>U 180 — 1900 6 QV Sesqui'centenrfial Celebrationfultonhistory.com/Process small/Historical...

Vol. IX "'April 1956 No. 3 Arcade, New York

r>

Q V > U 1800 — 1906

\ by Robert M. French -

Sesqui'centenrfial Celebration Observance, July 27-29, 1956

PIKE'S EAGLE TAVERN, 1810 (From Charcoal Sketch in Pike Library)

f^'our score years ago, our late and beloved townsman, Carlos StebDlns, described the first settlement in Greater Pike as follows: "The first settlers came creeping and crashing through the under-brush in 1806 from Whitehall, New York, which lies on the shore of Lake George; there were no roads or bridges, but they brought with them a wonderful talisman--a wedge of steel, the woodsman's ax,

(continued on page 66)

P a ge 66 April 1956

HISTORICAL WYOMING Published quarterly at Arcade, New York, under sponsorship of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors, by Harry S. Douglass, County Historian,' Robert WD McGowan, Associate Editor, and Students of Ar-cade Central School,,

APPRECIATION The County Historian and our readers are deeply indebted to Mr0 Ro-bert Mo French, Pike Town Historian^ for his authorship of most of the sketches of Pike's l£0 years„ Thanks also are due Mrs. James Millen and the Rev. Lawrence Van Slyke for the histories of the Bap-tist and Presbyterian churches. It is a privilege to reproduce rare photographs, generously loaned by the individuals whose names appear below them0

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) with which to unlock the treasures of the earth, and with this most potent weapon they hewed right and left, letting the sunlight upon the rippling Wiskoy, and building cabins upon their banks, and the smoke of their burnings ascended up ever. The names of these lively men were Peter Granger, Asahel Newcomb, Caleb Powers, Eli Griffith and Phineas Harvey, and Abel Townsend came from Massachusetts the same year. Ilhese men brought their wives and families, and with Ell Griffith, came his father, Deacon Griffith, an old man."

The name "Nunda" was derived from the Indian word "Nundao" which meant "under the hills." When Allegany County was set up in 1806 from Genesee and Steuben counties it included "Greater Nunda" as its northern boundary. When county government was set up in Angelica in 1808, the county was divided into two towns, the south-ern town being Angelica and the northern, Nunda. By the state man-date Nunda included the present towns of Eagle, Pike, Genesee Falls, Portage, Nunda, Ossian, Centerville, Hume, Granger and Grove, in all about 32£ square miles. In accordance with this mandate the first town meeting met "in the commodius house of Peter Granger on the I).th of Ap rn 1809" in the southwest corner of lot 29, which is the four corners of the Center road with the Griffiths Corners roade

Here are the minutes of that meeting: "Town Meeting

this is to sartify that the anneal" town meeting was held at the Hous of Peter Grangers on April Ij., 1809 for the Purpus of Choosin Town officers and other Purposes ware chosen for the inSuing years Viz-

m „ " E l i Griffith, Supervisor; Asahel Trowbridge, Town Clerk; John Griffith, Asahel Newcomb & David Hoyt, assessors; Jonathan Willard, Constable and Collector; Roger Mills, Thomas Dole & Amos Conkey, Overseers of the poor; Zebediah Ward & Christopher (continued on page 67)

April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) Olen, Commissioners of Schools; Josiah Hammer, Constable; Pascal Willard, bail for him; Isaac Granger, Joseph Bayless, Aaron Fuller, Pence viewers and Damage prizers; Peter Granger and Caleb Moore, Pound Keepers; District Path Masters—lstc Pascal Willard; 2nd Robert Boggs; 3rd Roger Mills; lj.th Salmon Simonds; 5th Jonathan Couch; 6th Eli Griffith; 7th James Wood; 8th Ezra Willard; 10th David Hoyt. 'No hogs to run at large,' 'Town bounty on wolves, $3.00'." The next year "Thomas Dole was elected Supervisor and John Griffith Towen Clerk.' Evidently the town clerk, though a parson, thought it was a poor speller who could not spell Town Clerk more than one way."

Eli Griffith, First Citizen The frontispiece represents the first tavern erected along the

Olean tfrail (see page 17, Vol. VIII, Historical Wyoming)<, The art-ist is unknown, but I believe the same person sketched the charcoal murals in Pike Library which bears date 1835. It is possible that the sketches were the early work of Carlos Stebbins (1821}.—191U-)» Wyoming County's most famous portrait painter and long a resident of Pike.

Eli Griffith (1772-1812), who took deed to south half of lot (Pike Village) was a man of boundless energy, for in a short

period of six years he underbrushed the Olean Trail from Pike to Leicester in 1806-7, erected his cabin beside the Wis Koy the same year, served as town supervisor and erected the first saw mill in 1809, and a grist mill the following year, served as County Judge at Angelica in 1811, and raised a company (locally) of fifteen men, of which he was captain to defend the little hamlet of Buffalo in the War of 1812. He died that year in service from a fever and his was the first burial in Elmwood Cemetery. Two of his neighbors suffered the same fate: Jonathan Couch and Chandler Benton, "-and here (from minutes of Town Meeting of 1816) we have a little touch of pathos and sympathy for the widow of Chandler Benton, one of Nunda's heroes who perished in the war of 1812 - 'voted that one dollar per week be appropriated for the relief of Mis Benton Widow of Chandler Benton Deceased till some other way shall be providedc'"

Pike, Mother of Towns By this time, l8l5, Nunda Hollow (Pike) had its post office

with Russell G. Hurd as postmaster and the taxpayers list contained 21I4- names. The minutes of ensuing years are interesting, but space will not permit more excerpts. Greater Nunda was partitioned by the formation of Greater Pike in 1818. The name was taken in honor of General Zebulon Pike who fell in the assault on Toronto in the War of 1812. This new town contained the present towns of Hume, Center-ville, Eagle and Pike, and was organized on the 7th of April in Ben-jamin Chamberlain's inn which then stood on the front edge of the Seminary Park here in Pike. School records in another chapter will show the phenomonal growth of the area at this time. Hume was taken


Page 68 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) off in 1.622, Centerville in 1823, and Eagle in l82l|e At this date the "Eagle Social Library" had been formed, Azel Fitch chairman,, This should rate as the second earliest library in the county,. The final partition on Pike came when Eagle and Pike were annexed to Wyoming County in l81j.6, at which time Pike gave up the east tier of lots to benefit Genesee Falls,, This was the occasion for a general celebration at the Eagle Hotel In PikeD (For story, see Volume IV, page 77, Historical Wyoming)0

The Seminary Boarding House (see photo) was originally the Chamberlain Inn mentioned above,, It was sketched in charcoal on the murals in Pike Library, under late of 1825, and owned by Moses Smith, together with the barnyard watering trough and pump and other appendages pertaining to a tavern of the times,, A story and three-quarters In height, it was removed to the rear of the Seminary when that was erected in 1856, and thereafter used as a boarding house in connection with that institution for many years„ For some time it was used for domestic purposes. About 1911}-, it. was converted into a basketball court and used for that purpose about 15 years before being dismantled,, The story of Pike Seminary merits a special article for which we do not have the space at this time0 It will appear In a subsequent issuec

Environmenta1 Factors In Pike's Early Prosperity The East Koy and Wis Koy rivers which drain portions of six

townships had a profound effect on Pike's economic life0 These streams having an average drop of seventeen feet to the mile deli-vered ample water power for a century to the various mills which were often less than half a mile apart. The mills were antique in methods of course, with hand labor in good demand, hence in the zenith of Pike's prosperity (l81|5) we had the largest supply of mec-hanics in Allegany County0

Thus, since Pike sat astride the Olean Trail, one of the major migrating routes to the Ohio country, there were plenty of service stations hereD Of necessity, every other house along the route was an Inn In some degree„ Men and beasts had to be cared for; wagons and harnesses repaired; oxen and horses shod—we had the iron for the shoes; boots to be made or tapped; cornmeal do be ground for johnny-cakes; the little brown jug had to be refilled with "corn" in the form of "spirits"; perhaps a bashful couple "to be spliced"; children birthed or perhaps a loved one laid away for the eternal sleep; all these services and countless others were on tap„

Whence came these migrants? Davenport's Gazetteer of 1833 says: Population of New England was 80 persons per square "mile; New York State 1±0 to the square mile; Pike had 55 to the square mile;Ohio 2l±t and Illinois only 31 And behind all the easterners there was the ever Increasing flood of Europeans, land-hungry all„ No wonder the townsfolks were awed by the sight of a hundred ox teams from Pike's Peak, not only one day, but on countless occasions,,


April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) By I8I4.5 we had over 2,000 Inhabitants in the township, a figure

which put us about third high in Wyoming and Allegany counties. As a consequence we enjoyed a full share of political preferment. Being essentially a strong Republican town, Pike has sent a number of able men to the Legislature in Albany. Today, with half that population, which places us "low on the Totem Pole, " in Wyoming county, we acclaim our fellow townsman, Hon. Harold L. Peet, as Mem-ber of the Assembly. With the opening of the Erie Canal, western travel increased. In l835> Pike was sending her stage coaches to the four corners of western New York. The State travel guide for 1835 lists only two stage routes west of the Genesee, and of these, one started from Rochester going via Pike to Portland Harbor. These factors aided us in obtaining the founding of Pike Seminary in 1856. The operations of the Seminary for half a century was to lessen the impact of declining business factors here.

