In the spring of 1852, I was visiting at uncle Samuel Hazen's.
He was living in Crawford County, Pa. Aunt Lucy showed me grandfather's
bible, it was some faded; but with uncle's help, we made out the
faded parts. Until this time, I had been told but little more
than their names. Benjamin Hazen, father's cousin, had a record
of the family down to 1830. We have learned from that. Benjamin
Hazen, the tanner, I knew as a kind father, the place and time
of his birth and where he had resided, until 1852. I then learned
my father's financial standing from aunt Lucy. While in Meadville,
Pa. I became acquainted with the Rev. James H. Hazen, he was from
Mercer County, Pa.
I have learned from Tracy E. Hazen of Thomaston, Conn., that we
are descendants of the early settlers of America. The name came
from England.
The following history of the Hazen family was written by Benjamin
F. Hazen for the Hazen-Barrett reunion held in Clymer, N. Y. in
1906.
Before 1700, (1638) Edward Hazen settled in Rowley, Mass. He
had a large family. Many of the Hazens claim to be of his descent.
Sylvester, one of his sons, built a tannery in Brattleboro, Vt.
He had many sons and four daughters. Just before the battle of
Bennington, he traded his tannery for a farm at Windhill; his
sons having all left him, but Silas, the youngest, to go to the
war. Two of his sons, Edward and Jonathan, were killed in the
battle of Bennington and two were wounded, Issac and Benjamin.
Issac returned to Windhill. Benjamin remained a hospital steward
to the close of the war. The other sons went on with Ethan Allen;
but only Samuel and Jesse returned to Windhill. Paul died of wounds
at Valley Forge, the others were killed in the war.
Silas, my grandfather, was born in the summer of 1765. When he
was 13 years old, he went to Bennington to learn the shoemaker's
trade. After he had learned the trade, they gave him a kit of
tools and the hammer he had learned the trade with.
Benjamin Hazen, son of Sylvester, settled in Shenango County,
New York, in 1786; where he died in 1819. He was a physician.
He had five sons and some daughters. Benjamin, the oldest son,
must have been born 1776.
In 1786, Jesse and Silas, sons of Sylvester, settled in Herkimer,
then Tryon County, New York. Jesse had a large family. He built
a foundry for his oldest sons, Sylvester and Jesse; for himself,
he built a tannery. Paul, a third son, was the same age of my
father. Silas, my grandfather, carried on boot and shoe making.
He married Miss Sarah Wilder of Herkimer in the fall of 1786.
Uncle Paul was born in 1787. Uncle Silas was born in 1790. Father
was born December 6th, 1794. Aunt Harriet was born in 1796 and
died in 1800. Uncle Samuel was born in 1798. Aunt Minerva was
born in 1800 and died in Sherman, N.Y. in 1862. Aunt Sarah was
born in 1802 and died at Edinboro, Pa. in 1846. Uncle Charles
was born July 10 th, 1810. They were all born in Herkimer Village.
Grand mother died when uncle Charles was but two days old. He
was named Charles Wilder for great grand father Wilder.
In 1821, the sons of Jesse sold their foundry and with two younger
brothers joined the Mohawk colony for the North West Territory.
The first news was from Olean, N.Y. They bought lumber, made a
fleet and started down the Allegany. The last news was, they had
joined the Albany colony below Cincinnati. I saw, in THE METAL
WORKER, that there is a Hazen Iron Company now in Indiana.
A few years later; Issac, brother of Jesse and grand father, came
from Vermont. Samuel, their brother, stayed on the farm in Vermont;
where some of his descendants still remain. Issac stayed a few
days with them and then went on to Shenango; after staying a few
days left for Ohio. The women traveled on horseback carrying children.
The men driving cows, sheep and oxen with carts loaded with household
goods, poultry and pigs.
I Met the Rev. James H. Hazen in 1852. He said, his grand father
came from the east at an early day. He migrated in the usual way
of those days, with carts, oxen, horses and farm stock. In this
way they made 10 miles a day. The Indians were friendly. He was
the first.
