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OENEALOGY COL-LBCTION
/
LANDMARKS
ORLEANS County
NEW YORK
1fllU5tl•ate^
EDITED BY
HON. ISAAC S. SIGNOR
OF ALBION, N. Y.
ASSISTED BY H. P. SMITH AND OTHERS
SYRACUSE, N. Y.
D. MASON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1894
r4
INTRODUCTORY. 12061G9
^,
\(^; In presenting this historical and biographical record of Orleans county
!to its readers, the editor and his associates feel that no apology is de-
manded, either for the motives which first prompted the undertaking or
for the accomplished results. While several more or less incomplete
works treating upon the history of this locality have been published prior
to the inception of this volume, it is true that the field has never been
properly occupied. This fact was realized and appreciated by the rep-
resentative people of the county, most of whom had long entertained
the desire that a work worthy of the subject, and comprehensive and
reasonably correct, might be published before many of the sources of
information should become extinct,
No person unfamiliar with work of this kind can properly appreciate
its difficulties. Were it otherwise, and could the many who will turn
these pages have followed the long course of the task, their censure
would fall very lightly upon the heads of the editor and his helpers.
No writer ever has — probably never will — ^produce such a volume, con-
taining a great mass of material and thousands of names and dates,
without numerous errors. For this reason, if for no other, absolute
accuracy will not be expected herein. It is believed that all who may
read these pages will feel kindly disposed and pass over the occasional
flaw, to the perusal of that which fully meets their expectations.
A great amount of time and space has been devoted to the record of
the earliest purchases of the land in Orleans county and it is confidently
believed that this will be found an exceedingly interesting and impor-
tant part of the work, not only as giving, as nearly as could be done, a
complete record of the earliest owners of each lot, but also as giving
iv INTRODrCTORY.
the names of hundreds of the very earliest settlers in the county, many
of whose names might otherwise be forgotten.
To all who have aided in the preparation of this work (and they are
so numerous as to render it impracticable to name them here), the grat-
itude of editors and publishers is due and hereby expressed. No worthy
history of this county could have been written without such aid. Es-
pecialh^ valuable has been the volume published long ago by Judge
iVrad Thomas; the manuscripts embodying the researches of Dr.
Thomas F. Gushing, which he has generously placed in the custody of
the Orleans County Pioneer Association ; the work of Prof. Freeman
A. Greene in aiding in the preparation of the history of the educational
institutions of the county; the history of Free Masonry by George A.
Newell; the account of the Odd Fellows Order by John H. White; the
History of the Town of Clarendon recently published by David S. Cope-
land, and the personal assistance of county and town officers, newspaper
editors, and many others.
The editor of the work desires to make especial acknowledgment of
the great assistance rendered him in his part of the labor by Edwin L.
Wage and Herbert T. Reed, and to render due acknowledgment to
Dr. Thomas Gushing for his part in the preparation of the articles on
the land purchases, and for several articles, some of which were pre-
pared especially for this work and others of which were prepared bv
him for other works and rewritten, in whole or in part, by him and used
in this work by his permission.
CONTENTS-
CHAPTER I.
Original Counties — Montgomery County and its Subdivisions— Act Erecting
Orleans Count}-— Map of Original Genesee Count}-- The County Seat_ 1
CHAPTER 11.
General Topography of the County— " The Ridge "—Geological Formations
— Tonawanda Swamp — SaltSprings — Streams. 8
CHAPTER HI.
Original Occupants of the Soil — Cessions of Lands— Pre-Historic and Indian Re-
mains— Review of Events Leading to Settlement by White Men. 20
CHAPTER IV.
Original Claims and Titles — Boundaries of the Province of New York — Gradual
Encroachment of White Men upon Indian Territory — Conflicting Claims of
New York and Massachusetts — The Dispute Settled at Hartford — The Phelps
and Gorham Purchase — The Morris Reserve — The Transit Line— The Con-
necticut Tract — The Holland Land Company — Indian Title Extinguished —
Survey of Orleans County — Policy of the Holland Land Company 81
CHAPTER V.
Indian Trails — The Ridge and the Ridge Road — The Lake as an Early Avenue
of Transportation and Travel — Construction of Early Roads — Building of
Mills — Legislation in relation to Roadmaking — Map of 1809. _ . 50
CHAPTER VI.
Early Settlements— Character of the Pioneers— Their Hardships and Privations ,
—The War of 1812-15— Effects of the ' ' Cold Summer "—Early Mills and Man-
ufactures—The Morgan Case— The Lake and its Traffic— Town Organiza-
tions and Formation of the County — Establishment of Schools and Churches. 55
vi CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
Modes of Transportation and Travel in Early Years — Opening of the Erie Canal
— Changes Wrought by this Waterway — Early Public Legislation — The First
and Second Locations of the County Seat — The First Banks — Railroads — The
' ' Hard Times " of 1837-38— A Deplorable Accident. 61
CHAPTER YIII.
Outbreak of the Great Civil War — Enthusiasm of the People — The First Organi-
zation to Leave this County for the Seat of War — Formation of Other Organ-
izations—Number of Volunteers from the Various Towns — Death Roll of
Orleans Volunteers. 70
CHAPTER IX.
Sin ce the War — Business Activity and Plentitude of Money — Establishment of
Various Business and Public Undertakings — County Statistics— Civil List
— Political — Orleans County Pioneer and Historical Association 91
CHAPTER X.
Comparison of State Law with the Common Law — Evolution of the Courts— The
Court of Appeals — The Supreme Court — The Court of Chancery — The Coimtj-
Court — The Surrogate's Court — Justice's Court — District Attorneys — Sheriffs
— Court House — Judicial Officers — Personal Notes , 98
CHAPTER XI.
The Medical Profession 133
CHAPTER XII.
The Press of Orleans County. 145
CHAPTER XIII.
The Quarrying Industrj^— Its Development and Present Proportions— First
Quarry Opened — Operators and Owners — Statistics 152
CHAPTER XIV.
Secret Societies, Public Institutions, etc 161
CONTENTS. vii
CHAPTER XV.
Schools of Orleans County 1 m;
CHAPTER XVI.
The Town and Village of Albion. -jk;
CHAPTER XVn.
The Town of Ridgeway and Village of Medina. _ _ J'.i'J
CHAPTER XVni.
The Town of Murray ,. 378
CHAPTER XIX.
The Town of Gaines. 410
CHAPTER XX.
The Town of Barre. 4(51
CHAPTER XXI.
The Town of Shelby. •'••'■^
CHAPTER XXII.
The Town of Clarendon 556
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Town of Yates 588
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Town of Carlton ^-^
CHAPTER XXV.
The Town of Kendall - ^^'"^
viii CONTENTS.
PART II.
Biographies, 1-48
PART III.
Family Sketches, . 1-230
Index to Part I 331-234
Index to Part II ^335
Index to Part III 235-241
Index to Portraits 241-242
Landmarks of Orleans County.
CHAPTER I
Original Counties — Montgomery County and its Subdivisions— Act Erecting Orleans
County — Map of Original Genesee County — The County Seat.
The original ten counties of what is now the State of New York
were created November i, 1683, and named Albany, New York,
Dutchess, Kings, Queens, Orange, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster, and
Westchester. On the nth of March, 1772, Montgomery county was
erected under the name of " Tryon," in honor of William Tryon,
governor of New York in 1771. The change in name was made in
1784, on account of the odium that attached to Tryon's name. He
was made a colonel in 1772 and a major-general in 1777, and led in
person the expeditions that destroyed Danbury, Fairfield, and Norwalk,
Conn. Montgomery county embraced nearly the whole of the western
and central part of the State. In 1789 all that part of the State lying
west of Phelps and Gorham's "pre-emption line," was erected into the
county of Ontario. In 1802 Genesee county was formed from that
part of the State lying west of the Genesee river. At the same time
the town of Northampton, which had theretofore embraced the whole of
the great Holland purchase, was divided into four towns, of which
Batavia included all of the State west of the west transit line, to be
described a little further on. In 1804 Batavia was likewise divided
into four towns, the easternmost one retaining the original name and
embracing the territory as far west as a line crossing the State from
Lake Ontario southward through the middle of what are now the towns
of Yates, Ridgeway, and Shelby, in Orleans county. The town next
west of this was named Willinck.
1
2 LANDMARKS OF
From Genesee county was erected Orleans county by the following
act of Legislature :
" Be it enacted by the people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and
Assembly, That all that part of the County of Genesee comprising the territory herein-
after mentioned, viz., the towns of Gaines, Barre, Murray, Clarendon, Ridgeway,
Yates and Oak Orchard, in the County of Genesee, shall, from and after the first day of
January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, be a
separate and distinct county of the State of New York, and shall be known and distin-
guished by the name of "Orleans," and the freeholders and other inhabitants of the
County of Orleans shall have and enjoy all and every the same rights, powers and
privileges, as the freeholders and inhabitants of any of the counties of this State are by
Idw entitled to have and enjoy.
II. And be it further enacted, That there shall be held in and for the said county of
Orleans, a Court of Common Pleas and a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, to be
held in three terms, to commence as follows, to wit: The first term of the said courts
shall begin on the third Tuesday of February, the second term shall begin on the third
Tuesday of May, and the third term shall begin on the third Tuesday of September in
each and every year; and each of the teims of said courts may continue to be held
until the next Saturday following the third Tuesdays inclusive. And the said Courts
of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace shall have the same jurisdiction,
powers and authority in the said county, as Courts of Common Pleas and General
Sessions of the Peace in the other counties of the State in their respective counties:
Provided, That nothing in this act shall be construed to affect any writ or action in
any court or action whatsoever already commenced, or which shall be commenced
before the third Tnesday of May, 1826, so as to work a wrong or to prejudice the
parties therein, or to affect any criminal or other proceeding on the part of the people
of this State; but all such civil and criminal proceedings shall and may be prosecuted
to trial, judgment and execution, as if this act had not been passed.
III. And be it further enacted, That Samuel G. Hathaway, of the county of Cort-
land, Philetus Swift, of Ontario county, and Victory Birdseye of Onondaga county,
shall be commissioners for the purpose of examining and impartially determining the
proper site for a court house and gaol to be erected in the said county of Orleans; and
when the said commissioners, or any two of them, having so determined, shall put
their determination in writing, with their signatures and seals affixed thereto, and
cause the same to be filed in the clerk's office of the said county of Orleans, such deter-
mination shall be final and conclusive in the premises ; and it shall be the duty of the
said commissioners to meet and examine, and to make known their said determination
of the site of the said court house and gaol, on or before the first Monday of June,
1826. And the said commissioners shall be entitled to receive the sum of three dollars
per day for every day they may be necessarily employed on said service, which sum
shall be levied, collected and paid, as part of the contingent expenses of the said county
of Orleans.
IV. And be it further enacted. That the first term of the Court of Common Pleas
and General Sessions of the Peace for the said county, shall be held at the house of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 3
Selah Bronson, in the town of Gaines, and all of the subsequent terms of the said
Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in and for the said county,
at such place within the said county of Orleans as the Judges of the Courts of
Common Pleas in and for said county shall from time to time appoint, until the court
house in and for said county shall be erected, and so far furnished as to be, in the
opinion of the Judges, convenient to hold their courts therein, and said Courts of Com-
mon Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace shall thenceforth be holden in and for
said county in said court house.
V. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for all courts and
officers in said county of Orleans, in all cases civil and criminal, to confine the prisoners
in the gaol of the county of Genesee; and it shall be the duty of the sheriif of the
county of Genesee to receive the said prisoners into custody, and retain them until such
time as there shall be a sufficient gaol prepared in the county of Orleans, or they shall
be discharged by due course of law.
VI. And be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in and for the said county of
Orieans, as soon as a site of the court house and gaol shall be fixed and determined
on by said commissioners appointed for that purpose, to lay out the gaol liberties in
such manner as they shall deem most suitable and convenient for the prisoners who
may be confined thereon, not exceeding one hundred acres, in a square or parallelo-
gram, as near as may be.
VII. And be it further enacted, That the said county of Orleans shall be entitled to
elect one Member of Assembly, in the same manner as the other counties of this State
are by law entitled to elect; and the county of Genesee shall be entitled to elect three
Members of Assembly.
VIII. And be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty of the supervisors and
county treasurers of the counties of Genesee and Orleans, to meet on the first Monday
of June, 1826, and at the court house in the town of Batavia, in the county of Genesee,
and apportion and divide all debts belonging to the county of Genesee, and apportion
such part thereof as shall be just and equitable to the said county of Orleans.
IX. And be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty of the supervisors of the said
county of Orleans, to meet at the house of Selah Bronson, in Gaines, on the first Mon-
day of June, 1826, and that the supervisors, or a majority of them, shall there appoint
commissioners to supervise the erection and building of a court house and gaol, on such
site within the county of Orleans, as the commissioners for that purpose in and by this
act appointed, shall designate; Provided, that a suitable and convenient lot or lots
therefor shall have been first conveyed to the supervisors of said county of Orleans, and
to their successors forever : and whenever a gaol shall be so far completed, as, in the
opinion of the sheriff of the said county it will be safe to remove the prisoners thereto, it
shall and may be lawful for the said sheriff to remove all his prisoners then confined
in the gaol of the county of Genesee, to the gaol of the county of Orleans, and such
removal shall not be considered or deemed an escape.
X. And be it further enacted, That the first annual meeting of the Board of Super-
visors for said county shall be held at the house now occupied by the said Selah Bron-
4 LANDMARKS OF
son, in Gaines aforesaid, on the first Tuesday of October, 1826, and being so met they
sliall cause to be assessed, levied, collected and paid into the treasury of the said county,
the sum of $3,000, and at the first annual meeting thereafter, the further sum of $3,000,
over and above the ordinary fees of collection and distribution, in like manner as taxes
to defray the contingent charges and expenses of said county are assessed, levied and
collected.
XI. And be it further enacted, That said commissioners, or a majority of them, may
contract with workmen, and purchase materials, for building the said court house and
gaol, and shall from time to time draw upon the treasurer of said county for such sums
of money, for the purpose aforesaid, as shall come into the treasury by virtue of this
act; and the treasurer is hereby required, out of the monies aforesaid, to pay to the
order of said commissioners, or a majority of them, the several sums of money to be by
them drawn for : and it is hereby made the duty of the said commissioners to account
with the supervisors of the said county of Orleans for the monies which they shall
have received from the treasurer, when thereunto required.
• XII. And be it further enacted. That the commissioners appointed in and by this
act, for the superintending the erection of the public buildings in and for the said
county of Orleans, shall, before they enter upon the duties of said office, give bonds,
with approved sureties, to the supervisors of said county, for the faithful expenditure
of the monies committed to their charge for that purpose ; and they shall each of them
be entitled to receive the sum of two dollars per day for each day they may be employed
in the duties of that office : and the amount of their charge shall be levied and collected
in like manner as other contingent expenses of said county are levied and collected.
XIII. And be it further enacted, That the sheriff of the county of Orleans shall be
liable to the supervisors of the county of Genesee for the maintenance of all criminal
prisoners which he may commit for confinement in the gaol of the county of Genesee,
and that the supervisors of the said county of Orleans are required to levy the amount
of the charges for the maintenance of such persons in the same manner as other con-
tingent expenses are levied and collected in the said county, and to order the treasurer
to pay over the same to the sheriff for the payment of the supervisors of the said
county of Genesee.
XIV. And be it further enacted. That it shall be the duty of the supervisors and
judges of the court of Common Pleas of the county of Orleans to meet at the house of
Selah Bronson, in said county, on the third Monday of May, 1826, for the purposes of
nominating justices of the peace in said county, and when thus assembled, they shall
proceed in the manner directed by the act entitled, "An act regulating the time and
manner of electing general State officers, justices of the peace, and prescribing the num-
ber of coroners to be elected in each county, by the people," passed April 12, 1822, and
the proceedings therein shall be as valid and effectual as if the same had taken place at
the time prescribed in said act ; and that the presentjustices of the peace in said county
shall hold their offices until the new appomtments are made.
XV. And be it further enacted, That an election for sheriff, clerk and coroner in said
county shall be held therein on the first Tuesday of April, 1826, and the two succeed-
ing days, which election shall be conducted in all respects in the manner now prescribed
ORLEANS COrNTY. 5
by "An act to regulate elections," passed April 17, 1822 ; and the sheriff, clerk and
coroner then elected shall hold their respective oiBces for the same time as if they had
been chosen at the last election held in this State agreeably to the requirements of said
act.
XVI. And be it further enacted. That the clerk of said county of Orleans shall do
and perform all the duties enjoined by law on county treasurer, until there shall be a
treasurer appointed.
XVII. And be it furtherenacted, That the said county of Orleans shall be a part of
the Twenty-ninth Congressional District, and shall remain a part of the eighth Senate
District of this State.
XVIII. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the territory by this act
incorporated into a new county, shall until the organization of the same as such, be
exempted from all taxes, other than the contingent and ordinary taxes which may
hereafter be assessed or imposed upon the said county of Genesee. This act was passed
November 12, 1824.
The town of Shelby was annexed to Orleans county from Genesee
county, April 5, 1825. Later subdivisons of the territory in this region
have left the present boundaries of this county as follows : On the
north by Lake Ontario; on the east by Monroe county; on the south
by Genesee county, and on the west by Niagara county. The county
seat was at first established in the town of Gaines, and the act provided
for the organization of courts and the county government, as described
in a later chapter.
The whole of the county west of the transit line (all embraced in the
Holland Purchase) was originally included in the town of Ridgeway,
which was erected from the great town of Batavia June 8, 18 12. Mur-
ray was taken from the old town of Northampton April 8, 1808, and
originally included Kendall, which was taken from it April 7, 1837.
Clarendon was taken from Sweden February 23, 1821 (then in the
county of Genesee.) Ridgeway was first divided by setting ofif the
town of Gaines February 4, 1816, the latter then including the present
towns of Barre (taken off March 6, 1813); Albion, (taken off from Barre
in 1875) ; and a part of Carlton. Carlton was formed from Gaines and
Ridgeway April 3, 1825. Shelby and Yates were taken from Ridge-
way, the former March 6, 18 18, and the latter April 17, 1822.
The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Orleans county was
held at the house of Selah Bronson, in the village of Gaines, in pursu-
ance of the act above quoted. A joint meeting of the Boards of Super-
visors of the counties of Genesee and Orleans was held in Batavia on
LANDMARKS OF
the 7th of June, 1825, for the purpose of efifecting a settlement between
the two counties. An agreement was there consummated that the
county of Orleans should be considered one-fourth of the whole valua-
tion of both counties, and the moneys and indebtedness of the two
counties was apportioned on that basis^.
Outlines of the Original County of Genfsee, from the NORxnEAST corner of which Orleans County
WAS TAKEN.
ORLEANS COUXTY. 7
Gaines was made the county seat of the new county, but only for a
short time. Commissioners, consisting of Victory Birdseye, of Onon-
daga county; Philetus Swift, of Ontario county; and Samuel G. Hath-
away, of Cortland county, were appointed to locate the county seat,
and the public buildings, as before stated. Gaines was then the most
prosperous village in the new county, while Albion had the advantage
of being located on the new canal as well as on the Sandy Creek. There
was considerable strife over the matter, but the activity and persistence
of the leading men of Albion finally prevailed, and the county seat was
fixed at that village. It has since been sufficiently demonstrated in
various ways that this was a wise choice.^
The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors held in Albion took
place on the i6th of June, 1826, at which steps were taken towards
providing court and other county buildings, as described in the chapter
devoted to the legal profession.
1 " The commissioners came to consider the claims of the rival villages about the middle of the
dry season. Mr. Nehemiah IngersoUj Philetus Bumpiis, Henry Henderson, and a few other
Albion men determined to use a little strategy to help Albion. Knowing when the commissioners
would be here, the creek would be too low to move the saw mills, and foreseeing the advantage
a good mill stream would give them, they patched the two dams and flumes and closed the gates
to hold all the water some days before the commissioners would arrive ; sent some teams to haul
logs and lumber about the saw mill and mill yard in the village, to mark the ground and give the
appearance of business there. When the commissioners came to see Albion, having been gener-
ously dined and wined by hospitable people, they were taken in a carriage to see the place, and in
the course of the ride, driven along the creek and by the saw mill, then in full operation, with men
and teams among the lumber, with a good supply of water from the ponds thus made for this
occasion. The commissioners were impressed with the importance of this fine water power, and
gave the county buildings to Albion before the ponds ran out."— Judg-e Thomas.
LANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER II.
General Topography of the County — "The Ridge" — Geological Formations — Tona-
wanda Swamp — Salt Springs — Streams.
Physical Characteristics. — The surface of Orleans county is
nearly level with a general slope to the north. It may be divided into
three levels, or stages: That lying between the shore of Lake Ontario
and " The Ridge," having a width of about eight miles and a descent
from the summit of the ridge of i88 feet ; from the summit of the ridge
south to the Niagara Limestone Terrace, a breadth of two to four miles
and an ascent from the ridge of about 120 feet; and from this terrace
to the southern boundary of the county, an ascent of about fifty feet.
The summit of the county lies between the terrace and Tonawanda
swamp, which extends east and west along the southern boundary of
the county. The general elevation at the county seat is 521 feet above
the sea. This " lake ridge," as it is termed is an interesting superficial
deposit, extending from Sodus in Wayne county to the Niagara River,,
and forms the foundation for a traveled highway most of the distance.
Throughout its whole extent in New York State it bears the marks of
having been the boundary of a large body of water, is well defined
most of its length, and indicates a process of formation similar to that
of the elevated beaches bordering the ocean or the larger lakes. The
ridge follows the general course of Lake Ontario, at a minimum distance
from the shore of about three miles and a maximum of about eight
miles. Its seaward side is usually covered with coarse gravel and often
with large pebbles, resembling the shingle of the sea beaches. The top
is generally of coarse sand and gravel, though sometimes of fine sand,
as if blown up by the wind, similar to modern beaches
It is sometimes so contracted upon the top as to offer only space for a
ORLEANS COUNTY. 9
broad carriage road, and again expands to a width of two or three
hundred feet, being scarcely defined on the inland side.
If anything were wanting in the external appearance of this ridge to
convince the observer of the mode of its formation, every excavation
made into it proves conclusively its origin. Fragments of wood,
shells, etc., are found in digging wells, and cutting channels to drain
the marshes on the southern side.
Map of liake Iroquois.
Showing the line of the present lake shore, the original shore line, the former supposed outlet of the lake by the Mohawk
River, and the situation of the great northern ice sheet.'
The elevation of this ridge above Lake Ontario has been variously
estimated at from lOO to 200 feet. The following levels as well as the
other information relating to the ridge, are from the State geological
work of James Hall : the ridge road, opposite Lockport is below the
bottom of the canal, 106 feet ; opposite Middleport, Niagara county,
79 feet ; opposite Albion, Orleans county, 'j6 feet ; opposite Brockport,
" From The Niagara Book," Underhill
2
Nichols, Buffalo, 1893.
10 LANDMARKS OF
Monroe county, jG feet. The bottom of the canal at Lockport is 264
feet above Lake Ontario, giving the elevation of the ridge road above
the lake, 158 feet; at Middleport, 185 feet; at Albion and Brockport,
188 feet. The bottom of the canal at Brockport is about two feet
lower than at Lockport. The difference in the elevation of the ridge
road at these places is readily accounted for. The point opposite Lock-
port is where the ridge declines towards the Eighteen-mile Creek, and
is plainly much lower than the same a mile farther east. Middleport
is ten miles east of Lockport, and the difference between the ele-
vation at this place and the others still farther east, is little more than
the difference in the elevation of the bottom of the canal. The meteor-
ological department gives the elevation to the top of the canal at
Albion as 521 feet above sea level.
Hall in his Natural History of New York says in reference to the
falls at Niagara :
The conclusion seems inevitable, that the river has been the great agent in excavating
its own channel from near the escarpment between Lewiston and Queenston to the
present position of the cataract ; that the recession has been aided by the character of
the rocks, presenting alternate hard and soft strata, and that the descent was overcome,
not by one perpendicular fall, but by several. In support of this latter assertion, a
single analogous case will furnish stronger evidence than a long argument. The course
of the Oak Orchard Creek in Orleans county is over the same strata and exhibits the
succession of falls and rapids, precisely in the manner I have just enumerated. The
quantity of the water, however, in this stream is too small to produce anything like a
degree of recession to compare with the Niagara River.
Section along the Oak-orchard creek.
I. Lower part of Medina sandstone. 2. Quartzose sandstone 3. Alternating, shaly and hard
sandstone. 4. Greyband, termination of the Medina sandstone. 5. Green shale of Clinton jjrou]).
6. Limestone of Clinton group. 7. Niagara shale. 8 Niagara limestone, falls at Shelby.'
The Medina sandstone is the first underlying formation from Lake
Ontario to a line running easterly and westerly through the county
I From Hall's Natural History of New York.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 11
about two miles south from the Erie Canal. Along this line runs the
outcropping ledge of the Niagara limestone, which is the formation that
underlies portions of Clarendon and Shelby, and nearly the whole of
Barre. Between these formations occurs the Clinton group, which in
this county is so thin and variable in its character that it is usually
considered with the Niagara limestone, which is a more stable forma-
tion. It is the group which furnishes the thin, flat limestone so abund-
ant in some places for a short distance north from the Niagara limestone
ledge, affording what has been manufactured into an inferior quality of
hydraulic cement. Except a few transported fragments, it is only
seen along the base of the Niagara limestone terrace.
The Medina sandstone is a formation of particular interest in this
county, because the quarrying and exportation of it has grown to be so
important a branch of industry; it is also of much interest to those who
have a taste for geological history
In the report of the geological survey of the State of New York, it is
said that this formation has been found to have a thickness of 350 feet,
and that it may be greater than that. It has since been found that at
some points its thickness is i,ooo feet, and it is believed that it may be
found to reach 1,500 feet of depth.
It is a sedimentary rock, and its upper strata were deposited at the
bottom of a shallow sea, as the ripple marks which occur in all these
strata show. Geologists make a fourfold division of this rock as it ap-
pears in Orleans and Niagara counties. The lower division is a red
marl and marly or shaly sandstone. In its structure it is very uniform .
and evenly deposited, having never been disturbed by local uplifts.
The third division is a repetition of the first. The character changes
from below upward, the shaly matter diminishing and the sandstone
and quartzose sandstone increasing. The color, also, is mottled with
gray and green lines and spots. This is without doubt due to an
alteration in the oxidation of the iron which colors the rock.
Between the first and third occurs the second, which is termed the
gray quartzose sandstone. It is not seen east from Orleans county.
It becomes thicker toward the west till, at the Niagara River, it has a
thickness of twenty- five feet. Between Lewiston and the Whirlpool
it forms the projection that juts out between the softer rocks above and
12 LANDMARKS OF
below, which have been worn away. It forms a sHght terrace through
this county north from the mountain ridge or great Hmestone terrace,
and is composed of layers which are variable in thickness, smooth on
the surface, as though each had been water worn before the succeeding
one was deposited.
The Medina sandstone is not rich in minerals. Iron, copper and
manganese are the only metals known to exist in it, and these in very
small quantities, combined with other elements. Carburetted hydrogen
gas, in small quantities, is discharged from it in a few localities. The
small amount of organic matter in it and the next rock below it pre-
cludes the possibility of a large amount of carbon in any form in it.
Salt water has been found in many places where borings have been
made in this rock, and in some instances it has appeared at the surface,
and salt has been manufactured from it.
Fossils are rare in this sandstone, the only one found being the
Fucoides — the F. Harlani and the F. auriformis. The former is every-
where typical of the Medina sandstone. It occurs in the third district
at Fulton, Oswego county, and in the fourth district in Wayne county,
at Rochester, Medina, and on the Niagara River. The F. auriformis
is also found at Medina.
Clinton Group. — Next above the Medina sandstone lies the Clinton
group of strata, which is thinner in this county than it is east or west
from it. In many localities just north from the escarpment of the
Niagara limestone terrace, it is found in thin layers or scattered frag-
ments, and it is often called bastard limestone. In the bed of Oak
Orchard Creek it is seen in thin layers with slate between them.
Niagara Limestone. — This is the formation that underlies the
whole of the county south from the escarpment or terrace spoken of, is
constant and uniform in its character. It is better seen in Clarendon
and at Shelby Falls than elsewhere in the county. It has a thickness
of about 260 feet at Niagara Falls, and a little more than 200 feet in
this county, as nearly as can be ascertained.
The bowlders which are found on and just beneath the surface of the
earth in this county are of much interest. They are all of northern
origin, and they are seen most abundantly deposited just south from
the outcrop of the formations whence they were torn. Occasional
ORLEANS COUNTY. l;i
bowlders of granite, popularly known as "hard heads," are found scat-
tered over all parts of the county, more abunduntly in some localities
than in others.
Bowlders of Medina sandstone also are found in all parts of the
county south from where this formation crops out. The strata from
which they were torn had less thickness than the jrranite, and the
bowlders are smaller. Many of them are less rounded than the granite
bowlders. Often their surfaces are flat and their angles sharp. Thin
and flat bowlders of the Clinton formation are occasionally found south
from its outcrop at the base of the limestone terrace, and in some local-
ities these appear in large numbers. Bowlders of Niagara limestone
appear in great numbers south from the escarpment of the limestone
terrace, but never north from it. In some localities areas of several
acres are found almost completely covered with them. These are
moraines, or deposits by the melting away of the glacier. At a dis-
tance of about six miles from Lake Ontario, is what is known as the
•' Ridge." There is every reason for believing that this was once the
beach of the lake or of an arm of the ocean which filled the valley of
the St. Lawrence. This ridge has an almost uniform height above the
lake of 1 88 feet, and it is only interrupted by the passage through it of
streams. Probably when the lake subsided, after throwing up this
barrier, it left on its landward side many ponds which were fed by
streams from the higher lands. At their points of outlet the waters of
these ponds carried away the materials of this ridge, till in some cases
wide chasms were excavated in it. The old level of some of these
ponds is still traceable, though but small streams run at the bottoms of
what were once their beds. In the case of Oak Orchard Creek the
ancient pond extended several miles along the south side of the ridge
from near Ridgeway to where it passes through, and terraces at different
heights above the present banks of the stream are distinctly traceable.
