HISTORY: The Settlement of Almond, Allegany County, New York ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ The Settlement of Almond, NY (submitted by Kelly Taft Krause) From Souvenir Program: 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Almond; 1796-1981 presented by: The Almond Historical Society, August 14, 1971 Let us go back in fancy one hundred seventy-five years to a spring morning in 1796 along the Susquehanna River as it flowed through Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Folklore suggests that on such a morning when a glow in the sky heralded the rising sun, the loading of an unknown number of boats had been completed and the time for their departure had arrived. A small band of frontiersmen with their wives and children then boarded these small heavily laden boats and with a wave of farewell to friends and relatives on shore, headed upstream and began a journey of three weeks and nearly two hundred miles into an unsettled wilderness. To the west, at the headwater of this rivers tributaries lay a vast area known as the Genesee Country where on Williamson, agent for the Pulteney Associates, was selling land at a reasonable figure. From scouting reports of some of their members they were advised they would find a region of hill and dale, many streams and virgin forests where they could acquire land, build homes, raise crops and families and pursue their destinies in the manner of their forefathers. The boats, propelled by poling in swift water and by rowing in quiet stretches, proceeded upstream at a pace equal to that of the livestock being driven along the trail that skirted the river's edge. For the men who took turns in propelling the boats and in driving the livestock along the shore, it was a difficult and continuous struggle against the strong, relentless current, becoming ever more toilsome each passing day as the streams grew smaller and the current swifter. At sundown the boats were secured to the shore and preparations for the night were made. Firewood was gathered and the evening meal prepared. The boats provided sleeping quarters and shelter on rainy days as each had a canvass tarpaulin. The livestock did not wander away, but after browsing for a while, would lie down contentedly nearby and needed to be guarded only from marauding animals. It was a small party composed of five or six families, some of these closely related. None of them possessed great wealth but what they lacked in this respect, they made up in experience, resourcefulness and courage. Most of them were well educated for the times. The leader of the group was the Rev. Andrew Gray, a large, powerful man and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. This party and those soon to follow had consented to this journey into the wilderness only on the condition that Rev. Gray would lead them both spiritually and physically. Among the others was a young schoolmaster who was to prove a valuable asset to the forthcoming community. There was also Major Moses Van Campen, a surveyor by profession but who had acquired fame as a fearless borderman and Indian fighter whose thrilling experiences were legend. When they turned into the Canisteo River at Painted Post their progress became much slower. The current was swifter, riffles more frequent. The trees and driftwood obstructing the channel had to be removed before they could proceed. Where the current was very strong, it was necessary to snub ropes around trees along the shore and inch the boats slowly forward. Eventually, they emerged from between steep hills towering above the river to the seven-year old settlement of Canisteo. A short distance west of Canisteo the river made a wide horseshoe bend. As navigation beyond this point was impractical, a temporary camp was made, the boats unloaded and conveyances assembled to carry their belongings the remaining distance to their destination. At Hornell, they turned up the valley of the Canacadea, meaning in the Seneca language, "Where the Earth Meets the Sky," a region few white men had penetrated. Only an Indian trail wound along the banks of the Canacadea. A short distance north of the present site of Almond village, the travelers were turned aside by the presence of a large swamp and obliged to ascend a narrow ravine, later known as Lincoln's Notch, which took them up from the valley floor to the glacial sandhills above and down into the valleys wherein they were to make their homes. Thus, the first settlers arrived in Almond. Later, as roads were opened, settlers came by ox team and wagon, by horseback and some on foot. They found the land covered by primeval forest with towering pines and hemlocks and hardwoods such as maple, basswood, oak, beech and hickory as to make the location in Almond's valley's attractive. It was a virgin wilderness populated by a large variety of animals and birds. They found passenger pigeons in such great numbers that their passage overhead darkened the sun for unbelievably long periods. It was and had been for ages, a hunter's paradise broken only by the gurgle of many brooks and the sigh of the wind in the trees. The earliest and most authentic account of the early settlers of Almond is contained in the first volume records of the Presbyterian Church of Almond wherein the Rev. Robert Hubbard, the first pastor of the church from 1812 to 1827 made the initial entry in the record book as follows: "The first settlement in this township was commenced in the years 1786 and 1797. The first settlers and original proprietors of the township were Rev. Andrew Gray, Moses Van Campen, Henry and Matthew McHenry, Joseph A. Rathbun and perhaps one or two others. In addition to these and not far from the same time William Gray Walter, Joseph and Samuel Kerr, Silas Ferry, Stephen Major, Benjamin Van Campen, Joseph Coleman, George Lockhart and a few others established themselves here." All of these first settlers located in either Karr of McHenry Valleys, the majority of whom chose the gentle, southward facing slope of Karr Valley. Historian Stephen Coleman stated that by 1798 the new settlement numbered 48 persons. By the year 1800 that number must have increased considerably. The settlement of Whitney Valley was commenced in 1802 when John Putnam arrived with his family that included two sons, Peter and Jacob. Peter's marriage to Polly Waters, solemnized by Rev. Gray, was said to have been the first marriage in this community. Putnam was followed by 1803 by David, Micah and Roswell Haskins and in 1806 by Enos Seward and family and Tarbell Whitney the same year with his wife and sons Ami, William and Rufus. Rufus is reputed to have built the brick house still standing across from Alfred Almond Central School now owned and occupied by Glen Leathersich and family. Silas Stillman, a native or Rhode Island, first settled in Alfred where he resided for two years before he