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                                                       Sept 11, 1929

                        SOME HISTORY OF READ1NG

 Interesting Paper Prepared and read by Mrs. Wright at old home days, Reading Center August 31, 1929
 In preparing this paper. I ?have tried to have it authentic, No doubt you will find misstatements as  Memory is often defective, and I find written histories do not agree. The special mention of to early Settlers who came to Reading before, or in the year 1820, who have descendants now in living in the Town. The town of Reading was a portion of the land in town as the James Watson patent. I t is situated on the west side of Seneca Lake extending along the lake about five and a half miles. The highest elevation is 1,500 feet on the farms known as the john Ellison farm and the late James Pope farm. It is bounded on the north by the town of Starkey Yates County; on the East Side by Hector; on the south by Dix and orange and on the west by Orange and Tyrone. What is now the town of Reading was once a part of Cayuga County. Reading was made separate town Feb. 17, 1806. Schuyler County was formed from Steuben. Tompkins  and ------------April 17, 1854. The Watson purchase was laid out into farms of 100 acres.   These were bought by no-residents and sold to the settlers. Among those engaged in this enterprise were Jonathan Lawrence, John Ireland, Joshua Brooks, John W. Watkins, Charles Wilks, and Lewis Simonds of New York City.  Also Elish Bondeneot, John Livingston, Isaac K. Leake, Samuel W. John son and James Pumpelly.  The earliest settlers. Were John Dow, David Culver. Alexander Compton. William Roberts, James Roberts, James Roberts, Vulentine Hitchcock, Richard Phillips, Elisha benedict, John Franch, Samuel Gustin, Elida Parkers, Alfred Rich, Anson Rich, James Calvert, Alpheus Calvary, George Calvary, John Calvert, Andrew McDowell, Caleb Fulkerson, Richard Laning, Daniel Shannon, Anson Sutton, Nathaniel, Sutton, John Sutton, John Davis, Alpheus Davis, Asaph Corbett, Jason Peck, Erastus Peck, Tenant Peck, Benoni Peck, Lewis Lafever, Thos Torance, John Diven, John Diven Jr., Francis Daven, George Diven, William Diven, John Hulburt, John Hurley, Jas. Drake, Jonathan Tremain, James Hayes, Adpheus Scofield, Abner Piper, Icabod Andrews, Amherst Andrews, Daniel C. Norris, Samuel Norris, Samuel Sellen, Samuel Rose, Wesley Sellen, z Zebina Sellen, James Ross, Alexander Ross, William Ross, Samuel Ross, Jr., Alonzo Ross, Hiram Chapman, Ira Parker, Abner Hurd, Ephraim, Aninsley, Jas. Drake, John Carpenter, Chester Corbett.

The First Public Highway was the lake Road. The first school in Reading was taught in the summer of 1807, by Lucy Dow in her father house. The first white child born In Reading was Miner Culver in 1801. The first marriage was Elisha Culver. Second son of David Culver to Susan Diven, In 1805. John Dow was the first settler in Reading in 1798.  He is sometime. Spoken of as the father of Reading.  He was born in voluntown, Conn. He received fair education for the time. That is he could read and write and cipher. He served for some time as a cabinet -apprentice.  When he had earned a few dollars and received the gift of a horse, from his father, he started for Genesee county, N. Y.  On reaching Watkins, he was taken ill with the measles.  And was very kindly taken care of by David Culvers family. From Watkins he went to Dresden where he worked for Benjamin Brown on of Jemima Wilkinson’s followers. Later he married the widow Mallory, one of the friends. His second wife was the widow Leake. In 1798 when Judge Dow bought his farm in Reading the whole town was a wilderness, He. Lived on it for two years without neighbors any nearer than Watkins. Then David Culver came and settled on the next farm and opened a tavern. He died in 1852, being 84 years old; he was a justice, supervisor and judge. He was member of assembly there terms. He was a mason and a Methodist. Were he with us today he would no doubt be a member of the Community church and a Granger.  Amassa Nichols came to Reading from Saratoga County and built at Irelandville in 1818 what has long been known as the old tavern Stand. He was the father of five children, John, Anna Liza, Lydia Ann, charlotte and a daughter who died in infancy.  George Mathews a son of Anna Liza, Mrs. James Whitehead and Mrs. Lida Hillerman are descendants of Charlotte. At the time when the old tavern stand was new, it was very popular for several young men to take their sweethearts a buggy riding and stop at home hotel for supper and a dance later. Mrs. Haring tells of how her mother Eliza McElwee, in company with gen. Gilbert Hurd going with others to the tavern at Irelandville. Mr. Nichols had just been doing some painting. The front door bore a placard on which was printed “No entrance at the front door please go around behind” Chester Corbett one of the early settlers.
