Bio: Randolph NY Register, August 1, 1941
Lower Land Prices Brought Bowen Family to Randolph 116 Years Ago
One hundred sixteen years ago in February saw the settlement in Randolph of Darius Bowen, whose family to the fifth generation are known throughout this section. Concerning the hardy pioneer and his family of five children who came here in February, 1825, Otis Bowen a grandson has written the following interesting facts:
------------------------------------
Darius Bowen was born June 29, 1791. (The records do not give the place of birth, but the family came from Bristol, Conn.) He married a fine young lady by the name of Almira Torrance, a sister of Timothy Torrance who had come into Randolph Township and settled here in 1824. Darius and his bride bargained for land in Monroe County, New York; the site was in Henrietta, about fifteen miles south of Rochester. The land was in the Wadsworth estate.
Some ten years were spent in Henrietta. Five children were added to the family, and prospects were bright when the Wadsworths decided to advance the price of lands. This advance decided many settlers to leave the Genesee country, and Darius Bowen was among these independent ones who decided to abandon any further dealings with the Wadsworths.
The first move was to the town of Leister, Livingston County, where he apparently learned of a new tract or section of forest lands in Western New York, known as the "Holland Purchase," then open to settlers. It was described as a "goodly land," with fine growth of timber, pure water, fertile soil. Game, such as deer and wild turkeys, was in the woods, and large speckled trout in the many streams. Darius Bowen and his family decided to come to Cattaraugus County, and they were accompanied from Leister by Samuel Torrance and Anna Mitchell Torrance, his wife. Mr. Torrance was then in his 70th year. He was the patriarch of the settlers and probably the oldest settler in this section at that time.
The record of the journey from Leister to Randolph is brief. They came with a pair of well mated oxen, good walkers, a black cow, and a few sheep. They came to Ellicottville, the county seat, where Darius made arrangements for the purchase of one hundred acres. While they stopped at Ellicottville, the weather turned warm, rain fell, and the roads became so soft that it was necessary to leave a portion of their goods at that point. The older members of the family walked to save the oxen.
The party was composed, besides Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Torrance, of Darius Bowen, then in his 34th year, his wife Almira, daughter of Samuel Torrance, and their five children. Nancy was thirteen, Harriet eleven, Mary six, William three and a half, and Laura one year and two months old. Orrin was born two months later.
Their destination was the cabin of "Uncle" Timothy Torrance, built for nearly a year on lot 46 in this township. Picture if you can the hearty welcome accorded these nine travelers, and imagine the appearance of the inside of that cabin after the wayfarers had become settled. How welcome would be these newly arrived relatives to those who had spent a year in the wilderness, and the joy and gratitude of the settlers at arriving safely!
Darius Bowen soon located his 100 acres on lot 44, and blazed the trees for a mile and a quarter from the Torrance farm to his place. There a log cabin was constructed and a shelter for the oxen and cow, also a pen of poles for the few sheep. The sheep were allowed to browse outside the pen in daytime, but must be returned to the enclosure for protection against wolves as soon as darkness fell. The cattle also lived on browse the twigs of trees, basswood, elm, and soft maple were best.
The Bowen family were industrious and soon had a comfortable home. While cutting trees one day, a swarm of bees claimed ownership to a certain tree. A section of this tree was loaded on the sled and drawn by oxen to the home door yard where it was erected in the same position as it formerly stood. From this colony issued other swarms which were hived in more modern quarters, and so the Bowen family early had a fine apiary and enjoyed honey in abundance.
About the year 1845, Darius Bowen decided to get a horse, but he still kept the oxen for heavy work. He made a trip on foot to Bazetta, Ohio, to the home of his brother, James. There he purchased a horse and a little colt. Returning homeward, he rode the horse, but the little colt got so footsore that a blacksmith made some little shoes and fitted them so the colt could continue the journey. A harness was needed for the horse, and this was purchased and paid for in comb honey. The reason for getting the horse, it is recorded, was that it was becoming a more popular way of conveying the family to church.
Darius Bowen's father, James Bowen, was a good shoemaker, and Darius learned from his father this trade. When he came to this section, he brought a kit of tools. Undoubtedly he was the first of his craft to locate here, and his trade proved a means of financial support.
