantry. He was mustered out with this company, 25 Jul 1865 at Alexandria,VA (State of New York, Report of the Adjutant General,1901,Vol.25, pp. 246 and 509). For some years he worked for his father, who was a lumberman. He was Justice of the Peace in Scio, NY, for four years. Removed to Allentown, NY, in 1882 where he engaged in oil producing. He was Justice of the Peace there for four years and Postmaster for five years (Minard, Allegany County, p.555). Children:: i. Amy E., b. Scio, NY, 13 Dec.1870; d. 30 Jun 1915; m1. Robert Sternburg; m2. Merritt Tucker. She had two children by her first marriage; (1) Margaret, who died 12 Apr 1913, and (2) Helena, who married Francis Junker and lived in North Hornell, NY. They have one daughter, Eugenia. ii. Mable Jenett, b. Scio, NY, 21 Mar1876; d. Wellsville, NY; m.15 Oct 1908, Frank D. Perkins, then of Alfred, NY (Alleg. Co. Marr. Records, I:51). He died 7 Oct1931. She was at various times seamstress, milliner and mortican. Long regarded as the "Family Historian" and prepared a typescript record of the Norton family about 1932. iii. Charles C., b. Scio, NY, 10 Dec1877, d. 1957 (Woodlawn G.R.). iv. Norton D., b. Allentown, NY. 10 Mar1884; d. Wellsville, NY, 9 Jan1968; m. Bertha Sturms. YORK, ALVAH B. - Age 18 years. Enlisted at Scio [109th NY Inf. Vols.], to serve three years, and mustered in as private, Co. I, 14 Jan 1864; transferred to Co. I, 51st Infantry, 31 May 1865. YORK, ALVAH B. - Private, Co. I, 109th Infantry; transferred to Co. I, this regiment [51st NY Inf. Vols.], 3 Jun 1865; mustered out with company, 25 Jul1865, at Alexandria, VA. Brothers of Alva[h] York: YORK, DAVID D.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted [85th NY Inf. Vols.], 10 Sep 1861, at Friendship, to serve three years; mustered in as a musician, Co. D, 28 Sep 1861; grade changed to private, no date; transferred to Co. C, 1 Jan 1862; died, 1 Sep 1862, in hospital at Alexandria, VA; also borne as Delos. YORK, EDGAR D. - Age 21 years. Enlisted [85th NY Inf. Vols.], 2 Sep 1861, at Friendship, to serve three years; mustered in as Corporal, Co. D, 7 Sep 1861; returned to ranks and transferred to Co. C, 1 Jan 1862; promoted Corporal, 1 Jan 1863; discharged, to date 17 Feb 1861, to accept promotion as 1Lt, 2d North Carolina Volunteers. [discharged 19 Dec 1964] York, Edgar D., Lieutenant, 2nd North Carolina Infantry, Company E, Captured 20 Apr 64, Plymouth, NC. Seny [sic] Macon 25 Aug 64 and paroled on 10 Dec 64 in Charleston, Prisoner of War at [Camp Sumter] Andersonville, Discharged 19 Dec 64, ID 62475. -----
Children: Sarah Palmer YORK b. 28 Nov 1859 in New York Henry Wells YORK b. 02 Aug 1862 Edward Pendleton YORK b. 22 Jul 1864 in New York Fanny Thurston YORK b. 29 May 1867 in New York m2. 8 Oct 1850 Sarah JOHNSON Children:
Kate S. YORK Mary J. YORK ------ Appendix I Joshua, Jr. and Franklin Hatheway / Hathaway Wisconsin: its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume 5, by Ellis Baker Usher, page 1266. http://books.google.com/books?id=5J0UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1267&lpg=PA1267&dq=%22joshua+hathaway%22+%22stanwix%22&source=bl&ots=Hx9imrS-Xr&sig=e_v0KT2bNTL8Q8b37ia8CJwJNEs&hl=en&ei=gMesTreGOujo0QGgm9iuDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22joshua%20hathaway%22%20%22stanwix%22&f=false Joshua Hathaway [Jr.]. More than a decade prior to the admission of Wisconsin to statehood Joshua Hathaway here established his home and he left a large and beneficent impress upon the annals of the territory and state with which he thus early identified himself as one of the pioneer settlers of Milwaukee. His name figures conspicuously in the history of this favored commonwealth and during the years of a long and useful life he maintained the most secure place in popular confidence and esteem, as he was a man of distinctive ability, impregnable integrity and high ideals,—-a man well qualified to aid in the development and upbuilding of a great commonwealth. The names and deeds of such sterling pioneers merit special consideration in all publications touching the history of Wisconsin and it is gratifying to be able to present in this work a review of the career and family record of him to whom this memoir is dedicated. Joshua Hathaway [Jr.] was born in Rome. Oneida county, New York, on the 9th of November, 1810, and his death occurred at his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 4th of July, 1863. He was a son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Lord) Hathaway. His father was born in Suffield, Connecticut, August 13, 1761, and was a son of Simeon Hathaway, who immigrated in an early day to Bennington, Vermont, where he became one of the first settlers in the territory then designated as the Hampshire Grants. The founders of the American branch of the Hathaway family were three brothers, Ephraim, Isaac and Jacob, who immigrated from the west of England in 1670 and settled at Taunton, Massachusetts. Joshua Hathaway, Sr., father of him whose name initiates this review was a valiant soldier of the Continental forces in the war of the Revolution, in which he and his six brothers fought side by side in the battle of Bennington. He was a man of specially high intellectual attainments, having been graduated in Yale College and having adopted the profession of law. In 1796 he removed to Fort Stanwix, New York, a place now known as Rome, his marriage to Elizabeth Lord having been solemnized in 1789. He became one of the most honored and influential citizens of Oneida county, where he served many years on the bench of the court of common pleas, besides which he held for thirty consecutive years the office of postmaster of the village iu which he had established his home. He was a man of broad views and progressive ideas and was one of the earnest supporters of the project of constructing the Erie canal. To further the success of this important enterprise he assumed an extensive contract for construction work, and at so low a figure did he take this contract that his entire fortune was absorbed in its completion. He continued his residence at Rome until his death, which occurred December 8, 1836, and was one of the most honored pioneers of the central part of the old Empire state. Joshua Hathaway [Jr.], subject of this memoir, was reared to adult age in his native village and received excellent educational advantages in his youth. He fitted himself for the practice of law and the profession of civil engineer and as a representative of the latter vocation he entered the service of the government and was sent, in 1834, to Wisconsin, which was then a part of