Children Otis Charley, Wallace, Mathew and Nancy Wallace was the father of Lee Corbett; Matilda was the grand daughter another of Leon McIntyre and Nancy who married John Warner, was the mother of Mrs. Ada Linzy and Mrs. India Vosburg. The Corbett children were born in the log cabin overlooking Seneca Lake. The present farm has been in the family for three generations. Otis Corbett was ten years old when he saw the first steamboat on Seneca Lake and 30 years old when the first railroad train came thru the Catherine Valley. He married Adela Chase who came to Reading to teach school. She taught only one term before marrying Mr. Corbett. . To them were born ten children Walter, Eliza, Chester, John, Mary Sophia, George, William and Jay. And one son who died in infancy.  To John Corbett we are indebted for much early history and Indian lore of Reading and Schuyler County. His little book “ the Lake Country and the Land of Gold” is a treasure in itself. Many of us have heard the Lake guns. One legend is that it is the echo of the voice of the Indian chief Agayentah calling his warrior, to battle.
 A man from Chicago said third summer; “ I have been thru llinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. I have not found any place more beautiful or any land more to my liking than right here” Joseph Howard, came to Reading from New Hampshire in 1808. He settled on the Lake Ropad on what is known as the McAlpine Henry Howard Sr. was born there in 1814. In 1832 he bought 100 acres of the present Howard farm, west from the highway. The house stood close by the Big Hollow, about one half-mile west from where the present house stands. His son Henry Howard Sr. and Henry Howard Jr. added 100 acres more bordering on t he highway. It took Joseph many years of labor to pay for the farm. His son, Henry Jr. used to go to Owego on horseback to pay the interest. Henry Sr used to often tell his children how when a small boy he used to go to a neighbor’s house on the Lake Road to borrow fire. This neighbor was one of the one of the Roberts. One year the hay crop was failure and he went in mid-winter to Hornby for hay to feed his stock. . The youngest descendant in the town of Reading is Master Francis Howard. Son of Harry Howard. Voluntine Hitchcock bought his land directly from James W. Watson. This included the land where Reading Center now stands and many surrounding acres. He came to Reading about 1800. He gave the land for the old cemetery. There are holes into he ravine between the old and new cemeteries where he dug for gold. Mr. Conklin remembers when those holes were 15 feet or more deep. His son Algernon S. Hitchcock was born in 1803 in the Roswell Shepard house which was his home. Algernon married Hannah Earl daughter of James Earl whose farm is now owned by Claude Conklin. His body rests in the cemetery given to Eading by his father. The only survivor in Reading of the Hitchcock and Earl families is Mrs. Rose Hitchcock Fulkerson. Thomas Sutton a Revolutionary soldier went from Orange County to Pennsylvania. He remarried there a short time then came to Ovid. He remained in Ovid long enough for his son John to court and marry Elizabeth Miller of Lodi. Then he moved to Bluff Point, Yates County. He remained there only two years leaving because he found his title defective. In 1808 he came to reading and purchased the farms where Albert Richtmyer and Will Smith now live. He had four daughters and two sons, Susan, Lydia, Derinda, and Betsy and Nathaniel and Aaron.  Susan Sutton married Tenant Peck and Nathaniel Sutton married Phoebe Peck. Hence the Peck and Sutton reunion. Daniel C. Norris Sr. was born in Mill-Plain, Fairfield County, and Conn. He came to reading in 1814, bringing his family household goods and farm tools in a wagon. He came up the Cherry Valley Trail. And stopped for a few months at Ovid before coming to Reading. His family consisted of his wife and four small children. My father Daniel C. Norris, jr. was the youngest being six months old when they started. He settled on the farm now owned by Milton Wh8ite. The house that now stands on the place he built in 1821 and the barn was among the first frame buildings built in the town. When it was built the people thought it would never hold together At the raising among other eatabiles was potpie made in a hug iron kettle swung out in the open. It held enough to feed all who came from miles around. We have in our possession a mirror brought of John Ireland. It has on the back a paper printed in New York in 1817. In this paper is advertised a cow post on Broadway. I t reads as follows: Lost, on Broadway, a line back cow. Finder please return to Columbia University.” Steven Norris father of Daniel C. Norris Sr. served in the Revolutionary war in Alexander Hamilton’s heavy Artillery. May Norris a sister o f the first Norris's who came to this country