The opening of the Genesee Valley Canal doubtless siphoned off some of our through travel, but it was the building of the Erie Railroad in l853> and of the Rochester & State Line Railroad a few years later, both of whom passed on either side of Pike, that reduced Pike's importance. Then, too,' as the forests were cut off, water power became less dependable and local mills could not compete with mass production elsewhere. Handmade boots and shoes, once the mainstay of local artisans, became a thing of the past. Distill-eries, tanneries, asheries, carding mills,paper mills and foundaries had their day here. In turn, cooper shops, shingle mills, oil mills, flour mills, cheese box manufacturing, tailor and harness shops, Carriage making flourished, and these are just a memory. Woolen and textile mills, hay rake and scythe making, clothespins and base ball bat turnings and a furniture factory, all finally gave up the ghost. Even cheese factories have had their day. It is not enough to make a better mouse trap, but you must make a cheaper one too.

Pike in the Civil War Those of you who attend the annual Memorial Day service here

cannot but be depressed by the lengthy Memorial Roll of Honor. Prom the time of Its settlement in 1806, Pike has sent men to meet the National crises without stint. The list of Revolutionary soldiers, who later came to Pike, is impressive. But of all the wars, past and recent, the Civil War struck family relations most' cruelly. This is not said to disparage in any way the patriotism, the hard-ships of service, the sacrifices of those of the present generation who have entered the military service. What I wish to show is the family distress of the Civil War period.

Perhaps this can be best shown by stating that the population of Pike township did not exceed 2,000 in i860. Our records show that over 160 men gave Pike as their mailing address on enlisting in the Civil War. That meant one soldier to thirteen men, women and children. Of the 13, six could be presumed to be males of all ages. That ratio is now one soldier to six males of all ages. Then, since families were usually large, it would be safe to say that of the six males left, three would be under military age. That


April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) brings the ratio down to one soldier out of three grown males, and any way you choose to interpret the ratio, every family was directly affected, emotionally and financially,, Of the 160 enlisted men, 32 gave their a l l — o r one service man in five died -a casualty list that World Wars I and II combined do not begin to equal. No wonder that the Grand Army of the Republic, Garfield Post, could and did muster a hundred members on Decoration Day0

Pike Village Landmarks, Past & Present To a stranger entering the village, the first thing he notices

is that Main Street is very wide and straight,, There is evidence to believe that Joseph Eilicott, chief surveyor of the Holland Land Company, had a special interest in Nunda Hollow, "Six rods wide the trail here," decreed Eilicott, "for Philip Church had laid out Angelica Park in the grand manner" and Eilicott could do no less for his tract00oo"pine stumps, upended with the broad faces of the roots to outline the Trail and restrain the live stock from the gardens.0" (see Historical Wyoming, Oct, 195>̂ > page 19) »

Next, Eilicott laid out the Cattaraugus Road (now Telegraph Road) due west towards the Cattaraugus Creek. Here, at the inter-section of the Cattaraugus and Olean Roads, was set Pike's first formal schoolhouse, "with Master Merrill in charge" according to Stebbinso It served too for a meeting house for the early churches„ Opposite this intersection, and adjacent to Bush Creek were set a tannery, distillery, and further up stream, an ashery too» Norman Olin seems to have been the only proprietor of record for the tan-nery0 A number of houses on either side of the street housed the workers,, All of these structures, except a house of two, have dis-appearedo

Dr„ Andrew Dutton was Pike's first physician0 The meager in-formation I have indicates he lived near the west bank of the Wis Koy, on the north side of the street0 He evidently was established there as early as l808, for one Moses Ward in his memoirs (Allegany Co0 History) relates his passage north through Nunda Hollow in August l80os at which point "a young doctor gave him a lift on horseback through the next nine miles of woods Into Castile." John Minard, in his "Pioneer Sketches of Hume," states "up to 1823, the nearest physician resided at Pike, Dr. Dutton, who frequently visited the few who were afflicted and dispensed Jalap, ipecac & calomel as the symptoms seemed to indicate." Dr. Duttom was a member of the Baptist Society in 1827®

In 1817 arrived Dr. Simeon Capron (b.Vermont 1791* d.Pike 1862) and lived across the street from ur„ Dutton, in a small house near the tail race of the Grist Mill. By 1820 Dr. Capron occupied a small home just west of the Brick Church. This house is indicated on the 1835 mural in Pike Library„ But today, that cottage is embellished with ells on either side and a Greek Revival facade dressing the porch connecting the ells. This improvement, together with the landscaped terrace in front, is said to be the work of

(continued on page 71«)

April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (oont.) Marvin Ec Shepard who was a long time trustee and guiding spirit of Pike Seminary which stood nearby,, Dr0 Capron doubled as surveyor also® A prized possession of Pike Library is a charcoal sketch entitled "Drs Capron enroute" which shows the good doctor answering a call with a horse andpung through a clearing„ The artist was his son-in-law, Butler Ryder0 Mrs® Ethelyn Gillette is present owner and resident of the Capron House„

HISTORIC CHAMBERLAIN TAVERN AND SEMINARY BOARDING HALL Here, April 7, 1818, the Town of Pike was

Organized* Building Later Used as a Seminary Boarding Hall, Having Been

Moved Back From the Street. (Photo from Mr, Earl Burnell.)

This 1835 Mural will be the base of our story of Main Street0 East of the Capron home was situated the Tavern of Moses Smith, the story of which appears In the "Boarding House" chapterc This was also the site of Pike Seminary which was erected in 1856 and burned in 190l|.o Pike Seminary High School, which was erected on the foundations of the Seminary the following year, burned In I9I4-69 and only the Civil War cannon mark the site now. The little Mill cot-tage which attests its 1820 vintage next engages our attention0 This was once the appendage of the Grist Mill which was erected at the same time, and dismantled about ten years agoc It is the home of Mrc and Mrs® Jay Buckley, Jrc, who, I am sure, would display the bricked-up fireplaces inside. The original and extra large chimney is in evidence at the ridge line.

Ken Wolfe's Mobil station occupies now the site of the old Grist Mill which was built in l8l9o The old mill dam, repaired many timesp still functions, not to furnish power, but to provide a backdrop for the swimming pool below, patronized by bathers from


Page 72 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont) miles around, for the far-famed Wis Koy river is unpolluted by in-dustrial wastes. Hunt-Stout Post of the American Legion controls this basin, the fishing rights of which are reserved for the handi-capped Veterans who are brought here once a week during the season. The Ladies® Auxiliary regularly serve supper, including the fish the veterans catch0

The home of Noyes W. Brown, a pioneer blacksmith, and his shop on the west bank of the Wis Koy are both gone. Russell Fleming's store marks the spot. On the east bank of the Wis Koy stood Chand-ler's store, which was erected about 1835, and burned about l877o The present Town Hall now uses the site. Griffith's Hotel, erected by Luther Griffith who was a son of Eli, sat on the same site as that of "Eagle Tavern-1810" mentioned in the frontispiece. It was an ambitious three story affair, with two chimneys at each gable end. I have been told that there was a fireplace on each floor, which would, to my way of thinking, mean six fireplaces, but wood was nearby and cheap. This hotel was doubtless the scene of man? public affairs, not the least of which was the "Annexation Banquet of I8I4.6, commemorating the inclusion of Pike, Eagle and Genesee Falls into Wyoming CountyB This hotel was destroyed by fire in 1889, in which a woman and child perished. The two story Wilcox block now occupies the site0

Church Sites Next and not shown on the Murals was the Masonic Temple build-

ing which was originally the old Baptist Church moved to this loca-tion from Baptist Hill about 1850 by Rufus Robinson. The structure was converted to store uses at ground level, with the Masons using the third floor. This frame was another victim of the fire of 1909o Wolcott's concrete block building marks the site. The big 1909 fire swept clean all the structures from the Wilcox store to the Water Street corner, none of which appeared on the murals except the corner store building, labeled D. Lc Gilman, erected I83I0 The new Presbyterian Church now rests on the site of the old Presbyterian Church which was raised about 181_|_2»

Across on the other corner, according to the Murals, stood Dole & Hinman's store, which, from another sketch, we are informed was situated there in 1820. We have no knowledge what happened to this structure, but it is apparent that the next two story building on the Mural was at a time subsequent to 1835 moved to the corner re-placing the Dole & Hinman store. This two story building now houses the Fire Department, and was erected in 1832, being called the Besancon Block in 1880. There is no doubt but what the Hinman in-terests controlled the corner lot. Abraham Huntting, son-in-law of Anson Hinman, is credited with having started the first grocery in 1822, and If that is true, it must have been in the older building on the corner.

Here is a stately home, erected in 1826 by Anson Hinman, an Associate Judge of Allegany County, a Colonel of Militia in 1822. A four pillared portico graces the front in true colonial style, with

(continued or. page 73)

April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) fan type windows lighting the attic, front and rear® A substantial porch gives access to the front entrance which is adorned on either side with vertical sash, coupled with fan type windows over lintel. Inside, the traditional hall and graceful stairway are set in true colonial harmony. The two main rooms, front and rear, each have at fireplace on either side of a huge chimney, with similar provisions for heating the large bedrooms on the second floor. Mr0 and Mrs0 Joseph Newcomb are to be congratulated for their efforts in restor-ing the original beauty of the front.