Michigan Territory. Prom Chicago he came by means of one of the primitive lake vessels to Milwaukee, where he was met at the docks by that honored pioneer, Solomon Juneau, who was one of the few white settlers then residing in the future metropolis of Wisconsin. As a civil engineer Mr. Hathaway surveyed a considerable part of the territory now comprising the state of Wisconsin and he otherwise entered fully into the spirit and interests of the pioneer community. Much of his early surveying was in the southern part of the state and during the greater part of the years 1833 and 1834 he maintained his headquarters in Chicago. Upon his arrival in Milwaukee he pitched his tent upon the site of the present University building, at the corner of Broadway and Mason street, and in a more substantial structure which he there erected he continued to reside until 1836, when he built a simple but comfortable residence on the same site. There he continued to maintain his home until his death. Through his professional work and his judicious enterprise in the handling of real estate, in which he made large investments, he accumulated a substantial fortune, as gauged by the standards of his time, and he was known and valued as one of the most liberal and public-spirited citizens of Milwaukee, as well as a man whose integrity was on a parity with his exalted motives and marked ability. Sincerity and affability marked him as a true gentleman of the old school, and none knew him but to admire and esteem. Upon the organization of the territorial government, in 1836, he was the first to be honored with appointment to the office of district surveyor, a position of great responsibility in connection with the development of the embryonic state, and his commission for this post bore date of July 8. 1836. Further evidence of the unqualified confidence reposed in Mr. Hathaway was given in 1838, when he was appointed to the important office of public administrator for Milwaukee county. This exacting position, compassing in its administrative duties the functions now exercized by the judge of the probate court, were discharged by him with characteristic fidelity and discrimination and further expanded his beneficent influence. He identified himself prominently and extensively with real estate speculative operation in Milwaukee and other lake counties, and was specially conspicuous in connection with the upbuilding of the village of Kewaunee. Mr. Hathaway was a man of mature judgment and unimpeachable integrity in all of the relations of life. He was well fortified in legal knowledge and was ever ready to lend his co-operation in the furtherance of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community. Genial and courtly, he enjoyed greatly the amenities of social life and especially the association with other men of education and culture. He made a close study of the natural resources of the state of his adoption and was known as a geologist and botanist of no mean ability. His office was a place of general resort for those seeking information concerning lots, lands and taxes, and in this field he was a recognized authority. The information which he was able to give was unobtainable from any other source, and concerning his attitude in this connection the following consistent statements have been written by one familiar with his character and services: "Although he might be in the midst of the most difficult problems connected with his business, or making drafts for maps, in which he took a great delight, he always received you pleasantly, answered your questions if he could, and if he could not you might well despair of finding what you sought, for if you left his office unenlightened you would be likely to remain so in so far as information touching Milwaukee lands or lots was concerned." During the latter years of his life Mr. Hathaway passed the winters in Georgia, where he maintained an attractive residence and also owned a considerable amount of other property, but his interests continued to be centered in Milwaukee until his death, at the age of fifty-three years. He was the close friend of the leading men of the pioneer epoch in the history of the Wisconsin metropolis and his noble character gained to him the friendship of all with whom he came in contact. In politics Mr. Hathaway was a staunch and well fortified supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and his religious faith was originally that of the Protestant Episcopal church, his wife having been reared a Presbyterian. In the early days in Milwaukee the little company of those of the Episcopalian faith would assemble for worship and the prescribed ritual as provided for the layman was read by Mr. Hathaway before a regular clergyman had been procured. Mr. Hathaway was one of organizers of St. Paul's Episcopal church and became a member of its vestry, but eventually both he and his wife espoused the faith of the Catholic church, the great mother of Christendom, in which they became earnest and devout communicants of the parish of St. John's cathedral, their conversion to Catholicism having taken place about the year 1847 and all of their children having been reared in this faith. In beautiful Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee, rest the remains of both Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway, whose names merit enduring place on the roll of the honored pioneers of Wisconsin. It may be noted that on the maternal side Mr. Hathaway was a descendant of John Haynes, who was not only the first governor of Connecticut but also a colonial governor of Massachusetts. In the city of Buffalo, New York, on the 10th of October, 1842, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hathaway to Miss Ann Jennette Hathaway, who was his second cousin and who was born in Vermont, September 1, 1818, and who survived him by many years. Mrs. Hathaway was summoned to the life eternal, at her home in Milwaukee, on the 25th of September, 1894, and her memory is revered by all who came within the compass of her gentle and gracious influence. Concerning her the following statements were published at the time of her death: "Mrs. Ann Jennette Hathaway was a pioneer woman and one of the last of a coterie of Milwaukee women who were notable for their high character and womanly qualities during the years when the city was developing from a small frontier town to metropolitan pretentions. She was an exceptionally bright and capable woman, possessing the noble characteristics that drew to her a wide circle of friends. She lived in Milwaukee fifty-two years, having settled here in 