Darius Bowen sometimes related his early life in the wilderness. Wild turkeys and deer were shy, but the musket that Samuel Torrance used while acting as minute man in the Revolutionary War was just the things to bring down the deer and turkeys. The birds fattened on chestnuts and beechnuts.
Darius had difficulty to know in what direction to hunt for the cows, but the little dog Penny had good ears and would point. This time it was southeasterly toward the Beaver Meadows. A little spotted fawn jumped. Penny caught her by the ankle. Grandpa took her in his arms, left his gun, and carried the fawn about two miles home. The corn crib was her home till autumn, and William, the boy, fed her milk and clover while she was growing to be the very nicest pet.
The same summer Solomon Nichols caught a buck fawn. He wanted to have a park of deer the same as George Washington had, so he offered Darius Bowen three bushels of cleaned wheat for Little Fannie. Darius finally accepted the offer, but the boy William shed tears. The fawn became the mother of a nice group of deer which brought Uncle Sol a nice income. This was done on the same farm now owned and occupied by George Leach.
Otis Bowen, Randolph, N.Y.
Lower Land Prices Brought Bowen Family to Randolph 116 Years Ago
One hundred sixteen years ago in February saw the settlement in Randolph of Darius Bowen, whose family to the fifth generation are known throughout this section. Concerning the hardy pioneer and his family of five children who came here in February, 1825, Otis Bowen a grandson has written the following interesting facts:
------------------------------------
Darius Bowen was born June 29, 1791. (The records do not give the place of birth, but the family came from Bristol, Conn.) He married a fine young lady by the name of Almira Torrance, a sister of Timothy Torrance who had come into Randolph Township and settled here in 1824. Darius and his bride bargained for land in Monroe County, New York; the site was in Henrietta, about fifteen miles south of Rochester. The land was in the Wadsworth estate.
Some ten years were spent in Henrietta. Five children were added to the family, and prospects were bright when the Wadsworths decided to advance the price of lands. This advance decided many settlers to leave the Genesee country, and Darius Bowen was among these independent ones who decided to abandon any further dealings with the Wadsworths.
The first move was to the town of Leister, Livingston County, where he apparently learned of a new tract or section of forest lands in Western New York, known as the "Holland Purchase," then open to settlers. It was described as a "goodly land," with fine growth of timber, pure water, fertile soil. Game, such as deer and wild turkeys, was in the woods, and large speckled trout in the many streams. Darius Bowen and his family decided to come to Cattaraugus County, and they were accompanied from Leister by Samuel Torrance and Anna Mitchell Torrance, his wife. Mr. Torrance was then in his 70th year. He was the patriarch of the settlers and probably the oldest settler in this section at that time.
The record of the journey from Leister to Randolph is brief. They came with a pair of well mated oxen, good walkers, a black cow, and a few sheep. They came to Ellicottville, the county seat, where Darius made arrangements for the purchase of one hundred acres. While they stopped at Ellicottville, the weather turned warm, rain fell, and the roads became so soft that it was necessary to leave a portion of their goods at that point. The older members of the family walked to save the oxen.
The party was composed, besides Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Torrance, of Darius Bowen, then in his 34th year, his wife Almira, daughter of Samuel Torrance, and their five children. Nancy was thirteen, Harriet eleven, Mary six, William three and a half, and Laura one year and two months old. Orrin was born two months later.
Their destination was the cabin of "Uncle" Timothy Torrance, built for nearly a year on lot 46 in this township. Picture if you can the hearty welcome accorded these nine travelers, and imagine the appearance of the inside of that cabin after the wayfarers had become settled. How welcome would be these newly arrived relatives to those who had spent a year in the wilderness, and the joy and gratitude of the settlers at arriving safely!
Darius Bowen soon located his 100 acres on lot 44, and blazed the trees for a mile and a quarter from the Torrance farm to his place. There a log cabin was constructed and a shelter for the oxen and cow, also a pen of poles for the few sheep. The sheep were allowed to browse outside the pen in daytime, but must be returned to the enclosure for protection against wolves as soon as darkness fell. The cattle also lived on browse the twigs of trees, basswood, elm, and soft maple were best.