from England, cam e over in the Mayflower. She married Isaac Allenton. Her death occurred two years after coming to this country. / The founders of the Roberts family in America came over with William Penn on the shit “Welcome” They set said from England June 320, 1682 and reached America in August. On board this ship in company with William Penn. were nearly a hundred Quaker immigrants from Sussex, England. Penn’s home. Smallpox broke out on the way over and nearly 30 died. The Roberts's settled in Adams county, Pa. William Roberts the progenitor of the Roberts family in Reading with his three sons left his home in Adams county, Pa. in 1797. They brought their goods overland to the Susquehanna River. From there they traveled by river ways to Elmira then called Newton. Here they brought a yoke of oxen and made a cart. The wheels were made by sawing sections of a large log. With this cart they came thru the pine forest to Montour Falls, then called Catharine. Here they engaged Gilbert Hathaway to carry them in a boat down the inlet and to Ovid. This journey took eight weeks. The family came from Ovid to Reading in 1806 and settled on the Lake road. The sons of William Roberts were the first blacksmiths in Reading. The shop was made by sawing off the stump of an oak and setting the anvil on it. The story is told that a stranger was passing through Reading one day and inquired for a blacksmith’s shot. The reply was “you are in it now but about six miles from the anvil”. The present Roberts family in Reading. Alfred Rick Sr. with his brother Anson came on horseback from Albany to Reading shortly after 1800. They brought gold to pay for their land in a mall bag inside a saddlebag. Anson was carrying the bag. In some way he lost it off, but his brother Alfred riding his horse not far behind, saw it fall and so recovered the gold. The Rich farm originally contained 280 acres. The only descendant in Reading today is Mrs. Flora Brink, who is also a descendant of Thomas Wood Drake. Mr. Drake bought the farm now known as the Chase farm. Morris Gilbert is also a descendant of Thomas drake, as are Welles and Horace Webster.  Little is known of the history of Andrew McDowell one of the pioneer settlers of Reading. His daughter was the grandmother of H. E, Beahan. The McDowell home was the farm now owned by frank Waugh. Thomas Beahan, the grandfather of H. E. Beahan and Charles Carney, came from Ireland to Reading about 1820. He married Florence Faucett of hector who was the first white child born between the lakes. They settled on the Beahan farm which was purchased directly from Flint and Watson. James Beahan hi, his son and father o f H. E. Beahan, was born on t he farm and lied there all his life. This farm has been in possession of the Beahans for three generations. Easter Beahan the mother of Charles Carney was a daughter of Thomas Beahan. Ver Marie Mehan is the youngest descendant of Thoomas Beahan, being of the fourth generation of descendants. Thomas Bell Raymond, the father of Darius Milton Raymond, moved with his family to Reading form Cayuga County in 1820. He settled on what was known as the Cross-farm where Milton was born in 1823. Thomas was a traveling shoemaker. He went from house to house making shoes for each member of the family, nearly always taking in payment farm produce or leather. Milton Raymond received an education common to those days. He taught in nearby districts for the goodly sum of ten dollars a month and boarded around.  The news that Abraham Lincoln had been elected president reached him six weeks after Election Day. He was married to Charlotte Stilson in 1848. To them were born Ada, Homer, Isaac, William, Eugene, Laura and Myrtle. He died at the age of 96 years and ten months. I think were he with us today he would voice the sentiment of this little verse; “we are brothers who travel a great common road. And the journey is easy for none. We must succor the weary and lift on the load. Of the pilgrim whose courage is done, let me deal with them each on the way to the West. with a mercy that never shall fail, and lie down to my dreams with a conscience at rest. when it come to the end of the trail” Hempton Miller came to Reading in 1810 from Canada. He settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Anna Ballard. His only descendants in town are Mrs. John Broadbent and Mrs. Charles Perry. Jason Peck with his wife and six children came from Green County to Reading in 1809. They came with oxen and carts, bringing their household goods and seed for the first year's planting. From John Dow’s home they cut their way thru the forest tot he farm where Loren Eaton now lives. The Peck burying ground on the Eaton farm holds those of the Peck family who passed away in the early days. Tennant Peck, who married Derinda Sutton, is the ancestor of Mrs. Lida Ellison and Levi Holly. Abijah Newman