THE HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY,NEW YORK
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers
Philadelphia: L. H. Everts, 1879
CHAPTER on the TOWN of RANDOLPH
PART I - TRANSCRIBED BY DEBBIE WOO
This town (Randolph) lies on the western border of the county, and is the second town from the south. When erected
from Connewango, Feb. 1, 1826, it embraced all the territory south to the Pennsylvania line, but by the formation of
South Valley, April 2, 1847, the town was reduced to its present limits, which are described by the Holland Survey as
township 2, in the ninth range, containing 23,040 acres. The name of the town was bestowed by some of the early
settlers in honor of their native place, Randolph, VT. The southern three-fourths of the town have a hilly and
undulating surface, with some uplands several hundred feet above the valleys. The northern part is more level, and
partakes of the characteristics of the Connewango flats. Here were evidences of prehistoric occupation in the shape
of the usual fortifications and mounds, which have been more fully mentioned in the general history of the county.
The principal stream of the town is the Little Connewango Creek, which flows through the northeastern part of the
town. The chief affluents are Mill Creek, Dry and Rodgers' Brooks. Considering their limited volume, these streams
afford good power. Nearly all of them are subject to the influence of freshets, which sometimes causes great damage.
The one in 1865 was especially disastrous in its effects, destroying much property, and causing the loss of several
lives. The brooks in the southern part of the town drain into South Valley. The soil is variable, and is of a clayey
nature, or a gravelly loam, with a limited quantity of sandy loam. It is usually fertile, and especially adapted for grass.
PIONEER SETTLERS
The books of the Holland Company furnish a list of landowners in 1821, containing the names of Howard Fuller,
Edmund Fuller, James Powell, Samuel J. York, William Eames, Howard Chapman, and Thomas Harvey.
Edmund Fuller made the first settlement in 1820, on lot 31, building a log house, which stood near where the
cemetery now is. He came from Oneida County, and was accompanied by Howard Fuller. The had "booked" to them
all the land along that road west to the Chautauqua line. Both removed soon after, Edmund Fuller selling his interests
in 1822 to Thomas Harvey, who also came from Oneida. Fuller moved to the West, but returned to Little Valley in the
course of a dozen years.
The year after Fuller's settlement came Samuel J. York, and located on lot 55; and his brother Jeremiah came in
1823, settling in the same locality. Both moved to the West.
Jacob Vandamaker came in 1821, and settled near Fuller's. The following year his son, John J., was born, and this
was probably the first birth in town. The latter remained a citizen of Randolph many years.
In 1822, H.S. Latham, from Long Island, located on lot 31, where he purchased five acres for the purpose of
establishing a tannery. He built the first frame house in town, and commenced work on his tannery, but sold out to
Thomas Harvey before he got it fully in operation. C.H. Latham, a brother, made a visit to the town in the same year,
but did not settle there, but since 1840 has been a permanent resident of the town.
In April 1822, Thomas Harvey located on the Fuller property. He had a family of six daughters and several sons. The
former came with their husbands, named James Orton and William Miner, but all removed to the West. Harvey was
an enterprising man, and did much to encourage the settlement of the town. Two of his daughters married David
Salisbury and Clement Russell, also early settlers, in 1824, and these were the first marriages in town.
In 1823, Benjamin Clark settled on lot 23, where he soon after built the second frame house in town, in which he
opened a tavern and a store. In 1830, he sold to Joel Scudder, and removed to Pennsylvania. A daughter married
Jonathan Hodge, an early settler on lot 15.
The same year, Otis Hitchcock and a family of ten children settled on lot 46. The oldest son, George, was killed by
being thrown from a horse. Truman Hitchcock, another son, lives on the old Clark place. Mr. Hitchcock died in June
1873, and the homestead is now occupied by another son, Milo.
Solomon Nichols came from Monroe County in 1823, in the month of January. In 1822 he had visited the town and
articled 120 acres on lot 48, which he paid twelve years later. An adjoining tract of land, taken by David Hodge, who
came with Nichols, was the first paid up in town. Hodge returned to Monroe in four or five years, and after 1830,
Solomon Nichols also moved back for six years. In his absence, Abram Kierstead lived on his farm, and kept a public
house, which was continued by Nichols after his return, and was kept until the railroad was built. In the days of militia
training, Mr. Nichols rose from the command of a company to the rank of colonel, by which title he is still addressed.
Although eighty-two years old, he presents a hale appearance and preserves his military bearing. He is one of the
oldest residents of the town.