1842, after her marriage to Joshua Hathaway. Her husband was at first a surveyor, afterward becoming a real-estate investor, and the rise in value of real < estate made him a wealthy man. For many years the family residence was upon the corner where the University building now stands, but afterward Mrs. Hathaway removed to a new home, at the corner of Juneau avenue and Astor street, where she lived with her daughters and sons until her death. She was naturally of a domestic and social disposition and many old residents remembered her as the life of social gatherings which she attended. In later life she remained a most attractive woman, by reason of her friendliness and geniality. Upon the death of her husband Mrs. Hathaway devoted herself to the management of the important and complicated affairs of the estate, in which connection she developed a marked talent for business details. She was a daily visitor at the office of her deceased husband until her sons reached an age when they were able to relieve her of business responsibility, when she gracefully retired to the duties of her home, which she always made a center of hospitality. She was seventy-six years of age at the time of her death." Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway became the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The three surviving daughters, Mary L., Jeannette and Sarah B., still maintain their home in Milwaukee, where they were born and reared. The surviving sons are Andrew A. and John E., the former of whom was born in Milwaukee and the latter at the winter home of the family, at Marietta, Georgia. These sons were afforded the advantages of a good education. John E. Hathaway is the executive head of the firm of J. E. Hathaway & Company, of Milwaukee, contractors for public works, and he passes a considerable part of his time in Milwaukee, though he now maintains his home at Easton, Talbot county, Maryland, as does also the elder brother, Andrew A., who is there engaged in the real-estate business and also owns a fine farm of three hundred acres in the immediate vicinity. Andrew A Hathaway removed from Milwaukee to Maryland in 1903 but still retains important interests in his native city, where he erected the Hathaway and the Clement-Williams buildings, as well as the University building, which is owned by the Hathaway estate and which occupies the site of the old family homestead. -----
Collections - State Historical Society of Wisconsin, by State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Reuben Gold Thwaites, pages 390-98. http://books.google.com/books?id=GigPAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA390&lpg=PA390&dq=%22joshua+hatheway%22+%22rome%22&source=bl&ots=D7h4f2wppe&sig=_2F8I4qcabFzliswklhBcXLb-T8&hl=en&ei=eVKsTu7aDIrr0gH96PW3Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22joshua%20hatheway%22%20%22rome%22&f=false SURVEYING IN WISCONSIN, IN 1837. BY FRANKLIN HATHEWAY.1 My uncle, Joshua Hatheway, came out from the East in 1833 or 1834, being then associated with the late Albert G. Ellis, as a surveyor. In the early summer of 1835, he went to Washington, and secured a contract from the general land office to survey and subdivide into sections, townships Nos. 1, 2, 3, N., ranges 20, 21, 22, 23, E., in the extreme southeast corner of what is now Wisconsin — but then, a part of Michigan Territory. One or two families had located at the mouth of Pike Creek (now the City of Kenosha), and perhaps a dozen families at the mouth of Root River (now Racine); but besides these few residents on the lake shore, there was not a single farmer or farm house in the entire district. It was arranged to put two surveying parties in the field; — one led by Mr. Hatheway, and the other by John Banister (afterwards a prominent citizen of Fond du Lac). The entire party — numbering with the cook and the packer ten men, of whom I was one — were to occupy one tent during the progress of the work. We left Milwaukee on Christmas Day (1835), on foot, and before the end of the year were actively at work. Two months sufficed to complete the survey; about the first of March, 1836, a portion of the party was dismissed, and the others spent about a month in surveying and laying out the future city of Racine, under the lead of David Giddings, who was a member of the Territorial house of representatives (1840-42), and later a member of the first constitutional convention. Mr. Giddings now owns and lives on the celebrated "Macy" farm of 400 acres, near Fond du Lac, the only known survivor (March, 1898), except the writer, of those surveying parties. We then returned to Milwaukee, and spent the summer in laying out several additions to the village site; the most prominent being "Walker's Point Addition," on the south bank of Menomonee River, from its junction with the Milwaukee River westward, for half a mile or more. ------
1 Franklin Hatheway, author of this sketch, was born at Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., July 12, 1818, of Vermont parents. His great-grandfather, Simeon Hatheway, fought, together with his seven sons, under General Stark in the battle of Bennington. Later in the war, one of these sons, Joshua [Sr.] (grandfather of our author), was one of the "Green Mountain Boys" under Ethan Allan, and saw much active service; after the war, he entered Yale College and graduated therefrom in 1787. Removing in 1795 to Fort Stanwix (now Rome, NY), he was elected first treasurer of Oneida County, and was postmaster at Rome from 1808 to 1833. During the War of 1812-15, he was in the military service, and at one time was commandant at Sackett's Harbor. By appointment from Gov. DeWitt Clinton, he was the first to break ground for the Erie Canal (July 4, 1817). His wife was a daughter of John Haynes Lord, of Hartford, CT, a lineal descendant of the John Haynes who was governor of Massachusetts in 1635, and later governor of Connecticut (at intervals between 1639 and 1653). [Jay], the oldest son of Joshua was the father of our author; for many years he was one of the leading merchants of Rome, and succeeded his father as postmaster, holding office from 1833 to 1849; he was also treasurer of Oneida County for ten years. In October, 1817, he married Zeruiah Cleveland, whose father was a brother of the grandfather of ex-President Cleveland. Their son Franklin first came to Wisconsin when 17 years of age (August, 1835), in company with his uncle, Joshua Hatheway [Jr.]. Landing in Green Bay, they were present during the great government land sale there, in September. Returning to Rome in July, 1836, Franklin was at once engaged on surveys for the Genessee Valley Canal. The summer of 1837 he spent as related in his sketch below. Upon completing his work at Madison and Green Bay, he returned to Rome to recuperate his health, spending the following winter and spring in his father's store and in the principal charge of the Rome post-office. In August, 1838, he commenced work in the engineering corps of the Utica & Syracuse Railroad; and June 27, 1839, went to Syracuse upon the first train of cars to pass through central New York. In the spring of 1843, he returned to Milwaukee, forming a real-estate partnership with his uncle, Joshua Hatheway [Jr.], which continued until the autumn of 1845; he then spent a year and a half at Cleveland, as a bank official, and in the spring of 1847 was called to Chicago, where he has since resided.— Ed. -----
