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Full text of "Early history of Rochester. 1810 to 1827, with comparisons of its growth and progress to 1860"

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PRESERVE THE PAST FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. 



EARLY HISTOKT 



OF 



Wim 









1810 to 1827, 



WITH COMPARISONS OF ITS GROWTH AN I) PROGRESS TO 

I860. 




NEW COURT HOUSE. 



PUBLISHED BY 

GEO. ~W - IT I S^ H E JEfc , 

ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
1860. 

STEAM PRESS OK CUKTIS, BUTTS .i CO., I'NI'iN AKD ADVERTISER OFFICE. 



^ 



The following extract from a letter to John Kelsey, Esq , author of the Lives of the Pioneers 
of Rochester, dated August 2d, 1854, explains itself: 

Dear Sir: 

" Agreeable to your request we have prepared a Profile or Map of Rochesterville, (the 
now city of Rochester,) as it was in March, 1814. 

More than 40 years having now elapsed since this vision was presented to our boyish eyes; and 
while we are tracing out the lines marked by our memory in years when we could hardly picture 
to ourselves a hope that we should this clay walk among the living in a populous city, the one-twen_ 
tieth of whose faces we hardly recognize ; all this passed before us now like a dream of a night 
or like a tale that is told. We believe we have placed upon the Map all the dwellings, business 
houses, mills, <fec, that were erected in what was then called Rochesterville, together with the 
names and business of each occupant. A hundred reminiscences pass before us that we would be 
»-lad to here recite if we had time and you space for the matter. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 



EDWIN SCRANTOM, 
PHEDERUS CARTER. 



KEY TO THE MAP. West Side of the River. 

1 . The strata of rock that dips out the South side of Buffalo street. 

2. House owned and occupied by Orin E. Gibbsj M. D. 
:;. School house, District No. 1, built Spring of 1814. 

4. Lime Kiln. 

5. Silas 0. Smith's Store. 

6. A frame owned by Henry Skinner, now the Eagle Hotel. 

1. Log house built by Hamlet Scrantom, Esq., miller, occupied by Henry Skinner, joiner. 

8. Ira West's store. 

'.>. Abram Stark's grocery and dwelling house, (brick maker.) 

10. John Mastick's Law office. 

11. Hervey and Elisha Ely's store. 

12. Abelard Reynold's new house, (saddle and harness maker.) 

13. Abelard Reynold's house and shop. 

14. Jehial Barnard's tailor shop, used also on Sunday as a place of religious worship. 

15. New house occupied by Hamlet Scrantom, Esq. 
Hi. House occupied by Wheelock, joiner. 

17. House occupied by Aaron Skinner, school teacher. 

18. House occupied by David K. Carttcr, Esq., carpeuter and millwright. 

19. James B. Cartter's blacksmith shop. 

2i). Saw mill raised March 11th, 1814, by Hervey and Elisha Ely. 

21. Log house built by Horvey for himself and hands while constructing the first bridge across 

the Genesee River. 

22. Ruins of the old Allen or King's mill. 

east side of the river. 

1. First framed house occupied by Enos Stone, farmer. 

2. Old plank house occupied first by Enos Stone, afterwards by Hamlet Scrantom, Esq. 
;;. Saw mill owned by Enos Stone. 

!. First tavern in Rochester, owned and occupied by Col. Isaac W. Stone. 

.). (Hi. Isaac W. Stone's barn. 

6. Enos Stone's new house. 

7. Bridge across the Genesee River. 



EOCHESTEE 



FROM 1812 TO 1827. 



In looking back over the past of Rochester, and 
comparing it with the present, it is gratifying to 
every old settler to know that our goodly city has 
ever been on the advance, and that now, (18(j0,) 
she ranks as the fifth city in point of population, 
(numbering about 50,000,) in the Empire State. 

Situated in one of the most fertile regions, and 
surrounded by the best agricultural and horticul- 
tural country in the world, with moral and relig- 
ious advantages unsurpassed by any city in the 
Union, it is easy to see what will be her future. 

The first Directory of Rochester was published 
by Elisha Ely, and printed by Everard Peck, in 
1827. Attached to this work, which was really a 
very perfect one of its kind, is a sketch of Roch- 
ester and Monroe county, covering about seventy 
pages, which is very interesting. That of the 
county was prepared by Jesse Hawley, Esq., and of 
the city by Mr. Ely, both gentlemen highly compe- 
tent to the task. The sketches contain so much that 
is really interesting of the early history of this 
place, it was thought best to re-print them entire, 
in book form. The book is now out of print, and 
only here snd there can an old copy be found in 
possession of our citizens. The statistics are woi- 
thy of preservation, and after a lapse of over 30 
years, are reproduced and put into pamphlet form 
at so low a price as to enable every person to pos- 
sess a copy for preservation, or presentation to an 
absentfriemi. We have followed the copy closely, 
and the sketch relating to the county comes first. 

DESCRIPTIONS AND MEMORANDUMS 

OP THE 

COUNTY OF MONROE 

AND ITS ENVIRONS. 

The tract of country now forming the county 
«sf Monroe, extends along the southern shore of 
Lake Ontario, about 21 miles west and 14 miles 
east of the Geuesee river ; its breadth southward 
from the lake beiog about 22 miles. Its geo- 
graphical position is, as nearly as it has been yet 
observed, between lat. 42° 51' and 43° 16' N. 
and between 3° 22'aud 4° 03 ! west longitude 
from New York. 

The face of the country, like that of the neigh- 
bouring counties on the lake, presents the gener- 
al aspect of a level yet somewhat elevated table, 
sometimes dropping abruptly, and sometimes 
more gradually subsiding to the level of the lake. 
To a distant and general view, this level aspect is 
interrupted by only one narrow ridge, of gravelly 
consistence, rising in the town of Brighton and 
running in a northerly and easterly direction, in 
appearance like an irregular and broken wave, 
with several pointed summits; yet, on a closer in- 
spection, the surface is considerably diversified. 
The shore of the lake is indented with numer- 



ous bays and inlets, of which the Irondequoit bay 
east, and Braddock's bay west of the river, are 
the most considerable. On the borders of the 
Irondequoit, and the creek of the same name, 
which discharges itself there, the surface presents 
a most extraordinary and picturesque appearance. 
It consists of a multitude of conical or irregular 
mounds of sand and light earth, sometimes in- 
sulated and sometimes united, rising to an aver- 
age height of 200 feet from a perfectly level mead- 
ow of the richest alluvial loom. 

The rest of the country is diversified with gen- 
tle undulations retaining the remnants of their 
dense forests of beech, maple, and oak, on a deep 
yellow loam, covered with six or ten inches of 
black vegetable earth — some light and sandy 
plains, supporting alternately the oak and pine — a 
portion of the land called Oak Openings, or sparse 
and scattering oak wood, on a solid calcarious 
gravel, and sometimes a lighter sand, mixed with 
clay — occasional patches of black-ash swale and 
pine swamp — and along the river and creeks, 
winding fiats of the richest vegetable composition. 

The subterraneous structure of this region can 
hardly be considered as yet sufficiently explored, 
although the deep ravine cut by the Genesee riv- 
er, from its falls at Rochester to the dropping of 
the surface near the lake, exposes to view a thea- 
tre of regular and beautifulstratification but rare- 
ly witnessed, and the late excavation of the Erie 
canal has afforded an additional key to the un- 
locking of its mineral treasures. Beginning at 
the lowest observable stratum, the arrangement 
seems to be : 1st, Saliferous or salt rock ; this 
has been employed in building the aqueduct at 
Rochester — 2d, Grey band — 3d, Ferriferous slate 
— 4th, Ferriferous sand rock ; — -5th, Calciferous 
iron ore — 6th, Calciferous slate, nearly 100 feet 
thick ; this is the stratum cut into and exposed by 
the great falls in the village of Rochester — 7th, 
Geodiferous lime rock ; or swinestone, about 30 
feet thick. The outcropping of this stratum forms 
what is called the Mountain Ridge; in the viciuity 
of Rochester, and bed ot the river above the 
falls, it presents a dark, approaching to the slate 
colour, and has a peculiar fetid odour. The 8th, 
or Corniferous lime rock, overlays the former, 
and appears in the south part of the county, 
which, still surther south, is overlaid by bitumin- 
ous shale and coal. 

It is probable that the fetid odour of the lime 
rocks is derived from their affinity to and cotem- 
poraneous formation with the superincumbent 
bituminous strata. In the two last mentioned 
lime formations, sulphates of zinc, barytes and 
strontian, with sulphate of lime in the variety of 
snowy gypsum, as also fluate of lime, have been 
found. There are inexhaustible quarries of plas- 
ter of Paris in the town of Wheatland. The only 
metallick ore which hasyet been found in quantity, 
is that of iron, of which a very productive variety, 
the bog ore, occurs in Penfield. Those presenting 
themselves in the bank of the river have not been 
well examined. 

The agricultural character of the soil of this 
district of country is that of the utmost fertility 
— the alluvion of the fetid lime stone which forms 
its base, being peculiarly adapted to the contin- 
ued production of superior wheat. Perhaps, also, 



the moistness of the climate, from its vicinity to 
the great lakes, contributes to this effect. It is 
said that a chemical analysis of Genesee wheat, 
shows it to contain more saccharine matter than 
that of the southern states, while the latter com- 
bines with a larger portion of water in the com- 
position of bread. This may serve to explain 
why southern Hour is more agreeable to the baker, 
but Genesee to the eater, when they come into com- 
petition in our cities. 

The Genesee River, the principal natural feature 
in this district, belongs to the eleventh class in 
Woodbridge's arrangement of comparative mag- 
nitudes. It rises on the Grand Plateau, or great 
Table-land of Western Pennsylvania, interlocking 
with the head waters of the Allegany and Sus- 
quehannah rivers, arbund which a tract of six 
miles square might be so located as to embrace 
their several waters which flow into the Atlantick 
ocean, through the bays of St. Lawrence, Mexico 
and Chesapeake, and probably elevated 1600 or 
1700 feet above the tide waters of the Atlantick. 

[This is a region of bituminous coal, of good 
quality, supposed to be abundant in quantity.] 

It runs from its source, about north 10 ° east, 
to Lake Ontario, about 150 miles — and about 
125 in the state of New York — through the coun- 
ties of Allegany, Livingston and Monroe, touch- 
ing the southeast corner of Genesee. After cross- 
ing the Pennsylvania line into this state, it runs N. 
N. VV. about 40 miles, to the Caneadea Reserva- 
tion, where it turns and runs N. N. E. or N. 25° 
E. in nearly a uniform line as to its general course, 
but with numerous small curves and windings, em- 
bracing large tracts of rich alluvial soil. It re- 
ceives the Canascraga creek, and Conesus and 
Hemlock outlets, on the east, and the outlet of 
Silver Lake and Allen's and Black creeks, on the 
west, beside many smaller streams. A few miles 
above the Gardeau Reservation, it has two falls, 
near together — one of 60, the other of 90 feet. 
From the Reservation, it is navigable for boats to 
the head of the rapids, near Rochester — 90 miles 
by water and 50 by land— and from thence by the 
feeder two miles into the Erie canal at Rochester. 
The third fall of twelve feet, is immediately above 
the canal aqueduct : the fourth is the great fall of 
97 feet, about 80 rods below the aqueduct. From 
thence are considerable rapids, to Carthage, lj^ 
miles, where the tilth fall, of 20 feet, occurs ; and 
twenty rods below, is the lower fall, of 105 feet. 
Half a mile below this fall, the river comes to the 
level of the lake, and affords sloop navigation, 
from Carthage to Hanford's Landing, four miles, 
to its mouth. 

This forms the Port of Genesee, which has a 
safe and convenient harbor of 20 feet water with- 
in, and from seven to eight feet on the bar, which 
lies half a mile in the lake. The whole fall of the 
river, from the head of the rapids, passing through 
the village of Rochester, to the lower falls, is es- 
timated at 226 feet in the distance of 3% miles ; 
in which the waters of the river can be used four 
or five times over, for hydraulick purposes. 

The word Genesee is formed from the Indian 
name for Pleasant Valley, which is very descrip- 
tive of the river ; its banks, the alluvial flats, and 
the surrounding uplands, from ten to twenty miles 
on either side of it, being equal to the lands of 
any other country of the same latitude. The 
Genesee flats in particular, to which probably the 
Indian appellation referred, must strike every eye 
as peculiarly worthy of the name. These are 
either natural prairies or Indian clearings, (of 
which, however, the Indians have no traditions,) 
and lying to an extent of many thousand acres, 



between the villages of Geneseo, Moscow and 
Mount Morris, which now crown the opposite 
declivities of their surrounding uplands, and 
contrasting their smooth verdure with the shaggy 
hills that bound the horizon, and their occasional 
clumps of spreading trees, with the tall and naked 
relicks of the forest, nothing can strike with a 
more agreeable sensation the eye long accustomed 
to the interrupted prospects of a level and wooded 
country. Had the Indians, who first gave this 
name to the valley, witnessed the flocks and herds 
that now enliven its landscape, and the busy 
towns, with spires overlooking it from the neigh- 
bouring hills, the boats transporting its supera- 
bundant wealth down its winding stream, and the 
scenes of intellectual and moral felicity to which 
it contributes in the homes of its present enlight- 
ened occupants ; and had they been able to appre- 
ciate this, they would have contrived the longest 
superlative which their language could furnish, to 
give it a name. 

About forty years ago, the tract of country of 
which the county of Monroe forms a part, was 
only known as the hunting ground of such rem- 
nants af the .SVa; Nations as survived the chastise- 
ment of Sullivan, and the still more destructive 
influence of frontier civilization. And many a 
veteran warriour is still alive, on the neighbour- 
ing reservations of Caneadea, Squakey-Hill, Cana- 
wagus, Seneca, Tonewanda, and Tuscarora, to 
entertain his degenerate sons with the exploits of 
his meridian vigour, when not a white man's axe 
had been lifted in all these forests. 

The pre-emptive title, however, to this territory 
was claimed by the state ol Massachusetts, under 
its colonial charter, which contemplated the whole 
region between its north and south boundaries, 
from the Atlantick to the Paciflck ocean. The 
charter of the state of New-York interfered with 
this claim, and after various unsuccessful attempts 
to adjust their ditt'erences, under the Congress of 
the old confederation, they were at last happily 
settled by mutual commissioners, who met at 
Hartford, on the 16th day of December, 1786. 
According to this ■ settlement, Massachusetts 
ceded to New York the sovereignty and jurisdic- 
tion of all the territory claimed by the former 
within the limits of the latter, and New-York 
ceded to Massachusetts the property of the soil ; 
or, in the words of the settlement, " the right of 
pre-emption of the soil from the native Indians," 
— " to all the lands now in the state lying west of 
a line running due north from the 82d mile stone, 
on the north boundary of Pennsylvania, to the 
British possessions in Canada, excepting a tract of 
one mile in width along the Niagara river " 
: This line commences in the 42d degree of north 
latitude, 82 miles west of the northeast corner of 
the state of Pennsylvania, and is called the Pre- 
em/jtion line. It runs through the middle of the 
Seneca lake, at its north end, and about one mile 
east of Geneva, and also through Sodus bay. Dr. 
Spafl'ord, in his Gazatteer, says, it proves to be 
the meridian of the city of Washington. 

[It is also the west boundary line of the New- 
York Military Lands, which contain twenty-eight 
townships, each ten miles square — that prowl and 
splendid monument of the gratitude of New- York to 
her Revolutionary heroes — she gave 550 acres of 
good land to every soldier! ! !] 

In 1787, Massachusetts sold this tract, contain- 
ing six millions of acres, to Messrs. Oliver Phelps 
and Nathaniel Gorham, for one million of dollars; 
or, for three notes of £100,000 each, New-England 
currency, payable in consolidated securities at par. 

In the following spring, Oliver Phelps, living at 



Granville, Massachusetts, prepared himself wth 
men and means to explore the country, and with 
great resolution and intrepidity took leave of his 
family, his neighbours, and the minister of the 
parish, who had assembled on the occasion, all in, 
tears, and started on his expedition ; they bidding 
him a tinal adieu, scarcely hoping ever to see him 
return again from an Indian country, hardly yet 
pacified! 

He persevered, and penetrated the 'wilderness, 
from the German flats, in Herkimer, to Canandai- 
gua, [meaning a chosen pkice, in the Indian lan- 
guage,] a distance of 128 miles by the present 
improved road — sent out runners, and collected 
the sachems, chiefs and warriours of the Six Na- 
tions, and in July, 1788, with the aid of the Rev. 
Samuel Kirklaud, as State Commissioner, and In- 
dian Missionary, concluded a treaty and purchase 
of a tract containing about 2 }£ million of acres ; 
bounded east by the pre-emption line, west 
by a meridional line, running from a point 
in the north line of Pennsylvania, 42 miles 
west of the S2d mile stone, to an elm tree, in 
the forks of the Genesee and Canascraga ; thence 
down the Genesee, as its meanders, to a point two 
miles north of the Canawagus village, [now near 
Avon bridge,] thence due west twelve miles, [1)4 
miles south of the village of Le Roy,] thence 
northerly, parallel to the general course of the 
Genesee river, [N. 24° E.J to Lake Ontario — 
which course forms the east line of the Triangle 
Tract, so called, and is about 24 miles long. 

