New York
|
RESOURCES | Steuben
County New York |
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Bath.
Bath was settled in the spring of 1793, by General Charles Williamson, agent for the Pultney estate, who had purchased about one million, two
hundred thousand acres, now embraced in Steuben and other counties adjoining. At that time (1793) there were a few settlers at Painted Post, and a
few on the Canisteo river, but all southern and western New York can be truly said was a vast wilderness. Possessed of ample means General Williamson commenced with great zeal and activity to populate this vast manor, and to this end, established a printing office, erected stores, hotels, mills, constructed roads, built boats to ply upon the Seneca and Crooked lakes, and did everything in his power to spread the fame of his possessions in the wilderness of southern and western New York. He had reached Bath via a road cut and made through the wilderness from Northumberland, Pa., up the West Branch, to where the city of Williamsport is located, thence up the Lycoming and over the Laurel Ridge mountain, to where the present village of Liberty, in Tioga county, Pa., now stands. There erecting & Block House, or station, thence down to the head-waters of the Tioga, to where Blossburg is situated, thence down the Tioga river to Painted Post and up the Conhocton river to Bath, the Eldorado.*
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Benjamin and Robert Patterson, brothers, were the pioneers, who conducted General Williamson's party to Bath. In 1793, a number of dwellings were erected. As early as 1796, General Williamson advertised that a grand horse-race would take place, which had the effect to bring the sporting gentlemen from Maryland, Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania, to Bath. He was determined that the new city erected in the wilderness in the land of the Genesee, and Six Nations should become the centre of attraction. When the county of Steuben was organized, in 1796, he caused himself to be appointed first judge of the county, and in 1798 was elected to the Legislature and continued to be elected for three successive years.
Among the first settlers were Dugald Cameron, Charles Cameron, William Dunn, Thomas Metcalfe, Hector McKensie, Andrew Smith, George MClure, James McDonald, Henry McElwee, James Reese, William Kersey, John Wilson, George D. Cooper, Brown Gillespie, Daniel McKensie, John Wilson, Gustavus Gillespie, Robert Campbell, Andrew Smith.
Never was a patron more indefatigable in promoting the general well being of his settlers, than General Williamson. He dispensed with a liberal hand. He established a weekly mail between Bath and Northumberland via the Williamson road and paid all the expenses himself connected with it. Bath is one of the six original towns in Steuben county, and was erected March 18, 1796. It covered a very large territory. The townships in part or in whole of Pultney, Urbana, Wheeler, Howard, Cohocton and Avoca have been detached from it.
The first election for town officers was held at the house of John Metcalfe April 4, 1797. The officers elected were: Charles Cameron, supervisor;
James Eddie, town clerk; William Aulls, Patrick McKell, Hector McKenzie, commissioners of highways; Gustavus Gillespie, collector; Amos Stone,
George Dixon, Abijah Peters, constables; Daniel Cruger, Patrick McKell, overseers of the poor; Amos Eggleston, Joseph McElwee, Jacob Phillips,
overseers of highways; Eli Read, Andrew Smith, James McKell, Thomas Streeter, fence viewers; Robert Biggar, Samuel Baker, Samuel Miller, assessors; Samuel Baker, Silas Beers, pound masters; GeorgeD. Cooper, John Sheather, Charles Williamson, Benjamin F. Young, commissioners of schools.
The principal stream in the township is the Cowanesque river, fed by a number of tributaries from the east and west. There is a great variety of soil in the township, including the alluvial of the valleys, and the gravel, shale and clay of the uplands. The Rochester branch of the Erie passes through the township, having several stations. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad also passes through the township.
Kanona and Savona are thriving villages in the township of Bath.
Bath village is situated upon the east and west sides of the Conhocton river and is the county seat of Steuben county. It was incorporated May 6,1836, and the first election was held June 7,1836, at the house of A. R. Gould. The officers elected were: Trustees, John D. Higgins, TenEyck Gansevoort, Benjamin Smead, Moses H. Lyon, John T. Andrews; Assessors, Ziba A. Leland, John M. Campbell, Henry Brother; Treasurer, Robert Campbell, jr.; Clerk, Levi C. Whiting; Collector, Elisha Hampstead; Constable, O. W. L. Warren.