The soil varies in character in the different parts of the county. Im-
mediately north from the ridge it is sandy and thin, showing plain
traces of the effect of the undertow when the waters beat against this
ancient barrier. Farther north, sand ceases to predominate, and the
soil becomes a clay loam. South from the ridge it is less sandy, and
here, as on the southern limestone range, its character is influenced by
14 LANDMARKS OF
deposits vvhicli have taken place in former periods, and which, as before
stated, were brought from the shales of the formation below. In the
town of Barre is a tract including about 1, 200 acres which consists of
sandy elevations, and which, from the kind of timber which once grew
there, is called Pine Hill.
Tonawanda swamp extends along the southern edge of the county,
and covers portions of the towns of Clarendon, Barre and Shelby.
It has its outlet on the west through Oak Orchard Creek, and on
the east through the west branch of Sandy Creek. There are in the
southern part of the county many other smaller areas of swampy or
marshy land, some of which have outlets which discharge into this
swamp. A few of these are known to have been small, shallow lakes
which have gradually filled with peat or muck and changed to swamps
or marshes.
The principal streams are Oak Orchard Creek on the west, and
Sandy Creek on the east. Johnson's Creek runs from Niagara county
across the northwestern part of Orleans. In some places these streams
have worn away the strata over which they have passed, thus affording
good facilities for studying their character.
These streams are not rapid, for the surface of the county is com-
paratively level. Tonawanda swamp, at the southern boundary of the
county, is about 350 feet higher than Lake Ontario, and these streams
pursue a tortuous course diagonally from one to the other.
As before stated, salt springs have been found in different parts of
the county, but always upon the Medina sandstone. "During the ex-
treme drouth of the summer of 1841," according to Mr. Hall, "the wells
situated upon this rock in many towns in Orleans county became dry,
and they were in consequence, excavated or bored to a greater depth ;
and in nearly all cases the water proved to be in some degree saline,
and in one case so much so as to warrant the erection of fixtures for the
manufacture of salt." Salt was manufactured in the town of Ridge-
way, one and a half miles north of Medina, near Oak Orchard Creek,
between 1820 and 1830. On lot 137 there is a spring where salt was
formerly made ; also in the town of Yates, near what were known as
Scofield's Mills on Johnson's Creek, salt was made from a spring which
was long ago filled up. A Mr. Bennett made salt from a spring in the
ORLEANS COUNTS. 15
east bank of Oak Orchard Creek, at the village of Oak Orchard. He
bored to a depth of 140 feet and obtained a stronger brine, but the quan-
tity was not increased. At Holley were three springs from which salt
was made ; they were near together in the bed of Sandy Creek. "About
the year of 1821," says Mr. Hall, "considerable salt was made at these
springs and was sold at five dollars a barrel." The opening of the
Erie Canal brought the Onondaga salt in this county at so low a price
as to render home production unprofitable.
It occasionally happens that springs are characterized by the presence of free mineral
acids, such as sulphuric and hydrochloric. The Rio Yinagie in South America, is sup-
plied by such sprmgs ; and it is stated that this stream carries to the ocean daily an
amount of acid equal to 82,720 pounds of oil of vitrol and G9.638 pounds of concen-
trated muriatic acid. There is a celebrated spring of this character in New York State
known as the Oak Orchard Acid Spring, an analysis of which i.s here presented.'
Analysis of Oak Orchard water by Professor Porter:
One gallon contains :
Sulphuric acid 133.312
Proto sulphate of iron 32.216
Sulphate of magnesia 8.491
Sulphate of lime 13.724
Sulphate of alumina 6.413
Sulphate of potash 2.479
Sulphate of soda 3.162
Chloride of sodium 1.432
Silicic acid ..3.324
Organic matter , 6.654
Total grains 211.207
About three and one half miles north of Albion is a small tract of
from one quarter to one half acre where the salt comes so near the sur-
face that no vegetation appears In early days this "salt lick," as it
was called, was a resort for deer and Mr. Jedediah Phelps, formerly of
Albion, now of Rochester, relates that he has sat in a tree with his rifle
many times waiting for a shot at them as they came.
Bog iron ore has been found in several localities, but not in sufficient
quantity to be extensively utilized. It has been found in solid masses
a mile west of Albion Small quantities are found a mile east of
' From Johnson's Cyclopedia, vol. 8, p. 413. This spring is located a few rods south of Shelby, in
the town of Alabama, Genesee county
16 LANDMARKS OF
Ridgevvay Coiners and also about the same distance west of the
Corners.
The principal streams of the county are: Oak Orchard Creek, John-
son's Creek, and Sandy Creek. The first named stream received its
name from the original oak forest along its banks. It has its source in
the Tonawanda swamp, flows northward across Shelby and part of
Ridgeway ; thence northeasterly across the town of Carlton, reaching
the lake at Oak Orchard harbor. It receives the water of many small
streams, among them being Otter Creek, which rises in Barre and
flows north across the towns of Albion and Gaines, reaching Oak Or-
chard Creek at Waterport in Carlton, and Marsh Creek which is foimed
by the union of several small streams arising in Gaines and Murray,
enters the Oak Orchard. Johnson's Creek (see history of the town of
Yates) rises in the eastern part of Niagara county, enters Orleans county
in Ridgeway, whence it flovvs north and northeasterly across that town,
Yates, and the northwest corner of Carlton to the lake. Sandy Creek
comprises two branches, one of which rises in Clarendon and flows
northerly; the other and larger one rises in the north part of Barre,
flows through Albion village and thence northeasterly to the hamlet of
Sandy Creek in the town of Murray, where the two branches unite;
thence the creek flows northeast and out of the county at Kendall Mills
in the town of Kendall.
At the time of the first settlement of this locality by white men these
streams abounded with fish. Salmon ran up Oak Orchard and John-
son's Creeks in great numbers and Judge Johnson stated that they were
caught once in a small stream in the western part of Gaines.
The territory of this county was originally covered with a thick forest
of hard wood trees, such as oak, hickory, beech, birch and maple, with
some hemlock, white wood, tamarack and cedar on the low lands. The
cutting away of this forest by the pioneers was a task of great magni-
tude; but it gave them a source of cash income at a time when there
was almost no other, through the manufacture of potash from the ashes
of the burned logs, and in later years from the timber and firewood.
The forests were filled with wild animals — deer, bears, wolves, all of
which were numerous, with such smaller animals as the beaver in very
early years, the raccoon, hedgehog, squirrels, etc. While the bears and
ORLEANS COUNTY. 17
wolves were destructive of domestic animals, the former two and the
numerous deer furnished an ever ready source of food to the settlers.
Parts of the southern tier of towns of the county are covered by the
northern section of the great Tonawanda swamp, which extends down
into Genesee county, and is drained by Oak Orchard Creek. The
swamp originally covered about 25,000 acres. Most of its surface was
too wet for tillage; but sections have been reclaimed. In 1828 the
Holland Company, sold a part of the wet lands to an association who
expended about $12,000 in enlarging the outlet. In April, 1852, the
Legislature appointed Amos Root, John Dunning, Henry Monell, and
David E. E. Mix, commissioners to lay out and build a highway across
the swamp, on the line between ranges i and 2 of the Holland Purchase.
This was done at a cost of about $2,700. The association finally sold
out their swamp lands to various persons, nothing further being done to
drain or reclaim the tract until April 16, 1855, when an act was passed
by the Legislature appointing Amos Root, S. M. Burroughs, Ambrose
Bowen, Robert Hill, John B. King, and Henry Monell, commissioners
to drain the swamp. The commissioners were authorized to estimate
the cost of their proposed work, which should be assessed upon the
several owners of the lands to be benefited. When the estimate of
$20,000 was made, such active opposition was manifested by the land
owners that the law was repealed in the following winter.
Attempts were continued with partial success to drain the low lands
of the county after the close of the war. On the 1st on May, 1865, an
act was passed by the Legislature providing for the appointment of two
commissioners " for draining certain low lands in the town of Barre."
This act was framed by Judge Bessac, of Albion, and like the others of
similar character, empowered the commissioners to construct ditches and
drains, and assess the cost upon the owners of lands benefited thereby.
Alvah Mattison and Floyd Starr were made commissioners under this
act. Their labors were so successful that another similar act was passed
in April, 1 867, for draining a larger tract in the same town with Charles
S. Allen and L. Grinnell, commissioners. The success of this enterprise
was also quite marked. Further effort in this direction has been thus
described :
3
18 LANDMARKS OF
On the 12th of May, 18C9, the Legislature enacted a general drainage law, the essential
features of which were almost identical with those of these foregoing special acts. This
law, with some amendments, passed by subsequent Legislatures, is still in force ; and it is
estimated that under its operation 4,670 acres of land have been reclaimed or generally
benefited.
The right under the Constitution to confer upon the commissioners appointed under
the law the powers with which it invested them, was predicated on the assumption that
the drainage of such lands is conducive to the public health ; and it authorized them
to assess municipalities through or near which drains were constructed. Accordingly
in two among the five cases under the law the commissioners assessed a portion of the
expense upon the town of Barre. An appeal was taken by the supervisor, C. H. Mat-
tinson, and the cases were tried before the county judge and justices of sessions, who
sustained the action of the commissioners, thus affirming the assumption upon which
these powers were conferred.
Since the above was written, numerous proceedings have been had in
this county under the general act and many farms and locahties
benefited.
Tonawanda swamp includes a large area in the southern part of the
county, in the towns of Clarendon, Barre and Shelby ; a portion of this
is covered with timber, of which cedar and black ash are the most
valuable varieties. Other portions are what is termed open swamp or
prairie. Hitherto this swamp meadow has been considered entirely
valueless, but recently successful efforts have been made to utilize it
for pasture. Large droves of cattle have been herded during the pas-
turing season on portions of it, and the results of these experiments .
have been so favorable that those whose farms include more or less of
this hitherto useless swamp have enclosed it with such fences as the
annual fires will not destroy, and are pasturing their cattle on it.
An act was passed appointing commissioners who were empowered to
assess the lands benefited, to an amount not exceeding $20,000, for
draining this swamp. So strong a feeling of hostility to the measure
was aroused that the act way repealed. Subsequently an act was passed
appropriating about $16,000 for excavating the outlet of the swamp on
certain conditions, which were never complied with.
Oak Orchard Creek is the property of the State, owned as a canal
feeder to the Erie Canal.
An artificial channel has been cut across from Tonawanda Creek in
Genesee county to the natural channel of Oak Orchard Creek in the
ORLEAXS COUNTY. 19
southern part of the town of Shelby. The swamp lands on Oak Orchard
Creek cover an area of some 23,000 acres. The watershed drained by
this creek is about 88,000 acres and is about seventeen miles long east
and west and some nine and one-half miles broad at the widest part.
The drainage of the swamp lands along the Oak Orchard Creek, through
the swamp, is to the west, with the average fall of about one and eight-
tenths feet to the mile.
The Legislature of 1893, appropriated $35,000 for the improvement
of Oak Orchard Creek and canal feeder. The contract for the work
was let in September, 1893, and the work, now well underway, consists
of the excavation of a new channel in the bottom of the old bed of the
creek, twelve feet wide at the bottom and about twenty feet at the top,
with an average cutting of three and three quarters feet through solid
rock, from a point three-quarters of a mile south of Shelby Center, up
to the swamp; also the deepening and general repairing of the feeder
leading from Tonawanda to Oak Orchard Creek.
The result of this work, when completed, will be that the spring high
water in the Oak Orchard swamp, will continue for a much shorter
period than it formerly did, and that the average condition of the
swamp will be very much improved. The lowering of the channel
will undoubtedly increase the summer flow from Oak Orchard swamp
and the work on the feeder will greatly add to the advantage of the
Erie Canal and water power of Medina. It is expected the work will
be completed this fall (1894). The engineer in charge is D. D. Waldo,
of Medina.
20 LANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER III.
Original Occupants of the Soil — Cessions of Lands — Pre- Historic and Indian Re-
mains— Review of Events Leading to Settlement by the White Men.
The first white man who penetrated the wilderness that ooce covered
what is now the State of New York, found its northern and western part
inhabited and dominated by nations of that remarkable race of copper-
colored people whom we call Indians — in reality, the native Americans.
The question whence they originated is shrouded in mystery, and so
must remain ; but we well know whither they are going. Unnum-
bered ages hence, their disappearance from the earth may be enveloped
in the deep oblivion that now hides their origin.
The detailed history of this race cannot be followed in this volume,
nor is it desirable that it should be ; for it is writ upon the glowing
records of the past by many gifted pens. As to the right or wrong of
their conquest and rapidly approaching extinction, wise men differ.
At the foundation of the question is the fact that in the world's history
civilization must advance at whatever cost to the uncivilized ; the
ignorant must go down before the educated ; the weak before the
strong ; might, if not right, will triumph. If the Indians, their undis- ,
ciplined passions fired by the white man's rum, armed with the guns
placed in their hands in exchange for valuable furs at a ten- fold profit,
driven from their hunting grounds when no longer a source of gain
to the invaders, finally retaliated and committed barbarities, the
record of which fills the pages of history with horror, what else
should have been expected ? The fact remains that there is not an
instance on record where the natives did not receive the first visit of
the white man with hospitality and kindness. We may well, therefore,
give a thought to what it was that produced the great change in the
attitude of the Indian towards his Caucasian superior. The former
never desired to part with his lands; so the latter stole what he could
not buy.i The Indians retaliated by murdering the thieves.
'As late as July, 1755, an Iroquis chief in addressing Sir William Johnson, said: "Brother-
Yon desire us to unite and live together, and draw all our allies near us ; but we shall have no
ORLEANS COUNTY. 21
With Champlain shooting with his terrorizing gunpowder upon the
guileless Iroquois in 1609 on the Lake that bears his name ; 1 with the
Jesuits beguiling the natives to secure their allegiance — and their furs ;
with the sagacious Dutch following Hendrick Hudson up the great
river that bears his name, within a year or two after Champlain killed
his first Indian a little farther north ; and with the English landing on
the Atlantic shores a few years later to hoodwink the natives out of
their lands — with all this going on, it is scarcely a marvel that the
gradually aroused Indians became revengeful.
The Iroquois Indians, as they were called by the French, known as
the Five Nations (subsequently the Six Nations) by the English, were
established across the State of New York, beginning with the Mohawks
on the east, with the Oneidas (with whom the Tuscaroras were subse-
quently practically amalgamated), the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and
and the Senecas next in the order here given.
Nothing is known of their history previous to the settlement of the
country by the white men. According to their traditions they once
occupied a region north from the St. Lawrence, where they were weak
in numbers and subject to the Algonquins, who occupied the country
still farther north. Having been vanquished in a war with the Adiron-
dacks they fled from the country and came by way of the St. Lawrence
and Lake Ontario to the Oswego River, through which they entered
Central New York. As nearly as can be learned from their traditions,
they lived together for a time near Seneca River. As they increased,
however, they sought new territory. A portion went to the region
of the Mohawk and became the Mohawk nation. They were termed
land left either for ourselves or them, for your people when they buy a small piece of land of
us, by stealing they make it large. We desire such things may not be done and that your people
may not be suffered to buy any more of our lands. Sometimes it is bought of two men who
are not the proper owners of it. The land which reaches down from Oswego to Schanandowana
(Wyoming) we beg may not be settled by Christians. The governor of Pennsylvania bought a
whole tract and only paid for half, and we desire that you will let him know that we will not
part with the other half, but keep it." This seems a reasonable speech for a savage regarding
what he believed to be his own property ; and even an Indian is likely to fight when he is robbed.
' The moment they saw me they halted, gazing at me and I at them. I raised my arquebus,
and aiming directly at one of the three chiefs, two of them fell to the ground by this shot; one
of their companions received a wound of which he died afterwards. I had put four balls in my
arquebus. The Iroquois were greatly astonished seeing two men killed so instantaneously.—
Fiom Chaiiiplaiti's Journal He "put four balls in his arquebus," The artless old French writer
—and murderer !
22 LANDMARKS OF
Ga-nea-ga-o-no, or people who possessed the fluit. Another portion
migrated to the east and resided for a time, but subsequently separated
into two bands, one of which occupied the region at the eastern
extremity of Oneida Lake, and the other settled in wliat is now the
Onondaga Valley. The former were known as the 0-na yote-ka-
o-no, or granite people (Oneidas), and the latter as O-nun-da-ga-o-
no, or people of the hills (Onondagas). The remainder subsequently
separated. A portion located on the eastern bank of Cayuga Lake.
They were termed Gwe-ra-gweh-o-no, or people at the mucky land
(Cayugas). The other portion spread westward to the Genesee River
and made their capital at the head of Canandaigua Lake. They were
called Nun-da- wa-o-no (Senecas), or great hill people.
This appears to be the substance of their traditions concerning their
migrations to the regions occupied by them, of a fanciful or poetic
character.
The recollection of their common origin, and a wise prevision of
what would conduce to their common welfare led to the establishment
among them of the confederation or league, which insured harmony
and prosperity among them, and rendered them a terror to surround-
ing nations, and also in later time challenged the admiration of legisla-
tors and statesmen. When this confederacy was established is not
known. It has been surmised that it was early in the sixteenth cen-
tury, and some fix the date at 1635 ; but probably it was long previous
to that. This league was not simply an offensive and defensive alliance
of the nations, liable to dissolution at any time. It resembled in many
respects the union of the States in our government. When the confed-
eracy was organized, fifty offices were created and names were given to
each. They were distributed among the nations unequally. The Mo-
hawks had nine, the Oneidas nine, the Onondagas fourteen, the Cay-
ugas ten, and the Senecas eight. Although these offices were heredi-
tary, no one could become a ruler or sachem till he was raised to that
dignity by a council of the sachems of the confederacy, and when so
raised he dropped his own name and assumed that of the sachemship.
To some of these sachemships was attached greater dignity than to
others, yet this was purely honorary, and each sachem had an equal
voice in the affairs of the confederacy. These sachems, who, when in
ORLEANS COUNTY. 2.".
council, constituted the legislative body of the league, were also the
rulers in their respective nations.
Each nation of the confederacy was entirely independent of every
other in all matters of a purely local character, and each sachem was
the peer of every other in council except so far as ability made him
the superior of his fellows. Such was the law of descent among the
Iroquois that a sachemship could never pass from the tribe and family
to which it was originally assigned. An inferior class of officers came
into existence during the later years of the confederacy, even after in-
tercourse with the whites commenced. These were the chiefs who
were elective, and their numbers were not limited. At first their func-
tions were circumscribed and local, but their influence has gradually
increased till, in some respects, it is equal to that of the sachems. The
powers of both are of a purely civil character. A sachem or chief went
on the war path as a common warrior. Indeed, the Iroquois had no
class military chiefs or war leaders, though many of their war captains
were elected chiefs to reward them for their valor. Their war methods
were singular and difficult of comprehension and explanation. They
had two military chieftaincies, the functions of which were to supervise
and direct warlike matters when two or more nations were engaged in
warlike undertakings, but the chieftains were not, by virtue of their
offices, commanders in the field. Any individual might organize a war
party and engage in hostilities against any nation with whom they
were not positively in alliance. The two war chieftaincies, like the
sachemships, were hereditary, and were assigned to the Seneca nation.
In their warlike operations, the policy of the Iroquois seems always
to have been, not the extermination of their foes, but their subjugation
and adoption, and it is said the Kahkwas and Eries were offered the
alternative of extinction or adoption. The result of this policy was the
extension of their power and influence until about 1700 they dominated
a large portion of the territory now embraced in the United States.
Tradition says that when the nations separated from the parent stock,
a portion wandered away and settled" on the Neuse River in North
Carolina, and when, about 1712, they were expelled from their south-
ern home they sought a habitation among the Ho-de-no-saunee, because
of their common origin, and after their adoption the confederation was
known as the Six Nations.
24 LANDMARKS OF
In addition to the division of the Iroquois nations, a tribal division
existed. Each nation was divided into eight tribes, named : Wolf,
Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk. This division
into tribes and the relation of members of these tribes to each other,
regulated many of the institutions of the Iroquois.
All property rights and titles descended in the line of the female
instead of the male. The son of a sachem, therefore, "could neither
succeed his father as a sachem, nor inherit from him his medal or his
tomahawk."
At the commencement of the Revolution, the council of the con-
federacy could not agreee to make war against the States, and each na-
tion was left free to act on its own responsibility.
Their councils were of three kinds: civil, for the transaction of busi-
ness pertaining to the nations ; mourning, for lamenting the death of
their sachems and the investiture of their successors: and religious, for
religious observances.
The chief sources of enjoyment for the Iroquois appeared to be the
chase, the war path and the council fire.
As has been seen, the Iroquois made themselves the dreaded masters
of all their neighbors east of the Mississippi, and carried their victorious
arms far to the north, the south and the east.
The- original habitat of the Senecas was between Cayuga Lake and
the Genesee River. They named themselves " Nun- da- wa-o- no," or
people of the hill. They knew nothing of the name Seneca, except as
applied to themselves by outsiders, as with other Indian proper names,
the spelling for a long time varied ; the nation for a long time being
called " Sennikes," and also being called some sixty other names,
mostly similar. The later classical form of the word is certainly an
improvement. 1
When the Senecas were first known to the white men, their villages
were scattered from Seneca Lake half way to the Niagara. In 1669,
when La Salle made his first visit to their country, their four principal
villages were from ten to twenty miles south of the falls of the Genesee,
' A ti'adition of the Senecas says that at the time of their greatest prosperity a census of the
nation was taken "by placing a kernel of white flint corn in a husk basket which, from the
description of its size, would hold ten or twelve quarts. Taking the smallest size and making
the estimate accordingly will give the number of Senecas alone at 17,760."
ORLEANS COUNTY. 25
and to the eastward of that river. Mention is made of the cabins of
the Senecas on the Niagara in 1678 and 1736. General Amherst,
writing in 1763, mentions the " Kanadaseegy and Canadaraggo "
castles, the former of which, more commonly spelled " Kanadareagy,"
stood on the site of Geneva. These are presumably the villages which
Sir William Johnson, in his enumeration of the Indians in 1763, calls
" Kanadasero " and " Kanadaragey," and mentions as being in the
English interest, while the rest of the nation was hostile. There were
in Sir William's time two castles of the tribe, at " Chennesio " (Geneseo),
once their western outpost, and a village called " Chenondonah," stood
on the west bank of the Genesee some fifteen miles from its mouth.
Previous to the settlement of this country by white men, the Indians
passed from one point to another over trails. These consisted of paths
sometimes from twelve to eighteen inches in width, and often they
were worn to a depth of from six to twelve inches, according to the
character of the soil. These trails connected village with village, and
many of the main ones ran along the sides of the rivers, in or near the
valleys of whicii these villages sprang up. The routes were determined,
as were the locations of the villages, by a sort of natural selection, and
the habits and customs of the Indians were not such as to effect changes
that would in their turn require changes in these locations; and they
very nearly coincided with the present main avenues of travel through
the State. A main trail extended through the site of Albany to that
of Buffalo, over almost the same route subsequently followed by the
main turnpike, and later, generally, by the Central Railroad. From
this the other trails branched, the traces and memory of many of which
are now obliterated.
Along the southern shore of Lake Erie, west of the Senecas, dwelt
the powerful " Eries, or cat nation," as the French, for an unknown
reason, called them. About 1654, or 1655, they fell victims to the
conquering Iroquois.
It is remarked in the life of Mary Jamison that perhaps no people
were more exact observers of religious duties than those Indians among
the Senecas who were denominated pagans, in contradistinction from
those who, from having renounced some of their former superstitions
have obtained the name of Christians. They had several yearly feasts
26 LANDMARKS OF
or assemblings for thanksgiving and for soliciting a continuance of the
favors of their deities.
As far as relates to the immediate territory of which this work treats,
it almost wholly escaped the effects of the wars which at various times
during more than one hundred and fifty years continued between the
French, the English and the Indians. The territory of what is now
Orleans county was, without a doubt, a part of the domain of the
Senecas, who were the most intelligent as well as the most warlike of
the Iroquois nations. Here they undoubtedly trod the deep forests in
quest of game, or followed the trails to and from the great lakes ; but
as far as known, no conflict occurred in this immediate region. While
the Mohawks and other easterly nations of the Iroquois were as a rule
loyal to the English or neutral in their long struggle with France, the
pov/er of the French constantly increased among the Senecas. But in
spite of this, the French never obtained a foothold in what is now New
York State ; the English arms, allied with the greater part of the Iro-
quois, prevented such a result. With equal facility had France, Eng-
land, and Spain as well, parceled out vast provinces in the new world.
The French established a fortified trading post on the Niagara River in
1683-4, but it was captured for the English under Sir William Johnson
in 1759, and surrendered to the United States in 1796, after the Revo-
lution. In 1722 a trading house was built on the site of Oswego, under
administration of the colonial government of New York, and five years
later it was strengthened into a considerable fort. The place was cap-
tured by the French in 1756 and destroyed. The works were rebuilt
in 1758 by the English and continued in their possession until 1796.
Bloody wars continued until the final extinction of the French power
in 1763. There was strife from the beginning to gain the fealty of the
Indians. They were not only extremely useful as fighters for either
power, but their friendship was equally desirable for purposes of trade.
Of course they were regularly swindled by either party toward which
they leaned.
When the Revolutionary War broke out and England was to be
taught that there were some small portions of the earth whose people
would not submit to practical slavery, the provincials held a council
with chiefs of the Six Nations at German Flats (now in Herkimer
ORLEANS roUNTY. 27
county), and secured from the Indians a promise to remain neutral
through that struggle ; but through the influence of Sir John Johnson
and other prominent tories, the Iroquois, with the exception of the
Oneidas and the Tuscaroras, violated their pledge and adhered to
the cause of England through the war. The barbarities of the
tories and Indians in the Mohawk Valley and elsewhere in this
State are too familiar to need attention here. To punish the Indians,
and especially the Senecas, and to capture Fort Niagara, Sullivan's
campaign was organ"zed in 1779. Under that general, a large force
met the enemy near Elmira and defeated them with great loss. Thence
northward through the villages in Livingston county to Canandaigua,
the victorious American army marched, destroying everything belong-
ing to the Indians on the route. Although not many of the Senecas
were killed after the battle mentioned, they were thoroughly humbled
and frightened into submission to their white neighbors. Abandoning
from that time their villages cast of the Genesee River, they settled
down near Genesee, Mount Morris and at other points in Western New
York.
Relics of Indian life are found in many places in Orleans county, as
they are throughout the western part of the State. The "ridge"
which extends from Rochester to the Niagara River, and which, in
a former geologic period, was the shore of the lake, passes through
the middle tier of towns. This was a convenient and natural thor-
oughfare between the east and west, over which war parties could
pass on their hostile excursions, or bands of hunters on their hunting
expeditions. Fortified camps and villages were a necessity, protecting
them against the former, and temporary camping places, occupied
on successive journeys during many years, were doubtless used by the
latter.
There are no mounds here, such as are found in the Western States.
The remains of only one ancient fortification are known to exist in this
county. An imperfect description of this, by the late Hon. S. M.
Burroughs, was published some years ago. It was also briefly described
by the eminent archaeologist, Squier, in 185 1.
The subjoined description was written in 1874, by F. H. Gushing,
of the Smithsonian Institute, a native of the town of Barre, whose
subsequent ethnological researches in the Southwest are well known :
28 LANDMARKS OF
In the town of Shelby. Orleans county, N. Y., about three miles southwest from the
village of Medina, are the remains of one of the most interesting earthworks in the
State. This work is situated at the summit of a slight and not abrupt elevation. It
consists of two mural embankments, which are now about two feet in height, parallel
and twelve feet distant from each other. They describe an almost exact circle, having
a diameter of four hundred and thirty feet, and an area of three and one third acres.
Two fences on original lines, running one north and south, the other east and west,
divide this enclosure into four nearly equal parts or quadrants. Those portions of (he
work included in the northeastern and southwestern quadrants have for many years been
under cultivation, and the embankments are nearly obliterated. The northwestern and
and southeastern portions are still covered with forest trees. In these portions the
walls are interrupted only by two sally ports or openings for passage. These openings
occur at nearly opposite points in the circle. The passage in the outer wall is not, in
either, exactly opposite to that in the inner. In one they are sixteen and in the other
thirty feet apart. To avoid two large boulders of Niagara limestone the inner wall at
one point makes a slight deflection from the regular circular course.
Upon these embankments are standing trees, and the stumps of trees, that had
commenced their growth long before the Jesuit fathers had explored the region now
comprising Western New York. Traces of a moat which once encircled this work
are still discernable at intervals. This moat is broad in proportion to its present
depth, and in this respect is not regular. It was probably made by the removal of
the earth for the construction of the walls, and perhaps it was not intended as an
additional defense, though it must, to some extent have served as such.
Three features of this work add much to its interest: First, it is almost circu-
lar in form; secondly, it consists of two parallel embankments; thirdly, the open-
ings for passage are not opposite in the two walls: These three peculiarities dis-
tinguish this from all other earthworks east of Ohio.
Ten rods south of this work lies a peat fwamp two miles in length by one in
breadth. This swamp is, or has been, covered by a heavy growth of black ash timber.
