Chapter: Town of DAYTON

pages 229-239

Transcribed by Linda Albright

Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
    Dayton lies on the western border of the county, and is the second town from the north. East is the town of Persia, and south the town of Leon. On the north is Perrysburg from which Dayton was erected on February 7, 1835, to embrace all of township 5, range 9, of the Holland survey. The area is 23,137 acres whose surface is less broken than that of most other towns. The northern and eastern parts of the town are elevated and irregular, the summits of the hills being a few hundred feet higher than the general level. In the central, southwestern, and western parts of the town, the surface is mainly level, and in some places not enough undulated to afford natural drainage. This forms a swamp, whose outlet is Connewango Creek, a very sluggish stream. Along the water courses, the town was originally heavily timbered with forests of pine and hemlock, a considerable portion of which yet remains. On the uplands, the timber was chiefly maple and beech, and was not so heavy as on the flats; but while the work of clearing the ground was less, the soil is not so strong and productive as on the lowlands. These were at first not esteemed valuable for farming, but since the lands have been improved, constitute the best part of the town. The soil here is a loam, more or less admixed with clay. On the hills it is a light loam, with a mixture of gravel or clay. The principal products are oats and hay; and at present dairying is the controlling industry. The streams of the town, draining north, are tributaries of Cattaraugus Creek, and are no larger than brooks. The affluents of Connewango Creek, flowing from the east, northeast, and northwest, unite in the southern part of the town to form what is usually known as the east branch of Connewango Creek. The volume of this stream is great, but is has but little fall, and such low banks that little power is afforded. Nor do the banks restrain the water in times of freshet, rendering useless much of the land bordering on these streams, on account of untimely overflows. The proposed improvement of the lower
Connewango would greatly promote the current of the headwaters, whereby a large portion of this land might be redeemed for farming purposes. In that event, the southern part of the town will become the richest and most productive section, although the last settled.

THE PIONEER SETTLEMENTS

were made in the northern and eastern parts of Dayton. A list of the lands owned in 1819 contains the following names:

Name Lot Name Lot
Abraham Hale 2 Timothy M. Shaw 31
Peter Allen 23 James H. Shaw 31
Ralph Johnson 30 Hiram Howard 31
William Blasdell 30 Heman Merrill 31
Anson C. Merrill 30 Jedediah Lee 32
Lyman Wood 37 Luther Hubbard 53
Nathaniel Blasdell 37 Jeremiah Pratt 53
Frederick A. Redfield 37 Azariah Darbee 54
Chauncy Hammond 39 Chester Darbee 54
Belah H. Redfield 39 Caleb Webb 55
Samuel Hammond 39 Joshua Webb 56
Samuel K. Strickland 40 Leman H. Pitcher 58
Stephen Parsall 40 James P. Pitcher 58
John Parsall 40 Arza Corbett 59
George Babcock 40 A. Starkweather 59
Thomas Newcomb 46 Ephraim Smith 60
Sylvanus Finch 47 Ephaphras Smith 60
Ezra T. Winship 47 Eldad Corlit 61
Chester McDaniels 47 Moses Morgan 62
Ebenezer Roberts 48 William Reed 63
Aaron Nash 48 Silas Nash 64
Nathan Bumpus 52 Simeon Bunce 64
Lyman Bumpus 52 Don S. Downer 64
Simeon Dryer 53



    Some of these resided on their lands at this time, and nearly all became actual settlers in the course of ten years. A few of the first only can be noticed in detail. In the fall of 1810, Simeon BUNCE and his brother-in-law, Silas NASH left Otsego County to find a home in the western part of the State. They had heard of Chautaugua County and determined to locate there; and when they took up their lands on Lot 64, they believed them to be in that county. Each articled 100 acres, at eighteen shillings per acre, and at once made substantial improvements, NASH building a log house the same year, the first in the town of Dayton, which his family occupied. In this humble pioneer home occurred the first birth in the town, in June, 1811,-a son who was named Aras. Here, also the following year in the month of February, came the angel of death to claim his first sacrifice, - Dewitt, another son of Silas NASH; and thus the house of rejoicing became a house of mourning. Silas NASH put up the first sawmill in town in 1817 and continued for many years a leader among the early settlers, holding many positions of honor and trust in Dayton. His descendants also became active, energetic citizens, some of them attaining prominent places in the affairs of the county.
    Simeon BUNCE was a native of Connecticut, having been born at Hartford in 1788. To this State he returned in 1813 and brought on his father's family to the home he had made on Lot 64 in Dayton. He had three children, one of whom survives, a son who occupies the old homestead-and here BUNCE lived until his death in 1875.
    Timothy M. SHAW came from Herkimer County in 1814, and located a piece of land on Lot 31. To this place he brought his family, consisting of wife and one child, the following year. He was accompanied by Heman and Anson C. MERRILL from Onondaga County. The former settled on the same lot as SHAW and Anson C. on Lot 30. Both occupied these places until their death, leaving many descendants in the county. SHAW died in 1872. A son, James S., lives in Dayton and another son, C.H., in Perrysburg.
    Ralph JOHNSON from Connecticut, came in the latter part of 1815, and settled on Lot 30. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed this business in town until 1865. He was also an early innkeeper, and the first postmaster of the Dayton office. He remained in town until his death a few years ago. Joshua and Caleb WEBB, from Madison County, came the same year, 1815, and settled on Lots 55 and 56, being the first in that locality.