The Bowen family were industrious and soon had a comfortable home. While cutting trees one day, a swarm of bees claimed ownership to a certain tree. A section of this tree was loaded on the sled and drawn by oxen to the home door yard where it was erected in the same position as it formerly stood. From this colony issued other swarms which were hived in more modern quarters, and so the Bowen family early had a fine apiary and enjoyed honey in abundance.
About the year 1845, Darius Bowen decided to get a horse, but he still kept the oxen for heavy work. He made a trip on foot to Bazetta, Ohio, to the home of his brother, James. There he purchased a horse and a little colt. Returning homeward, he rode the horse, but the little colt got so footsore that a blacksmith made some little shoes and fitted them so the colt could continue the journey. A harness was needed for the horse, and this was purchased and paid for in comb honey. The reason for getting the horse, it is recorded, was that it was becoming a more popular way of conveying the family to church.
Darius Bowen's father, James Bowen, was a good shoemaker, and Darius learned from his father this trade. When he came to this section, he brought a kit of tools. Undoubtedly he was the first of his craft to locate here, and his trade proved a means of financial support.
Darius Bowen sometimes related his early life in the wilderness. Wild turkeys and deer were shy, but the musket that Samuel Torrance used while acting as minute man in the Revolutionary War was just the things to bring down the deer and turkeys. The birds fattened on chestnuts and beechnuts.
Darius had difficulty to know in what direction to hunt for the cows, but the little dog Penny had good ears and would point. This time it was southeasterly toward the Beaver Meadows. A little spotted fawn jumped. Penny caught her by the ankle. Grandpa took her in his arms, left his gun, and carried the fawn about two miles home. The corn crib was her home till autumn, and William, the boy, fed her milk and clover while she was growing to be the very nicest pet.
The same summer Solomon Nichols caught a buck fawn. He wanted to have a park of deer the same as George Washington had, so he offered Darius Bowen three bushels of cleaned wheat for Little Fannie. Darius finally accepted the offer, but the boy William shed tears. The fawn became the mother of a nice group of deer which brought Uncle Sol a nice income. This was done on the same farm now owned and occupied by George Leach.
Otis Bowen, Randolph, N.Y.
Bio: Randolph NY Register, August 1, 1941
Lower Land Prices Brought Bowen Family to Randolph 116 Years Ago
One hundred sixteen years ago in February saw the settlement in Randolph of Darius Bowen, whose family to the fifth generation are known throughout this section. Concerning the hardy pioneer and his family of five children who came here in February, 1825, Otis Bowen a grandson has written the following interesting facts:
------------------------------------
Darius Bowen was born June 29, 1791. (The records do not give the place of birth, but the family came from Bristol, Conn.) He married a fine young lady by the name of Almira Torrance, a sister of Timothy Torrance who had come into Randolph Township and settled here in 1824. Darius and his bride bargained for land in Monroe County, New York; the site was in Henrietta, about fifteen miles south of Rochester. The land was in the Wadsworth estate.
Some ten years were spent in Henrietta. Five children were added to the family, and prospects were bright when the Wadsworths decided to advance the price of lands. This advance decided many settlers to leave the Genesee country, and Darius Bowen was among these independent ones who decided to abandon any further dealings with the Wadsworths.
The first move was to the town of Leister, Livingston County, where he apparently learned of a new tract or section of forest lands in Western New York, known as the "Holland Purchase," then open to settlers. It was described as a "goodly land," with fine growth of timber, pure water, fertile soil. Game, such as deer and wild turkeys, was in the woods, and large speckled trout in the many streams. Darius Bowen and his family decided to come to Cattaraugus County, and they were accompanied from Leister by Samuel Torrance and Anna Mitchell Torrance, his wife. Mr. Torrance was then in his 70th year. He was the patriarch of the settlers and probably the oldest settler in this section at that time.
The record of the journey from Leister to Randolph is brief. They came with a pair of well mated oxen, good walkers, a black cow, and a few sheep. They came to Ellicottville, the county seat, where Darius made arrangements for the purchase of one hundred acres. While they stopped at Ellicottville, the weather turned warm, rain fell, and the roads became so soft that it was necessary to leave a portion of their goods at that point. The older members of the family walked to save the oxen.