A vertical section of seven feet in this swamp shows first the remains of trees to
the depth of two feet , next below, the remains of marsh plants, gradually becom-
ing peat, which, as the depth increases, changes in color from dark brown to light
blue. At all depths in this peat are to be seen the remains of leaves, evidently brought
by the winds from the forests of the surrounding land. Underlying the peat is a
stratum, from three to four inches in thickness, composed entirely of fresh water shells,
mostly univalves, some of which are apparently species of Pauludina. Beneath this
stratum there occurs another composed of blue clay intermixed with sand, containing
occasionally the remains of shells, among which have been found specimens of the
fresh water clam (Urio).
These facts lead to the conclusion that this peat swamp was probably a shallow lake
at the time when the works were constructed. This conclusion is also strengthened by
the fact that there is no evidence of the existence of a permanent supply of water else-
where within a mile of the works.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 29
It is proper to state that the supply of fish in this lake was abundant ; replenished
in the time of high water, in the spring of the year from Lake Ontario, thirteen miles
distant, through Oak Orchard Creek, into which its outlet flowed.
West from the work, at a distance of half a mile, on the eastern slope of a sand hill,
is a large bone pit where the bones of many hundreds have been deposited. It is said
by old settlers that those portions of the work now included in the cultivated fields
spoken of originally presented the same features now seen in those which the forest
includes.
Of course exaggerated stories are told of the relics that have been plowed up in
these fields. Without doubt many which would be of great interest to an ethnologist
have been found, kept for a while, and then given to the children as playthings by
those who knew nothing of their value as relics.
On making excavations in those portions still uncultivated many specimens of great
interest are found. They are usually from six to eighteen inches beneath the surface,
often embedded in charcoal and ashes. They consist of hammers, sinkers, stone orna-
ments, pipes, pottery ; also implements and ornaments of bone, such as bone splinters,
awls, needles, daggers or dirks, cylindrical ear ornaments, implements for the ornamen-
tation of pottery, perforated metatarsals, and perforated teeth. These bone implements
are found in all stages of manufacture, from the rude splinter to the ground or polished
implement or ornament.
What was the original height of these works can now be only a matter of conjec-
ture. It is probable, however, that the embankments were from four to five feet in
height, and surrounded by palisades.
Vegetable mold has accumulated to the depth of six inches on the most exposed
points, and beneath this stratum the relics occur to the depth of eighteen inches. The
inference, therefore, is that since the work was abandoned time enough has elapsed for
the accumulation of this six inches of soil by the slow process of growth and deposit on
dry land. It was inhabited or used long enough for twelve inches to acf^umulate. It
was probably abandoned when the lake was so nearly filled that it ceased to afford
either fish or a permanent supply of water. Since the time when timber commenced
to grow at the surface of the lake, two feet of soil has accumulated.
De Witt Clinton argued as follows for the prehistoric earthworks.
" On the south side of the great ridge (the ridge road) in its vicinity,
and in all directions through the country, the remains of numerous
forts are to be seen ; but on the north side, that is the side toward the
lake, not a single one has been discovered, although the whole ground
has been carefully explored. Considering the distance to be, say
seventy miles in length and eight in breadth and that the border of the
lake is the very place that would be selected for a habitation, and con-
sequently for works of defense, on account of the facilities it would
afford for subsistence, for safety, and all domestic accommodations and
30 LANDMARKS OF
military purposes, and that on the south shore of Lake Erie these
ancient fortresses exist in great numbers, there can be no doubt that
these works were erected when this ridge was the southern boundary
of Lake Ontario, and, consequently, that their origin must be sought in
a very remote age."
The weight of evidence is largely in favor of the theory that such
remains and relics as have been found were the work of the same race
that occupied the territory at the first coming of white men, though
that race may have undergone important changes in character, habits,
and even in physical respects between the time when such works as
that described were made, and the beginning of the present century.
Indian relics have been found, also, in the town of Yates in large num-
bers, as well as to some extent in other towns of the county, but none
of so much significance as the one above described. All these indica-
tions point unmistakably to the fact before noted, that the Indians
roamed over the territory of this county, defended it against their
enemies, and possibly lived here in homes more or less transient; but
it is not probable that any permanent Indian village was ever located
within the county limits. In early years they came over from Canada
and wintered in Carlton for hunting purposes ; but as game became
scarce, their visits were discontinued. Families or single Indians often
traveled about among the pioneers, begging or selling various articles ;
but they were generally harmless, their once proud spirits broken.
Various Indian trails led across the territory of the county, which will
be sufficiently described in another chapter.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 31
CHAPTER IV. 1
Original Claims and Titles — Boundaries of the Province of New York — Gradual En-
croachment of White Alen upon Indian Territory — Conflicting Claims of New York and
Massachusetts — The Dispute Setttled at Hartford — The Phelps and Gorham Purchase —
The Morris Reserve— The Transit Line— The Connecticut Tract— The Holland Land
Company — Indian Title Extinguished — Survey of Orleans County— Policy of the Hol-
land Land Company.
As we have already intimated in a preceeding chapter the early
white settlers on the western continent set up their territorial claims
and parceled out the country without much regard to the rights which
the laws of civilization would ascribe to the original occupants of the
soil. The foreign adventurer went through the form of taking posses-
sion of the country in the name of his soverign, set up the emblems of
foreign authority and invoked divine blessing on the robbery. Under
the pretense of civilizing and christianizing the savage, the native was
contaminated with all the vices of civilization, debased by strong drink,
artfully despoiled of his possessions, hunted from his home and is now
fast being swept from the earth.
The title thus acquired was conveyed by charters to royal favorites,
or to companies by the soverigns who had usurped them. In the case
of a large portion of North America, these charters came from the crown
of England, and thus was laid the foundation of the title to the soil
here. It is true that in many instances the show of a purchase from
the Indians was made; but such purchase was often effected by meth-
ods that would not bear scrutiny, and for trifling considerations. The
acquisition and succession of title to the land in Western New York is
shown by what follows :
In 1664 the province of New York was granted by charter to the
Duke of York, although, as will be seen hereafter, the same territory
1 The description of the title to the soil of Western New York, the various great purchases con-
tained in this chapter, was prepared by Dr. Thomas Cushing, of Barre Center, for a work pub-
lished some years since and, as it cannot be improved upon, is reproduced in these pages under
his authority, and without material change.
32 LANDMARKS OF
had been previously granted to others. This was the domain of the
Iroquois Indians.
"A memorial prepared by the Commissioners of Trade and Planta-
tations, in 1697, relating to the rights of the crown of Great Britain to
soveriegnty over the five nations of Indians bordering on the Province
of New York," recites that those nations had "by many acknowledg-
ments, submissions, leagues, and agreements been united to or depend-
ent on that colony;" that they, "being the most warlike in those parts
of the world, held all their neighboring Indians in a manner of tribu-
tary subjection;" that in prospect of an invasion of their territory in
1684 by De Le Barre, governor of Canada, Governor Dongan of New
York warned that French official, "that those Indians are the king of
England's subjects, and also sent the Duke of York's (to whom the pro-
vince had been granted by the crown) arms to be set up in every one
of the Indians' castles as far as Oneygra (Niagara), which was accord-
ingly done and Mons. De Le Barre retired."
Governor Tryon in 1774, in a "Report on the Province of New York,"
said :
The boundaries of the Province of New York are derived from tvi^o sources : first,
the grants from King Charles the Second to his brother, James, Duke of York ;
secondly, from the submission and subjection of the Five Nations to the crow^n of Eng-
land. . . . It is uncertain to this day to what extent the Five Nations carried their
claim to the westward and northward, but there is no doubt that it went to the north
beyond the forty-fifth degree of latitude, and westward to Lake Huron, their beaver
hunting country being bounded to the west by that lake, which country the Five Na-
tions, by treaty with the governor of their province at Albany, in 1701, surrendered to
the crown, to be protected and defended for them.
Such was the English claim to soverignty over the territory of the
Iroquois. They, themselves, never recognized the claim in the sense
in which it was put forth, and the French always denied it and
scoffed at it, but the British government had the power to maintain
it, and up to the Revolution continued to assert it.
The encroachment of the white people on the territory of the Iro-
quois gave the latter great uneasiness, to allay which, a very numerously
attended council was held with them at Fort Stanwix (Rome) in 1768,
to agree on a line beyond which settlements should not be permitted.
The line decided on in the State of New York, " ran along the eastern
ORLEANS CUCNTY. 33
border of Broome and Chenango counties, and thence northwestward
to a point seven miles west of Rome." . . . The close of the Revo-
lution left the hostile Iroquois unprovided for by their British employers,
and at the mercy of the United States. Conquered after waging a long,
bloody, and destructive warfare against the patriots of New York, they
had forfeited their territory and had little cause of complaint.
Every reader of English colonial history knows how ignorantly or
how carelessly grants of American territory were made by the crown to
individuals and companies, the same tracts being in some instances
given at different times to different parties, laying the foundation of
conflicting claims. Thus the province of New York when granted to
to the Duke of York, in 1664, covered part of Massachusetts as defined
by the charter given to the Pl3'mouth Company in 1620. The terri-
tory of both provinces under their charters also extended indefinitely
westward; but New York in 1781, and Massachusetts four years later,
relinquished to the United States their claims beyond the present west-
ern boundary of this State, and Massachusetts contented herself with
claiming that portion of New York west of the meridian which now
forms the eastern line of Ontario and Steuben counties — some 19,000
square miles. New York of course also asserted jurisdiction and owner-
ship of this vast tract.
The dispute was compromised by a convention of commissioners
from the two States, held at Hartford in December, 1786. It was
agreed that the sovereignty of the disputed region should remain with
New York, and the ownership with Massachusetts, subject to the Indian
proprietorship, which had been recognized by the general government.
•'That is to say, the Indians could hold the land as long as they pleased,
but were only allowed to sell to the State of Massachusetts or her
assigns." The meridian bounding the Massachusetts claim on the east
was called the " pre-emption line," because it was decided to allow that
State the right of pre-emption, or first purchase, of the land west of it.
There was one exception : New York retained the ownership as well
as the sovereignty of a strip a mile wide along the Niagara River.
In 1788 the State of Massachusetts sold to Oliver Phelps and Nathan-
iel Gorham, two of its citizens, and to others for whom they acted, its
pre-emption right to Western New York for $i,ooo,000, to be paid in
34 LANDMARKS OF
three annual installments, in certain securities of the State which were
then worth about one fifth of their face The next thing with these
gentlemen was to complete the title by buying the Indian interest.
For this purpose Phelps had a conference with the Iroquois at Buffalo
early in July, 1788, and bought, for $5,000 down and a perpetual
annuity of $500, about 2,600,000 acres, bounded on the east by the
pre-emption line. Part of the western boundary was a meridian from
Pennsylvania to the junction of Canaseraga Creek with the Genesee
River. Thence northward the line followed the course of the Genesee,
" to a point two miles north of Cannawagus village ; thence running
due west twelve miles; thence running northwardly so as to be twelve
miles distant from the western bounds of said river, to the shores of
Lake Ontario." The tract thus defined constituted the famous "Phelps
and Gorham's Purchase."
In securing their vast estate Phelps, Gorham and company encoun-
tered the opposition of another set of land sharks who also had a
covetous eye upon this magnificent domain. These were the capital-
ists forming the New York and Genesee Land Company, engineered
by one John Livingston ; and its branch the Niagara- Genesee Company,
headed by Colonel John Butler, and consisting almost entirely of Cana-
dians. As we liave seen, the Indians were barred from selling their
lands except to Massachusetts or her assigns. Butler, Livingston and
their associates proposed to get possession of them by a long lease ;
hence they are spoken of as the "lessee companies." Chiefly through
the influence of Butler they obtained from part of the Iroquois chiefs
and sachems a nine-hundred-and ninety- nine years' lease of most of
their territory for $20,000 and an annual rent of $2,000. Their scheme
fell through, the Legislatures of New York and Massachusetts declaring
a lease of that length equivalent to a purchase, and as such null and
void. Butler, however, profited by the purchase of Phelps and Gorham.
He was one of the three to whom the Indians referred the question of
the price they should charge those gentlemen, and is said to have had
20,000 acres placed at his disposal by the purchasers in consideration
of the advice he gave the confiding red men. The " lessees" continued
their intrigues until they succeeded, in 1793, in getting from the
Legislature a grant of one hundred square miles east of the pre-emption
ORLEANS COUNTY. ^ r\r^r^M r^ ^ 35
line, instead of obtaining twenty thousand miles and founding a new
State, as there is reason to suppose the Niagara-Genesee Company, at
least, intended, with the co-operation of the Senecas, whom Butler and
other Canadian officials were always embittering against the people of
New York.
Before Phelps and Gorham had half paid for the entire preemption
right they had bought of Massachusetts, the securities of that State, in
consequence of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, had risen
nearly to par; and finding that they should be unable to fulfill their
contract, they induced the State to resume its right to the portion of its
original New York claim which they had not yet bought of the Indians,
and release them from their contract as to that part, leaving on their
hands the tract since called Phelps and Gorham's Purchase and bounded
as above described. This agreement was reached on the loth of
March, 1791.
Two days later Robert Morris, the illustrious financier, whose services
were of such vital importance to the nation during ihe Revolution, con-
tracted with Massachusetts for the pre-emption right to all of New York
west of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase. About this time he also bought
1,264,000 acres of Phelps and Gorham (paying ^^"30,000 in New York
currency), which he soon sold to three English gentlemen. Sir William
Pultney, John Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun for ^^"35,000 sterling.
It was only after much difficulty and delay that Mr. Morris completed
his title to the tract of which he had purchased the pre-emption right
from Massachusetts. It was necessary to buy the interest of the
Indians, and this was accomplished by a council at Geneseo in Septem-
ber, 1797, when he was enabled to purchase all of the State west of
Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, except that the Indians retained eleven
reservations, amounting to about three hundred and thirty eight square
miles.
It was by his speeches in the councils affecting the title to the lands
of Western New York that the Seneca chief Red Jacket came into
prominence. He figures in history as a crafty demagogue, vain,
ambitious and dishonest, a coward in war and a sot in peace ; chiefly
noted for his harangues against parting with the lands of the Seneca
nation and the bitterness he usually manifested against the power by
the grace of which the nation had any lands after the Revolution.
3G LANDMARKS OF
The conveyance from Massachusetts to Mr. Morris was made May
II, 1 79 1, by five deeds. The first conveyed the land between the
Phelps and Gorham Purchase and a line beginning twelve miles west of
theirs, on the Pennsylvania border, and running due north to Lake
Ontario. The next three embraced as many sixteen mile strips crossing
the State north and south, and the fifth what remained to the westward
of these.
The tract covered by the first deed was what has been called ''Mor-
ris' Reserve," from the fact that he retained the disposition of this sec-
tion in his own hands when he sold all west of it. He sold it in large
tracts, though small compared with his purchase.
To Le Roy, Bayard and McEvers he conveyed the triangular tract
bounded on the north by Lake Ontario, on the southeast by so much
of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase as lay west of the Genesee River,
and on the west by a north and south line between the southwest corner
of Phelps and Gorham Purchase and Lake Ontario.
He next sold to Watson, Cragie and Greenleaf lOO.OOO acres
bounded on the east by the west line of the triangular tract, on the
north by Lake Ontario, on the west by a line six miles west from the
west line of the triangular tract and parallel with it, and on the south by
an east and west line far enough south from Lake Ontario to include,
with the other boundaries, lOO.OOO acres.
It was supposed, when this sale was made, that all the land conveyed
was included in the Morris Reserve, but when, afterward, the transit
line was run this supposition was found to be erroneous.
This tract was several times transferred, and finally in i8oi,itwas
purchased by the State of Connecticut and Sir William Pultney, each
becoming the owner of an undivided half. In iSii it was divided be-
tween them, each having portions in different parts of the tract, and
these were called respectively Connecticut lands and Pultney estate
lands. The whole tract is known either as the Connecticut Tract or the
Hundred Thousand Acre Tract.
The next sale from the Morris Reserve was to Andrew Cragie, and
it comprised sixty thousand acres next south from the Connecticut
Tract and lying between the eastern boundary of the Holland Land Com-
pany's land and a line running due south from the southern angle of the
Oileaiis Coviiity
NSERT
LD-OUT
R MAP
iERE!
ORLEANS COUNTY. ;]7
the triangular tract. This sale was made after that to the Holland Land
Company. The land thus conveyed has been known as the Cragie
Tract. South of this were the Ogden and Cotringer Tracts.
Mr. Morris subsequently sold to Wilhelm and Jan Willink a tract
bounded on the east by the Genesee River, west by a line running due
south from the southern point of the triangular tract, north by Phelps
and Gorham Tract west of the Genesee River, and south by an east and
west line at a sufficient distance from the last named boundary to in-
clude 40,000 acres ; hence known as the Forty Thousand Acre Tract.
These sales and others, as well as that to the Holland Land Company,
were made before the Indian title to the land was extinguished, and
Mr. Morris agreed to effect that object, which he did at the treaty of
Big Tree, in 1797.
The western boundary of the Morris Reserve, separating it from the
Holland Purchase, was the "east transit" line, so called because it was
run with a transit instrument in connection with astronomical observa-
tions, the variation of the magnetic needle disqualifying the surveyor's
compass for running a meridian line. It is called the "east" transit to
distinguish it from a similarly surveyed meridian passing through
Lockport, which is called the "west" transit. The laying down of this
line was a slow and laborious operation. It involved nothing less than
felling a strip of timber three or four rods wide most of the way across
the State, to give unobstructed range to the small telescope of the
transit. This required, besides three surveyors, a considerable force of
axe- men. On most of the line all hands camped where night overtook
them in the unbroken wilderness. All of the summer and autumn of
1798 was consumed in running the first eighty miles of the transit
meridian, there being about thirteen miles remaining undone on the
twenty- second of November.
The starting point for this line was carefully established in accord-
ance with the first conveyance to the Holland Land Company, at a
point in the line between Pennsylvania and New York twelve miles
west from the eighty-second mile stone. Running north from that
point the line was found to pass through the Cotringer, Ogden, and
Cragie tracts about two miles east from their west boundaries as de-
scribed in their deeds : but their titles were of a later date than the con-
38 LANDMARKS OF
veyance to the Holland Company, and no deviation from the meridian
was made.
At the south line of the Hundred Thousand Acre or Connecticut
Tract, the title to which was prior to that of the Holland Land Com-
pany's land, the meridian was found to cross that line at a point i66
chains and thirty links east from the southwest corner of the tract.
It was necessary, therefore, to remove the position of the meridian that
distance to the west, which was done, and the line was continued to
Lake Ontario. The point in the transit line where this removal was
made is in the twelfth township and first range, in the present town of
Stafford.
The celebrated "Holland Land Company," which has been blessed
and cursed, besought for favors and denounced for refusal, as much
perhaps as any other institution in America, had its origin in the pur-
chase before mentioned from Robert Morris of all the land lying west
of the transit line, excepting the Indian reservations, amounting to
about 3,600,000 acres. The purchase was made in 1792 and 1793, by
agents of the following persons, merchants and capitalists of Amster-
dam; Holland : Wilhelm Willink, Jan Willink, Nicholas Van Staphorst,
Jacob Van Staphorst, Nicholas Hubbard, Pieter Van Eeghen, Christian
Van Eeghen, Isaac Ten Cate, Hendrick Vollenhoven, Christiana Cos-
ter (a widow), Jan Stadnetski, and Rutger Jan Schimmelpennick. In
a legal sense there was never a Holland Company or a Holland Land
Company. It was simply an association of individuals for business
purposes.
The Indian title to the land in question was extinguished in 1797,
and early in 1798 the New York Legislature authorized those aliens to
hold land within the State, and in the latter part of that year the
American trustees conveyed the Holland Purchase to the real owners.
It was transferred, however, to two sets of proprietors, and one of these
sets was soon divided into two, making three in all. Each set held
its tract as joint tenants; that is, the survivors took the whole. The
shares could not be the subject of will nor sale, and did not pass by in-
heritance except in case of the last survivor. But there was no incor-
poration and no legal company. All deeds were made in the name of the
individual proprietors. The three sets of owners appointed the same
ORLEANS COUNTY. 39
general and local agents, who in their behalf carried out one system in
dealing with settlers, though apportioning the expenses among the
three sets according to their respective interests and paying to each the
avails of their own lands. At the first transfer by the trustees the
whole tract excepting 300,000 acres, was conveyed to Wilhelm Wil-
link, Nicholas Van Staphorst, Pieter Van Eeghen, Hendrick Vollen-
hoven, and Rutger Jan Schimmelpennick. The 300,000 acres were
conveyed to Wilhelm Willink, Jan Willink, Wilhelm Willink, jr., and
Jan Willink, jr. Two years later the five proprietors of the main tract
transferred the title of about 1,000,000 acres so that it was vested in
the original five, and also in Wilhelm Willink, jr., Jan Willink, jr., Jan
Gabriel Van Staphorst, Roelif Van Staphorst, jr., Cornelius Vollen-
hoven, and Hendrick Seye. Pieter Stadnitski was also made a part-
ner in some sense.
In the hands of these three sets of owners the title remained during
the most active period of settlement, only, as men died their shares
passed to the survivors and their names were dropped from the deeds.
Some twenty years later, new proprietors were brought in, but the
three sets remained as before. The first general agent of the company
was Theophilus Cazenove, a Hollander, and he employed Joseph
Ellicott as surveyor. The survey system adopted was substantially
the same as had before been followed on the Phelps and Gorham Pur-
chase. The tract was divided into ranges six miles wide, running from
the Pennsylvania line to Lake Ontario, and numbered from east to
west, beginning, of course, at the transit line in what is now Orleans
county. These ranges were subdivided into townships six miles in
width, numbered from south to north. These were sold in parcels to
suit purchasers. The townships in Orleans county are all subdivided
into lots and the towns of Carlton and Yates into sections and lots.
The county of Orleans contains the north parts of ranges i, 2, 3, and
4, and the east parts of townships 14, 15, and 16, and the part of the
Connecticut tract before described, and contains about 405 square
miles. (See outline map.)
The survey, in Orleans county, commenced in the summer of 1798.
From the minutes of the surveyors it appears that the transit line was
followed and measured by a surveyor named Geo. Burger, in July,
A±Nnoo vyvoviN
ORLEANS COUNTY. 41
1798. No encampments were made along this line, which had been
previously established
Amzi Atwater surveyed the shore of Lake Ontario, beginning at the
east transit line and continuing west. July 26 his party encamped at
the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, which was their stopping place
during some days. Their next place was at a provision camp which
had previously been established at the mouth of Johnson's Creek. This
was their home for a long time; for the next camp was made September
1 1, 1798, on the shore of the lake just west from the fifth meridian, or
line between the fourth and fifth ranges.
The next line surveyed was the one between the third and fourth
ranges. This line was run by Warham Shephard, in November, 1798.
On the iithof that month the party encamped at the corner of the
thirteenth township and third range. On the 12th they encamped on
lot 3, fourth range, fourteenth township, in the town of Shelby.
November 13, 1798, they made their camp on lot 9 of the same town-
ship and range, within the limits of the present village of Medina. On
the 14th their camp was on lot 47, town 15, range 3, in Ridgeway ;
and on the 15th, it was a short distance north from Yates Center, in
the third range.
The next range line run was that between the second and third
ranges, the third meridian, by Amzi Atwater. The party encamped
November 25, 1798, on lot 57, fourteenth township, range 2, in the
southwest corner of the town of Barre ; on the 26th on lot 8, third
range, fourteenth township, town of Shelby ; on the 27th and 28th, on
the site of the present village of Knowlesville ; and on the 30th on the
shore of the lake, in the northwest corner of the town of Carlton.
The second meridian, or line between the first and second ranges was
run by Amzi Atwater, in July, 1779. On the i8th of that month the
camp was in Elba, Genesee county, near the second meridian and the
county line, in the first range. On the 19th they encamped on lot 5 of
the Second Range, just south of Barre Center. July 22, 1779, the
camp was located on the west side of the second meridian, just north
from the village of Albion, and on the 25th in Carlton, at Two
Bridges.
42 LANDMARKS OF
The west line of the fourth range and the west line of the county
was run by Amzi Atwater, in September, 1799. His camp on the ist
of that month was just opposite the southwest corner of the town of
Shelby, in Genesee county. On the 2d, it was in the town of Shelby,
near the southwest corner ; from the 4th to the 6th in Niagara county,
near the northwest corner of Shelby; on the 7th, in Niagara county,
near Jeddo ; on the 9th in the northwest corner of Ridgeway ; and on
the lOth on the lake shore in the northwest corner of Yates.
The township lines in this county, running west from the east transit
line, were surveyed by Amzi Atwater in the summer and early autumn
of 1799; but it does not appear that any one of those lines was com-
menced at that line and run through the county in regular sequence of
time. Across the first range they were evidently run by Mr. Atwater
while he was surveying the second meridian. In running the line
between townships 13 and 14, the south line of the county, the first
camp was on an island (in Tonawanda swamp) on lot i, of township 14,
range i, in the southeast corner of Barre, July 17, 1799. July 18 and
August 12 they encamped in Genesee county, on the east side of the
line between the first and second ranges. August 9, ii, and 13, they
encamped in Genesee county, opposite the southeast corner of Shelby.
August 10 the camp was in Genesee county, just across the line from
lot 17, fourteenth township, third range, and August 15 and 17, near
the southwest corner of Shelby.
July 23 and 24 the camp was in Gaines, on lot 12, fifteenth township,
first range ; and August 2, in the same town on lot 16, fifteenth township
and second range. August i, 3, and 4, they encamped in the south-
west corner of Carlton ; September 8, in Ridgeway, on the north
border of lot 28, town 15, range 4; and September 9, in the northwest-
corner of the same town and township.
The price at first charged for the company's lands was $2.75 per
acre, one-tenth to be paid down. It was found very difficult to obtain
ten per cent advance payment. It was extremely desirable to secure
settlers for the tract, for every pioneer who located made the country
more attractive to those who contemplated a similar movement. Lands
could be had very cheap in parts of the State nearer the centers of
population, and also in Ohio, while farms in Canada were offered by
ORLEANS COUNTY. . 43
the British government at sixpence per acre. The competition among
owners of large tracts was thus so strong that the proprietors of the
Holland Purchase often waived all advance payment by actual settlers,
and reduced the price to an average of $2 per acre. Even so their
lands at first , were sold but slowly. The rate of sales, however, con-
stantly increased. In i8oi there were 40; in 1802, 56; in 1803, 230;
in 1804, 300; in 1805, 415 ; in 1806, 524; in 1807, 607; in 1808, 612 ;
in 1809, 1 160
The Holland Land Company's policy in selling lands at a high
price and giving long credits has often been criticized, both in its bear-
ing on the company's interests and those of the settlers on these lands.
It has been insisted that a lower cash price would have brought to
this region a different class of settlers having money with which to pay for
their lands, and that the relations between the company and the settlers
would have terminated sooner, and that the difficulties that arose be-
tween them would have been averted. It has been held that this policy
caused Western New York to be settled by a poorer class of emigrants,
and that the development of its resources was thus many years retarded ;
that easy terms of payment tended to encourage laxity and indolence
among the settlers, and that more active and energetic pioneers went
beyond the Holland Purchase, where lands could be purchased much
cheaper for ready cash or shorter credits.
The reply to this has been that though the settlers in Western New
York were in many cases poor young men, a larger proportion of them
possessed that energy and self reliance which fitted them for successfully
grappling with and surmounting the difficulties and obstacles which they
encountered in the untamed wilderness where they sought to make their
homes, than of those who had been reared in the midst of comfort and
luxuries which they did not create, who were not inured to hardships
and privations, and whose energies stern necessity had never called
forth.
It has also been stated that the company gave longer credits, thus
enabling a poorer class of immigrants to procure homes and lay the
foundations of future independence. It is not true that the average
price at which the lands were sold was greater than that charged by
the government. It is unknown to many that the price of government
44 LANDMARKS OF
lands in the States west of New York was at that time $2 per acre.
No one could purchase less than a quarter section (i6o acres). An
immediate payment of $80 was required, and an annual payment of
$80 thereafter, and the land was forfeited if the whole were not paid
within five years. In the depression which succeeded the War of 1812
the lands of many settlers were forfeited, and though Congress passed
acts for the relief of such, many lost their lands.
According to the books of the company, the settlers were very dila-
tory in making their payments, and many, without doubt, forfeited
their lands. Many others, after remaining some time on the lands
which they had purchased, sold their "betterments" and went else-
where. The process of " natural selection " was not, in the end, detri-
mental to the country.
It must be remembered that many of the settlers on the Holland Land
Company's land were poor young men, who, from their scanty wages,
had saved a sum barely sufficient to purchase teams, defray the expenses
of their journey hither, and make small payments on their purchases.
They had then to encounter the stern realities of pioneer life. The
heavy timber that grew on their lands was to be cut and cleared away
with little help, beyond that of their brave and hopeful young wives.
When their farms came to produce a small surplus beyond their domestic
wants, this found no market except among new settlers.
In their dealings with the early settlers the agents of the Holland
Land Company often displayed great kindness and generosity. An
instance of this w^ seen in this county, where an area of a few hundred
acres was covered with excellent pine timber. A portion of this land
they refused, during many years, to sell. Applicants were uniformly
told that it was not in market, and when the agents were informed that
the settlers were stealing the timber they replied, " They ought not to
do that " or, " We must see to them." One applicant, on being refused
said, "If you won't sell me any of this land I shall be compelled to
steal timber there." "I hope you will steal no more than you want,"
replied the agent laughingly. It was afterward learned that this land
had been withheld from market that settlers might procure timber from
it for their buildings, and the only prosecution for trespass on this land
that was ever instituted was in the case of a man who attempted to cut
and carry away timber for sale.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 45
Another instance of liberality was the donation of lands to religious
societies. In a note to his history of the Holland Purchase, Mr. Tur-
ner says :
In the fall of 1820 Mr. Busti was visiting the land office at Batavia. The Rev. Mr.
