Chemung County NY
History of Tompkins, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga 1879
Chapter 51
Chapter LI  - Town of Catlin, Chemung County, New York
Town of Catlin
Home Page
Town of Catlin Page
1879 Four County History - Table of Contents
Typed for Tri-Counties by Sheri Graves
Formatted by  Joyce M. Tice
Catlin Biographical Sketches
J. J. Cooper & Elizabeth Frank John Kimble
Henry Backer & Julia Gould C. L. Ten Brook
CHAPTER LI.

CATLIN.

This town is formed from territory embraced in the Watkins and Flint purchase. Prior to this purchase, Preserved Cooley received, March 23, 1791, a certificate of location of twenty-two and a half acres in the northeast part of the town and John Nicholson one of seven hundred acres, lying on the road leading from Newtown to the head of Seneca Lake (this tract now being in the towns of Veteran and Catlin). It lies in the northwest corner of the county, and borders on Steuben and Schuyler Counties. The surface is hilly uplands, the highest being from two hundred to four hundred feet above the valleys. The soil is well adapted for grazing. The principal streams are Post Creek, Sing Sing Creek, and Hubbard’s Run. It contains an area of 23,044 acres, of which 15,609 are improved, and has a population of 1423, according to the census of 1875.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The eighteenth century had passed away, the troubles with the Indians had ceased, the relations between this and the mother-country had become friendly, the cabins of the pioneers dotted the hill-sides and valleys in many portions of this State as they followed up the rivers and settled upon them, difficulties had again arisen with England which culminated in the war of 1812, and were again satisfactorily arranged, before the woodman’s axe had disturbed the unbroken forest, or the rude log cabin of the pioneers had been erected within the limits of this town.

John Martin was a captain in the war of 1812, and served through that struggle, and lived afterwards in what is now Ithaca, until about 1816, when, with his family, consisting of his wife and child, he came into this town and settled on what is known as Martin’s Hill, in the southwest corner of the town, where William Masters now lives. He was an energetic man and rapidly cleared a tract of land, erected a log house, and commenced improvements incident to a new country, but in 1828 he sold his property to Charles King and removed to Michigan.

Aaron Davenport came in from New Jersey about 1818, and settled on land adjoining Martin, where George Westlake lives. He remained until 1830, when he removed to the West. Benjamin Cure came in soon after Davenport, and settled north of Martin, where William Edminster owns, and in 1833 sold to Abel Bulkley and removed to Potter Co., Pa. Erastus Beard, with several sons, Horace Tupper, Edward Beebe, and Darius Wood, settled near here in 1820. Horace Tupper settled where William J. Carter now owns, Edward Beebe where Jacob Gould lives. About this same time, Andrew Phineas came in from Canada, and William Rowley, and settled down in the valley of Post Creek; Phineas where Robert T. Bucher lives, and Rowley where George Ide resides. Abel N. Sweet and Dennison Herrick, in 1821, came in from Connecticut. Sweet settled where his son Dennis was born and still lives.

James J. Smith settled in 1823, upon the farm where his sons Phillip and Sanford reside. Peter, an older brother, now the oldest settler living in the town, resides at Post Creek. In 1824, Jacob Bucher came in with his family, consisting of his wife and several children (three of his sons are still living at Post Creek), and settled on Post Creek where Samuel Bucher, his son, owns.

William Haines settled about the same time, farther up on Post Creek and afterwards sold to Thomas Kniffin, and where the heirs of Ira Cole now reside. Benjamin Lewis, Uzal Dickerson, John P. Cornell settled about 1823. Peter Ostrander came from Ithaca and settled on what is known as Reaser’s Hill in 1825, and returned there, but finally settled at Post Creek about 1830. James Wheeler in 1825 settled where Peter Ostrander now lives.

Orange Hubbell built the first house, north of James I. Smith, where John Kimball lives, near Catlin Centre, on the middle road. About 1828, Ebenezer Close, ---- Locey, Elder Thomas Sheardown, Alanson Owen, Jeduthan King, ---- Gregg (who soon sold to John Woolsey), David Clemens, and others came in from the north and settled on the middle road. In 1828, David Johnson came in from Crawford’s Settlement and settled in Johnson Hollow, and built a frame home.