In this work we were assisted by Daniel Wells, Jr. (now of Milwaukee), and having found a small, deserted log hut standing on the extreme point where the two rivers met, we took possession; it was the only habitation in the entire subdivision. I spent the following winter at my Eastern home, with my parents, but again turned my steps westward in the spring of 1837, and landed at Green Bay. After a few weeks, I joined my uncle in Milwaukee, where I had temporary work in fitting and joining together the sheets which compose the first map of the Territory of Wisconsin, and writing in the names of the several counties. It seems that when the map was engraved, the names and boundaries of the counties had not been legally established; or, that the engravers had omitted an important part of their work, which it became necessary to supply; and so this work of completing the map came to my hand.1 While thus engaged, I learned that James Duane Doty (afterwards Territorial governor), who was then living at Green Bay, desired to engage a surveyor to lay out the city of Madison, which the Territorial Legislature had, at its recent session, designated as the future capital. I decided to return to the Bay and apply for the job, and was informed that the county surveyors from Brown County and from Mineral Point2 had both attempted to do the work, and were, for some cause not known to me, obliged to abandon it. This did not prevent me from making personal application to Mr. Doty, as I had a good compass and thought I knew how to use it. He evidently thought that my youth and inexperience precluded all hope of success, where older and wiser heads had failed; but I finally secured from him the privilege of attempting the survey on condition that, in case of failure to complete it, I should make no charge for my time or expenses. -----
1 Topographical Map of Wisconsin Territory, published by Samuel Morrison and Elisha Dwelle, of the surveyor general's office, Cincinnati, and Joshua Hatheway, of Milwaukee, 1837. This map embraces only the lands south and east of Wisconsin and Fox rivers — all that had, up to that time, been purchased from the Indians.— Ed. 2 Moses M. Strong was the Mineral Point surveyor. See Wis. Hist. Colls.i x, pp. 86-88, for the story of his experiences.— Ed. -----
My arrangements for the journey were soon completed, and I started on horseback, with only a change of underwear in my saddle-bag, and compass on my arm, for the scene of my future labors. The only route open for travel was the military road to Fort Winnebago, passing around the east and south sides of Lake Winnebago, and following the general course of the Upper Fox River, to the fort; thence by the Mineral Point road south, to about the latitude of Fourth Lake; thence east across the country, to the site of the future capital. This journey — partly alone, on horseback, and from the Brothertown Reservation to Fort Winnebago, about eighty miles on foot, with two Indian "boys to carry provisions, blankets, etc. — occupied a full week. Excluding the improvements on the reservation, there were but two houses between DePere and Fort Winnebago — one at Wrightstown, another at Fond du Lac. A few miles east of the fort we passed a lone man plowing with a span of horses; his covered wagon, in which he slept, standing by the roadside. He had located on the north side of the road, in the open prairie, and was probably the first farmer to break ground west of Lake Winnebago. On reaching the site of Madison, the first week was spent in locating and establishing the section lines that meet and cross in the center of the Capitol Park and follow the streets and avenues that diverge from its four corners. From these lines as a base, the sides of the square, and their exact location and length, were to be determined; upon their accuracy, all the work of the survey depended, and in the prosecution of this preliminary work I met with the same difficulty that had baffled the skill of the old county surveyors. After exhausting every expedient at my command, in fruitless efforts to run a straight line with the compass, I was forced to the conclusion that it could not be done; for repeated trials made with the utmost care, on a north-and-south line, showed that lines run on the same course, as indicated by the needle, crossed each other at every attempt. It was supposed that local magnetic attraction of some sort deflected the needle at various points, and prevented its normal action, and it therefore could not be depended upon for accurate work. I was convinced that, unless some means could be found to neutralize the effects thus produced, the work could not go on; and that for want of the requisite knowledge and skill, and proper instruments, I would be compelled to score another failure. There was, at that time, a gang of masons and stonecutters on the ground, at work getting out material for the foundation of the capitol, which was to occupy the center of the park. The precise location of this center was yet to be determined from the boundary lines, which were first to be accurately and definitely established by the surveyor; for this reason, my failure was certain to embarrass and delay, and perhaps stop, their work, and cause loss to the contractors as well. It was therefore with a heavy heart that I reported to the commissioner in charge, Augustus A. Bird, my inability to make the survey, and my Intention to start for Green Bay on the following day. While explaining to him the obstacles in my way, it fortunately happened that a traveller who had stopped at our boarding house for the night, on his way across the country, heard our conversation; at its conclusion, he approached me, and, asking a few questions relative to the work in hand, suggested a mode of operation which at once seemed to remove