R. T. Rawson, of Barre, Orleans County, of the Presbyterian sect, called on Mr. Busti
and insisted on a donation of land for each society of his persuasion then formed on
the Holland Purchase. Mr. Busti treated the reverend gentleman with due courtesy,
butshowred no dispo-iition to grant his request. Mr. R., encouraged by Mr. Busti's
politeness, persevered in his solicitations day after day until Mr. Busti's patience was
almost exhausted. And what finally brought that subject to a crisis was Mr. R.'s
following Mr. Busti out of the office when he was going to take tea at Mr. Ellicott's
and making a fresh attack on him in the piazza Mr. Busti was evidently vexed, and
in reply said: 'Yes, Mr. Rivvson, I will give a tract of 100 acres to a religious society
in every town on the Purchase, and this isjinis." " But," said Mr. Rawson, "you will give
it all to the Presbyterians, will you not? If you do not expressly so decide the sec-
tarians will be claiming it, and lue shall receive very little benefit from it." ''Sectar-
ians, no," was Mr. Busti's hasty reply. " I abhor sectarians. They ought not to have
any of it, and to save contention I will give it to the first religious society in each
town." Mr. Busti hastened to his tea and Mr. Rawson home (about sixteen miles dis-
tant), to start runners during the night or the next morning to rally the Presbyterians
in the several towns in his vicinity to apply first, and thereby secure the land to them-
selves.
The land office was soon Hooded with petitions for land from societies organized
according to law and empowered to hold real estate, and those that were not ; one of
which was presented to Mr. Busti before he left, directed to General Poll Busti, on
which he insisted it could not be from a religious society, for all religious societies read
their Bibles and knew thatp 0 double I does not spell Paul. Amid this chaos of appli-
cations it was thought best not to be precipitate in granting these donations, the
whole responsibility now resting upon Mr. Ellicott to comply with this vague promise
of Mr. Busti ; therefore conveyances of the "Gospel land" were not be executed for some
space of time, notwithstanding the clamor of petitions for d' eds of "our land," during
which time the matter was taken into consideration and systematized, so far as such
an operation could be. Care was taken to ascertam the merits of each application, and
finally a tract or tracts of land, not exceeding 100 acres in all, was granted free of
expense, to one or more religious societies regularly organized according to law in each
town on the Purchase where the company had land undisposed of, which embraced
every town then organized on the Purchase, except Bethany, Genesee county, and Shel-
don, Wyoming county ; the donors always being allowed to select out of the unused
farming land of each town. In some towns it was all given to one society, in others
to two or more societies separately, and in a few towns to four different societies of
diSerent sects, twenty-five acres to each.
Though at first the policy of the company toward the settlers was
very generous and lenient, as time went on the relations between them
46 LANDMARKS OF
came to be less cordial. Evidence of the disposition on the part of the
company to assist the settlers in making their payments was seen in the
fact that in many instances cattle and grain were received on their con-
tracts, as appears by the credits on the old books of the company. To
those greatly in arrears the offer was made to deduct a portion of the
money due in case of prompt payments. This was looked on by those
who had met their payments as a sort of premium on the slackness of
their thriftless neighbors
Another measure adopted was that of charging, at the end of ten
years, where but little had been paid, " increase," or a sum added to
what was due. The addition was sometimes greater than the original
purchase price. This was regarded by the settlers as a charge for
improvements which they had made, and it gave great umbrage.
It has been stated that the members of the Holland Land Company
were compelled to make their orignal purchases through trustees, because
of their alien disabilities. Not only were these disabilities removed by
an act of the Legislature, but the company was exempted from taxa-
tion. The opinion came to prevail that this discrimination in favor of a
foreign company was unjust, and that this company, that had grown
rich under the protection of the State that had favored them above its
own citizens, should contribute something toward the expenses of the
government of the State. It was held that the Erie Canal, in the con-
struction of which the company had not aided, had enhanced the value
of their property to the amount of some millions ; and that the realiza-
tion of this and the nature of the securities which the company held
were involved in the stability of laws toward the support of which that
company contributed nothing. With this feeling prevalent the Legis-
ture was asked to pass an act repealing this exemption, and such an act
was passed in 1833.
Pending the passage of this act the threat was made, by one who
represented the interest of the company, that if it passed " it would be
worse for the settlers." After the act was passed the company, through
their agents, served notices on delinquents that they must either pay
or " satisfactorily arrange" their indebtedness or vacate their premises
within a specified time (two months). This measure was regarded as
retaliation on the settlers, and it intensified their hostility toward the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 47
company. Articles were published in the newspapers, meetings were
held and measures for resistance were discussed. About this time the
company sold their interest in portions of the purchase, and the new
proprietors announced their policy to be an advance of from one to
three dollars per acre on lands, the articles for which had expired or
should expire with arrearages due on them. The settlers deemed this
advance on the prices of their lands unreasonable, and in Chautauqua
county their indignation found vent, on the 6th of February, 1836, in
the demolishing of the land office and burning of the books, records,
etc., by a mob of about 250 men.
The excitement did not terminate with the demolition of the land
office at Mayville. Encouraged, probably, by the success of the raid
on that office-, the malcontents prepared for and attempted an assault
on the one at Batavia.
For this purpose a mob that has been variously estimated at from
300 to 1,000 men, mostly armed with rifles, gathered in the town of
Alexander, whence they proceeded to Batavia on the 14th of May, 1836.
Information of the approaching mob preceded them and the citizens
prepared to offer determined resistance. Aid was requested and came
from Le Roy and other villages, and a large force rallied to the defense
of the land office and court house. When the mob reached Batavia,
their number was about 300. As they entered the village they were
met by a number of the leading citizens of the place and earnestly en-
treated to disperse; they were at the same time informed that any
attempt to destroy public property would be met with prompt re-
sistance and blood would be shed. Meanwhile the court house, land
office and other buildings had been prepared for vigorous defense. The
mob proceeded after their short halt to a point near the land office, the
windows of which bristled with bayonets. Mr. Evans, the agent of the
land company, was in one window with a loaded gun. The company
of militia, which had been hastily organized, marched down on the
flank and near the mob and halted. At the same time the sherifl" and
others, mingled with the mob and ordered them to disperse. Several
rifles were raised to shoulder to fire upon the land agent. The situ-
ation was most critical. After a few moments' suspense, four of the
mob came out and asked for an interview with the agent. He replied
48 LANDMARKS OF
that he would hold no converse with them under the circumstances,
and defied them. The crisis was passed and in a short time the mob
withdrew a distance of half a mile, and soon afterwards dispersed.
After this attempt the people of Batavia procurred cannon for their
defense, and built and garrisoned two block-houses, covering the land
office; apprehending another possible visitation, they induced Governor
Marcy to issue a proclamation by which they were provided with ad-
ditional artillery and ammunition.
On being informed that Captain Norris, of a military company in
Bennington, had said that he with his company and gun — a brass three
pounder — were ready at a moment's notice to turn out and attack
Batavia, the governor directed that Captain Norris be ordered to
deliver the gun to the keeper of the arsenel at Batavia forthwith. To
this order he at first demurred ; but, fearing the consequences of diso-
bedience, he finally obeyed. These precautionary measures effectually
extinguished all hopes on the part of the malcontents of obtaining a
redress of their greviances by a resort to lawless violence, and allayed
the fears of the people of Batavia.
An interesting exhibit of business in Western New York in 1804 is
afforded in "A Description of the Genesee Country" by Robert Munroe.
From it the following is extracted:
Trade is yet in its infancy and has much increased within a few years. Grain is sent
in considerable quantities from Seneca Lake and the Conhocton, Canisteo, Cowanesque,
and Tioga Rivers to markets on the Susquehanna River, and flour, potash, and other
produce to Albany, and a considerable quantity of grain has for some years past been
exported by sleighs in winter to the Avest of Albany. Whisky is distilled in con-
siderable quantities, and mostly consumed in the country and is also exported to
Canada and to Susquehanna. The produce of the country is received by shop keepers
in payment for goods, and, with horses and cattle, is paid for land. Several thousand
bushels of grain have been purchased in the winter beginning this year, 1804, for
money at Newtown (Elmira), and at the mills near Cayuga Lake. Hemp is raised on
Genesee River, and carried to Albany. Droves of cattle and horses are sent to differ-
ent markets, and a considerable number of cattle and other provisions are used at the
markets of Canadarcjua (Canandaigua), and Geneva, at Niagara, and by settlers emi-
grating into the country. Cattle commonly sell for money at a good price, and as this
country is very favorable for raising them they will probably become the principal
article for market; many being of opinion that the raisnig of stock is more profitable as
well as easier than any mode of farming. The following is a list of prices of articles
and the rate of wages since January, 180L
ORLEANS COUNTY. 49
Wheat, from 62 cents to $1 a bushel ; corn, from 37 to 50 cents a bushel ; rye, from
50 to 62 cents a bushel ; hay, from $6 to $12 a ton ; butter and cheese, from 10 to 16
cents a pound; a yoke of oxen, $50 to $80; milk cows, from $16 to $25; cattle for
drivmg, $3 to $4 a hundred pounds; a pair of good working horses, $100 to $125;
fvheep, from $2 to $4 ; pork, fresh killed, in winter, $4 to $6 a hundred, and salted, in
spring, $8 to $10; whisky, from 50 to 75 cents a gallon ; salt, $1 a bushel, weighing
56 pounds; field ashes, 4 to 9 cents a bushel. 600 bushels have been manufactured
into a ton of pot or pearl ash, which has been sold at market at $125 to $150, and
some persons, by saving their ashes or by manufacturing them have nearly cleared the
cost of improving land ; the wages of a laborer, $10 to $15 a month and board ; a suit
of clothes made, at $4 to $5; a pair of shoes, $1.75 to $2.50. Store goods are sold at
very moderate prices, the expense of carriage from Albany to New York being about
$2 a hundred weight.
The War of i8i2 almost entirely arrested sales of land by the com-
pany, and at that time it was said that more settlers went out than came
into the Holland Purchase. The war closed in 1815, and the tide of
entigration again set in this direction, and from that date until 1820 the
increase of population was large, coming particularly from the New
England States.
On the return of peace a surplus of labor, which the current prices of
produce would not remunerate, flooded the land. The heavy duties
which had been imposed for the support of the war had stimulated
domestic manufactures. On the removal of these imposts the country
was flooded with foreign goods, manufacturing industries became stag-
nant, the country was depleted of specie, and the currency greatly
depreciated. Under such circumstances it was not wonderful that the
company's clerks were not fatigued by entering credit in the books, or
that the early snows of winter showed the tracks of many little naked
feet.
The families of these settlers were clad in cloth which the industry
of their wives produced ; for the wheel and loom contributed a part of
the furniture of nearly every house, and " black salts," extracted from the
ashes into which the forests were burned were almost their only resource
for money with which to pay taxes and purchase a few indispensable
supplies. The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 ameliorated to
some extent the condition of these settlers, but still the land debts of
many weighed heavily on them.
50 LANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER V.
Indian Trails — The Ridge and the Ridge Road — The Lake as an Early Avenue of
Transportation and Travel — Construction of Early Roads— Building of Mills — Legisla-
tion in Relation to Road-making — Map of 1809.
The details of making the first paths through a trackless wilderness
by the adventurous pioneer become deeply interesting to the reader
who can imagine the condition of the face of the country at that time.
Where now the vision of the observer sweeps over a cultivated land-
scape, showing all the familiar evidences of civilized occupancy by
closely associated and busy people, the cleared fields presenting an area
far greater than that of the woodland, the pioneer might at any given
point in his toilsome journey try in vain to see more than a few rods
from his position, unless it were heavenward. Hemmed in on every
side by the monarchs of the wood, he would, unless he had learned the
mysteries of woodcraft like his native predecessor, or had a guide in
man or compass, be as much lost as if he were in mid ocean. Yet, by
the exercise of patient industry and untiring perseverance, the pioneer
found his way through the wilderness, and while his heart was light and
his spirits exalted, he laid the foundations of his home beside Indian
trails or the rude roadways he was able to make.
In their journeyings hither and thither through their domain the
Indians, in the course of time, by a sort of natural selection, adopted
the nearest and most available routes of travel. To these they adhered,
and they came to be permanent trails, which the white settlers adopted
as their first roads. As time went on the routes of many of these trails
were adopted for the great thoroughfares which now traverse the
country, as may be learned by an inspection of a map prepared by the
renowned ethnological and Indian investigator, the late L. H. Morgan.
The principal trail of the Six Nations traversed the State of New
York between the Hudson and Niagara rivers on the route subsequently
utilized for the Erie Canal and Central Railroad, though not exactly
ORLEANS COUNTY. 51
coincident with these thoroughfares at all points. Passing west from
Batavia it left the Tonawanda swamp, according to Turner, " nearly
southeast of Royalton Center, coming out on the Lockport and Batavia
road in the valley of Millard's brook, and from thence it continued on
the chestnut ridge to the Cold Springs. Pursuing the route of the Lew-
iston road, with occasional deviations, it struck the Ridge road at
Warren's. It followed the Ridge road until it passed the Hopkins
marsh, when it gradually ascended the mountain ridge, passed through
the Tuscarora village and then down again to the Ridge road which it
continued to the river. This was the principal route into Canada,
crossing from Lewiston to Queenston, a branch trail, however, going
down the river to Fort Niagara. During the latter years of the last
century and early in the present one this road was used as a route over
which to drive cattle for the supply of the soldiers on the Niagara
River and the settlers on the border. At about the close of the last
century the Holland Land Company improved this road so that sleighs
might traverse it in winter, and a weekly mail was carried over it, and
it was the first road laid out north from the main roads between Batavia
and Buffalo.
The existence of " the Ridge " was, of course, known to the Indians,
and it is said that Augustus Porter learned of it from them and caused
a road to be traced along it in 1798. The historian, Turner, says that
it was first discovered by the whites in 1805, and that " it was not,
however, known in its full extent throughout that region until some
years after." He says, "The Ontario trail " came west from Oswego
and followed the ridge " west to near the west line of Hartland, Niagara
county, where it diverged to the southwest, crossing the east branch of
the Eighteen-Mile Creek, and forming a junction with the Canada or
Niagara trail at the Cold Springs."
This route was utilized by the early immigrants, but the want of
bridges, and obstructions by large trees, rendered travel over it some-
what difficult. The Legislature of New York in April, 18 14, appointed
commissioners and made an appropriation of $5,000 for the improve-
ment of this road. This appropriation and the labor of the inhabitants
along the road rendered it passable. It was first surveyed by Philetus
Swift and Caleb Hopkins under an act of the Legislature passed Feb-
52 LANDMARKS OF
ruary lo, 1815 ; and on the 22d of March, 1852, an act was passed for
its re- survey. John Le Valley, Governor Daniels, and William J.
Babbitt were the commissioners and Darius W. Cole, of Medina, was
the surveyor. It is a six rod road and is one of the pleasantest in
Western New York.
Prior to the construction of the Erie canal the lake was the avenue of
transportation between this region and the east, and in that early time
it was naturally supposed that the excellent harbor at the mouth of
Oak Orchard Creek would make that an important port. The agents
of the Holland Land Company, therefore, early discerned the impor-
tance of opening an avenue of communication to that place. Accord-
ingly, in 1803, ^ survey was made of what has since been known as the
Oak Orchard road, from Batavia to the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek.
It was run on the general route of an Indian trail, over which the
natives had passed to and from their fishing places on the lake. It was
laid out tour rods in width, the timber was cut away, and the rough,
primitive road was early constructed. This and the Ridge road were
the routes by which the early settlers came, and to the country along
these roads the settlements were for some time limited. The Oak
Orchard road was the first laid out in the county.
About 18 1 3 Andrew A. Ellicott established a mill on the Oak
Orchard Creek at what is now Shelby Center. To promote the sale
of the land in that vicinity, by facilitating access to this mill, a highway
was cut by the company from Shelby Center to the Oak Orchard road
near the county alms house. This was the first east and west road that
was opened south of the Ridge road, and it is still in use.
In 1805 the Holland Company established works north from Medina
for the manufacture of salt, and to afford access to these works two
roads were opened ; one running south to the old Buffalo road, and the
other southeasterly to the Oak Orchard road. They were called the
Salt Works roads ; and after the manufacture of salt was abandoned
they were discontinued.
About the year 1824 the inhabitants along the Ridge road celebrated
the 4th of July by cutting out a highway from the ridge north to
Waterport, which is now the road leading from Eagle Harbor to Water-
port.
ORLEANS COUNTY. ,•;,;]
An act of the Legislature passed April 2, 1827, appointed John P.
Patterson, Almon H. Millerd, and Otis Turner commissioners, and Jesse
P. Haines, of Lockport, surveyor, to locate a highway four rods in
width between Rochester and Lockport "on or near the banks of the
Erie canal." This road was surveyed, and the survey was recorded
in the counties and towns through which it passed. Only such portions
as the pubHc convenience required were opened, and the franchise
lapsed by non-use. It was called the State road, and that portion of
it which traverses Albion is now known as State street.
An act of the Legislature of April 7, 1824, authorized the overseers
of highways in Shelby to " open the road leading through the said
town, from Batavia to Lockport, four rods wide in addition to present
width, on that, part of the Indian Reservation lying on the south side of
said road, from the house of John Wolcott . . as far west as the
road is laid out on the north line of the Indian Reservation."
On the 5th of April, 1828, commissioners were appointed by the
Legislature to lay out the highway "from the center of the town of
Sheldon, Genesee county, to the Erie canal in Orleans county," passing
through Bennington, Pembroke, and Gerrysville. And again, on the
27th of April, 1829, a road was opened under similar legislation from
Albion to Olean, by way of Batavia, Attica, etc. In April, 1852, the
road across Tonawanda swamp from Elba to Barre was laid out on the
line between the first and second ranges of the Holland Company's
survey. The various other minor highways followed as they were
needed, and were soon supplemented by plank roads, the Erie Canal
and the railroads, which will be noticed as we progress.
The early inhabitants bridged the various streams in a primitive
manner, which sufficed until the increased travel demanded something
better, when legislation was invoked for the purpose. On the 15th of
April, 1825 the supervisors of Orleans county were authorized by the
Legislature to raise $1,000 by tax to bridge Oak Orchard Creek at the
head of the still water in the then town of Oak Orchard. Silas Joy,
Asahel Byington and Robert M. Brown were the commissioners ap-
pointed. March 21, 1828, similar authority was granted to raise
$1,000 to bridge the same stream "at the place where the State road
leading from Rochester to Lockport crosses the creek," Otis Turner,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 55
William C. Tanner, and Harry Boardman were the commissioners. On
the 25th of April, 1829, the supervisors were authorized to raise
$1,500 to bridge Oak Orchard and Marsh Creeks in Carlton, "in such
manner as to unite the three sections of the town now divided by the
said creeks." In the same year the supervisors were authorized to
build a bridge over Sandy Creek in the town of Murray at a cost of
$1,000. Later improvements of this character will be noticed in the
histories of the several towns.
CHAPTER VI.
Early settlements— Character of the Pioneers— Their Hardships and Privations— The
War of 1812-15— Effects of the '^ Cold Summer "—Early Mills and Manufactures—
The Morgan Case— The Lake and Its Traffic— Town Organizations and Formation of
the County— Establishment of Schools and Churches.
The great purchase by the Holland Company which we have de-
scribed, and the easy terms offered by them to buyers of small tracts,
was instrumental in promoting settlement in the western part of the
State. But the counties lying upon Lake Ontario, or parts of them at
least, were not settled so early as the territory a little farther south.
At the first the sales of the Holland Company were not numerous, but
they rapidly increased as the beauty and fertility of their lands became
better known. As far as Orleans county is concerned, it was almost
an unbroken wilderness down to the beginning of the present century.
A writer who passed through Western New York in 1792, left the fol-
lowing record :
Many times did I break out in an enthusiastic frenzy, anticipating the probable
situation of this wilderness twenty years hence. All that reason can ask may be ob-
tained by the industrious hand ; the only danger to be feared is that luxuries will flow
too cheap. After I had reached the Genesee River, curiosity led me on to Niagara,
ninety miles— not one house or white man the whole way. The only direction I had
was an Indian path, which sometimes was doubtful. At eight o'clock in the evening
I reached an Indian town called Tonnoraunto ; it contains many hundreds of the sav-
ages, who live in very tolerable houses, which they make of timber and cover with
56 LANDMARKS OF
bark. By signs I made them understand me, and for a little money they cut me
limbs and bushes sufficient to erect a booth, under which I slept very quietly on the
grass. The next day I pursued my journey, nine miles of which lay thi'ough a very
deep swamp; with some difficulty I got through, and about sundown arrived at the
Fort of Niagara.
Turner writes that two or three log and one framed hut at Buffalo,
and two or three tenements at Lewiston, were all the improvements on
the Holland Purchase before the close of 1799; and at the end of the
century there was little more accomplished than the addition of a few
families along the Buffalo road. The sales of the Holland Company in
1 801 were 40 in number; in 1802, 56; 1803, 230; 1804, 300; 1805,
415 ; 1806, 524 ; 1807, 607 ; 1808, 612 ; and in 1809, 1 160.
In 1803 Joseph EUicott laid out a village at the mouth of Oak
Orchard Creek, which he named " Manilla," hoping that a harbor
might be established there for lake transportation. In the spring of
that year James Walsworth settled there as the pioneer of Orleans
County,! and the first settler on the lake shore between Braddock's
Bay and Fort Niagara.
Referring to Mr. Walsworth's settlement and a few others of the first
decade of the century, Mr. Turner wrote as follows:
Walsworth and the few others that located at Oak Orchard, were all the settlers in
Orleans before 1809, except Whitfield Rathbun, who was the pioneer of all that part
of the Ridge road in Orleans county embraced in the Holland Purchase (that is, west of
the transit line.) . . . Settlement had just begun at the mouth of Eighteen-Mile
Creek, in Niagara, and at Johnson's Creek in Orleans, in 1806. Burgoyne Kemp
settled at the Eighteen-Mile Creek in 1808. There was then settled there William
Chambers and Colton, and there was one family at Johnson's Creek on the
Lake. At that period there was no settler between Lake and Ridge in Niagara or
Orleans.
West of Oak Orchard and on the Ridge the earliest settlers of prom-
inence were Ezra D. Barnes, Israel Douglass (the latter the first mag-
istrate north of Batavia), Seymour B. Murdock and his sons, and Eli
Moore. Besides these, George Houseman settled at the site of Lyndon-
ville, in Yates, in 1809 i a Mr. Gilbert in Gaines about the same time;
Epaphras Mattison in Murray in 1809, and others in the following
' In order to avoid confusion the name "Orleans County " will be often used in referring to the
history of the first quarter of thi.s century, and, of course, prior to the organization of the county.
It will be understood that when the county is thus mentioned, reference is had to the territory
afterwards and now embraced within its limits.
ORLEAXS COUNTY. 57
year ; Alexander Coon in Shelby in 1810 ; and the first clearing on the
site of Albion village ( then in Barre ), was made in 1 8 1 1 , prior to which
a few families had come into that town. Further settlements in the
several towns will be followed in detail in the town histories in later
pages.
The first settlers in the county were chiefly natives of New England,
and possessed the traditional Puritan energy, thrift and economy.
They came, sometimes by single families, and occasionally two or more
families in company, secured their lands, built their primitive log houses
in which so many eminent Americans have been cradled, neighbor
aiding neighbor, cleared away sections of the forest and began life
under circumstances scarcely to be appreciated by their descendants of
to-day. Hardship and privation were everywhere present during the
early years. Money was scarce and markets were distant, while the
products which would bring money were few in number and limited in
quantity. To get grain ground the settlers were obliged to carry it to
Niagara or to Genesee Falls, until mills were built within the county.
Sickness, especially fever and ague, was prevalent, and the doctors were
often far away. The scarcity of breadstuff, at least in a ground state,
was perhaps felt during the first ten years of settlement more than any
other privation.
Buying his land on easy terms, and inspired with the vigor of young
manhood, the pioneer thought the road to independence would not be
a long nor a very hard one; but many of them were disappointed in
this. The meagre crops raised on the small clearing were needed for
home consumption ; or, if there was a small surplus, it could not be
sold. The roads to market were often impassable for teams ; sickness
demanded the time and the resources of the well members of the family;
interest accumulated, and it is not a wonder that many wanted to sell
and go away. The number of the discouraged and helpless would have
been much greater had not the Holland Company been extremely
lenient with its debtors.
Orleans County was sparsely settled at the outbreak of the war of
18 1 2-1 5, the few inhabitants being chiefly located along the Ridge
road. This is one of the reasons, and probably the principal one, why
it suffered so little from the effects of that war. It requires people and
58 LANDMAKKS OF
property to satisfy the ravages of war, and it is not known that a single
hostile incursion was made into what is now Orleans county. But it
was a period of anxiety and fear for those who had settled here, which
was aggravated by the proximity of the frontier at and near Bufifalo.
In that vicinity the conflict was actively carried on at times, and the
Ridge road became the highway of flight for many refugees eastward.
The first news of what seemed to be an impending attack on this im-
mediate locality in the winter of i8 13-14, was brought by William
Burlingame. He lived near the western border of the town of Gaines,
and John Proctor, who lived four miles farther east, has left it on record
that Burlingame came to his house, called him out of bed and asked
him to arouse the people on to the eastward. Proctor mounted his
horse and before daylight had visited all the inhabitants as far east as
Clarkson. The efifect of this action was prompt and a large company
of men were on the move early the following morning to check the
expected enemy. The organization marched to near Lewiston, where
they remained on duty about two weeks. Mr. Proctor, with several
others, went to Fort Erie in September , 18 14, and performed excellent
service there. One of the company named Howard was killed ; one
named Sheldon was wounded, and Moses Bacon was taken prisoner.
Several bullets passed through Proctor's clothing.
Not long after the breaking out of the war the people of Gaines or-
ganized a company and elected Eleazer McCarty, captain. Of the
operations of this company in the campaign Judge Thomas wrote as
follows :
In December, 1813, the British burnt Lewiston and news was brought to Captain
McCarty by the fleeing inhabitants, that the British and Indians were coming east on
the Ridge. He sent a messenger to John Proctor, the only man who had a horse in
the settlement, to carry the news to Murray, and call the men together to resist them.
The next morning the company was enroute towards the foe. The next night they
came in sight of Molyneux Tavern, ten or twelve miles east of Lewiston, and saw a
light in the house. Captain McCarty halted his men and advanced himself to recon-
noiter. Approaching the place he saw British and Indians in the house, their guns
standing in a corner. He returned to his men and brought them cautiously forward ;
selected a few to follow him into the house, and ordered the remainder to surround it
and prevent the enemy from escaping. McCarty and his party rushed in at the door
and sprang between the men and their guns and ordered them to surrender. The British
soldiers and Indians had been helping themselves to liquor in the tavern, and some
ORLEANS COUNTY. 59
were drank and asleep on the floor. The surprise was complete. Most of the party
surrendered: a few Indians showed fight with their knives and hatchets, and tried to
recover their guns, and several of them were killed in the melee. One soldier made a
dash to get his gun and was killed by McCarty at a blow. The remainder surrendered
and were put upon the march towards Lewiston, near which our army had then
arrived. One prisoner would not walk. The soldiers dragged him forward on the
ground a while, and getting tired of that, Henry Luce, one of McCarty 's men, declared
with an oath that he would kill him, and was preparing for the act when McCarty in-
terfered and saved his life. McCarty encamped a few miles east of Lewiston. While
there he went out with a number of his men and captured a scouting party of British
soldiers returning to Fort Niagara laden with plunder they had taken from the neighbor-
ing inhabitants. McCarty compelled them to carry the plunder back to its owners and
then sent them prisoners of war to Batavia. After fifteen or twenty days' service,
McCarty's company was discharged and returned home. Most of his men resided in
Gaines, and comprised nearly all the men in town.
Most of the inhabitants of Orleans county who did not go to the
frontier, fled from their homes. Among other settlers within the limits
of this county who took part in that war were Justus Ingersoll, who
lived in Shelby and Medina ; who joined the army in i8i2, as ensign in
the 23d Infantry, was in the celebrated charge on Oueenston Heights,
was twice wounded and received promotion to a captaincy. Allen
Porter, who settled in Barre in 18 16, was drafted in 1812, and was
present in the memorable sortie at Fort Erie in September, 18 14, also
Reuben Root and his father, of Yates. Samuel Tappan, of Yates,
afterwards a judge in the county, who was in the service as adjutant
and captain, and took part in the fighting at Fort Erie and in the battle
of Lundy's Lane; Joseph Hart of Barre, Robert Treadwell, of Gaines,
Hubbard Rice and Chauncey Robinson, of Murray, Amos Barret, David
Hood and Jeremiah Brown, of Ridgeway, all called out one or more
times to defend the frontier against the enemy. The latter (Mr.
Brown) left the following record :
In the war of 1812 I was called to the lines to defend my country. I received
notice on Friday night ( 1812 ) about 9 o'clock, to be in Canandaigua on the next Mon-
day morning at 10 o'clock to march to Buffalo. I hired a man and woman to take care
of my sick wife and child during my absence, while I responded to the call. I was
then an officer in the militia, and I marched on foot with the rest o* the officers and
men to Buffalo, where we arrived the second day after the battle. Our company was
the first that arrived and assisted in collecting the dead.
Others of the inhabitants probably took part in the war ; but the
number of settlers within the limits of the country was then small, and
60 LANDMARKS OF
consequently the effects of the war were less conspicuous than at many-
other points. With the return of peace those who had left their homes
returned, immigration revived and prosperity was restored, except as
it was temporarily checked by the remarkably cold season of i8i6.
The crops of this year were almost wholly destroyed and provisions of
all kinds became very scarce and prices abnormally high. Flour
reached $15 a barrel and wheat $3 a bushel, while money was also
scarce. These conditions continued through the year 1817. Live
stock almost starved in many instances Gideon Freeman of the town
of Gaines, chopped over fifty acres of woodland for his cattle to browse
during the winter of 1816-17, and six of them died from starvation.