came to reading form Connecticut with the first settlers. In 1817 he went not the Land of Nod,” out o to Canada and brought hither a wife. The olive branches were numerous but the number and names I have not been able to learn. He owned the land where William Hillerman, hi s grandson, now lives and where Harry Howard now lives and many surrounding acres. Samuel Sellen great grandfather of George Conklin came from Vermont to Lodi, then to Reading in 1812. He bought the farm where Jo Caywood now lives. He chose this place because it was covered with pines. Pines were thought to grow only on fertile ground. They cut the trees and burned the great piles of these logs. Each three, if we had it today, would bring not less than  $30. From the Caywood home today can be seen only five or six pine trees. Samuel Sellen had two girls and four boys. John Sellen one of these boys was the grandfather of Mr. Conklin and Mrs. Joe Caywood; Mr. Conklin’s mother was Maranda Ann Sellen and Mrs. Joe Caywoods’s mother was Rosetta Sellen. Mr. Conklin was born in the Baptist parsonage where his parents lived for a time. He remembers interesting incidents of his boyhood. He and the sons of Octavius Roberts, Sumner and William were great pals. Thee Roberts home was where Mr. Morley now lives Sumner and William, Cassus Sutton and George used to meet there daily. Mr. Roberts had a tannery just back of the house. They had all fallen into one or more of the vats but Cassus. Mr. Conklin says he fell into everyone but the lime vat. Cassus need to brag that he had never fallen into any of them. The three boys put their heads together and what three boys can’t think of don’t any of you older heads attempt. It was the time off the first illustrated that were such a treat to children. The three who had fallen into the vats chipped in their pennies and went away one of these. They managed to get Casseus with his back to one of the vats. When he became interested in the paper they edged him a little nearer. Then over he went backward headfirst into the vat. In Mr. Conklin's school days there was a cider mill on the corner. Just east of here Mr. Doane’s house stands. One day George and some of the other boys ran away from school and went down to the mill. Then with a rye straw they hung over one of the cider vats. Oh, what a glorious time they had. Mr. Himrod, the teacher, soon found them and with a good size birch he sent them home with great ridges on their backs. Mr. Conklin says. “The joy of that cider thru a straw more than compensated for sore backs.” The three people in Reading who can count the most years are Mrs. O’Daniels, Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Haring. Mrs. O’Daniels was born in the house where Archie Edsell now lives. She has lived 73 years in Reading. Byron O’Daniels first saw his wife at the M. E. church. E. K. Smith used to claim the sponsorship of their first acquaintance and courtship as he took Mr. O’ Daniels to make his first call on Miss Mills. Mrs. O’ Daniels was married 60 years ago the 8th day of Next February. A saying used to be abroad that more matches were made in Starkey Seminary than in heaven. I ever that more have been made in the Reading Center M. E. church than in Starkey Seminary and heaven combined. Mrs. Cole came to Reading to visit her sister in 1867. She went the M. E, church on Sunday. As usual, Merrell Cole was there. Mr. Cole early found an excuse to call on Mrs. Cole’s sister’s family. Their courtship extended over a period of six years. Perhaps Mrs. Cole can tell us whether Mr. Cole was bashful or whether she was hard to win. Mrs. Haring went to Irelandville to each in 1860. She married Oscar Haring in 1866. She has lived 63 years in Reading. Mr. Conklin ranks first in the number years spent in Reading. He lived there his whole life. Today is his wedding anniversary. He was married to Sarah Hammond 60 years ago today. Among those who should most deserved our grateful thanks are three physicians, Drs. Starkey, Tompkins and Gulick. With horses they climbed these hills in every kind of weather night and day, for the munificent sum of one dollar.  The most famous birthday party ever held in Reading was when the parents of 11 boys met at the home of Aaron Sutton to celebrate their first birthday. This was where Will Smith now lives. The babies were Frank Sheppard, Emmett Andrews, John Lott, Casius Sutton, Charley Case, Emmett Smith, Judson Caprion, Austin Weaver, Err Gabriel, Anson Sutton, and George Conklin. The only thing about the party that has been handed down to history as they were served at dinner with wild turkey. These eleven babies were the 49ers. Another party long remembered was when Thomas Wheeler a veteran of the Civil war, came back from the west and invited all ”the boys” that were left who went to war from Reading to the grand feed at the Jefferson House.
