Brief History of Cadiz

Although Franklinville (McCluer's Settlement) was settled first, Cadiz prospered and was the large settlement for many years.  James McCluer, grandfather of Josephy, surveyed under Joseph Ellicott in 1789, what became Franklinville.  Grandson Joseph McCluer opened the first inn in the area in 1808.  He was a fine organizer and a popular leader in the affairs of Western New York.

The first settlers clustered at Cadiz.  Conrad built a saw-mill below Cadiz in 1808 and a grist-mill in 1809.  John McNall came in 1817, taking 21 days for the Tri District No. 1 school to organize.  Then the settlement extended down the Ischua Valley below Cadiz (Conrad's Mills) and No. 2 district was formed.  Tilly Gilbert built a carding mill and No. 3 school was organized. 

In 1840 The Methodist Episcopal Church of Cadiz was organized with an original membership of fifty.  The church building was erected of wood at the cost of $1800, the Rev. Thomas B. Hudson was pastor.  In 1870 the Conrad Mill was purchased by Thomas Grierson and run by him until 1876.  The two grinding stones from this mill are on display out front. 

Cadiz in the middle 1870's had a church, two stores, a saw mill, a cheese factory, a cheese-box manufacturer, a grist mill, a gun repair shop, and about 50 dwellings.  In 1872 the cheese box factoy was erected by Hinkly and Davidson.  In the summer they hired about 25 people, actually manufacturing about 75,000 cheese boxes and 10,000 "setts".  The factory was steam operated.  They also made fork and rake stales, hoe and broom handles, and horse-rake teeth. 

Life as lived in the 1800's, as taken from the diary of David M. Phetteplace who lived in Cadiz:
"Sunday, January 25, 1880...This was a very nice day....went to the funeral of P.T. Jewell, a Masonic funeral, there were about 30 of us.  Elder Fisher preached. 
Friday, January 30.... Went to Franklinville in the evening, the "Streets of New York" was played. 
Monday, February 2... drew wood all day, made 4 trips.
Tuesday, February 3... Mother says that 30 years ago today the snow was 13 feet deep on the the level.  I am 40 years old today. 
February 20... bought a heifer, in 10 months aim to pay $28 if cheese brings 18 cents on the average, if not to pay $25; 50 cents for a half bushel of onions; a dance at Ischua". 

People mentioned in these entries were The Ed Farringtons, Arastus Chamberlain, The John Shereys, Wade Smith, Button & Holmes, The Eugene Thurbers, Stephen McNall, Alfred Spring, Horatio Stillwell, Joseph Ransberry, Den Winsor, Will Reid, The Andrew Adams.

Ezra M. Gould, father of Burt Gould, six times participated in the cattle drives to Philadelphia for Peter Ten Broeck.  A herd of about 500 cattle would be started from Franklinville, and apparently more buyng was done along the way.  The trip took about 21 days; a yoke of oxen served as the lead team; a horseman scouted ahead to find suitable fields for each night's camp.  One drive during the Civil War, found the herd and hersdmen in the vicinity of Harrisburg, uncomfortably close to Confederate lines.  However, they were not discovered and passed through safely.  The return trips were made by horseback or on the train to Cuba. 

In 1909 Harold L. howe delivered the Buffalo Evening News on horseback. 

In 1911, this church no longer had resident pastors.  Fred Simons, father of Mrs. Wesley (Jessalyn) bush, bought the church and used it for storage of farm equipment.  Mr. Bush demolished the building. 

Nowadays (Early 1900s), there are no churches in Cadiz, nor any stores.  Russell Hatch operates a lumber and building supply. 

*Taken from the Franklinville Centennial Book

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