In 1831, Jonathan Woodruff settled, selling the next year to Mathhias Backer, where his son Henry Backer now lives.

INITIAL EVENTS.

The first log house was erected by John Master, in 1816. In 1820 the first log school house was built, on Martin’s Hill, near where Jacob Gould lives, and the first teacher was Eunice Bartram. Horace Topper, about 1826, built a furnace in the woods on his farm, James I. Smith building a charcoal pit to supply it with fuel. The first road was laid out in 1823, and was between the settlement at Post Creek and Martin’s Hill, and is yet open, but little used. An ashery was built by a Mr. Tallmadge in 1826, on the farm now owned by Michael Smith.

The first town-meeting was held at the house of Uzal Dickerson, May 13, 1823, and Horace Tupper was the first supervisor, and George Lewis was the first town clerk.

The first marriage was Benjamin Cure, Jr., to Miss Doty, in 1826.

The first cemetery was on Horace Tupper’s farm, and he was the first one buried there, in 1827.

Jacob Backer built the first tavern, in 1825, and kept it for many years. The first saw-mill was erected on Post Creek in 1827, by James Wheeler, near and above where the grist-mill of William G. Northrup now stands. John Ostrander built the first grist-mill, and it is still standing, and owned by William G. Northrup. The frame for a grist-mill had been put up earlier by Stephen B. Munn, but never completed.

John Ostrander built the first blacksmith-shop, in 1837, for Jacob Harman, who was the first blacksmith at Post Creek.

There are no churches in the town. Several of the members of the Baptist Church of Big Flats, living at this place, petitioned that church to be set off as a branch, which was granted about 1835 or 1836, having about 30 members, being supplied with ministers from other places, and holding services in school-houses. The Methodists have four classes, containing about 100 members, at Tompkins Corners, Catlin Centre, Post Creek and East Creek.

CEMETERIES.
The first cemetery was on Martin’s Hill, and the largest one is at Post Creek, the land for which was given by Stephen B. Munn for cemetery and school purposes. There are one or two others in the town, near the more thickly-settled portions of the town.

POST CREEK
is the largest settlement, and lies a little north of the centre of the west line of the town and the county, and is in the valley of Post Creek, and contains two hotels, post-office, school-house, grist-mill, blacksmith-shop, grocery, and depot, and is a station on the Corning and Geneva Railroad.

TOMPKINS CORNERS, OR CATLIN,
is a small hamlet on the south line of the town, about three miles from the east line; contains a post-office, school-house, grocery, blacksmith-shop, and cradle-factory.

The mills in town are as follows: A steam saw-mill at Catlin Centre, a saw-mill on Sing Sing Creek, and a grist-mill on Post Creek.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The Corning and Geneva Railroad was commenced in 1876, and completed in 1877, and runs through a portion of this town, and near the west line, and has a station on Post Creek.

CIVIL HISTORY.

This town was formed from Catherine, April 16, 1823. The first town-meeting was held at the house of Uzal Dickerson, may 13, 1823, and elected Horace Tupper supervisor, and George Lewis town clerk.

The following is a list of the supervisors, town clerks, and justices of the peace, from the organization of the town:

SUPERVISORS.

1823-26 Horace Tupper 1843-45 Abraham Primmer 1862 Milo P. King
1827-31 Claudius Townsend 1846 John R. Brown 1863 Willis S. Quigley
1832 Peter Mills 1847-48 Henry Backer 1864 Milo P. King
1833 Claudius Townsend 1849-54 John N. Beers 1865-66 Joseph Rickey
1834 Lucius Tracy 1855 Ira Cole 1867 Amos F. Curry
1835 Alanson G. Everts 1856 Milo P. King 1868 Wm. J. Carter
1836 Timothy Wheat 1857 Henry Backer 1869 William G. Northrop
1837-39 Ira Cole 1858-60 Edwin Harvey 1870-72 Nathaniel Owen
1840-42 Thomas S. Nicholas 1861 Luther Hornbeck 1873-78 Dennis H. Sweet

TOWN CLERKS.