The next two comfortable cottages stand today as they did in 1835, between Hinman Hall and Adam's Yellow tannery (1830), often called the "Bee Hive" for Abner Adams indentured many a mechanic to the shoemaker's last, and boarded them here. Emery Brook which once coursed down to the swimming pool was turned here to supply the tannery. The "Bee Hive" was razed in recent years to provide yard room for the Town Highway garage. Adjacent to the "Bee Hive" was the mansion of its owner, Abner Adams, which looks about as it did In l835j"however» the west ell probably was erected as early as l820o The entrance to the upright has a very fine fan tail lintel and side jamb window treatment very similar to Hinman Hall nearby. Harlan and Rinza Beardsley would love to show you around.

Two more cottages appear on the Murals, the first one of which is occupied by Lyman and Bertha Granger. Lyman is the proud posses-sor of two portraits sketched with charcoal of his lineal ancestors, Peter Granger and his wife, the first settlers in Pike. These portraits are the best of this type I have ever seen. The artist is unknown»

Taverns and Watering Troughs Beyond, once stood the Packard store in which Tracy Scott con-

ducted a secondary school in the years l833~7p which drew some students from out of town. The store is gone, but there stands the domicile of Mrs. James Stewart, a historian too if she could be in-duced to share her treasures. The easterly end of the murals shows Bellinger's Tavern, which burned some time afterwards and was re-placed in 1839 by Walter Kerr, and is as sturdy as it was a century ago. Here Lazelle Proctor, and others, conducted a stage coach business for many years. Here was the overnight stop for the Ellicottville to Moscow Landing run. Doubtless Millard Fillmore, who later became President, slept overnight here on his campaign tourso Gone are the various sheds that housed horses used on the stage roiiteso

For many years there was a watering trough near the Canal street intersection and thereby hangs a tale. In the good old days before benzine buggies staink the air, there was a good and commend-able custom of sliding down Emery Hill0 As was the usual practicep this hill had some "thank you mams":--a device whereby a transverse and shallow ditch was cut across the grade to allow the horse to pause momentarily with buggy wheels "resting in the trough". At any

(continued on page

Page 74 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.)

rate, one fair maiden was induced to ride the double bobs on her way to school, but as luck would have it,her engineer hit the "thank you mam" in such a manner that this maiden was thrown off in a parabolic curve which landed her into the aforesaid trough to her apparent dis-tress o

Many of the domiciles on the south side of Main Street have little recorded history, so we had better skip on to South Water Street intersection where stood A. M. Smith's hardware store before the fire of 1909. This was a total loss, as was Emery's Stone Store (erected 1833) on the other corner, which is now the Village Park0 When the Methodist Church was built in 1911, there was placed in the tower a clock and bell taken from a dismantled church in Hermitage. This clock which is well over a hundred years old, was a gift to the Village from Mrs. Franc Blackmer, and was fashioned by Lewis•Blodget as the Town Clock of Hermitage.

The Hatch Stone Store, erected 1839, (see photo) survived two large fires and seems sturdy enough to stand another century. Uni Wyatt Wolcott, a native of Pike, was one of the master masons who laid the walls. The story of the Baptist Church which stood nearby is told elsewhere. Little is known about the Commercial House which stood at the corner, and all that I can say is that the Big Fire of 1909 started in their barn and wiped out about thirty buildings in the heart of the village. Taxpayers who had previously refused to bond themselves for fire protection very reluctantly approved, the next year, a gravity water system at only one-fourth of the big fire loss. Flint s garage was erected in 1916 on the Commercial "House lot. We have no erection data for the Ayres block next to the Wis Koy, but the building survived the Flood and the 1909 fire, too.

Flood a Memory The Big Flood of 1902 is still a vivid memory to many residents.

Space will not permit a rehash of incidents. It will suffice to say that nearly all dams and bridges were washed out, a number of build-ings washed down stream, and untold damage to crops and animals in pastures. The Library building stood as a Rock of Gibralter; this was erected by Silas Newcomb, probably around l8[|_0 and used by _ him for marry years as a carriage manufactory. This building was a gift to the Emersonians by Mrs. Franc Blackmer for use as a library. It is kept up to date, and we bow to no other library for stock and circulation. Those Murals I have talked about are on permanent dis-play; herec

The next building labeled "Pike Branch of Letchworth Central School" was an enterprise of William Powers, and erected about 75 years ago0 The ground floor was built for a roller skating rink; and the upper floor for other purposes, one of whic±L is a painted panorama the length of one wall depicting a battle scene of the Civil War. This structure bore the brunt of the fllod waters in 1902 which shattered the lower story and deposited the top half down stream against the Cheese Factory,in which three persons spent several pre-carious hours awaiting the subsidence of the flood. After the flood,


April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) this halved structure was moved back to its former site and jacked up and a new lower story erected under it for commercial purposes., It was later purchased by the school district for use as gymnasium and public gatherings,, After the high school burned in 191+6, scholars of the first six grades were housed here and the higher grades were sent to other elements of Letchworth Central,,

Beyond this stood the Sherril store whose odyssey appe^1"^ 1n the last Issue of Historical Wyoming0 The corner block at Spencer Street was once the site of Lyman Ayrault>s pioneer storec In 1856 Norman Olin erected the "Kellogg" block, two stories, for commercial purposes, one of which was to encourage the manufacture of hand made boots and shoes„ Later, J„ WD Kellogg converted it to manufacturing furniture„ This block burned down to first floor in 1951+s> after which a one story gas station was erected,, Across Spencer Street In 1853 was Crittenden's harness shop and with this I conclude the story of Main Street„

A few rods south on Spencer Street, on the knoll stands the dignified residence of Mrs„ William Davies* This was erected about 1830 by Alexander Bush, a veteran of the War of 1812, for whom Bush Creek nearby was namedc Conrad, his father, is said to have crossed the Delaware River in the same boat with George Washington in his attack upon Trenton0 A son of Alexander distinguished himself on the staff of General Wadsworth in the Civil War0 Mrs„ Franc Blackmer, a granddaughter,was long identified with civic affairs of Pike as were her sons Horace and James L„ Blackmer0 On Baptist Hill, the summer home of Dr„ Niles Carpenter was built in 1850 by Silas Newcomb, that master joiner bar none, for his own usec Some time later, that Man-sard type home of the Taverniers across the street was erected by Collins Thomaso At one time the living room plaster walls were decorated with gold leaf stars,, These were in evidence the last time the overriding wall paper was removed,,

While there is a mural for the west side of North Water Street, there is little to report of general Interest, and except for two items, the same is true of the other sidec The Buffum home has all the earmarks of 1820 construction, including fireplace and oversize chimney,, The square built home, now owned by Mr„ and Mrsc Edward Wright, was erected by George A„ Greene, part owner of Greene Bros,, './ooLen Mills in 18760 On School Street, opposite the end of South Division Street, stands what was once the Congregational Church, erected in l832„ Later it was converted to domestic purposes,and is now a tidy barn belonging to Mr« and Mrs„ Carl Maxson whose South Main Street dwelling is well on towards a second century of lifec

The village of Pike was Incorporated in l8ij.8p and laid out one mile square,, The legal petition listed the heads of families to-gether with the number of all in each household, the total of which was over 800„ All the trustees minutes are intact and available,,


Page 76 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (con't.) Other Manufactures

In 1823 a furnace was built in the rear of Wilcox's store and adjacent to the Wis Koy swimming pool. In time, Albert B„ Smith added a machine shop and made threshing machines. This plant burned down in I8I4.9 and was rebuilt the next year. Comfort Barnes Lyon was the owner when it again burned in 1869 and was not rebuilt.

On North Water Street was the site of the Textile Specialty Co. mill, erected 190l|., and razed some thirty years later. On this same site Ezra Smith®s Carding & Pulling mill was put up in 1829, and burned in l8i|0. Another woolen mill was erected, ' which burned in I855. In 18^6, a three-story mill was then erected, which was owned by Greene Bros, when that structure burned in 1888. Upstream, and within the Corporation, stood Adam's Stone Tannery, erected in I8J4.2, which later was converted by William Powers to a sawmill. Powers had a veneer mill for making cheese boxee, Across the street, J. P. Goo & Co. made apple barrels. This last shop is still standing, but the sawmill has been razed. Powers had another sawmill upstream about a mile, which also in 1823 had facilities for pressing flax-seed. These too have gone. In between these mills was the site of the mills built in 1808 by Eli Griffith at the point where "Mill Street" (North Water Street) for nearly a century crossed the Wis Koy.

Down stream, the "Centennial Butter and Cheese Factory," put up in 1876, which stood at the junction of Bush Creek and the Wis Koy, was moved across the Wis K0y about 1910 and attached to the rear of the Centennial Schoolhouse for enlargened operations. It now hks been converted to powdering skim milk brought in from the Niagara Frontier Milk Area.

State Militia, Historic Points In the first three decades, Pike was the training ground for

elements of two regiments of militia, and a number of leading citi-zens held commissions. I have reason to believe that the training ground may have been on the east side of North Water Street for they had a gun house there from which they fired balls across the Wis Koy into the bluff there. The late George Greene told me that he had collected some of the embedded shot.