Uncle Paul, at the age of 14, went to work on the farm of his
uncle Benjamin, where he worked until the war of 1812. I do not
know how long he was in the war, but he drew a land warrant. All
were soldiers in those days; every community had a squad. A number
from each squad were ordered and kept until allowed to go home.
After the battle of Sacket's Harbor, his captain, was allowed
to take his company and go home. He returned to Shenango. While
on his uncle's farm he married Miss Anna McMullen. Lonson, their
oldest son, married Miss Lewis, while working for my father. After
his mother died, he lived with my father until he went to Michigan;
where he died in 1852. They had two children; as I learned from
Mrs. Hula Brown, her sister. Elias died in 1845, in North East,
Pa., he left no children. Charles married Miss Jane A. Jones of
French Creek, N.Y. in 1858. She was born in Canada. Charles left
two children, George and Melissa. He bought and paid for 110 acres
of land in Mina before the Civil War. In 1869 he traded 50 acres
for 115 acres and afterwards paid the difference. He died on his
farm in Mina, Chautauqua County, N.Y. October 6th, 1879; where
his widow and children, and grand children live.
There children of Uncle Paul, Lonson,. Elcie, and Charles were
born in Shenango County. Thomas, Daniel, Sarah, Orlando, and William
were born in Mina, Chautauqua County, N. Y.
Thomas went with his father-in-law to Canada, soon after he was
married. In 1879, he returned with a daughter. Two of his sons
Joseph and Robert came afterwards. When last heard from, they
were in Nebraska. Thomas died in 1880, in Warren County, Pa. He
left six children.
The remaining history of uncle Paul and his family will be found
in the history of Benjamin the tanner.
In the spring of 1820, Benjamin, Issac and Sylvester came to
Mina. They brought their mother with them; their father having
died in Shenango the winter before. Uncle Paul came with them.
Edward their brother, came to Mina in 1827; their mother died
at that time.
Edward then returned to Shenango. He was a physician. Another
brother remained on the farm and some of their descendants yet
remain.
As soon as he could handle a hoe, he worked on grand father's
10 acre lot; so did uncle Paul; as teachers in those days had
no faculty to learn stammering children. He was in the war of
1812 and was sent to Plattsburg. The remaining history of grand
father and his children will be found in the history of my father.
It is to be remembered that the younger children lost their mother
in childhood, but none have been criminals, and they have done
well in their last years.
He and his cousin Paul being the same age went to school together,
when they were 14 years old, they had a good, common school education.
They then went into the tannery. Father now went to live with
his uncle Jesse. When they were 18, they had learned the trade.
Jesse, their father and uncle, gave each a French silver watch;
the price was 150 dollars. It was over three inches in diameter.
After they were 18, he gave them all they could make, this was
the year 1812.
Father stayed until 1822. In the spring of that year, the leather
of the years before, being all sold, concluded to go to the North
West Territory. He found he had saved over 3,000 dollars. Next
be bought a six years old bay mare and saddle of his uncle Jesse.
Then his uncle gave him his grand father's currying knife and
steel and told him to keep them to use. They were as good as new.
He bought a green shaving knife and prepared for the journey.
He then started on horseback for the west.
He traveled 25 miles a day and arrived at Westfield the last of
May 1822. The inn keeper informed him of the Hazens in Mina and
told him their names. They, being his brother and cousins, he
concluded to stop awhile with them. The inn keeper directed him
to Kipp's Mill, now Sherman, N. Y. After arriving at Sherman he
was directed to Benjamin Hazen's who went with him to uncle Paul's.
It is not surprising why people lost track of their friends, when
consider how high postage was in the early days. People would
go long journeys to visit relatives rather than pay postage. Mr.
Samuel Hawley showed me a letter addressed to Mrs. Miller. It
was well kept and readable. It was post marked Amsterdam, N.Y.;
postage 50 cents. It was from a relative and he said Mrs. Miller
was his sister, and they kept the post office.
After father had visited with uncle Paul, he went and visited
his cousins. Benjamin told him that he could show him a piece
of land that would suit him and tannage could be easily obtained
from the place. He concluded to buy it. He then went to Mayville
and bought that lot now owned by Mrs. Tryon and the Douglases,
240 acres. It cost him 3 dollars per acre. A strip of 120 acres
on the north was sold to a man by the name of Waters, as I was
told by Mr. Hiram Tryon. Waters went back east and never returned.