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Dr. TenEyck Gansevoort was selected as president by the board, of trustees.
An act was passed June 20, 1851, by the Legislature, creating a new charter, and provided for an election to be held on the 6th of April, 1852.
James Lindsay officiated as clerk under both charters, for a period of twenty nine consecutive years, from 1848 to 1876, inclusive.
The New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., is the only state institution of the kind in the United States. All
other Soldiers' Homes are supported by the National Goverment, with rules of admission that exclude many worthy, disabled veterans. Because of
this fact the department of New York Grand Army of the Republic in 1875, initiated the project of a State Home. It was located at Bath, because of
the liberal contributions of the citizens of that town, and the warm interest which they took in the enterprise.
The Grand Army raised $100,000, in voluntary contributions, and laid the corner stone of the first buildings in 1877, with imposing ceremonies. The three first buildings were completed in 1878, with accommodations for about 600 inmates, and the trustees then deeded the property to the State, which assumed its support. Since then large additions have been made, the grounds have been beautified, a large and well appointed hospital built, also a head-quarters building, a store, bowling alley, conservatory, and numerous other buildings. Accommodations for over 300 inmates have been built during 1885, and the number of inmates during the coming winter will exceed 1,000.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The Governor, ex-officio; The Attorney-General ex-officio; Henry W. Slocum, President, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Isaac F. Quinby, Vice-President, Rochester, N. Y.; Jonathan Robie, Secretary and Treasurer, Bath, N. Y.; William F. Rogers, Buffalo, N. Y.; John Palmer, Albany, N. Y.; William E. Howell, Bath N. Y.; Hosea H. Rockwell, Elmira, N. Y.; Jno. F. Little, Bath, N. Y.; Oliver B. Cadwell, Watertown, N. Y.
OFFICERS.—T. G. Pitcher, U S. A., Superintendent; R. H. Gansevoort, Adjutant; J. S. Dolson, Surgeon; C. C. Leavens, Steward.
—Baptist church organized March 16, 1842. PAGE 165
—Rev. David Higgins came to Bath in 1813.
—Presbyterian church organized January 1, 1808.
—Constant Cook died Feb. 24, 1874, aged 76 years.
—George W. Hallack's bank established Jan. 1, 1849.
—Methodist Episcopal church incorporated Sept. 4, 1822.
—Grist mill and saw mill erected in 1794 by Gen. Williamson.
—The New St. Thomas Episcopal church at Bath cost $60,000.
—First school house erected in Bath village about the year 1796.
—John Magee died at Watkins, N. Y., April 5, 1868, aged 74 years.
—Bank of Bath organized in April, 1854. Constant Cook, President; H. Cook, Cashier. Dec. 14, 1863, changed to a national bank.
—Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Elizabeth Hull Townshend, Episcopal services were first held in the Court house at Bath, about the year 1816.
—Ira Davenport died at Bath, N. Y., May 2, 1868, in the 73d year of his age. He founded the "Davenport Home" for orphan girls.
—Dugald Cameron was first post-master at Bath in 1800. He has had twenty-two successors.
—Charles Williamson Dunn, born in Bath, 1794. First white child born in the Conhocton valley. His father, William Dunn, was the first sheriff of Steuben county.
—July 8th, 1846, Union school established. Adam Haverling donated the land upon which the school building was erected. The building was consumed by fire in 1865.
—Steuben county bank incorporated March 9th, 1832. First board of directors, John Magee, Wm. W. McCay, Reuben Robie, Edward Howell, Constant Cook, James Faulkner, Andrew B. Dickenson, Chauncey Hoffman, Charles Butler, Henry S. Williams, Henry B. Gibson, Ansel St. John, William S. Hubbell.
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