When we think of all we have to make us comfortable and happy and ten what our ancestors did to pave the way for us, we are ready to bow in reverence to that pioneer spirit which brought them to a land covered with forests, with nothing but their bravery and courage, strength of purpose and faith in the future to aid them.
Who’ll press for gold this crowed street a hundred years to come?
Who’ll tread yon church with willing feet, a hundred years to come?
Pale, trembling age, and fiery youth, and childhood with its brown of truth, the rich and poor on land, on sea, Where will the mighty millions be a hundred years to come?  Martha Norris Wright.
Editors Note-
Through your lives making you for your attention: What will my history be?”
Among the descendants of this worthy and history making pioneer couple still living. The following may be enumerated. Mrs. Watson Clawson, Valois; James Predmore, B=Valois: Newton LaMoreaux, Lodi; Mrs. Neal Fletcher, Lodi; Francis LaMoreaux, Caywood; Bert VanVleet, Caywood; Lewis LaMoreaux, Somerville. N.J. H. S. LaMoreaux Watkins Glen; Mrs. W. H. Hazlett, Hector; Miss Margaret Considine, Watkins Glen; Charles Carney, Reading; and Dr. Albert Behan, Canandaigua. The late Henry Benhan of Reading whose death occurred about two weeks ago and was a great grandson.
 
 

[This is a  partial piece  of an article that was printed in the paper at the beginning of the 1900's]
In placing the partial part of this article it may be of value to those who can use the information from the names mentioned.
                                                                READING
_____________    Steuben , Tompkins and Chemiung counties April 17,1854. Reading originally included what is now the town of Starkey   was set off  to Yates county April 6,1824.
The Watson purchase was laid out into farms of 100 acres each. They were bought by non-residents and sold to the settler. Among those engaged In this enterprise were Jonathan Lawrence. John Ireland, Joshua Brooks, John W. Watkins, Charles Wilks, Lewis Simonds of New York city, also Elisha Bondenot, John S. Livingston, Isaac K leake, Samuel W. Johnson and James Pumpelly.
Names of the Early Settlers
The earlist  settlers were, John Dow, David Culver, Alexander Hinton, William Roberts, James Roberts, John Roberts, Valentine Hitchcock, Richard Phillips, Elisha Benedict,  John French, Samuel Guston, Elida Parker, Alfred Rich, Anson Rich. James Calvert, Alpheus, George Calvert,  John Calvert, Andrew McDowell, Cabal Fulkerson, Richard Laning, Daniel Shannon,  Anson Sutton, Nathaniel Sutton. John Sutton, John Davis,  Alpheus Davis,  Asaph Corbets, Jason Peck, Eraetue Peck, Tenant Peck, Benoni Peck, Levis Lafever, Thomas  Torance, John Diven, John Diven, Jr., Francis Daven, George Diven, William Divin, John Hulburt, John Hurley, Jas. Drake. Jonathan Tremain, James Hayes, Adpheus Scofield, Abner Piper. Ieabod Andresws, Amherst Andrews, Daniel C Norris, Samuel Norris. Samuel Seller, Samuel Rose, Wesley Sellen, Zebina Sellens, Major Sellen,  John Sellen, William Sellen, James Ross, Alexander Ross, William Ross,  Samuel Ross Jr., Alonzo Ross,  Hiram Chapman, Ira Parker. Abner Hurt, Ephreum Ainsley, Jas. Drake, John Carpenter, Cheater Corbett. .
The That -Public Highway
The first public highway was the Lake Road. The first school in Reading was taught in the summer of 1807 by Lucy Dow in her father’s house.