Spencer Street was so named after Caleb Spencer, born 17&9 in

Massachusetts, later resident of Clarendon, Vermont. He came to Pike in l8l5 with his 3ix sons: Wil]iam, Abel, Caleb Jr., John, Warren, and Ambrose, all of whom took up farms and lived most of their lives on the street. Thev moved with two teams of horses and brought all they had to begin with. Caleb Spencer had only 75̂ ' in money when they arrived. This area was a dense forest and as late as .1820 there was no formal road. Octogenarian Sylvester S. Spencer and his wife still live in the ancestral home. Telegraph Road, early called the Cattaraugus Road,was laid, out soon after the Olean Trail, probably predated the opening of the Creek Road to Eagle,,


April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont) West Main Street, or rather the Allegany Road, had several farm

houses that served as wayside inns in early days, but they are all gone except the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baird Bliss, just over the county line which is also reputed to have been an Underground station when ex-neighbor Calvin Fairbank was speeding the runaway slaves from the South. The Fairbank log cabin site is only a slight dent in the soil a few rods away from the juncture of Wing Street with the Olean Trail.

Pike Five Corners, in the 19th century, was a bustling com-munity with a hotel, store, cheese factory, and shoe shop, with a sawmill or two on Trout Run nearby. "Main Street" had a half-mile straightway on which manv a harness race was run on Saturday after-noon by local "sports". To the east was the Campbell Hill com-munity, settled by the Revolutionary soldier, Robert Campbell, and his sons.

EAST PIKE HOTEL, LAMONT This Unique Edifice Built c.1823 by the VanSlyke

Brothers Faced Square on Both East Street and the Olean Trail. Altercations Here

in Pioneer Days Gave the Area the Name of "Bloody Corners."

Burned in 1936 (Photo from the late James L. Blackmer.)

Musings of an Octogenarian Your inquiring reporter recently visited Miss Elgie Van Slyke,

a native of East Street, Pike, and now residing in Perry, N.Y., on her 82nd birthday. Her reminiscences are imbeded in this chapter as it relates to that area.


Page 78 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont)

East Pike Hotel (Lamont) was erected about 1823 by the brothers Martin and William Van Slyke, Jr., carpenters, who afterwards migrated to Ohio„ The owner, unidentified, desired the building to be "Square" with both East Street and Olean Trail (now Route 39)» Since the Olean '̂ rail crossed East Street at about a 35-degree angle divergence, most builders refused to tackle the job which was accom-plished by the Van Slykes. The south gable end was made with that peculiar angle, while the north gable end was framed square. This devergence is plainly discernable in the picture. Due to its loca-tion on a great migration route, this hotel was the scene of many brawls in the early days, hence the intersection went by the name of "Bloody Corners." This structure had the usual embellishments of fireplaces, ballroom and decorative treatment of doorways.

The area served by East Street was settled as early as any part of the town. Of the group of immigrants mentioned in the opening chapter, Abel Townsend settled about where Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gage now live, and Phineas Harvey built his cabin on the east side of the street and a little farther south. Harvey's two children were the first to die in town, and he died the next year, 1807.

At the north end of East Street, and in sight of the limpid East Koy river to which the street is wedded for better or worse,sets the homestead of Mrs. Belle Upright. Here settled Moses Guernsey and his rollicking son "Jack," he of "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Lake Ontario" fame,(See Historical Wyoming. Nov.1950), in 1818. Moses was a blacksmith, fashioned scythes and snaths in his shop near the upper dam which also powered a sawmill operated by Worden and Lucius Granger, and later destroyed by fire. This dam also powered Horning's tannery for many years. It is likely also that Bailey Clough used the power to run his carding mill as early as I8I/4-, for John Minard said he was also interested later in the carding mill down stream at Mills Mills in 1816. Clough took orig-inal deed to the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wells at the four corners.

Below the corners was another mill pond which supplied the East Pike Roll er Mills, of which more anon. The houses are all old along here, but we hasten for we know not their history. On the west is the summer residence of Rozelle Van Slyke. Here Aaron Fuller proba-bly had his stand in 1809 when he helped organize the Great Town of Nunda, for his son Orrin lived there for sure. Here you will find a fireplace with a veined marble mantel and tne vertical side panels likewise decorated, and note too the two-inch thick front door.

To the south on the same side and at East Pike Corners (Lamont) was the hotel described before, and kitty-cornered opposite was the five-story stone landmark, a flour mill which was consumed by fire in a hours' time, on September 26, 1935j according to the Castilian. This news item continues: "The date 1836 was carved in one corner, and the stone was quarried on the Schrader farm nearby, drawn on ox-carts and hewn by hand. Labor and material were cheap, but the cost


April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (contj was "12,000,, Asa Sartwell, who started the mill failed* Other owners were Oyer & Shuttleworth; Gs P„ Kellogg; Roberts Bros*; and Campbell (George) & Keppen. Keppen rebuilt the dam in 1916, and the boards of the old dam built in 1836 were still there. Keppen in-stalled roller mills to grind wheat for the local patrons, and also made wooden clothespins. In the early days teams were kept busy drawing flour to Wellsville. Mr. Sartwell also built a home next south of where the M. E. Church stoode"

This church was demolished after a century's use. The Sartwell home was later owned and occupied by S. S. Spencer, and now by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rork. We are unable to tell you if the Greek Revival facade was the original trim. East Pike's first postmaster was Thomas Treat, Jr. who started in 1827, but the office was discon-tinued on the advent of the R. P. D.

Other Lamont Landmarks Before leaving Lamont notice the ancient dwelling on the east

side of the Portageville intersection. It was an early inn estab-lished by the Plints, and is still owned by descendants. Half of Wyoming County's only paper mill, date of erection unknown but I have evidence that W. & I. Henderson made paper in 1836. This mill burned in 1858 or 9; was rebuilt and burned again in 1877* which was the end of the enterprise. S. S. Hammond was the last proprietor. Of the half dozen homes erected to house the workers, who moved here after Hammond's paper mill burned in Gibsonville, only one lone sen-tinel is left, and a few scattered rock mark the mill site.

The Egenberger home, an old homestead, was earlier occupied by a family named Lyons, who, on leaving for Kansas in 18714-, donated their double cradle, used by their twin boys, to the twin sisters, Edith and Elgie Van Slyke who entered this vale of tears at this same time. Almost all of the homes that line the street bear evid-ence of sturdy timber characteristic of 19th century construction and the plentiful supply of virgin timber. You who now pay $200 per M feet for clear pine would gasp to see a girt of clear pine at least eight inches thick, 18" inches wide and thirty feet long asyou enter the barn now owned by Charles Ayers, but probably erected by David Nourse who settled there in 1817

Farther along, on the same side, before you get to the corners, was the dwelling of Daniel Lawrence who maintained a singing school there about l8I(.0-50o This item too is gone. Griffiths * Corners named after Micah Griffith who came here in 1806 with ten sons, was the site of another sawmill, the vertigial remains of which can be seen in the East Koy. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Terry will be glad to show the spot. Asa Sartwell is reputed to have been the erector, and was later operated by Martin Van Slyke,Jre Clustered around the four corners were the farms and homes of William Van Slyke„ Rev-olutionary patriot, (see Historical Wyoming, Vol. V, page 1), and his descendants, and of these, only Kenneth V^n Slyke, our genial justice of the peace, remains to till the soil. Miss ElgieVm Slyke has "located" manv a log cabin along the street, one of which was that of Sumner Dole9son of the Judge who owned many parcelcfland


Page 80 April 1956

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.) in pioneer times„ Most cabins were located near some convenient spring or brook, only to find itself some distance from a formal highway. Of course this was remedied with the erection of a frame dwelling convenient to the road.

Next, on the west, appears the old Chandler homestead built with a double frame to accommodate two families; and a half mile farther on the east stands the Old Red Burroughs home, erected by Benjamin Burroughs, a Revolutionary patriot. Descendants still occupy the Century Farms. Close to East Koy Cemetery is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Overholt which is said to have been erected by the Everest family. Note the architectual style of the front. Planked houses were invariably a story and a half in height, and not much larger than the log cabin which it superseded. The late De-villo Lillibridge stated that Hiram Wheeler, an old time carpenter, originated the practice of setting the ells about four feet to the front with a four foot wide stoop across the front of the main frame, when additional living quarters were needed. The Gillette home in Pike village is another example of this style, embellished with a Grecian facade.

East Koy Patches Corners, now East Koy, is characterized by the Maple

Park which surrounds the four corners, and was named after Ephraim Patch, a pensioner of the Revolution. I rather think he occupied the corner where Mr. and Mrs. Middaugh Tice now live. One Samuel Patch lived up on the East Ridge in pioneer times, but he was not the Sam Patch that jumped the falls of the Genesee in Rochester whom Arch Merrill loves to talk about. Patches Corners in its hey day had a hop yard^ cheese factory, post office (Isaac Quackenbush post-master in l83i]J, a blacksmith shop and a store too. On the south-west corner is the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Green. Originally this was the tavern of Amos Griffith, and inside you may see evid-ences of a bar room. For many years the Lillibridge family were hosts .for the annual oyster supper held for the benefit of East Koy Cemetery.