After he bought the land, he went to live with uncle Paul. They
had five children, one a baby. They had been married nine years.
Aunt Anna was a bible reader and of Christian character.
Father wrote to grand father and told him to sell what he had
and all to come and share with him. He wanted uncles Silas and
Samuel to take part of the land for he tanned in the old system.
It requires much capital to start a tannery in the old way; for
it takes so long to get return from the labor and investment.
Seasoned lumber was not to be found, so he did not start tanning
until the next spring. Father hired Mr. Fox of Findley's Lake
and other help that summer. Mr. Fox felled the first tree on Douglas's
farm; this I was told by him at our first acquaintance. He was
the father of George Fox of Findley's Lake.
Then father bought a yoke oxen of Mr. Barlow, who lived on the
road to Sheldon's Corner's, this, I was told by him while I was
visiting in Mina.
He bought lumber of Kipp & Miller as the road to Sherman,
then Kippville, was better than elsewhere. Next he began a pioneer
dwelling and barn. The house was built with a room for spinning
and weaving. Stoves had not yet reached Mina. A fireplace was
made in the room for working in the winter. He hired 20 acres
chopped and part of it cleared and sowed wheat. Issac Hazen did
his carpenter work. The lumber necessary seasoned, was hauled
and put up to dry. In September, grand father, and Uncles Silas,
Samuel, and Charles and aunts Minerva and Sarah arrived in Mina.
They came by stage to Westfield. The Bromleys came at the same
time and lived in part of father's house until they could prepare
a dwelling. In 1849, I and Sylvester Bromley, a cousin, our mothers
were sisters, made uncle Samuel a visit. He was then living north
west of Sherman. During this visit, aunt Lucy told me about the
Hazens and Bromleys coming to Mina. Aunt Lucy said that father
at one time proposed marriage to her, and she told him yes, if
he would give up tanning. He replied, than he would not know what
to work at. Uncle Samuel proposed and they were married the next
spring. Father wanted uncle Samuel to buy part of land but aunt
Lucy did not want to live on a farm. She wanted to go to some
village and work at her trade.
Aunt Lucy was a good woman but knew nothing but tailoring and
housekeeping. She was a women that love the Lord. After they were
married uncle Samuel went to Sherman to live and do team work.
He was fond of horses but it was the horse that could pull. He
was industrious but liberal to a fact. The older Hazens cared
nothing for fast horses. The fall was warm through October and
the Bromleys had made them a dwelling.
The timber on the land was easily cleared, being most all beach
and maple. Father harvested a good wheat crop the next summer.
After that his wheat bin was never empty until he had a new crop
ready for the mill. Uncle Silas worked for him that winter and
continued on to work for 14 dollars per month. That was the common
wages for a year. That same fall, he built a bark mill and hide
house. As harness leather was worth 35 cents per pound, there
was a good interest on the investment. He bought heavy harness
hides and a bark mill from Buffalo. Uncle Samuel did his team
work. He bought 2 cows and 10 sheep. After hiring so much it drained
on his capital. They saved the ashes and made black salts. They
cut down more timber that winter, besides getting out timber for
the tannery. It did not require much hay to winter stock; there
being much browse. All the chopped land was cleared in the spring
for spring crops.
Issac Hazen began work on the tannery, as soon as mild weather
came in the spring. In the lower part of the building, he had
two water pools, one for working in and the other for washing
the skins, also a lime vats a weighing room and a shoemaking room.
The tanning vats were out doors. The upper story was divided into
two rooms, one for finishing and the other for storing leather.
It was frame and placed to extend over the tan yard.
When the third year came around, his money was all gone, but he
was established and did not owe a cent to any one. He now made
his living from the farm and the tannery, Aunt Minerva did his
spinning and weaving. The store bill was small and paid with socks,
mittens and yarn made of wool taken from skins bought to the tannery,
and some chickens and butter paid the bill. Eggs were so low,
it was more profitable to use them.