The first white child born in Reading was Miner Culver in l801. The first marriage was Elisha Culver second son of David Culver, to Susan Diven, in l805.
John Dow was the first settler in Reading in 1798. HE is sometimes spoken  of as the father of Reading. . He was born in Volumtown  Conn.  He received a fair education  mr the time. That
he could read, write and cipher. He served for sone time as a cabinet apprentice. When he had earned a few dollars and received the gift of a horse from his father, he started for Genesee countv, NY. On reaching  Watkins, he was taken  ill with the measles and was ran kindly cared for Mr.  David Culver family. From Warkin, he went to Dressden where he worked for Benjamin Brown, one of Jemmima Willikinson’s followers.  Later, he msrried the Widow Mallory, one of the friends. His second wife was the Widwo Leake.
In 1708 when Judge Dow bought his farm in Reading the whole town was a wilderness. He
lived on it for two years without neighbor, any nearer than Watkins. Then David Culver came and settled on the next farm, and opened a tavern. He died in 1852, being 84 years old. He was a justice, supervisor and judge, He was a member of the assembly three terms.  He was a Mason and a Methodist. Were he with us today he would no doubt be a member of the Community church and a granger.
 Aimasa Nichols came to Reading from Saratoga county and built at Irelandville in 1818 what has long been known as the old tavern stand. He was the father of five children, John, Anna Lisa, Lydia Ann, Charlotte and a daughter who died in infancy. George Mathews
 was a son of Anna Liza.   Mrs.  Jane Whitehead and Mrs.  Lida Hillerman  are desandants of Charlotte.
 At the time when the old tavern stand was, new, it was very popular for several young men to take Their sweethearts, “a buggy riding" and stop at some hotel for supper and a dance later. Mrs. Harring tells of her mother; Eliza McElwee,  in company with Gen. Gilbert, Hurd. going with others to the tavern in Irelandnlie. The Nichols had just been doing some painidng, The front door bore a placard on which was printed, “No entrance at the front door, please  go around behind”  Chester Corbett, one of the early settlers of Reading was the father of five children,  ______, ________,______, ______, and Nancy. __________ Lee Corbett; Matilda was the grandmother  of Leon McIntyre, and Nancy who married John Warner, was teh mother of Mrs. Ada Linzy and Mrs. India Vosburg.  The Corbett children were born in a log cabin overlooking Seneca Lake. the  present Corbett farm has been in the familey for generations.
Otis Corbett was ten yerars old when he saw the fast steamboat on Seneca lake, and 30 years old  when the first, railraod train came thru The Catherine, Valley. He married Adelia  Chase who, came to Reading to  teach school. She taught  only one term before marrying  Mr. Corbett.  To them were born ten children, Walter, Eliza,., Cheater, John, Mary Sophla, George, William and Jay, and one son who died in infancy, To John Corbett we are indebted for much early history and Indian lore of Reading and Schuyler  connty. His little book, ‘The Lake Country and the Land of Gold," is  a treasure in itself. Many of us have beard the Lake  Guns. One legend is, that it is the echo”of the voice of the Indian chief Agayentah calling his warriors to battle.
A man fronn Chicago said to me this  summer, ‘I have been thru Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Net, Jersey and New York. I have not found any place more beautiful or to any  land more to my liking than right here.
HEnry Howard, The gnndfather of Henry Howard, came to Reading from New Hamphire in l808. He settled on the Lake Road on what is  known as the McAlpine farm.  Henry Howard, Sr, was born there in 1814.  In 1832  he bought 100 acres of the present Howard farm, west from the highway. The house stood close by the Big Hollow abont one half mile west from where the present house stands.  His son, Henry Howard, Sr., and Henry Howard Jr., added
100 acres more bordering on the highway.  It took  Joseph many years of labor to pay for the farm.  His son, Henry, Sr., used to  go to Owego on horseback to pay the interest.
Henry  Sr., used to often tell his children how when a small boy he used to  go to a neighbor on the Lake road to borrow fire, This neijnbor was one of the Roberts. One year the hay crop sea a failure and he went in mid-winter to Hornby for hay to feed his  stock. The youngest decendant in the town of Rending is Mater Francis Howard; son of  Harry Howard. Voluntine Hitchcock bought his land directly from James W Watson. This includes the lend where Reading Center now stands and many surrounding acres.
