Some Relatively Unknown 19th Century Red Earthenware Production in Chautauqua County, New York

Two good books covering some red earthenware production in Chautauqua County, New York have recently been published by New York author, collector and historian Vince Martonis, titled, The Haven & Kenyon Redware Pottery of Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York 1818-1828, along with The Caleb Matthews Pottery of Gerry, Chautauqua County, New York 1821-c.1860. But Chautauqua County is an area that appears to have had even more red earthenware production in the 1800s, which is located in the southwestern most section of the Western New York region.

I have previously noted on this website the red earthenware operation in the hamlet of Mill Grove in the town of Alden in Erie County, New York. The company was known as the Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, a business that not a lot is documented about today. And yes the Johnson is Lorenzo Johnson, who had some involvement with this business, as well as the one he is much better known for that he operated nearby in Newstead, Erie County, New York.

I actually studied and photographed the archaeology from the site of this pottery business in June of 2023 at the storage facility of the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester, New York. Furthermore, found in the 1970s inside of the original house that went with the pottery business, which still exists was a selection of colorfully glazed pieces of red earthenware that were made at the Suess Pottery. These objects had descended through family ownership to the current owner, although they are now owned by the Alden, New York Historical Society. There was also a glazing mill stone found leaning up against the barn, but I have not been able to locate its whereabouts today. However, all of the red earthenware will be illustrated in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book.

Nonetheless, among the potters who worked for much of the longevity of the Mill Grove company was Dustin Marshall, who arrived in Mill Grove sometime around 1855, although before that he was running a red earthenware business in Sherman, Chautauqua County, New York. Another potter, Lycander Grindman, also worked with Marshall in Sherman. To my knowledge, nothing is known about this company today, but the pottery must have been in business for at least a few years. Does anyone know if any archaeology or accurately identified surviving red earthenware from this company is known today?

Dustin Marshall's Pottery in Sherman, New York

Dustin Marshall and Lycander Grindman listed as potters in the 1850 Federal Census in Sherman, Chautauqua County, New York; Lycander was living with Marshall

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By the 1855 Federal Census, Dustin Marshall is listed as a potter working in the hamlet of Millgrove in the town of Alden in Erie County, New York. He remained here for decades

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Another notable red earthenware business in Chautauqua County was one operated by Robert O’Dell, who is listed as a potter in the 1830 Federal Census in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York. O’Dell operated a red earthenware pottery here in the 1820s and early 1830s, later relocating to Ohio. 

But like the previous business that I just cited, I do not believe anything is known about O'Dell's company, either. But I would like to learn otherwise, should anyone reading this known more about red earthenware production in either Portland or Sherman in the 1800s. The Portland business seems especially promising, seeing that it was located directly on Lake Erie.

Robert O’Dell's Pottery in Portland, New York

Robert O’Dell listed as a potter in the 1830 Federal Census in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York. O’Dell operated a red earthenware pottery here in the 1820s and early 1830s, later relocating to Ohio

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The location of Portland and Sherman in Chautauqua County, New York

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