    At the house of the former was held the first religious meeting the following year. Ten years later, they became innkeepers at what is now called the Cottage neighborhood. The WEBB farm was sold in 1833 to John H. RICE.
    At South Dayton on Lot 58, Leman H. and James P. PITCHER were the first settlers in 1816.  They did not remain in town very long but sold their interests to M.C. NICKERSON, who afterwards became a Mormon. This farm is now owned by Asa BARNUM.
    In the spring of 1816, Azariah DARBEE settled on Lot 54, where he made preparations to bring on his family the following year from his native place Rutland County, VT. The journey hither was made by ox-team. He set out on his place the first orchard in town, getting his trees from Hamburg, Erie County. His son, Azariah, now occupies this farm and is the oldest settler in town, residing on the original purchase.
    In March 1817, Samuel K. STRICKLAND came from Central New York and located on Lot 40, bringing with him his wife and son, Robert O. The streams on the way were crossed on the ice and many hardships were endured.
    The same year, Thomas NEWCOMB settled on Lot 46; William BLASDELL on Lot 30; and Nathaniel BLASDELL on Lot 37. Peter and Luther ALLEN, the latter a minor, came from Onondaga County, in 1818, and after some removals, settled on Lot 23. Luther ALLEN returned to Onondaga County for a wife and brought her to his home in Dayton on an ox-sled. In 1834, he put up the first frame house where the village of Dayton now is, and which is still standing. He removed to Gowanda where he died in February, 1847. In 1820, his brother Asahel came and located on the same Lot, No. 23, settling on the place now occupied by Norman M. ALLEN, who was born in this locality. Asahel ALLEN died in town about 1858.
    After this period, so many settlers came that it will be impossible to enumerate them all here. The REDFIELDS, PARSALL, SMITH, HUBBARD, BACON, PARK, AUSTIN, HAMMOND, JUDD, and many other prominent families came before 1830.
    The condition of the settlements can better be seen from a carefully-compiled list of actual residents and owners of improved property in 1833.
    The valuation of the buildings here given may be less than their actual worth, but the relative measure of the improvements is the same in each case.


 
Name No. of Lot Value of Buildings ($) Name No. of Lot Value of Buildings ($)
Isaac Wait 1 50 Jonathan Palmer 31 25
David Milks 1 45 Heman Merrill 31 110
Peter Kellogg 2 35 Hale Matteso 32 45
Ephraim Dutton 2 100 Jonathan Milks 38 90
Jonathan Milks 2 45 R.E. Knight 38 50
Daniel C. Bassett 3 40 Garrett Parsall 40 35
Eleazer Hillibert 3 60 Samuel K. Strickland 40
Norman L. Bacon 4 40 John Parsall 40 50
P. Collins 4 40 Thomas Newcomb 46 30
D. Loomer 6 35 William B. Smith 47 50
Wyman Hulet 7 35 Ebenezer Roberts 48 50
Daniel Guptel 8 45 John Hammond 51 40
Chapel Judd 9 30 Asa H. Nichols 52 20
Ezekiel Seekins 9 40 Alvah Cole 52 80
Leander Bacon 11 40 Stephen Sowle 53 45
Constant C. Bacon 11 40 Simeon Dryer 53 95
Peniwil Bacon 11 40 Lemuel Webster 54 35
Avery Park 11 57 Azariah Darbee 54 45
Abel M. Bacon 12 45 James Cadwell 54 45
Deloss C. Burdick 14 65 Caleb Webb 55 125
Horace C. Adams 15 40 William B. Smith 55 120
Artemas Coon 16 10 John H. Blish 56 100
Sidney Park 19 45 Goodale & Wheeler 56 130
Russell J. Burdick 20 40 Thomas Newcomb 56 35
John Wattenpaugh 22 45 Isaac P. Hubbard 56 35
Asabel Allen 23 35 M.C. Nickerson 58 130
Luther Allen 23 40 George Passmore 59 20
Reuben Robertson 23 90 Tilly Sandord 59 40
William Farnsworth 24 40 Sylvester James 60 50
E. Dutton 29 45 Isaac Holbrook 61 35
Ralph Johnson 30 250 Nathan Bumpus 62 35
Anson C. Merrill 30 225 Silas Nash 64 190
Gile Johnson 30 45 Simeon Bunce 64 100
Timothy M. Shaw 31 30 Daniel Whelpley 64 80



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Lucius Hubbard and Mrs Harriet Hubbard (click to enlarge)

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Hubbard Residence

 
In addition to the foregoing there were half a dozen tracts of improved land in town owned by parties living in adjoining towns. In 1835, there were 4,313 acres of improved lands in Dayton, three sawmills, and one tannery. The population in 1860 was 1,294; in 1875, 1,402.

CIVIL HISTORY


    The town records are so imperfect and so few in umber that the compilation of a full and satisfactory civil history is impossible. From sources outside of the records, it has been ascertained that the first annual meeting was held at the schoolhouse near Ralph JOHNSON's, the last Tuesday in February, 1835; and that Silas NASH was chosen supervisor, Ralph JOHNSON, town clerk, and Luther ALLEN, justice of the peace. Since this period, these officers have been as follows (excepting, perhaps, some irregularity in the list of justices, arising from the obscurity of the data available):

    The act setting off Dayton from Perrysburg provided for the division of the unexpended public money. Dayton received as her share twelve and a half cents.
    The finances of the town have been well managed, and Dayton is now entirely free from debt. Many thousand dollars were raised by the town to aid in suppressing the Rebellion; and in addition to this there were liberal contributions by individuals to stay the government in the hour of peril.

DAYTON THOROUGHFARES

These embrace many miles of highways, and two railroads. Some of the former were early located, one of the first being the road from southern points by way of South Dayton to Perrysburg, passing through the western part of the town. On this there was travel as early as 1817. What is popularly known as the "Jamestown Road" has been the principal road of the town, being to the eastern part what the other road is to the western. The reference in the records to these and other roads are so vague that we cannot produce them here. The roads at the present are well ordered, and in most instances are in a fair condition.
    The Erie Railroad passes through the northeastern part of the town along the divide of the streams in this section, and has a station at Dayton Village. This is on the summit between the Connewango and Cattaraugus Valleys, and the elevation is more than a thousand feet above the lake at Dunkirk. In July 1874, the Buffalo and Jamestown (now Buffalo and Southwestern) Railroad was completed through Dayton. Its course is nearly described by a line passing diagonally through the town, from the northeast to the southwest corner. At Dayton Village, it passes about thirty feet below the road bed of the Erie, and forms a junction with that road, by means of a back track, from the main line of the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad, a quarter of a mile from the Erie Station. There are, also stations at Markham's in the central part of the town, and at Pine Valley on the Chautauqua County line. This railway has proved very beneficial to the town, and shows that the ten thousand dollars appropriated by Dayton for its construction was money wisely expended.



