First Residents of North Olean

The photo above is the old "Collopy Farmhouse" as it stood before it was torn down in 2002, to make room for the new Water Filtration Plant,  River St. in North Olean. John Collopy was a farmer who owned the land on River Street, south of the Erie Tracks. John lived here with his wife Mary and children, James, Honora (Nora), Johanna (Josephine), Frank E. and Charles P. Collopy.

The following articles describe why the settlers came to North Olean, and who they were. This is part of Eileen's first history digs about North Olean. As you read through, you will find many names, (maybe an ancestor of yours), of the first store owners, merchants and railroad laborers who earned a living in the 1850's. This was capital civilization as was prominently known back then, and wait until you see how much a finer home cost...read on to find out!

FIRST RESIDENTS OF NORTH OLEAN
North Olean came into being because of the Erie Railroad.
It was first planned that the railroad would pass near the Village of Olean in the vicinity located near where Union Street, Gardiner Avenue and Maple Street now exist. For some adverse reason, the Erie railroad was located about a half mile to the north of the original plan. I imagine this caused some rumble to some of the leading businessmen of that day since there weren't any roads to this remote section of the world, and also since the distance was a mile and a half to reach the new and up and coming means of transportation, this would stifle them somewhat.

One thing I can say, is that they didn't waste any time buying up land in this new section, but my question is, did they already own it and have some influence in the laying out of the railroad? This is totally my own speculation. I do know that Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour owned extensive land in this area. He at one time owned all of what is now the Homer section of North Olean plus much more.

In the period of the 1840's and 1850's, many Irish left Ireland and when they came to the United States, many obtained employment as railroad laborers. Upon the completion of the Erie Railroad, some of them settled in what was called Olean eating-house. (Since the trains had no dining cars, it was necessary for the passengers to get off at certain places to dine and get refreshed, and Olean Station was one of two places chosen). Many of the Irish who were employed by the railroad, lived in shanties near the railroad, thus, a little settlement grew up around the station. The word shanty comes from the Irish, sean tig, which means, "old house". This is what shanties actually were, a roughly built or ramshackle cabin or shack.

Now since people were living in the area, Abram Merritt opened up a business as a merchant. The Newbold Hotel was built to accommodate weary travelers, Samuel Homer opened up a saloon and a barber named Daniel Mills set up business. Henry Leimbaik opened up a shoemaker shop, Ebert Hanes was a shingle maker and Mary Nestell was a tailoress. A sawmill was built on the Olean creek and many came to set up a business or seek employment at the new businesses. One of the first Irish merchants was Daniel Collins, who built the brick building that used to be the Balkan Bakery on the corner of North Union St. and Oak St.

The Irish families who came from Ireland, and were the first to settle in what is now North Olean, were Thomas and Mary Sullivan, 1853; John and Ann Dillon, 1853; Patrick and Ann Flannigan 1851. They all lived in framed houses, which were valued from $250 to $500.

The following lived in plank houses or sometimes were called shanties, which were valued at $10. Michael and Catherine Shighan, 1855; Mary Miles and children, 1851; John and Mary O'Grady, 1851; Martin and Ellen Connell, 1853; Robert and Mary Dukelow, 1850 and 1851; Patrick and Mrs. Clark, 1852; Michael and Catherine Tuhy, 1855; John and Bridget Donahue, 1849; Hugh and Margaret McCabe, 1854; Michael and Margaret Donahue, 1850; Matthew and Bridget Moren, 1851; Patrick and Mary Grear, 1851; and John and Mary Doherty, 1851.

The following lived at the Newbold Hotel, Margaret Lynch, 1854; Ellen Giltann, 1854; Mary Donahue, 1849 John Tully, 1851; and John Sweeney, 1854. As the Village grew, many more of the Irish became hotelkeepers and businessmen.

In the 1890's, a few Polish and Italians began coming into North Olean to settle. There were the tanneries and railroad car shops, where many gained employment. As the second generation Irish went on to get a higher education, they began to move into the city of Olean and the Polish and Italians settled into the North end. The Polish settled in their own community located on Water, Elm, Oak, Pine, Connell, Martin, River, Walnut and from Forest Avenue, on the east side of Union St. to the end of the street across the tracks. The Italians settled on Wayne, the streets north of Wayne, down Forth St. onto Spruce, the west side of Union, on Water, Elm, Oak and Maple. A couple of early Polish emigrants were Michael Garlinski and Joseph Gennowicz.

North Olean was and still is a wonderful place to live.
The people who grew up there always yearn to come back. North Olean has third, fourth and even fifth and sixth generations living there. Just to prove my case, my son, Dennis and his family live in the family home of my Great Grandparents, Peter and Mary (Murphy) McCartan, who came to Olean in 1879! So that makes six generations who have lived in the very same house, on Spruce St.

The nationality of the North Oleander is so well mixed now, that a person's name cannot tell you where their ancestors came from. They were hard working, God-fearing people, who raised their families and contributed much to the growth of North Olean, as well as to the growth of the City of Olean.