all difficulties. It would take too much time and space to explain in detail the modus operandi; suffice it to say, that the plan recommended was adopted, was entirely successful, and proved to be so accurate that, as the work progressed, any error in course or distance was at once discovered and corrected. The next morning, the traveller (whose name I did not learn) resumed his journey, and I never again saw him. With a cheerful, thankful heart, I began operations in the field, and before the noon hour arrived had the boundary lines of the Capitol Park located and staked out, and my work fairly started. Soon after this, the postmaster, John Catlin, was suddenly called to New York, and it became necessary for him to appoint a deputy to act during his absence. Having served in that capacity under my father, in my native town, I was familiar with the laws and regulations of the post-office department, so I was duly appointed, and found no difficulty in conducting the affairs of the office during Catlin's protracted absence. As I now remember, we had mails brought on horseback from Milwaukee, Mineral Point, and Green Bay, once or twice a week. The post-office consisted of a small case of pigeon holes, closed by doors, standing on one end of the counter, in the only store then in operation. This was store, saloon, and post-office, all in one, and was the lounging place of the workmen after finishing the day's labor. The building, a one-story frame, without lath or plaster, was, as I afterwards learned, built and owned by Simeon Mills, and was one of the four buildings then standing'— the other three being: a log house south of the park, near the bank of Third Lake; a large one-and-a-half story frame boarding house and tavern, the entire upper floor being one bare room, with rows of beds on each side, under the eaves, and a passage-way through the middle, barely high enough to allow a man to stand erect; and a small frame office, for the use of Commissioner Bird; these comprised all the improvements of which Madison could then boast. The ground between Third and Fourth lakes was covered with a moderately heavy growth of timber, and an undergrowth of hazel and other bushes, quite dense in some places. In proceeding with the survey, it became necessary to clear away every thing that obstructed the sight along the lines to be located and measured; so that the work required much more time to complete than would have been necessary on an open prairie; but nothing occurred to check our progress until the area covered by the plat given me to work from had all been surveyed and properly staked off. It was about September 15 when I finished this work, and commenced to explore the country lying between Madison and the head of Lake Winnebago, a distance of about sixty five miles, through an unknown and uninhabited region. Governor Doty and his associates were anxious to avoid the long detour via Fort Winnebago, to reach the capital from the north, and engaged me to examine the country along the most direct route between those points, and report on the feasibility of opening a wagon road across the intervening country. Accordingly, I purchased an Indian pony, and placing my saddle-bags, blankets, and provisions on his back, struck out with my two assistants. We took a northeasterly course, and soon reached the open prairie, which was dotted here and there with groves of burr oak, in the distance resembling cultivated orchards. The country through which we passed was chiefly a high, rolling prairie, having a rich soil, covered with rank vegetation, but destitute of living streams. A long, hot summer had dried up the sloughs and the few water-courses that crossed our path, and we suffered severely from thirst. The first night out, we camped in a thicket of hazel bushes, and after dark moistened our parched throats with dew gathered from the leaves. Our provisions, consisting of rusty pork and hard tack, were bad enough, but the best then to be had in Madison; finding nothing better than stagnant water to drink, only added to our discomfort. On the afternoon of the second day, having reached the vicinity of Fox Lake, I was taken violently ill, and for a few hours doubted whether I should ever get up again; but towards noon of the next day, I mounted my horse, and taking a westerly course, after six or eight hours travel we reached Fort Winnebago just at night fall. Here I found a 'hearty welcome in the comfortable quarters of Lieut. William Root1 (a son of Gen. Erastus Root, of New York) and all needful attention and restoratives; but lacking strength to continue the work in hand, the next day 1 sent my two men with the horse to Green Bay, there to await my arrival, and accepted an invitation given me by the surgeon of the post, to accompany him on a trip down the Fox River by boat. 1 Of the 5th Regiment.—Ed. Two Mackinac boats, laden with furs for the American Fur Co., were hourly expected from the Upper Wisconsin River, and similar boats were lying in Fox River, opposite the fort, waiting to receive their cargoes; these had to be transferred on the backs of Indians and half-breeds, over a land portage about a mile and a quarter in length. Several days were consumed in this work; but after a week's sojourn at the fort as the guest of Lieutenant Root, I went on board one of the boats, with the surgeon, and two soldiers detailed to serve him on his journey, and we were soon floating lazily down the river. From Portage to Lake Winnebago the river wound its tortuous way through broad rice marshes, which in many places extended as far as the eye could reach on either side; but occasionally the channel ran close to high points of land that jutted into the marshy waste. No habitations were seen at any place on its banks, but myriads of blackbirds fed on the wild rice, and numberless ducks and geese covered the open waters. Passing from the river into Lake Winnebago, at the site of the future city of Oshkosh,— then covered with a heavy growth of timber and uninhabited,1 — we made a pleasant run down the lake, and entered the Lower Fox River, where our progress was impeded by frequent rapids and falls, at each of which it was necessary to unload the boats and carry the cargoes overland to deep water below. This trip consumed about a week's time. We reached Green Bay September 29, where I found my men anxiously awaiting my arrival. After promptly reporting to Governor Doty the results of our trip so far as accomplished, they were paid off, and started for home via Fond du Lac and Fox Lake, in order to complete the examination which my sudden illness had interrupted. 