Date Supervisors Town Clerks Justices
1836 Silas Nash Ralph Johnson John H. Blish



Avery Park



Luther Allen
1837 Luther Allen Ralph Johnson John McMillan
1838 Luther Allen Ralph Johnson John H. Blish
1839 Anson C. Merrill Ralph Johnson Lemuel Wetter
1840 Anson C. Merrill Ralph Johnson Avery Park
1841 Silas Nash Ralph Johnson Luther Allen
1842 Silas Nash Ralph Johnson Lemuel Webster
1843 Silas Nash Ralph Johnson
1844 Luther Allen Ralph Johnson Avery Park
1845 Silas Nash Ralph Johnson Luther Allen
1846 Heman Merrill Richard Johnson John B. Reed
1847 Heman Merrill Richard Johnson Eleazer J. Hilbert
1848 Calvin F. Yaw Orsman Markham Avery Park



Franklin Philbrick
1849 Calvin F. Yaw Orsman Markham Asahel Allen
1850 Calvin F. Yaw T.W. Johnson James S. Shaw
1851 Ralph Johnson T.W. Johnson Avery Park
1852 John B. Reed N.M. Allen John W. Badgero
1853 John B. Reed T.W. Johnson Asabel Allen
1854 Franklin Philbrick T.W. Johnson James S. Shaw
1855 Gile Johnson T.w. Johnson Avery Park
1856 Franklin Philbrick T.W. Johnson Norman M. Allen
1857 Gile Johnson T.W. Johnson J.B. Allen
1858 Dewitt C. Nash T.W. Johnson James S. Shaw
1859 Dewitt C. Nash T.W. Johnson I. H.. Alden
1860 Norman M. Allen T.W. Johnson H.W. Locke
1861 Norman M. Allen T.W. Johnson J.B. Allen
1862 Norman M. Allen T.W. Johnson James S. Shaw
1863 Norman M. Allen G.P. Fart I.H. Alden
1864 Norman M. Allen A.M. De Long H.W. Locke
1865 Norman M. Allen A.M. De Long J.B. Allen
1866 Norman M. Allen M.P. Roberts James S. Shaw
1867 Norman M. Allen Silas H. Merrill G.P. Dart
1868 Norman M. Allen Silas H. Merrill Charles Blair
1869 Norman M. Allen Silas H. Merrill J.B. Allen
1870 Norman M. Allen Silas H. Merrill W.S. Thrasher
1871 Norman M. Allen N.A. Chaffee L.O. Hall
1872 Norman M. Allen N.A. Chaffee Charles Blair
1873 Norman M. Allen Fernando Smith J.B. Badgero
1874 Norman M. Allen Fernando Smith Harrison Judd
1875 Norman M. Allen Fernando Smith L. Ranlett
1876 Norman M. Allen Fernando Smith B.H. Lamb
1877 Norman M. Allen A.M. Hall Charles W. Smith
1878 Norman M. Allen A.M. Hall Charles Blair



 

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS


    Owing to the limited water power in town, but little manufacturing was carried on as long as this was the only motor. Silas NASH was the pioneer manufacturer. In 1817, he put up a sawmill on the stream at West Dayton which he operated a number of years. In a rebuilt condition the mill was continued until 1856, among the later owners being J.R. RICE and David SAUNDERS. About 1853, John KNOWLTON got in operation a steam sawmill at West Dayton which has been improved and the capacity increased. It is at present the property of John CRANDALL.
    On Lot 30, Colonel Ralph JOHNSON began the business of tanning soon after his settlement in 1815. His first vat was hollowed out of a large log. Gradually, his facilities were increased until he had, about 1830, a pretty fair tannery, which at a still later period contained 12 vats. The tannery was carried on until about 1865.
    About 1830, Ralph JOHNSON and Anson C. MERRILL put up a sawmill in this locality, and on its site, a mill is yet operated by Henry MARKHAM. It has a capacity of three thousand feet per day. MARKHAM also operates a shingle mill, put up in 1862 by Henry WOLF. Five men are employed in the manufacture of fifteen thousand shingles per day. Gorham DART was an early shingle manufacturer, building in all three mills in the "swamp," and manufactured a large portion of the timber there growing. Some of these mills were removed to other parts of the town, and afterwards operated by Moses DART and C.L. WATKINS. The same may be said of sawmills. After being operated a period in one locality, they were removed when the timber supply was exhausted, to a more favorable place. In 1873, WATKINS & TARBELL removed their mill from the East Leon neighborhood to Dayton, and in 1877, the mill operated at the Jamestown crossing was removed by Henry WOLF to Lot 22, below Dayton Village. Here it was continued until June 12, 1878, when it was demolished by the explosion of the boiler. The disaster was accompanied by the loss of four lives, killing almost instantly, Henry WOLFE and his son William, Joseph HARBINE, and the engineer, a Norwegian named FRONDS. Two others employed in the mill had a narrow escape.
William WOLFE has a combined saw and shingle mill below MARKHAM'S and in the same locality Jacob DURSEY has at present a shingle mill in operation.


    At Dayton Village are C.L. WATKIN'S planing mill, sash and door factory, established in 1874. The motor is from a fifteen horsepower steam engine, which also operates a small feed mill and, in season, a cider mill. These industries occupy a large shop a short distance from the railroad depot. Here is, also, Fernando SMITH'S stave and heading factory. Work was begun in 1875, and employment is given to fifteen men in the manufacture of from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand staves per year, most of which have been worked into barrels on the ground. The product last year was fifteen thousand apple, and six thousand flour barrels. The power is furnished by a good forty horsepower engine.
    At Pine Valley, a shingle mill was built in 1852 by WALLACE and William RANLETT, and operated by them six years. Machinery was then supplied to saw lumber and about that time, John WICKHAM became interested in its operation. Other changes of ownership followed, and it is at present the property of BURKHALTER & WICKHAM. It has a forty horsepower engine, and can cut six thousand feet of lumber per day. Planing and matching machines have been added, and it is now a complete lumber manufacturing establishment, employing ten men.
    At the railroad depot, Jesse PILE erected a lumber mill in the spring of 1878, which is supplied with a twenty-five horsepower engine and saws, capacitating the mill to cut eight thousand feet per day.
    Farther down the railroad track, C.J. BABCOCK & Company established a stave and heading factory in 1878 which is yet operated by them; and the same year PALMER & HALL put up another factory at which one thousand heads and ten thousand shingles are made daily. Box material is also manufactured.
    A small broom factory is in operation at Pine Valley, and several good carriage shops are also there carried on.