At the south end of East Street, and at the town line of Hume were the Skiff farms, members of which family have long been iden-tified with both Pike and Hume. In l8l8 Elizabeth Skiff came here with her son Stephen and six grandsons. Elizabeth Skiff's monument in East Koy Cemetery reads thusj

"Benjamin and Elizabeth Skiff lived in the Wyoming Valley during the Revolution, owning 500 acres, where Wilkesbarre, Pa. now stands. Benjamin and their son Stephen were in the war. At the time of the Wyoming Massacre* in 1778,, Elizabeth with two small children were spared by the Indians on account of previous kindliness, her fore-head marked with a red cross to indicate they were not to be molest-ed. Then given their liberty,carrying one child and leading another, she walked to Kent, Conn., her former home." Elizabeth died in 1820


April 1956 Page 6 9

EARLY DAYS IN PIKE (cont.)

at- years» Also in the family tradition, Elizabeth on her return to Connecticut had to pass through unfriendly Tory country, so at night she skimmed their swill pail of the grease they contained in order to keep alive,, A grandson, Joseph, was reputed to have main-tained an Underground Railroad station before the Civil War.

The lower East Koy river served Ringo's Mill, originally built by Judge Dole, a landed proprietor of many interests. The mill was later owned by Martin Hodge, who rebuilt after the original mill burnedo Campbell's Mills made, among other things, hand rakes„ revolving hay rakes and clothespins. The buildings have been razed. The proprietors were George, John and Timothy Campbell. Timothy was also a milwright. To the west is the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Overholt, which is said to have been put up about 1816 by Peter Whitcomb. A son, Orace V., was for many years a director of the Pioneer Association. Down the glen, Benjamin Wakeman, a veteran of the War of 1812, erected a home in 1818, the largest in the vic-inity at that time.

A f >( U M _W A /» /I /> /C" if

Campbell1s Revolving Hay Rake Essentially this was a round 8" beam about five feet long

through which wooden fingers were inserted at intervals at right angles, so that the fingers extended an equal distance either side of this transverse beam. At each end of this beam was a floating ring with a hook to fasten a tug of the harness of a horse. There was a raised transverse pole, by which the driver could shift the rig to dodge a stone. There was a sort of swinging paddle or- back stop to retain the collected hay. When the rake was full, the oper-ator raised the prongs in the rear, causing the front prongs to pivot on the earth and thus revolving the fingers half a revolution and dumping the collected hay. The early mowing machines had a cut-ting bar Itfg feet long, thus the rake only took one swath at a time. This was the earliest power rake. This information was given to me by Henry Vallance and Floyd Buttles.

Fashioning the Snath Charles VanDyke remarked that the pioneer way to make Snath

(handle for scythes) was to go to the woods and locate a slippery elm sapling growing close to another larger sapling. Thereupon, the operator would wind the slippery elm around its companion and tie elm there and let Nature take its course for a season or two after which the stock had the right twist for use as a snath, and to meet the needs of the left handerp a sapling could be twisted the other way just as wello

Page 82 April 1956

OLD PIKE BAPTIST CHURCH Built 1850-51 as Successor to 1833 Meeting House on Baptist

Hill„ Burned 1903. (Photo from Mr. Earl Burnell)

11 RfW

by

Mrs. James Mi 11en

The First Baptist Church Little- is known of the beginning of Baptist groups except that

the First Baptist Society in the Town of Pike was formed by "a res-pectable number of the inhabitants of the Town of Pike, Allegany County at a meeting September 1821." No more records appear until 1827'when we find this group had been dissolved because of not complying with statutes for formation of such societies.

Two books of records, dated 1827, show the reorganization of this group of people to form a church. These records contain the same names of people so it must, therefore, be records kept by dif-ferent individuals. One gives the name of the organization as the Calvinistic Baptist Church of Christ in Pike, while the other uses the title First Baptist Church of Pike. This last name is the one in most frequent usage and used entirely after the first years0


April 1956 Page 6 9

BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS IN PIKE (cont.) Nunda, as mentioned in the following paragraphs, refers to Pike

Hollow, or what is now the Village of Pike: Quoting from an "His-torical Sketch" made in February 1832 - "In the early settlement of the region, which took place more than 20 years ago, some Baptist brethren emigrated to this place and in the wilderness endeavored to erect a standard for the Lord. Through many difficulties a church was twice organized and each time lost its visibility. Of these struggles we have not the means of giving a minute history. In May 1823, seventeen of the scattered members, finding themselves without a home, made request to the Gainesville-Nunda Church and were re-ceived into membership on their experience. The Lord blessed this movement and we were privileged with monthly church and covenant meeting,, and the stated administration of the Word. For about four years we were prospered as a branch of that church." (Castile-Por-tage group was Mother Church from which Gainesville-Nunda church or-ganized. That group held meetings in the Bigelow Corners area until the Pike church was established.7

By 1827 this group had increased numbers to fifty-six-li^. males and 1|2 females. At a meeting of the Gainesville-Nunda church, held May 5, 1827, at Elder Tuthill's at Pike Hollow these fifty-six mem-bers asked that they be set off into a separate church. This was finally granted on the following September 8th with the name of The Calvinistic Baptist Church of Christ in Pike and with the adoption of the Articles of Faith and Practice and also the Covenant from the Mother Church. (It was on this same date the name of the Gaines-ville-Nunda Church was changed to the Baptist Church of Castile and Portage.) They then voted to report themselves to the Holland Pur-chase Association in order to become one of that body. In these early days of settlement the Holland Land Company granted £0 .acres of land to religious groups In order to induce settlement In new areas. This Gospel Lot, as it was called, was located on the pre-sent Pike-East Koy Road a little east of the Wiscoy Valley farm.

During the formation period, and until a building was finally constructed, meetings were held at homes, barns and schoolhouses„ We note that many services were held at the Pike schoolhouse which was located at the junction of "the Allegany and Cattaraugus Roads" at the foot of Baptist Hill in Pike where the Camp residence now stands„

In November 1827 it was voted to revive the First Baptist So-ciety of Pike, to give public notice for this purpose and to annex the property of this Society. After meeting according to law and reorganizing, plans were made to build a meeting house. Peleg Olin donated a plot for the meeting house - "set on the emminence between the Allegany and Cattaraugus Roads." This was just above the School-house, on the brow of the hill.

First House of Worship

On December 6, 1828, they met at the schoolhouse "to put the bents together" and on December 9 "commenced raising which took most

(continued on page 8I4.)

Page 84 April 1956

BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS IN PIKE (conto)

of the week— nobody hurt." The urn-shaped steeple was not erected until 1829, during the process of which the builder, Mr. James Thomas, was killed. The construction was finally completed in 1833 with the contractors,Elias and Giles Mabee, who lived in the area of Bigelow Corners and in whose barn services often had been heldc

The first meeting was held in the new church August 1;, with dedication September 5, and the sale of seats in the afternoon. In 1834. plans were made to build horse sheds with 12 stalls. Since 19 applied, a drawing was held to allocate sheds. A subscription was also started at this time for a bell which was hung in the steeple in 1839o A large fireplace heated the church and light was provided by tallow candles. In l8i;2 the first mention of stoves is made.

In these years of 1828 and on, the subject of Free Masonry was much agitated and this church adopted a reso^^ôn: "Resolved that we cannot hold fellowship with our Baptist brethren unless they withdraw all connections from the Masonic Institution, and forever cease to countenance, support or fellowship Free Masonry."

Since Elder Anson Tuthill was a Mason and while at first he re-nounced Masonry, a year later refused to reject it, many of the con-gregation "stopped their travels (attendance) because the church continued his labors in preaching and administering the ordinances while others were laboring with him in hopes he would renounce and leave the institution." A few months later Elder Tuthill was suc-ceeded by Elder Bostwick,a Revolutionary soldier, serving part time0 This feeling against Masonry was reflected in raising funds for var-ious church building projects„

Growth of the Church Since the beginning of the church it had prospered, and in-

cluded members living and holding meetings in Hume, Centerville and Eagle with Pike as the Mother Church. Pike was at this time in Al-legany County. By the end of 1835 the Pike membership reached 300o In 1836 it was voted to start a Sunday School.

The congregation decided in 1836 to build a parsonage and to dig and stone a well on the aforementioned Gospel Lot. This was to be done for Elder Sangster, but before started he moved away. In l8i|5 it was agreed to sell the Gospel Lot and purchase a parsonage in the village0 This was not done until many years later.

In the early days most members were farmers but by 1850 the village population had increased so that a demand was made for a more central location off the hill. In l8£l the meeting house and lot on Baptist Hill was sold to Rufus Robinson for ft.00.00. The building was moved downtown where the Wolcott store is now located and converted into a store. The Gospel Lot was also sold at this time to Nelson Metcalf. A new Baptist Church was built on the lot purchased from Samuel Hatch, next to the present Stone Store. In 1865 a house and lot next to the meeting house were purchased from


April 1956 Page 6 9

BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS IN PIKE (cont.) William Bean for a parsonage. Two years later this was sold. In 1871 the Society purchased a lot from Ann Robinson, which is un-doubtedly the location of the present Baptist Parsonage on North Wa-tfer Street.

Saturday, November 7, 1903, at about 12 o'clock a fire was started in the furnace of the church for the purpose of rehearsing the exercises for Bible Day, the next day, and in a short time smoke was seen coming out of the church which resulted in the burning of the entire church building. After this, services were held in the Presbyterian Church until their building was destroyed in the big fire. The Baptists then rented the Free Baptist Church for six mon-ths with the first meeting there May 30, 1909.