The party was composed, besides Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Torrance, of Darius Bowen, then in his 34th year, his wife Almira, daughter of Samuel Torrance, and their five children. Nancy was thirteen, Harriet eleven, Mary six, William three and a half, and Laura one year and two months old. Orrin was born two months later.
Their destination was the cabin of "Uncle" Timothy Torrance, built for nearly a year on lot 46 in this township. Picture if you can the hearty welcome accorded these nine travelers, and imagine the appearance of the inside of that cabin after the wayfarers had become settled. How welcome would be these newly arrived relatives to those who had spent a year in the wilderness, and the joy and gratitude of the settlers at arriving safely!
Darius Bowen soon located his 100 acres on lot 44, and blazed the trees for a mile and a quarter from the Torrance farm to his place. There a log cabin was constructed and a shelter for the oxen and cow, also a pen of poles for the few sheep. The sheep were allowed to browse outside the pen in daytime, but must be returned to the enclosure for protection against wolves as soon as darkness fell. The cattle also lived on browse the twigs of trees, basswood, elm, and soft maple were best.
The Bowen family were industrious and soon had a comfortable home. While cutting trees one day, a swarm of bees claimed ownership to a certain tree. A section of this tree was loaded on the sled and drawn by oxen to the home door yard where it was erected in the same position as it formerly stood. From this colony issued other swarms which were hived in more modern quarters, and so the Bowen family early had a fine apiary and enjoyed honey in abundance.
About the year 1845, Darius Bowen decided to get a horse, but he still kept the oxen for heavy work. He made a trip on foot to Bazetta, Ohio, to the home of his brother, James. There he purchased a horse and a little colt. Returning homeward, he rode the horse, but the little colt got so footsore that a blacksmith made some little shoes and fitted them so the colt could continue the journey. A harness was needed for the horse, and this was purchased and paid for in comb honey. The reason for getting the horse, it is recorded, was that it was becoming a more popular way of conveying the family to church.
Darius Bowen's father, James Bowen, was a good shoemaker, and Darius learned from his father this trade. When he came to this section, he brought a kit of tools. Undoubtedly he was the first of his craft to locate here, and his trade proved a means of financial support.
Darius Bowen sometimes related his early life in the wilderness. Wild turkeys and deer were shy, but the musket that Samuel Torrance used while acting as minute man in the Revolutionary War was just the things to bring down the deer and turkeys. The birds fattened on chestnuts and beechnuts.
Darius had difficulty to know in what direction to hunt for the cows, but the little dog Penny had good ears and would point. This time it was southeasterly toward the Beaver Meadows. A little spotted fawn jumped. Penny caught her by the ankle. Grandpa took her in his arms, left his gun, and carried the fawn about two miles home. The corn crib was her home till autumn, and William, the boy, fed her milk and clover while she was growing to be the very nicest pet.
The same summer Solomon Nichols caught a buck fawn. He wanted to have a park of deer the same as George Washington had, so he offered Darius Bowen three bushels of cleaned wheat for Little Fannie. Darius finally accepted the offer, but the boy William shed tears. The fawn became the mother of a nice group of deer which brought Uncle Sol a nice income. This was done on the same farm now owned and occupied by George Leach.
Otis Bowen, Randolph, N.Y.
Lower Land Prices Brought Bowen Family to Randolph 116 Years Ago
One hundred sixteen years ago in February saw the settlement in Randolph of Darius Bowen, whose family to the fifth generation are known throughout this section. Concerning the hardy pioneer and his family of five children who came here in February, 1825, Otis Bowen a grandson has written the following interesting facts:
------------------------------------
Darius Bowen was born June 29, 1791. (The records do not give the place of birth, but the family came from Bristol, Conn.) He married a fine young lady by the name of Almira Torrance, a sister of Timothy Torrance who had come into Randolph Township and settled here in 1824. Darius and his bride bargained for land in Monroe County, New York; the site was in Henrietta, about fifteen miles south of Rochester. The land was in the Wadsworth estate.
Some ten years were spent in Henrietta. Five children were added to the family, and prospects were bright when the Wadsworths decided to advance the price of lands. This advance decided many settlers to leave the Genesee country, and Darius Bowen was among these independent ones who decided to abandon any further dealings with the Wadsworths.