THE DAIRY INTERESTS OF DAYTON


    The dairy interests of Dayton have become so important that they constitute the leading industry of the people. Formerly large private dairies were maintained, but at present, the greater portion of the milk is manufactured at the different creameries in town, at this time seven in number. One of the largest, the East Leon factory, is in the southeastern part of the town and partly in Leon, in whose history it is fully noted.



   The West Dayton Cheese Factory was erected about 1866 by Andrew BRAINARD. It is a good building, thirty-four by one hundred and twenty feet, two stores high, and is supplied with three vats. William MC ADAMS is the present operator, employing the cheddar process in the manufacture of from ten to twelve cheeses per day, which bears an excellent reputation in market.
    The Dayton Creamery was put up in the village of Dayton in 1866 by Porter WELCH, of Gowanda. It is thirty-three by one hundred feet, three stories high and is one of the most complete and best appointed factories in the county. When first operated, it had a large number of patrons, and consumed the milk of five hundred cows. Owing to the establishment of other factories in the northern part of the town, this creamery has not been operated the past year.
    Seth BARTLETT'S Cheese Factory, at MARKHAM'S Station, a two-story building, whose dimensions are thirty by eighty feet was put up in 1875, and is now successfully operated by JOHNSON & BARTLETT. It has a good patronage and the usual complement of cows.
    JENKS AND ROSS' Factory, on the MC FARLAND farm, has been operated since 1877.  It consists of a good-sized main building and a wing. The milk of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred cows is here manufactured.
    The East Dayton Factory, at HOWARD'S corners, was built in 1874 by HALL and PARK.  It is now the property of Rowlain HALL, who manufactures butte rand cheese from the milk of three hundred cows, owned by fifteen patrons.
    The Lang, or South Dayton Factory, on the south side of the swamp on the Jamestown Road, was put up in 1872 by Isaac LANG and has been operated by him since. There are sixteen patrons. Full cream cheese is manufactured from the milk of two hundred cows.


HAMLETS AND VILLAGES


    The oldest hamlet in town is West Dayton. On account of its location on one of the principal highways, it was in early times, a place of much more importance than at present, although it is yet entitled to a respectable position among the many hamlets of the county. It contains a sawmill, store, shops, a Methodist and a Union Church, and about twenty-five dwellings. The post office is called Cottage, and was established after 1850, having John H. BLISH as the first postmaster. N.M. ALLEN was the next appointee and the subsequent ones have been I.H. ALDEN, L.W. DAY, Charles BLAIR, and D.S. ALDEN, the present incumbent. The first mail was supplied from SMITH'S mills, Chautauqua County, and afterwards from Perrysburg, the present from MARKHAM'S Station.
    John H. BLISH was the first to engage in trade sometime about 1845. Four or five years later, John KNOWLTON opened a store. S.W. DAY, Barzilla MERRILL, and I.H. ALDEN were afterwards in trade. The present merchant is D.S. ALDEN.
    The first public house in town was opened at this point in 1824 by Joshua and Caleb WEBB. In after years, the former had another tavern on the BLISH place. John H. BLISH, J.H. RICE, Daniel WHELPLEY, L. & G. FLOWERS, and others followed as the keepers of public houses; FLOWERS being the last to have a tavern.
    In the southeastern part of the town, at the junction of the Jamestown and other roads, a hamlet sprung up about 1830 which received the name of Sociality.



 
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George Volk and Mrs. George Volk

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SOCIALITY


    This name was also applied to the post office, which was established before 1833, with Ephraim DUTTON as postmaster. It was the first office in town, and was continued until the Erie Railroad was completed through this section of the county, when other offices were established so that the business of the Sociality office became too meagre to warrant its longer continuance. Nelson HILLEBERT was the last postmaster.    At this place, William H. LELAND opened the first store in town in 1833. He had also a public house and continued the keeper of both about ten years. Franklin PHILBRICK afterwards kept a store and Harry HOWARD the tavern, and as "HOWARD'S Corners" this place is yet locally known. After HOWARD's retirement from this house, Leander BACON became the keeper, and others, for short periods were here as landlords; but the suspension of travel on the Jamestown Road, after the railroads were built, caused the house to be used for other purposes, and the only place of business at present is a grocery store by C.W. HALL.  In the huddle are a few mechanic shops, a cheese factory, and a very neat Methodist church.
    North of the centre of the town is another hamlet, generally known as MARKHAM'S Corners.

MARKHAM'S CORNERS
    It derived its name from Joshua MARKHAM, who became a resident here in 1834, and soon after opened a tavern which he continued about thirty years. In this vicinity, Colonel Ralph JOHNSON had another public house, from 1845 on, continuing a number of years, and the building is at present occupied by Leonard METSKER for a grocery store. Near here was formerly a post office which was removed to Dayton Village. In 1876, a new office was established having John WALLACE as postmaster. The name of this office is like the station, MARKHAM, of which WALLACE is also agent. Since 1875, he has had a small store near the railroad. The place contains a cheese factory, several sawmills, and half a dozen houses.

DAYTON
    Dayton, a station on the Erie and Buffalo and Southwestern Railroads, is in the northeastern part of the town, principally on Lot 23. It has grown up wholly since 1851 and largely since 1872. It contains a few hundred inhabitants, a Catholic and a Methodist church, several factories, half a dozen places of business, and two hotels.