THE FIRST FREE WILL ORGANIZATIONS Portage - Pike Group

The First Free Will Baptist Society in Portageville and Pike, Allegany County, was established February 1, 18lj.l at a meeting in the old schoolhouse at Portageville. By a unanimous vote Francis Acker, Jonathan Baily, Cyprian Eastman, William Lillibridge and Stephen James were elected trustees for a year. Subscriptions were to be started at once to build a meeting house to be completed by the first of the next August.

Records show that after- this time many meetings were held in homes in and near Patch's Corners (East Koy). No doubt members of this area found it hard going to travel to Portage. ôr a period of about twenty years records are missing. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the connection between this group and the next formed In 1852. Names of a few members of the Portage-Pike Society re-siding at East Koy appear on the rolls of ^he later formed church, so it can be assumed that because of nearer location or a stronger influence, they joined with the Free Will Church in Pike Village.

Eagle - Pike Group The Free Wil] Baptist Church was organized in the Foote School

house on the East Hill of Eagle Valley, February 23, 18^2, with twenty members, the Rev. Robert Hunt, pastor. They held their meet-ings for about three years at the said house, then afterwards at Bliss Corners for two years, the Rev. H. H. Strickland officiating. They then moved to Lyonsburg when the Rev. H. N. Plum was " pastor. At a meeting on the 13th of August 18^9 it was voted to change the place of worship to the village of Pike and also change the name to the First Freewill Baptist Church of Pike. Accordingly, on the 10th of September 18^9 they met for the first time in Seminary Hall. The Society had the use of the ground-floor room on the east side of the Seminary, which could accommodate about 200, until the completion of its church. This came to be called the 'church room.' Here they met until the erection of the brick church.


Page 86 April 1956

BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS IN PIKE (cont.) Prom Hoolers History of Pike Seminary we read that: "Due to

the inability of the Methodist Conference to meet its obligations for the support of Pike Seminary (an incorporation), religious don* trol and supervision were turned over to the Free ¥111 Baptist Church of Pike about 1859. This church exercised control by nomin* ating the trustees of Pike Seminary, This provision was waived af-ter a number of years and thus the Seminary became non-sectarian.Mi

At the annual meeting of the Free Will group on March 21)., 1879, the trustees were instructed to consider the matter of purchasing a lot for a church building, A convenant meeting was held for thfe first time September 9, 1882 In the new brick building adjoining the Seminary, We note that the seats were sold for the price of making —$i0o50 each. In 1895 cushions were purchased for $180.00.

In a special business meeting August 30, 1908, (five years after the First Baptist Church was burned), the Free Will Church proposed to act on the question of uniting with the Baptist Society, and a committee of three was named to meet with a like committee from the Baptist Church. At a meeting on May 25, 1909 it was voted to offer the church for rent to the Baptists for six months*

UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH On the same day May 25th the members of the Free Will Church

met to consider the question of uniting the two Baptists Churches* On November 6, 1910 the two societies held a meeting to consider the union, & committee of six, three from each church, was appointed 'to ; perfect Articles of Agreement+~and^p^Bpaê'-f(5i, a vote befdre each se-parate group. The committee from the Free Will Church was Mr. De Villo Lillibridge, Mr. J. M. Barrus, Mrs. Ada S. Robinson; from the First Baptist Church was Mr, A. Lathrop, Dr, W. J. French, and Mrs. Anna Thomas. The report of this committee was unanimously adopted by both churches meeting in separate session on December 17, 1910, yrith the recommendations signed by DeVillo Lillibridge, chairman, and Dr. Wo J. French, clerk. The churches so uniting were to be known as the United Baptist Church of Pike, N.Y. From then on the church has maintained a steady influence for good in the community.

In 1917 repairs were made in the basement providing a dining room and kitchen. This was replaced by a kitchen built at the rear of the church in 1926. At the same date other improvements were made including a baptistry, 1938 3aw the church completely redecfo* rated and newly carpeted with appropriate rededication services in August, The group separated from the Genesee Baptist Association in 191+6 to become an independent church0

Always interested in music the congregation purchased a Hammond electric organ which was dedicated at a very impressive service, October 15, 1950. Again in 1952 the interior of the building was redecorated and this time the floors of the Sunday School rooms were covered with tile linoleum. Our present pastor is the Rev. Herman Underwood., (continued on page 87)

April 1956 Page 6 9

BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS (cont.) Pastors Of The First Baptist & United Baptist Churches

The pastoral list contains thirty-eight as follows: the Revs.-Anson Tuthill, 1827-29; Oliver S. Reed, 1829-31; Supply from neigh-boring area, 1831-34; J. J. Woolsey, 1834; Archibald Sangster. 1835-38; Cyrenus M. Puller, 1838-43; E. L. Harris. 181+3-455 Harvey Smith. 181+5-50; Ira Bennett, 1850-53; Samuel Hough, 1853-60; A. Latham, 18-61-63; B. P0 Russel, 1863-65; Wc I. Crane, 1865-6?; S0 Me Calkins. 1868-71; C0 R. Negus? 1871-78; G. Se Cleavenger, 1878-82; Ce K. Hen-derson, 1882-85; John Gilchrist, 1885-89; G. W. Ball, 1889-90; Sup-plied by Mr0 Hough, 1890-91; W„ N» Mason, 1891-96; A. Scrimshaw, 18-96-97; J. H. Hyde, 1897-1902; Benjamin Bryan, 1903-04; M. W. Covell, 1901+-07; M. So Reed, 1907-10; Bc R. Smith, 1911-12; Thomas Sherwood, 1912-15; Wo Bo Kuszminik, 1915-16; C. Summersgill, 1916-19: S. Ee Mathewss 1919-22; Thomas Sherwood, 1922-23; John E0 Calvin, 192i+-37s Walter B0 Hilton, 1937-1+2; Donald M0 Perkins, 191+3-1+7; Stanley Bean, 191+7-1+8; Reuben Strong, 191+9-55; Herman Underwood, 1955-»

Pastors Of The Free Will Baptist Twenty-five names appear on the roll of those who served this

congregation, namely, the Revs. Robert Hunt, H» H, Strickland, H0 N0 Plumb, Charles Putnam; Profs. G. C. Waterman, B. P. Russel, and G. Co Waterman; Revs. G. Po Ramsey and D0 M, Stewart;Prof« I. D. Smith; Revs. D. Jackson, I. B. Smith; D. M. Stewart, J. H0 Durkee, and C.E. Brockway; and the Revs. D« W. C. Durgin, 1885-88; Charles A, Gleason, 1888-89; G. L. Hanscom, 1889-90; Margaret A. Brennan, 1890-91; E. Z, Whitman, 1891-92; Z. A„ Space, 1892-99; J. C. Warren, 1900-02; Wil-liam Wood, 1902-03; William Sc Holland, 1903-04; and S. S. Mead, 19-04-09 c „ „ „ „

Miscellaneous Notes -- Pike At the April 1827 Town Meeting of Pike, voters passed a resolution to the effect "that geese shall not run at large at no time on the penalty of having their necks rung whenever cetched."

In 1837, Thomas Carrier published a paper in Pike called the Pike Whig, which was soon after changed to the Pike Gazette, but after about a year of publication was removed to Angelica.

Eilliam Bc Favor & J» M. Whaley were proprietors in 181+7 of a line of stages between Attica and Pikec The route included Attica Cen-ter, Hall's Corners, Warsaw, Wethersfield Springs, Hermitage and south to Pike.

Page 88 April 1956

Rev. Lawrence VanSlyke PIKE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Erected in 1841. Destroyed in Great Fire of 1909. Present Church Occupies the Same Site. (Photo from Miss Mae Osgood.)

One hundred twenty-five years ago, on September 9, 1831* a little group of citizens gathered in a school house somewhere In the village of Pike to organize themselves Into a Presbyterian Church. There were six men and eleven women who became charter members, all of them presenting letters of transfer from the churches to which they already belonged. Two ministers had come to carry out the formal founding of the little church - the Rev. Horace Galpin and the Rev. Moses Ordway, who were probably home missionary ""circuit riders"', ministering to a number of little groups in this then frontier country. In this same solemn service six other persons were added to the church on confession of their faith in Christ, making 23 in all. It should be added that, as in the case of most of the Presbyterian churches in western New York organized in those early years, many of the members came from Congregational churches in New England, so that it was very natural that the Pike Church should retain the Congregational form of government in all that re-lated to local matters, and yet wish,to be associated with the Pres-bytery for the sake of strength and fellowship.

There had' already been a Presbyterian Church in East Koy, founded in 1819, but as Pike grew, it was felt that there ought to be a church more centrally located, so it was finally decided to establish a new church in the village itself. The church grew rapidly. By the end of I83I there were lj.1 members. In 1832 the


April 1956 Page 6 9

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PIKE (cont.) church doubled in size. By the end of 183^ there were about 125 members. Pike itself was growing fast, new settlers coming in from Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Mohawk Valley. They were stout-hearted, brave, adventurous people„ A great many of them brought their Bibles and their faith with them.