Some time after this Aunt Sarah married William O. Graves and
went to live at Edinboro, Pa. Uncle Silas married Miss Emily Pope
of North East, Pa. She was well liked by the older Hazens. Father
then let Uncle Silas work the farm on shares and paid him for
clearing all the land he wished, and he could have all the black
salts. The rest of the Bromleys came afterwards. The Hazens and
Bromelys were strangers before meeting in Westfield.
Early in the year 1830 grand father Griffith and Mother came to
Mina, Father married Miss Elizabeth soon after. About the same
time, Issac and Sylvester went to the North West Territory, near
Iowa. Benjamin, at the same time, went to Cornplanter, Pa. and
went to Iowa in 1844. Uncle Samuel went with him to work in a
furnace; so did Hiffins Bromely; his wife was my Mother's sister.
Diana, my sister was born, May 7th, 1831 and died; Feb. 20th,
1845. I was born December 31st, 1834. Aunt Minerva had gone to
Mr. Osborne's to live. Mrs. Osborne, just before she died, requested
her to stay with the children, which she did.
In the fall of 1834, father had a big stock of leather. He concluded
to enlarge the tanyard and have it all under cover in order to
work in hides during the winter.
Uncles Samuel and Higgins returned from Pennsylvania. Father gave
them a job to clear land and make black salts with Uncle Silas.
Uncle Samuel's folks had two children; Samuel Wilder and Ester,
their two older children died. Aunt Anna died during the last
five years and Uncle Paul had married again. Her maiden name was
Snedeker. I have been told by neighbors said, they always found
a friend in Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Betsy.
During the time Uncle Charles married Mrs. Elizabeth Coe. Her
maiden name was Barnhart. They had no children of their own, but
their hours was never without a child. They lived two years in
Mina and Uncle Charles worked at shoemaking. Aunt Elizabth's health
was poor and they returned to Pennsylvania. They lived in Butler
and Crawford Counties. Aunt Elizabeth ought to have been named
Martha Dorcas, she was fretful, yet she was fond of children.
I hope to meet her and all my Aunts above.
Bringing all to December 1834, we find Uncle Samuel in the house
Uncle Charles had moved out of and Aunt Polly and her family went
into finishing room in the tannery, to stay until spring. By the
first of January 1835, father had sold all of his leather. It
was to be taken away and paid for the next week. He has $800 dollars
in money and lumber to build a house and finish the tannery. He
was now called a rich man, and was assessed at 3,000 dollars.
The tannery was burned the second night after I was born. There
was but one solution. Father had intended to put in 40 new vats
and tan mule leather. Grandfather Griffith worked in the tannery
that day, trimming and jointing vat plank. Father had 2600 lbs.
of leather tied up and weighed, and from the number of tiers there
would be a full ton yet to tie up. The day was mild and there
was no fire before in the tannery. There was a barrel half full
of fish oil and the shavings and plank trimmings was by the barrel.
There could be no other way; some one had been down for water
and had thrown burning candle snuff in the shavings. The fire
was discovered at 10 o'clock, and by the time they reached the
tannery the leather room was full of flames. Grandfather's hammer
was all there was left in the morning. 1600 dollars would be low
estimate for the leather. It was burned the second night after
I was born. It was a great loss. He would have rebuilt, but his
cousin Benjamin was up on business from Pennsylvania. He thought
it would be best for him to come down there and build. He accordingly
went down with him and bought in Troy, Crawford County, Pa. and
build again. When he came back he least the farm to Uncle Silas
for 20 years provided he did not wish to return, and in that case,
he could work it on shares or buy a part of it if he wished. Aunt
Lucy wanted to go to Sherman to live and Uncle Samuel had gone
to work in an ashery.
In 185 I was visiting in Mina. I asked Elice Cave about grandfather's
illness, I wished to know more about it. She said, he had lost
his mind and was not hard to care for. It was softening of the
brain; something many have at seventy years of age. He died with
Uncle Silas in the spring of 1835. Father had moved to Pennsylvania.
