CHAPTER IX.

ALLEGANY JOHN B. CHURCH, AND PHILIP CHURCH.

JOHN B. CHURCH came from England to the American colonies, a young adventurer, a few years previous to the Revolution. He had been placed by a wealthy uncle in a large mercantile establishment in London, but the business not suiting his inclination, he emigrated, fixing his residence in Boston, where he prosecuted for several years, with great success, the business of an underwriter. When the Revolution broke out, or as soon as an army organization was perfected he was engaged in the commissary department, with Jeremiah Wadsworth, in which he continued throughout the war. Philip Schuyler, being also engaged in the commissary department for the northern division of the army, business relations led to an acquaintance, and before the close of the Revolution, Mr. Church married one of his daughters. The official duties of Messrs. Wadsworth and Church, embracing the care of the subsistence of the French army, an intimate acquaintance with the French military and naval officers of the Revolution, succeeded. Soon after the close of the Revolution in '85, some unliquidated accounts between the commissary department and the army of Rochambeau, made it necessary for Messrs. Wadsworth and Church to visit the French capital, where they remained with their families for eighteen months. Mr. Church removed his family to London, residing there and at a country seat in Berkshire, on the Thames, until '97, when he returned to America, and settled in the city of New York.

The eldest son of John B. Church, is the present Judge Philip Church, of Belvidere, Allegany county, the Pioneer of that region. In his early boyhood he was taken to Paris by his father and afterwards to England, receiving his education at the celebrated Eaton school. Returning to America, he became a student of law, with

his uncle Alexander Hamilton,* and also his private Secretary. Changing his destination in life soon after his majority, and becoming the patroon of new settlements in the wilderness.

Judge Church is now 71 years of age. With a yet vigorous intellect, his memory goes back to the early scenes of his youth, and calls up reminiscences of the American and French Revolutions, of England and English satesmen, which, although they belong to the province of general history, will, the author is confident, not be unacceptable, if preserved in these local annals. - See Appendix No. 18.

While pursuing his studies, the difficulties occurring with France, on the raising of the provincial army, he was commissioned as a Captain though he saw little of service, as the difficulty was soon adjusted. Gen. Hamilton, as the agent of John B. Church, had in his absence, loaned to Robert Morris $80,000 and taken a mortgage on Morris Square, Philadelphia; the lien being afterwards transferred V to 100,000 acres of land, on Morris' Reserve in the now county of Allegany. In 1800 the mortgage was foreclosed, the land was sold at Canandaigua by Benj. Barton, then Sheriff of Ontario, and bid in by Philip Church for his father.

At the period of this sale, there was no white settler on all the territory now embraced in the county of Allegany, with the exception of two localities which will be named. The survey and settiement of the 100,000 acre tract was commenced under the general supervision of Philip Church. Shortly after he had graduated from the law office of Edmund Pendleton, where he had finished his law studies in July 1801 — he made a second advent to the Genesee country. Taking Geneva and Lyons in his route, he employed as

*Gen. Hamilton married a daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler.

When the secretary of his uncle, and having frequent occasions to carry messages and papers to Washington, he was cautioned by General Hamilton to be punctual, if he wished to gain his esteem. When application was made for a commission for him in the army, Washington at first objected that he was too young; but observing that he remembered the promptness and punctuality of the young man, granted the com

mission.

This was Judge Church's first visit to the Genesee Country. After his return, he visited a club with his father; among the members present, were Brockholst Livingsston, Richard Varrick, Messrs. Bayard and Le Roy, Richard Harrison, Governeur Morris. The conversation turned upon the wretched state of the road from New York to Albany. Philip Church remarked that they would have a good turnpike road from Albany to Canandaigua before there was one on the Hudson. He was pronounced beside himself by the club, and retiring, he was chided by his father for offering so rash an opinion.

surveyor and local agent, Evert Van Wickle, who was accompa nied by John Gibson, John Lewis and Stephen Price. Laying in provisions and camp equipage at Geneva and Bath, the party rendezvoused at the settlement, which had been commenced by the Rev. Andrew Gray and Moses Van Campen, in what is now Almond, Allegany county. Mr. Van Campen, who to use a sailor phrase, knew all the "ropes" of the forest, was enlisted in the expedition. Proceeding on, the party came to the house of Dyke, a solitary settler who occupied the advanced post of civilization, near the junction of the eastern line of Allegany with the Pennsylvania line; slept in a log barn, and then pushed on into the dark forests upon the Genesee River. This was the first breaking into the woods in all the region which is now embraced in the western portion of Allegany, Wyoming, southern portions of Erie, Chautauque and Cattaraugus, and all that part of Pennsylvania bordering upon this state, with the exception of Presque Isle, and the solitary family of Francis King, at Cerestown, near the Allegany river, that had a short time before exchanged a residence in the city of London for a solitary one in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, a days journey from their nearest neighbor.