Seventy-five years ago A. P. Sherril, a well-known business man of Pike, and an elder in the church, wrote a careful history of the first fifty years of the church's life. Let's quote a little of it, to get the flavor of his words: "The Rev, R„ H0 Conkling having closed his labors with the church at Ashtabula, Ohio, upon being solicited, accepted the invitation and again took charge of the spiritual affairs of the church. (Mr. Conkling had preached here from 1831 to His labors during the winter and spring of I8I4.O were greatly blessed in reviving the church and in the salvation of the impenitent, and as the result about 50 were added to the church. The meetings were largely attended thereafter and the little meeting house was crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr. Conkling was urgent in his endeavors for a larger building, and insisted that his effort was crippled by 'being cooped up in a peck measure,' so that in the winter of l8Jj.l it was resolved to build a new church. The ground was purchased upon which the Presbyterian Church now stands, at a cost of ^300."

In the old record book of the trustees, an entry dated l8i|l says; "During this year a new Church was built at a cost of about :$2800o It was dedicated in February, 181̂ 2. "

This building, facing south on Main Street, was only a few feet from, the sidewalk, so that there was no front lawn such as we have today. Folks could step out of their carriages onto the horseblock, which still remains, and with a few more steps were inside the church. This was the center of the life of the church for 67 years.. Ministers came and went, the fortunes of the church rose and fell. Then, the night of August 15, 1909, came the great fire that de-stroyed a large part of the business section of Pike, and with it the church building. But the people showed their courage and faith, when, faced with the loss of7their building, they immediately laid plans for re-building and started a campaign to raise money. A quite original way of awakening interest, especially in former mem-bers who had moved away, was the making from the old hell of a large number of little bells, bearing on the rim the words, "First Pres-byterian Church, Pike, N. Y., 1831-1910." Quoting the write-up in the county paper: "The little bells are beauties, and as they go out into the cities, towns and hamlets, seem to be veritable missionaries; playing no small part in raising funds." So 'the lovely little church we have today rose from the ashes of the old church, and was dedicated Sept. 26, 1910.

The longest pastorate in the history of the church was that of the Rev. J. M. Mc Coy from 1911 to 1928. Many of the older members remember him with gratitude and affection. The church has had its ups and downs. For a period of 13 years it depended mainly on Houghton College students as supply preachers, one carrying on through his whole four years, some coming for only one year. Finally it was felt that the church must have a resident, full-time minister, and in 1951 it called the Rev. Lawrence Van Slyke, a direct descendant of the Pike Van Slvkes. who is still the pastor.

Page 90 April 1956

The First and Second Methodist Episcopal Churches

O f P i k e by Robert M. French

METHODIST CHURCH & STONE STORE Church Erected c.1832; Burned 1909. Store

Built in 1839, still stands. (Photo from Miss Mabel Cummings.)

Prom the ancient "Book of Miscellaneous Records" of the county of Allegany, which reposes in the vaults of the County Clerk's office in Belmont, Nc Y., we find on page 1|31» (Omitting the legal verbiage concerning the registration of incorporated societies), that? on July 2l+th, 1826 the "First M. E. Church in Pike, Allegany Co." selected Daniel Shepardson and Joshua Flint as trustees; and on Oct. 3rd, 1831, the following members were nominated as trustees-Lyman Ayrault, Danforth Wallace, Peleg Olin, Luther Griffith, Lereen Lathrop, Alexander Bush and Jonathan Emery. John Cozart and Philo Brown presided.

In a similar manner the "Second Society of the M. E. Church of Pike" was registered on the 9th of January, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-two. Trustees were reported as follows: Alva Sc Green, Joshua Whitney Jr., Jacob R. Horning, Shipman Griffith, Richard Maynard, James Boyle, George Flint, and that John Cosart and Shipman Griffith presided. This group was without question formed around East Pike.

From the notes of the former Town Historian, the late H. M. Bowen, we quote the following: "The First M. E. Church was formed in 1823,, and the edifice erected in 1832. Pfevious to this Pike had


April 1956 Page 6 9

METHODIST CHURCHES (cont.)

enjoyed the occasional ministrations of such grand old worthies as Loring Grant, Micah Segar, Ec Broadman, W0 T. Buck and other equally prominent members of Old Genesee (Conference)0 The history of the Genesee Conference speaks of Pike and Rushford as the name of the circuit in 1832 and 1833, and associating it with several other dif-ficult circuits, says it was a field to be remembered by preachers who occupied itc The conf^r>ence year of I83I4. and 1835 the circuit was named Pike and Gainesvillec There were two preachers appointed by the Bishop and a supply employed by the presiding elder„ 8DeFor-est Parsons preached every Sunday morning at Pike village, where he and his family occupied the parsonagec He had an appointment Sunday evening on East Street, besides preaching at several other places® «."

,SF0 Wo Conable, then a school master, resided here part of this conference (183^-5)® He afterwards be came a distinguished member, and historian of the Genesee Conference0 The year 1836 and 1837 we read a note of victory sounded on account of a great revivale In 1838, near the close of the conference year, the Rev0 M0 Hines was taken from the circuit and sent as a missionary to Oregon* Here it is stated in the history of the conference, 1 Pike at this time was an important point®1 In lblj-5, Ee H, Latimer, later presiding elder, of the Olean district, was born in the parsonage At Pike0 Between 1850 and i860, this circuit was unusually favored, having such men fes Kendall Tuttie, Zenas Hurd and G. DeLamatyr as preachers0 In the winter of 1878 and 1879, the M. E. Church in unison with other churches of the town, enjoyed an extraordinary revival, owing its origin largely to the efforts of the Y«M»CoAoP assisted by a praying band® This was during-the pastorate of Rev« Mr® Mllward, At ore-sentj, the charge embraces Pike and Lamont, of nearly equal member-ship and strength," end of quote from Mrc Bowen's note, and the last date referred to was probably about 1895®

We do not have readily available a sketch outlining subsequent history of these two churches® The First Methodist Church and Its parsonage both fell victims of the Big Fire on 1909® The church was rebuilt a couple of years later, but due to shifting population, it was forced to close and the building finally sold to Pike Grange® The edifice of the Second Methodist Church (At Lamont) was erected in 1850 and was demolished about a century afterwards®

\r ' t \t \r V ,>' %f *V\4 "Sf tC A 4% /»»

Important Notice Since the front page of this issue was printed, the Pike Sesquicentennial dates have been changed to July 13--15, 1956, in order that the community may avail itself of an additional attrac-tion®

Page 92 April 1956

c o m m o n n r o PRIVOTE S C H O O L S in PIKE

- Robert M. French -

In the formative period of settlement, Pike was one of the earliest political units in Western New York according to Turner's History of the Holland Purchase. Settlement by newcomers was so speedy that within two years the State Legislature on the 6th of March, 1808 defined the Township of (Greater) Nunda as including the present towns of Pike, Eagle, Centerville, Hume, Grove, Granger, Portage, Genesee Falls, Nunda and Ossian, all in Allegany Countyc The first town meeting was held at Peter Granger's here m rike, for Pike was then called Nunda Hollow.

The need for schools was immediate. "History of Nunda" relates: "In 1813 the Great Town of Nunda appointed (School) Commissioners, among them a teacher, Perkins B. Woodward and Thomas Dole (Uounty Judge), to divide the town into School districts, resulting in twelve schools for the entire town, Portageville, Pike, Mills Mills and Centerville receiving the first four of them. Perkins B. Wood-ward located the latter of these in Centerville and became the first teacher."

Note the population growthl Five years later, l8l8 to 1819 according to "'Miscellaneous Records of Allegany County," "After Greater Pike (which included Hume, Centerville and Eagle also) was set up, there were 9 school districts with 533 scholars 5 to 15 years of age. In 1823 with Hume and Centerville taken .out of Pike, there were 13 districts and 63c> children taught; the town tax was |121o33* supplemented with $1+1000 from Allegany bounty. The follow-ing year (I82I4.) with Eagle taken off, the number of scholars taught was 1+83 and the tax money $197.52; and in 1825 School District No. 8 (Pike Village) paid its teacher $7.31; he had 72 scholars. The school books most in common use were the following: Webster's Spelling Book, Murray's Geography, Pike's Arithmetic, Walker's Dictionary and American Preceptor."

Rebecca Vail Norris opened the first school (Davidson district) in a little plank school house where the desks, such as they were, were fixed against the wall, having wooden benches, without backs, in front. "This year, 1816, was a hard one for ... she encountered one of the coldest years ever known in the country. She boarded round9 and had her dinner sent to her; often it consisted conly of small new potatoes and green peas. She used to say she never saw so many sad and melancholy faces as those of the mothers in these dis-tressing times, when all they could give their children to eat was sifted bran made into cakes with a little milk. She earned a dollar and a half a week."

As the village grew another school district was set up in 1822 with a two story building on School Street. This was called the "Old Red." The second story was used for higher education, for in


April 1956 Page 6 9

COMMON AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN PIKE (cont) 1826, "Elder Anson Tuthill commences his second quarter in Masonic Hall, Pike Hollow, on Oct. 2. Terms: $2.50 for English; $3.00 for Classics and a half-cord (legal) of wood each scholar per Quarter." In 1814; the Upper school (which probably had been situated at the foot of Baptist Hill) was "hitched"to "Old Red" and the districts consolidated.