The reason of this remarkable offset of twelve 
miles to the westward, may not be unworthy of 
notice, as illustrative of the change in the value 
of landed property which has taken place since 
that time. Mr. Phelps proposed the erection of 
mills at the falls of the river, now at 
Rochester, and wished for a competent space 
around them for a mill-yard. To this the Indians 
assented, and gave him the aforesaid offset, being 
a space of 12 miles by 24, for that purpose. 

After a mill had been erected by a Mr. Allen, 
and the Indians came to see it, and the quantity 
of ground requisite for a mill-yard, they uttered 
their interjection of surprise, quoah! and added, 
kauskonchicos ! (signifying, in the Seneca lan- 
guage, waterfall,) and this ever after became the 
Indian name for Mr. Phelps. 

The kindness, however, and good faith with 
which Mr. Phelps, like the celebrated" William 
Penn, always conducted his intercourse with the 
Indians, did not fail to secure their confidence and 
affection ; in token of which, they adopted both 
him and his son, Oliver L. Phelps, as honorary 
members of their national councils. 

The leading chiefs and warriour concerned in 
these negotiations, were Farmer's Brother, the 
grand sachem, and who, for his political wisdom, 
might be called the George Clinton of the Six 
Nations — and Red Jacket, the celebrated orator, 
who is still alive. 

After the treaty, Mr. Phelps surveyed the land 
into tracts, denominated Ranges, running north 
and south, and subdivided the ranges into tracts 
of six miles square, dedominated Townships, and 
designated each by numbers, beginning to number 
both ranges and townships at the 82d mile stone, in 
the southeast corner of the tract, [now the south- 
east corner of Steuben county,] numbering the 
townships northwardly to the lake, from 1 to 14 — 
and the ranges westwardly, from 1 to 7. Thus, 
Bath is designated as township No. 4, in the 3d 
range ; Cauandaigua as township No. 10, in the 
3d range; Pittsford as No. 12, in the 5th range; 
and Brighton as No. 13, in the 7th range of town- 
ships, in Gorham & Phelps' purchase. 



As the Genesee river runs about 24° east of 
north, below Avon, and Mr. Phelps continued his 
7th range of townships to the lake, the 5th range 
was left to contain but twelve, and the fith range 
but ten townships — and in order to square the 
tract lying west of Genesee river, he set off two 
townships near the lake, which he called t\\e Short 
Mange, now comprising the towns of Gates and 
Greece; and the present towns of Caledonia, 
Wheatland, I hili, Riga, Ogden, and Parma, being 
then four townships, he called the first range of 
townships west of Genesee river, in Gorham & 
Phelps' purchase. 

This tract formed the counties of Ontario and 
Steuben for many years, until 1821, when Monroe 
and Livingston counties were formed, except that 
part of it lying west of the river, which was an- 
nexed to the county of Genesee at its organiza- 
tion in 1802, and the south part of the 7th range 
set off from Steuben to Allegany. 

In 1789, Oliver Phelps opened a land office in 
Canandaigua — this was the first land office in 
America for the sale of her forest lands to set- 
tlers. And the system which he adopted for the 
survey of his lands by townships and ranges, be- 
came a model for the manner of surveying all the 
new lands in the United States ; and the method 
of making his retail sales to settlers by Articles, 
has also been adopted by all the other land offices 
of individual proprietorships that have followed 
after him. 

The Article was a new device, of American ori- 
gin, unknown in the English system of convey- 
ancing; granting the possession, but not the fee 
of the land; facilitating the frequent changes 
among new settlers, enabling them to sell out 
their improvements and transfer their possession 
by assignment, and securing the reversion of the 
possession to the proprietor, where they aban- 
doned the premises. His land sales were allodial ; 
and the other land offices following his example, 
have rendered the Genesee farmers all fee 
simple land holders, which has increased the 
value of the soil and the enterprize of the people. 
Oliver Phelps may be considered the Gecrops of 
the Genesee country. Its inhabitants owe a mau- 
soleum to his memory, in gratitude for his having 
pioneered for them, the wilderness of this Canaan 
of the west. 

Gorham and Phelps sold about one-third of this 
tract by townships and parts of townships, to 
companies and individuals, to settlers and specu- 
lators, who invited an emigration into the coun- 
try that soon formed the new county of Ontario, 
(taken from Montgomery,) which, by the U. S. 
census of 1790, contained a population of 1075. 

On the 8th of November, 1790, they sold nearly 
all the residue to Robert Morris, containing 
1,264,000 acres, for eight pence lawful money per 
acre — who sold the same to Sir William Pulteney, 
for the sale of which the latter opened a land of" 
fice at Geneva, and also at Bath, under the agency 
of Charles Williamson. 

Gorham and Phelps, not being able to pay the 
whole purchase money, compromised, and surren- 
dered to Massachusetts that part of the land to 
which the Indian title remained unextinguished, 
being about two-thirds of the western part of it ; 
in consideration of which, the state cancelled two 
of their notes. 

In 1796, Robert Morris purchased the aforesaid 
land of Massachusetts— extinguished the Indian 
title — sold out several tracts of fifty and one hun- 
dred thousand acres off the east side of the tract, 
and along the Genesee river; and mortgaged the 
residue to Wilhelm Willink and others, of Ams- 
terdam, called the Holland Land Company, under 



\ 



\ 






which the company afterward acquired the title; 
surveyed it, and in 1801, opened a land office at 
Batavia, under the agency of Joseph Ellicott, for 
the sale thereof. 

[It would be a good measure of publick econo- 
my, to get the early and leading titles to the lands 
in the Genesee country, collated and authenti- 
cated by an act of the legislature, to be used in 
our courts of record, in evidence on litigated 
titles; and save the expense of special exemplifi- 
cations of them for every cause.] 

The early settlements of the country were 
mostly made in the vicinity of the Buffalo road, 
as the leading avenue through it. The earliest 
settlements in the territory, now the county of 
Monroe, were those made in 1790, by Israel and 
Simon Stone, in Pittsford, Glover Perrin, in Per- 
inton ; by Peter Shaeffer, on the flats of the Gen- 
esee, near Scottsville ; by Orange Stone, in Bright- 
on ; and in 1791, by William Hincher, at the 
mouth of the river; and four out of these six pa- 
triarchs of the forest are still living. The two 
last lived twelve miles apart, and for several years 
without an intervening neighbour; and such was 
the ecceutnck turn of the last named, that, as 
fame reports, he was jealous of all new comers, 
fearing ihey would disturb the tranquility of this 
conveniently distant neighbourhood. In 1796, 
Zadock Granger and Gideon King settled at the 
upper landing, four miles from the mouth of the 
river. In 1805, the harbour of Genesee was made 
a port of entry, and Samuel Latta appointed the 
collector. In 1822, the United States govern- 
ment erected a light-house for the harbour. 

Monroe County was erected by a law passed Feb. 
20, 1821, and named in honour of James Monroe, 
then President of the United States; and organ- 
ized by holding the first term of the County 
Court, on the 8th of May, 1821. 

It was taken from Ontario and Genesee coun- 
ties, viz : the towns of Brighton, Pittsford, Pen- 
field, Perintou, Henrietta, Mendon, and a part of 
Hush [that part of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, 
north of the Honeoye outlet,] lying east of the 
Genesee river, from the county of Ontario; and 
the towns of Gates, Parma, Clarksou, Sweden, 
Ogdeu, Riga aud Wheatland, lying on the west 
side of Genesee river, from the county of Gene- 
see. 

Since then, the town of Greece has been erect- 
ed from the north end of Gates; the town of 
Chili from the east end of Riga; and the south 
putt of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, taken from 
Avon, in the county of Livingston, and added to 
Rush. The county now contains sixteen sizeable 
towns, aud comprehends a territory of about 675 
square miles, or 420,000 acres ; bounded on the 
E. bo Wayne ; on the S. E. by Ontario ; and on 
the S. by Livingston ; on the S. W. by Genesee ; 
on the W. by Orleans county; and on the north 
by the national and state territorial liue in the 
middle of lake Ontario. When erected, it con- 
tained a population of 20,526, by the United States 
census of 1820. 

The first county officers were, Elisha B. Strong, 
fflrst Judge ; Timothy Barnard, sen. Levi fl. 
Clarke, and John Bowman, Associate Judges. Na- 
thaniel Rochester, Clerk; James Seymour, Sheriff; 
Timothy Childs, District Attorney ; and Elisha 
Ely, Surrogate. 

The present officers are, Moses Chapin, First 
t/uilije ; Brooks Mason, Timothy Barnard, Jr. Wil- 
liam B. Brown, and Timothy Childs, Associate 
Judges. James Seymour, (Sheriff ; Simon Stone, 
2d Clerk; Daniel 1). Barnard, District Attorney : 
aad Orrin E. Gibbs, Surrogate. 



THE VILLAGE OF ROCHESTER. 

The village of Rochester is situated on both the 
eastern and western banks of the Genesee river, 
seven miles from its mouth, at lake' Ontario, and 
includes the third and fourth of the six several 
falls on the river: the third, or upper one, is a 
small fall of twelve feet, situated at the foot of the 
rapids, aud immediately above where the canal 
aqueduct is erected ; and the other is the great 
fall of 97 feet, situated 80 rods below. It is 2i 
miles south of where the alluvial way or celebrated 
Ridge Road intersects the river, aud at the first 
bridging place south of the lake, with accessible 
and convenient banks for crossing it; and also for 
passing around the head of the Iroudequoit, (or 
Teoronto bay, as Dr. Spafford calls it,) giving a 
continuation to the Ridge Road from east 
to west. It is also three miles south 
from Hanford's landing on the west side 
of the river and 2 miles from Carthage land- 
ing, the head ; of sloop navigation from the lake, 
on the east side; and about 35 miles by laud, and 
70 by water, from Mount Morris, to which place 
the river is navigable at all times ; and 50 miles 
by land, and 90 by water, from Gardeau, or the 
second of the upper falls, which is the head of 
navigation during freshets. The two lower falls 
are at Carthage, l}-£ miles below the village. 

The grand Erie Canal, after curving along the 
declivity of the mountain ridge from the N. W. 
passes through the middle of the village, crosses 
the river in a splendid aqueduct, and thence runs 
along the eastern bank up the stream about eighty 
rods to a small ravine, through which it resumes 
its course eastwardly. 

This situation, together with the vast water 
power, conspire to give the village its command- 
ing position for trade, by the lake, the river, and 
the canal, as well for manufactures. 

The canal, at this place, is 501 feet above the 
tide waters of the Hudson, 270 feet above Lake 
Ontario, and 64 feet below Lake Erie. 

The village corporation contains about 720 acres 
on the west, and 430 on the east side of the river. 

It is 218 miles west of Albany — 28 northwest of 
Canaudaigua — and 35 nearly northeast of Batavia. 

It is situated in latitude 43° N. and about 40' 
W. longitude from the meridian of the city of 
Washington. 

The MM Lot, so called, lying in the centre of 
the village, on the west side of the river, and con- 
taining 100 acres, was a gift from Oliver Phelps to 
Ebenezer Allen, in 1789, in consideration of his 
building a grist-mill on it, for the accommodation 
of. the ne v settlers then moving into the country. 
But the settlement being mostly made along the 
main road leading through Canaudaigua to Buffa- 
lo, left this section of the country to remain a 
wilderness for several years. Mr. Allen moved 
away, left his mill to go to decay, and sold his lot, 
which passed through several hands to the Pulte- 
ney estate. 

In 1602, Nathaniel Rochester, William Fitzhugh, 
and Charles Carroll, of Maryland, purchased the 
lot, aud left it remaining uuoccupied until 1812, 
when they surveyed it into village lots, opened it 
for sale, and gave it the name of Rochester, the 
family name of the senior proprietor. 

The other lands now occupied as the village of 
Rochester, were farm-lots Nos. 47 to 54, in town- 
ships No. 1, short range, west of the Genesee riv- 
er, and now the towu of Gates : and Nos. 3 and 
10, with 36, and a lot called the Hatchet Piece, of 
the third division of township No. 13, of the 7th 
range, east of Uenesee river, aud now the town of 
Brighton. 



The lots on the west side, were a part of a tract 
of 20,000 acres, bought of Phelps and Gorhain by 
a company of seven purchasers, in the year 1791, 
and partitioned between them by lot. Charles 
Harford, one of these, made the first improve- 
ment in the N. W. part of the village, about the 
year 1807, by building a small mill, with one run 
of stones, 2& feet in diameter : but it was not till 
1812, when lots Nos. 48 and 49 were purchased by 
Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thomas 
Mumford, that this portion of the village was sur- 
veyed as building lots, and denominated Frankfort, 
after the christian name of Francis Brown. 

The centre of the village east of the river, was 
a part of the farm of Enos Stone, a part also of a 
larger joint purchase from the Phelps and Gor- 
hain estate, in the year 1879, for Is $d New-Eng- 
land currency, per acre. A little clearing was 
made on this land — a log house built on the bank 
of the river, and a saw-mill erected near the ford- 
ing place, about 1808 ; but it was not till 1817, 
that this part of the village was much improved. 
At that time, Ellsha Johnson, having purchased 
SO acres from the west side of Enos Stone's farm, 
surveyed and laid it out into building lots. 

James, son of Enos Stone, is believed to to have 
been the first child born in Rochester, May 4, 
1810. 

The N. E. part of the village, or lots Nos. 4, 5, 
6 and 7, were owned by Moses Atwater, and Sam- 
uel I. Andrews. Their first improvements began 
in 1813. 

The first bridge at this place, (where the middle 
bridge now stands,) was commenced in the year 
1810, and finished in 1812, at the joint expense of 
the counties of Ontario and Genesee, amounting 
to $12,000. Previous to this, the river was cross- 
ed by fording on the level rocky bottom, about 
twenty rods above where the canal aqueduct 
is now erected ; the only bridge then on the river 
was where it is intersected by the Buffalo road at 
Avon, twenty miles distant from this place. 

Hitherto, there was nothing in the appearance 
or prospects of the place where Rochester now 
stands, to indicate the unexampled growth which 
it has experienced since 1812. Its water-falls, in- 
deed, afforded the prospect of advantages for hj - - 
drauliek machinery ; but the small productions of 
the surrounding country, and the superior pros- 
pects, as it then seemed, of other points in the 
vicinity for commercial purposes, were but little 
calculated to excite sanguine expectations. 

In the month of January, 1810, Frederick Han- 
ford opened a store of goods, at what was then 
called the upper landing, or Fall-Town, (being the 
first merchant's store on the river below Avon,) 
and opened the way to the trade of the river and 
lake. Hence, that place has since been called 
Handfoid's landing. The village, also, at the 
mouth of the river, attracted some attention, and 
promised to become a place of trade. 

It may tend to give an idea of the commercial 
and civil importance of all those points at that 
time, to state that the mail was then carried from 
Canandaigua once a week, on horseback, and part 
of that time by a woman ! 

From the year 1812, which might be regarded 
as the birth year of Rochester, as a village, we 
shall note, in the form of annals, whatever events 
contributed to its growth and increase up to the 
present time; and whatever else may seem wor- 
thy of being remembered, as connected with 'its 
history. 

1812. — The bridge across the Genesee river was 
finished. The proprietors of the Allen mill lot 
surveyed it into village lots, and opened it for sale 
and settlement. . 



Isaac W. Stone built a house and opened a tav- 
ern, opposite the place where the Methodist brick 
chapel now stands, on the east side of the river ; 
which was the only tavern in the place for two or 
three years. He also built a saw-mill near Enos 
Stone's log house. 

Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thom- 
as Mumford, purchased lots Nos. 48 and 49, laid 
them out in village lots, and called it Frankfort. 
The only improvements then were Mr. Harford's 
grist and saw mills and two log houses. 

Moses Atwater and Samuel I. Andrews purchas- 
ed lots Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, in the third division of 
lots, in township No. 13, in the 7th range, about 
the great falls, on the east side of the river, 
(which now forms the northeast section of the 
village,) and commenced their improvements. A 
Post-Office was established in the village. Its 
first quarterly income was $ 3,42 cts. 

In July, of this year, the first merchant's store 
was opened, by Ira West. 

1813.— The Legislature granted $5,000, for cut- 
ting out the path and bridging the streams on the 
Ridge Road, between this place and Lewiston, 
which was then almost impassible. 

There were three houses built and occupied on 
the west side of the river. The land where the 
publick buildings now stand, was cleared, sown 
with wheat, and afterwards used as a pasture. 
The mill race, south of Buffalo-street, was opened 
by Rochester & Co. [There is now in the same 
place a large and commodious canal, which sup- 
plies water for three flouring mills, five saw-mills, 
a trip hammer arid nail factory, and considerable 
other machinery ] 

1814.— On the 14th of May, Sir James L. Yeo, 
admiral of the British fleet on Lake Ontario, an- 
chored off the harbour at the mouth of the river, 
with five large and eight smaller vessels of war; 
when all the male inhabitants of the village, ca- 
pable of bearing arms, (being 33,) turned out with 
the militia of the neighboring towns, to prevent 
his landing, leaving ouly two men to take the wo- 
men and children into the woods, in case he sho'd 
land and send a detachment of troops, as had 
been threatened, to burn the bridge across the 
river. 