1823 Geo. Lewis 1849-50 Nelson Colegrove 1865 Joseph J. Cooper
1824-35 John P. Cornell 1851 Robert H. Thayer 1866 Nelson Colegrove
1836 John Woolsey 1852 John Cooper 1867 Nathaniel Owen
1837 Daniel Lane 1853-55 Milo P. King 1868 Calvin J. Barbour
1838-41 Abraham Primmer 1856-57 Lewis Hornbeck 1869 Nathaniel Owen
1842-43 Henry Backer 1858 Amos F. Curry 1870 C. L. Ten Brock
1844-45 John Small 1859 Luther Palmer 1871-75 Jas. H. Bennett
1846 Caleb S. Upson 1860-61 Samuel Sherman 1876-78 J. J. Cooper
1847-48 Sidney L. Ringer 1862-64 Horace Burns    

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Lucius Tracy John Woolsey Daniel Lane James Ross
Alanson G. Everts James M. Woodworth Ira Cole Martin Bailey
Jacob King Watson Cole John Woolsey Levi B. Edminster
Lucius Tracy Joseph Cortwright Johnson Carter Wm. Dillmore
John P. Cornell Philip M. Wight Asa D. Smith Ebenezer Nye
Benona Peck Walker V. Personius Ira Cole John Chandler
John D. Myers Richard House Abram Hyatt Charles R. King
Daniel Tracy Joseph H. Price Samuel M. Hastings Joseph H. Price
Ira Cole John H. Bedford Abel N. Sweet Philip M. Wight
Abraham Hyatt Asa D. Smith Henry Stewart Geo. Westlake
Ezra Southworth Philip M. Wight Henry Hall Andrew Saylor
John D. Myer Amos F. Curry John N. Beers Cornelius L. Ten Brock
Seth Rice John F. Mosher N. Colegrove Wm. J. Carter
Samuel M. Hastings William Edminster Daniel Lane Martin Bailey
Ira Cole Sidney A. Palmer Alanson Owen J. L. Kniffin
J. King Wm. H. Shaw Cornelius L. Ten Brock C. L. Ten Brock
A. N. Sweet Philip M. Wight Nelson Colegrove  
Samuel M. Hastings Abraham Primmer Henry H. Peck  

SCHOOLS.

According to the report of the superintendent of schools of Chemung County for 1876, the town contains 13 districts and has 488 children of school age; 287 weeks of school; 4 male and 16 female teachers and 407 pupils; a library of 285 volumes, valued at $81; 10 frame school houses, valued, with sites, at $4265.
 

Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1876
$47.52
State appropriations
1100.21
Received from taxes
695.00
Other receipts
144.00
   
Total
$1986.73
Paid teachers’ wages
$1656.28
Other expenses
208.72
   
Balance on hand
$121.73
State appropriation, 1878
1164.39

For information received in this town we are indebted to Nathaniel Owen, Peter Smith, Dennis Sweet, J. J. cooper, Henry Backer, Jacob and Samuel Bucker, Joseph H. Price, and others.

MILITARY RECORD.