He came back in the spring after cows and sheep, and we all came
with him. Grandfather died while we were there. Sarah and Elias,
Uncle Paul's children came home with us. Elias went back, but
Sarah stayed until the next spring. Daniel, Sarah Hunt and Elcie
came to make us a visit. Elice stayed with us for a year. Elice
stayed until James Cave came and she returned with him. they were
married soon after. They had a large family, but only three are
now living. Elice died in Mina in 1886. William married Miss Elarda
Fox of Mina, she died in 1873. They had three daughters; Jenny
married F. M. Tryon, and Carrie married Fred Douglas. Note: "Maude
the baby at the time of her mother's death went to live with Mr.
and Mrs. Augustus Peabody of Ripley and took the name of Peabody.
She married Frank Wolfe." William Cave, for a second wife,
married Miss Mary Stanton of Chautauqua. They had three daughters,
Bertha and Ruth now living. Bertha married Dell Skellie, and Mable
married Harvey plumb and died soon after. Note: "Ruth Cave
died." William and Franklin Cave were in the Civil War. Franklin
died from a wound received at Gettysburg. The daughters of James
Cave were Mariet, married George Lake and Sarah married Adonijah
Tagart.
In the fall of 1841, Mr. Sturdevant rapped at our door. Father
bade him to come in. He opened the door and said I am Sturdevant.
Father rose to his feet and said, we will take care of the horse.
It had been raining and had turned to snow. When they came in
Mr. Sturdevant asked what is your last news from Mina, Father
said, Elice's marriage. The reply was, then I have bad news to
tell you. He told us Aunt Emily had been dead over three years.
After supper, father went to the shop, but invited him to stay
the next day. Next morning they when to the shop. Mr. Sturdevant
stayed a few minutes and went out. Father went out and saw him
getting on his horse to go away. Then he found writing on the
snow, "Your farm in Mina has been sold for taxes." By
night the snow was all gone and we had some fine weather. The
next morning father went to see if it could be redeemed. At noon,
he found Uncle Silas, Uncle Silas was a stammerer and could hardly
talk; for this reason he failed to find us. Uncle Silas gave his
two children, John and Harriet to their grandfather. He educated
them. John became a physician and Harriet a teacher. She taught
until she became advance in years. They lived in Michigan. I was
told this by a comrade who marched with John through Georgia.
Uncle Silas was married again to a woman in Concord, Pa. Next
day father arrived at James Cave's before noon; he found the folks
all well. Uncle Samuel's had two more children; Elizabeth and
Horace. It was hard for laboring people to live. Banks were everywhere
failing and their notes would become worthless. Uncle Samuel was
working in Buss and Parker's ashery. Aunt Lucy was a good tailoress
and together they made a living but it was all they could do.
Aunt Polly's folks were in distress. Father told them that he
would send for them and started for home the next day. It was
no better until after 1860. Everybody was grumbling and Lincoln's
election saved the nation from anarchy.
Father sent for Aunt Polly immediately. Three days later, they
were at our home. It was a warm winter and they soon had a dwelling.
One evening Aunt Polly said, it was a wonder that Benjamin did
not commit suicide. Why he did not commit suicide, Mother said,
no danger; he thinks to much of Benny for that. What did he say,
when he came home? Betsy; it is all gone, but I do not own a cent
to anybody and I can sent Benny to college. If we had known of
Emily's death we would have gone back to Mina. Samuel told him,
the farm was well stocked when Emily died. Silas was not to blame
for nobody knew where it went. I never fret before Benjamin. We
make our own clothing, I spin and weave it. We raise flax for
summer wear. Mrs. Tipton's sister does all my sewing and I pay
her with weaving bills. As I make our bread, our store bill is
small. The spinning wheel was heard in every house.
Daniel Hazen married Miss Sarah Hunt. In the winter of 1844, Daniel
, Sarah and Aunt Jane, Uncle Paul's second wife, made us a visit.
During this visit, Daniel asked father if he knew anything about
their ages; for they, he said, could not agree. Father replied,
your Mother asked me to make a record; I told her to bring her
bible and I would make it for her. She died soon after. Father
took Orlando and Sarah to his home. It was in the days of quill
pens. There were many good readers that could not write because
teachers did not like to make pens. It was hard for children to
learn to write.