1 Webster Stanley set up a ferry at Coon's Point, Oshkosh, in July, 1836, thus becoming the founder of that city. The following month, he was joined by the Gallup brothers (Henry and Amos). In 1837, George Wright and his son William, David Evans, Chester Ford, and Joseph Jackson arrived and became permanent settlers. All these were in Oshkosh (then called " Athens ") at the time of our author's visit.—Ed. The governor was so well pleased with my success that he offered me a winter's work in surveying and laying out the "City of the Four Lakes," which was projected on a grand scale, and intended to occupy a magnificent site on the northwesterly side of Fourth Lake, opposite the capital.1 It was a tempting offer, the pay being liberal, and the advantages to me all that could have been desired; but its acceptance involved the hardships and exposure of a winter campaign, with only a tent for shelter, and well knowing all that this involved, I reluctantly declined his urgent request. I was still suffering from the effects of the late attack of illness, and felt that my strength was not equal to the labor which the undertaking would impose upon me. The panic of 1837 put an end to the proposed "City of the Four Lakes," as it also did to hundreds of other speculative schemes which had a splendid existence on paper, but which, owing to the hard times that followed, never materialized. Were an intelligent and educated stranger, who knew nothing of the history of Wisconsin, now to make a tour through the state, examining in detail its cities, towns, railroads, factories and farms, and then be told that all the results of human enterprise, labor, and skill which he had witnessed had been accomplished during the last sixty years, he might be pardoned if he regarded the statement as a gross exaggeration; nevertheless, it would be but a simple recital of a marvelous fact. 1 At what is now known as Livesey's Springs.— Ed. ----
The Hand-book of Chicago Biography: a compendium of useful biographical ..., by John Joseph Flinn. page 189. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ho5QAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA190&dq=%22joshua+hatheway%22+%22rome%22&hl=en&ei=NF-sTvDtMKnn0QGN7pSCDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22joshua%20hatheway%22%20%22rome%22&f=false Franklin Hatheway - Born at Rome, Oneida, NY, 12 Jul 1818; son of Jay and Zeruiah (Cleveland) Hathewav. His parents were of English extraction, Ephraim Hatheway on his father's side, with two brothers, Isaac and Jacob, coming from the west of England, and settling in Taunton, MA., in 1670. From them the Hatheway family sprung. His paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Lord, whose ancestors came from London, was a daughter of John Haynes Lord, a wealthy land owner of Hartford, CT., who was born in 1725 and died in 1796. His grandfather, Joshua Hatheway, with six brothers served in the Revolutionary war, and fought side by side at the battle of Bennington. He settled at Fort Stanwix, near Rome, NY, in 1796, when his son, Jay Hatheway, was but four years old. He was judge of the court of common pleas, and held the position of postmaster for thirty consecutive years, his son Jay succeeding him in that office. Franklin Hatheway was educated in a select school at Rome, and at Lowville Academy in Lewis county, NY. He left home in 1835, and since that time has had a very active career. He came west as a government surveyor, and followed that profession in various sections of Wisconsin, part of his work being the surveying and laying out of Madison, the capitol of the state. Returning east in 1837, he did considerable civil engineering work; acted as assistant postmaster under his father, and in 1842 again came west, locating at Milwaukee, Wis. Here he engaged in the real estate business with an uncle, but in May, 1847, came to Chicago. He was cashier and confidential clerk in the real estate office of Ogden & Jones and their successors for 21 years, and after that conducted a real estate office on his own account until he accepted the position of cashier of the Mutual Trust Society, now the Equitable Trust Company. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and was for some years a vestryman and lay reader in St. James church. In politics he is a republican, and is a Son and Templar of Temperance, a member of the Illinois Society of Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Sons of New York; also a member of the American Institute of Civics, and of the Church Club of Chicago. In the early days of the city he served seven years in the Chicago volunteer fire department and has held the office of notary public for about forty years. Mr. Hatheway was married in August, 1840, to Sarah A. Gilbert, of Hudson, NY, who died in December, 1879, leaving three sons, William, George Hoadley, and Frank Colton. He has three grandchildren, Gilbert Stockley and Gertrude, children of his son George Hoadley, and Marion Buckingham, daughter of his son Frank C. In January, 1881, Mr. Hatheway was married the second time to Clara A. Graham, of Dixon, IL. -----
Appendix II The Ceremonial First Digging on the Erie Canal By Daniel J. Montellhttp://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/101_135/120summer2001/120mordell.html My interest in this ceremony was attracted by the anomaly of a great and memorable event in history and its elusive location. And elusive it has proven to be, I assure you. I am certain, too, that the last words on this subject have yet to be written and no doubt by someone else. Study of pertinent literature leaves the impression that the only facts certain regarding this highly significant occasion is that it began at sunrise on July 4, 1817, at (or near) Rome, New York, on the alignment of the Erie Canal ("Clinton's Ditch"). Whether the event was located in or near the village of Rome is the primary subject of this paper. It is not entirely an academic question, as the choice of sites is easily resolved to only two discrete points 2.5 miles apart by public highway. For convenience, I have named them "The Ft. Bull Site" and "The Arsenal Site." There are other less basic questions raised by inconsistencies in the literature:
Who attended? Specifically, which and how many canal officers or engineers? Were . . . ceremonies that day at two different locations? Was the implement used a shovel or a plow? Was a plow used at all? Who actually first used the shovel (or plow)? Was one of the principal participants the contractor for the section on which the ceremony took place? In which contract section was the ceremony located?   