He came to Reading about 1800.  He gave his land for the old cemetery. There  are holes in the ravine between the old and new cemetaries where he dug for gold. Mr. Conklin remembers when those holes were 15 feet or more deep. His son, Algernon S. Hitchcock, married
Hannah Earl, whose farm is now owned by Claud conklin. HIs body rests in the cemetery given to Reading by his  by his father.  The only survivor  Reading  of  the Hitchcock and Earl families is Mrs. Rose Hitchcock Fulkerson.
Thomas Sutton, a Revolutionary soldier, went from Orange county to Penn.  about 1800.
He married there a short time, then came to Ovid, He remained in Ovid long enough for his son John to court and marry Elizabeth Miller of Lodi, then he moved to Bluff Point, Yates county. He remined  there  only two years leaving because he found his title  defective.
 In 1808 he came to Reading  and purchased  the farm, where Albert Riehtmyer and  Will Smith now lives.  He had. four daughters and two son, Susan, Lydia. Derinda and Betsey, and Nathaniel and Aaron.   Susan Sutton married Jason W, Peck.  Derinda Sutton married Tenant Peck,  and Nathaniel Sutton married Phoebe Peck. Hence, the Peck and Sutton reunion. Daniel C. Norris, Sr., was born in Mill Plain Fairfield  county, Conn. He came to Reading in 1814. bringing his family, household  goods and farm tools in a wagon.  He came up the Cherry Vallty Trail.
His family  consisted of his wife and four small children. My father Daniel C. Norris Jr. was the  youngest, being six months old when they started. He settled on the farm now owned by Milton White. The house that now ownded  by Milton White.  The house that now stands on the place he  built in int that town.  The barn was among the first frame buildengs built in The town when it was built the people thought it would  never hold together. At the raising. among other edibles, was potpie made in a huge iron kettle swung out in the open. It held enough to feed all who came  from miles around.
We have in our possession a mirror bought of John Ireland. It has on the back a paper printed in New York in 1817. In this paper is advertised a cow lost on Broadway.
Steven Norris, father of Daniel C. Norris, Sr., served in the Revolutionary War in Alexander Hamilton’s heavy  artillerry.
Mary Norris a sister of the first Norrises who cause to this country  from England, came over in the Mayflower. She married Isaac Allerton. Her death occurred two years after coining to this country.  The founders of the Roberts family in America came ever with is William Penn on the ship Welcome "  They set sail  from England June 30, 1682, and reached America in August. On board this ship in company with William Penn, were nearly a hundred Quaker immigrants  from Sussex, England,  Penn’s home.  Smallpox broke out on the way over and nearly 30 died. The Roberts settled in Adams county Pa.  William Roberts the progenitor of the Roberts family in Reading. With his three sons left his home in Adams county, Pa,, in 1797. They brought their goods overland to the Suequahaana River. From there they traveled by riverways to Elmira, then called Newton Here they bought a yoke of oxen and made a cart.
The wheels  were  made by sawing sections of a large log.  With this art they came through The pine forest to Montour Falls, Then called Catharine. Here  they engaged Gilbert Hathaway to carry item in a boat down  the inlet and to Ovid. This journey took eight weeks.
The family came from Ovid to Reading in 1806 and settled on the Lake road. the sons  of William Roberts were the first blacksmith in Reading. The shop was made  by sawing off the stump of an oak and setting the anvil on it. The story is told that a stranger was, passing thou reading one day and  inquired for a blanksmith’s shop. The reply was "You are in it now but about six miles from the anvil” William Roberts, Lewis  Roberts Sr., and Lewis Roberts, Jr., were the ancestors of the present  Roberts family in Reading. Alfred Rich, Sr., with his brother  Anson came on horseback from Albany to Reading shortly after 1800, They brought gold to pay for their land in a small bag inside a saddle bag. Anson was carrying the bag. in some way he lost It off, but his brother Alfred, riding his  horse not far behind, saw it fall  and he recovered the  gold. The Rich farm originally contained 280 acres. The only descendant in Reading to-day
Mrs. Flora Brink who is also  a descendant of Thomas Wood Drake. Mr. Drake bought the farm now known as the Chase farm. Morris Gilbert in also a descendant of Thomas Drake, as are Welles and Horace Webster. Lttle is known of the history of Andrew McDowell, one of the pioneer settlers of Reading. His daughter was the grandmother of HE Beham. The McDowell home, was the farm now owned by Frank Waugh.