The family of Levi Davis had nothing to eat for three weeks before
harvest time but some small potatoes, milk and a little butter. In the
month of June, 1816, Jeremiah Brown, of Ridgeway, who has been
mentioned as a soldier of the war of 18 12, went to Farmington to get
food for several families who were in danger of starvation. He ob-
tained a load of corn at one dollar a bushel, which gave temporary
relief to many. There was much sickness in the county in early years,
and this was aggravated by the scarcity of food. Mr. Brown made
another journey to Farmington in the winter of 1816-17, and bought
two tons of pork, at ten dollars per hundred, and paid three dollars per
barrel for salt. Levi Davis, of the same town, has left the record with
Judge Thomas that previous to the opening of the Erie Canal he paid
seventy- five cents a yard for sheeting and the same for calico, and on
one occasion paid fifteen dollars a barrel for salt. But the summer of
18 1 7 brought good crops, and by 1821, so active had been the farmers
in raising wheat, and so difficult was it to get it to market, that it fell
in price to twenty- five cents a bushel.
But better times and conditions were near at hand. The energetic
clearing away of the forests and further tillage of the soil, both gave the
settlers larger crops and more area to cultivate, and at the same time
diminished sickness. Mills, schools and churches were founded ; news-
papers were established, the Gazette in Gaines in 1822, and the Newport
Patriot in 1824; the roads were improved; the formation of the several
towns progressed — Ridgeway and Murray in 18 12, Gaines in 18 16,
Barre and Shelby in 18 18, Yates and Carlton in 1822, and Kendall in
ORLEANS COUNTY. Gl
1837. The details of all these subjects will receive proper treatment in
later pages of this volume.
Meanwhile the all-important topic of the Erie Canal had absorbed
public attention during many years, and the great project was nearing
completion when Orleans county was organized under the act of
November 12, 1824, as before noted. The first election of county
officers was held with the following result : Elijah Foot, first judge ;
S. M. Moody, Cyrus Harwood, Eldridge Farwell and William Penni-
man, judges; William Lewis, sheriff; Orson Nicholson, county clerk.
CHAPTER VII.
Modes of Transportation and Travel in Early Years — Opening of the Erie Canal
— Changes Wrought by this Waterway — Early Public Legislation — The First and
Second Locations of the County Seat — The First Banks — Railroads — The •' Hard
Times" of 1837-38— A Deplorable Accident.
Before the building of the Erie Canal and the railroads, public travel
was mainly by the old stage coaches, which were driven over the princi-
pal thoroughfares of the State. Stage lines existed early in the century
westward from Canandaigua, either direct to Buffalo, or by way of the
Ridge road, Lewiston and the Falls. The latter route was established
in 18 16. Coaches ran one each way every day and carried great num-
bers of passengers. They were kept running until about 1850, the
rivalry between them and the packet lines on the canal being very
spirited. In 1828 a number of men living principally in Rochester,
who looked upon the running of stages on Sunday as a violation of that
day, organized an opposition line to run on week days only ; it was
called " The Pioneer Line," and the route left the Ridge road at
Wright's Corners for Lockport, and thence west to the Falls and Buffalo.
The competition between these rival lines was very active ; but the first
mentioned company reduced its fares, and when the second company
failed to get the contract to carry the mails, it closed its business.
Gaines, in this county, was a point for changing horses, the stopping-
62 LANDMARKS OF
place being the old Mansion House, which was succeeded by the
Gaines House. Gaines is 250 miles from Albany and the trip usually
required about forty-three hours. With the opening of the railroads,
the glory of the stage and packet lines departed ; but there are men
still living who delight to talk of the coaching days and the pleasures of
bowling along over the turnpike behind spirited horses guided by a
skillful driver, the sharp crack of whose whip echoed in the forest by
the roadside. But time in those days had not acquired the value
ascribed to it in these later years.
A detailed history of the conception and building of the Erie Canal
is not required in these pages; every person of intelligence who knows
aught of the history of his own State of New York is conversant with
it. The subject of water communication between the Hudson and the
great lakes was discussed early in the present century, 1 and even
before that the great necessity for better ways of transporting goods to
and from Albany westward led to the organization of the Western
Inland Lock Navigation Company in 1792 and the improvement of
water communication up the Mohawk River, through Wood Creek,
Oneida Lake and Seneca River, a work in itself of vast benefit to the
State at large.
The project of a canal from the Hudson to Buffalo seems to have
found its inception in the mind of Jesse Havvley in 1805. A native of
Bridgeport, Conn., he was in 1805 and some years afterward, buying
wheat in the Genesee Valley, transporting it east to Seneca Falls, where
there was a large grist mill, having it ground and then shipping the
flour to Albany. He wrote a series of newspaper articles in favor of
the project which created considerable favorable influence.
The claim is also made that Gouverneur Morris suggested the canal
to Simeon De Witt, then surveyor general, as early as 1803, and that
De Witt, like most others at that time, considered the scheme wholly
visionary. He talked with James Geddes, of Syracuse, about it and
1 Governor Golden as early as 1724 expressed the hope that sometime the western part of the State
might be penetrated by boats independent ot Lake Ontario. In his memoir on the fur trade, writ-
ten in that year, occurs the following remarkable passage : There is a river which comes from the
country of the Sinnekes and falls into the Onnondage River, by which we have an easy carriage
into that country without going near the Cataracqui (.Ontario) Lake. The head of this river goes
near to Lake Erie and probably may give a very near passage into that lake, much more advan-
tageous than the way the French are obliged to take by the way of the great fall of lagara.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 63
Mr. Geddes, who was a practical surveyor, believed the plan feasible,
and corresponded with surveyors and engineers on the subject. Gen-
eral interest was awakened and the project worked its way into a
political issue and was taken in hand by Hon. Joshua Forman, of Syra-
cuse, who was elected to the Assembly on the "canal ticket." Mr.
Forman from that time on until the canal was an accomplished fact, was
its enthusiastic advocate and to him as much as to any other person is
due the credit for the great work. He secured a small appropriation of
$600 and Mr. Geddes received authority to make a preliminary survey.
As between the two proposed routes, the one by way of Lake Ontario
and the other direct to Lake Erie, Mr. Geddes reported in favor of the
latter. This took the line directly across Orleans county, and we quote
as follows regarding the local features of the project:
Mr. Geddes suggested that there might be found some place in the Ridge that bounds
the Tonavvanda Valley on the north, as low as the level of Lake Erie, where a canal
may be led across and conducted onward without increasing the lockage by rising to
the Tonawanda swamp. The latter difficulty was involved in the route that had been
contemplated by Joseph Ellicott. He supposed the summit on that line would not be
more than twenty feet above Lake Erie, and that upon it a sufficient supply of water
might be obtained from Oak Orchard Creek and other streams. In this he was mis-
taken ; the suTDmit was found to be seventy-five feet above Lake Erie, and to be sup-
plied with no adequate feeder.
It is entirely probable that the canal could never have been a success
through Western New York, except for the discovery through the
great genius of Mr. Geddes, that it could follow the course finally
adopted, permitting a continuous flow eastward from Lake Erie.
Commissioners were appointed at the Legislative session of 1810 to
thoroughly explore the proposed routes of water communication across
the State, which they did and reported on the 2d of March, 181 1.
They recommended the route favored by Mr. Geddes. The estimated
cost of the work was $5,000,000. The Legislature approved this report
by continuing the commission and voting $15,000 for further opera-
tions. Attempts to obtain congressional aid for the undertaking failed
and in the following year the Legislature authorized the commissioners
to borrow it>5, 000,000 on the State credit, for the construction of the
canal. The oncoming of the war with Great Britain put a stop to the
undertaking; but in 181 5, it was revived and public meetings were
64 LANDxMARKS OF
held in various parts of the State where enthusiastic speakers advocated
the speedy completion of the work. The Legislature of i8i6 appoint-
ed a new canal commission and in the next year Mr. Clinton prepared
an act authorizing the beginning of the work. The canal was divided
into three sections, eastern, middle and western, Mr. Geddes being
made chief engineer of the western section. Up to the year 1820
nothing but the survey had been accomplished on this division, aside
from the adoption of the route advised by Mr. Geddes. In 1820 he
was succeeded by David Thomas, who in that year made an examin-
ation of the course adopted from Rochester to Pendleton and made
some modification east of Oak Orchard Creek. A more important
change was made in reference to the point of passing the mountain
ridge in Niagara county, and which determined the site of the city of
Lockport. The whole western part of the canal was put under con-
tract in 1 82 1. The work was pushed energetically and during the
autumn of 1823 the canal was navigable as far west on the western
section as Holley and during the following season reached the foot of the
ridge at Lockport. The great rock cutting at the latter place was the
last piece of work finished between Buffalo and Albany. William C.
Bouck, afterwards governor of the State, was the commissioner in
charge of the construction of the western portion of the canal. On the
29th of September, 1825, he wrote from Lockport to Stephen Van Rens-
selaer, another commissioner, as follows :
Sir : — The unfinished parts of the Erie Canal will be completed and in a condition to
admit the passage of boats on Wednesday, the 26ih day of October next. It would
have been gratifying to have accomplished this result as early as the first of September,
but embarrassments which I could not control delayed it.
On this grand event, so auspicious to the character and wealth of the citizens of New
York, permit me to congratulate you.
By extra exertion the final filling was finished on the 25th of
October, and in the forenoon of the next day a flotilla of five boats left
Buffalo, laden with the highest State officers and other prominent men.
Cannon had been stationed a few miles apart along the whole line of
the canal, to be discharged in order as fast as they were reached by
the boats. A few boats had started westward from Lockport, about
the time of the sailing of the flotilla from Buffalo, and met the latter in
Tonawanda Creek, convoying the flotilla from there eastward. En-
ORLEAXS COUNTY. G5
thusiastic crowds of people, among them many who had from the first
condemned the project as impracticable/ met the fleet at the various
villages, Lockport, Medina, Albion, Holley and Brockport, in a gener-
al celebration of the great event.
The Erie Canal was then 363 miles long, and its original cost was
$7,143,780.86. Under an act of May, 1835, the canal was enlarged
from a width of forty feet at top and twenty-eight at bottom, to seventy
at top and fifty-two and a half at bottom, and so straightened as to re-
duce its length to 3507 miles. The cost of the enlargement was more
than $30,000,000.
The effects of the opening of this great waterway are too well known
to need recapitulation. It immediately became a means of transporta-
tion to and from the eastern markets of all kinds of produce and mer-
chandise, in which capacity its value can never be estimated. The set-
tlers of Orleans county, as well as elsewhere, saw the beginning of a
new era of prosperity for them, and their anticipations were measur-
ably realized. Passenger travel by the packet boats was also made
delightful and more rapid than by the former stage coaches. These
boats, while not large, were fitted up with all necessary comforts for
passengers during a protracted ride, and one can hardly imagine a
more agreeable voyage than on one of those packets from Albany to
Buffalo. Seymour Scovell built the first packet west of Montezuma,
which he called the " Myron Holley," and Oliver Culver the second
one, called "William C. Bouck."
Of the immediate consequences of opening the canal. Judge Thomas
wrote as follows :
To no part of the State of New York has the Erie Canal proved of more benefit
than to Orleans county. Although the soil was fertile and productive, and yielded
abundant crops to reward the toil of the farmer, yet its inland location and the great
difficulty of transporting produce to market, rendered it of little value at home. Settlers
who had located here, in many instances, had become discouraged. Others who desired
to emigrate to the Genesee country, were kept back by the gloomy accounts they got
of life in the wildernes.s, with little prospect of easy communication with the old East-
' It was considered an impossibility to make the Erie Canal. People said it might be possible to
make water run up hill, but canal boats, never. Some said they would be willing to die, having
lived long enough when boats in a canal should float through their farms ; but afterwards when
they saw the boats passing by, they wanted to live more than ever to see what would be done
next. — Reminiscences of George E. Mix.
G6 LANDMARKS OF
ern States. As soon as the canal became navigable, Holley, Albion, Knowlesville, and
Medina, villages on its banks, were built up. Actual settlers took up the unoccupied
lands and cleared them up. No speculators came here and bought up large tracts and
left them w^ild to rise on the market. The lumber of the country found a ready market
and floated away. Wheat was worth four times as much as the price for which it had
been previously selling. Prosperity came in on every hand ; the mud dried up, and
the mosquitos, and the ague, and the fever, and the bears left the country. Farmers
paid for their lands, surrendered their articles and took deeds from the company. Good
barns and framed houses, and houses of brick and stone, began to be built as the com-
mon dwellings of the inhabitants. " The good time coming," which the first settlers
could not see, but waited for with a faint and dreamy but persistent hope, had come in-
deed. The price of lands rose rapidly, making many wealthy, who happened to locate
farms in desirable places, from the rise in value of their lands. From this time forward
rich men from the Eastern States and older settlements began to come in and buy out
the farms and improvements of those who had begun in the woods and now found
themselves, Hke Cooper's Leather Stocking, "Lost in the Clearings," and wished to
move on to the borders of civilization, where hunting and fishing were better, and
where the ruder institutions, manners and customs of frontier life, to which they had
become attached, would be better enjoyed among congenial spirits.
During the progress of these events Orleans county was advancing
in many other material respects. A legislative act of April i8, 1826,
gave to the county, one member of assembly and made it a part of the
eighth senatorial district, and in the following year both the village of
Albion and the Gaines Academy were incorporated. The new court
house and jail were finished in 1828, and an act of April 18, of that
year, directed that the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of
the Peace, "shall after the passage of this act, be held at the court house
in Albion on the third Mondays of January, June and September."
The subject of railroad communication was also rapidly becoming a
prominent one in the minds of progressive people, and although it was
several years before a line was constructed through this county, there
are early indications that the project was under consideration. On the
17th of April, 1832, the Albion and Tonawanda Railroad Company
was incorporated by David E. Evans. Gains B. Rich, Henry Edgerton,
Alexis Ward, and Nehemiah Ingersoll. The object of the company
was to construct a single or double track road from Albion to the Ton-
awanda Creek at Batavia. The capital was $200,000. Again on the
5th of May, 1834, the Medina and Darien Railroad Company was in-
corporated, its purpose being to build a road between the village of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 67
Medina and the Alexander or Buffalo road. The company was ob
ligated to spend $ 10,000 in two years from incorporation and to
complete the road in five years; the capital was $100,000. This com-
pany established a horse railroad running from Medina to Akron, in
Erie county in 1826. The enterprise did not prove profitable and the
track was taken up in a short time. In the same year the enterprising
people of Medina projected a railroad to run from their village to the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek. For this purpose the Medina and
Ontario Railroad Company was incorporated; but the line was never
built. These and many other projects were at least temporarily aban-
doned wholly or partly on account of the financial distress of 1837-8.
Meanwhile in 1832-33 the cholera swept over the country leaving
death and despair in its track. Orleans county, while it did not suffer
greatly from the scourge, had its share of anxiety and fear, for it was
well known that the disease was approaching from the East and West
along the line of the canal.
The general law of June 22, 1832, made it the duty of the common
councils of cities and the trustees of villages in all counties bordered by
any of the lakes or canals of the State, where there was not an existing
board of health, to forthwith appoint one of not less than three nor
more than seven members, with a competent physician as health officer.
Communities which were essentially agricultural in character suffered
less from the financial overthrow of 1836-38 than the commercial
centers. The causes of that memorable revulsion lay in the very found-
ation of the government, as developed in the policy of President Jack-
son, and in antagonism to that policy by the United States Bank and
its connections. The period of speculation and dazzling expectations
began about two years before the crash, and in cities and large villages
prices of real estate were forced upward beyond reason, amid a fever of
financial delusion that now seems to have been absolutely unaccounta-
ble. Buffalo, for example, was a veritable hot- bed of speculation and
wild anticipation. Banks multiplied, money was plenty and recklessly
spent, rates of interest rapidly advanced, and the demand for money,
even at the high rates, was unprecedented, through the mania for bor-
rowing funds with which to speculate, and the prices of various goods
rose in proportion with the rest. Everybody, professional men, teach-
68 LANDMARKS OF
ers, lawyers, doctors, even ministers, as well as the rank and file, were
drawn into the whirlpool, and the crash was proportionately over-
whelming.^
As before indicated, Orleans county did not suffer in this period of
stringency equally with localities where business interests were larger,
or where expectations of a large influx of population to build up com-
mercial centers were indulged. The Bank of Orleans, at Albion, had
been organized in 1834, and it passed successfully through the crisis.
It was "hard times" with the community in general ; but actual busi-
ness disaster and suffering were not prevalent.
Many years since a railroad between Batavia, Albion and Oak
Orchard Harbor was talked of and some preliminary surveys were
made. In 1884 a company was organized, a route was surveyed, and
much of the right of way secured. Nothing more was done, and the
project still sleeps. ^
In 1835 the Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad Company began
building a railroad between those two points. The road was built in
the same manner as the Albany and Schenectady line, opened in 1831,
and the Schenectady and Utica, opened in 1835. Sills were laid length-
wise of the road and flat rails thereon. The cars were small, holding
either sixteen or twenty- four persons, and with only four wheels. On
the loth of December, 1850, the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara
Falls Railroad Company was organized, and in 1851 purchased the
Lockport and Niagara Falls line. The track of the latter company was
taken up and subscriptions opened to build a new road. About $225,-
000 were secured and the road was built. The first board of directors
were Joseph B. Varnum, Edward Whitehouse, of New York ; Watts
Sherman, of Albany ; Freeman Clarke, Silas O. Smith, A. Boody, of
Rochester; Alexis Ward, Roswell W. Burrows, of Albion; and Elias
B. Holmes, of Brockport. The directors and a few others passed over
the road by train June 25, 1852, and regular trains began running on
'It is related thatia Buffalo doctor whose brain was dazed by his exalted expectations from his
various real estate investments, called to leave medicine for a patient. When asked how it was
to be taken , the physician replied in a preoccupied manner: "One-third down and the remainder
in three quarterly installments."
2 There is, however, at this time (1894) much talk of building such a road and about $60,000 has
been subscribed toward its capital stock.
ORLEANS COUNTY. GO
the 30th of that month. This road went into the consoHdation which
formed the New York Central May 7, 1853. The branch from Lock-
port Junction to Tonawanda was built by the Rochester, Lockport and
Niagara Falls Company in 1852, and opened in January, 1853.
Western New York, in common with most other parts of the country,
had its period of what may be termed the plank road mania, beginning
about 1845 ^^^ continuing several years. These roads, built at a time
when most country highways were even worse than at present, and ex-
tending into localities where railroads were not likely to go, were of
considerable benefit, especially to farmers. A few of them paid
reasonable dividends, through collection of tolls, but more Vvere losing
investments and soon abandoned.
In October, 1856, the Orleans County Agricultural Society was or-
ganized ; it was destined to be of great benefit to the farmers and others
in the county. A proper account of it is given in another chapter.
The year 1859 was made memorable by a terrible accident which
happened in the village of Albion. The date was September 28, when
the annual fair of the Agricultural Society was in progress, to attend
which a large crowd of people were present. A young man from
Brockport had stretched a rope across the canal, from the Dyer block
to the Mansion House and advertised a rope walking exhibition. To
witness this a crowd of people gathered on the canal bridge. The
bridge fell with its living load, precipitating about 250 persons into the
water, many of them beneath the timbers. Fifteen persons were killed
and as many more injured. Following is a list of those who- lost their
lives : Jane Lavery, Albion ; Lydia Harris, Albion ; Joseph Cade,
South Barre; Perry Cole, Barre ; Annie Viele, Gaines; Edwin Still-
son, South Barre ; Adalbert Wilcox, West Kendall ; Sarah Thomas,
Carlton; Caroline A. Martin, Carlton; Harry Henry, Carlton; Ran-
som L.Murdock, Gaines; Thomas Alchin, Canaan, Can.; Thomas Handy,
Yates; Sophia Pratt, Toledo, O.; Charles Roosevelt, Sandy Creek.
This disaster cast a pall of sadness and regret over the entire com-
munity which was not wholly lifted-in many years.
During the period under consideration in the foregoing chapter, the
stone quarrying industry, which has since been of such paramount im-
portance to the county, was thoroughly established and several quarries
70 LANDMARKS OF
were in active working. The opening of the canal made the shipment
of the valuable sandstone east and west comparatively easy and cheap,
and a rapidly spreading demand for paving and flagging purposes was
inaugurated. This industry will be further described in later chapters.
But a cloud was gathering in the southern sky, soon to burst with
overwhelming fury upon the prosperous country.
CHAPTER VIII.
Outbreak of the Great Civil War — Enthusiasm of the People — Prompt Response to
Calls for Volunteers — The First Organization to Leave this County for the Seat of War —
Formation of other Organizations — Number of Volunteers from the Various Towns —
Death Roll of Orleans Volunteers.
The long reign of prosperous peace in America was rudely and
ruthlessly closed when citizens of one of the Southern States fired the
first hostile gun upon Fort Sumter in i86i. Almost before the echoes
of that cannonade had died away, a tide of patriotic enthusiasm and in-
dignation swept over the entire North, and the call to arms found an
echo in every loyal heart, while thousands, young and old, rich and
poor, native and alien, sprang forward to offer their services and their
lives at the altar of their country.
The history of the civil war has been written and rewritten, and al-
most every intelHgent citizen is familiar with the story of the great
contest. Were this not true, it would manifestly be impossible in a
work of this character to follow the course of the various campaigns in
which Orleans county soldiers bore arms, or to trace in detail the
career of those brave officers and privates who fell on the field of battle.
Such historical work must be left to the general historian, who has un-
limited space at his command. It remains for us here only to give such
brief notes of the several mihtary organizations in which the large
majority of Orleans county men enlisted as our space will admit, and
such statistics and information as will be valuable for reference.
Prior to the actual outbreak of the Rebellion the president issued a
proclamation calling forth " the militia of the several States of the
ORLEANS COUiNTY. 71
Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, in order to suppress com-
binations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed." Following this
and the first gun of the great conflict, the principal villages in this
county became at once centers of military activity and enthusiasm.
On Monday, April 15, 1861, the State Legislature passed a bill ap-
propriating $3,000,000 and providing for the enrollment of 30,000
men to aid the general government. The volunteers under this call
were to enlist in the State service for two years and to be subject at any
time to transfer into the Federal service. This measure caused intense
excitement throughout the State and the villages of Orleans county
were ablaze with enthusiasm. In Albion the air seemed colored with
flags ; the young ladies of the seminary wore zouave jackets and aprons
of red, white and blue, and made and hoisted a large flag over the in-
stitution ; the ladies in Albion Academy followed this example, and
similar scenes were being enacted at other places in the county.
Immediately following the president's first call for 75,000 volunteers
a public meeting was ordered in Albion for the evening of the i8th of
April. It was largely attended and public enthusiasm characterized
the proceedings. Speeches were made by Judge Sanford E. Church,
Judge Davis, and others, and on motion of the latter a committee of
three, consisting of H. L. Achilles, O. F. Burns, and H. J. Van Dusen,
was appointed to adopt measures to secure enlistments in the county.
The organization of three companies promptly followed, one of which
had its headquarters at Medina. The first Albion company completed
its enrollment and organization on the 22d of April, by the election of
David Hardie, captain ; James O. Nickerson and William M. Kenyon,
lieutenants. The second company elected H. L. Achilles, jr., captain;
W. H. Coann and Henry J. Hannington, jr., lieutenants. The Medina
company completed its organization about the same time by electing
E. A. Bowen, captain (afterward lieutenant-colonel of the 151st), and
George Davis and Chafife, lieutenants.
An immense public meeting of citizens of all parts of the county was
held on the 23d of April at Albion, which was addressed by H. R.
Selden, Sanford E. Church, J. H. Martindale, N. Davis, jr., O. F.
Burns, J. H. White, P. Salisbury, and others. Previous to the meeting
a parade of the three military companies, the fire department, with
72 LANDMARKS OF
bands of music, was made through the streets. The meeting was
called primarily to raise funds for aid of families of volunteers. About
$20,000 were subscribed, which was distributed, and collected, by com-
mittees. This meeting was soon followed by a similar one held in
Medina, at which nearly as large a sum was raised for the same pur-
pose.
On the 3d day of May, 1861, a large part of the balance in the treas-
ury of the Albion Lecture Association (then amounting to $171), was
appropriated for the purchase of rubber blankets, to be presented to
volunteers from Albion. On the 5th of June the women of Albion
organized a ladies* volunteer association for the aid of soldiers and their
families. Similar associations were organized in Medina and other vil-
lages of the county and were the means of raising money and providing
comforts and luxuries for the soldiers throughout the war.
Meanwhile, on the 13th of May, Captain Hardie's Company left Al-
bion for Albany, and was followed by Captain Bowen's Company.
Both were assigned to the 28th Regiment, under command of Colonel
Dudley Donnelly, of Niagara. Captain Achilles' Company left for
Elmira on the 20th of May and was there incorporated into the 27th
Regiment. Each of these companies was presented with beautiful flags
by the ladies.
The 28th Regiment was mustered in at Albany on the 22d of May,
and on the 26th was ordered to Camp Morgan near Norman's Kill,
where the men were uniformed and armed. On the 25th of June it
left for Washington, arriving on the 28th. On the 5th of July it was
attached to General Patterson's command at Martinsburg, Va. The
regiment participated during its two years of service in engagements at
Point of Rocks ; marched twenty-two miles in five hours to join in the
fighting at Ball's Blufif, but was too late ; at Winchester and Harrison-
burg; at Cedar Mountain, where Colonel Donnelly was mortally
wounded and Lieutenant-Colonel Brown was shot through the arm,
and Adjutant Sprout killed ; at Antietam, where the regiment per-
formed heroic service, and after working on the fortifications at Harper's
Ferry, wintered at Stafford Court House. The deaths in the regiment
in 1862 were sixty-three. In its last battle at Chancellorsville, the
regiment lost in three days of fighting seventy-eight in killed, wounded
ORLEANS COUNTY. 73
and missing. The 28th returned to New York about the middle of
May, 1863, 3nd was mustered out.
The 27th Regiment, in which Company K was the one commanded
by Captain Achilles, before mentioned, was organized at Elmira, May
21, 1 86 1, was mustered in on July 5th, and left for Washington on the
following day. It participated in the battle of Bull Run. On May 7,
1862, while its position was the first regiment of the first brigade of the
first division of the first corps of the army, it was engaged in fighting
on the York River, in which the losses of that part of the army were
large, and afterwards camped at White House Landing, the 27th being
on the extreme right of McClellan's army. During about a month in
May and June of 1862, the regiment was often actively engaged, much
of the time as skirmishers. It participated in the battle of Gaines*
Mills on the 27th of June, losing 179 men in killed, wounded and miss-
ing. On the iith of September, Company K suffered an irreparable
loss in the death of their gallant lieutenant, W. H. Coann, of Albion,
who died at Washington while the regiment was at Georgetown. At
South Mountain on September 14, the 27th was engaged on the skirm-
ish line, and on the 17th at Antietam. In December the regiment
marched to share in the ordeal at Fredericksburg where so many heroes
fell. From this field the 27th returned to White Oak Church. In the
last week of April, 1863, it was again engaged at Fredericksburg under
General Sedgw^ick, and soon afterward in the disastrous battle of Chan-
cellorsville. After this the regiment was guarding Banks's Ford until
the end of its term, May 13, 1863. In the order mustering out the
regiment it was specially commended by General Sedgwick. During
its term of service, Company K had sixteen men discharged, seven died,
eight were killed, three deserted, three were dismissed, and two were
transferred.
The nth Regiment of Infantry, organized in New York to serve
three years or during the war, was joined in the latter part of 1861 by
nine volunteers from Orleans county; they were Henry J. Van Dusen,
Ora Van Dusen. Daniel Wells, Benjamin C. Marsh, Henry Burbank, S.
Hunnant, Henry Harden, and two others. The first of these men lost
an arm at Gaines' Mills ; the second was detailed on account of ill
health ; Wells died of disease, and one of those not named died of
10
74 LANDMARKS OF
wounds. The others with a single exception, were all killed in battle.
It was this regiment that the gallant Ellsworth commanded.
The Eighth Regiment of Cavalry was mustered into service Novem-
ber 28, 1 86 1, to October 4, 1862, and the organization was perfected
at Rochester. Company F, of forty men, was from Orleans county,
commanded by F. T. Gallett, of Albion ; first lieutenant, Thomas Bell,
of Albion; second lieutenant, W. M.Bristol, of Wayne county. The
regiment reached Washington on the 30th of November, 1861, and
there remained through the winter. In the spring they were placed at
Conrad's Ferry on the Potomac, guarding twenty- five miles of the
river ; and on April 6 took possession of Harper's Ferry. While guard-
ing the railroad out of that station the regiment shared in the rout of
Banks's army. The men were not mounted or decently equipped until
June, 1862. From this time onward, like other gallant cavalry organi-
zations, this regiment was almost constantly on the move and shared in
numerous encounters of varied character. Its services in the fall of
1862 were especially arduous and dangerous. On June 9, 1863. in
the great cavalry raid near the Rappahannock, the regiment was con-
spicuously engaged and lost several men, among them the brave Colonel
Davis, who had taken command in June, 1862. Sergeant Daniel Has-
kell, from Orleans county, was badly wounded. The details of the in-
numerable raids of the regiment from this time onward cannot be fol-
lowed here, but it took active part at Gettysburg, and in the engage-
ments at Locust Grove, Hawes' Shop, White Oak Swamp, Opequan,
Cedar Creek and Appomattox, besides those before mentioned. The
original members of the regiment were mustered out in 1864, and the
veterans and recruits June 27, 1865.