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/forts/fortsM_P/oneidaCarryForts.htm In my considered opinion, only one ceremony occurred. It took place at sunrise, July 4, 1817, within the "blue lines" (right-of-way) of "Clinton's Ditch" very close to its eastern-most crossing of Wood Creek. This point was very near the sites of both the ancient upper Wood Creek landing and the fort which tradition tells us was named "Ft. Newport" and which guarded this point in Colonial days on the Great Carry. The newly built U. S. Arsenal was just a few hundred feet to the northeast within sight. Between the Wood Creek crossing of Clinton's Ditch and the Arsenal was the west end of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company's "Rome Canal" completed in 1797. Nearby was one of their two original locks, supplemented by four others on Wood Creek in 1802-03. Wood Creek was received into the north, or "Berme" side of the completed canal. On the south, or towpath side was a waste weir to spill off excess water to maintain the proper canal level. The present location of this site is somewhere in the abandoned prism of "Clinton's Ditch," southwest of the Rome Strip Steel Company, approximately 400 feet west of the intersection of the projected centerline of Clark Street with "Clinton's Ditch." An intriguing characteristic of the more authoritative accounts of the ceremony down through the years as late as 1917 is the total lack of association with the site near Fort Bull. I have taken this negative fact as the starting point in my study. Primary sources of New York State canal historical documentation for the period of interest are the earliest annual reports of the canal commissioners. These were published individually and also were included in the two-volume "Canal Laws," another primary source. The report for 1817 is terse and perfunctory. It simply dates the signing of the first contract on June 27, 1817, and the first excavation on July 4, 1817. The portion of Volume 2 of "Canal Laws" which lists expenditures for the canal's construction through 1821 was enlightening. Here was found the unexpected fact that Joshua Hathaway contracted for 1.2 miles of canal construction from approximately Wheeler Creek at Stanwix, westward. He failed to complete his contract and Chapin and Brayton took it over in addition to their contract section joining Hathaway's with Wood Creek. It is interesting that the east intersection with Wood Creek was handled off-handedly, as if a well-known and obvious spot. It was always simply "Wood Creek." Reference to the intersection beyond Fort Bull, if at all, was always to the "Wood Creek Aqueduct." Lacking a map or detailed description to locate them, references to lettered and numbered sections have so far proven meaningless. The distances specified locate the west end of Chapin and Brayton's contract at "The Arsenal Site." The next contract west was Joseph Miller's. This was 1.5 miles long and terminated, interestingly enough, at "the east end of J. Richardson's first contract." Not knowing the length of this latter contract, one of six contracts listed for Richardson, it is reasonable to conjecture that the west end of this contract, the first awarded, is the location of "The Fort Bull site." The distance of this site from the end of Miller's contract would be about a mile. The account which is the keystone of my argument is from Pomroy Jones' Oneida County history. It was published in 1851 when many of the witnesses of and participants in the ceremony would still be alive. Jones wrote: "On the 4th of July, 1817, the ground was first broken in the construction of the Eire Canal. This was done with appropriate public ceremonies, and the place selected was a few rods west of the United States' arsenal, and the honor of casting the first shovel of earth was assigned to the late Honorable Joshua Hathaway. Wood Creek flows into the canal at this point, and the surplus water passes off by a waste weir over its old channel, following which about three-fourths of a mile, it receives Mud Creek, a small mill stream, from the southwest, and about the same distance below is the remains of Fort Bull." It epitomizes the story of the ceremony, in my opinion, as no one else has done. It is purported to be from a letter to Jones from Jay Hathaway, Joshua's son. It disagrees with the contemporary account of the Utica Patriot of July 15, 1817, in that the latter gives Richardson, not "Hathaway," the honor of turning the first soil. The straight-line distance to Mud Creek is 1.25 miles from "The Arsenal Site" and 1.6 miles to Fort Bull, but these are reasonable errors. More important is the usage of these two verifiable reference points, and their relative location to the ceremony. The buttress to Jones's passage is an article in the Onondaga Register for July 23, 1817, quoting the Utica Patriot of July 15th. Rome's first newspaper, The Rome Republican was not published until February 1825, The Register records the oft-quoted speech of canal commissioner S. Young. Hathaway representing the citizens of Rome, passed the ceremonial shovel to Young, the only commissioner present, who passed it to Richardson. The last is duly noted as having the first construction contract. Richardson is specifically given credit for first breaking the earth. It is of interest that he "was followed by…his own laborers…." Nowhere was I able to find that the digging ceremony was located on Richardson's section. I conclude that if workmen to be employed on Richardson's contract were present, they may have been buoyed enough by the day's festivities to incidentally dig at the ceremony. Richardson probably began excavation that day on the west end of his (and the canal's) first contract. An important clue, in my estimation, in the Register account are these words in the closing paragraph: "Thus, accompanied by the acclamation of the citizens and the discharge of cannon from the U. S. Arsenal,…." Jones agrees with this, if we may assume that "from" means "located at." Hosack's biography of DeWitt Clinton includes a long discourse by historian W. L. Stone which in turn includes essentially the Observer (or Utica Patriot) article. Stone uses the plural of "Commissioner," although only one was present. The words "from the U. S. Arsenal" are