O. P. Mosier, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August 1864, one year.
Wm. J. Bailey, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August 1864, one year.
Archibald Demun, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Martin Wade, private, 14th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. July, 1863, three years; taken prisoner at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; died at Andersonville.
Isaac Varian, private, 23rd N.Y. H. Art.; enl. May, 1861, two years; re-enl. March, 1864, 87th N.Y. Regt., three years.
Geo. N. Smith, private, 137th N.Y. Regt.; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years; wounded at Anbatchle Valley, Tenn, Oct, 23 1863
Gilbert H. Rulapaugh, private, 136th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1862, three years; wounded at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; re-enl. 16th Vet. Res., Aug. 1864.
Frederick A. Matthews, private, 89th N.Y. Inf.; enl. March, 1864, three years.
John Riley, private, 8th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. January, 1864, three years; trans. to 14th N.Y. H. Art., December, 1864.
Alfred Stout, private, 20th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Benj. J. Alexander, private, 86th N.Y. Inf.; enl. October, 1861, three years; re-enl. December 1863.
Eden Hunt, private, 89th N.Y. Inf.; enl. January, 1864, three years.
John Dickens, private, 8th N.Y. Cav.; enl. February, 1865, one year.
Martin Bailey, private, 15th N.Y. Eng.; enl. October, 1864, one year.
Isaiah Slater, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March, 1865, one year.
Richard Personius, artificer, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Elnathan Personius, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1861, three years; re-enl. January, 1864, three years.
Eli Personius, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. February, 1864, three years.
Chauncey C. Johnson, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1862, three years.
Harrison Johnson, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Elmer E. Johnson, corporal, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1861, three years; re-enl. Jan. 18, 1864, three years.
Joshua Kendall, artificer, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Levi H. Weed, artificer, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Lorin O. Cooly, private, 129th Ill. Inf.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Jno. Cummings, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1862, three years.
Chas. B. King, musician, 48th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1861, three years; re-enl. navy September, 1864, one year.
Albert King, private, 141st N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Elijah Scott, private, 188th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Israel Kimball, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March, 1865, three years.
C. Vandermark, private, 147th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1863, three years.
Herman C. Curry, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. December, 1863, three years.
Horace B. Kimball, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March, 1865, three years.
Joseph H. Price, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Feb. 13, 1862, three years; re-enl. Feb. 26, 1864, slightly wounded at Piedmont, June 5, 1864.
Jacob Weaver, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 23, 1864, one year.
Jno. H. Webber, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1864, one year.
James Webber, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1864, one year.
Wm. Rowley, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. June 1, 1862, three years.
Benj. Middaugh, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863, three years.
John Middaugh, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863, three years.
Brant Kimball, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. October, 1864, one year.
Wm. Hovey, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. December, 1863, three years.
Wm. Morgan, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. September, 1864, two year.
Joseph Smalley, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862, three years; wounded at Dallas, May 25, 1864.
Wm. H. Ostrander, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July 11, 1862, three years.
John Price, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. December, 1863, three years.
Amos Kimball, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863, three years.
J. Elbert Hubbell, private, 153rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862, three years; wounded at Cedar Creek, Oct. 18, 1864.
Lewis J. Kimball, private, 15th N.Y. Eng.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
John H. Bedford, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Minor B. Colegrove, private, 147th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1863, three years.
Chauncey Robinson, private, 147th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1863, three years.
Frank Savory, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Harley Hazen, musician, 110th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1862, three years.
Mark S. Hazen, private, 188th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Samuel R. Hazen, private, 140th N.Y. Inf.; enl. September, 1862, three years.
John Small, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. December, 1863, three years.
Oscar Savery, private 3rd Ill. Art.; enl. September, 1862, three years.
John Perrigo, private, 15th N.Y. Eng.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Elias Green, Jr., private, 12th N.Y. Eng.; enl. August, 1864, one year.
Wm. C. Saylor, private, 50th N.Y Eng., enl. August, 1864, one year.. 
Phineas R. Stevens, private, 15th N.Y. Eng.; enl. September, 1864, one year.
Geo. A. Ringer, private, 23rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. May, 1861, two years; re-enl. 61st N.Y. Inf., September, 1864; was prisoner at Richmond two months.
Henry Crawford, corporal, 141st N.Y. Inf.; enl. August, 1862, three years.
Charles Cole, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. August, 1862, three years; wounded and taken prisoner in North Carolina, March 8, 1864.
Amos Johnson, private, 147th N.Y. Inf.; enl. Oct. 2, 1863.
John Webber, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. June 1, 1862, re-enl. 1863.
Sylvester Bailly, private, 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1862.
Lewis Weaver, private, 141st N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug., 1862; wounded July 22, 1864, near Atlanta, Ga.
Chas. B. Hubbell, private, 153rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug. 1862.
Henry C. Saylor, private, 3rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. Oct. 1861, three years.
Isaac Bedford, private, 3rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1861, three years.
John Johnson, private, 50th N.Y. Eng., enl. Aug. 1862.
Wallace W. Fulkerson, private, 3rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. Oct. 22, 1861, three years.
John Quigley, private, 38th N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1861, three years.
John Savery, private, 14th U. S. Regs.; enl. July, 1861, three years; wounded at second Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862.
H. S. Woolsey, private, 23rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1861, three years.
Oliver Cady, private, 194th Inf.; enl. March, 1865, one year.
Stepehn Ward, private, 194th N.Y. Inf.; enl. April 6, 1865, one year.
Oliver Larkum, private, 80th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Oct. 1861, three years.
Timothy Dean, private, 23rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1861, three years.
James Pearce, private, 194th N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1865, one year.
John Kendall, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Aug. 1862, three years; wounded at Piedmont, June 8, 1864, taken prisoner, June 9, at Staunton, paroled Sept. 11, 1864.
Jacob Perry, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Sept 1861, three years.
Jason Smart, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Sept. 1, 1861, three years.
John Dingman, private, 134th N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug. 1862, three years; wounded at Antietam.
Wm. H. Shaw, engineer, 71st N.Y. S. M.; enl. April 20, 1861, three years.
Phinney F. Gridley, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 15, 1864, one year.
Henry F. Wicks, private, 8th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 21, 1863, three years; wounded at Cold Harbor, June, 1865.
Timothy Connelly, private, 8th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 21, 1863, three years.
Wm. Hovey, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863, three years.
Wm. Brooks, private, 16th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 21, 1863, three years.
Sam’l Johnson, private, enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Marshall Smith, private, 5th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 28, 1863; killed at Snicker’s Gap, Va.
Frederick Sullivan, private, 16th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 23. 1863.
De Witt C. Wilber, private, 16th N.Y. H. Art.; enl. Dec. 29, 1863.
Daniel D. Tompkins, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 22, 1861; re-enl. Jan. 2, 1864.
John H. W. Bailey, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 24, 1864, one year.
Geo. Hoag, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March 16, 1865, one year.
Oscar Weaver, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March 18, 1865.
Daniel Hoag, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. March 29, 1865.
Wm. O. Cady, private, 50th N.Y. Eng; enl. March 30, 1865.
Daniel Ladue, private, 1st Army Corps, enl. April 3, 1865.
Walker V. Personius, capt., 50th N.Y. Eng.; three years.
Eleazer Perry, private, 38th N.Y. Inf.; enl. April, 1861, two years; died at Rock Point Hospital, March 4, 1865.
Levi Hoag, private, 106th N.Y. Inf.; enl. 1861.
Wm. Whitford
Archibald Demun
George A. Ringer
Henry Crawford
Phineas R. Stephens
Madison Owens
Emery Johnson
Franklin Cogswell
John H. Perry
Lemuel Colegrove
John R. Frank, private, 23rd Inf.; enl. Sept., 1861.
Isaac Weller
John A. Knoop, enl. 1864.
Charles R. King, private; enl. Sept. 1864, navy vessel "Seneca."