The party made a pretty thorough exploration of the tract, camping and breaking up their camp from day to day, encountering almost constant rains and swollen streams. With Judge Church it was a youthful advent -a first introduction to the woods and a pretty rugged specimen he encountered, as all will acknowledge who have traversed the alternating hills and valleys of Allegany. Arrived at the north-west corner of the tract, the party mostly returned to their homes; Judge Church and Van Campen, making up their minds for a pleasure trip, taking an Indian trail* that bore off in the direction of Niagara Falls. This they pursued for two days, when they found themselves in the Seneca Indian village. They made their appearance in the little white settlement of "New Amsterdam," (Buffalo) in a sorry plight; with torn clothes, beards unshaven, tanned and camp smoked. They visited the Falls, returned

*This trail led from the Indian village of Canaedea on the Allegany river, over the summit that divides the waters of the Genesee from those of Lake Erie, fell into the valley of the Cattaraugus, then passed over into the valley of the west branch of Buffalo creek, and pursued generally, the course of that stream, to the Indian village at its junction with the main stream, four miles from its mouth.

to Buffalo, and took the "white man's trail ""* on their return to Bath. No such tramps had been contemplated, and soon after leaving Buffalo, money and provisions had both been exhausted; all but a surplus of chocolate, which they exchanged along with the new settlers for meals of victuals. Mr. Ellicott had just got his land office built at Batavia. At Ganson's there was a militia training, the first that was ever had west of the Genesee river. Richard W. Stoddard being one of the officers, supplied Mr. Church with money; and proceeding on to Geneseo, they visited Mr. Wadsworth, whom Mr. Church had become acquainted with in New York.

Returning to Lyons, Judge Church arranged with Mr. Van Wickle to go on to the Allegany lands, and commence surveys and improvements, having previously designated the site of Angelica, as a primitive location. A mill calculated for one run of stones, and a saw mill, was soon commenced, and a road opened from four miles west of Hornellsville, (west line of Steuben) to Angelica.† This road was cut through by Silas Ferry and John Ayers. The saw mill was in operation in 1802, the grist mill in 1803. A framed dwelling house for Mr. Van Wickle, a small log land office, and a few shantees to live in, were also erected. Judge Church remembers that the transportation of his mill irons from Albany to Angelica, cost $6,00 per cwt. All the early transporting was done with sleighs and wagons, from Geneva (80 miles;) with light loads, a trip would generally consume seven days. In 1802, Joseph Taylor opened a tavern. In the same year, Judge Church opened a small store, which was managed by John Gibson, one of his companions in the primitive exploration, who now survives, a resident of the neighborhood of Angelica, aged 72 years. John Ayers who helped cut out the first road leading into Angelica, is also alive, a resident near the Transit Bridge, on the river. In 1803 a road was opened from Angelica to Belvidere, and in 1805 was continued on to the present site of Hobbyville, to which point Dr. Hyde had advanced and erected a log tavern house. This was in 1807; the road was for several years but little better than a woods' path.

"When we had made a track through the forest," says Mr. Stephen Lusk, of Pittsford, we called it a "white man's trail, to distinguish it from the Indian trails." It was the name of Mrs. Philip Schuyler-"An-ge-gwah-a-ka," after the daughter of the Indian chief “San-gi-wa."

From the commencement of settlement, until 1805, Allegany was a part of the town of Leicester, Ontario county, and the new settlers had to go to the old village of Leicester on the Genesee river, via Hornellsville, to town meeting. In 1805 what is now Allegany county, was erected into a new town, and called Angelica. In April of that year the first town meeting was held at the house of Joseph Taylor. Benjamin Briggs was elected supervisor, Jacob S. Holt, town clerk. Other town officers: John T. Hyde, David Church, Luke Goodspeed, Sylvester Russel, Elijah Church, Wm. Barney, Evert Van Wickle, Joseph Taylor, Abisha Cole, Wm. S. Heydon, Stephen Waterman, Thomas Cole, John Bennett, Ezra Bacon, George Otto, Jacob S. Holt.

In this year there are the records of roads, as follows: — Through main street of Angelica; from Angelica to Indian line, or Canaedea; from Angelica to south line of Van Campen's farm; from Angelica to Philipsburgh mills; to Philips creek; to Vandermark's creek; to Dike's settlement.

No resolutions were passed in 1805. In 1806 Luke Goodspeed was supervisor. It was resolved that "every man's yard should be his pound;" that the town of Angelica should pay $2,50 for every wolf caught within the limits of the town.

At the first election, April, 1805, John Nicholas had 16 votes for Senator for members of Assembly, Alexander Rhea, had 30 votes, Ezra Patterson 25, Daniel W. Lewis 16, Jeremiah Munson 12. In 1806, Daniel W. Lewis as a candidate for Congress, had 51 votes; for the Senate, Joseph Annin 42, Evens Wherey 38, John McWhorter 33, Freegift Patterson 33; for Assembly, Philip Church 82, Timothy Burt 35, Philetus Swift 33, James Reed 32, Asahel Warner 30, Joseph M'Clure 6. In 1807, as candidates for Governor, Morgan Lewis had 37 votes, Daniel D. Tompkins 28.

Judge Church spent several months in the new settlement, in each of the years 1801, '2, '3, and '4. In 1803, he selected as his residence, a location upon the Genesee River, where he now resides, four miles from Angelica, which was named Belvidere. His large farm is a beautiful sweep of flats, table and up land. The Judge, who in his prime, was somewhat noted for athletic feats, is said to have looked out the favorite spot, by climbing tall pine trees upon the highlands. The winding of the river at that point, and the frequent. breaks in the ranges of highlands as they rise from the valley, sur