Friendship
Friendship was formed from Caneadea on March 24, 1815. Cuba was taken off in 1822 and Bolivar in 1825, and a part of Wirt in 1838. Friendship is an interior town, lying a little southwest of the center of the county.
The first settlement was make in Nov. 1806 by Richard Friar, from Kingston, Ulster county. John Harrison and Simon and Zebulon Gates settled in June 1807. The first birth was Sherman Haskins, in a sugar camp, March 1808. The first marriage was James Sanford and Sally Harrison in Dec 1809. The first death was Hattie Friar in Dec. 1806. The first school was taught by Pelatiah Morgan in the winter of 1810-11. Simon Gates opened the first inn in May 1808 and Stephen Smith the first store in the spring of 1818. Sylvanus Meriman and Aaron Axtell built the first gristmill in 1810. Ebenezer Steenrod built the first sawmill in 1815 and a mill for wool carding and cloth dressing in 1816. The first religious service was held in a barn by Samuel Vary in July 1810. The first church (Presbyterian) was formed by Rev. Robert Hubbard in the spring of 1813. [Source: J.H.French, Gazetteer of State of New York, 1860]
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FriendshipThe poet says "'tis but a name A simple charm that lulls to sleep, A shade that follows wealth or fame And leaves the heart to sadly weep." Friendship. Me thinks 'tis nobler far than this, The spirit which can soften grief And turn the bitter hour to bliss And bring the darkest hopes relief. Friendship. When Fortune smiles, in Summer days, When roses in your pathway lie, That Flat'ring voice sings tuneful lays. I shus'd when Winter's gloom is nigh Cold Friendship. A gilded toy may charm the eye, Whilst sterling gold is put aside. The Fire of Time alone can try The worth, the truth, the depth beside. Pure Friendship. As little like the metal pure As dross beside the shining gold, Time as the test is ever sure The worthless parts to all unfold. False Friendship. Friendship, April 1880. R.C.H. [Richard C. Hill] |
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Cities, Villages and Hamlets
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Friendship - a hamlet in the center of town; originally known as "Fighting Corners" because local feuds. See the Wikipedia article on Friendship. |
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Nile - a hamlet near the south town line. |
| Higgins - located near the east town line. |
Friendship, New York Web Page
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Friendship Town Historian |
Friendship Town Clerk |
Census
| 1855 Friendship | 1865 Friendship |
Interesting Figures. - According to the (1880) census returns just completed Mrs. Lydia Carter aged 95, is the oldest lady in town and Thomas Pierce aged 92, is the oldest man. There is only one person entirely blind. In the past year there were only 19 deaths. There are in town 1617 cows, 612 horses, 1732 sheep and 1114 lambs. The total population of Friendship village is 1137, of the town 2242. We are indebted to the courtesy of Enumerator S. E. Latta for this data. [Friendship Chronicle, Vol. 1, No. 22, July 7, 1880.]
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Presbyterian organized spring 1813 |
Baptist organized July 10, 1822 Membership List |
Methodist Episcopal organized abt. 1825 |
Universalist organized 1854 |
Seventh-Day Baptist Church of Nile organized 1824 |
St. Andrews Episcopal Records |
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Military
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Cemeteries
- Town Cemetery of Friendship - located back of the Baptist Church
- Nile Cemetery (DAR list) - code #16-1; (lot 33), N.Y. Rte. 275; see also Charlie Barrett's Nile Cemetery List and LDS transcription
- Sortore Cemetery - code #16-2; (lot 1), East Hill Road
- Mount Hope Cemetery - code #16-3; (lot 27), Middaugh Hill Road; see also DAR List
- Sacred Heart Cemetery - code #16-4; (lot 36), Friendship Village
- Maple Grove - code #16-5; (lot 21-29), Maple Grove Road; 716-973-7639; DAR list; Charlie Barrett's List up to 1991
- Third Street Cemetery - code #16-6; (lot 36), Friendship Village
- Baptist Church Cemetery - code #16-7; (lot 28), Friendship Village
- Hess Road Cemetery - code #16-8; (lot 8), Hess Road; plowed over
- Drew Cemetery - code #16-9; (lot 64) Black Creek Road
- Kenyon Family Cemetery - on right of West Branch rd going out of Nile towards Richburg; abt 1 1/2 miles out of Nile.
*code #s refer to the Allegany County Cemetery Index card file at the Allegany County Historical Society and LDS Family History Library microfilm. See Western New York Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. II, No. 1
Newspapers
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The Friendship Chronicle 1880-1881 Index Business Directory |
Newspaper Articles |
Friendsip Photographs
The American Hotel in Friendship
Fireman's Parade, Friendship Steamer Company
Friendship photographs were taken by J. Saunders Studio of Alfred and Friendship. They were contributed by Sharon Mountford.
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Allegany County, New York GenWeb Table of Contents |
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