omitted. The use of the word "excavation" seems to be restricted to "the Fort Bull Site." This leads to the conclusion that the ceremony was ignored by the canal commissioners in their report for 1817 and by Holmes Hutchinson, in mapping his 1834 blue-line survey of the Erie Canal. The canal historian's standard reference is Whitford's two-volume Canal History. On p. 88 of Vol I, Whitford places the ceremony at "The Arsenal Site." By the time of the 1917 Erie Canal Centenary at Rome, Whitford, as senior assistant engineer of the state canals, had directed a survey based upon Hutchinson's 1834 maps, to locate the exact site of the first digging. This is the site marked by a concrete pylon beside Routes 46 and 49 just east of the "Fort Bull" waste weir, on the Erie Canal enlargement towpath. I have personally seen copies or the originals of three hand-drawn sets of 1834 survey maps for the Rome vicinity. Only one, known as the state library "comptroller's set" has the crossed pick and shovel and the notation "First earth excavated from the Erie Canal July 4th A. D. 1817. At this place." that Whitford referred to. It would seem that all copies of an accurate engineering record would be alike in all respects. Whitford apparently took this notation and mark at face value and simply located a stake using existing reference points. A record of any other research Whitford may have done, or field notes for his survey, have not come to my attention. Off-line details on the 1834 survey maps are questionable, such as the course of Wood Creek and the compass orientation of Fort Bull. Comparison was with air photos. The photostatic negatives of Clinton's Ditch on file at the Rome City Engineer's Office are no doubt from the state library "Comptroller's Set." Wager's account of the ceremony is credited to the Utica Gazette and The New York Columbian. The Utica paper might more properly be the Columbian Gazette. This account is again a variant of that in the Onondaga Register, credited to the Utica Patriot. Both Utica papers may have quoted the same witness. Wager inserts his own references to associate Richardson with Cayuga County and also date of the first contract, thus implying Richardson's ceremonial digging was on his own contract. Worse still, Young's speech is credited to Richardson. My final reference is to the centenary booklet published in 1917 at Rome. It is not a primary source but well worth reading despite its errors, conflicting statements and lack of depth. It is basically a collection of the speeches and events of July 4, 1917, relevant newspaper articles and some fine historical nuggets. A newspaper article of 1917 reprinted in the booklet quotes from Benjamin Wright's field book for his final survey of May, 1817. This is a nugget, but bears no relation to the article's announced goal—proof of the ceremonial location. Samuel Beach, Chairman of the Centenary, made a speech which in retrospect seemingly indicated sad resignation to the site selected by Whitford. I feel Beach was not comfortable with the solution. What appears to be a decisive part of "The Fort Bull Site" argument is a sworn deposition by a local life-long resident acquainted with the canal and boating. It's authoritativeness is damaged by the inclusion of detailed reference to the presence at the ceremony of Governor Clinton. For some unexplained reason, the statement was not obtained until eight days after the centenary. Again and again reference is made to Governor Clinton's presence at Rome on July 4, 1817. Even Senator Hill of Buffalo, a known canal historian, made this error in his speech, as did Oswald P. Backus, and others. The fact that DeWitt Clinton was absent and was in actuality attending the Independence Day celebrations at New York City has already been firmly established by Emily A. Madden in "Canal Research Notes," privately published in the spring of 1965.1 Clinton had just been inaugurated as Governor of New York State on July 1st, 1817. In conclusion, it seems certain that the proper placement of the ceremony is at "The Arsenal Site." It seems to have been overlooked by early canal records. It also seems certain that the initial excavation by a contractor was on the same day at the west end of John Richardson's contract, near "The Fort Bull Site." It seems probable that Benjamin Wright was the only member of the canal engineering force present. Colonel S. Young was the only canal commissioner present. Joshua Hathaway (spelled Hatheway in the old sources) first held the shovel which he passed to Young, who made the speech preserved for posterity. Young then passed the shovel to Richardson who turned the first soil with it. Incidentally, I question that a plow was used at the ceremony. At which side of Wood Creek the ceremony occurred is a moot question at this late date. The canal as constructed had a waste weir at the old Wood Creek channel location which clearly shows in the 1834 blue-line survey map. There was a bearing change in the "red line"2 at this waste weir which means a pipe marker may exist in the earthwork at the south side of the old prism still visible at this point. Remains of this structure may still be in place and it should not be confused with the much more elaborate waste weir near "The Fort Bull Site" still much in evidence and from a much later period of canal construction, perhaps the 1850's. Prepared by Daniel J. Mordell, Chairman, Canals Committee, Rome Historical Society, 22 Feb 1966Directory: sites -> default -> files -> history files -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program files -> Occupational health and safety files -> The Black Panther Party’s Ten Point Program files -> International programs roel profile files -> Fermi Questions a guide for Teachers, Students, and Event Supervisors Lloyd Abrams, Ph. D. DuPont Company, cr&D/ccas experimental Station Wilmington, de 19880 files -> Personal Information Name: Maha Al-Ammari Nationality: Saudi Relationship Status history -> History of the Third Masonic District Grand Lodge of the State of New York history -> Freemasons of New York State in the Civil War history -> Grand Masters of the United Grand Lodge of England [ugle] and of Scotland Download 8.67 Mb. Share with your friends:
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