PATRICK AND MARY GREAR
SETTLED IN NORTH OLEAN IN 1851
Patrick Grear, a laborer for the Erie Railroad settled in North Olean upon its completion. He and his wife Mary resided in what was than called a shanty, as did many of the other Irish laborers. Eventually the Grears purchased land on River Street, where they built a large and impressive house. It was here that they raised their children, Mary, Margaret, Katherine, Ellen, Delia, Frances, John, and Sarah. The family was respectable and held in high esteem.

Patrick Grear, who was born in Ireland, as was his wife, became a citizen of the United States on August 25, 1857, with Patrick Troy and Thomas Lannon as witnesses. Mr. Grear, on old and respected resident of the Sixth Ward, died on Thursday, July 30, 1882. His funeral was held at St. Marys of the Angels Church and he was buried at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Mrs. Mary Grear died on July 23, 1900 at her River Street residence after an illness of several weeks, with complications of diseases resulting from the grip. She was sixty-three years old and had been a resident of North Olean for almost forty-eight years.

Seven daughters and one son survived. Mrs. A. J. (Katherine) Latimer, Mrs. W. J. (Nellie) LeStrange, Mrs. James (Sarah) Norton, all of Olean; Mrs. John McGeever and Mrs. N. M. Phillips of Denver, Co.; Mrs. Albert (Margaret) Jeffers and Mrs. Henry (Frances) Keisel of Ouray, Co. and Mr. John Grear (Mary) of Olean.

JOHN COLLOPY FAMILY
John Collopy was a farmer who owned the land on River Street, south of the Erie Tracks and east of the Olean Creek and across the street from Patrick Grear. Both of the Olean Filtration Plants are located on this property, the one built in 1918, no longer in use, and the present one. When the Olean dike system was built, the engineers made what is known as the Collopy Cut through the Collopy property. This cut sliced off the horseshoe bend of the creek that extended into Boardmanville, thus causing the creek to flow in a more direct southerly direction.

John lived here with his wife Mary and children, James, Honora (Nora), Johanna (Josephine), Frank E. and Charles P. Collopy.

John Collopy died on September 2, 1894 at his home on River Street at 3 a.m. on September 2, 1894. He had been in feeble health for some time and his death was due to a general breaking down of old age. His funeral was held at St. Marys of the Angels Church, Olean and interment was at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Mrs. Mary Collopy died at the 1316 River Street residence at 3:30 a.m. on the morning of September 19, 1916. She had resided in North Olean for 46 years and was well known and highly esteemed. Mrs. Collopy had been a member of St. Johns Church ever since it was organized and her funeral was held there. Her pallbearers were Frank Collopy, J.W. Collopy, Paul Blystone, and M. T. Ryan, sons and grandsons of Mrs. Collopy. Interment was at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

A day in John Collopy’s life
In December of 1883, John Collopy was repeatedly annoyed by boys who entered his barn, broke windows and turned everything topsey turvey. On a Saturday, the boys once again annoyed Mr. Colony by entering his barn. He ordered them out but they refused to go and instead mobbed him with anything that they could use as missiles. They were M. Cain, H. Brown and M. Cahill, who were arrested and charged with malicious mischief when brought before Squire McKinley. After paying the costs of the proceeding, they were discharged with a caution not to repeat their actions.
John’s barn was destroyed by fire on October 22, 1889. He lost a horse, a quantity of hay, a mowing machine and other farm implements.

JAMES COLLOPY WEDS JOSEPHINE SPRETER
James W. Collopy married Miss Josie Spreter on a Tuesday evening in July of 1883. They were two young people who were well known in Olean. Accompanied by a number of friends, they drove to Hinsdale, where they were met by a number of other friends and in their presence, a minister pronounced the words which made Miss Josie Spreter, Mrs. James Collopy. After the congratulations incidental to such an occasion had been extended, a fine supper was deposed of. The party then drove to Cuba and indulged in a pleasant little dance at the hotel. On Wednesday morning, the happy couple started out for Buffalo, whence they made an extensive wedding trip. (Josephine Spreter was the daughter of Adolph and Catherine Zimmerman Spreter of North Olean.)

Upon their return to Olean, on the evening of July 31, 1883, the Whitney Band tendered James Collopy and his bride a very fine serenade. Mr. Collopy showed his appreciation by giving the band boys a fine supper and treating the numerous spectators to lunch, beer and cigars and hereby returned his thanks for the serenade.

In September of 1884, James Collopy sold his saloon to Mike Fitzpatrick. 1888 was an eventful year for James Collopy. In June he sold his residence at 140 Fourth Street to F. L. Stedman and in August he bought an expensive horse. Sadness fell upon the couple on September 27th as his five-month old daughter, Clara died. The following month he purchased a lot on Second Street from Mrs. L. T. Moore where he planned to build a new residence. A son Howard was born to the couple on Easter Sunday in March of 1891. Howard, who had been ill for nearly three months with stomach trouble, died on October 14, 1891 at six months and twelve days of age. The funeral was held from the Second Street home with Rev. Ashton officiating and burial was in Oak Lawn Cemetery. At a later date James and his wife moved to Jamestown, N. Y. where he opened a shoe store.

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