The first mercantile operations of any impor- 
tance in the village commenced this year. 

1815 — Elisha Ely, Hervey Ely, and Josiah Bis- 
sell, Jr. finished the red mill, with four run of 
stones, now owned by Ebenezer S. Beach. 

Samuel Hildreth, of Pittsford, commenced run- 
ning a stage and carrying the mail, twice a week, 
between this place and Canandaigua. 

A private weekly mail route was established be- 
tween this place and Lewiston — dependent on the 
. income of the post-offices on the route for its sup- 
port. 

M. Brown, Jr. F. Brown, and T. Mumford, com- 
menced their mill canal, at the head ot the great 
falls, and fiuished it in 1816. 

The building of the cotton factory, in 
Frankfort, was commenced by an incorporated 
company. 

Abelard Reynolds opened the first tavern on 
the west side of the river, on Buffalo-street. 

In December, the first census of the village was 
taken — population, 331. 

Aug. 22— The first religious society in the place 
was organized, consisting of 16 members, 14 of 
whom are still alive. 

The purchase of produce in any considerable 
quantity, from* the surrounding country, com- 
menced this year. 

1816. — Caleb Lyon commenced the settlement 
of Carthage. 



G 



January 17 — Rev. Comfort Williams was in- 
stalled pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, 
beiug the tirst clergyman settled in the village. 

Dauby & Sheldon established a weekly newspa- 
per, entitied the Rochester GitZftte; — [now pub- 
lished by Edwin Scrantom, and called the Monroe 
Republican.] 

Matthew and Francis Brown finished a mill ca- 
nal on the west side of the river, at the head of 
the great falls, 84 rods in length, 30 feet wide, and 
S feet in depth, through a rock — which forms the 
mill race for their mills, the cotton factory, and 
many other establishments, and from which the 
water falls down the bank ninety-six feet. 

Buffalo road was surveyed and laid out to Ba- 
tavia. 

1817. — By an act of the Legislature, passed in 
April, the village was incorporated by the name 
of Rochester vilte, and on the tirst of May the first 
village election was held, for five trustees — when 
Francis Brown, Daniel Mack, William Cobb, Eve- 
rard Peck, and Jehiel Barnard, were elected. 
Francis Brown was chosen president of the board, 
and Hastings R. Bender clerk. 

The first house for publi<?k worship was built 
on Carroll-street, — [now occcupied by the second 
Presbyterian society.] 

Elisha Johnson purchased of Enos Stone, from 
the west side of his farm, 80 acres, adjoining the 
river, and surveyed the same into a village plat — 
constructed a dam across the river, above the old 
fording place, and excavated a large mill canal 
from thence to the bridge, 60 or 70 rods in 
length, 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep ; opening ex- 
tensive water privileges, at an expense of $12,000. 
Orson Seymour and others, in the course of the 
year, became jointly interested with Mr. Johnson, 
in his purchase, the back land of which was yet 
a forest. 

The price of wheat, during the early part of this 
year, was from $1,75 to $2,25 per bushel. The 
loss sustained by the millers and merchants was 
very considerable. 

William Atkinson built the yellow mill, on 
Johnson's mill canal, containing three run of 
stones. 

This year, the steam-boat Ontario commenced 
running from Sackett's Harbour to Lewiston, 
touching at the Port of Genesee. 

1818. — -Oilman & Sibley built a paper-mill, near 
Atkinson's flouring-mill. 

Strong & Albright built their mill at Carthage, 
containing four run of stones — [now owned by 
Elisha B. Strong & Co.] 

Carthage bridge was commenced, by Strong, 
Norton & Co. 

July 7th — Everard Peck & Co. established the 
second weekly newspaper, entitled the Rochester. 
Telegraph ; — [now published semi-weekly, by 
Weed & Martin.] 

In September, the second census of the village 
was taken — population, 1049. 

The exports, from the Oenesee river down the 
lake to the Canada market, during the season of 
navigation, were, 26,000 bbls. flour — 3,653 bbls. 
pot and pearl ashes — 1,173 bbls. pork — 190 bbls. 
whiskey — 214,000 double butt staves— together 
with small quantities of sundry other articles — 
valued at $380,000. 

1819. — Matthew and Francis Brown rebuilt their 
flouring mill, containing four run of stones, on the 
site where the former mill was burnt down in 
March, 1818. 

Solomon Cleveland built his mill on the east 
wing of the great falls, containing two run of 
stones. 



Atwater, Andrews and Mumford, built a toll 
bridge, a few rods above Cleveland's mill. This 
was the second bridge across the Genesee river in 
the village. 

The famous bridge at Carthage, was finished 
this year. 

The Royal Arch Chapter of Free Masons was 
installed, March 23d. 

The title of the village corporation was* changed 
by an act of the legislature, from Roc/testerville to 
Roc/testi r. 

September 2Sth, the state engineers made a sur- 
vey of a route for the canal through the village. 

The exports from the port of Oenesee to Cana- 
da for the year, were 23,648 bbls. flour; 8,673 bbls. 
pot and pearl ashes ; 1,451 bbls. pork ; 500,000 
staves; 50,000 feet of square timber; which, to- 
gether with sundry smaller articles, were valued 
at 400,000 dollars. 

1820— By the United States census of August 1st, 
the village was found to contain 1502 inhabitants. 

September 2lst, the Hon. Roger Skinner held a 
session of the United States District Court, which 
was the first Court of Record held in the village. 

The second house for publick worship in the 
village, was built by the Episcopalians — [now the 
old building standing in the rear of the Episcopal 
church.] 

The exports from the port of Genesee to Cana- 
da for the year, were 67,468 bbls. flour; 5,310 
bbls. pot and pearl ashes ; 2,643 bbls. beef and 
pork ; 709 bbls. whiskey ; 179,000 staves ; togeth- 
er with small quantities of corn, oil, lard, bam, 
butter, cider, &c. — valued at §375,000. The prices 
of produce had fallen greatly — the general price 
of flour, was $2,25, to $2,50 per barrel ; of wheat, 
37^ cents per bushel, and corn, from 20 to 25 
cents. 

1821. — February 20th, a law passed in the state 
legislature, erecting the county of Monroe. 

Morris S. Miller, Robert S. Rose, and Nathan 
Williams, the commissioners appointed by law, 
located the county buildings for Monroe, in the 
village of Rochester, on a lot given for the pur- 
pose, by Rochester, Fitzhugh and Carroll. 

September 4th, the corner stone of the Court- 
House was laid. 

A Female Charity School was opened for the 
gratuitous instruction of poor children. 

In May, the tirst County Court for Monroe was 
held. 

In August, William Britton commenced build- 
ing the Canal Aqueauct, with 30 convicts from the 
State Prison, at Auburn. 

November 20th, the price of wheat was 50 cents 
per bushel. 

The price of produce having fallen so low in 
Canada, and ttie canal having been partly finished, 
to favour the shipment of it to Albany, so mate- 
rially reduced the quantities shipped for the Can- 
ada market, that no subsequent account of the an- 
nual exports there, has been taken. 

1822. — February 5th, 7000 bushels of wheat 
were taken in this day, at the mills in Rochester 
and Carthage. 

October 2'.nh,the first canal boat left the village 
for Little Falls, laden with flour. 

The third house for publick worship was built 
by the Friends, or Quakers. 

And the fourth commenced, being the Metho- 
dist brick chapel, on the east side of the river. 

'In Sept. the 4th census of the village was taken 
— permanent population, 2700; and 3130, includ- 
ing labourers on the publick works. 

HerveyEly built his mill, adjoining William At- 
kinson's, containing four run of stones. 



1823. — In ten days preceding May Gth, there 
were 10,000 bbls. of flour shipped at this village 
on the Erie canal, for Albany and New-York. 

October 7th, the completion of the canal aque- 
duct across the Genesee river, was celebrated by 
the passage of boats, escorted by the military 
companies, masonic societies, and citizens of the 
village. [A description of the aqueduct will be 
found in a subsequent page.] 

The fifth house for publick worship was built, 
being the Roman Catholick chapel. 

Rochester and Montgomery built their mill 
near E. S. Beech's, containing three run of 
stones. 

1824. — The law for incorporating the Bank of 
Rochester, passed the legislature. 

The first Presbyterian society built a stone 
church near the court-house. 

The Episcopal society moved their old building, 
and erected a stone church on the same ground. 

The bridge, beginning to decay, was rebuilt by 
the county of Monroe, tor $6,000. Samuel Works, 
commissioner; Elisha Johnson, contractor. 

1825. — The fifth census of the village was taken 
in Feb. — population, 4274. 

H. N. &, A. B. Curtis built -their large stone 
building at the east end of the bridge, containing 
two run of stones, and extensive machinery for 
manufactures. 

In October, Marshall, Spalding & Hunt estab- 
lished the Rochester Album— [now published by 
Elihu F. Marshall] 

The sixth census of the village was takeu under 
the state census, August 1st — population, 5273. 

The powers granted to the village Trustees by 
the charter of incorporation, were found to be in- 
adequate to a good police regulation, and the 
question was agitated during the fall, whether 
they should apply for a city charter, while apply- 
ing for an increase of power to the old corpora- 
tion ; but after considerable discussion, 'the sub- 
ject of a city charter was declined, and the village 
charter was amended by vesting more ample pow- 
ers in the board of trustees. 

1826. — Brown & Whitney built their mill at the 
lower end of Brown's mill canal, containing two 
run of stones, and designed for four. 

The Dissenting Methodists began to build their 
meeting house, being the seventh house for pub- 
lick worship. 

A company of land proprietors, and other in- 
dividuals, began to build the third bridge across 
the Genesee river, at this place, in a line with the 
Pittsford state road, by subscription. 

In October, Luther Tucker & Co. established 
the Rochester Daily Advertiser. 

In December, the 7th census of the village was 
taken — population, 7669. 

INSTITUTIONS. 
I.— THE POLICE. 

The government of the village is conducted, ac- 
cording to its present charter, by a board of five 
trustees, who, with a treasurer, collector, two con- 
stables, five assessors, and ten fire-wardens, are 
annually eleeted, by the qualified inhabitants, on 
the first Monday in May. The chief engineer of 
the tire department is eleeted by the tire-wardens 
and firemen only, on the second Monday of May, 
annually. A clerk of the board is appointed by 
the trustees. 

The powers of the board of trustees are believed 
to comprehend every thing necessary to secure 
and enforce neatness, regularity, good order, and 
safety by night and by day, within the precincts of 
the corporation, and efficiently to restrain what- 



ever may be offensive, or detrimental to decency, 
good morals, or religion. 

The following is a list of regulations, with the 
fines or penalties attached to them respectively, 
now in force by ordinance of the trustees, agree- 
ably to their chartered powers. 

Householders must clean and keep clear the 
sidewalks and streets opposite their premises, ex- 
cept in specified cases. — Fine, for neglect, $5. 

No person may injure any walk, street, sewer, 
drain, well, or other article lor publick use. — Fine, 
for each offence, $10. 

Householders must sweep and clean the side- 
walks, opposite their dwellings, every Saturday, 
from the first day of April till the first day of No- 
vember. — Fine, tor each neglect, $1. 

No householders or others are permitted to 
throw any offensive matter whatever into the 
streets or lanes.— Fine, $2. 

Immoderate riding or ariving, in the streets, is 
forbidden. — Fine, for each offence, $5. 

Hucksters must not occupy any place in the 
streets or lanes of the village, for the sale of fruit, 
&c, without a license for the same, — Fine, for 
each offence, $3. 

No person may stop his horse or team on any 
cross or side-walk, so as to hinder or endanger 
any person passing thereon. — Fine, for each of- 
fence, §2. 

No auctioneer, constable, or other person, may 
hold any sale so as to collect a crowd on any side 
or cross-walk. — Fine, for each offence, $5. 

Fireplaces, of every description, to be kept in 
good repair so as to be sate. — Fine for neglect, 
$10. The same to be cleaned, as directed, once 
every three months. — Fine for neglect, $5. 

No person may keep above 12 lbs. of gunpow- 
der in any house within the village, nor even that 
quantity, except in close canisters. — Fine, lor ev- 
ery day this ordinance is transgressed, $M. 

No candle nor tire to be kept, or carried in an 
exposed manner, in livery stables. — Fine, for each 
offence, $5. 

Householders shall have a place of safe deposit 
for ashes, and in no case suffer them to be put 
into wooden vessels. — Fine, $5. 

For constructing insecure chimneys to any 
house or manufactory. — Fine, $10. 

Fire wardens, to inspect houses and yards once 
in each month. — Fine, for neglect, $2. 

Householders shall obey the directions of fire 
wardens, in things relating to security against 
tire. — Fine, for nou-conipliauce, each offence, $10. 

Each house must have a scuttle in the roof, and 
stairs in the same. — Fine on the occupant, for ne- 
glect, $5. 

Fire buckets, to be kept in each house — for one 
or two fireplaces or stoves, one bucket : for 3 or 
4 fireplaces, or stoves, 2 buckets ; for more than 
four, 3 buckets. — Fine, for neglect in any particu- 
lar of the ordinance, $5. 

Fire buckets must be produced at fires, when 
they occur. — Fine, for refusal or neglect, $2. 

The inhabitants must obey the orders of the 
chief engineer and tire-wardens, at fires. — Fine, 
for disobedience of orders, $5. 

The chief engineer and tire-wardens to give 
prompt and regular attention to their duties, in 
cases of tire. — Fine, for neglect, $10. The chief 
engineer to inspect their engines, &c, once in 
three months, and report to the trustees. 

It is the duty of the president, trustees, or fire- 
wardens, to remove idle and disobedient persons 
from fires. — Fine, for disobedience to their orders, 
$5. Such persons may also be put into custody, 
till after the extinguishment of the fire. 



None, except the chief engineer, trustees and 
fire-wardens, may give orders at fires. — Fine, $5. 

Firemen, must instantly, on an alarm, repair to 
the engine to which they belong, and aid in mov- 
ing it to the fire, and in working it there; unless 
prevented by absence from the village, or sick- 
ness. — Fine, for neglect of this duty, $10. 

Hook and ladder men, subject to the same rule, 
in the proper department. — Fine, $10. 

No person may discharge fire arms, nor rock- 
ets, nor squibs, nor any fire works, within the 
village. — Fine, $5. 

No person may burn shavings, chips, or straw, 
nor kindle any large fire, in the streets, within 
fifty feet of any building. — Fine, $5. 

All bell-ringers are bound to ring, on an alarm 
of fire.— Fine, $5. 

Publick bathing is not permitted in any waters 
within the village.— Fine, $2. 

Vaults to necessaries, must be of such depth 
and so constructed, as is provided in the ordi- 
nance relating to them.— Fine, for neglect, $25. 

Necessaries must not be so situated as to be a 
nuisance to neighbours. — Fine, $25. They must 
be purified with lime, once in each month, during 
the summer half year, as directed in the ordi- 
nance. — Fine, for neglect, $5. 

Every house must be furnished with a sink- 
drain, covered with earth. — Fine, for neglect, per 
week, $2. 

No stagnant water is allowed on any lot. — Fine, 
to occupant or owner, as the case may be, per day, 
$2. 

No person is allowed to throw any dead animal, 
putrid meat, or fish, into any river, canal, mill- 
race, basin, or aqueduct, within the village. — 
Fine, $5. 

Cellars must be kept free from all stagnant wa- 
ter, putrid vegetable or animal matter. — Fine, for 
each offence, $5. 

Hogs are not permitted to run at large. — Fine, 
50 cts. They are not to be kept so as to be offen- 
sive to neighbors. — Fine, per day, $2. 

No horse, mare, or colt, permitted to run at 
large. — Fine, to the owner, $2. 

Swine, running at large, may be impounded, 
and the claimant subjected to the expenses, as 
per ordinance.. 

Neat cattle are not permitted to run at large, 
after the first day of December, till the first day 
of April. — Fine, $1. 

No nine-pine alley to be kept. — Fine, per day, 

Grocers, for selling liquors or serving customers 
on the Sabbath day, or permitting any collection 
of people or noise at their groceries — Fine, $10. 

Masters of canal boats, for suffering any horn 
or bugle to be blown within the village, on the 
Sabbath — Fine, $2. 

Theatrical representations are restrained by or- 
dinance. Fines, for transgressing that ordinance 
— a principal or manager, $25— any actor, for 
each offence, $5 — owner of premises where they 
so trespass, each offence, $5. 

Circus riders prohibited in like manner. — Fine, 
to principal, $25— each rider, $10. 

Shows of all kinds prohibited, unless special li- 
cense be obtained.— Fine, $10. Owners of prem- 
ises where this ordinance is violated— Fine, $5. 

No cellar doors may project more than four 
feet from the front line of the building.— Fine, 
$10 — and for every day the same remains, con- 
trary to this ordinance, $1. 

Cellars used for groceries, and such purposes, 
must have an iron railing on each side of the en- 
trance, extending four feet from the line of the 



building; all others must be covered with a door. 
— Fine, for every day the ordinance is transgress- 
ed, in each case, $1. 

No outside stairs to upper stories, or projecting 
platforms, are permitted. — Fine, for erecting such, 
$5 — and for continuing the same, per day, $1. 

No lamp or other posts may be erected, except 
at the edge of the side-walk, or by special liberty 
from the trustees. — Fine, $2— and for each day the 
transgression is continued, $1. Posts, in all 
cases, must be not less than nine feet high, from 
the surface of the side-walk, to the bottom of any 
lamp, sign, &c. placed thereon. — Fine, per day, 
$1. 

All licensed grocers must have a sign to that 
effect near their door. — Fine, per day, $1. 

Common criers must have a license, and not 
use horns or trumpets, but only a hand-bell. — 
Fine, for each offence, $1. 

Owners of inhabited lots, residing in the vil- 
lage, and occupants, when the owners are not res- 
idents, are responsible for not having proper ne- 
cessaries, to prevent nuisances — and in case of 
nuisance, are fineable per day, $5. 

All who slaughter cattle are, in like manner, in 
case of nuisance to those residing in the neigh- 
bourhood, liable to a fine, per day, while it con- 
tinues, of $5. 

Wagons, containing articles for sale, must not 
be placed across any street, nor so near the side- 
walks as to prevent others passing ; nor may any 
stop in the square formed by the intersection of 
Carroll and Exchange-streets with Buffalo-street ; 
and if loaded with hay, they must stand west of 
the court-house yard in Buffalo-street, and east of 
River-street, in Main-street. — Fine, for each trans- 
gression of either of these ordinances, $1. 

The keeping of billiard-tables for gaming is 
prohibited.— Fine, $5. Tavern-keepers and grocers 
keeping billiard-tables — Fine, per day, $5. 

The following are the present officers of the 
corporation : 

Trustees. — First Ward, William Brewster. 

Second Ward, Matthew Brown, Jr. 
Third Ward, Vincent Mathews. 
Fourth Ward, Elisha Ely. 
Fifth Ward, Giles Boulton. 

Assessors. — First Ward, Preston Smith. 

Second Ward, Ezra M. Parsons. 
Tnird Ward, Ira West. 
Fourth Ward, Daniel Tinker. 
Fifth Ward, Davis C. West. 

Matthew Brown, Jr. Fres. of the Board of Trus- 
tees. 

Rufus Beach, Clerk and Attorney. 

Frederick F. Backus, Treasurer. 

Raphael Beach, Collector and Constable. 

Stephen Symonds, Constable. 

M Willson, Weigher of Hay. 

Regular meetings of the Corporation, every 
Tuesday, at 3 o'clock, P. M. at the office of the 
clerk, in the Court House. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
Samuel Works, Chief Engineer. 

FIRE WARDENS. 

First Ward— S. Melancton Smith, John Mar- 
chant. 

Second Ward— Benjamin H. Brown, Timothy 
Burr. 

Third Ward— Edwin Stanley, Walter White. 

Fourth Ward— A. B. Curtis, John Histed. 

Fifth Ward— Samuel Smith, Aaron Newton. 

ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 1. 

Daniel D. Hatch, Foreman. 



9 



John Swift, Assissant. 
William Haywood, Secretary. 

ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 2. 

Davis C. West, Fbn man. 
Stephen Charles, Assistant. 
Giles BoultoD, Secretary. 

HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY. 

Isaiah Tower, Jr. Foreman. 
Phelps Smith, Assistant. 
C. A. Van Slyck, Secretary. 
Stated meetings of the several fire companies, 
on the first Monday in each month. 

II.— RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Year 
Tittle, or of Place of Present 

Denomination, organ- worship. Clergymen. 

izatlpn. 

First Presby'n 1815 Court-square. Rev. Jos. Penney 

Episcopal 1817 Fitzhugh-st. Rev. F. II. Cuming 

Friends, or Quak- 
ers 1817 Hughes-street. 

Baptist 1818 Court-House. Rev. 0. C.Comstock 

Roman Catholick 1820 Platt-street. (Vacant.) 

Methodist Epis'l. 1820 River-street. Elder J. Dempster. 

Methodist Soo'y.1822 Hart-street. Elder Orren Miller 

Cbrist-ian 1823 Frankfort-sqr. Elder S Silsby 

Sec'd Presbyt'n.. 182t> Carroll-street. Rev. Wm. James 

Third Presbyt'n.. 1827 Clinton-street. Rev. Geo. Parker 



III.— BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 

THE FEMALE CHARITABLE SOCIETY. 

Was organized 26th February, 1S22. — The fol- 
lowing is an extract from the Constitution : 

" Art. 1. The primary objects of this society 
shall be, the relief of indigent persons and fam- 
ilies, in cases of sickness and distress, and the 
establishment of a Charity School. 

" Art. 3. It shall be the duty of the directors, 
to direct the application of all the means of the 
society— to solicit contributions in money, goods, 
provisions, clothing, bedding, &c, and to obtain 
subscribers. 

Art. 5. — All articles of clothing, bedding, &c. 
belonging to the society shall be loaned, (not 
given,) and it shall be the duty of the committee 
to see that they are returned." 

This society has been in successful operation 
for five years, during most of which period, a 
school has been kept, in which forty children are 
educated gratuitously. The school, which is now 
flourishing, is under the charge of Mrs. Saddler, 
whose fidelity has met the unqualified spproba- 
tion of the society. 

In many cases, relief and assistance have been 
afforded to sick and distressed families, by the 
loan of clothing, bedding, <ic. of which the society 
have always a supply on hand. The funds are 
raised from the annual subscription of the mem- 
bers, and an annual collection taken up when a 
sermon is preached for the benefit of this charity. 
The present number of members is 143. 

The society has a school-house, erected on a lot 
which was given by William Fitzhugh, situated 
on Franklin-street. 

Officers elected, February 6, 1827 : — 
Mrs. J. K. Livingston, President. 
Mrs. Mary Scovill, V. President. 

Mrs. Samson, ") f Mrs. Bissell, 

Mrs. Burr, | Mrs. A. Allcott, 

' Mrs. Plumb, \ Directors. { Mrs. Cuming, 

Mrs. Colman, | I Mrs. Beach, 

Mrs. Parker, J [ 

Mrs. Whittlesey, Treasurer. 

Miss Ewing and Miss Stone, Superintendents of 
the School. 

Annual meeting first Tuesday in February. 
2 



Moxroe County Bible Society. 
Auxiliary to the American Bible Society, was 
formed May SO, 1821. The sole object of this in- 
stitution is the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, 
without note or comment. Surplus funds paid to 
the parent society. 
Life membership, $10— annual membership, $1. 



bles and 100 Testaments — in 1825, 150 Bibles and 
250 Testaments ; in all, 1720 Bibles, and 1555 Tes- 
taments. 

In addition to paying for the Bibles purchased, 
they have refunded the amount of the donation in 
1825, and have remitted fifty dollars, as surplus 
funds, to the parent society. 
Officers of the society : 

Vincent Mathews, President. 
Wm. Atkinson, | r - n . , , 
F. F. Backus, [ Km -Presidents. 

En os Pomeroy, Corresponding Secretary. 

Wm. Pitkin, Recording Secretary. 

Levi Ward, Jr. Treasurer. 
Treasurer's office, and depository of Bibles and 
Testaments, in the counting-room of Wm. H. 
Ward & Co. Carroll-street. Annual meeting, first 
Tuesday in June. 



Monroe County Missionary Society, 
Was formed July 11, 1820.— Extracts from the 
Constitution : — 

"Art. 1. This society shall be known by the 
name of the Home Missionary Society of Monroe 
County, auxiliary to the American Home Mission- 
ary Society. 

"Art. 4. The funds of this society, after paying 
incidental expenses, shall be paid over to the 
treasurer of tfre parent institution, with directions 
as to the section of country in which it shall be 
expended in missionary labours, should the board 
deem it expedient to give such directions. 

Art. 6. The society shall meet as often as called 
by the directors, and annually, on the second 
Monday in April, when the officers shall be cho- 
sen, and a report of the directors received, and 
when the constitution may be amended) by a vote 
of two thirds of the members present." 
Officers elected July, 1826 : — 
Ira West, of Rochester, President. 
Rev. J. Penney, do. 1st V. Pres't. 
Charles Church, of Ogden, 2d V. Pres't. 
Charles J. Hill, of Rochester, Treasurer. 
Everard Peck, do. Secretary. 

The society has several missionaries, in differ- 
ent parts of the country, towards whose support, 
from fifty to one hundred dollars a year are con- 
tributed by the society. 



Female Missionary Society, 
Auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Soci- 
ety, was organized in January, 1818. Its object is 
to assist in supporting the preachiug of the gos- 
pel in feeble and destitute churches in the settle- 
ments. Officers for lsii? — 

Mrs. Patty Beach, President. 
Mrs. Margaret Penney, Secretary. 
Mrs. Henrietta Bissell, Treasurer. 
Annual meeting, on the first Tuesday iu Janu- 
ary. 

Female Benevolent and Auxiliary Missionary 
Society of St. Luke's Church, Rochester. 
Organized February 23, 1827. — The object of the 
society is, to raise funds in aid of plans and socie- 
ties formed for the purpose of promoting the in- 



10 



tere$t8 of religion, as connected with the Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church; special reference being 
had to the claims of the "General Missionary So- 
ciety of the Episcopal Church," and the " Monroe 
County Episcopal Association for disseminating 
religious knowledge." 
The society consists at present of 120 members. 
Officers for 1S27 : 

Mrs. Elisha Johnson, President. 

Mrs. H. Montgomery, Vice President. 

Mrs. Wm. Pitkin, Secretary. 

Mrs. T. H. Rochester, Treasurer. 

Monroe County Episcopal Association. 
Organized February, 1827. 
The objects of the society are, the supply of va- 
cant places within the country with the services 
of the Episcocpal church — assisting in the estab- 
lishment and support of new congregations, and 
the formation ot Sunday schools. 

[The officers had not been chosen, when these 
pages were put to press.] 

Monroe Countt Tract Society. 
This institution was organized in 1823. Its op- 
erations were considerably extensive in distribut- 
ing tracts in this region of the country. In Octo- 
ber, 1826, they were called upon by an agent of 
the American Tract Society, with such proposi- 
tions as induced them to merge this society in the 
Rochester Tiact Society, auxiliary to the American 
Tract Society. The following is extracted from 
the first article of the constitution : " The object 
of this society is to aid the American Tract Socie- 
ty, instituted at New York in 1825, in extending its 
operations in destitute parts of the United States." 
One hundred dollars was subscribed and forward- 
ed to the parent Society in New York, to furnish 
the depository. The following are the officers of 
the society for the present year : 

Josiah Bissell, Jr. President. 

William Atkinson, ) 

John Watts, [- Vice Presidents. 

Willis Kempshall, ) 

Everard Peck, Secretary. 

Levi A. Ward, Treasurer. 
Treasurer's office, and depository of Tracts, in 
Wm. H. Ward & Co's counting-room, Carroll- 
street. 

Sunday Schools. 
Most if not all the religious societies in the 
village support one or more sabbath schools, and 
these are generally connected with a county sab- 
bath school union. A general depository of suit- 
able books is kept for sale at the counting-room of 
C. Dunning & Co. in Carroll-street. An interest- 
ing anniversary meeting is held in Rochester in 
the month of October in each year. 



IV.— LITERARY AND OTHER INSTITU- 
TIONS. 
The extreme occupation and multiplicity of ur- 
gent publick objects, has hitherto prevented the 
citizens of Rochester from making those efforts in 
the cause of literature and education, which their 
importance demands. There is as yet no publick 
library of general literature, norpublick seminary 
of education. Measures are in operation, howev- 
er, for prosecuting both of these objects, which it 
is hoped the present year will see in a good state 
of advancement. The private and district schools 
in the village, are about 20 in number, in which 
1150 children and youth are instructed in all the 
branches of a common and classical education. 



Franklin Institute. 

This institution was organized October 13, 1826. 
The general purposes of it may be ascertained by 
the following extract from the constitution of the 
society. 

"The objects which the Franklin Institute shall 
have especially in view, shall be the establishment 
of a library for the use of the members, consist- 
ing of books on the arts, sciences and manufac- 
tures ; a museum of models of machines ; a cabi- 
net of mineralogy, geology, and chemical sub- 
stances, scientifically arranged; lectures and 
apparatus for illustrating the sciences connected 
with the mechanical arts, and mutual instructions 
in elementary sciences, as far as practicable." 

This institution is formed upon similar princi- 
ples with several others now in successful opera- 
tion in our own country, and in G. Britian ; origi- 
nating in the belief that " the condition and pros- 
pects of our village, mark it out as especially de- 
manding of its citizens their zealous efforts in es- 
tablishing and maintaining institutions to improve 
the arts by the aid of science, and to adorn and 
benefit that part of community employed in pro- 
ductive industry, with the advantages and pleas- 
ures of mental cultivation." 

In pursuance of these objects, the society, con- 
sisting of about seventy members, have already 
obtained a small cabinet of minerals, a library, 
and several models of machines ; and have com- 
menced a system of cultivating knowledge in the 
arts and sciences by lectures, experiments, and 
such examinations and inquiries as the means of 
the Institute admit. 

The afl'airs of tne Institute are conducted by a 
committee of seven, who are chosen annually. The 
present committee are, Rev. Jsseph Penney, Rev. 
F. H. Cuming, Levi Ward, Jr. Elisha Johnson, 
Jacob Graves, Giles Boulton, and Edwin Stanley. 

The society occupy No. 6, in Johnson's building, 
corner of Main and Canal streets, which is open 
to subscribers every day in the week, (Sundays 
excepted,) from 9 A. M. to 12 M. ; and from 2 to 9 
P. M. Stated meeting — Friday evenings of each 
week. 

Terms of admission to membership, $5, subject 
to an annual tax of §2. 



Masonick. 
Wells Lodge, No. 282, of Master Masons, was in- 
stalled in 1817. Its present officers are — 
Robert Martin, TV. M. j Charles C. Lathrop,./. TV. 
Phelps Smith, S. W. \ Ebenezer Watt3, Treas. 
Bill Cobly, Sec'ry. 
Regular commuuications, Tuesday of or preced- 
ing full moon in every month. 

Hamilton R. A. Chapter, was installed March, 
1819. 

Officers for 1827 — 
Jacob Gould, H. P. I Ebenezer Watts, S. 
Robert Martin, K. \ S. P. Allcot, Treas. 
Bill Colby, Sec'ry. 
Regular convocations, Wednesday of or prece- 
ding full moon in each month. 

A Knights Templar's encampment was installed 
August, 1826, and was admitted into the general 
grand encampment, September, 1826. 
RevF. H. Cumings, G. C. I Simeon P. Alcott,^. IT. 
Jonathan Child, G. Ebenezer Watts, J. TV. 

Abelard Reynolds, C. G. Edward Doyle, Treas. 
Jacob Gould, P. \ H. C. Williams, Pec. 

Regular meetings, Monday of or preceding new 
moon in each month. 



11 



Newspapers, &c. 

There are at present published in the village, 
four political and miscellaneous newspapers, one 
religious newspaper, and a Christ-ian monthly 
magazine, viz : 

The Monroe Republican, weekly, established 1816. 

T he Rochester Telegraph, semi-weekly " 1818. 

The Album., weekly, " 1825. 

Rochester Daily Advertiser, daily, " 1826. 

Rochester Observer, semi-monthly, " 1827. 

Gospel Luminary, monthly, " 1824. 

The Rochester Telegraph is also published week- 
ly, for the country. 

The Rochester Mercury is also issued from the 
office of the Daily Advertiser, once a week, for 
the country. 

There are received at the post-office, about 26 
daily, 284 semi-weekly, and 690 weekly newspa- 
pers. 

Post-Office. 

The post-office was established in the village in 
the year 1812. The receipts of the first quarter 
amounted to $3 42. The receipts for the last 
quarter of 1820, were, §1718 44. 

The arrival and departure of mails, are at pres- 
ent as follows, viz : 

The Eastern ami Western Mails— arrive and de- 
part every day. 

To and from Palmyra — seven mails a week in 
summer, and three in winter. 

To and from Penfield — six mails a week. 

To and from Scottsville — seven mails a week in 
summer, and three in winter. 

To and from Oswego — one mail a week. 

To and from Batavia — three mails a week. 

To and from Geneseo, dec. — three mails a week. 
Abelard Reynolds, Post-Master. 

Office in Buflalo-street, near Carroll-street. 
Bank of Rochester. 

Incorporated in 1824.— Capital 250,000 dollars. 
Elisha B. Strong, President. 
A. M. Schemerhorn, Cashier. 



Elisha B. Strong, 
Levi Ward, Jr. 
M. Brown, Jr. 
Jonathan Child, 
James Seymour, 
Abelard Reynolds, 



f Fred'k Bushnell, 
Ira West, 
S. P. Allcott, 
J- Directors. \ A. V. T. Leavitt, 
| William Pitkin, 
W. W. Mumford, 



Chas. H. Carrroll, J 

John T. Talman, Teller and Notary. 
Henry Roser, Discount Clerk. 
Levi Burnell, Book-Keeper. 
Days of Discount, Tuesdays and Fridays, at 11 
o'clock. 
Hours of business, from 10 A. M to 2 P. M. 



