The New York town that left the union

[Buffalo-Guard]

The town was commonlly called Two Rod. The actual name for "Two Rod" - was Town-line, NY

Town-Line, NY is located between Lancaster & Alden, NY - Which the name Town-line came from.

Primarlly it was a German community, it rested on the nothern edge of Lancaster which was a strong Demoncratic area, lodged between a strong Republician area - Alden.

In 1861, when secession of many of the southern states, left the Union, Town-line, NY - being unhappy with being forced to comply with President Lincolns request for 75,000 men - refused to comply, being that most of their German community had recent left the OLD country, because of striff, and being a farming community, they were troubled.

They voted in the early summer of 1861 to leave the Union, and by a wide margin, (84 to 40) secessed from the Union, there were only 100 souls over the age of 21.

Shortly after in 1861, it was rumored that many of the men in town had left to join the Confederacy (I could only document 12 out of 100 males of enlisting age, who did serve).

There were a number of men who did join the Union army (about a dozen, documented).

By 1864, most of the secesish in town were being badly harrassed (terrorized as it was discribed), and packed up the plantation, and moved to a settlement in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.

When the WBTS ended, things went somewhat back to normal, just less families that lived in the area.

It wasnt until it was brought up about the 1920's (from the town advisor in Alden) that Town-line was not paying taxes, and were still technically "out of the Union", but nothing was done about it.

It came up again in the 1930's and again in 1945. The town had formed a special committee to do something about it, and this special committee chairman even wrote President Truman about their problem.

The President gave them some advice: {paraphrase: Why dont you run down the fattest calf in Erie County, barbecue it and serve it with fixins, and sort out your problems}

They voted in Dec 1945 and they vote failed again, but in Jan 26, 1946, the persons living in Town-Line, NY officially re-joined the Union = some 26 days after the last two southern states (Mississippi & Alabama), officially rejoined the join, making Town-line, NY the last stonghold of the Confederacy.

The town made national news, and held a party to celebrate their rejoining - and had several Hollywood starts came out(Cesar Ramaro "the joker" among others).

Today, the residents can still find reminance of the Secession around. The large fire hall, on Broadway Road (Rt 20) has a unique patch that they where on their arm, that reads....
"Last of the Rebels 1861-1946, Town Line, NY - Fire Dept" and tehir fire equipment has a saying over there department logo that states "Rebel Rescue".

The desk where the signing of secession and rejoining still exist at the Alden, NY Historical Society.

They may have not left the Union for the same reasons as the other southern states (states rights), but they did believe in town rights - and held out longer than any other state....

Thanks Steve and the historical group

[olerebel]

I liked that. I visited the Adirondacks once and found nice country people. Much more self sufficient and independant than their big apple neighbors.

Sometime while idly surfing the web, check out: 'The Free State of Jones.' A South Central MS county that suceeded from the Confederacy. It is the story of Newton Knight and his family. Newt had a white wife and a black mistress, with kids from both. He gave daughters of his white wife to sons of his black mistress. Newt led a band of men that stole and robbed, while pretending to be going north to join the Union. Finally the 6th MS arrived to put down the rebellion, and killed several. Not all people in the area fit the description of Knight's band however. Today the area is still jokingly referred to as "The Free State of Jones."