    The first here to engage in business was A.W.W. CHAFFEE, in 1851. He put up and occupied the building in which is now kept the post office, and in which afterwards James H. CHAFFEE, James S. SHAW, A.M. DE LONG, H.N. HOOKER, Spencer HORTON, Frederick MOORE, and N.A. CHAFFEE were in trade. The latter has continued since 1868.
    James RICE had the next place of business, a grocery, near the cheese factory. In 1866, Henry WAGNER erected a store building, which was occupied by James CURRIN. After its destruction by fire, it was rebuilt by him, but has been occupied by a general store since 1874, by A.M. HALL.  Since 1870, Fernando SMITH has been in trade, handling general merchandise, and for the same period, M.P. ROBERTS has had a drug store. The hardware trade was established in 1874, in a building put up by the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad for a supply store by LANGMAID & CHENEY. They were succeeded by John MARVIN, and he by John VOLK, who is at present in trade. The first furniture store was opened by J.M. PARMELEE, and is at present carried on by Marcus RHODES. G. FITZMORRIS has had a boot and shoe store a number of years, and a few smaller stores in the same branch of trade have been kept a short time in the village.
    The first public house in the village of Dayton was erected in 1852 by Colonel Ralph JOHNSON, and was kept four or five years by T.W. JOHNSON. This is at present continued by George VOLK. Nearer the railroad station is another hotel built by Charles SISSON, and now owned and kept by William EGGLESTON.
    The post office was established about 1836 at the house of Ralph JOHNSON, near MARKHAM'S, and was kept there until 1851, when it was removed to the village and James RICE appointed postmaster. His successors have been James H. CHAFFEE,, Jonathan SHEPARD, Spencer HORTON, A.M. DE LONG, and since 1868, N.A. CHAFFEE. There are four mails per day.
    Dr. Samuel REDFIELD was the first physician in town. He came in 1821 and located on Lot 39, following his profession until his death about 1835. Drs. SILL, JOHNSON, CANFIELD, SHUEY, and others were physicians a short time. Since 1852, Dr. M.P. ROBERTS has been located as a practicing physician at Dayton Village, and since 1877, Dr. D.A. DYE at MARKHAM'S.
    No regularly-admitted attorney lived in town until 1864 when N.M. ALLEN commenced practice at the village of Dayton, and has since continued there, having a fine office and a large practice. In 1872, W.S. THRASHER, one of his students, formed a partnership with Mr. ALLEN, which is yet continued. Other graduates from this office are I.R. LEONARD and E.A. HAYES.



PINE VALLEY

    Pine Valley is a flourishing village in the southwestern part of the town on the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad, six miles from Dayton junction. The locality was formerly known as South Dayton, and the post office is yet known by this name. This office was established about 1860 with E.O. BEACH postmaster, who appointed John WICKHAM deputy. The latter kept the office at his residence, and had the mail brought from West Dayton twice per week. Henry T. RICE was next appointed, and M. L. RANLETT is the present incumbent. The mail service is twice per day. In the neighborhood where the post office was on the West Dayton Road, the village had its beginning as a hamlet and did not improve much until 1875. That year, the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad located a station, one hundred and twenty rods southeast from the post office, and Robert F. EWING platted thirty acres of the WICKHAM farm for a village, extending from the station westward. This was the beginning of Pine Valley proper, and on this plat, N.L. ROWE put up a small store building that year. The following season, EWING put up the first large building on the new plat, and many residences were erected the same season.
    John WICKHAM platted an addition of thirty acres to EWING'S Pine Valley in the fall of 1875, and since that period the place has had a rapid but healthy growth, containing at present seventy-five buildings, many of large proportions and fine architecture. It is the largest shipping point on the railroad between Jamestown and Buffalo, and has an increasing trade, which makes its future promising and very auspicious.
    In this locality David BARRETT was the first in trade, keeping a grocery store on the West Dayton road about 1862. In the same building John WICKHAM opened a store in 1872, but the following year occupied a new building, which is now the business place of RANLETT & CHASE.

  At the station, besides A.L. ROWE, EWING & WHIPPLE are engaged in general merchandising and nearby a hardware store was opened in 1878 by WILSON & WADE. The first tavern was in a house changed for this purpose by A.B. CHARLESWORTH, and was kept a number of years. It is again a farm house and the only hotel is the "WICKHAM House," at the station, which was erected in 1877 and occupied in 1878. It is sixty by sixty-two feet and three stores high, and presents an attractive appearance.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS


    In 1835, the Commissioners of Common Schools, James CADWELL, Russell BROWN, and W.B. SMITH reported four whole and five fractional districts in town in which an aggregate of forty-three months of school had been taught, in terms of from three to seven months in each district. The number of children taught was three hundred and sixty-five, and the money apportioned to the town by the county was $121.15.
    There are at present nine school districts, owning buildings and lots valued at $3,600; in these two hundred and seventy-seven and four-fifths weeks of school were taught at a cost of $2,246.35 for teachers' wages; the apportionment from the county was $1,170.68, and the amount raised by taxation $1,222.39. The number of children of school age was reported as four hundred and eighty-five, and the average daily attendance a little more than two hundred and seven.
    In most districts, good school houses have been provided and the reputation of the schools will bear comparison with those of other towns.
    District No. 2 is the owner of a fine grove near Dayton Village, which is locally known as "Educational Grove." It contains about five acres of well-drained ground, covered by a magnificent growth of maple trees. It is a favorite place for picnics and public outdoor 



gatherings. It was and is the purpose of the purchasers to have the school buildings erected on these grounds the present year, 1879.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES


    It is generally believed that the Rev. Elnathan FINCH, a Baptist missionary, held the first religious meeting in town in 1816 at the house of Caleb WEBB at West Dayton. It does not appear that any society was organized in consequence, immediately or in the years following. It seems that the settlements were too sparse to maintain a church organization, and no effort was made in this direction by the Baptists. But in the fall of 1818, a class of four Methodists was formed, and met for worship at the house of Caleb WEBB. The members were WEBB and wife, Daniel and Clarinda BRAND. The meetings were led by a Mr. WHIPPLE, living at Kent's Mills; and occasional preaching was supplied by Revs. Dennis GODDARD and Samuel R. BROCKWAY. Soon the class was augmented by members from the WEBB, DARBEE, and PROSSER families, and shortly after a log meeting house was built on the land of Daniel PROSSER, in southwestern Perrysburg which was used until 1845. From this class was formed

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN DAYTON

or what is now known as the Cottage Methodist Episcopal Church. The incorporation was effected October 31, 1845, at a meeting over which Daniel PROSSER and John H. BLISH presided. The trustees elected were Gile JOHNSON, William HOWLET, and John B. REED. The membership of the church at this time was about sixty, under the pastoral direction of the Revs. W.S. WARALLO and T.H. CUMMINGS, preachers in charge of a circuit which embraced appointments in Dayton, Perrysburg and other towns.
    A church edifice was erected the following year, 1846, at West Dayton, which was replaced by the present structure in 1872. It is a very attractive place of worship, with a capacity to seat 300 persons, and cost to build $2,500. A parsonage and two acres of ground were secured for the use of Dayton circuit about twenty years ago, at West Dayton.