POPULATION. 
The following tabular view will show the in- 
crease of population, from the year 1815, when 
the first census was taken, to December, 1826 : 

Year. Population. 
December, 1815, - 331 

Sept. 1818, - 1,049 

August, 1820, - 1,502 
Sept. 1822, - 2,700 

February, 1825, - 4,274 
August, 1825, - 5,273 
December, 1826, - 7,669 
The population is composed chiefly of emigrants 
from New-England, and other states of the Union, 
together with a considerable number from Eng- 
land, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, and a few 
natives of Canada, Norway and Switzerland. 

It is a remarkable fact, that, in a population of 
nearly 8,000, not one adult person is a native of the 
village! 



First census, 

Second, - 

Third, (U.S.) 

Fourth, 

Fifth, 

Sixth, (State,) 

Seventh, - 



PRINCIPAL OCCUPY 


7 Clergymen, 


124 Shoema- 


25 Physicians, 


kers, 


28 Lawyers, 


20 Hatters, 


74 Merchants 


73 Coopers, 
23 Clothiers, 


89 Clerks, 


84 Grocers, 


20 Millers, 


33 Butchers, 


21 Millw'ts, 


48 Tailors, 


304 Carpenters 


24 Wheel- 


& Joiners, 


wrights, 
21 Saddlers, 


23 Tinners, 


29 Tanners, 


8 Tallow- 


423 Labour- 


chandlers, 


ers, 



The oldest person now living in the village who 
was born here, is not yet 17 years of age. 

These inhabitants, almost without exception, are 
employed either in professional or productive in- 
dustry. The following may be considered as near- 
ly a correct statement of the 



17 Coachmakers. 
67 Blacksmiths, 
14 Gunsmiths, 
10 Chairmkers, 
95 Masons, 

25 Cabinet-mkrs, 
5 Combmakers, 

26 Painters, 

16 Inn-keepers, 
16 Goldsmiths, 
8 Bookbinders , 
31 Printers, 
14 Bakers, 



STATIS TICKS. 
I.— TRADE AND COMMERCE. 

The superfluous productions of the extensive 
and fertile valley of the Genesee river, together 
with that of the surrounding country east and 
west, naturally concentrate at Rochester, and are 
exported from thence. While these exports passed 
through the port of Genesee to the Canada mar- 
ket, the amount was more accurately known, than 
since the opening of the canal ; the amount of 
tonnage being now more the object of reckoning 
at the several places of entry, than a specifick ac- 
count of the particular kinds. 

From the best data at hand, we have collected 

the following account of the exports by the canal, 

in the years 1823 and 1826. A few of the leading 

articles only are here presented. 

Articles. 

Flour, barrels, 

Wheat, bushels, 

Pork, barrels, 

Beef, do. 

Pot and pearl shes, do. 

Whiskey, gallons, 

As imports, might be enumerated almost every 
article within the limits of merchandise — the de- 
mand of the surrounding country both for the 
necessary and the luxurious being already very 
large, and yearly increasing, as the soil becomes 
subdued, and the consumer's means more exten- 
sive. A very considerable wholesale trade begins 
to open both with the remote parts of our own 
country, and the Canada shore. 

The retail trade for the place, will principally 
appear from the following list 



1823. 


1826. 


64,114 


202,000 


20,590 




1,250 


7,000 


528 


750 




9,500 


52,903 


135,000 



42 Merchant stores 
5 Hardware do. 
5 Druggist do. 

3 Book <fc stat'y do. 

14 Boot & shoe do. 



4 Hat 

5 Goldsmith 
7 Millinery 

1 Looking-glass 
4 Clothing 



1 Military goods store 



stores, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 



Lumber. 
The trade in lumber is very considerable. 
Great quantities of pine boards are annually 
brought here from the country bordering on 
Genesee river, which are principally used in the 
village and neighbourhood. Some of the pine 
lumber, however, is sent to the Albany and J«ew- 
York markets. There have also been large quan- 
tities of square timber and oak plank, for ship- 
building, sent by way of the canal to New-York. 
It has been in demand, and commanded a good 



12 



price ; but so great are the expenses of transpor- 
tation and canal tolls, that it has of late proved 
an unprofitable business. The quality of the 
white oak timber is said to be inferior to none of 
the kind in the United States. 



Freight Boats. 
The following list exhibits the number of boats 
and horses belonging to the several regular lines 
of freight boats, the owners and principal agents 
of which reside in the village. Besides those 
enumerated, there are a number of boats owned 
here, that ply regularly on the canal, which are 
not attached to any line of forwarders. 

Line. Boats. Horses. 



Pilot, 


34 


181 


Washington, 


32 


170 


Merchants' 


30 


172 


Troy and Erie, 


23 


161 


Hudson and Erie, 


21 


115 


Union, 


20 


83 



160 8S2 

The boats generally run from Troy and Albany 
to Buffalo, two of each line leaving this place ev- 
ery day, Sundays excepted. Although they are 
designed principally for the transportation of 
freight, most of them have comfortable accommo- 
dations for passengers— which they are enabled 
to carry at a less rate of fare than boats which 
are employed only as packets, owing partly to the 
difference in transit duties charged by the canal 
commissioners on freight and packet boats. 

The usual rates of transportation of flour, from 
this place to the Hudson riiver, in the spring and 
fall, is one dollar per barrel, and during summer, 
87% cents. ■ 

Merchandise, from Troy and Albany, is charged 
68 cents per cwt. 

Passengers are charged one and a half cents a 
mile, exclusive of board, which is an extra charge 
of about fifty cents a day. 

The boats generally run day and night, and 
about sixty miles in twenty hours. 

II.— MANUFACTURERS. 
Flouring Mills. 
There are at present, seven merchant mills for 
manufacturing flour, within the precincts of this 
village, or its immediate vicinity ; having in all 24 
run of stones. Arrangements are also made for 
erecting two others, with twelve run of stones, 
during the ensuing summer. 

The following are the returns of flour made at 
the existing mills, for the year 1826. 

Beach's mill, 24,530 barrels. 

Brown's do. 20,000 do. 

Atkinson's do. 20,500 do. 
Rochester's do. 20,000 do. 
Cleveland's do. 15,750 do. 
Strong's do. 17,000 do. 

Ely's do. 32,389 do. 

Total, 150,169 barrels. 

The perfection of the machinery, and the ar- 
rangements in the establishments, will be in some 
measure conceived, when the fact is stated, that 
in the last of these, during a considerable portion 
of the fall, the wheat was taken in, and flour man- 
ufactured to the amount of 250 barrels per day. 

Besides the above, there are three mills with 
seven run of stones, for custom work. 

Cotton Manufactory. 
There is at present but one establishment of this 



description in the village— conducted by S. S. Al- 
cott. It has 1400 spindles, aud 30 power looms. 
It employs about 80 youth and children, who are 
liberally afforded the advantages of a school five 
evenings in the week, supported at the expense 
of the employers. 

Woollen Manufacture. 
There is but one establishment where all parts of 
the process is carried on, and three others, where 
cloth-dressing, dyeing and wool-carding are con- 
ducted. This tra"de must be regarded as opening 
an inviting field, in a region whence wool is ex- 
ported, and into which manufactured cloth i3 so 
largely imported— where sheep may be raised so 
extensively, and where such water power exists. 
Miscellaneous Manufactories. 
Besides the manufactories already mentioned, 
there are, 

3 Furnances for melting and casting iron, 
2 Trip hammers by water power, 
2 Breweries, 

2 Distilleries, 

3 Tanneries, 
1 Oil-mill, 

9 Saw-mil\s, 

1 Nail manufactory, 

2 Stone and earthen ware manufactories, 

3 Scythe, axe and edge tool do. 

5 Tin and sheet iron do. 
3 Soap and candle do. 

2 Morocco do. 
1 Comb-maker's shop, 

1 Machine maker's do. 

3 Coppersmiths' shops. 

3 Gunsmiths' do. 

2 Plough-makers' do. 

2 Iron turners' do. 

4 Chair-makers' do. 
5k Cabinet-makers' do. 
4* Hatters' do. 
1 Paper mill, 

3 Book binderies, 

6 Printing offices, 

1 Looking-glass manufactory, 

4 Saddlers' shops, 
14 Coopers' do. 
17 Blacksmiths' do. 

1 Window sa&h manufactory, by water power, 

1 Shoe last do. do. 

1 Barrel do. do. 

1 Pail and tub do. do. 

This has produced 25,000 pails the last season. 
The four last mentioned manufactories are 
beautiful specimens of the ingenuity and mechani- 
cal talents of our countrymen, and promise to be 
lucrative, while they are creditable to the in- 
ventors. 

HL_PUBLICK WORKS. 

Of these, the first in importance and interest is. 
undoubtedly the 

Erie Canal. 

Its passage over the Genesee river is thus de- 
scribed by a civil engineer who superintended its 
construction. 

" This stupendous fabrick, which forms a prom- 
inent link in the great chain of inland communi- 
cation, is built on one of the rifts which compose 
a part of the extensive falls of the Genesee river, 
about eightv rods south of the great falls. It is 
situated nearlv in the centre of the thriving 
village of Rochester, parallel to the great 
leading western road, and across the Genesee 



13 



river, about eighty yards south of it. The ap- 
proach of the Erie Canal to the Genesee 
river, from the east, is for a considerable 
distance confined to a steep, bold bank; at 
the foot of which formerly ran a raceway. This 
artificial water course, on the immediate bank of 
the river, was compelled to give place to the Erie 
Canal, and has been placed outside of it, till at the 
instant of its crossing, it is passed under it in an 
arch of twenty-six feet chord. The natural and 
artificial scenery, here represented, is grand and 
peculiarly interesting. The river, with its rapids, 
is surmounted by the race above mentioned ; 
which in its turn is surmounted by the Erie 
Canal, which is again overtopped by the table 
land in the vicinity, on the extreme edge of which 
is an important street of the village of East Ro- 
chester. 

The Aqueduct, from the eastern extremity of 
its parapet walls to its western termination, is 804 
feet long, and is built on eleven arches ; one above 
named of twenty-six feet chord, under which 
passes the water necessary for a number of 
of important flouring-mills, &c. nine of fifty 
feet chord, and one on the west side of the river, 
of thirty feet chord, under which passes water for 
a number of flouring-mills, and other hydraulick 
establishments in West Rochester. The structure 
is founded on solid rock, in which excavations 
were made to found the piers, which are 36 feet 
long, and 10 feet wide, including at each end a 
pedestal and dome, out of which rises a pilaster. The 
height of the piers is about 4j^ feet ; the rise of 
the arch, 11 feet ; its thickness at the foot, 3 feet; 
at the apex, 2}^ feet. The parapet walls or sides 
of the trunk, are five and a half feet high, includ- 
ing the coping, which is so constructed as to form 
a capital to the whole trunk. 

The whole of this immense building is of cut 
stone ; many of them, particularly in the piers, of 
very great size. These are trenailed to the rock 
by large iron bolts, and so cramped and cemented, 
as nearly to form a mass which possesses the con- 
sistency and firmness of a single unbroken rock. 

The stone of which the walls are composed, is 
red sand stone, intimately blended with a small 
portion of iron. The pilasters and coping are of 
gray silicious lime stone. 

On the north wall,which is of sufficient thickness 
for the towing path, is an iron railing ; and at the 
west end, the whole is terminated by a highway 
and towing path bridge, of the most solid and 
elegant workmanship. 

The work was commenced by Alfred Hovey, the 
contractor, on the 17th of July, 1822, and com- 
pleted on the 11th of September, 1823, and cost 
$83,000." 



Canal Basins. 

The canal basins, in the village and vicinity, 
(beginning at the east,) are — 
Is. "Gilbert's Basin— junction of feeder and canal. 
2d. Jonnson's do. — west side of river-st. 
3d. Child's do. — west end of the aqueduct. 

4th. Eitzhugh's do. — between Washington and 
5th. Fisher's do. — Buffalo-st |Sophia-st. 

6th. Washington do. — Allen-street. 
7th. Warehouse do. — Court-street. 
Sth. Ely's Slip,— Sophia-street. 

There are also two dry docks, for repairing and 
wintering boats, owned by Oliver Culver, and an 
ingenious set of machinery at Fisher's basin, for 
raising canal boats out of the water to repair. 



Dams and Mill Courses. 

Next in importance to the canal, are the dams 
and mill courses, that have been constructed at a 
great expense, and afford a great number of mill 
sites. 

These are— 1st. The dam above the rapids, hav- 
ing a mill race passing off to either side of the 
river; at present supplying nine water power es- 
tablishments on the west and ten on the east side 
— 2d. Brown's dam and mill course, of 80 rods, 
below the great falls, which already supplies ten 
establishments — and, 3d. Cleveland's course, on 
the brink of the falls, on the east side, supplying 
two mills. 

Below the falls, another dam is about to be con- 
structed, and at Carthage there already are two 
mill courses, each supplying two establishments, 
and affording the means for a very great number 
more. 



BRIDGES. 

There are now three bridges over the river, 
within the limits of the village. 

First, built in 1810-12, re-built in 1824. 
Second •■ 1819 — by a private company. 
Third ■■ 1826 — by individuals. 
Connected with the first or middle bridge, is a 
market, now building, in the manner of a bridge, 
over the water of the river. 



IV.— PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
The Court-Hocse 
Was 'erected in 1822, on a lot given by Rochester, 
Carrol and Fitzhugh, for the county buildings, 
extending 166 feet on Buffalo-st. and 264 feet on 
Fitzhugh-st. The natural declivity of the ground 
is reduced to two platforms ; the first on the level 
of Buffalo-street, forming a neat yard in front of 
the building, which recedes 75 feet from the line 
of the street ; the other raised about 6 feet above 
the former, and divided from it by the building 
itself and two wing walls of uniform appearance, 
presenting, towards Buffalo-street, the aspect of 
an elevated terrace, but on a level with the streets 
immediately adjoining. 

This last, together with the yard of the first 
Presbyterian church, now comprehended within 
the same enclosure, forms a small square, laid out 
in grass plats and gravel walks, and need only 
the further attention of the citizens in planting it 
with shade trees and shrubbery, to render it a 
very pleasant and valuable accommodation as a 
publick walk. This is now known by the name 
of Court-square. 

The court-house building is 54 feet long, 44 
wide, and 40 high. It presents two fronts, the one 
facing Court-square, showing two stories and a 
base — the other towards Buffalo-street, two stories 
and a full basement. 

Each front is finished with a projecting portico, 
30 feet long and 10 wide, supported by four fluted 
Ionic columns, surmounted by a"regular entabla- 
ture and balustrade, which returns and continues 
along the whole front. 

From the centre of the building arises an octa- 
gonal belfry, covered by a cupola. 

The basement affords convenient offices for 
county and village purposes. 

The court room is in the second story, extend- 
ing the entire length and breadth of the build- 
ing, and is a remarkably well lighted and airy 
apartment. 



14 



The County Gaol 
la situated in the rear of a handsome and commo- 
dious brick house occupied by the gaoler's family, 
on the west side of Hughes-street, and enclosed 
with a high and formidable wall of stone. 

Within are two tier of cells, divided by a hall 
through the centre, enclosed in a very strong and 
secure manner. 



First Presbyterian Church. 

This building is situated on the south side of 
Court-square, and fronts the court-house. It is 
<»ighty-six feet long, sixty-four wide, and thirty 
fe .-t high above the base. It is built of stone, cov- 
ered with a durable cement, in imitation of whitish 
free stone ; but the water-table, window and door 
sils, caps and starts, together with all the projec- 
tures of the masonry, are of a red hewn sand 
stone. The platform and steps extending along 
the front are of the white Sweden stone. 

The front of this building is a design by O'Don- 
nell, in the Gothick style. Twenty feet of the 
centre is occupied by a square tower, projecting 
three feet from the face of the building, and both 
the tower and remaining part of the front, as well 
as all the angles of the building, are ornamented 
with pilasters, of full and handsome projections, 
supporting a bold entablature and cornice, both 
in the range of the eaves and over the several sec- 
tions of the tower. 

The angles of the towers are so constructed as 
to give each the appearance of a prism, or cluster 
of four pilasters, touching each other at their in- 
terior angles, the faces of two and the edges of 
two being visible, reduced as they ascend, from 
section to section, till they emerge as pinnacles 
at the top, still retaining their features as compos- 
ed of four pilasters. The spaces between these 
pinnacles are finished with an embattled balus- 
trade. 

From the tower arises an octagonal spire, 79 
feet high, divided into sections by bold astragal 
bands, showing the several faces conspicuously 
pannelled. The whole height of the steeple is 
150 feet. 

The interior of the building combines great con- 
venience with good proportions, and a light airy 
appearance rather than laboured ornament. 

The vestibule is entered by three doors, one in 
the tower, and one in each wing. The stair-case 
is opposite the centre door, and under it is a fur- 
nace, from which heated air issues into each pew 
in the body of the church. 

The pulpit, which is low, is situated between the 
two inner entrance doors, and occupies, together 
with its stairs, a slightly recessed arch of 20 feet 
wide and S3 feet high. From the pulpit, the floor 
has a gentle ascent to the opposite extremity, and 
the pews are arranged as the chords of a circle, 
so that all directly face the pulpit. The galleries 
are much inclined, and supported by Ionick col- 
umns. 

The steeple is furnished with an excellent bell, 
of 1800 lbs. and an organ of 14 stops has been 
lately erected in the gallery. The whole expense 
of this building, and the lot on which it stands, 
including the cost of the bell, amounted to about 
$16,000. 



Fitzhugh and Carroll, and is situated on the west 
side of Fitzhugh-street, a few rods south of Buf- 
falo-street, and opposite Court-souare. The style 
of the building is Gothick, which has been rigidly 
observed in every particular. There is not an 
ornament about it which is not in accordance with 
this kind of architecture. The main part of the 
front is of hewn gray stone, from Auburn. The 
two corners of the tower and the two corners of 
the body of the house are of red free stone, as are 
also the water table, the caps, sills and jambs of 
the windows and doors. The two windows in the 
tower are strikingly beautiful, containing a proper 
number of spandrels and branching mullions, 
and ornamented with rich and delicate tracery. 
Around the arch of the first of these, handsomely 
cut in the stone cap, is the name of the church, 
with the year of its erection. The tower is 16 
feet .square, projecting five feet beyond the body 
of the church, and rising to the height of 90 feet. 
This is finished at the top with eight pinnacles, 
connected by a castellated or embattled balus- 
trade. A similar balustrade runs around the roof 
of the whole house, having similar pinnacles at 
each corner. The wood work on the outside of 
the house has been made strongly to resemble the 
red free stone, by a process termed smalting. 

In the arrangement of the interior, will be seen 
convenience, elegance, and a strict economy of 
room. The pulpit and desk consist of a number 
of delicate Gothick arches, behind which is a dra- 
pery of dark blue velvet. The chancel is in the 
form of an oval, placed in front of the desk, and 
containing a communion table of Italian marble, 
and a baptismal font of the purest alabaster, rest- 
ing on a pedestal of agate marble, The gallery 
is supported by large cluster columns, paiuted in 
imitation of light blue variegated marble. The 
ceiling is finished with intersecting vaulted or 
groined arches, ornamented with stucco work. In 
the church is placed a large and remarkably fine- 
toned organ. 

The corner stone of the building was laid on 
the 11th of May, 1824, and the house opened for 
publick worship, September 4, 1825. 

The Methodist Episcopal Chapel 
Is a neat brick building, 42 by 55 feet, with tall 
Gothick windows, a balcony and dome, situated 
on River-street, in the eastern division of the vil- 
lage. It is surmounted by an octagon cupola, 
covered with tin plate; and from the elevated 
ground on which it is erected, it makes a hand- 
some appearance. 

The Methodist Society 
Are now erecting a frame building on Hart street, 
of respectable size, to be called " bethel Church." 

The Rohan Catholick Chapel 
Is situated on Platt-street, a few rods west of 
State-street, in the north part of the village. It is 
built of stone, on elevated ground, from which a 
tine prospect of the village is presented. 

The building is forty-two feet long and thirty- 
eight feet wide, with large Gothick windows. It 
was built in the year 1823. 



Episcopal Church. 
This building, known by the name of St. Luke's 
Church, is 72 feet in length and 53 in width, con- 
structed of stone. It is erected upon a lot which 
was appropriated for the purpose by Rochester, 



The Market Buildings, 
Now erecting on the north side of the middle 
bridge, consist of an open platform, adjoining the 
bridge, of 20 feet, designed for a vegetable mar- 
ket ; next, a raised platform, in a range with and 
corresponding to the side-walks of Buffalo and 



15 



Main-streets, of which the market will serve as a 
continuation. Next to this is the covered meat 
market, having in the centre a walk of 12 feet 
wide, between two rows of turned columns, and 
on either side, the places for stalls, each 10 by 
14 feet. 

The building is 40 by SO feet, and built on the 
plan of 4he new market, in Boston — cost estimat- 
ed at $3,000. 

It is in contemplation to build, the ensuing sea- 
son, two large and beautiful stone edifices, for the 
second and third Presbyterian societies; also, 
several extensive milling establishments, besides 
a number of stores, dwelling houses, &c 



The following list of distances on the canal, is 
believed to be correct, and may not be unappro- 
priate in this place, viz : — 



V.— TRAVELING. 

The facilities for travelling to and from Roches- 
ter, in almost every direction, have so much in- 
creased within a few years, and are a matter of 
so much importance, as to deserve a distinct 
enumeration. 

The chief routes are, to the ports on Lake On- 
tario, and the rivers Niagara and St. Lawrence, 
by steamboats and schooners that ply upon the 
lake, and come into the port of Genesee ; — direct- 
ly east and west to Albany and Buffalo, with all 
the intermediate places, by the Erie canal; — to 
Albany by the great western state road ; — and to 
Lewiston by th*. famous ridge road. 

In addition to the travelling occasioned by the 
extensive export and import trade of this particu- 
lar region, Rochester proves a thoroughfare for 
the trade of a large portion of Ohio, Indiana, the 
Michigan territory, and Upper Canada ; and for 
the crowds of travellers from almost every country 
who annually visit the falls of Niagara. 

1. By Lake Ontario. — The steamboat Ontario 
constantly plies during the summer season, be- 
tween Lewiston on the Niagara, and Ogdensburgh 
on the St. Lawrence river, touching at Hanford's 
Landing, (three miles from Rochester,) Oswego, 
Sackett s Harbour, and Cape Vincent, by which, 
passages may usually be had either way, once a 
week. The Ontario is an excellent boat, having 
been rebuilt in a substantial manner in 1825, with 
accommodations not inferior to any steam-boat on 
the lakes. 

It is frequently the case, that travellers from the 
cities who visit Niagara falls, come out by stages 
and canal packets, and return by the steam-boat, 
to Ogdensburgh, and from thence to Montreal, 
&c. The traveller is compensated for the trouble, 
time and expense, which this journey occasions. 
The rates of fare, hitherto, have been, 

From Lewiston to Genesee river, $5. 

From Genesee river to Sackett's Harbour, $5. 

From Sackett's Harbour to Ogdensburgh, $5. 

The above rates include all expenses of board, 
&c. 

2. By the Canal. — The packet-boats daily arrive 
at and depart from Rochester, both east and west, 
during the season of navigation, and afford excel- 
lent and comfortable accommodations. During 
the whole of the summer months, or from the first 
of May to November, the traveller is sure to meet, 
in these boats, a large company of the most re- 
spectable of both sexes; while the easy motion, 
and rapid progress of the boat.withthe opportuni- 
ty of alternate reading and conversation, beguile 
the tediousness of a long journey. These boats 
run night and day, and accomplish about 80 miles 
in twenty-four hours. The fare, including all ex- 
penses, is generally about four cents a mile. The 
packet-boat company have at present 12 boats, 
and 130 horses. 



From Rochester to 
Pittsford, 
Palmyra, 
Newark, 
Lyons, 
Clyde, 
Montezuma, 
Port Byron, 
Weed's Port 
Jordan, 
Canton, 
Syracuse, 
Orville, 
Manlius, 



EASTWARD. 

miles. I From Rochester to 
10 
29 



44 

53 

64 

70 

73 

79 

85 

99 
105 
108 

WESTWARD. 



Chitteningo, 

New-Boston, 

Canistota, 

Rome, 

Utica, 

Herkimer, 

Little Falls, 

Canajoharie, 

Amsterdam, 

Schenectady, 

Troy, 

Albany, 



miles. 

116 

120 

124 

145 

160 

174 

187 

202 

225 

240 

262 

269 



From Rochester to miles. From Rochester to miles. 

Brockport, 20 Lockport, 64 

Holley, 25 Pendleton, 71 

Albion, 35 Tonewanda, 83 

Knowlsville, 40 Black Rock, 91 

Middleport, 52 Buffalo, 94 

3. By Stages. — There are two stage routes from 

Rochester to Albany, usually occupied by two 

lines of stages, by which there are at least two 

regular arrivals per day, besides numerous extras 

during the chief season of travelling. One of 

these routes is as follows : 

To Pittsford, 8 miles ; Palmyra, 15 ; Lyons, 16 
Montezuma, 16; Bucksville, 6 ; Weed's Basin, 3 ; EL 
bridge, 6 ; Camillus, 7 ; Syracuse, 7 ; Manlius, 10 
Cazenovia, 9 ; Nelson, 4; Morrisville, 7 ; Madison 
7; Sangerfield, 8; Bridgewater, 7 ; Winfield, 7 
Richfield, 8; Springfield, 9 Cherry Valley, 5 
Schoharie, 26 ; Albany, 26.— Total, 217 miles. 

The other, via Canandaigua and Utica, is as 
follow-s : 

To Pittsford, 8 miles ; Victor, 10 ; Canandaigua, 
11 ; Gorham, 5 ; Geneva, 11 ; Cayuga Bridge, 14 
Auburn, 9 ; Skaneateles, 6; MarceTlus, 6; Onon 
daga Hollow, 10 ; Manlius, 10 ; Sullivan, 12 ; Ver 
non, 12; Westmoreland, 6; New-Hartford, 7 
Utica, 4;— 141. To Herkimer, 15; Little Falls 
7; Manheim, 10; Palatine, 10; Caughnawaga, 15 
Amsterdam, 8 ; Schnectady, 15 ; Albany, 15 — 96. 
Total, 237. To N. York, by steam-boats, 149. 

To and from Lewiston, by the ridge-road, a 
stage arrives and departs daily. The following is 
a list of distances on this route : 

To Parma, 11 miles; Clarkson, 7 ; Murray, 7; 
Ridgeway, 15; Hartland, 10; Cambria. 12; Lew- 
iston, 12; — 75. From Lewiston to Buffalo. — Nia- 
gara Falls, 7; Buffalo, 22 ;— 29. Total, from Roch- 
ester to Buffalo, 104. 

To Buffalo via Batavia. — Scottsville, 12 miles ; 
Caledonia, 9 ; Le Roy, 6 ; Stafford, 5 ; Batavia, 5 ; 
Pembroke, 14; Clarence, 8; Amherst, 7 ; Cold 
Springs, 9; Buffalo, 2;— Total, 77. 

The rates of fare in all these, as well as those- 
that follow, average about S^cents a mile. 

Besides the above, there are stages to Batavia, 
every day, through Chili, Bergen and Le Roy — 
whole distance estimated at 38 miles. Also, to 
Batavia, through Scottsville, Caledonia and Le- 
Roy '. 40 miles. To Geneseo, every second day, 
through Henrietta and Avon ; whole distance, 30' 
miles. To Penfield, every day in the summer; 
distance 8 miles. 

MISCELLANEO US. 
Sulphur Spring Bathing Establishment. 
This establishment, both healthful and comfort- 



16 



able to the resident citizen and traveller, was 
erected by an individual over a strong sulphur 
spring, on the south side of Buffalo street, near 
Washington street. 

It consists of a bar-room, a ladies' drawing- 
room, and several bathing-rooms ; and the visitor 
is furnished with warm or cold baths, either of 
sulphur, alkaline, or fresh water, according to his 
choice or taste. 

The sulphur water from this spring is said to 
have a peculiarly pleasant effect, in giving soft- 
ness and smoothness to the skin. 



The Theatre 
Is situated on Carroll-street, a few rods north of 
Buffalo street. It is open but part of the season, 
the company of performers not being permanent- 
ly settled here, and only exhibiting a lew weeks 
at a time. 

Of the influence of theatrical exhibitions, upon 
the morals and habits of a young communitv, it 
does not become to speak ; but we are constrained 
to say, that the character 01 the performances at 
this theatre has not generally been such as refects 
credit upon the taste of our citizens. 

The Monroe County Poor-Hotjse, 
Situated three miles south-east from Rochester, 
was erected at the expense of the county, in the 
year 1826. It is a convenient brick building, cal- 
culated to accommodate from 75 to 100 paupers. 
It is managed by five superintendents, and has at 
present about 35 occupants, about 20 of whom are 
employed in some useful labour. 

Carthage Bridge, 
Having been an object of interest to the traveller 
while it stood, and its site and ruins being still 
an object of curiosity, we subjoin the following 
description : 

It was built by a company of gentlemen, at the 
village of the same name, across Genesee river, 
about one and a half miles north of the 
village of Rochester. It was completed in 
February, 1319, under the direction of Brainerd 
& Chapman. 

It consisted of an entire arch, the chord of 
which was 352 feet, and the versed sine 54 feet. 
The summit of the arch was 196 feet above the 
surface of the water. The entire length of the 
bridge was 718 feet, and the width 30 feet, besides 
four large elbow braces, placed at the extremeties 
of the arch, and projecting 15 feet on each side 
of it. 

The arch consisted of nine ribs, two feet four 
inches thick, connected by braced levellers above 
and below, and secured by 800 strong iron bolts. 
The foet of the arch rested upon the solid rock, 
about 60 feet below the surface of the upper bank. 
Soon after the completion of the bridge, loaded 
teams, with more than thirteen tons weight pass- 
ed over it, without producing any perceptible 
tremour. 

.It contained about 70,000 feet of timber, run- 
ning measure, besides 64,620 feet of board meas- 
ure. It was built in the first place upon a Gothick 
arch, the vertex of which was about 20 feet below 
the floor of the bridge, and was, in point of me- 
chanical ingenuity, as great a curiosity as the 
bridge itself. 

The famous bridge at Schaffausen, in Switzer- 
land, which stood for fifty years the pride 
of the eastern world, was but twelve feet 
longer span than the bridge at Carthage. The 



most lofty single arch at present in Europe", is 
116 feet less in length than this, and .the arch not 
as high by 96 feet. 

This famous work, which reflected so much 
credit on the enterprise, of the proprietors, and 
the ingenuity of the builders stood but about one 
year. The immense weight of timber, pressing 
unequally upon the arch, threw up the centre 
from its equilibrium, and the whole tumbled into 
ruins. 

This bridge was of the utmost importance to 
the rising village situated on the eastern bank of 
the Genesee river, within a short distance of the 
celebrated Ridge Road, the two points of which, 
broken by the river, might be said to be connect- 
ed by it. 

The scenery around this place is picturesque 
and sublime, being within view of three water- 
falls ot the Genesee, one of which has 105 feet per- 
pendicular descent. 

The manufacturing privileges at this point are 
very extensive and eligible, on both sides of the 
river. At present, they are only occupied by a 
flouring-mill, an oil-mill, and two saw-mills; but 
the time is not far distant, when extensive estab- 
lishments will be erectea, and a flourishing village 
built on each bank of the river. 

Immediately after the destruction of the arch 
bridge, another bridge was built upon piers, about 
a hundred rods south of the site of the former, 
and upon a lower level, which makes a safe and 
easy communication from the west side of the 
river to Strong & Co's flouring mill, and the vil- 
lage of Carthage. 

Another flouring-mill, to contain four run of 
stones, is now building, and preparations for other 
manufactories are in progress. 

The Harbour and Port of Genesee 
Is situated at the mouth of Genesee river, about 
seven miles north from the village of Rochester. 
Within the bar are twenty feet of water. There 
is a light house on the west bank of the river, 
built by the United States in 1824. A port of en- 
try was established in 1805, and Samuel Latta was 
appointed the first collector. 

Jesse Hawley, the present collector, resides in 
the village of Rochester. 

G. H.Holden, deputy collector and surveyor of 
port, resides at Charlotte, a small village near the 
mouth of the river, which was first settled about 
the year 1310. 

There is a post-office in the place. 

Monroe High School, 
In Henrietta, about seven miles south from Roch- 
ester, is a brick edifice, 50 by 60 feet, and three 
stories high, exclusive of the basement, which is 
7)4 feet high, built of stone. The first story con- 
tains, on the left of the Hall, a school-room 50 feet 
long by 24 wide, and eleven feet high, and on the 
right of the hall, another room, 40 by 24. On the 
second floor is the principal school-room, 60 feet 
long, 40 wide, and 16 feet high, lighted by eleven 
windows, eight feet in length. Adjoining this is 
a small retiring room. The third story is nine 
feet high, and contains spacious rooms for a li- 
brary, and the trustees, and a number of smaller 
rooms for studies. 

At each corner of the balustrade, is an urn, five 
feet in height and two in diameter; and the build- 
ing is surmounted by an octagon cupola, twelve 
feet in diameter, around which is a platform, 
whence there is a fine view of the surrounding 
country. 



IT 



The expense of erecting and completing the 
building was about $5,000, four-fifths of which sum 
was subscribed by the farmers of Henrietta, and 
the remainder by a few individuals in Rochester. 

This is the first academy incorporated under 
the act of 1821. The trustees are — 

Levi Ward, Jr., Ezra Howard, 

Giles Boulton, Martin Roberts, 

Jacob Gould, Ozias S. Church, 

Elijah Little, Luther C.Chamberlin, 

Elisha Giige, Thomas Jones, 

Abijah Gould, Charles Dannals. 