Mother died March 20th, 1844. Uncle Silas' second wife died about
the same time. He married Miss Rhoda Hill for a third wife. He
died in the fall of 1857. On son by his third wife survived him.
Benjamin G. Hazen, son of father;s cousin Benjamin, came to Troy,
Crawford County in 1843; where he lived until 1865. He and father
worked the farm and tannery together. Father's cousin Benjamin
went to Iowa in 1844.
In May 1846, father went to Iowa and left me with Uncle Charles.
He was to carry on the farm and tannery with Benjamin G. Hazen.
The first news was, that it was a good country, but he was coming
back to sent Benny to school in Meadville. The next news was;
cousin Benjamin is dead. He died with malaria, August 26, 1846.
It was epidemic.
Esther, daughter of Uncle Samuel, married Levi Ross of Plum, Pa.
in 1847. They brought word of the death of Aunt Jane, Uncle Paul's
second wife; a son and daughter survived her. The daughter died
a few years later. William George Hazen
is the only one of Uncle Paul;'s children now living. He married
Miss Margaret Emerson of Rome, Pa. The had four children; Emerson
Dewitt Hazen is the oldest, Uncle Paul died in Mina, in the fall
of 1860. Sarah, Uncle Paul's daughter, married Mr. Jonathan Barrett.
She died October 23rd, 1883. Mr. Barrett died some time before.
Charles, Franklin, Mrs. Farrar, Frederick and Ida, their children
now living; Chancey died in 1897.
Orlando, Uncle Paul's son by his first wife, died in Wisconsin
some time ago. Daniel Hazen died in Mina, in March 1887. He lived
in Chautauqua County all his life. Sarah, his second wife died
122 years afterwards. They left no children.
Samuel W. Hazen, Uncle Samuel's son, married Miss Eliza McGinnis
of Westfield, New York. They had five children, Alexander, William,
Melville and Rosell. His first wife died in 1862. The daughter
died in 1865. For a second wife he married Miss Ross of Tryonville.
They have a large family. They live on a farm near Hydetown, Pa.
Elizabeth, daughter of Uncle Samuel, married Richard H. Brumaghim
and lives near Geneva, Ohio.
Horace, son of Uncle Samuel, served in the Civil War and now lives
in the West, when last heard from.
Aunt Lucy, Uncle Samuel's wife, died in 1858. Uncle Samuel died
about 12 years ago. Esther, their daughter, died about the same
time and near the same place. Aunt Eliza his wife died in 1883
at Townville, Pa. they left no children.
George W., son of Uncle Silas and Aunt Rhoda, his third wife,
was born in Erie County, Pa. in 1846. He lives near Titusville,
Pa. Samuel Wilder Hazen died last fall, near Hydetown, Pa. (1905-7).
Benjamin G. Hazen died two years ago (1904 ?). Rachel, his wife,
her maiden name was McClintock, died the year before at Venango,
Pa. (1903). Benjamin F., son of Benjamin the tanner, I left Troy,
the home of my babyhood in the fall of 1847. I stayed in Titusville,
doing chores for my board. The next summer I went to school six
months at Chase's Mill. I chose a guardian, the next winter. Aunt
Elisa advised me to choose S. M. Bromley., The bail ruled him
and I lost most all I had by the unless Orphans Court sale. I
lived at Sugar Lake with William F. McDill. I stayed with him
two years and went to school each winter. In the winter of 1851-1852
I went to a select school in Titusville. Next spring I worked
on a saw mill at Hydetown. When my two months were ended Charles
Bread called to see me. They told him to call at 12 o'clock. He
told them, they said, that father had been a rich man, but only
$325. was all that was left. He told them, they said, it was caused
by one of your Aunts. I explained, father lost by the death of
Aunt Emily. The next day, I visited Uncle Samuel. Aunt Lucy talked
the Hazen story all over. Next day, I visited Uncle Charles. We
talked about the Orphans Court sale, he said, I ought to break
it. Next day, I visited Aunt Polly. She thought the tannery was
burned by a coal from grandfather's pipe. Our other talk has been
told. I next visited Cates Hazen, he said, I could break the sale,
but it was best to use my money in school. I next went to Meadville.
