"Cadwell Corner Cemetery is a well tended active cemetery located on the county line between Allegany and Wyoming Counties. Although most of the interred in this cemetery were residents of either Wyoming or Cattaraugus, the cemetery is physically located in Allegany County. This recording was begun with a short list from the files of Margaret Hodnett dated 1978, and completed with a digital camera in November 2005. Transcribed by Mary Rhodes 2005."
 

 

THE PEOPLE OF CADWELL’S CORNERS AND LOST NATION
By Vivian Walradt

(Vivian Walaradt was born in 1901, died in 1984, in Centerville.)

As written for Centerville NY “Scenes from the Past” Sesquicentennial 1808 – 1958

--From the files of Margaret Hodnett--

On the 25th of May, 1853, when the people of Cadwell’s Corners decided to form a school district, George Cadwell, who owned a farm at the northwest corner of the township of Centerville, leased ½ acre of land to the trustees, Horace Pike, John Walradt and Abner Patterson to be used as long as it was wanted for that purpose. The lease price was $15.00.

A cemetery was also formed from the Cadwell farm and members of the family are resting peacefully there now.

Henry Powell lived on the County Line Road, a neighbor to the Cadwells.

As you leave Cadwell’s Corners to come through Lost Nation, about ¼ mile from the Corners is a house, once occupied by the Moore family. For many years it was used as a granary on the Findlay-Dornan farm and at the present time Edward Glaske uses it for a henhouse.

About ½ mile south was Alonzo Powell’s farm of about 120 acres. The house is now used a machine shed and the barn has been gone these many years. He also ran a saw mill. His son, Herbert, later had a mill in Eagle. The next place was owned by Orrin Patten. City people now have a summer home there. Next was Will Cranes farm, and then Thomas Davis. He drove a little black mare on an open buggy. One day, on their way home from Eagle Hotel, she took him way down into the swamp before he realized that he was off the road.

The farm of Alfred Dailey, which is at Dailey’s Crossing, was deeded to him by Armenius B. Chamberlain, John S. Relyea and Augustus Moon.

The railroad there was called the Rochester & State Line Railroad. The B.R. & P bought it and later it was sold to the Baltimore & Ohio. This railroad bisects a large swamp, part of which is said to be bottomless.

David Gilbert lived south of the Crossing and at the foot of the hill Jonathan Gates lived in a small house. The author can remember having tea with Mrs. Gates.

Over the hill were other places, long since obliterated by time. First, Frank Crane’s then his brother, Ira, whose children went to school with me. He sold to city people by the name of Adam Siebert. His son, John, was in the habit of coming to school at 10 o’clock although he was very bright. He still comes to the country occasionally. Other families on this road were Amos VanOcker, Nora Hill, Lyman, Stillman and George Barber.

Mallory Beardsley lived on the farm later owned by George (Sam) Dolph. As there were so many children walking the long distance to the Centerville school, the neighbors joined together, hired a teacher and had a school of their own in Mr. Beardsley’s house. This was also a great help to Centerville school, which was already filled to overflowing.

Two more places, those of John Sturgis and Ammon Dailey, and Lost Nation Road joined Dow Road.

All of the buildings through Lost Nation are gone and the State owns a large portion of these farms and is growing lumber for future generations.
 

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