D. B. Crane, Principal. 

Mr. Gazlay, First Assistant. 

CONCLUSION. 

Having reviewed the progress already nWide in 
this village and vicinity, it may not be improper 
to conclude, by noticing some improvements to 
which its present circumstances loudly demand the 
attention of its citizens, as also some of the unoccu- 
pied fields of profitable investment and productive 
industry which are still presented ; and undoubt- 
edly the object that here presents itself as first, 
both in necessity and importance, is the 
Cause of Education. 

There is yet no institution of learning enjoying 
a publick. and orgauized patronage. There is no 
edifice built for science — no retreat for the muses 
— no acadetnick grove yet planted. The occupa- 
tions of the citizens hitherto in their secular affairs, 
accounts for this ; but this rather increases than 
diminishes its necessity. In proportion to the en- 
terprise and bustle, and success in matters of mere 
physical wealth, which is daily presented to the 
observation of our youth, should be ihe effort to 
counteract the sordid principles which this alone 
must impress, and to enrich the mind of the rising 
race with the softening and elevating influence of 
education ; without which, riches will fail to make 
them respectable or happy. 

The age in which we live is teeming with im- 
provements in education, as well as inotherthings. 
Our minds are no longer chained down to a few 
formal precedents, any or all of which might be 
inapplicable to our circumstances — we may now 
create the very thing we need ; at least we may 
lay its foundation a: a comparatively cheap rate. 
Only let a competent space of land be secured, 
and sacredly devoted to the cause of general edu- 
cation. Let the plan be liberal — as wide as the 
prospective wants of our population ; and let 
buildings, in conformity with the plan, be erected 
as required. 

If Greek and Roman literature be still indispen- 
sable to an enlarged mind and cultivated taste, let 
a provision for its thorough acquirement not be 
overlooked. If mathematical learning has become 
the handmaid of every useful art, as well as the 
very marshal of our reasoning powers, let its culti- 
vation not be forgotten. If a manufacturing popu- 
lation, as ours must necessarily be, may be raised 
from the drudgery of the day that makes man a 
machine, and from the vices of the evening relax- 
ation, which make him a beast, to the dignity of a 
mind that converses with God in the study of his 
physical laws, and that benefits society by his in- 
ventive ingenuity, while he reaps innocent enjoy- 
ment to himself ; if this maybe done by popular 
lectures on the arts and sciences — by philosophical 
experiments — by a cabinet — by a botanick garden 
commensurate with our means, why should not 
this be embraced in our plan? And if monitorial 
instruction, or any other improvements, may as- 
3 



sist in extending the benefits of elementary in- 
struction to the whole of our children, rich and 
f>oor, let this not be overlooked. At all events, 
et the education of our youth be understood, as 
it is, an indispensable object, without which, our 
other labours are comparatively useless. Let it 
be understood that much time has already been 
lost, and cannot be redeemed; and that immediate 
exertion is demanded, to sustain the interest, rep- 
utation and well-being of our community. 

The Paving and Lighting op the Village, 
Is also an object which, though not wholly over- 
looked, demands more prompt and efficient meas- 
ures than have yet been taken. These seem heavy 
burdens to the citizens at present, but a little re- 
flection on the past, will clearly demonstrate that 
the necessary means are not unprofitably ex- 
pended. 

As to unoccupied resources for enterprising 
citizens, even a superficial observer can be at no 
loss to discover many. The river yet affords a 
multitude of mill sites, where labour-saving ma- 
chinery of every description may be erected ; the 
surrounding country presents a large and rapidly 
increasing demand for all the productions of art 
and industry ; and the canal affords the means of 
cheap transportation to all the Atlantick cities, 
and, westward, through the lakes, to a distance of 
3000 miles! An extensive establishment for work- 
ing the iron ores of the neighbourhood, would be 
an advantage both to the publick aDd the proprie- 
tor. A glass manufactor}' could hardly fail to do 
well; and the fluate of lime in the vicinity, might 
be employed to good purpose in ornamenting the 
glass ware now imported. 

The encouragements for the woollen manu- 
facture, (especially if the pending tariff law should 
be carried in its favour,) may be considered as al- 
most unlimited. 

There is yet no brass-founding establishment in 
the place, though the demand is already considera- 
ble, and fast increasing. 

There are also connected with the agricultural 
industry of the neighbourhood, many profitable 
objects presenting themselves. 

The supply of the village with the productions 
of the garden and dairy, is not yet equal to the 
demand , and we will still import from abroad, at 
a,high price, many articles for which our climate 
and soil is equal to any other under the sun. It is 
a singular circumstance, (for instance,) that we 
should here give two pounds of pepper, the growth 
of the Indian isles, for one of mustard, a plant as 
easily cultivated and floured here as wheat, of 
which we export so many thousand barrels. 

There is perhaps no region in which the hop 
flourishes more luxuriantly, or with so little care, 
as here. A multitude of other articles might be 
mentioned, but these are sufficient to excite in- 
quiry in our intelligent farmers. 

To conclude : — We have seen our village, from a 
log hut or two, in the deep and lonely forest, rise 
like the work of magick, in a few years, to the 
form of a busy and populous city. We have seen 
the forest yielding to the fruitful field, and the 
fruitful field to streets crowded with commerce, 
and wharves covered with the merchandise of 
every nation. From a few adventurous settlers, 
braving the hardships and dangers of an untried 
wilderness, we now see a multitude of people en- 
joying all the necessaries and luxuries of life. The 
past is instructive, the future deeply interesting. 
Industry and enterprize, crowned by the blessing 
of a bountiful Providence, have effected what we 
see. What future achievements may not be ac- 



18 



complisbed by the same means ? But a new element 
here enters into our calculations. It was the 
yielding forest and the passive earth that have 
been hitherto regulated and subdued; our future 
prosperity depends on the tractability of a mass of 
mind, a host of mingling opinions, passions, vir- 
tues and vices, thrown together from every quar- 
ter of the globe. Shall it rise through years to 
come in moral and social order and beauty? Let 
each citizen answer for himself; each will have 
his share of agency in the event; but let it be re- 
membered, that a new instrumentality must be at 
work. The means that have transformed the for- 
est, will not act upon the mind. Education must 
be cherished; religion must be revered; luxury 
and vice must be adjured; our magistracy must 
feel the true interests of the citizens, and must be 
supported in their efforts to promote every virtu- 
ous, and to suppress every corrupting influence. 
So doing, we are permitted to anticipate prosper- 



ity. The Providence that has blessed the early, 
will equally smile upon the latter exertions. We 
may be wise and honourable, good and great, if 
we labour for it by the appropriate means, and 
with a corresponding ardour. And the time has 
come, when, if we put forth no other energies than 
those which merely tend to property and wealth, 
they will only tend to demolish the fabrick they have 
reared, and render our successors a monument of 
the vanity and folly of human expectations. But 
we look for better things. We reckon on a com- 
munity enlightened enough to know the value of 
i*s blessings, and the way by which tbey must be 
secured. We look forward to this place at some 
distant day, as a flourishing city ; flourishing not 
merely in wealth and power, but in knowledge and 
virtue, an honour and blessing to sister cities 
around, and the home of a great people, enlight- 
ened and happy. 



The following remarks by George G. Cooper, local editor of the Daily Union 
and Advertiser, to whom is indebted the credit of having sought out and republished 
the above sketches are so appropriate, and contain so much that pertains to the pres- 
ent day, we publish them entire as part and parcel of this book : 



Mocliester in 1827 and 1 860. 



The Sketches of Monroe County and Rochester up 
to 1827, taken from the first Directory, were con- 
cluded in our paper yesterday, having occupied 
eleven columns of solid matter. When the publi- 
cation was commenced, we confess that we were 
hardly aware how interesting these incidents 
would be to very many of our people. Though 
they are no more than brief memoranda of events 
in the progress of Rochester, from a savage wil- 
derness to a garden — an important centre of civi- 
lization and trade — yet as such they have been 
eagerly read, we are assured, by thousands. Old 
citizens, who have witnessed the progress of 
events here noticed, almost from the outset, as 
well as those who know nothing of Rochester till 
since it became a city, are alike interested in these 
memoranda and they will preserve them for future 
reference. No one can peruse them with other 
than feelings of pride as he now looks upon our 
county and city, and contemplates how much has 
been accomplished by the industry of our people 
in half a century. The industry of the people of 
Monroe.,County has been bestowed upon a tract of 
country highly favored by Providence for devel- 
opment, and this is a fact not to be overlooked. 
The wealth of our locality lies chiefly in its soil. 
The water power of the city has done much to in- 
crease her trade and attract hither men of indus- 
try and capital, but that water power would have 
been of comparatively little value but for the 
soil which furnished the staple products to sus- 
tain life and employ capital in commerce and 
trade. The soil, the water power, the canal and 



the lake have combined to attract labor and capi- 
tal to this city and to make both productive. The 
Railroads have been incidentally beneficial, but 
Rochester has endowed these corporations with a 
liberal trade, and they cannot materially injure 
her without great prejudice to their own interests. 
These are facts which every Rochester man should 
keep in view in contemplating the past and pre- 
dicting for the future. The growth of our place 
has been quite uniform — always healthy, and it 
has been as little affected by financial revulsions 
and the fluctuations of trade as any city in the 
Union. But we are diverging from our purpose, 
which was to briefly note some of the changes 
which have taken place since the first Directory 
ot Rochester was published, in 1827, and the notes 
are only such as are suggested by reading these 
sketches. They, perhaps, should have been made 
from day to day as the matter was published. 

The location of the city — the population we 
mean — has gradually spread from the points re- 
ferred to in these statistics to nearly the extreme 
limits of the corporation. The city was chartered 
in 1834 with a population of 12,252, and since that 
time its territorial timits have been somewhat in- 
creased — chiefly at the north along the River so 
as to include the head of Lake navigation on the 
Genesee. From east to west the city is pretty 
compactly built up to the lines for a mile or more 
from the River each way. From north to south, 
which is between four and five miles, the popula- 
tion has not extended so thickly, and at the ex- 
tremes it has not the density of a village. — 
Property in the Mill Lot of 100 acres, given by 



19 



Phelps to Indian Allen to induce him to erect a 
grist mill in 17S9 — which he deserted, and which 
Rochester, Fitzhugh and Carroll purchased for a 
small sum and laid it out into lots in 1812, is now 
the most valuable in Rochester, and lots 100 by 
20 feet, have sold at §20,000. The assess- 
ed valuation of the hundred acres is now several 
millions of dollars, and the real valuation treble 
that at which it is assessed. The eighty acres 
purchased by Elisha Johnson from the farm of 
Enos Stone in 1817 is now the most valuable 
property on the east side of the River, and its 
value can only be estimated by millions. James 
Stone, referred to as the first child born in Roch- 
ester, was born in the only house on the East 
Side of the River — and that built of logs. He is 
now fifty years old— a worthy and industrious 
farmer in the neighboring town of Greece. 

The Frankfort tract has been well settled for 
many vears, and it may be said to be entirely 
built over. It lies north of the Central Railroad, 
and between the River and Erie Canal. The 
Messrs. Brown and Mr. Mumford, who laid out 
that travt, have passed aivay, but they have sons 
yet living among us, in the prime of life and use- 
fulness. 

The Andrews and Atwater Tract, in the north- 
eastern section of the city, was slower in develop- 
ment, but within a few years past, it has increased 
in population as rapidly as any other. The sous 
of Mr. Andrews still reside in that tract aud are 
well known citizens. 

The bridges of Rochester need a passing notice. 
What was called the Middle Bridge in 1827 stood 
where Main Street Bridge now stands. It has 
been rebuilt two or three times, and the last time 
in 1856-7 of cut stone at a cost of over $60,000. 
The first bridge at that place was completed in 
1812 at a cost of $12,000, paid by the counties of 
Outario and Genesee, which then covered the ter- 
ritory. In 1819 the second bridge was constructed 
by Andrews, Atwater & Mumford, about midway 
between the Fulls and where Andrews Street 
Bridge now stands. It was a toll bridge and stood 
but a few years. In 1826, a bridge was built by 
subscription at Court street. In 1819, the high 
bridge at Carthage, the wonder of the times, was 
built, and fell in just one year. It stood on the 
site of the Suspension Bridge constructed by the 
city in 1856, at a cost of $25,000, which shared the 
fate of its predecessor in less than one year from 
the time it was commenced. Two bridges were 
subsequently built across the River, near the 
Lower Falls, and one stood as late as 1835, since 
which time there has been no bridge in the north 
part of the city, other than as we have stated. 

Andrews Street Bridge was first erected, we be- 
lieve, about 1836, and was rebuilt of iron, at a 
cost of $12,000 in 1857. Clarissa Street Bridge, 



in the south part of the city, was erected in 1841-2, 
and is now an inferior structure. Court Street 
Bridge (of iron) was completed in 1858, and cost 
about $12,000, we believe. 

The first post office was opened in 1812, and the 
quarter's revenue was $3,42. The current quar- 
terly receipts are now about $5,000. 

The mill races are now as they were first laid 
out, except that they have been enlarged and im- 
proved, and upon them are situated many large 
and beautiful mills, capable of making more flour 
in a day than the mills of any other single town 
in the world. The Red Mill, built by the Ely's 
and Josiah Bissell in 1S15, is still standing on 
Aqueduct street. The Stroug Mill, built at Car- 
thage in 1818, was burned five or six years since. 
The mill built by Mr. Cleveland in 1819 is now 
standing, and is known as the " Genesee Falls 
Mill." In 1S22, Hervey Ely built a part of his 
mill, still standing near the Aqueduct. The Whit- 
ney Mill, built in 1826, is still standing at the foot 
of Brown's Race. 

In 1815 Abelard Reynolds, who still lives, open- 
ed the first tavern in Rochester on the west side 
of the river. As the original bonil'ace he may be 
proud to know that nearly two hundred landlords 
have taken license to keep tavern in 1860. 

In 1815 the first census was taken, and the pop- 
ulation was 331. The last census is now being 
taken and will show a population of about 47,000. 

In 1815 the first religious society was organized 
of 16 members. 14 were alive in 1827, but how 
mauy are still living we cannot say. It was a 
Presbyterian Society, and Rev. Comfort Williams 
was the pastor. His son Chas. H. Williams still 
resides here an active business man. The first 
bouse for public worship was a wooden building 
on State street, (then called Carroll street) in 1817. 
It was built by the Presbyterians, was sold to the 
1st Baptist Society about 1824, and occupied by 
the latter until 1837, when it was removed to the 
rear of the lot it occupied opposite Mumford 
street, and subsequently was destroyed by fire 
while used as a carriage factory. The second re- 
ligious edifice was built in 1820 by St. Luke's So- 
ciety on the lot where the stone church now 
stands. The la'ter was erected in 1824. The 
Quakers built the third house for worship in 1822, 
on Fitzhugh street, where they have a meeting 
house now. The same year the Methodists built 
the Brick Chapel on St. Paul street, which they 
sold to the Catholics and which is now used as a 
livery stable. The Methodist Society own St. 
John's Church and the Catholics St. Mary's, both 
good buildings. The latter will be a splendid edi- 
fice when completed. In 1823 the fifth house of 
worship was erected by the Roman Catholics, on 
Piatt street — St. Patrick's Church— and it now 
stands. 



20 



In 1824 the present First Church edifice was 
erected, and there it stands, improved from time 
to time to keep it from going to decay. 

In 1826 the Methodists began to build their 
chapel on the corner of Buffalo and Fitzhugh 
streets, which was burned once, rebuilt, and has 
recently given place to a block of stores. These 
were all the churches of Kochester prior to 1827. 
The Second and Third Presbyterian Societies 
were organized about that time, and worshipped 
in halls. 

The praise bestowed upon the church edifices of 
Rochester by the author of the sketches of 1827 
has been read, and it was all deserved at the time 
it was written. He says it was in contemplation 
to build, the ensuing season, two large and beauti- 
ful stone edifices for the Second and Third Pres- 
byterian Societies. They were built, have been 
worn out, and given place to something more 
costly, and more in keeping with the spirit of the 
age which controls religious as well as civil bodies. 
The Second Presbyterian Society erected their 
church in 1829, and in 1860 tore it down, and are 
now building a temple to cost forty or fifty thou- 
sand dollars. The Third Society also constructed 
their church at the corner of Main and Clinton 
streets, became embarrassed and were compelled 
to sell out to the Second Baptist Society, who oc- 
cupied the building until last fall, when it was de- 
stroyed by fire. The lot has been sold for stores, 
and the Baptists are building a beautiful stone 
edifice on North street. The Third Church hung 
lor a while between life and death, then rallied and 
erected a church edifice on Main street, which was 
burned in the summer of 1858, and they have 
now just completed a fine stone church on Temple 
St., and a chapel beside, and both are paid for. 
There are now about forty churches in the city, 
some of which are very costly and elegant. The 
writer of 1827 could now see, if living, that far 
more has been done in this department of public 
improvement than he called for to make Roches- 
ter what he expected her to become. 

In educational facilities the city has made as 
much progress as any other. In 1827, we are 
told, there were no institutions of learning en- 
joying a public and organized patronage. We 
have now an excellent Unniversity, half a dozen 
or more excellent acadamies, a number of semin- 
aries and private schools, and a system of public 
schools which cost the people over $60,000 per 
year to sustain, to say nothing of the interest in 
capital invested in school property, worth perhaps 
$150,000. There are 18 public schools, and most 
of them are in large and beautiful edifices, some of 
which cost above §10,000. 

Our benevolent associations exhibit as great 
progress and increase as do any other in thirty 
years. They are " too numerous to mention," 



and they cost many thousands annually to sustain 
them efficiently. Our Hospitals, Asylums, Charity 
Schools, and organizations for dispensing relief 
to the suffering, are in keeping with the progress 
of our city. 

The Press of Rochester has kept pace with other 
departments of business. In 1827 there was ODe 
monthly, one semi-weekly, four weekly, one 
semi-weekly, and one daily newspaper. — 
Of all these but one survives under the ori- 
ginal name, and that is the Daily Advertiser, the 
other half of our Union. The Monroe Republi- 
can and Rochester Mercury, weeklies, were merg- 
ed, and called the Rochester Republican, the 
weekly now issued from this office. There are 
now published in Rochester two or three month- 
lys, five weeklies, one tri-weekly, one semi-weekly 
and three daily papers. The aggregate circula- 
tion of these papers is greater than the papers of 
any city in the State, excepting of course, New 
York. One weekly, Moore's Rural New Yorker, 
has a circulation of about' fifty thousand copies. 
The Daily Union and Advertiser issue is between 
four and five thousand copies per day. Assuming 
that what cotemporaries claim is correct, and the 
Daily issues of Rochester are above ten thousand 
copies per A day. 

There was but one Bank here in 1827, with a 
capital of $250,000. There are now 11 Banks 
with an aggregate capital of nearly three millions. 

As to the occupation of the inhabitants — the 
trades and professions we can give no comparative 
statistics, to show the increase. The physicians 
must number about 100, the lawyers nearly double 
that number, and the clergymen about sixty. 

The Old Acqueduct, to which a chapter is de- 
voted, and which was regarded as a wonderful 
piece of work in 1827, passed away years ago, and 
only a single arch is left as a monument to the 
granduer of the enterprise. It cost $83,000. 
The new Aqueduct, built about fifteen years ago, 
cost upwards of $600,000. It is safe to predict 
for it a continuance for many generations. 

The Court House, erected in 1S22, was spoken 
of in 1827 as something of which the county 
could boast. Alas, this, too, has passed away, 
and on its site some ten years since was erected 
the edifice which now stands there, and which cost 
over $70,000. 

The County Jail, so briefly referred to as " situ- 
ated on Hughes street, in the rear of a handsome 
and commodious brick house occupied by the 
Jailer's family," has gone with other public build- 
ings, and this so long ago, that many now resid- 
ing here do not remember the building. North 
Fitzhugh was called Hughes street, in 1827, and 
the Jail stood on the site of the Unitarian Chapel. 
The new Jail was erected since 18S0, and the old 



21 



Jail was occupied as a recruiting station by the 
U. S. officers for a number of years. 

The Market Building— estimated to cost $3,000 
— " built upon the plan of the new Market in Bos- 
ton," was going up in 1827, and no doubt the vil- 
lagers looked upon the growing structure with 
pride. It stood on the corner of Mam and Front 
sts.,where Mr. Erickson's elegant brick block now 
stands. The Market tumbled into the river more 
than 25 years ago, and the building that succeed- 
ed it has recently passed away to give place to 
one that is as good as can be desired. 

Traveling in those days was not as easily, 
quickly and cheaply performed as now. Stages, 
boats, and a weekly steamboat on Lake Ontario, 
were the only dependence of the public to get in 
and out of Rochester, unless they resorted to 
private conveyances. Stages have nearly all 
passed away, boats convey freight alone; instead 
of one steamer a week on the lake, we have three 
per day. And now no less than sixty trains 
of cars arrive and depart from the city daily, and 
some of these not unfrequently carry five hundred 

passengers. 

« 



The Monroe County Poor House still remains 
as one of the old landmarks of 1827, but it has 
been enlarged, and its thirty-five occupants of that 
day have been succeeded by four hundred pau- 
pers. It is a lamentable fact that pauperism has 
increased in the ratio of business and general 
prosperity. The only consolation that we can 
find in this emergency is, that we are told by one 
inspired of Heaven, that the poor we are to al- 
ways have with us. 

We might go on at great length in noting the 
changes in Rochester since 1827, but we have not 
space to do so to-day. The statistics of manufac- 
tures and trade would show largely in favor of the 
enterprise of our people, but these we must omit. 
In conclusion, we appeal to our readers to peruse 
the concluding remarks of the writer for the 
Directory of 1827, and see if our people have not 
accomplished all that he called upon them to per- 
form to make Rochester " at some distant day a 
flourishing city — flourishing not merely in wealth 
and power.but in knowledge and virtue, an honor 
and a blessing to sister cities around, and the 
home of a great people, enlightened and happy.' 



As an appendix to the first Directory, a few brief notices of local events connected 
with the rise and progress of our city, collected from various sources have been added, 
which are worthy of perusal. 

PIONEER ASSOCIATION. 
Organized* in 184*7. 

The first preliminary meeting was held to 
organize a Pioneer Society, when it was sugges- 
ted that the hardships and privations endured 
by them, should be commemorated in an ap- 
propriate manner by the survivors. 

In accordance with this suggestion several 
preliminary meetings were held, which resulted 
in the adoption of a series of resolutions designed 
to control their future proceedings. 

It was determined in the first place, to con- 
vene a social meeting, to be composed of Pioneers 
who had settled at, or were born in Rochester 
prior to the first of January, 1816, and who 
were then residents of our city or its vicinity. 

Article first of their Constitution admits per- 
sons who at any time previously to the first day 
of January, 1820, were residents of Western 
New York. 

After the adoption of resolutions expressive 
of their gratitude to God for having preserved 
the lives and health of so many of them, a com- 
mittee of arrangements composed of the follow- 
ing gentlemen was appointed, viz : 

Enos Stone, Harvey Montgomery, Samuel G. 
Andrews. Silas 0. Smith, Aaron Newton, Moses 



Chapin, Jonathan Packard, Harvey Ely, Chas. 
J. Hill. 

FIRST PIONEERS' FESTIVAL. 

The first meeting of the Pioneers, called for 
the purpose of commemorating the early settle- 
ment of Rochester, was held at Blossom Hote^ 
on Thursday the 31st clay of September, 1847] 
The following gentlemen were chosen officers .* 

President— Enos Stone.* 
Vice Presidents — Hon. Ashley Sampson,* 
Ralph Lester,* Oliver Culver. 

Prayer by Rev. A. G. Llall. 

A sumptuous dinner was prepared by the 
Messrs. Blossom — themselves Pioneers and pro- 
prietors of one of the oldest hotels in the city. 
There were sixty-two present at this festival. 

The society now (1860) consists of about 
ninety gentlemen and forty-two ladies. They 
hold annual meetings at the Court House in 
Rochester, on the second Tuesday in June in 
each year. 

The portraits of about sixty members of the 
Association have been painted by Mr. Colby 
Kimball, an artist of Rochester, and are now 
hanging in the Court Room. 

•Deceased. 



22 



JUNIOR PIONEER ASSOCIATION 

Organized in 1855. 

Annual Meeting October. 26^, each year. 

Not wishing to be outdone by the old gentle- 
men, the Juniors organized a society composed 
of persons who have resided in this County 
previous to 1825. At their first organization 
the following officers were elected: — 

President— -Ezra M. Parsons, of Gates. 

Vice Presidents — Wm. A. Reynolds, N. Os- 
burn, H. L. Achilles, L. D. Ely, John C. Nash. 

Recording Secy — L. Starr Hoyt. 

Corresponding Sec'y — L. Ward Smith. 

Treasurer — George W. Fisher. 

Executive Committee — Jarvis M. Hatch, T. A. 
Newton, D. H. Griffith, Jacob Howe, N. A. 
Stone, T. Chapman, C. H. Bicknell, George W. 
Fisher 4 , John B. Dewey, James S. Stone. 

Committee on Historical Collections— W. A. 
Reynolds, L. Ward Smith, J. C. Nash, George 
W. Fisher, L. D. Ely. 

Being younger and more active men, their 
meetings partake largely of Young America, 
and as they annually come together at their 
social gatherings, the boys of 1812, '14, and '16, 
are found to be a full match for their sires in 
tough yarns of their boyhood — and their yearly 
gatherings are looked forward to with as much 
zest as though they were still under the train- 
ing of their old schoolmaster— Doctor Burch. 

Mr. O'Reiley says of "The Village of Roch- 
esterville, in 1817, from which period the com- 
mencement of Rochester may be fairly dated, 
the difficulties interposed by the war having- 
prevented any considerable improvement before 
the year 1816. The improvement of the place 
in various ways, between that period and the 
year 1837 — forming the first score of years 
since the place was lawfully organized under a 
village charter. We preface the account by 
some notices of the proceedings of the corpor- 
ation, under the village and city charters, be- 
tween the years 1817 and 1837 — the first 
twenty years." 

CORPORATION OF ROCHESTER. 

1817, June 10.— The first Board of Trustees 
elected under the village charter. 

11817, October 9.— The first Fire Company 
formed. 

1819, the name of the village corporation was 
changed from " Rochesterville" to "Rochester," 
the original name, by an act of the Legislature. 

1825. The powers granted to the village cor- 
poration were found to be inadequate to a good 
police regulation. The question was agitated 
during the fall, whether application should be 
made for a city charter. After considerable dis- 
cussion, the project of a city charter was de- 



clined by the people, and the Legislature amend- 
ed the village charter by vesting ample powers 
in the Board of Trustees. 

1826, First election under a new village char- 
ter. The village was divided into five wards. 

CITY CHARTER. 
1834. After several applications made to the 
Legislature, the city of Rochester was chartered 
in the spring of 1834. On the incorporation of 
the village in 1817, about 750 acres were in- 
cluded within its limits. The city charter in 
1834, extended its bounds so as to embrace up- 
ward of 4,000 acres. 

THE MAYORS OF ROCHESTER. 

The organization of Rochester under the city 
charter occurred June 9, 1834. 

Jonathan Child, First Mayor. 

1834-5. At the inauguration the next day, 
Mayor Child made the following remarks : 

"The rapid progress which our p'ace ha3 
made from a wilderness to an incorporated city, 
authorizes each of our citizens proudly to re- 
flect upon the agency he has had in bringing 
about this great and interesting change. Roclw 
ester, we all know, has had little aid in its per- 
manent improvement from foreign capital. It 
has been settled and built for the most part, by- 
mechanics and merchants, whose capital was 
Economy, Industry and Perseverance. It is 
their labor and skill which has converted a wil- 
derness into a city; and to. them, surely, this 
must be a day of pride and joy. They have 
founded and reared a city before they have 
passed the meridian of life. In other countries 
and times the city of Rochester would have 
been the result of the l&bor and accumulations 
of successive generations; but the men who 
felled the forest that grew on the spot where 
we are assembled, are sittiny at the Council 
Board of our city. Well then may we indulge 
an honest pride as we look back upon our hist- 
ory, and let the review elevate our hopes and 
animate our exertions. Together we have 
struggled through the hardships of an infant set- 
tlement, and the embarrassment of straightened 
circumstances ; and together let us rejoice and 
be happy in the glorious reward that has 
crowned our labors." 

On the 23d of June, in the following year, 
Mr. Child presented his resignation, and on the 
2nd of July, 

1835-6, Jacob Gould was chosen. 

1837. A. M. Schemerhorn.* 
Mr. S. held the office about two months, when 

he resigned. Tofill the vacancy thus occasioned, 

Thomas Kempshall 
was chosen on the 7th of March, 1837. On the 
retirement of Mr. Kempshall, 

1838. Elisha Johnson, 

1839. Thomas H. Rochester. 



23 



1840. Samuel G. Andrews. 

Mr. Andrews held the office hut a short time, 
yhen he was elected Clerk of the Senate, and 
■esigned, and E. F. Smith was elected for the 
•emainder of the year. 

1841. E. F. Smith 

vas the first mayor elected by the people, 1841. 

1842. Charles J. Hill. 

1843. Isaac Hills. 

1844. *John Allen. 
1845-6. William Pitkin. 

1847. John B. Elwood. • 

1848. Joseph Field. 

1849. Levi A. Ward. 

1850. Samuel Richardson. 

1851. Hamlin Stilwell. 

1852. Nicholas E. Paine. 

1853. John Williams. 

1854. Maltby Strong. 

1855. Charles J. Hayden. 

1856. Samuel G t Andrews. 

1857. Rums Keeler. 

1858. Charles H. Clark. 

1859. S. W. D. Moore. 

1860. Hamlet D. Scrantom. 

The only ones not now living— 1860. 



Population of the City at Different Dates. 

First Census 1815 331 

1818..., 1049 

1820....' 1502 

1822 2700 

February, 1825 4274 

State cen. Aug. 1 825 5273 

1826 7669 

1830 9269 

1840 20,191 

1845 25,261 

1850 36,403 

1855 43,877 

1860 about 50,000, returns not in. 

The Public Squares of the City at the Pres- 
ent Time, are, 

2d Ward. Brown's Square is bounded by 
Brown, Jay, Kent and Jones Streets. 

2d Ward. Centre Square is bounded by Ann, 
John, Centre and Sophia Streets. 

3d Ward. Caledonia Square is bounded 
North by Edinburgh and South by Glascow st. 

4th Ward. Washington Square is bounded 
by Court, South Clinton, Wood and South sts. 

6th Ward. Franklin Square is bounded South 
by Andrews and North by Bowery. 

7th Ward. Wadsworth Square is bounded 
North by Howell, South by Marshall and East 
by William Street. 

8th Ward. Mechanics' Square is bounded 
East by King and West by Madison Street. 

9th Ward. Jones' Square is bounded East 
by Schuyler and West by Graham Street. 




IRONDEQI OIT BAY. Scene in 1K50, near the Newport House. This Bay is about five miles long ami one wide, 
inrt communicates with Lake Ontario by a very narrow opening, about four miles Eastward from Charlotte. It is 
LOue a popular resort and one of the pleasante^t places for fishing and pic-nic parties in the vicinity, being about 
i naif hour s rule from the city. Here many a bungling angler has caught a bite 



24 

Finally, we offer you a book worthy of perusal, and full of interesting local matter 
— a narrative of events that have transpired within the memory of a large portion of 
our citizens ; — a history worth preserving ; — a description of a city teeming with indus- 
try and wealth, and possessing within her corporate limits the elements of a large' 
city. 

The traveller passing along the flying rail car, as he reaches the'borders of the Genesee! 
Country, asks, — What of Rochester ? — Yes, What of Rochester ? — She is looked upon 
with pride by every citizen, and astonishment by all travellers. Known far and near 
for her large nurseries and horticultural gardens, her numerous flouring mills, and 
manufacturing interests, her firemen, her military, her mercantile establishments, her 
banking credit, (being the last city in the State to surrender and stop specie payment 
during the commercial crisis of 1857) — her lake, her river, her bay, her falls, where 
Sam Patch made his final leap, showing that " some things could be done as well as 
others," — her Genesee country with its fine scenery and natural advantages, — her 
Mount Hote, — the indomitable perseverance of her citizens, — the never surrender 
element she inherited from one of her early defenders — Captain Francis Brown, wher 
ordered by Sir x\diniral Yeo in 1814, with his fleet of thirteen vessels moored at our 
landing, and about to storm the town, he sent a British officer with a flag of truce on 
shore, saying that if they would deliver up the stores in and around Rochester and 
Charlotte, Sir James Yeo would spare the settlement from destruction — he was asked 
"Will you comply with this offer?" With all the true courage of a great general, 
and ready wit ; surrounded by his brave company of about thirty men, hastily col- 
lected together in their grotesque military dress, equipped with their old rifles, muskets- 
and shot guns, being the only army he had to protect and defend the place, the cool 
reply of Capt. Brown was, " Blood knee deep first." Thus ended the parley. The 
return of the flag to the fleet was followed by a vigorous attack of bombs and balls, 
while the compliment was spiritedly returned by a rusty old six-pounder, which had 
been furnished and mounted on a log for the important occasion. After a few hours 
spent in this unavailing manner, Admiral Yeo with prudent caution, withdrew his 
fleet to a safer harbour. And last, though not least, her public schools, her university, 
her many churches and religious societies. 

Thus has Rochester gone on with all her improvements, not forgetful of the past, 
ever mindful of the future, until her fifty thousand inhabitants are proud of the place 
of their residence, conscious in the belief that all have contributed some thing towards 
keeping alive and making green the place they call — Home. 

THE PUBLISHER. 



NOTE. A more full and complete work of statistics and local events, with illustrations of scenery, buildings, Ac, 
in and around Rochester, will be issued from materials now being collected, as soon as enough has been gathered to 
make a book worthy of notice. Persons possessed of any information, views of buildings, scenery, &c, will do well 
to confer with me on the subject.