I was there most of the time for four years. It has made me a
good citizen; to fads, I have never listened. I married Miss Emma
T. Jones, sister of Charles' wife, September 15th, 1863. I have
three children, Ida, Charles and Arthur; also five grand children.
Emma, my wife, died in Mina, October 20th, 1883. I was in the
army 82 days. I am with my son Charles in Clymer, New York.
Yours truly,
Benj. F. Hazen
1906.
NOTE: About two miles east of Findley Lake, New York
on the Sherman Road is the small hamlet of Mina Corners, New York.
In the Mina Town minutes in the 1820's it mentions that both Benjamin
(father of Benjamin F. Hazen) and Isaac served as "Overseers
of Highways" in Mina. Two names which were the first settlers
of Mina was Skinner and Hazen. At one time in Mina Corners there
was a tavern (1827), bank, dry good store, hardware store, druggist,
stage coach inn, cheese factory, creameries, butter tubs and shingle
mills, wagon maker and blacksmith. The area was entirely agricultural,
the village formed the hub of an extensive dairy farming area,
where even though mills existed for the timber and milling trades.
There where two main areas of settlement Findley Lake and Mina
Corners. The centers of trade in the area later shifted to Findley
Lake and Sherman with the coming of the railroad, at the expence
of Mina Corners. All that is left of Mina Corners is one church,
a cemetary, and a dozen homes in the immediate area. One of the
early industries of Mina was tanning, distilling, the manufacturing
of black salts and shingles (shingle mills). The Hazen family
operated these various industries. The Whiskey from the Hazen's
distillery sold for 25 cents a gallon. The old Hazen house still
stands north of Mina Cornors were Interstate I-17 goes over the
family grave year and the graves of Paul Hazen and his immedate
family. The rest of the family members are buried in the cemetary
in Mina Corners.
My great grandfather William George Hazen who was born in Ripley,
New York ,18 April1838 ; married at Union City, Pa., 10 September
1864, Margaret Emerson, born in Crawford County, Pa., 3 November
1844, daughter of William and Jane (Hutchinson) Emerson. They
lived in Waterford, Pa. They had four children; Emerson DeWitt,
born at Concord, Erie County, Pa., 1 April 1866, Elnora, born
in Crawford County, Pa. 19 December 1868, May born at Mina Corners,
New York, 7 November 1871 and Daniel aka Henry L. born in Washington
township, Erie County, Pa., 7 September 1878. Emerson Dewitt Hazen
who married Linnie Mae King of Waterford, Pa. They had three children;
Theodore Roosevelt (Theodore married Stephine Josephine (------)
they had three children; Theodore R., John Richard, and John Emerson),
Opal Esther (Opal married Sarkes Margosian, they had two sons;
Albert and Harry, and Thora Ruth (Thora married Sarkes Boyajain
they had one son William). The second oldest Elnora who married
William Crittenden of Waterford, Pa., they had one daughter Margaret
(Maggie) May (Larson). May married Irving Darwin Kendall of Waterford,
Pa., they had one daughter Mabel Ione. They moved to Ponkapoag,
Massachusetts. And Daniel aka Henry L. Hazen who remained unmarried
all his life.
In searching for links to my family ancestors I have discovered
that some Hazen family decendents operated Hazen's Mill in Fairview,
Crawford County, Pa., and Hazen's Mill in Frisco on the Connaquesing
Creek in Beaver County, Pa.
Some years ago, Mr. Stanley S. Hazen is up dating and making
corrections to Tracy Elliot Hazen's Book "The Hazen Family
in America." His address is: Stanley S. Hazen, Post Office
Box 6282, Charlottesville, Virginia 22906-6282, (804) 963-9090.
Why the Dragon on the top of these pages? No connection to
the family. I just liked it. I found it in a medieval site, saved
it, and used it. The title fonts are the village from the old
"Prisoner" TV series. I have changed some of the backgrounds
on some of these pages to make them easier to read.
Copyright 1996 by T.R. Hazen
http://members.aol.com/heisende/hazen.html
mailto:trhazen@hotmail.com