bought land and settled on the southernmost farm in the valley. Silas was a blacksmith by trade. He was also elected the first supervisor of the town when it was organized in 1821. Joel White was another settler in the valley. The year 1804 appears to have been the year of settlement of North Valley. This is when Solomon Doud came and is reputed to have been the first to settle there. He was followed the same year by Miles and Jeremiah Oakley, Walter Hinman and Elihu Root. John McIntosh came at some time prior to 1806. Other early settlers were John Bunnell, John Brown, Lemuel Granger, Bartlett Dake, Lewis Moffett and Truman Burdick. All of these located in the valley or the North Hill but the dates are not known. Benejah Hayes, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, located in North Valley between 1805 and 1807. He acquired the mill at the north end of Almond Village upon the death of his father-in-law, Joseph Corey. John and Jeremiah VanVachten followed a little later as did William Howe, William Root, Laurence Clark, Benjamin Head, Zenas Ward, Samuel Nealy, Joseph Baldwin, Charles Cook, William Upson, and undoubtedly others. The Turnpike was settled later than other parts of the town. The primary inducement was the Bath and Lake Erie Turnpike that was constructed through this are in 1810 or 1811. Among the first to take up residence along this road was Elijah Osgood who located near the west line of the town and opened up a tavern to accommodate the many travelers who were making their way westward at the time. Among the others who settled along this thoroughfare were Luke Greene, Christopher Saunders, Allen Barber, Zebulon Wright, Joshua and David Vincent, Ephraim and William Burdick, Christopher Tefft and others. Almond Village, first settled in 1803, was destined to become the commercial center of the town although it had the disadvantage of being located in the extreme eastern portion of the town astride the boundary with Steuben County. This disadvantage, however, was offset by two important factors so necessary in those early days. The first was the Canacadea Creek with its substantial flow of water to furnish power for the mills and the Bath and Lake Erie Turnpike Road that provided transportation and communication with outside communities. Almond Village today lies in two counties, principally in Allegany but with its northern portion in Steuben County. At the time of its first settlement the village was entirely within Steuben County. Its present location came about in this manner: On March 8, 1796 Steuben County was formed from a part of Ontario County and the town of Canisteo, of which Almond became a part, was formed. The new settlement was described as Number 4 Settlement but officially it was known as Township Number 4 in the 7th Range of Townships. The earliest settlers in Almond took part in the town meetings at Canisteo. Allegany County was created between Genesee County on April 7, 1806 but the shire town of Angelica was too far to the east to make it a desirable central location. This was corrected by another act of the Legislature on March 11, 1808 that removed three ranges of towns on the west and added a range of towns on the east that placed Angelica almost in the center of Allegany County. Almond remained as such until March 16, 1821, when Alfred was divided into four townships, namely, Almond, Alfred, Andover and Independence. Phineas Stevens arrived in 1803 to become the first settler in what is now Almond Village. His log house is said to have stood across the street from the United States Hotel that occupied the vacant space directly south of Gillette's Garage. Stevens was the first to utilize the waters of the Canacadea when he built the first sawmill in the village in 1806 which, according to old accounts, was "located on the west bank of Canacadea Creek at the right side of the bridge to the depot." Partial remains of the dam that served this mill are still in evidence on the property of Edward Geitner on North Main Street. Phineas also opened a tavern to accommodate the traveling public at the advantageous location he occupied. Taking advantage of the transportation facilities the Bath and Lake Erie Turnpike provided, Stephen Webb built the first gristmill in the town along the Canacadea and adjacent to the road a short distance north of the Stevens sawmill. Part of the dam associated with this enterprise is still in evidence also. This mill remained in operation for 50 years. David Crandall was the pioneer merchant in the town from 1812 to 1816. His store was located in the northern part of the village across the road from the hardware building recently dismantled. The first merchandise for the store was purchased from a firm in Utica and was hauled to Almond by five horse teams, so old accounts tell us. Crandall is thought to have built the United States Hotel in 1815 that served as a landmark for seventy years and was well known to the traveling public. Early town meetings were held in this old hotel. A blacksmith by trade, Asa Clarke settled in the village prior to 1806. Later, about 1818, he built a gristmill in the southern part of the village that was to continue in business the longest of any other enterprise in town under several proprietorships. It was last operated by Jacob Braack, an experienced miller. Part of the foundation wall to this old mill is still standing at the site. Clarke also built a distillery nearby and part of the grain brought to the mill was used in the manufacture of whiskey. Almond continued to grow and by mid-century was a principal trading center and a thriving, prosperous community serving the needs of the agricultural area surrounding it. About this time Almond could boast a population of nearly equal to that of neighboring Hornellsville and the largest population of any town in Allegany County, Angelic excepted. Along the length of Main Street, there were about a dozen stores in the two business districts that then existed which were dubbed the "Upper Battery" and the "Lower Battery" because of the intense rivalry that was evident. There were several shops, three or four hotels and taverns, three churches, a school and at least three factories, one that manufactured boots and shoes, another mowing machines and another that produced men's clothing. There was also a tannery or two. Other industries were located south of the village in Whitney Valley. These included a sash and blind factory, a woolen mill, a carriage and wagon manufactory and a sawmill. The coming of the railroad in the 1850's proved to be a mixed blessing for Almond. Almond had hoped to become the division headquarters for the railroad but Hornellsville was chosen. While the railroad provided transportation for goods and produce, it also afforded Almond's industries a strong reason for moving to a fast growing community that held greater promise.