Elisha R. and Josiah Cook came in March 1823, from Monroe County, and settled on lot 62, where the former still
resides. The latter removed in 1817. Both served in the war of 1812. In this locality lived as early settlers the Arnolds,
Smiths, and Alex. McNull.
James Powell settled on lot 32 in 1823, and there built a house, which is still standing. A brother, Dennis, lived on lot
40. Both moved to Pennsylvania. In this locality settled the McCapes family about the same time. Silas moved to the
West, James died in town, and Alfred and Major still reside in Randolph.
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, PP. 664-5.
FRED. SHERMAN POWELL. An Able representative of the horticultural and floricultural interests of Erie county, Fred. S. Powell is a valued resident of lundys Lane, where he has a well stocked nursery, containing plants, roos and bulbs of both foreign and domestic fulture. He was born, February 12, 1860, on the old Powell homestead, in Wellsburg, Erie county, a son of the late Richared Powell, and grandson of James Powell, an early pioneer of this part of Erie county.
Coming to Erie county in 1835, James Powell bought a tract of wild and wooded land near Wellsburg, and began the arduous task of reclaiming a farm. Hopeful, courageous, and perservering, he and his good wife endured the toils and privations of life in a new country without a murmur. He became active in town affairs, and for a number of years served as justice of the peace. He died on the old homestead October 13, 1856, aged sixty-eight years. Eleven children were born of their union, five boys and six girls, one of whom, James Powell, is still living, residing in Kingston, Missouri. One son, Squire M. Powell, M.D. was a skilful physician, and one of the most noted lecturers in the United States. He traveled extensively for sixteen years, and collected many valuable curios, among them being a cane, on the head of which is a gold nugget from San Francisco, California. This cane is now one of the prized treasures of his grandnephew, Fred S. Powell. The Doctor died in 1859, while in the prime of life.
Richard Powell was born March 22, 1827, in Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York, and died in Wellsburg, Erie county, September 21, 1904. He continued his residence on the old homestead, which he assisted in clearing and improving, carying for his parents in their declining years. He was a skilful agriculturist, and in addition to farming was employed between planting time and harvesting in operating freight boats on the Erie canal. About 1900, he retired from active labor, and resided in Lundys Lane until his death. He was a citizen of prominence and influence, and an active member of the Republican party. He was county commissioner of Erie county three years, from 1881 to 1884. He belonged to the Methodist church, and fraternally was a charter member of Wellsburg Lodge, A.O.U.W., and of Lundys Lane Lodge No. 494 K.P.
Richard Powell married, October 14, 1852, Nancy L. Stitt, who was born, May 22, 1831, near Troy, New York, a duahgter of Israel Stitt, who came to Erie county, from Pittstown, New Yor, with his family, in 1834, and from the dense wilderness cleared a good farm. He was born January 19, 1798, in Pittstown, and died on the Stit homestead, in Pennsylvania, August 22, 1854. He married Sally Sherman, who was born March 30, 1804, and died Jaunary 18, 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Richard Powell three children were born, of whom Fred. S., of this sketch is the only survivor. George J., born August 28, 1857, died August 25, 1898; Alice died when but one year old.
Obtaining his early education in the district school, Fred S. Powell remained beneath the parental roof-tree until about thirty years old, assisting his father on the farm and in the dairy. Going then to Utah, he was there employed for about eight years in the nursery business. Returning then to Erie county he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a year, after which he established his present nursery in Lundys Lane, and in its management is meeting with success, each year increasing the size and extent of his operations. While a young man, Mr. Powell was for a little while interested in railway construction, helping to build that part of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway between Youngstown, Ohio, and Ashtabula.
On March 10, 1894, Mr. Powell married Nellie E. Stewart, who was born in Elk Creek township, December 23, 1880, a daughter of P.D. and Ocelia (Winchester)Stewart, and grand-daughter of Edward Winchester, a veteran of the Civil war, who died while confined in Libby Prison. Politically Mr. Powell is a Republican, but has never cared for public office. He is a charter member, and past chancellor commander, of Lundys Lane Lodge, No. 497, K. of P., and belongs to the Protected Home Circle. In his nursery work, Mr. Powell makes a specialty of raising prunes, an industry that he feels confident will thrive in this part of the state. He is interested in ancestral history, and has many articles of value that have been in the family for many years; in addition to owning the cane that belonged to Doctor Powell has a table formerly in the possession of his grandmother that is at least one hundred and twenty-five years old."
ADDITIONAL POWELL FAMILY PICTURES