This property is valued at $1,500, and is occupied by the preacher in charge of the circuit, which embraces other appointments in the town of Dayton. The pastorate is at present filled by the Rev. A.H. BOWERS. Others who have served Dayton circuit have been the Revs. W.W. WARNER, Peter BURROUGHS, T.G. WHALON, T.P. WARNER, and L.A. CHAPIN. The names of the ministry previously connected with the church can be found in the history of the Methodist Church of Perrysburg. The present membership of the church is not as large as it was at the time it was formerly organized. A Sunday School is here maintained.

THE SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN DAYTON

    The second Methodist Episcopal Church in Dayton which was constituted of members living in the eastern part of the town, was duly incorporated Marcy 8, 1848. A board of trustees was chosen composed of Avery PARK, Nelson HILLIBERT, Norman L. BACON, Esek B. NASH, Aaron P. KNOWLES, Jonathan PRINCE, and Benjamin J. ALLEN, to attend to the temporal affairs of this body; but no church building was erected, and after a few years, the society was allowed to disorganize. A class of Methodists continued to exist, and meetings were held statedly, the preaching being supplied by the pastors of the neighboring churches.
    On the 21st of April 1875, a meeting of these members was held in the school house at HOWARD'S Corners, over which the pastor, Rev. J.H. WHALLON, presided. A new organization was formed, to be known as the

EAST DAYTON SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPALCHURCH,

and B.J. ALLEN, O.J. NASH, Ansel A. NASH, Esek K. PARK, Charles W. HALL, L.O. HALL, and A.G. PARK were elected trustees.



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Henry Rice and Ellen Rice


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William Ranlett


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Brazillai Merrill


   In the summer and fall of 1875, a very attractive church edifice was erected by this society at HOWARD'S Corners. It is a frame, 30 by 45 feet, with a well-proportioned front tower, and cost two thousand dollars. In January, 1876, the church was dedicated with appropriate services, conducted by the Rev. J.T. EDWARDS, of the Chamberlain Institute. Here thirty-five members at present worship, and are under the ministrations of the clergy of the East Leon Circuit, which embraces this as one of its appointments.
    A Sunday School, having forty members, is conducted under the superintendence of Ansel A. NASH.
    At Dayton Village was also, many years ago, a class of Methodists, which was organized into a church society in 1864 by the Rev. W.W. WARNER, at that time in charge of the Dayton circuit. On the 15th of May, 1875, the name of this body became

THE SOCIETY AT DAYTON OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

    It yet remains a part of the Dayton circuit, and has always been served by the ministers from the Cottage Church. The present pastor is the Rev. A.H. BOWERS, and the members number about forty.
    In 1870, a comfortable church edifice was erected at a cost of nearly three thousand dollars, which was consecrated to the worship of the Divine Being the same year by the Rev. C.C. CARRUTHERS, presiding elder of the district. The property yet bears a neat appearance, and is estimated worth two thousand five hundred dollars. It is controlled by a board of trustees composed of E.C. BARTLETT, James RICE, A.T. GREGG, J.M. RICH, and A.M. HALL.

THE FIRST FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF DAYTON

    The Free-Will Baptists held meetings in the eastern part of Dayton and the southern part of Dayton soon after those sections were settled.

  The organization of a church followed these occasional services, May 4, 1831. Seven persons constituted the original membership, which covenanted itself according to the rites of the church of which they now became a part, and which was represented by the Rev. Amos C. ANDRUS, the organizer of the new body. John SEEKINS was chosen the first clerk, and the following year the Rev. Stacy SMITH became the first regular pastor. His connection did not extend beyond a year, the Rev. Hiram WHICHER becoming the spiritual tutor of the church in 1833. The same year, William BARTLETT was chosen clerk. In 1834, the Rev. F.B. TANNER was the preacher of the church, and in 1835, the Rev. Freeman DARTE. The latter year, Lyman JUDD became the church clerk.
    In 1847, the church had forty-two members, and the Rev. MC KOON pastor; John SEEKINS, deacon; and William SEEKINS, clerk. In two years, Rev. Horatio PLUMB became pastor and the church was so prosperous that it was soon after determined to build a meeting house, the services up to this time having been held in private places and school houses principally in District No. 8. Here the society was duly incorporated February 16, 1852, with William WALDRON, Jonathan WAIT, Harrison JUDD, Daniel BROWN, Ezekiel SEEKINS, and John SEEKINS, as trustees.
    The church edifice, a plain frame structure, whose seating capacity is two hundred, was not completed until 1854, and was consecrated that winter by the Rev. J.H. BALL, of Buffalo. It is in the southeastern part of the town, near the Leon line and is now reported worth eight hundred dollars. When the church was built, Rev. George DONOCKER was the pastor, and about this time, Daniel BROWN was here licensed to preach. Subsequently he became the pastor of the church, and now minister of it. Among others who filled the pastoral office since 1855 have been Revs. J.H. LOVELACE, S. CROSBY, L.D. HOWE, J.C. STEELE, and Jerome HIGBEE.
    In 1878, the church had thirty-two members, George H. MOSHER, Frank JUDD, Walker INGERSOLL, Richard EASTON, Collins SPENCER, W.S. EASTON, trustees, and Harrison JUDD, church clerk.



ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC)

    St. Paul's Church at Dayton Village, was formed as the result of missionary meetings held here in 1863 by Passionists from Dunkirk. In 1864, a small church, capacitated to seat one hundred and fifty persons, was built in the southern part of the village in which about ten families met regularly for worship, and were under the spiritual tutelage of Passionists, until Dayton became a parish with Father Charles C. GEPPERT as the first resident priest.
    In 1876, a fine church edifice, forty by seventy feet, with a handsome tower eighty feet high was erected on an acre of ground at a cost of nearly four thousand dollars. The tower contains an excellent bell, weighing six hundred pounds. A part of the church lot is used for cemetery purposes.
    There are at present fifty-three families and three hundred communicants connected with the church which has for its resident priest, Father WELCH. A Sunday school of thirty members, and a parish school for religious instruction are also maintained.