DIED IN SERVICE.

Edward Matson, private, 161st N.Y. Inf.; enl. Aug. 1, 1862, died at Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 6, 1863.
James M. Gould, private, 86th N.Y. Inf.; enl. Nov. 5, 1861, re-enl. Feb. 1864; killed at Spottsylvania, may 10, 1864.
Dyer F. Gibbs, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 1863, died at Washington Brigade Hospital, Oct. 25, 1864.
Richard M. Kimball, private, 15th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Sept. 3, 1864; died at City Point, Va., April 11, 1865.
Mahlon Davenport, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Dec. 1863; died at Washington Hospital, Feb. 21, 1864.
Watson Cogswell, private, 8th N.Y. Cav.; enl. Feb. 1865, died at Harper’s Ferry, April 22, 1865.
William Loomis, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 1862; died at Washington, Sept. 4, 1864.
Andrew Cady, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 1861; died at Washington, Jan. 1862.
Datus E. Buck, private, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 1862; died at Washington, Nov. 28, 1862.
Isaac L. Miller, private, 24th N.Y. Cav.; enl. Dec. 1863; wounded, and died at Washington, July 4, 1864.
Wm. J. Personius, sergt. 107th N.Y. Inf.; enl. July, 1862; died at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 5, 1864.
De Witt Johnson, artificer, 50th N.Y. Eng.; enl. Aug. 1862; died at Washington, April 11, 1864.
Henry Brown, private, 23rd N.Y. Inf.; enl. May, 1861; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Enlisted from town, 132; substitutes and bought, 59; total, 190.

Joyce Tip Box -- December 2007 -
If you are not navigating this Tri-Counties Site via the left and right sidebars of the Current What's New page you are doing yourself a disservice. You can get to any place on the site easily by making yourself familiar with these subject and place topics. Try them all to be as familiar with the site's 16,000 plus pages as you can. Stop groping in the dark and take the lighted path. That's also the only way you'll find the search engines for the site or have access to the necessary messages I may leave for you. Make it easy on yourself.