The first move was to the town of Leister, Livingston County, where he apparently learned of a new tract or section of forest lands in Western New York, known as the "Holland Purchase," then open to settlers. It was described as a "goodly land," with fine growth of timber, pure water, fertile soil. Game, such as deer and wild turkeys, was in the woods, and large speckled trout in the many streams. Darius Bowen and his family decided to come to Cattaraugus County, and they were accompanied from Leister by Samuel Torrance and Anna Mitchell Torrance, his wife. Mr. Torrance was then in his 70th year. He was the patriarch of the settlers and probably the oldest settler in this section at that time.
The record of the journey from Leister to Randolph is brief. They came with a pair of well mated oxen, good walkers, a black cow, and a few sheep. They came to Ellicottville, the county seat, where Darius made arrangements for the purchase of one hundred acres. While they stopped at Ellicottville, the weather turned warm, rain fell, and the roads became so soft that it was necessary to leave a portion of their goods at that point. The older members of the family walked to save the oxen.
The party was composed, besides Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Torrance, of Darius Bowen, then in his 34th year, his wife Almira, daughter of Samuel Torrance, and their five children. Nancy was thirteen, Harriet eleven, Mary six, William three and a half, and Laura one year and two months old. Orrin was born two months later.
Their destination was the cabin of "Uncle" Timothy Torrance, built for nearly a year on lot 46 in this township. Picture if you can the hearty welcome accorded these nine travelers, and imagine the appearance of the inside of that cabin after the wayfarers had become settled. How welcome would be these newly arrived relatives to those who had spent a year in the wilderness, and the joy and gratitude of the settlers at arriving safely!
Darius Bowen soon located his 100 acres on lot 44, and blazed the trees for a mile and a quarter from the Torrance farm to his place. There a log cabin was constructed and a shelter for the oxen and cow, also a pen of poles for the few sheep. The sheep were allowed to browse outside the pen in daytime, but must be returned to the enclosure for protection against wolves as soon as darkness fell. The cattle also lived on browse the twigs of trees, basswood, elm, and soft maple were best.
The Bowen family were industrious and soon had a comfortable home. While cutting trees one day, a swarm of bees claimed ownership to a certain tree. A section of this tree was loaded on the sled and drawn by oxen to the home door yard where it was erected in the same position as it formerly stood. From this colony issued other swarms which were hived in more modern quarters, and so the Bowen family early had a fine apiary and enjoyed honey in abundance.
About the year 1845, Darius Bowen decided to get a horse, but he still kept the oxen for heavy work. He made a trip on foot to Bazetta, Ohio, to the home of his brother, James. There he purchased a horse and a little colt. Returning homeward, he rode the horse, but the little colt got so footsore that a blacksmith made some little shoes and fitted them so the colt could continue the journey. A harness was needed for the horse, and this was purchased and paid for in comb honey. The reason for getting the horse, it is recorded, was that it was becoming a more popular way of conveying the family to church.
Darius Bowen's father, James Bowen, was a good shoemaker, and Darius learned from his father this trade. When he came to this section, he brought a kit of tools. Undoubtedly he was the first of his craft to locate here, and his trade proved a means of financial support.
Darius Bowen sometimes related his early life in the wilderness. Wild turkeys and deer were shy, but the musket that Samuel Torrance used while acting as minute man in the Revolutionary War was just the things to bring down the deer and turkeys. The birds fattened on chestnuts and beechnuts.
Darius had difficulty to know in what direction to hunt for the cows, but the little dog Penny had good ears and would point. This time it was southeasterly toward the Beaver Meadows. A little spotted fawn jumped. Penny caught her by the ankle. Grandpa took her in his arms, left his gun, and carried the fawn about two miles home. The corn crib was her home till autumn, and William, the boy, fed her milk and clover while she was growing to be the very nicest pet.
The same summer Solomon Nichols caught a buck fawn. He wanted to have a park of deer the same as George Washington had, so he offered Darius Bowen three bushels of cleaned wheat for Little Fannie. Darius finally accepted the offer, but the boy William shed tears. The fawn became the mother of a nice group of deer which brought Uncle Sol a nice income. This was done on the same farm now owned and occupied by George Leach.
Otis Bowen, Randolph, N.Y.
Family Members
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