Thomas Beahan, the grandfather of H. E. Beahan and Charles Carney, came from Ireland to Rending about 1820. He married Florence Faucell of Hector who was first white child born between the lakes. They settled on the Behan farm which was purchased direetly from Flint and Watson.  James Behan, his son and  father of H E. Beahan, was born the farm and lived there all his life. this farm has been in possession of Benhans for three generations.
Easter Benhan the mother of Charles Carney, was a daughter of Thomas Behan. Vera Marie Mehan is the youngest descentant of Thomas Benhan, being the fourth generationof descendants. Thomas Bell Raymnd, the father of Darius Milton Raymnond, moved with his  family to Reading from Cayuga  Co. in 1820. He  settled on what was known as as the Cross farm where Milton was born 1823.
Thomas was a traveling shoemaker. He went from home to homse making shoes for each member of the family, nearly always taking in payment from produce or leather.Milton Raymond received an education common in those  days.  He taught. in nearby districts for the geediy sum of ten dollars a month and boarded around. The news that Abrham Lincoln had beel  elected president reached him six weeks after election day. He  was married Charlotte Stilson in 1848. to them  them were born Ada, Homer, Isaac, Will, Eugene, Laura and Myrtle. He died  at the age of 96 years and ten mouths. I. think were he with us today he would voice the sentiment of this little verse.
We are‘brothers who  travel a great common road.  And the journey  is easy for none. We  must succor the weary and  lift on the load Of the pilgrim whose courage is done, Let me deal with them each on the way to the West, With a mercy that - never fail, And lie dowr to my dreams witha conscience at rest,When come to the end of  the trail.
Hampton Miller came to Rending in 1810i from Chanada. He settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Anna Ballard. His only descendants in town are Mrs John Broadbent and Mrs. Charles Perry. Jason Peck  with his wife and six children came from Green county  to Reading in 1809. The came with oxen and carts bringing their household goods and seed for th first years planting. From John Dow's home  they cut their  way thru the forest to  the farm where  Loren Eaton now lives. The Peck. burying ground on the Eaton farm holds those of the Peck family  who passed away, in the early days. Tenant  Peck who married Derinda Sutton the aneesttor of Mrs. Lida  Ellison and Levi Holly.
Abijah Newman  came  to Reading from Connneceut with the  first settlers. In 1817 he went not to the  “Land of Nod”’ but to Canada and brough a wife. The 0live branches were  numerous but the number and names I have noi been able to learn He owned the land where William Hillerman. his  grandson, now lives and where Harry Howard now  lives  and many surrounding  acres,
Samuael Sellen  great grandfather of George Conklin came from Vermont to Lodi then to Reading; in 1812. He bought the  farm where Joe Caywood now lives. He chose this place beeause it was covered with pines.  Pines were thssght to grow only on fertile ground. They cut the trees and  burned great pales of these logs. Each tree, if we had it today, would bring not less thss $30. From the Caywoed home today can be seen only five or cix pine trees.Samuel Sellen had two girls and  and four boys.  John Sellen, one of these boys was the grandfather of Mr. Conklin and Mrs. Joe Caywood, Mr. Conklin’s mother, was Maranda Ann Sellen, and Mrs. Joe Caywoodk mother was Rosette. Sellen.  Mr. Co Lu was born in the Baptist  parsonage where his parent, lived  for a time. He rembembers  interesting icidents of his boyhood. He and the sons of Octavius  Roberts, Sumner and William were great pals.  The Roberts, home was where Mr. Morley now lives. Sumner and Willlam, Cassus Sutton and George used to meet there daily.
Mr. Roberts had a tannery just back of the house.  They had all  fallen into one or  more of the but Cassius  . Mr. Conklin say’s he fell into every one but the lime vat. Cassius  had  used to brag that he had never fallen into any  of them. The three boys put heir heads together, and what three boys  can’t think of don’t any of you  older heeds attempt.