The Third Cavalry, organized at New York and mustered in in the
summer of 1861, contained a company raised by Captain Judson Downs,
of Murray, which left for Washington August 23, 1861 — the fourth
company to leave the county. In Captain Fitzsimmons's company in
this regiment were nine men from Ridgeway. The battle flag of this
regiment bears the names of Burns's Church, Young's Cross Roads,
Williamston, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Ball's Bluff, Weldon Rail-
road, Edward's Ferry, Stony Creek, Petersburg, Malvern Hill, New
Market, and Johnson's House. On the 5th of November, 1861, the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 75
company from Orleans county was detailed for duty at the polls at
Emmettsburg, and was there presented with a flag by the ladies of the
place. At the close of the term of service the original members of the
regiment were discharged and the veterans and recruits retained. It
was consolidated with the First Mounted Rifles, July 21,1865, and desig-
nated the Fourth Provisional Cavalry.
A regiment called the Second Mounted Rifles, otherwise the " Gov-
ernor's Guard," was raised in the summer of 1863, mainly in the
western part of the State. The first company filled was Capt. Joseph
N. Rushmore's of Lockport, and by February, 1864, the regiment was
ready for the field. While its volunteers were recruited in the full ex-
pectation of being mounted, such expectation was not realized until
near the close of the war, and the regiment saw the most eventful and
arduous service on foot during its whole term. The regiment was
under command of Col. John Fisk, of Niagara Falls, and Orleans
county furnished Company L, numbering ninety- eight men. N.Ward
Cady was its first captain. From December, 1863, to the following
March, the regiment was stationed in Fort Porter, Buffalo, under in-
struction. While stationed at Buffalo Captain Cady was promoted
major, and when the regiment went to the front the officers of Company
L were Henry B. Barnard, captain ; H. J. Arnold, first lieutenant ;
Earnest Mansfield, second lieutenant ; and Dr. S. R. Cochrane was
hospital steward. From that time it was near Washington at Camp
Stoneman until May 5th, when it was ordered to the front with the
Army of the Potomac. From that time on through the intensely
active campaign of the last year of the war, this noble organization
bore an honorable share in all the prominent engagements. It partici-
pated in the battle at Spottsylvania the next day after leaving Camp
Stoneman ; this was followed by the engagement at North Anna, but
the loss was light in both these events. Then followed fighting at
Tolopotomoy Creek, and at Bethesda Church, the loss at the latter
place being considerable. The regiment was now under command of
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond, of New York. Next came the battle of
Cold Harbor, after which the regiment moved across the James River
with the army, was in a charge on the Petersburg works on the 17th of
June ; was in the advance ©n the Weldon Railroad on the i8th, captur-
76 LANDMARKS OF
ing the road and participating in a charge on the enemy which resulted
in severe loss — between 200 and 300 killed and wounded. Captain
Williams and Lieutenant De Long, the latter of Lockport, were among
the killed. From this time until July 29, the regiment lay in the rifle
pits constantly under fire. On the morning of the 30th occurred the
mine explosion in front of Petersburg and the regiment shared in the
succeeding assault, under command of Major Mapes. The final charge
was made by the division containing this regiment and two lines of
works were captured, with a loss to the regiment of nearly 150 men
killed, wounded and prisoners. Among the most severely wounded
was Captain Barnard while leading his company against the enemy's
works. A few days later at Pegram's Farm where a battle took place,
Major Mapes, Captain Stebbins, Lieutenants Mansfield, Bush, and be-
tween forty and fifty others, were taken prisoners, while the killed and
wounded numbered between fifty and seventy- five, Lieutenant Casey,
of Lockport, being among the killed. In the engagement at Hatcher's
Run in October, the loss to the regiment was light. In November the
regiment was sent to City Point, where the long delayed horses were
supplied, and orders received to report to Gen. Charles H, Smith, of the
Third Brigade, Second Cavalry Division. On the second day after joining
the cavalry, the regiment shared in a raid to Stony Creek Station, and in
December took part in the raid on the Weldon Railroad and destroyed
it. At this time the regiment was divided and a part of it sent back
to participate in the second engagement at Hatcher's Run, under com-
mand of Lieutenant Newman. When the regiment returned to camp
it was detailed as rear guard of the Fifth Corps. Breaking its winter
camp on the 29th of March, 1865, the regiment started with Sheridan
in tne final pursuit of Lee, sharing in the almost continuous fighting, at
Dinwiddle Court House, Five Forks, Jetersville, Sailor's Creek, and
Appomattox. After the surrender the regiment was detailed to escort
General Grant to Burkville Junction and then returned to Petersburg.
After starting to reinforce Sherman in North Carolina, the regiment
was sent to Buckingham county, Va., where it performed provost duty
until August, 1865. On the I2th of that month it reached Buffalo and
was mustered out, at the close of a most honorable career.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 77
The 8th New York Heavy Artillery was one of the most notable
organizations of the war. During its term of service it lost nearly 1,200
men in killed, wounded and missing; of these 22 officers were killed and
21 1 men; 29 officers and 653 men were wounded, and five officers and
250 men missing. A volume could not tell the story of which that is a
ghastly record. The regiment was recruited in Orleans, Niagara and
Genesee counties, by Col. Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls, and was
mustered in at Lockport August 22, 1862. Companies A, C, and K,
were raised in Orleans County. The regiment was organized as the
129th Volunteers, but never did any duty as such, the name being
changed to the 8th Heavy Artillery in February, 1863 ; two additional
companies were raised for the regiment in 1864. From the time of its
muster the organization served until the spring of 1864 in the Baltimore
defenses, except a short campaign to Harper's Ferry and in Western
Virginia. On May 15, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington,
where it arrived in the afternoon, and on the morning of the 17th was
on the march for Fredericksburg, where a halt was made for supper.
At 10 o'clock the march was again taken up and did not end until the
Army of the Potomac at the front was reached. The regiment was now
attached to Tyler's Division, Second Corps. On the night of the 19th
the regiment was first under fire, and lost thirty- three in killed, wounded
and missing. On the 20th the regiment started on a march that ended
on the 23d at North Anna River, where the rebel fortifications were
stormed and captured by part of Birney's Division, the 8th taking part
in the cannonading. On the 2d of June the regiment reached Cold
Harbor. The great battle was in immediate prospect and this regiment
had its orders to be ready for a charge at 4 o'clock ; but the order was
countermanded on account of a rain storm, and night settled down,
while many took their last sleep. In the morning the distance between
the lines of the 8th and the rebels was about half a mile. The sharp
engagement that followed has been thus vividly described :
The first battalion on the left of the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Bates; the second, in the center, by Captain McGinnis (Major Spalding being sick;)
the third, on the extreme right, by Major Willett. Tiie batteries in the rear of the
regiment opened a heavy fire simultaneonsly with the advance of the charging column,
and the enemy replied no less vigorously. One after another went down beneath the
storm of iron and lead which swept the plain. As the ranks thinned they closed up
78 LANDMARKS OF
sternly, and with arms at trail and bayonets fixed they pressed forward on a run with-
out firing a shot. Down went the colors, the staff splintered and broken, as well as the
hand that held it. Brave hands seized them again and bore them onward until the
enemy's works were close at hand. Colonel Porter fell, crying, " Close in on the colors,
boys!" Major Willett was wounded; a large number of line officers lay dead and
dying; one-third of the rank and file were hors du combat ; a part of the regiment was
floundering in the mud ; the rebels were pouring in double charges of grape and canister
at less than point blank range, sweeping away a score every moment. The line having
lost its momentum, stopped from sheer exhaustion within a stone's throw of the enemy's
works. All this transpired in a short ti ue. The supporting line failed to come up, old
soldiers declaring that it was foolhardiness to advance under such a fire ; so the brave
men of the 8th had to look out for themselves. They began to dig, and every man was
working himself into the ground. Every stump, mole-hill, bush and tree was a shelter.
Thus the regiment lay all day, under the very noses of the rebels, and came away in
squads under cover of the darkness. This seemed as hazardous as the charge itself, for
no sooner did the rebels detect a movement in their front than they opened a murderous
fire of both musketry and artillery. Some were killed in attempting to come out, among
them Captain Gardner of Company I. An officer in describing the fire says: "It was
either more severe than in the morning, or the darkness made it seem more terrible."
At nine o'clock in the evening the regiment was back in its old posi-
tion, but sadly shattered. The body of Colonel Porter was discovered
on the 4th about midway between the pickets of the opposing lines.
It was secured in the night of the 4th. . The following figures tell the
story of what this regiment suffered in that battle : 9 officers and 146
men killed ; 14 officers and 323 men wounded ; i officer and 12 men
missing. After Cold Harbor, the regiment went to Petersburg under
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bates, arriving on June 16, afterwards
sharing the fighting at Reams's Station, Deep Bottom, Hatcher's Run
and Appomattox, suffering losses of 13 officers and 65 men killed ; 15
officers and 230 men wounded; and 4 oflEicers and 238 missing. On
June 4, 1865, Companies G, H, I, and K, were transferred to the 4th New
York Artillery; Companies L and M were transferred to the loth New
York Infantry, and the remaining six companies were mustered out
June 5, 1865.
In August, 1862, just after the departure of the 8th Artillery for the
front, Col. William Emerson, of Albion, began an effort to raise a regi-
ment of infantry to be numbered the 151st. So prompt were the re-
sponses that by the middle of October the organization was ready for
inspection. It was recruited from Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Monroe
ORLEANS COUNTY. 79
and Wyoming counties, Companies A and D, and a part of G being from
this county. On the 22d of October the regiment left Lockport for
Elmira, where it was armed and then proceeded to Baltimore ; there it
remained until the following spring. On the 22d of April, 1863, it was
ordered to West Virginia, and during May and June was at Clarksburg,
Buckhannon, Weston, Winchester, Martinsburg, Monocacy and Mary-
land Heights. Thence a march was made to Frederick City, where the
regiment was a part of the reserve during the fighting of the battle of
Gettysburg. On the 4th of July a rapid march was made to the South
Mountain Pass, which was reached the same night. On the 8th the
main Army of the Potomac arrived there and all made the march
through the Pass during the succeeding two days. The 151st was then
assigned to the 3d Corps. After the execution of Lee's well known
ruse by which he escaped across the Potomac, when Meade thought he
had him bagged for successful battle, the disappointed Federals march-
ed on the 15th of July, under a broiling sun, into Virginia. Scores fell
out of the line and at night when the 1 5 1st went into camp, only ninety-
seven men answered to their names; they came in afterward, straggling
and foot sore. On the i6th the regiment camped at the base of
Maryland Heights. The remainder of the campaign of 1863 was a se-
ries of maneuvres without decisive action on either side. On the 26th
and 27th of November the regiment shared in the battles at Locust
Grove and Mine Run, the first severe fighting in which the 151st was
engaged, the loss to the brigade being about 1000 in killed, wounded
and missing, the loss being the greatest on the left of the line where our
men made a charge through a piece of timber, driving the enemy
from behind a rail fence at the point of the bayonet. It was here that
Captain Wilcox, of Niagara county was killed. The regiment camped
for winter at Brandy Station, occupying log houses that had been built
by the enemy. In the spring of 1864 the reigment became a part of
the Sixth Corps under Sedgwick, and on the 4th of May, the Army of
the Potomac started towards Richmond. On the following day began
the great battle of the Wilderness, in which the 1 5 1st suffered its heaviest
loss. This was followed by the battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Har-
bor, in which the regiment bore an active and honorable part. On
the 15th of June the regiment crossed the James with the Army of the
80 LANDMARKS OF
Potomac for its new field of operations before Petersburg. Remaining
in front of Petersburg two weeks, the regiment on the ist of July start-
ed for Washington to head off Early, but it was saved the trouble by
other troops, and marched to Baltimore and then to Monocacy, where
it shared in sharp fighting on the 9th. The following day, after a retreat
of twenty miles, the regiment went to Baltimore and camped near the spot
where it passed its first winter. A few weeks later, with Sheridan in
Shenandoah Valley, the 151st shared in the fighting at Opequan, Fish-
er's Hill and Cedar Creek, and in November was ordered back to Peters-
burg. Here the winter camp was made. In the short campaign of the
spring of 1865 the regiment saw little fighting, and early in April was
ordered to Danville to join Sherman's forces. After Johnston's sur-
render the regiment proceeded to Richmond and thence to Washington,
and in July, 1865, were mustered out of service. This regiment was
engaged in eighteen battles, some of them the most severe of the war,
and as an evidence of what they did, it is only necessary to state that
when they entered the service they numbered over 1,000 men and at
the close of the war mustered out only 302 men. The regiment holds
an annual reunion at the present time, and can now muster only about
sixty men at these gatherings. The rank and file of the companies
from this county in this regiment contained many men of education and
ability, and represented some of the best families in this section. Of
the privates and non-commissioned officers, Charles H. Mattinson was
promoted first lieutenant and adjutant; Harmon Salisbury, Albert
Waring, and Samuel A. Tent, second lieutenants; Edwin L. Wage,
captain and assistant provost-marshal at New Orleans ; and Eugene A.
Barnes, second lieutenant, who late in the war had command of the
troops at Fort Sumter. The old regimental flag is sacredly preserved
by the surviving members and being but shreds and tatters, is unfurled
only at their annual reunions.
Company M of the First Light Artillery was raised in Niagara and
Orleans counties, thirty-eight men being from Orleans county, mostly
recruited by Charles E. Winegar, who was first lieutenant in the battery
and afterward promoted captain Battery " I." The regiment was mus-
tered in for three years from the 30th of August, 1861, and was or-
ganized at Elmira, proceeded to Washington, where it was equipped
ORLEANS COUNTY. 81
and remained there to about January i, 1862. Thence it proceeded to
Fredericksburg, Md., to join Banks. From April, 1862, to August,
1863, the battery (M) was fighting with the Army of the Potomac,
participating in the battles of Antietam, Second Bull Run, Cedar
Mountain, Winchester, and Gettysburg. In August the battery went
to Chattanooga to relieve Rosecrans; and under Hooker fought at Look-
out Mountain and Wahatchie Valley. In the following winter the regi-
ment went to Bridgeport, Alabama, and there its term of service expired.
The original members enlisted as veterans and joined Sherman. Battery
M was assigned to the Twelfth Corps in the Army of the Cumberland.
From the time of the capture of Atlanta by Sherman until the close of
the war, the battery remained with that general's troops, shared in the
march to the sea and through North Carolina, and in the capture of
Raleigh. After Johnston's surrender the battery proceeded to Wash-
ington and took part in the grand review. They participated in forty-
five engagements. The original roll numbered 156; at the end of the
war twenty-six of them survived, and to-day but nineteen of them are
alive.
The Fourth Artillery was originally composed of eight companies
and was formed in New York city; it was mustered in between De-
cember 13, 1861 and October 25, 1862. In July, 1862, while the regi-
ment was in the forts at Georgetown, Captain Barnes began recruiting
to fill its ranks. His success was such that on the 20fh of August, a
company, containing forty- five Orleans county men, was ready. On
the day mentioned they went to Albany and on September ist, left for
Washington, where they arrived on the 4th and went into Fort Cor-
coran. The Albion men were placed in Company C, under Captain
Barnes. September 28, the regiment went to Fort Rumsey, Va., and
thence a few miles to Fort Ethan Allen. Here it remained a long time
as a garrison. Finally in June, 1863, the changes in the operations of
the great armies brought the Fourth into more active service; but the
organization did not encounter the severe and continued fighting that
fell to many others. The regiment remained in Fort Ethan Allen dur-
ing the winter of 1 863-4 and on the 27th of March, 1864. was sent to
the front, participating but sufifering no casualties, in the battles of the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, and Cold Har-
11
82 LANDMARKS OF
bar. The long period of inaction of the regiment following that battle
was brought to a close by the mine explosion in front of Petersburg on
the 30th of July, immediately following which the Fourth took part in
the charge. At Deep Bottom the regiment was engaged, and on the
25th of August, at Reams's Station on the Weldon Railroad, the regi-
ment was engaged and suffered severely. Out of the 900 who went
into the fight, only 503 came out. Nineteen officers were killed, wound-
ed or missing. Company C lost about fifty men out of eighty. After
this the regiment went into camp on the Jerusalem Plank Road ; after-
wards to the vicinity of Fort Hell, and thence to the left of the line be-
fore Petersburg, where the winter was passed. The regiment was
mustered out June 2, 1865.
After Orleans county had promptly filled her quota under the call
of the president for 300,000 volunteers early in 1862, another call was
issued for an equal number. Under this call the quota of the county
was 442. It was at this time that Capt. George T. Anthony, of Ridge-
way, began recruiting for the 17th New York Independent Battery, to
enter the service for three years. He soon enlisted 170 men and in
August they went to Camp Church at Lockport, where the organiza-
tion was completed and the following officers elected : Captain, George
T. Anthony, Ridgeway ; first lieutenants, Hiram E. Sickels, George C.
Cook, Ridgeway ; second lieutenants, Irving M. Thompson, Barre ;
Hiram D, Smith, Ridgeway. The battery left for Washington October
23, and remained there and at Miner's Hill, Va., through the succeed-
ing winter. On July 18, 1863, the battery joined Corcoran's Brigade
and served with it through that season, on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad, afterwards going into winter quarters at Fairfax Court House.
On July 4, 1864, the battery was ordered to the front and on the 6th
reached City Point. On the 8th two sections were ordered to occupy
two small earth works within 350 yards of the rebel line. Here they
were under fire constantly and became thoroughly accustomed to the
whiz of the bullets. On the night of July 25, while superintending the
cutting away of trees to unmask one of the guns in advance of the re-
mainder of the battery. Lieutenant Thomson received a ball through
his thigh while at the head of his squad. The battery occupied the
trenches before Petersburg during the most important engagements of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 83
the campaign, and during the winter of 1864-5, was quartered at Signal
Hill, where it remained until the close of the war. The battery reached
Rochester June 14, and was there paid off and mustered out.
In addition to the organizations thus described, Orleans county sent
men to the war in various other organizations, but in comparatively
small numbers. For example, in the 105th Infantry, mustered in
March, 1862, and after consolidation in 1863 with the Ninety-fourth
Regiment was mustered out July 18, 1865. In the 14th Artillery,
mustered in November 24, 1862, to July 8, 1863 ; and the 25th Battery
of Light Artillery, organized at Lockport in 1862, to serve three
years ; and in many other organizations were enlistments singly or in
small numbers.
It is much to the credit of Orleans county that under the prompt
action of committees and the liberal action of the supervisors, her sev-
eral quotas under the different calls for volunteers, were quickly filled.
Early in the fall of 1862, the enlistments were greatly in excess of the
calls, and when the draft was ordered for July, 1863, through the
efforts of E. T. Coann, secretary of the war committee, the county was
given credit for the excess; this credit was secured by Mr. Coann visit-
ing Washington and bringing the matter forcibly before the military
authorities, and presenting an alphabetical list of the volunteers from
each town in the county, duly certified by the several supervisors and
enrolling officers. He showed the excess to be 278 men, which when
properly recognized, saved the county taxation of more than $83,000.
The facility with which enlistments were secured in this county was
largely due to the efficient supervision of the war committee, which was
composed of Sanford E. Church, chairman ; Ezra T. Coann, secretary ;
Noah Davis, E. R. Reynolds, D. N. Hatch, George T. Anthony, D. B.
Abell, and Thomas Foster.
The appended roll of honor for Orleans county tells the story of
sacrifice of life for the maintenance of the government. The cost in
money was great, also, but was met with brave trust that it was a good
and a necessary investment The county paid out in bounties during
the rebellion, $484,875, and the several towns the sum of $271,441,
making a total of %y66,ii6. The contribution of each town was as
follows: Barre, $50,000; Carlton, $14,556; Clarendon, $20,128;
84
LANDMARKS OF
Gaines, $24,820; Kendall, $22,245; Murray, $27,000; Ridgeway,
$58,520; Shelby, $40,365; Yates, $13,807.
List of Union soldiers from Orleans county who died from injuries
received or disease incurred in the suppression of the Rebellion :
Charles Allen, 8th H. Art.
Francis H. Ashby, 8th H. Art.
Samuel Ashby, 8lh H. Art.
Greorge Acker, 8th Cav.
Arnold Axtell, 131st Inf.
John T. Andrews, 2d Vols.
Silas B. Amidon, 159th Inf.
Lieut. James T. Anson, 43d U. S. Col'd
Troops.
James M. Armstrong, 14th Vols.
E. F. Austin, 151st Inf.
Corp. Uriah Applin, 8th H. Art.
Frederick Andrews, 46th 111. Vols.
Hiram Allen, 8th H. Art.
Lester Atkins, 14th Art.
Henry Allen, 28th Inf.
Harrison Allen, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles Ashby, 27th Inf.
Charles H. Briggs, 8th H. Art.
Henry L. Beebe, 105th Ohio Vols.
Wesley Bonnett, 8th Cav.
Byron Bates, 8th H. Art.
Sergt. Henry Bennett, 8th H. Art.
Lewis Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
Lorenzo Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
Lyman Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
George Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
John Brown, 17th Bat.
Sergt. Manly Bannister, 4th Art.
William Bonnett, 151st Inf.
Orrin L. Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
Charles Bowers, 8th H. Art.
Corp. Ryan Barber, 8th H. Art.
Col. Willard Bates, 8th H. Art,
Samuel VV. Baruum, 8th H. Art.
Edwin L. Blake, 8th H. Art.
Leatider Bacon, 49th Inf.
Corp. Henry Bennett, 28th Inf.
Henry C. Bayne, 8th Art.
Frederick Bayne, 14th H. Art.
Jonas S. Bayne, 14th H. Art.
Sergt. Charles H. Beals, 3d Cav.
Sergt. Orrin Babcock, 8th H. Art.
William Bragg, 8th H. Art.
Levi Bentley, 8th H. Art.
Corp. Albert Brown, 151st Inf.
George Bennett, 1st Sharpshooters.
Henry M. Bennett, 4th H. Art.
Wesley Blanchard, 147th Inf.
G-eorge P. Beam, 8th Cav.
Byron E. Bates, 8th H. Art.
Charles Blakely, 151st Inf.
Hiram D. Baldwin, 151st Inf.
Fordyce Brace, 151st Inf.
James M. Berry, 12th Bat.
Corp. Francis Balcom 151st Inf.
James Brown, 27th Inf.
James Booth, 17th Bat.
Corp. E. F. BrowQ, 8th H. Art.
Chester Bidwell, 8th H. Art.
Homer Bush, 14th Art.
Alexander Butterfield, 14th Art,
George A. Bennett, 14th Art.
James Black, 28th Inf.
Orson Barber, 28th Inf.
Charles Bacon, 108th Inf.
Myron H. Bacon, 8th H. Art.
George A. Barnett, 1st Vols.
Sergt. George Bidelman, 8th H. Art.
M. R. Bowen, 151st Inf.
Capt. E. F. Brown, 18th Art.
Silas A. Bird, 8th H. Art.
William Barker, 8th H. Art.
John Bathwick, 8th H. Art.
George Bird, 8th H. Art.
William Buck, 3d Cav.
Barnes, 8th H. Art.
Charles H. Clark, 8th H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTY
Sergt.-Maj. C. P. Crowell, 151st Inf.
Lieut. William H. Coann, 27th Inf.
Asa Clark, 4th H. Art.
Cornelius Churchwell, 8th H. Art.
Charles H. Churchwell, 8th H. Art.
Sergt. William S. Cole, 151st Inf.
J. Chapin, 28th Inf.
Jeremiah Corbin, 8th H. Art.
Patrick Connors, Art.
James Clark, 151st Inf.
Samuel Coleman, 17th Bat.
Corp. James Collins, 14th H. Art.
John Cunningham, 3d Mich. Cav.
John F. Curtiss, 14th H. Art.
Charles Cliff, 5th Mmn. Vols.
William Churchill, 8th H. Art.
William H. Cook, 151st Inf.
Jeremiah H. Cole, 8th Miss. Vols.
Hiram Cady, 105th Inf.
William H. Chatman, 151st Inf.
Allen W. Case, 8th H. Art.
Edgar B. Culver, 31st Iowa.
Michael Collins, 17th Bat.
James Collins, 14th H. Art.
Hoaace W. Curtiss, 14th H. Art,
Caleb P. Cornell, 14th H. Art.
Thomas Collins, 14th H. Art.
Asst. Q. M. Sergt. Daniel A. Clark, 3d Cav.
Isaac Churchwell, 151st Inf.
Moses Collins, 151st Inf.
Amasa Cups, 151st Inf.
Dwight Cook, 27th Inf.
James Cook, 14th Art.
Frederick Cruise, 8th H. Art.
William Crittenden, 8th H. Art.
Sergt. John B. Curran, 8th H. Art.
Ira Clark, 8th H. Art.
Joseph Cook, 27th Inf.
Delos Curtis, 27th Inf.
Lieut. Joseph Caldwell, 8th H. Art.
Oliver Clark, 8th H. Art.
George R. Clark, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William H. Chapin, 28th Inf.
Charles Cole, 151st Inf.
Orlando Clark, 8th H. Art.
Charles Cowell, jr., 8th H. Art.
Daniel Calin, 8th H. Art.
Patrick Carey, 14th H. Art.
G-eorge W. Culver, 49th Inf.
Ezra M. Cartwright, 8th Vols.
James Caldwell, 151st Inf,
John Dean, 151st Inf.
Peter Dolan, 8th H. Art.
Sergt. John Dwinnell, 151st Inf.
Thomas Davis, 1st H. Art.
Safford Dean, 151st Inf.
John Darwin, 12th Bat.
William Donaldson, 151st Inf.
Walter Doty 8th Cav.
Corp. J. R. Dunham. 8th H. Art.
Asst. Surg. Joseph C. Dancet, 20th Md.
Vols.
Daniel Donovan, 8th Cav.
Leander Davis, 1st Art.
Edward Douglas, 28th Inf.
Russell Dunham, 8th H. Art.
Oscar Doane, 27th Inf.
Hugh Doyle, 27th Inf.
Sergt. Edwin Eddy, 27th Inf.
Seneca J. Egleston, 8th H. A.
James Ennis, 8th H. Art.
Thomas Elsom, 8th Cav.
Stephen Elliott, 151st Inf.
Joseph Edick, Sth H. Art.
Ellicott, 1st Art.
Richard Easton, 19th Inf.
Charles Eddy, 151st Inf.
Edmund Everett, 8th H. Art.
William Foreman, 17th Bat.
Asa J. Forley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James Feeney, 140th Inf.
Sergt. Gardner C. Freeman, 4th Art.
Michael Fields. 151st Inf.
Corp. James Fisk, Sth H. Art.
John Furness, Sth H. Art.
Peter Frink, 140th Inf.
Corp. Thomas Flaherty, 15 1st Inf.
Michael Flaherty, 17th Bat.
86
LANDMARKS OF
Henry C. Fuller, 17th Bat.
Corp. Cass Fuller, 8th H. An.
Oliver French, U. S. Navy.
Michael Fields, 8th H. Art.
George Follett, 8th Heavy Art.
Cassius Fuller, 129th Inf.
George W. Fuller, 17th Inf.
Ira J. French, 8th H. Art.
Orville Flanders, 22d Cav.
William H. Freeman, 151st Inf.
Thomas Flattery, 151st Inf.
Joseph Flynn, 8th H. Art.
John Furness, 151st Inf.
Samuel Frier, 151st Inf.
William T. Fearby, 8th H. Art.
Bruce Fortinance, 151st Inf.
Henry J. FuUer.lTth Bat.
William Felstead, 14th Art.
Ira J. Finch, 8th H. Art.
Milo Forbush, 24th Cav.
Franklin Fursy, 8th H. Art.
Edmund Furndon, 28th Inf.
William Gilstead, 8th H. Art.
George C. Gerndon, 28th Inf.
Myron Gibbs, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Mortimer Gibson, 49th Inf.
Simeon Gilbert, 49th Inf.
Perry Gilbert, 28th Inf.
George Gage, 14th Art.
Corp. Daniel Goose, 8th H. Art.
Christopher Garbois, 8th H. Art.
William Gilloore, 8th H. Art.
Corp. Leander Gillespie, 151st Inf.
Joseph Gerou, 105th Inf.
Delora Graves, 151st Inf.
Mason Greeley, 151st Inf.
Patrick Garry, 14th Art.
David Gallarnaun, 8th H. Art.
Patrick Geny, 8th H. Art.
Peter J. Goodwin, 8th H. Art.
George Gould, 151st Inf.
George Gage, 14th Art.
Thomas W. Green, 14th Art.
Harmon Hopkins, 151st Inf.
George D. Hollister, 8th H. Art.
Albert H. Harkinson, 4th Art.
Sergt. George C. Harvey, 17th Art.
Charles House, 151st Inf.
John L. Hard, 8tb H. Art.
Sergt. H. R. Harrington, 8th H. Art.
Corp. Willis Hinman, 8th Cav.
Corp. John J. Hoyt, 66th Ohio Vols.
WilHam Hardy, 8th H. Art.
Capt. George A. Hoyt, 8th H. Art.
William Hubbard, 151st Inf.
Sergt.-Maj. Delos Howe, 25th Bat.
Myron H. Hills, 25th Bat.
Sergt. Patrick J. Hayes, 151st Inf.
Corp. William S. Holmes, r29th Inf.
Lucius Hickey, 105th Inf.
Reuben D. Harrington, 105th Inf.
Stephen Holley, 21st Cav.
John Hubbert, 22d Cav.
Edwin S. Holsenberg, 8th H. Art.
Wallace D. Hard, 8th H. Art.
Corp. Alexander Harbury, 8th H. Art.
Corp. George A. Hugh, 8th H. Art.
Capt. A. C. Holden, 36th 111. Vols.
George S. Hunt, 17th Bat.
Charles Hatch, 1st Art.
Peter J. Hayes, 151st Inf.
Corp. Alexander Hasberry, 4th Art.