In 1876, District No. 8 built a new school house facing on Union Street, where it still stands as part of the Condensary0 The "Old Red" was divided and moved two ways and converted into domestic use, and they are still standing. The "Centennial School" served until 1906, when the grades commenced to use the new high school building. In 191+6 this burned, just after the district became a part of Letchworth Central. At present, the first six grades are housed in the Community Building on Main Street, while the older scholars are now transported to the new Letchworth Central School,,

Outside the village doubtless a number of district schools were held in log cabins for the 1853 map shows a number of sites of which there is no other record. The lack of structures reflect dwindling families, and most of the existing structures are now in domestic use since the schools have been consolidated. Gone are the days when the schoolmarm had to help play "one o'cat" on the minature diamond at recess time, of the privilege extended to a couple of scholars during school hours to go to the neighboring farm pump for a bucket of drinking water which was later meted out with the common tin cup. J". J". J(. A/ \r sr iv ft « ft ft" ft" V

Eagle First Methodist Episcopal Church The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Eagle was formed the

17th day of December 1827, by members and friends "of the denomin-ation, according to the records of Allegany County at Belmont. The official record of the meeting shows that Mipplin Harker and Chester Fairbank, two of the members, were chosen to provide for the incor-oorationo Toshua Whitney, a Revolutionary soldier, Yost Cain, and George w. iwiapp, Esq. were trustees.

Eagle Social Library Company Allegany County records reveal on page 239 01 the *First Book of

Miscellaneous Records that the Eagle Social Library Co. was formed at a "Meeting held at the house (Feb. 19, 1821).) of Abijah Beach, Innkeeper in the town of Eagle, Co., of Allegany met and elected Russell Rathbun Chairman, and the following trustees: Demarcus Rath-bun, Jeremiah C. Young, Elijah Hyde, Loren Buckley, Anson Hills, Sylvester Ketchum, Ba?,r>n pr! Beede,

Page 94 April 1956 ^ rr

~ n < e

-by Robert M. French After the close of the War of 1812, the State of New T£ork

established new military outposts to guard her frontiers. Since Pike, prior to 181̂ .0, was one of the larger towns in this defense perimeter, not only from the standpoint of population, but also in business energy, it was here that a battalion of the militia system was set up.

^s a matter of policy, every able-bodied man between the ages of 18 and 1+5 was required to perform certain military duties. In peace times these duties centered around what was then called "Training Day" at which time each citizen subject to duty was sup-posed to appear at the parade ground with such armament as he pos-sessed at that time for inspection and discipline.. We are indebted to John Minard, who years ago gave a description of the day as follows:

"General Training1* was the day of all days in the year's calen-dar looked forward to by young and old. All turned out for a jolly good time. The commanding officer appointed the time and place and extent of the parade ground. He also permitted the sale of spirit-uous liquors on the gfounda A humorous description of such an occasion follows: Although the companies exploited the elite of our regimental splendors, glittering with tinsel and flaunting with feathers, a more heterogenous and unsoldierly parade could hardly be imagined....The elect from the mountains who sometimes marched to the rendezvous barefooted carrying their boots and soldier clothes in a bundle; short, tall, fat, skinny, bowlegged, sheepshanked, cockeyed, hump shouldered and swaybacked, equipped by art as econom-ically awkwardly and variously as they were endowed by nature; uniform in contempt of all uniformity, armed with old flint muskets, horseman's carbines, long squirrel rifles, double-barreled shot guns and bell muzzle blunderhusses, with side arms of as many different patterns, from the old dragoon saber of Harry Lee's Legion, to the slim basket hilted rapier which probably graced the thighs of some of our French allies in the Revolution." By contrast, the officers of the volunteer companies were generally selected for their hand-some appearance and martial bearing, and some with a certain elegance of equipment, each im uniform pertaining to his company.

"This harlequinade of equipment, costume and character was duly paraded twice a day, marched through streets and put through its manuevers on the green common adjoining the village, much to the satisfaction of all emancipated schoolboys, ragamuffins, idlers, tavern keepers and cake and ale venders.." Before 1850, the general training and drills had so deteriorated as to become farcial and mirth provoking in the extreme, fully matching in some instances a later Fourth of July procession,,

April 1956 Page 6 9

MILITARY AFFAIRS IN PIKE (cont.) Gone are the days of the fantastic parades of Pan-American days,

the tugs of war,the sport astride the high wheel bicycle along aside the freckle-faced youngster pedaling his velocipide, the side shows featuring wrestling exhibitions put on by our native sons, Conrad and Jack Albright, each in his day a world's champion, the balloon ascension of the far-famed Allen family. Yet, this spirit of "cutting up" is still in evidence at our present firemen's conven-tions o

To show that "Training Day" was just as important in the civil life of the community as is the Firemen's Convention of today, we have only to refer to the old State of New York papers pertaining to militia affairs in this section in the early days of settlemento Some of the early pioneers here had participated in militia affairs in the eastern part of the state previous to their emigration to Pike. The names which appear are those of men who were prominent enough to rate a commission from the Governor which did not neces-sarily mean that they were competent in battle„ In this list mayhap you will find the name of a forebearer.

Militia Officers In the year 1798, the Governor commissioned Hubbard Fuller of

Otsego County as Ensign,promoting him to Captain in 1800, and desig-nating Abner Adams as Lieutenant. In I8OI4. Adams was advanced to Captain; resigning in 1806, both emigrated to Pike, then in Allegany County, shortly afterwards. Both retained his interest in military affairs. In 1808, Eli Griffith was appointed Captain in Lieut. Cole Luke Goodspeed's regiment of Allegany County, and Asahel Newcomb was a lieutenant and Oliver Stacy, Ensign. In loll, Griffith was advan-ced to 1st. Major, and he was the one who died while serving in the War of 1812. He was sometimes known to his comrades as "General."

In 1815, Elias Griffith was appointed Ensign of the 126th regiment. For 1820, Ebenezer Griffith was 1st Lieutenant and Russell Hurd, 2nd Lieutenant of the 7th Artillery. The Tenth Regiment of Cavalry Included Benjamin G. Chamberlain as Captain; Ben Dole, 1st Lieutenant; Aaron Robinson, 2nd Lieutenant, and Caleb Worden as Cornet„

It appears that a Battalion was established in Pike in 1820 with Thomas Dole,the Judge,as Major Commandant, with these officers?

Samuel Patch - - - Adjutant Joseph Maxson - - - - Lieut. Joshua Skiff - - - Paymaster Bazaleel Bedee - - - - Capt. Andrew Dutton-Surgeon's Mate Demareus Rathbun - - Lieut. Amos Griffith - - - Chaplain Aaron Hills - - - - - Ensign John Parker - - - - - Lieut. 1821 Johnathan Barlow - - Lieut. Thomas Dole - - - - - Major Anson Hinman - - - - - Capt. Aaron Haskin - - - - Ensign Jacob Olin - - - - - Lieut. Joseph Maxson Jr. - - Capt. John Waiting - - - - Ensign Abijah Jones - - - - Lieut. Strong Warner - - - - Capt. Joseph F9X - - - - - Ensign (continued on page 9b J

Page 96 April 1956

MILITARY AFFAIRS IU PIKE (cont.) Records for 1822 show Judge Thomas Dole as Brigadier General,

52nd. Brigade of Infantry, and for the 20j4.th Regiment the following Pike mens

Anson Hinman - - -Amos Griffith - -Samuel Patch - - -Joshua Skiff - - . Ezra Kendall - - .

- - Col® . Lt0 Colo Adjutant Paymaster Chaplain

Samuel Wolcott—.Quartermaster Bezaleel Bedee - - '-"- -Major Andrew Dutton - - - - Surgeon Simeon Capron -Surgeon's Mate

As related elsewhere, the records of Allegany County show that in 1830, Stephen Merrill leased 352 square feet of land on North Water" Street for the purpose of erecting a "Gun House0" Just ' how long this arrangements, including the use of a training ground,, was in effect, is not known® Presumably by the time of the Mexican War, the frontier had been shifted so far to the West that the regimental outpost had outlasted its usefulness. As for the regimental cannon, old timers say that this blew up when the Democrats were celebrating Grover Cleveland's presidential election for the first termQ

After the Civil War, the Boys in Blue drifted back or moved elsewhere to seek new opportunities. Regardless, on Memorial Day they made an impressive sight. A few from Pike participated in the Spanish-American War,receiving their primary training far from home0 About this time a subsidary of the Grand Army of the Republic was started, called the Sons of Veterans, principally to assist their sires in the observance of Decoration Day, Both organizations became extinct with the passing yearsa

World War' I marked a new era as the National Government select-ed their men by means of a lottery, not awaiting volunteers„ Pike again furnished- her quota and many served overseas. In the early days of that war, local men paraded around the Seminary a few mid-summer nights using broomsticks to go through the Manual of Arms and I presume we presented a ludicurous sight, but I vow no more than the antics of the Local Office of Civilian Defense in recent years,,

World War II followed somewhat like that of World War I so far as Pike was concerned, save that the last conflict was more global in scopep with more emphasis on undersea fighting, mass bombings and improved instruments of destruction,,

Thus the men of Pike, from the campaign on the Niagara in the War of 1812 to the Korean War have answered the Nation's call 'in seven conflicts and in addition, shouldered their guns in the Patriot's War0

Date post:	28-Oct-2019
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	0 times
Download:	0 times

>U 180 — 1900 6 QV Sesqui'centenrfial Celebrationfultonhistory.com/Process small/Historical...

Documents