THE GERMAN UNITED PROTESTANT ST. PETER'S CONGREGATION

    The German United Protestant St. Peter's Congregation was incorporated September 3, 1864, and had for its first trustees Charles KOEPPEL, William BORNEMAN, and John OCHSER. Previous to this period, a small but neat house of worship had been built about four miles south of Dayton Village. In the house, meetings have been held statedly by the Revs. SHONSTEIN, FEGALE, and others, the congregation having no regular pastor. The membership in consequence is small, and the society not so prosperous as under more favorable circumstances.

THE FREE UNION CHURCH

    The Free Union Church was erected at West Dayton in the fall of 1878, and consecrated October 31st by the Rev. Dr. HALL of Buffalo, and Rev. Mr. COOK of Cherry Creek. It was built by the people  of  Cottage and  vicinity for  the accommodation  of  any

persuasion, irrespective of creed, which may choose to worship in it, and in its appearance and arrangement is a very creditable edifice.
    At Pine Valley, the Methodists hold meetings, with prospects of organizing as a church; and in other localities meetings are held by various denominations with a view to form organic religious societies.

SECRET ORDERS


    Summit Lodge No. 72, A.O.U.W., was instituted at Dayton Village, February 24, 1877, with twelve charter members, and the following officers: E.O. HAYES, M.W.; L.D. BARTLETT, G.F.; J.L. FENTON, O.; D.J. PIERCE, R.; A.M. HALL, F.; N.A. CHAFFEE, Rec. There are at present thirty-six members and the meetings are held in VOLK'S Hall.
    The principal offices were filled in 1878 by M.H. MERRILL, P.M.W.; John LOCKE, M.W.; M.W. JOHNSON, G.F.; James L. FENTON, O.; and the three last-named officers of 1877.
    Valley Lodge, No. 704 K. of H., was instituted at Pine Valley, August 1, 1877 with eleven charter members. The first principal officers were B.H. LAMB, D.; J.S. Shults, P.D.; T.R. SIMPSON, R.D.; A.B. CHARLESWORTH, V.D.; George YOUNG, Jr., R.; E.A. CHASE, F.R.; Charles BERWALD, T.; D. RANLETT, G. Sixteen members were reported in November, 1878.
    The Valley Lodge Building Association was organized in April, 1878, with the following members: J.C. SHULTS, Charles BERWALD, Joseph LE BARRON, John LE BARRON, W. FOLEY, B.H. LAMB, E.A. CHASE, George YOUNG, Jr., John OAKS, D. RANLETT, George BURKHALTER.
    The object of the association is to provide a suitable hall for lodge and other purposes at Pine Valley. In the fall of 1878, a building 22 by 50 feet, two stories high, was erected at a cost of about one thousand dollars. To this place, the meetings of Valley Lodge will be transferred at an early day.
    There have been temperance societies and other secret orders in town, but the meetings have been discontinued, and their history, in consequence, cannot be here given.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES



HON. NORMAN M. ALLEN


    tn_NormanAllen.jpgThe subject of this sketch is in a large and emphatic sense, a "self-made" man, and he is recognized as a prominent and distinguished citizen of this county, and is worthy of such recognition.
    Norman M. ALLEN was born in the town of Dayton, this county, December 24, 1828. His father, Luther and his mother, Huldah (BENEDICT) ALLEN, were natives of Onondaga County, N.Y., being born in the town of Fabius, from which place they emigrated in an early day to Cattaraugus County, and settled in the town of Dayton.
    He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was but ten years of age, and his father when he was seventeen. He was thus thrown upon his own resources at this early age, and was without adventitious aid; but by the force of his own talents, aided by an indomitable energy, he has made for himself a successful career, and has become distinguished in the affairs of this county, district, and State.
    To his native talent, self-culture, and untiring energy, his success may be largely ascribed. His educational advantages were extremely limited, the merest rudiments of an English education being acquired by a few years' attendance in the common schools of his native town, prior to the death of his father, after which event he was compelled to commence the "battle of life" in earnest. His school days were ended at this early age, but not his hours of study. All the leisure moments he could find were, for many years, devoted to study, and he is still a hard student.
    For several years after his father's decease, he taught in common schools in his vicinity in the winter, and worked at farming in the summer. He continued this course until his health became impaired so much that for three years he was unable to perform active outdoor labor. This period of his life was given to hard study, and his success was more remarkable from the fact that he had the aid of no teacher in his pursuit of knowledge; his thirst for knowledge was his only inspiration. Although he cannot claim a scholastic training, yet by his own unaided efforts, he has achieved an intellectual culture of which many college graduates might be proud.
    At the age of nineteen in 1848, he married Huldah MERRILL, daughter of Heman and Amelia (HAWKINS) MERRILL. She is a native of Dayton, her parents having removed hither from Onondaga County, N.Y., and being among the pioneer settlers of the place.
    He was admitted to the practice of law in 1864 at Albany, N.Y. During ten years prior to his admission to practice, he had been a diligent student of all the law books he could purchase with his scanty means, or that he could obtain in his vicinity. And from the fact that he pursued his legal studies in this manner, in no office and without an instructor, his success seems the more remarkable.
    From the outset of his legal studies, he began to obtain employment in legal affairs, and became, almost at once, the legal adviser of his friends and townsmen, did much of their law business, drew writings, and tried causes for them in justice's court. His legal knowledge, business, and reputation continued to increase, until 1864, while serving his first term in the State Senate, he made the acquaintance of the Hon. Amasa J. PARKER, on whose motion he was admitted to practice as a lawyer in all the courts of this State.
    From the time of obtaining his majority until 1855, he was in politics a Democrat; but since that date he has been a Republican. He has held varied and important political offices in his town, county, senatorial district, and State, the duties of which have been discharged with rare fidelity and integrity. For nineteen successive years, he has been elected supervisor of his town (Dayton), during fifteen of which he has been the chairman of the Board of Supervisors of this county.
    In 1855, he was elected county superintendent of the poor upon the first Republican ticket nominated in the county, and held that office until 1857, when he resigned to accept the office of school commissioner, which office he held during the years 1858-60. His services in behalf of the common schools of this county, and his assistance and aid extended to teachers, are held today by many in kindly remembrance.
In 1861, he was appointed to the position of United States mail route agent, and held and discharge the duties of this position until February, 1863 when he resigned to accept the office of paymaster in the army, to which he had been appointed by President Lincoln, which station he only filled for a short time, resigning it to accept the office of assistant provost-marshal of the 31st Congressional District, which position he held up to the time of his first election to the Senate in the fall of 1863. In the election of that year, he was the candidate of the Republican party and was elected to the Senate over John C. DEVEREUX, Democrat, by 6,114 majority, being the largest majority received by any candidate of the Republican party in the district. Mr. Allen was again elected to the Senate in 1871, over Frank L. STOWELL, Democrat, by 4,276 majority. In the Senate of 1864 and 1865, he served upon the committee on literature and other important committees, and in the Senate of 1872 and 1873, upon the judiciary and other committees, and by virtue of his office as Senator was a member of the court of impeachment that tried and removed Judge BARNARD from office. In 1867, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, receiving all the votes in his own town, save one, of all parties. That convention was composed of one hundred and sixty delegates, many of whom were then or have since become distinguished in the nation, embracing such names of William M. EVARTS, William A. WHEELER, Francis KERNAN, Samuel J. TILDEN, Amasa J. PARKER, Horace GREELEY, George William CURTIS, etc.
    In the year 1866, Mr. ALLEN was appointed State Assessor, and held that position for four years. The duties of this office required him to visit all parts of the State in company with his two associates, and it is but justice to all of the members then constituting the board, to say that their equalization reports were accepted with less criticism and objection that the reports of that body have usually been received.
    In 1868 and again in 1876, he was one of the candidates for elector upon the Republican electoral ticket.
    During the years of the late war of the Rebellion, he did good loyal service in helping in the formation of regiments and in sustaining the cause of the country; and when the remains of the murdered President Lincoln were brought to Albany on their way to the great West, Mr. ALLEN was one of the pallbearers appointed by the Senate who attended the remains of the dead President during their stay at the capital of the State.
    Mr. Allen is esteemed by his neighbors and acquaintances as few men are, and in a way of which any man may well be proud. Some of the reasons for it seem to be found in the fact that he is courteous and obliging to all, kind and generous towards poor men, never oppressive, and charitable to all deserving charities.
    The family of Mr. Allen embraces four children: Mary A.F., now the wife of W.S. Thrasher, who is associated with him in legal copartnership; Kate C.D., the wife of W.W. BRAND of Dayton; Carlton W. ALLEN and Hoyt M. ALLEN, both being at home.
    We cannot better sum up the salient points of Mr. ALLEN's character than by quoting the words of one of his political opponents, Col. J.T. HENRY, as given in his recently-published "Recollections" in the Olean Record:
    "Mr. ALLEN is among the few representative men of this Senatorial district who have escaped sharp criticism and calumny in office. No suspicion of wrong has ever been breathed upon his record. He was ever conscientious, high-toned, faithful, and honest in all his public life and acts, and without a cloud or color as a private citizen. He was a member of the last Constitutional Convention,- Hon. George VAN CAMPEN of Olean, being his colleague,- where he attained distinction for his wise counsel and solid worth.
    .....He has administrative ability of a high order, and discharges all his public duties with faithfulness and rare intelligence. A man who has seen so much of public life, and escaped political slander and vituperation, is an exception to the almost universal rule. Mr. ALLEN has accomplished this in ample measure. He has not only been unassailed, but has so conducted himself in public as to be entirely unassailable. He is yet in middle life, in the enjoyment of excellent health, a large practice, and enough of this world's wealth to keep "the wolf from the door," and insure his declining years from care or anxiety on this account."

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Ralph Johnson and Mariah Johnson

GILE JOHNSON

    Gile JOHNSON, the fourth son of John and Althea WATKINS JOHNSON, was born in Stafford, Connecticut, in the year 1804, and soon after removed with his parents to Herkimer County, N.Y. When seven years of age, he, with his five brothers and a sister became orphaned by the death of his father. His mother unable to provide for so large a family with her limited means, found a home for him in the family of a Mr. GRISWOLD, a farmer of that county, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1826, he came to Cattaraugus County, N.Y. and bought a farm, adjoining his brother Ralph's, in the town of Dayton which, like the entire surrounding county, was a dense forest, and which by his energy and industry, was soon cleared up and with an occasional addition of fifty or a hundred acres, occupied by him till his death, which took place December 7, 1872. Two years after purchasing his farm, he married Philena SALISBURY, daughter of Calvin SALSBURY of Herkimer County, N.Y., who died in 1839, leaving three little boys. He soon after married Milley, daughter of Calvin and Hannah RICH, of New Albion, who died in 1858, deeply lamented by her numerous friends and acquaintances, especially by her family, consisting of two sons and four daughters, besides the sons of her adoption, all who are now living, excepting his eldest son who died from disease contracted in the army. He afterwards married Rosalinda HUBBARD of Dayton who lived but a few months; and in 1860 he married his present surviving wife, Mrs. Sarah Ann BAILEY, daughter of Nathaniel HURD of Perrysburg, whose portrait is given elsewhere, who now lives on the old homestead, honored and respected by her husband's entire family. Her residence is soon in the engraving near where the subject of this sketch lived and died. Her son, by a former marriage, also makes his home there when off from duty, being a naval officer.
    In early life, he became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dayton of which he remained a faithful member through life, and had the satisfaction of seeing nearly all his family honored members of the same. Besides being a constant officer in the church, he also was twice elected to the office of supervisor, and often held other responsible offices in his town.
    Like most men who accumulations depend upon their own industry, he was prudent and economical; yet he would not on any account take advantage of the necessity of others.  At an early day, during a period of scarcity of wheat, many of his neighbors were suffering for want of it; and when it could be sold for several dollars per bushel, he would sell his wheat for one dollar per bushel, and would sell but a few bushels to each individual; and also during periods of scarcity of hay, when his neighbor's cattle were starving for want of it, and when it could be sold for a fabulous price, he would sell his hay for ten dollars per ton, and divide it among his neighbors, according to their necessity. He was conscientiously honest in all his dealings. In regard to his farm work, his motto was "drive your work, and not let your work drive you." In all business transaction, he was punctual and prompt to meet all contracts and engagements. He took a deep and lively interest in the welfare of his family, and was a kind and affectionate husband; and his example in life was in perfect harmony with his Christian profession.
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Mrs Sarah Ann Johnson

Gile Johnson



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James M.Rich

Matilda Rich

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James M. Rich Residence