Lieut. James T. Hayman, 4th Art.
Matthew Hennessey, 1st Sharpshooters.
George Howes, 33d Inf.
Solomon Hannett, 11th Inf.
George A. Hunton, 8th H. Art.
E. J. Hunt, 17th Bat.
Edgar Hoagland, 2d Mounted Rifles.
F. A. Harrington, 27th Ind. Vols.
Melville Hatch, 17th Bat.
August Hankey, 28th Inf.
Eaton Harris, 8th H. Art.
Henry J. Hunt, 8th H. Art.
John Ilarburger, 8th H. Art.
Lieut. James Harmon, 4th H. Art.
Charles Hills, 8th H. Art.
William Handy, 8th H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
Corp. Pulaski Jerome, 11th Art.
William Johnson, 17th Bat.
Edwin Johnson, 151st Inf.
Andrew Johnson, 13th Wis. Vols.
William Jordan, 13th Wis. Vols.
Edwin Jenkins, musician, 11th H. Art.
Joseph Jeroll, 105th Inf.
Alfred T. Johnson, 8th H. Art.
Charles A. King, 8th H. Art.
James L. Kenyon, 4th H. Art.
Durham Kenyon, 8th H. Art.
Edson Kimball, 8th H. Art.
George Kelley, 1st Sharpshooters.
Burt Kelloo-g, 27th Inf.
Oscar A. King, 8th H. Art.
Peter Kelly, 8th Cav.
Ezra M. Keys, 105th Inf.
John H. King, 27th Inf.
Lawrence P. Keegan, 1st Art.
J. B. Keeler, 25th Regulars.
Andrew Larwood, 27th Inf.
James T. Lowery, 8th H. Art.
William H. Luther, 8th H. Art.
William Lee, 108th Inf.
Wesley Locke, 24th Inf.
James R. Lyon, 6th Mich. Cav.
Major Lamont, 8th H. Art.
Milton Ludwig, 28th Inf.
Charles Loveland, 151st Inf.
Sergt. George Ireland, 28th Inf.
Hugh Lavery, 28th Inf.
Abel C. Lane, 26th Inf.
John Lowell, 28th Inf.
Delos Lewis, 28th Inf.
Ephraim La Riviere, 151st Inf.
Levi M. Lawrence, 151st Inf.
Sergt. John McFarlain, 129th Inf.
William H. Morse, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James Madill, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Corp. Clinton Murphy, 27th Inf.
Alex. McCandlish, 151st Inf.
George K. Mason, 90th Inf.
Sheppard Malone, 90th Inf.
Corp. Chauncey D. Mears, 90th Inf.
Samuel Male, 28th Inf.
Henry Murray, 8th ' . Art.
James Murray, 8th H. Art.
Milton Mull, 28th Inf.
William Marlow, 18th Ohio Vols.
Thomas Morrison, 8th H. Art.
George W. Moore, 8th H. Art.
Charles McOmber, 23d Vols.
Lorenzo McOmber, 17th Bat.
Eben Morehouse, 8th H. Art.
WiHiam Moore, 8th H. Art.
Corp. William Milligan, 94th Inf.
Charles N. Miller. 14th Art.
William C. Mason, 151st Inf.
Sergt. Miles McDonald, 8th H. Art.
John Marron, 14th Art.
Robert McCuUough, 28th Inf.
James McCullough, 28th Inf.
James McWeeny, 28th Inf.
Thomas Moffat, 28th Inf.
Ora B. Mitchell, 3d Art.
James K. Morrissey, 8th H. Art.
John McCarty, 8th H. Art.
Arthur McKinney, 28th Inf.
John McPherson, 27th Inf.
George McKendry, 3d Cav.
Corp. J. T. McNeil, 8th H. Art.
James Morrison, 8th H. Art.
Darius Maxwell, 8th H. Art.
Milton H. Merrill, 151st Inf.
Samuel McKay, 8th H. Art.
John McKenchy, 3d Cav.
Eben Mann, 8th H. Art.
George A. Marshall, 8th H. Art.
James Mann, 8th H. Art.
George Moore, 17th Bat.
John Martin, 8th H. Art.
John Newton, 8th H. Art.
Benj. F. Nicholas, 8th H. Art.
John J. Odekink, 4th Art.
Patrick O'Connor, 4th Art.
Abram C. Pierson, 8th H, Art.
WiHiam Powles, 151st Inf.
Arthur H. Prescott, 8th H. Art.
88
LANDMARKS OF
William H. Peaslee, 151st Inf.
G-eorge G. Plumbly, 151st Inf.
Corp. Orrin Parker, 8th H. Art.
Henry Perry, 129th Inf.
William H. Phillips, 1st Sharpshooters.
Sergt. Ira Poole, 1st Sharpshooters.
D. J. Plant. 8th H. Art.
R. W. Pierce, 151st Inf.
Franklin B. Porter, 8th H. Art.
William M. Parser, 8th H. Art.
Daniel W. Pullis, 8th H. Art.
George W. Pangburn, 151st Inf.
Mandeville Phelps, 151st Inf.
George W. Palmer, 28th Inf.
Newell Phelps, 151st Inf.
Lucien Riggs, 3d Cav.
Patrick Rowen, 3d Cav.
Corp. James Robinson, 8th H. Art.
William Riley, 151st Inf.
Cyrus E. Root, 14th H. Art.
James Robinson, 14th H. Art.
Corp. Albert Reed, 8th H. Art
Edward Reed, 151st Inf.
Lewis Rice, 151st Inf.
James Rose, 151st Inf.
Ambrayel Reed, 151st Inf.
Adelbert Root, 151st Inf.
Jacob Ross, 151st Inf.
James Roach, 164th Inf.
Orlando Reynolds, 14th Art.
Lysander Robbins, 8th H. Art.
Ovid P. Randall, 8th H. Art.
Ogden J. Reed, 8th H. Art.
Mace Raymond, 8th H. Art.
Oliver Rowley, 27th Inf.
George Snow, 14th Art.
Lieut. James Swain, N. J. Regt.
James M. SafiFord, N. J. Regt.
Charles Sawyer, N. J. Regi.
Samuel StaflFord, 8th H. Art.
Charles Stock, 8th H. Art.
Henry Stock, 8th H. Art.
Martin Smith, 129th Inf.
Leonord Simmons, 4th Art.
C. Spaulding, 151st Inf.
Salem Squires, 151st Inf.
Corp. Williard E. Stearns, 151st Inf.
Alonzo T. Salsbury, 151st Inf.
Sebastian Stearns, 105th Inf.
Henry Shipp, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Corp. Franklin M. Stone, 8th H. Art.
Elijah Smith, 8th H. Art.
Elisha Smith, 8th H. Art.
Harvey Smith, 8th H. Art.
Elisha D. Sanderson, 8th H. Art.
E. Squires, 27th Inf.
Surg. Arthur K. St. Clair, 1st Mich. Cav
Albert Stanton, 8th H. Art.
Zachary Smith, 8th II. Art.
George Lytle, 8th H. Art.
Thomas Strogan, 8th H. Art.
Neville H. Snyder, 105 Inf.
Henry Smith, 105th Inf.
William E. Stevens, 8th H. Art.
Oscar Stewart, 4th Art.
Eugene Stearnes, 28th Inf.
David Sanderson. 28th Inf.
Charles Yates Smith, 17th Bat.
William Soules, jr., 17th Bat.
George Soule, 1st Art.
George A. Sutton, 8th H. Art,
John Simmons, 37th Inf.
John Stewart, 27th Inf.
Eastman Thompson, 8th H. Art.
Allen Tompkins, 8th H. Art.
Edward Tompkins, 8th H. Art.
Lieut. B. B. Tanner, 151st Inf.
Zenas Tracy, 46th Inf.
Sergt.-Major Strinson Tirrill, 46th Inf.
Herbert C. Taylor, 140th Inf.^
Lewis Teyrrell, 8th H. Art.
Samuel Thorn, 151st Inf.
Ira Thornton, 27th Inf.
Asa Tooley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
John Tooley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Lorenzo Toney, 100th Inf.
John H. Tower, 8th Cav.
William B. Taylor, 129th Inf.
ORLEANS COUNTY
89
George W. Turrell, 8th H. Art.
William Trow, 8th H. Art.
John Travis, 8th H. Art.
Giflford L. TufF, 8th H. Art.
William H. Terry, 8th H. Art.
John Temple, 8th H. Art.
Charles W. Tibbetts, 27th Inf.
Freeman Vaughan, 14th Art.
Robert Voerhies, 14th Art.
Peter Vandyke, 8th H. Art.
Edwin H. Vedder. 3d Cav.
Henry Van Dresser, 8th H. Art.
Henry L. Van Dresser, 8th H. Art.
Corp. John M. Van Camp, 2d Mounted
Rifles.
Edgar Venton, 8th H. Art.
Richard H. Vedder, 17th Bat.
Alexander J. Vedder, 25th Bat.
Abram Vreeland, 28th Inf.
James Waterson, 8th Cav.
Stephen Williams, 8th H. Art.
Edward Williams, 94th Inf.
Albert T. Wilcox, 94th Inf.
Alden H. Warren, 151st Inf.
Albert Woodhull, 151st Inf.
John Wheeler, 151st Inf.
Wellmgton Wilsea, 76th Inf.
Capt. Carlos L. White, 8th H. Art.
Sergt. Amos P. Wetherbee, 8th H. Art.
Lieut. C. H. West, 8th H. Art.
George W. Weed, 151st Inf.
Charles Washburn, 151st Inf.
William Watson, 121st Inf.
Daniel Wilcox, 151st Inf.
Nathan S. Warren, 94th Inf.
Asa Williams, 94th Inf.
Clark E. Wolfrom, 151st Inf.
Sergt. John Wetherbee, 151st Inf.
Corp. John Welch, 28th Inf.
Asa Williams, 8th H. Art.
Lieut Albert A. Waring, 151st Inf.
William E. Wilson, 151st Inf.
Mark Ward, 14th Art.
George W. Wilson, 8th H. Art.
Patsey Welch, 8th H. Art.
Leonard A. Wilson, 64th Inf.
There are at present four G. A. R. posts in Orleans county — one at
Albion, one at Medina, one at Lyndonville, and one at Kendall. The
Orleans County Veteran Regiment was organized a number of years
ago by the veterans from each town, each of which constituted a com-
pany. At the first meeting they had over 300 men in line in parade.
In June, 1892, its present name, the Orleans County Veteran Associa-
tion, was adopted, and on June 21, 1894, the organization was made
a permanent one, with the resolution that its meetings hereafter be
held at the court house in Albion on the third Thursday in June of
each year, which is designated Soldiers' Day. Every veteran of the
county is, by virtue of his residence or citizenship, a member of the
association. The present officers are as follows : President, Albert
J. Potter, Clarendon; first vice-president, John Lake, Ridgeway ; sec-
retary, Henry J. Babbitt, Albion ; town vice presidents, Albion, William
H. Nichols ; Barre, George Stockton ; Carlton, W. R, Curtis ; Claren-
don, O. T. Cook; Gaines, Frank Ellicott ; Kendall, M. W. Kidder;
Murray, J. W. Dalton ; Ridgeway, S. M. Hood ; Shelby, Ziba Roberts ;
Yates, Thomas Strouse.
LANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER IX.
Since the War — Business Activity and Plentitudeof Money — Establishment of Vari-
ous Business and Pubhc Undertakings — County Statistics — Civil List— Political —
Orleans County Pioneer and Historical Association.
The close of the great civil war, which had cost the country so many
lives and such vast treasure, left the country, strange as it may seem,
in what appeared to be a flourishing and active condition, as far as
business was concerned. Of course this was a fictitious appearance.
Money was plenty; industrial undertakings of various kinds had been
inaugurated and were thriving ; and there was a prevailing fever and stir
in all circles and relations where finance was involved. The majority of
people felt a thrill of joy and hopefulness when the conflict was ended,
and it was only natural that with the general exaltation should be
mingled confidence in the continuation of the superabundance of money
and the prosperity of all business interests. The severe stringency of
1872-3 awakened the people from this delusion, and it was learned that
recovery from the effects of inflated currency and over-production is al-
ways slow and costly. Agricultural communities did not share in the
extravagant expectations or the ill effects of disappointment like the
great business centers — a statement which applies directly to Orleans
county.
The Orleans Savings Bank was incorporated in March, 1867, and the
village of Holley in the succeeding month. On the 27th of April, 1868,
an act was passed authorizing the canal commissioners to build vertical
stone walls on the berm bank of the canal in the villages of Albion and
Medina, at an expense of $3,000 in Medina, and $4,000 in Albion ;
this was a substantial and welcome improvement. Under an act of May
9, 1870, for extra canal repairs, the swing bridge on Main street in
Albion was constructed. An act of incorporation of the Orleans County
Soldiers' Monument Association was passed March 26, 1868, after the
proposition had been voted upon by the people of the county with a
favorable result. A further account appears in the chapter devoted to
the town of Albion,
ORLEANS COUNTY
91
In the spring of 1868 the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad Company
was organized at Oswego, with the intention of building a railroad along
the south shore of the lake, which should in time become part of a trunk
line from Boston to the west The towns of Kendall and Yates gave
their bonds in aid of the undertaking for $60,000 in the former town,
and $100,000 in the latter; towns in Niagara county also were bonded
in large sums. The work of construction proceeded slowly, and litigation
over the town bonds checked their sale and so crippled the company
that it could not complete the road. In 1875, the Rome, Watertown
and Ogdensburg Company assumed the undertaking and the work pro-
gressed. The track through Orleans county was laid in the fall of 1875
and reached Lewiston the next spring. The first passenger train ran
over the road June 12, 1876. Outside of the cost of the town bonds,
this road has been of material benefit to the county. It passes through
the three north towns of the county and is now operated by the N. Y.
C. & H. R. R. R. upon a lease of the road.
The population of Orleans county as shown in the census taken at
various dates since the organization of the county is as follows : 1850,
28,501; i860, 28,717; 1870, 27,689; 1880, 30,128; 1890,30,803.
Wheat was formerly the chief product of the county ; but in recent
years this cereal has been superseded largely by other grains and veg-
etables and especially fruits. The number of acres of improved land in
the county is now something over 200,000; in i860 it was 181,948
acres. This is divided into about 3,000 farms. The following table shows
the equalized valuation of real and personal estates for 1893 :
Assessors'
Assessors'
Assessors'
TOWNS.
Acreage.
Real.
Personal.
Total.
Sup. Real.
Sup. Total.
Albion
16,337
$2,682,952
$561,100
$3,244,052
$3,057426
$3,618,526
Barre
33,764
1,167,570
37,850
1,205,420
1,176,032
1.213,882
Carlton . . ,
26,385*
1,196.876
55,575
1,252,451
1,148,106
1,203,681
Clarendon. .
21,656
942,670
89,800
1,032,470
803,188
892,988
Gaines
21.138
1,112,820
158,100
1,270.920
1.349,746
1,507,846
Kendall. ..
19,944
898,466
61,550
960,016
842,469
904,019
Murray ....
18,633
1,868 937
159,025
2,027,962
1,592,562
1,751,587
Ridgewav. .
30,956
2,997,468
406.050
3,403,518
3,127,312
3,533,362
Shelby
28,628
1,827,515
88,850
1,916,365
1,633,940
1,722,790
Yates
22,559i
967,205
40,855
1,014,060
931,698
978,553
Total
240,001
$15,662,479
$1,664,755
$17,327,234
$15,662,479 $17,327,234
02 LANDMARKS OF
The climate and soil of Orleans county are especially adapted to the
growth of fruit, particularly apples. This industry has been largely
developed. During the first half of the century fruit-growing, while
not the chief occupation of farmers, gradually increased and it became
thoroughly established that herein lay a source of profit. About 1845,
when the demand for winter apples in the new Western States became
active, the farmers of Orleans began grafting their trees with choice
varieties, and planting new orchards. From that time on, at least until
very recent years, there has been a steady and rapid increase in the
orchard acreage. The fruit has flourished exceedingly in most parts of
the county, the climatic influence of the winds, which from the north,
northwest and northeast pass over open water before striking this terri-
tory, becoming thereby tempered and raising the average of winter
temperature, and at the same time serving as protection against late
spring and early autumn frosts. The atmosphere of the county is also
comparatively dry and the rainfall light, while the cool autumn winds
from the lake region retard the ripening of winter fruits, greatly en-
hancing the value of the apples. As a rule farmers have found excel-
lent market for their apples and at remunerative prices. For the last
ten years there has been shipped from the county an average of about
525,000 barrels of merchantable apples each year, the average price
paid being $1.50 per barrel. In addition to this there is a large quan-
tity of the inferior fruit that is evaporated and shipped in packages of
about twenty-five pounds each and the poorest fruit is manufactured
into cider in large quantities. There are now several large vinegar
factories in the county. The total receipts from the apple crop each
year will average about one million dollars, although the crop varies
largely from year to year, some years being almost a failure.
Another prominent feature of the agriculture of the county is the
growing of beans. This industry has been developed from a beginning
made in 1836 by Ira Winegar, who brought a small quantity of white
beans from Rensselaer county and gave some to Mr. Coe, of Yates. He
planted them and divided the three pecks which he harvested among
his sons and others. They planted two acres in 1838, and the crop
was sold to H. V. Prentice, of Albion, for $1.75 per bushel. In 1843
it is said that more than one hundred acres were planted in the town
ORLEANS COUNTY. 9;]
of Yates, with a considerable acreage in other towns. With the advent
of the weevil in wheat, reducing the acreage of that grain, beans be-
came a staple product. Since 1880 there has been an average crop
raised each year in the county of 375,000 bushels, usually bringing
from $1.50 to $2.00 per bushel, the usual yield per acre being about
twelve to twenty bushels. In some parts of the county onions and in
others tomatoes are largely raised.
The following items are of interest as bearing on the general pros-
perity of the county : For the fiscal year of 1893 the expense of sup-
porting the poor of the county was $9,705.39. The amount of county
audits was $13,787.15, The number of school districts in the county
is 141, and the number having school houses within the county is 126;
the number of teachers employed, 180; number of persons of school
age living in the county in June. 1893, 8,477. The receipts for school
purposes were: Public money, $26,644. 1 1 ; by tax, $37,575.08 ; trees
planted in 1892, 152.
Civil List. — When the State was divided by the second constitution
into eight senatorial districts, each entitled to four senators, Orleans
county was made a part of the eighth district. The present constitution
provides for thirty-two districts. Orleans, Niagara and Genesee consti-
tuted the Twenty-eighth District until 1857, when the number was
changed to the twenty-ninth. In 1879 the district was composed of
Monroe and Orleans, retaining the number the twenty-ninth. By the
act of 1892 the twenty- ninth is composed of the counties of Niagara,
Wyoming, Orleans, Livingston and Genesee.
State senators from this county. — Gideon Hard, 1842-47; A. Hyde
Cole, 1848-49; Ben Field, 1854-55 ; Almanzor Hutchinson, 1862-63;
Dan H. Cole, 1864-65, and 1874-77; Edmund L. Pitts, 1880-81, and
1882-83, and 1886-87.
On the formation of Orleans county it was united with Genesee in
the Twenty-ninth Congressional District. In 1832 Niagara and Orleans
became the Thirty- third District; in 1842, the Thirty fourth District ;
and in 185 i the Thirty-first District. An act of 1862 united Orleans
and Monroe to form the Twenty- eighth District, which was renumbered
the Thirtieth in 1873. In 1893 the Thirtieth District was rearranged
and now consists of the counties of Niagara, Orleans, Livingston, W^yo-
ming and Genesee, the same counties comprising the senatorial district.
94 LANDMARKS OF
Members cf Congress from Orleans County. — Alfred Babcock, Albion, sessions of
1841-44; Gideon Hard, Barre, 1833-37; Lorenzo Burrows, Albion, 1849-53; Silas M.
Burrows, 1857-60 (died at Medina on June 3, 1860, and was succeeded by Edwin R.
Reynolds, of Albion, who completed the second term of Mr. Burroughs) ; Noah Davis,
Albion, 1869-70; resigned and was appointed United States district attorney for the
Southern District of New York in 1870 and Charles H. Holmes, Albion, was elected to
fill vacancy, serving from 1870 to 1871 ; E. Kirke Hart, 1876-78.
Assemblymen. — Orleans county has always constituted one Assembly district, and
has been represented as follows : In the session of 1826, L. A. G. B. Grant ; 1827,
Abraham Cantine, Holley ; 1828, Lyman Bates, Ridgeway ; 1829, George W. Fleming,
Albion; 1830 and 1831, John H.Tyler, Yates; 1832, William J. Babbitt, Gaines; 1833,
Asahel Byington, Gaines; 1834 and 1835, Asa Clark, jr., Murray; 1836, John Cham-
berlain, Albion ; 1837, Silas M. Burroughs, Medina; 1838 and 1839, Horatio Reed;
1840, John J. Walbridge, Gaines; 1841, Richard W. Gates, Yates; 1842, Sanford
B. Church, Albion ; 1843, Elisha Wright, Barre Center; 1844, Sands Cole, Knowles-
ville; 1845, Gardner Goold, West Carlton; 1846, Dexter Kingmar, Medina; 1847,
Abner Hubbard, Murray ; 1848, Arba Chubb, Gaines ; 1849, Reuben Roblee, Kendall ;
1850, 1851, and 1853, Silas M. Burroughs, Medina; 1852, George M. Copeland, Claren-
don; 1854, Jeremiah Freeman; 1855. Elisha S. Whalen, Medina; 1856, Dan H.
Cole, Albion; 1857-59, Almanzor Hutchinson, Gaines; 1860, Abel Stilson, Barre
Center ; 1861, Gideon Randall, Kendall ; 1862, Nicholas E. Darrow, Clarendon ;
1863, John Parks, Medina ; 1864-1868, Edmund L. Pitts, Medina ; 1869, Marvin Har-
ris, Kendall; 3870 and 1871, John Berry, Holley; 1872, E. Kirk Hart, Albion; 1873-
75, Elisha S. Whalen, Medina; 1876 and 1877, J. D. Billings, Carlton ; 1878, Charles
H. Mattison, Barre; 1879, Henry A. Glidden ; 1880-81, Marcus H.Phillips, Holley;
1882-83. Henry M. Hard, Lyndonville ; 1884-85, J. M. Dibble ; 1886-7, Samuel A.
Bates; 1888-89, Ira Edwards; 1890-91, Wallace L'Hommedieu, Medina; 1892-93,
Adelbert J. McMcCormick ; 1894, Samuel W. Smith.
Sheriffs of Orleans Coonty. — Oliver Benton, 1825 ; William Allis, 1828 ; Harmon
Goodrich, 1831 ; Asahel Woodrufi", 1835 ; John Boardman, 1838 ; Horace B. Perry,
1841 ; Aram Beebe, 1844; Aus'.in Day, 1847 ; Rufus E. Hill, 1850; Ferdinand A. Day,
1853; George W. Bedell, 1856; Danly B. Sprague, 1859; Robert P. Bordwell, 1862;
Erastus M. Spaulding, 1865 ; Robert P. Bordwell, 1868 ; Benjamin F. Van Camp, 1871 ;
Thomas Parker, 1874; Oscar Munn, 1877; Erastus M. Spaulding, 1880; Sullivan E.
Howard, 1883 ; Edward P. Searle, 1886 ; A. Wilson Shelley, 1889 ; John G. Rice, 1892.
County Clerks.— Orson Nichoson, 1825; Abraham B.Mills, 1828; Timothy C.
Strong, 1834; Elijah Dana, 1843; Harmon Goodrich, 1848 (appointed vice Dana, de-
ceased); Dan H. Cole, 1848 ; Willard F. Warren, 3 854 ; John P. Church, 1857; George
A. Porter, 1858 (appointed vice Church deceased) ; James M. Palmer, 1859; Edwin F.
Browne, 1862; George A. Porter, 1865; George D. Church, 1868; Marcus H. Phillips,
1871; Lucius R. Post, 1874; George A. Newell (twice re-elected), 1877; Wihiam F.
Ross, 1886 ; Alvin R. Allen, 1889, re-elected 1892.
County Treasurers. — John H. Denio, 1848; Ambrose Wood, 1851 ; Joseph M. Cor-
nell, 1857 ; Ezra T. Coann, 1863 ; Samuel C. Bowen, 1866 ; Albert S. Warner, 1869 ;
Augustus W. Barnett, 1872 ; Joseph A. Wall, 1875 ; Augustus W. Barnett, 1887 ;
ORLEANS COUNTY. 95
Joseph A. Wall (re-elected), 1881 ; Howard Abeel, 1887 ; R. Titus Coann, 1890 ;
George A. Newell, 1893.
By the act of April 17, 1843, board of supervisors were directed to
appoint county superintendents of schools. The office was abolished
by the constitution of 1846. The following persons held the office in
this county : Edwin R. Reynolds, Jonathan O. Wilsea, John G. Smith,
Prior to 1857 school commissioners were appointed by the board of
supervisors ; since then they have been elected on a separate ballot.
The first election under the act creating the office was held in Novem-
ber, 1859; the term is three years, and the following have held the of-
fice in Orleans county : Oliver Morehouse, Marcus H. Phillips, Mon-
traville Root, Abel A. Stilson, James H. Mattison, William W. Phipps,
Edward Posson, Charles W. Smith, Elbert O. Smith,
In addition to the foregoing official notes, it should be added that
Judge Sanford E. Church was elected lieutenant-governor November
5, 1850; comptroller of the State, November 3, 1857; was a delegate
to the constitutional convention of 1867, ^"<^ chief judge of the Court
of Appeals in 1870. Judge Church's colleague in the constitutional
convention from this county was Ben Field ; and the county was repre-
sented in the convention of 1846 by William Penniman.
Lorenzo Burrows was elected State comptroller November 7, 1855,
and appointed regent of the university February 7, 185 i, serving with
distinction in both stations.
Asa Clark was chosen a presidential elector in 1832, John D. Per-
kins in 1844, George H. Sickels in 1872, and H. Eugene English in
1884.
Gideon Hard, of Albion, was appointed canal appraiser April 4,
1848; George B. Church, of Albion, was appointed superintendent of
the insurance department May 13, 1872, and deputy state treasurer
1 890- 1 894. Myron L. Parker was elected in 1893 a member of the
constitutional convention of 1894. Edwin L. Wage was supervisor of
the census for the Tenth District in 1890.
The following is a statement of the votes cast for the principal candi-
dates at important elections since the organization of the county :
1826, Governor— De Witt Clinton, National Republican, 884; William B. Rochester,
Democrat, 945.
06 LANDMARKS OF
1828, Governor— Solomon Southwick, Anti-Mason, 1,467 ; Smith Thompson, Na-
tional Repubhcan, 566 ; Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 839. President— John Q. Ad-
ams, National Republican, 936; Andrew Jackson, Democrat, 1,584.
1830, Governor— Francis Granger, Anti-Mason, 1,663 ; Enos T. Throop, Democrat,
933.
1832, Governor— Francis Granger, Anti-Mason, 1,680 ; William L. Marcy, Democrat,
1396. President, Andrew Jackson, Democrat, 1,424 ; Henry Clay, Whig, 1,656.
1834, Governor— William L. Marcy, Democrat, 1,918 ; William H. Seward, Whig,
1,862.
1836, Governor— William L. Marcy, Democrat, 1,869; Jesse Buel, Whig, 1,826.
President— Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 1,825 ; William H. Harrison, Whig, 1,829.
1838, Governor— William H. Seward, 2,236 ; William L. Marcy, Democrat, 1,830.
1840, Governor— William H. Seward, Whig, 2,579; William C. Bouck, Democrat,
2,082; Gerrit Smith, Liberty, 75. President — William H. Harrison, Whig, 2,606;
Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 2,031.
1842, Governor— Luther Bradish, Whig, 2,143 ; William C. Bouck, Democrat. 2,103;
Alvan Stewart, Liberty, 91.
1844, Governor—Millard Fillmore, Whig, 2,609; Silas Wright, Democrat, 2.359; Al-
van Stewart, Liberty, 249. President — Henry Clay, Whig, 2,006 ; James K. Polk,
Democrat, 2,311 ; James G. Birney, Liberty, 276.
1846, Governor— John Young, 2,300 ; Silas Wright, 2,097 ; Henry Bradley, Liberty,
154.
1848, Governor— Hamilton Fish, Whig, 2,472; John A Dix, Free Soil, 1,736; Reu-
ben H. Walworth. Democrat, 922. President— Zachary Taylor, Whig, 2,402 ; Lewis
Cass, Democrat, 1,722; Martin Van Buren, Free Soil, 918.
1850, Governor — Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 2,491; Washington Hunt, Whig,
2,635.
1852, Governor— Washington Hunt, Whig, 2,762; Horatio Seymour, Democrat^
2,284; President, Winfield Scott, Whig, 2,586; Franklin Pierce, Democrat, 2,267.
1854, Governor— Myron H. Clark, Whig, 1,533; Daniel Ullman, American, 1,985 ;
Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 626.
1856, Governor — Erastus Brooks, American, 1,502; John A. King, Republican, 3,065;
Amasa J. Parker, Democrat, 1,013. President — John C. Fremont, Republican, 3,075;
James Buchanan, Democrat, 1,053 ; Millard Fillmore, American, 1,425.
1858, Governor — Edwin D. Morgan, Republican, 2,579; Lorenzo Burrows, Ameri-
can, 976; Amasa J. Parker, Democrat, 1,190.
1860, Governor — Edwin D. Morgan, Republican, 3,835; William Kelley, Democrat,
2,230. President— Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 3,859 ; Stephen A. Douglass, Demo-
crat, 2,246.
1862, Governor— James Wadsworth, Repubhcan, 3,237; Horatio Seymour, Democrat,
2,078.
1864, Governor — Reuben E. Fenton, Republican, 3,769 ; Horatio Seymour, Demo-
crat, 2,442. President— Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 3,752 ; George B. McClellan,
Democrat, 2,458.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 97
1866, Governor— Reuben B. Fenton, Republican, 3,585 ; John J. Hoffman, Democrat,
2,106.
1868, Governor— John A. Griswold, Republican, 3,882; John T. Hoffman, Democrat,
2,482. President — U. S.Grant, Republican, 3,904; Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 2,446.
1870, Governor—John T. Hoffman, Democrat, 2.380; Stewart L. Woodford, Repub-
lican, 3,607.
1872, Governor — John A. Dix, Republican, 3,872 ; Francis Kernan, Democrat, 2,518.
President- — U.S. Grant, Rei)ublican, 3,857; Horace Greeley, Democrat and Liberal
Republican, 2,391.
1874, Governor — John A. Dix, Republican, 3,147; Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat,
2,567.
1876, Governor — Edwm D. Morgan, Republican, 4,222; Lucuis Robinson, Democrat,
3,133. President — R. B. Hayes. Republican, 4,253; Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat,
3,117.
1879, Governor — Alonzo B. Cornell, Republican, 3,445; Lucius Robinson, Democrat,
1,677.
1880, President — James A. Garfield, Republican, 4,581 ; Winfield S Hancock, Demo-
crat, 3,104.
1882, Governor — Charles J. Folger, Republican, 2,549; Grover Cleveland, Demo-
crat, 3,118.
1884, President — Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 2,908; James G. Blaine, Republican,
3,997.
1885, Governor — Ira Davenport, Republican, 3,121 ; David B. Hill, Democrat, 2,495.
1888, Governor— Warner Miller, Republican, 4,226 ; David B. Hill, Democrat, 3,243.
President, Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 4.277 ; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 3,214.
1891, Governor — J. Sloat Fasset, Republican, 3,387 ; Roswell P. Flower, Democrat,
2,269.
1892, President — Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 4,013 ; Grover Cleveland, Democrat,
3,065.
1893, Secretary of State— John Palmer, Republican, 3,302; Cord Meyer, Democrat,
2,299.
The Orleans County Pioneer and Historical Association was organ-
ized in June, 1859, as the Orleans County Pioneer Association, the
present name being adopted at the annual meeting in June, 1893. At
its organization only residents of Western New York who had settled
here prior to January, 1826, were eligible to membership; this restric-
tion was subsequently removed, and now the requirements are that
members shall reside in Orleans county and be thirty- one years of age.
The inception of this society was mainly due to the energetic efforts of
Judge Arad Thomas, who was long its president and moving spirit.
Its aims were to collect and preserve the pioneer history of the several
13
1)8 LANDMARKS OF
towns, foster thorough research mto hiatorical and biographical sub-
jects pertaining to the county, and encourage and advance personal
acquaintance and mutual interests. Annual meetings have been held
at the court house in Albion ever since its organization, and nearly
every year pioneer picnics have occurred at suitable places. Its work
has been thorough, interesting and valuable, and it has efficiently car-
ried out the designs of its originators. Through its influence several local
historical societies or clubs have been started in various towns, a more
extended notice of which appears in their respective town histories.
The officers elected in June, 1894, are as follows: Ezra T. Coann,
Albion, president : Capt. Henry Tanner, first recording secretary ; Os-
sian Goodwin, second recording secretary ; Prof. Freeman A. Greene,
Albion, corresponding secretary ; John Bidleman, treasurer. The as-
sociation also has a vice president residing in each town ; and for the
historical department a committee of three is appointed for each town
in the county.
CHAPTER X.
Comparison of State Law with the Common Law — Evolution of the Courts — The
Court of Appeals — The Supreme Co..rt^The Court of Chancery — The County Court —
The Surrogate's Court — Justice's Court — District Attorneys — Sheriffs — Court House —
Judicial Officers — Personal Notes.
The statement is commonly made that the judicial system of the
State of New York is largely founded upon the common law of Eng-
land. While this is true to a great extent, there are important differ-
ences revealed by a close study of the history of the laws of this State,
showing that our system is in many important respects an original
growth. In the simple yet initiative matter of entitling a criminal
process, for example, there is a radical difference between our method
and that which must be followed in England. Here it is " the people
versus the criminal; " there, " rex versus the criminal." In the one, it
is an independent judiciary, responsible directly to the people; in the
other the court is subservient to the king.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 0!^)
This principle of the sovereignty of the people over our laws, as well
as their dominance in other respects, has had a slow, conservative, yet
steadily progressive and systematic growth. In the early history of
the State the governor was in effect the maker, interpreter, and en-
forcer of the laws. He was the chief judge of the court of final resort,
while his councillors were generally his obedient followers. The execu-
tion of the English and colonial statutes rested with him, as did also
the exercise of royal authority in the province ; and it was not until the
adoption of the first constitution in 1777, that he ceased to contend for
these prerogatives and to act as though the only functions of the
court and councillors were to do his bidding as servants and helpers,
while the Legislature should adopt only such laws as the executive
might suggest and approve. By the first constitution the governor
was wholly stripped of the judicial power which he possessed under the
colonial rule, and such power was vested in the lieutenant-governor
and the Senate, the chancellor and the justices of the Supreme Court;
the former to be elected by the people, and the latter to be appointed
by the council. Under this constitution there was the first radical
separation of the judicial and the legislative powers, and the advance-
ment of the judiciary to the position of a co-ordinate department of the
government, and subject to the limitation consequent upon the appoint-
ment of its members by the council.
But even this restriction was soon felt to be incompatible, though it
was not until the adoption of the constitution of 1846 that the last con-
nection between the purely political and the judicial parts of the State
government was abolished ; and with it disappeared the last remaining
relic of the colonial period as regards the laws. From this time on the
judiciary became more directly representative of the people in the elec-
tion by them of its members. The development of the idea of the
responsibility of the courts to the people, from the time when all its
members were at the beck and nod of one well-nigh irresponsible
master, to the time when all judges, even of the court of last resort, are
voted for by the people, has been remarkable. Yet, through all this
change there has prevailed the idea of one ultimate tribunal from whose
decision there can be no appeal.
100 LANDMARKS OF
Noting briefly the present arrangement and powers of the courts of
this State and the elements from which they have grown, we see that
the whole scheme is involved in the idea of, first, in actions at law, a
trial before a magistrate and jury — arbiters respectively of law and
fact — and in equity actions before the court without a jury, and then a
review by a higher tribunal of the facts and the law, and ultimately of
the law by a court of last resort. To accomplish the purposes of this
scheme there has been devised and established, first, the present Court
of Appeals, the ultimate tribunal of the State, perfected in its present
form by the conventions of 1867 and 1868, and ratified by a vote of
the people in 1869, and taking the place of the old " court for the trial
of impeachment and correction of errors " to the extent of correcting
errors of law. As first organized under the constitution of 1846, the
Court of Appeals was composed of eight judges, four of whom were
elected by the people and the remainder chosen from the justices of the
Supreme Court having the shortest time to serve. As organized in
1869, and now existing, the court consists of the chief judge and six
associate judges, who hold office for a term of fourteen years, from and
including the first day of January after their election. This court is
continually in session at the capitol in Albany, except as it takes recees
from time to time on its own motion. It has full power to correct or
reverse the decisions of all inferior courts when properly before it for
review. Five judges constitute a quorum, and four must concur to
render judgment. If four do not agree the case must be reargued;
but no more than two rehearings can be had, and if then four judges do
not concur, the judgment of the court below stands affirmed. The
Legislature has provided by statute how and when proceedings and
decisions of inferior tribunals may be reviewed in the Court of Appeals,
and may, in its discretion, alter or amend the same. Upon the re-
organization of the court in 1869 its work was far in arrears, and the
law commonly known as the " Judiciary Act " provided for a Commis-
sion of Appeals to aid the Court of Appeals. And still more recently,
in 1888, the Legislature passed a concurrent resolution that Section 6
of Article 6 of the constitution be amended so that upon the certificate
of the Court of Appeals to the governor of such an accumulation of
causes on the calendar of the Court of Appeals that the public interests
ORLEANS COUNTY. 101
required a more speedy disposition thereof, the governor might desig-
nate seven justices of the Supreme Court to act as associate judges, for
the time being, of the Court of Appeals, and to form a second division
of that court, and to be dissolved by the governor when the necessity
for their services ceased to exist. This amendment was submitted to
the people of the State at the general election of that year and was
ratified, and in accordance therewith the governor selected seven Su-
preme Court justices, who were constituted the second division of the
Court of Appeals.
The only incumbent of the high office of judge of the Court of Ap-
peals from Orleans county was Sanford E. Church, elected chief justice
in 1870, a sketch of whose life is given a little further on in this
chapter.
Second to the Court of Appeals in rank and jurisdiction stands the
Supreme Court, which as it now exists, is made up of many and widely
different elements. It was originally created by the act of the Colonial
Legislature May 6, 1691, and finally by ordinance of the governor and
council, May 15, 1699, and empowered to try all issues to the same
extent as the English courts of king's bench, common pleas and ex-
chequer, except in the exercise of equity powers. It had jurisdiction
in actions involving ;{J"20 ($100) and over, and to revise and correct the
decisions of inferior courts. An appeal lay from it to the governor and
council. The judges — at first there were five of them — annually made
a circuit of the counties, under a commission naming them, issued by
the governor and giving them nisi priiis, oyer and terminer, and jail
delivery poweis. Under the first constitution the court was reorgan-
ized, the judges being then named by the council of appointment. All
proceedings were directed to be entitled in the name of the people, in-
stead of that of the king.
By the constitution of 1821 many and important changes were made
in the character and methods of this court. The judges were reduced
in number to three and appointed by the governor, with the consent of
the Senate, to hold office during good behavior, or until sixty years of
age. They were removable by the Legislature when two-thirds of the
Assembly and a majority of the Senate so voted. Four times each
year the full court sat in review of their decisions upon questions of
102 LANDMARKS OP
law. By the constitution of 1846 the Supreme Court as it then existed
was abolished, and a new court of the same name, and having general
jurisdiction in law and equity, was established in its place. This court
was divided into general terms, circuits, special terms and oyer and
terminer. Its members were composed of thirty- three justices, to be
elected by the people, and to reside, five in the first and four in each of
the other seven judicial districts into which the State was divided. By
the judiciary act of 1847 general terms were to be held at least once in
each year in counties having more than forty thousand inhabitants, and
in other counties at least once in two years ; and at least two special
terms and two circuit courts were to be held yearly in each county, ex-
cept Hamilton. By this act the court was authorized to name the
times and places of holding its terms, and those of oyer and terminer;
the latter being a part of the circuit court and held by the justice, the
county judge and two justices of sessions. Since 1882 the oyer and
terminer has consisted of a single justice of the Supreme Court.
It is proper at this point to describe one of the old courts, the powers
of which have been vested in the Supreme Court. We refer to the
Chancery Court, an heirloom of the colonial period, which had its origin
in the Court of Assizes, the latter being invested with equity powers
under the duke's laws. The court was established in 1683, and the
governor, or such person as he should appoint, assisted by the council,
was designated as its chancellor. In 1698 the court went out of exist-
ence by limitation ; was revised by ordinance in 1701 ; suspended in
1703, and re-established in the next year. At first the Court of Chan-
cery was unpopular in the province, the Assembly and the colonists op-
posing it with the argument that the crown had no authority to establish
an equity court in the colony, and doubtful of the propriety of consti-
tuting the governor and council such a court. Under the constitution
of 1777 the court was recognized, but its chancellor was thereby pro-
hibited from holding any other office except delegate to Congress on
special occasions. Upon the reorganization of the court in 1778 by
convention of representatives, masters and examiners in chancery
were provided to be appointed by the Council of Appointment ; regis-
ters and clerks by the chancellor. The latter licensed all solicitors and
councillors of the court. Under the constitution of 1821 the chancellor
ORLEANS COUNTY. IO.3
was appointed by the governor and held office during good behavior,
or until sixty years of age. Appeals lay from the Chancery Court to
the Court for the Correction of Errors. Under the second constitution
equity powers were vested in the circuit judges, and their decisions were
reviewable on appeal to the chancellor. But this equity character was
soon taken from the circuit judges and thereafter devolved upon the
chancellor, while the judges alluded to acted as vice-chancellors in their
respective circuits. But, by the radical changes made by the constitu-
tion of 1846, the Court of Chancery was abolished, and its powers,
duties and jurisdiction vested in the Supreme Court, as before stated.
By act of the Legislature adopted in 1848, and entitled the "Code
of Procedure," all distinctions between actions of law and suits in equity
were abolished, so far as the manner of commencing and conducting
them was concerned, and one uniform method of practice was adopted.
Under this act appeals lay to the general term of the Supreme Court
from judgments rendered in mayor's or recorder's, and county courts,
and from all orders and decisions of a justice at special term of the
Supreme Court, as well as from trials at Circuit and from criminal mat-
ters in courts of record.
The judiciary article of the constitution of 1846 was amended in
1869 authorizing the Legislature, not oftener than once in five years, to
provide for the organization of General Terms, consisting of a presiding
justice and not more than three associates ; but by Chapter 408 of the
laws of 1870 the then organization of the General Term was abrogated
and the State divided into four departments and provision made for
holding General Terms in each. By the same act the governor was
directed to designate from among the justices of the Supreme Court a
presiding justice and two associates to constitute a General Term in each
department. Under the authority of the constitutional amendment
adopted in 1882, the Legislature in 1883 divided the State into five
judicial departments, and provided for the election of twelve additional
justices to hold office from the first Monday in June, 1884.
In June, 1887, the Legislature enacted the Code of Civil Procedure
to take the place of the code of 1848. By this many minor changes
were made, among them a provision that every two years the justices
of the general terms and the chief judges of the superior city courts
104 LANDMARKS OF
should meet and revise and establish general rules of practice for all the
courts of record in the State, except the Court of Appeals.
Such are, in brief, the changes through which the Supreme Court of
this State has passed in its growth from the prerogative of an irrespon-
sible governor to one of the most independent and enlightened instru-
mentalities for the protection and attainment of the rights of citizens
of which any State or nation can rightfully boast. So well is this fact
understood by the people, that by far the greater amount of business,
which might be done in inferior courts at less expense, is taken to this
court for settlement.
To the office of judge of the Supreme Court Noah Davis, then a resi-
dent of Albion, was chosen April 3, 1857, and Henry A. Childs, a
resident of Medina, in 1883.
Next in importance to the Supreme Court is the County Court, held
in and for each county of the State at such time and places as its judges
may direct. But at least two terms must be held each year for the
trial of issues of law and fact. This court had its origin in the English
Court of Sessions, and, like that court, had at first criminal jurisdiction
only. By an act passed in 1683 a Court of Sessions, having power to
try both civil and criminal causes by jury, was directed to be held by
three justices of the peace in each of the counties of the province twice
a year, with an additional term in Albany and two in New York. By
the act of 1691 and the decree of 1699, ^'^ civil jurisdiction was taken
from this court and conferred upon the Court of Common Pleas. By the
sweeping changes made by the constitution of 1846, provision was made
for a County Court in each county of the State, excepting New York,
to be held by an officer to be designated the county judge, and to have
such jurisdiction as the Legislature might prescribe Under authority
of this constitution the county courts have been given, from time to
time, jurisdiction in various classes of actions which need not be enu-
merated here, and have also been invested with certain equity powers
in the foreclosure of mortgages ; to sell infants' real estate ; to partition
lands; to admeasure dower and care for the persons and estates of
lunatics and habitual drunkards. The judiciary act of 1869 continued
the existing jurisdiction of county courts, and conferred upon them
original jurisdiction in all actions in which the defendants lived within
^
J^T'^^^^^^t-^^-^Ds?
ORLEANS COUNTY. 105
the county, and the damages claimed did not exceed $i,ooo. Like the
Supreme Court, the County Court now has its civil and its criminal side.
In criminal matters the county judge is assisted by two justices of
sessions, elected by the people from among the justices of the peace in
the county. It is in the criminal branch of this court, known as the
Sessions, having jurisdiction of all offenses not punishable by death,
that all the minor criminal offenses are now disposed of. All indict-
ments of the grand jury, excepting for murder or some very serious fel-
ony, are sent to it for trial from the Oyer and Terminer. By the codes
of 1848 and 1877, the methods of procedure and practice were made
to conform as nearly as possible to the practice in the Supreme Court.
This was done with the evident design of attracting litigation into these
courts, thus relieving the Supreme Court. In this purpose there has
been failure, litigants much preferring the shield and assistance of the
broader powers of the Supreme Court. By the judiciary act the term
of office of county judges was extended from four to six years. Under
the codes the judges can perform the duties of a justice of the Supreme
Court at chambers. The County Court has appellate jurisdiction over
actions arising in justice's courts and courts of special sessions. Ap-
peals lay from the County Court to the General Term. County judges
were appointed until 1847, after which they were elected.
First Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. — Elijah Foot, April 22,
1825; Alexis Ward, February 10, 1830; Henry Angevine, January
27, 1840; Benjamin L. Bessac, February 7, 1841 ; James Gilson, Janu-
ary 10, 1846. (This office was abolished by the new constitution of
1846, as before described.)
County Judges. — Henry R. Curtis, June, 1847; Dan H. Cole (ap-
pointed vice Curtis deceased), September 24, 1855; Gideon Hard,
November, 1855; Arad Thomas, November, 1858; Edwin R. Rey-
nolds, November, 1863 ; John G. Sawyer (re-elected), November, 1867 ;
Isaac S. Signor, November, 1883. Re-elected in 1889 and now occu-
pying the position.
Surrogate's Courts, one of which exists in each of the counties of
the State, are now courts of record having a seal. Their special juris-
diction is the settlement and care of estates of persons who have died
either with or without a will, and care of the person and estates of in-
lOG LANDMARKS OF
fants. The derivation of the powers and practice of the Surrogate's
Court in this State is from the Ecclesiastical Court of England through
a part of the Colonial Council, which existed during the Dutch rule
here, and exercised its authority in accordance with the Dutch and
Roman law, the custom of Amsterdam, the Court of Burgomasters
and Scheppens, the Court of Orphan Masters, the Mayor's Court,
the Prerogative Court, and the Court of Probates. The settle-
ment of estates and the guardianship of orphans, which was at
first vested in the director-general and Council of New Netherlands,
was transferred to the burgomasters in 1653, and soon afterwards to
the orphan masters. Under the colony the Prerogative Court controlled
all matters in relation to the probate of wills and settlement of estates
and granting marriage licenses. This power continued until 1692,
when by act of legislation all probates and granting of letters of ad-
ministration were to be under the hand of the governor or his delegate;
and two freeholders were appointed in each town to take charge of the
estates of persons dying without a will. Under the duke's laws this
duty had been performed by the constables, overseers, and justices of
each town. In 1778 the governor was divested of all this power ex-
cepting the appointment of surrogates, and it was conferred upon the
Court of Probates. Under the first constitution surrogates were ap-
pointed by the Council of Appointment ; under the second constitution
by the governor with the approval of the Senate. The constitution of
1846 abrogated the office of surrogate in all counties having less than
40,000 population, and conferred its powers and duties upon the county
judge. By the Code of Civil Procedure surrogates were invested with
all the necessary powers to carry out the equitable and incidental re-
quirements of their office.
Surrogates. — (Under the second constitution surrogates were ap-
pointed by the governor; since that they have been elected). William
White, April 19, 1825; Alexis Ward, April 3, 1829; John Chamber-
lain, March 8, 1833; Thomas S. Clark, January 21, 1836, and January
21, 1844; Dan H. Cole, January 21, 1840. Since which time the
county judge has acted as surrogate.
The only remaining courts which are common to the State are the
Special Sessions held by a justice of the peace for the trial of minor
ORLEANS COUNTY. 107
oftences, and Justice's Courts with limited jurisdiction. Previous to
the constitution of 1821, modified in 1826, justices of the peace were
appointed ; since that date they have been elected. The office and its
duties are descended from the English office of the same name, but are
much less important here than there, and under the laws of this State
are purely the creature of the statute.
The office of district attorney was formerly known as assistant attor-
ney-general. The districts then embraced several counties in each and
were seven in number. At first the office was filled by the governor
and council during pleasure. The office of district attorney, as now
known, was created April 4, iSoi. By a law passed in April, 1818,
each county was constituted a separate district for the purposes of this
office. During the era of the second constitution district attorneys
were pppointed by the Court of General Sessions in each cou-nty.
District attorneys in Orleans county. — Under the second constitu-
tion, adopted in 1822, the district attorneys were appointed by the
Court of General Sessions, which practice was followed until 1846, since
which year they have been elected, as follows: George W. Fleming,
1828; Henry R, Curtis, 1831; George W. Fleming, 1832; Henry R.
Curtis, 1836; Sanford E. Church, 1846 (and June, 1847); William K.
McAllister, 1850; Benjamin L. Bessac, 1853; Henry D. Tucker, 1856;
John W. Graves, 1859; John G. Sawyer, 1862 ; Irving M, Thompson,
1865; Henry A. Childs (twice re-elected), 1868; Charles A. Keeler,
1877; Isaac S. Signor, 1880; Clark D, Knapp, 1883; William P. L.
Stafford, 1886 and 1889; and Edward B. Simons, 1892,
The act of Legislature creating Orleans county provided for the holding
of courts of common pleas and general sessions of the peace three terms
in each year, the first term to begin on the third Tuesday of February ;
the second on the third Tuesday of May, and the third on the third
Tuesday of September. It also appointed Samuel G. Hathaway, of
Cortland county ; Philetus Swift, of Ontario county, and Victory Birds-
eye, of Onondaga county, as commissioners to determine upon a site
for a court house, and " to make known their determination on the first
Monday in June, 1826." The act also directed the supervisors of Or-
leans county to meet at the house of Selah Bronson, in Gaines, on the
first Monday in June, 1826, and appoint commissioners to superintend
108 LANDMARKS OF
the building of the court house, and to assess and collect $3,000 for
that purpose. Pending the erection of court house and jail, criminals
were to be sent to Genesee county for confinement. The supervisors
and judges of Orleans county were directed to meet at Selah Bronson's
on the third Monday in May, 1826, to nominate justices of the peace;
and the election of sheriff, county clerk and coroners was directed to be
held on the first Tuesday of April, of that year.
The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held at the house
of Hiram Sickles, in Albion, on the i6th of June, 1826, "for the pur-
pose of accepting a deed of the land on which the public buildings were
to be built." At this meeting a committee consisting of Robert Ander-
son and Jeremiah Brown, was appointed "to examine the title and
make a survey." The committee made their report to an adjourned
meeting on the 22d of June. This land was donated by Nehemiah In-
gersoll, and comprised about one- half of the square now occupied by
the public buildings. The title was accepted and it was resolved " that
$500 of the money now in the hands of the treasurer be appropriated
to the use of building the court house and jail."
Previous to the location of the county seat in Albion and the build-
ing of the court house, the courts were held at the hotel of Mr. Bron-
son, in Gaines, as before stated. It was then believed that the county
seat would remain permanently in that town, and the most active and
prosperous village grow up there ; for some years after the county seat
was fixed in Albion, the enterprising people of Gaines kept up the com-
petition between the two places; but they were soon compelled to ac-
knowledge defeat. The tide turned as far as the county seat was in-
volved when the commissioners visited Albion and Nehemiah Inger-
soll offered to donate the finest lots in the village for the public build-
ings. No more eligible or beautiful site could have been selected.
At a meeting held in October, 1827, the sum of $300 was appropri-
ated "for finishing the court house and jail."
The act authorizing the building of the first court house named Gil-
bert Howell, of Ridgeway ; Elihu Mather, of Gaines, and Calvin
Smith, of Barre, commissioners to erect the building and a jail, pro-
vided that "a suitable and convenient lot or lots for said court house
and jail shall have been first conveyed to the supervisors of Orleans
ORLEANS COUNTY. 109
county." The supervisors were authorized to raise $6,000 for this pur-
pose, to be paid in annual instalments of $500. The court house erec-
ted under these provisions was of brick, about half as large as the pres-
ent one, and served its purpose until 1857-8, when it had become
wholly inadequate for the public business, and the present one was
built at a cost of about $20,000.
An act of the Legislature of April 18, 1828, directed that the county
courts *■ shall after the passage of this act be held at the court house in
Albion, on the third Mondays of January, June and September." Cells
for prisoners were provided in the court house, which sufficed until
1838, when the first jail was built of hewn timbers ; it stood on the site
of the present jail.
The first Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions held for the
county, was at the house of Mr. Bronson, July 22, 1825. Present —
Hon. Elijah Foot, first judge ; Eldridge Farwell, William J. Moody,
William Penniman and Cyrus Harwood, judges. The members of the
grand jury at this court were Ralph H. Brown, William Love, Harvey
Goodrich, Hiram Sickels, Henry Carter, Hiram Frisbie, David Sturges,
Joseph Hamilton, Levi Preston, John Proctor, Robert Anderson, Ze-
lotes Sheldon, Silas Benton, Ebenezer M. Pease, L. A. G. B. Grant,
Benjamin Howe. Elijah Bent, Abraham Cantine, Eri Wood and Oliver
Bennett.
William Lewis, sheriff. Orange Butler, district attorney. Orson
Nicholson, clerk.
The brief record of the opening of the first circuit court is as follows :
At a Circuit Court iield at the house of Selah Bronson, in the town of Gaines, in and
for the county of Orleans, on Thursday, the 13th day of October, 1825, present: His
Honor, Williann B. Rochester, judge eiglith circuit.
David Strickland,
William Gates,
Abel Tracy,
Montgomery Percival,
E. Perrigo,
Zardius Tousley,
Constables.
The following persons appeared and were sworn as traverse jurors,
to- wit :
no
LANDMARKS OP
Martin Hobart, Oliver Brown, Samuel Norton, Joshua Raymond,
Nathan Whitney, Curtis Tomlinson, Zebulon Packard, Thomas Annis,
Zardius Tousley, Dudley Watson, Seymour Murdoch, Ephraim Masten,
Oliver Booth, 2d ; Daniel Gates, Archibald L. Daniels, Richard M'Om-
ber, Timothy Ruggles Daniel -Reed, Ethan Graham, John Hall, Philo
Elmer, Joseph Davis, John Sherwood.
There were four cases tried by jury, namely : Moses Bacon vs. Ger-
shom Proctor. Samuel Finch vs. Charles Sayres. Benjamin Babcock
vs. Curtis Tomlinson and Sophia Kingsbury. Irene Leach vs. Henry
Drake.
] III J
m
.^-
?^^H
Blllillailim
^^^^^^i^%a
^S
i^S
Public Buildings, Albion, 1840.— From an old print.
For about ten years after the building of the court house the county
records were kept in a room in that building, in the northeast corner of
the basement. On the 5th of March, 1836, the supervisors were
authorized by an act of Legislature to raise $2,000, and erect a fire-
proof clerk's office. Abraham B. Mills, Harvey Goodrich and Roswell
S. Burroughs were the commissioners to determine the site " on or near
where the present clerk's office now stands," as the act stated it. The
building erected under this act was used until 1882, when measures
were adopted to build a larger structure.
In 1882 the erection of the present county clerk's and surrogate's
office was commenced. The grounds formerly occupied by Phipps
ORLEANS COUNTY. Ill
Union Seminary was purchased for $10,000, of which the county paid
$7,000 and the village of Albion $3,000. The building cost from
$20,000 to $25,000. The basement is Medina sandstone and the
superstructure of brick trimmed with granite. The floors are marble,
the ceilings of iron and the roof of slate. It is a fire proof structure.
The lower floor is used as a county clerk's office and the upper floor as
a surrogate's office. It is about 35x60 feet in dimensions and for the
size of the county is one of the most convenient and commodious build-
ings in the State.
Bar Association. — The Orleans County Bar Association was or-
ganized at a meeting called for the purpose at the suggestion of John
H. White on the 12th of March, 1877, during a term of the County
Court. Henry A. Childs, of Medina, and ex-Judge Arad Thomas, of
Albion, supported the suggestion of Mr. White, and the following
named attorneys were enrolled as members : Arad Thomas, John H.
White, John G. Sawyer, I. M. Thompson, E. Porter, O. A. Eddy,
Charles A. Keeler, Albert W. Crandall, H. A. Childs, George Bullard,
John W. Graves, S. E. Filkins, Clark D. Knapp, Seth S. Spencer,
Andrew C. Harwick, E. R. Reynolds, C. J. Church, D. N. Salisbury,
H. S. Goff and John Cunneen. An election of officers was held and
John H. White chosen president ; Henry A. Childs, O. A. Eddy and
George Bullard, first, second and third vice-presidents, respectively ;
with Mr. Bullard, treasurer, and John Cunneen, secretary. The next
meeting was held on September 13, 1877, at the Orleans House, Oak
Orchard Harbor, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and
L. R. Sanford, H. A. GHdden, E. L. Pitts, George A. Newell, H. C.
Tucker, W. P. Hovey and Edward Posson were added to the member-
ship. The second annual meeting was held at the Orleans House in
Albion in March, 1878, and the original officers were re-elected. There
have been occasional meetings since, but for several years past no
regular meetings have been held. Irving M. Thompson is at the pres-
ent time president of the association.
The following are the present attorneys in Orleans county:
John H. White Albion John G. Sawyer Albion
George Bullard " Edwin R. Reynolds
Irving M. Thompson '• Edwin Porter
Seth S. Spencer " Calvin J. Church "
112
LANDMARKS OF
Leroy R. Sanford
Henry C. Tucker
Isaac S. Signer
Edwin L. Wage
Dean F. Currie
William P. L. Stafford..
W.Crawford Ramsdale.
Benjamin E.Williams..
Gurdon W. Fitch
Pearl Coann
Albert C. Burrows
John C. Knickerbocker.
Henry Armstrong
Thomas A. Kirby
Sanford T. Church
Thomas L. Hughes
Frederic M. