Fall 2007

Stories of Mt. Washington

The Mt. Washington Community

by

Martha and Bill Treichler

Table of Contents

Chapter 2

The settlers on Mt. Washington took part in the events of the larger community. In 1830, a convention was held to discuss the complaints of the settlers against the Pulteney Land Office. Clayton tells the story in his 1879 History of Steuben County, New York. “Thousands bought their land on contract, agreeing to pay for them in installments, together with a certain rate of interest thereon, which accumulated from year to year, amounting in a few years to more than the lands were worth. Many of them were poor, and had all they could do to gain a subsistence for themselves and families on the new lands, which exhausted all their energies and resources to clear and improve, to say nothing of paying their installments and meeting the annual interest when it became due. If these sums were not paid, they became compounded or added to the principal, on which interest was again charged, involving them more hopelessly than ever in pecuniary embarrassment… This matter became so serious that in 1830 the settlers in Allegany and Steuben Counties began to arouse themselves to the perils of their situation, and held public meetings for the purpose of considering what remedy could be adopted.”

A convention of settlers was held at the courthouse (actually, the meeting was moved to the Presbyterian Church, because the courthouse was not big enough) in Bath on January 19, 1830, to discuss the problem. Each town sent five representatives, and we note that of the five from Urbana, two were landowners on Mt. Washington. These were John Sanford, Jr. and Elias Ketchum. After a couple days of meetings, the settlers asked, in writing, for help from land agent Robert Troup. Troup authorized his sub-agent William McCay to reappraise the cleared land and buildings, and to accept payment in wheat. The settlers rejected this, and met again in Hammondsport on May 6, 1830, when they recommended that settlers withhold all payments. Mr. Troup, in turn, rejected the plan of the settlers, saying in part, “It appeared to me, as a discreet and faithful land-agent, I would not be justified in according to the plan of relief proposed by the settlers. I thought it was founded on arbitrary principles, which, when carried into practice, would prove unjust to the persons I represent, and unequal towards the settlers themselves.” After all the meetings and letters and resolutions were done, the settlers continued to pay their debts, and the land-office to moderate as much as possible their demands. The complete story of this rebellion can be read in Clayton, pp. 81 through 86.

The Presbyterian Church in 1861, located on the southwest side of Pulteney Square in Bath, as it likely looked in 1830 when it hosted the convention of landowners. It was built in 1825 and had some renovations done in 1852. The two buildings to the right of the church are the land office and the land agent’s residence. Historians are not certain which is which. Photo from the files of the Steuben County Historical Society.

Although the folks on Mt. Washington took part in the larger community, they thought of themselves as a closer-knit group.

From Joyce Woodhouse Garey comes the story of the Mt. Washington Aid Society and a copy of their Rules. Article XVII of their Rules states: “Extend our limits to seven miles from schoolhouse in District #6. Persons living in villages shall not be admitted into this company.”

The purpose of the group was to catch horse thieves and to recover stolen horses, but it came to be more than just a vigilante group, and became a community benevolent society, taking care of its own. Article IX states that “Money belonging to this society may be loaned to good responsible individuals for seven percent by the Trustees, with the express agreement that the same shall be due at any time demand is made by said trustees.” And Article XVIII states, “Any member dying, his widow shall have the protection of the Society while she remains a widow.”

It could be firm with members, too. Article XIV states, “Any member of said company neglecting or refusing to obey the directions of said officers shall forfeit all claims he or she may have had, or in any wise could have in and to said Society.” And Article XIX, “Voted that any member may be excluded from the society at any annual meeting, by a vote of two thirds of the members present.”

I have not yet been able to date exactly when the Mount Washington Aid Society was first started, but we know it was before 1867, because additional articles were added in 1867, in 1870, and in 1871. If we look at the names of members, we can see David Hutches, born in 1834, son of Nathan Hutches. We find the name of Henry Scofield who was born in 1807 and died in 1888, and who came to Mt. Washington as a child in 1816 with his father Rufus Scofield. In the 1855 census, Henry had a farm worth $3,400. We also see the name of his son, Milton, born in 1844. I think a guess of 1860 is justifiable as a starting date for the Society.

Bylaws of the Mount Washington Aid Society

ARTICLE I. This Society shall be called the Mount Washington Aid Society, for the recovery of stolen Horses, and catching horse thieves,

II. Its officers shall consist of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to call extra meetings when they deem them necessary, and transact such other business as comes within the sphere of their office,

III. There shall also be three Trustees, that shall act as Auditors of claims to persons employed in the business of said Company, and appraise or appoint appraisers of Horse or Horses that are stolen from said Company and not found, and transact such other business as may come within their sphere of office.—[Adopted Dec. 6th. 1870.]

IV. The annual meeting of said Society for the election of officers, shall be yearly, the first Saturday after the first Monday of November, at 6 o’clock P. M.—[Adopted Nov. 1871.]

V. Any member may vote for the election of officers, and no others.

VI. No individual shall be eligible to office in this Company that is not a member of the same.

VII. No money paid into the Treasury shall be taken therefrom unless ordered in writing by the above named committee, or two of them.

VIII. No person shall become a member of this Society unless voted in by said Society or presenting to the clerk the names of five members of the Society in their handwriting and paying into the Treasury one dollar.

IX. Money belonging to this Society may be loaned to good responsible individuals for seven per cent by the trustees, with the express agreement that the same shall be due at any time demand is made by said trustees.

X. Any of the rules and regulations of this Society may be altered, amended or stricken out at any annual meeting of this Society by a two-third vote and not otherwise.

XI. It shall be the duty of the Trustees at any time in their judgment money is required in the business of said company to furnish the same in case it does not exceed the amount already in the hands of the Treasurer or the amount on loan by said Society.

XII. It shall be the duty of the officers of this Company to make at any meeting of the same, a written statement of the condition of said Society.

XIII. It shall also be the duty of the above Trustees in case the amount of money on hand and belonging to said Company is insufficient to meet the necessities of the same, to levy on the Company an amount sufficient to meet the said demand.

XIV. Any member of said company neglecting or refusing to obey the directions of said officers shall forfeit all claims he or she may have had, or in any wise could have in and to said Society.

XV. In case any member of said Society having a horse or horses stolen and which can not be found shall receive the true value of said horse or horses.

XVI. Any member sustaining loss shall lose all assessments that any member or members shall refuse to pay and the said member or members that refuse to pay shall cease to be a member of said Society.

XVII. Extend our limits to seven miles from school house in district No. 6. Persons living in villages shall not be admitted into this company.

XVIII. Any member dying, his widow shall have the protection of the Society while she remains a widow.

XIX. Voted that any member may be excluded from the Society at any annual meeting, by a vote of two thirds the members present.

XX. In case a member has a horse or horses stolen, he shall notify the trustees whose duty it shall be to appoint or order out such men as they think advisable, to hunt for said horse or horses and thief.— [Adopted Dec, 3d, 1867.]

XXI. The Trustees shall he elected for one, two and three years, and shall hereafter be one elected each year to serve three years in case of a vacancy the unexpired time to be filled at the annual meeting.— [Adopted Nov. 1871.]

XXII. There shall be a Collector to have ten per cent for his fees after a tax has been levied thirty days. Money when collected to be paid in to the treasurer.—[Adopted Nov. 1871.]

NAMES OF MEMBERS.

A story that shows the strong neighborly feelings in force on Mt. Washington concerns a Mrs. James Gleason. Could this be the Mary Wheeler who was the wife of James R. Gleason of Wayne village, and the daughter of Obadiah Wheeler? Obadiah Wheeler was, according to Millard Roberts, (Historical Gazetteer of Steuben Co., N. Y., p. 534) “a man of Quaker parentage and a pioneer of Urbana, whose sterling qualities are still remembered by those whose recollections extend as far back as the [18]60’s and before.” Other history books tell us that Mr. Wheeler was a Postmaster at North Urbana, a Justice of the Peace, a Town Supervisor for several terms, a Commissioner of Highways, and a member of the militia. Mary’s sister Melinda married the Civil War hero Col. Benjamin Bennitt, whose story we tell in this book.

Mary Wheeler Gleason was born in North Urbana on October 16, 1823, and died on April 20, 1905. Mary’s obituary states that her funeral was held on April 22 at 2 pm at the Wayne Baptist Church, with the Rev. W. Robinson officiating, and that she was buried in the village cemetery. Could she possibly have been the same Mrs. Gleason who was so heroically carried through the snowdrifts? The dates do not match, but perhaps the March 15 date was an error. Or, there may have been more than one Mary Gleason. This news clipping is courtesy of Helena Howard.

THE SNOW STORM’S WORK

A Funeral Procession Becomes Stalled in a Blizzard
— A Thrilling Experience
North Urbana, N. Y. March 15

On Wednesday of last week Mrs. James Gleason, whose husband [kept] the Cornwall House in Bath, died, as was stated in the Gazette. The funeral was to have been held Friday at Wayne where she had formerly lived. At the appointed time the funeral party started from Bath, but owing to several blizzards, the roads were blocked and it was only by the united efforts of many men with shovels and ox teams that they were enabled to proceed on their sad errand at all. Finally the horses became exhausted and the friends who accompanied the remains were nearly frozen and were glad to accept the hospitalities of M. Smith of this place, who opened his doors and bade them welcome. They remained there all night and on the following day, Saturday, they resumed their journey, only to meet greater obstacles. About twenty men started with the procession with shovels to clear the way. But they had not proceeded far, before the horses attached to the hearse became exhausted.

“Alas, what are we to do now?” Exclaimed the undertaker; but the men were equal to the emergency.

The horses were removed and willing and strong arms seized the hearse and pulled it to its destination and, on one hour’s notice, the funeral was held.

Five hours were consumed in moving this mournful procession 4 miles. Snow banks 12 feet high had to be removed and the hearse and other sleighs had to be guarded in the most cautious manner, for they were liable to be overturned.”

To pull a sleigh hearse through 12 foot high snow banks for five hours was carrying neighborliness to a high degree.

© 2007, Martha R. Treichler

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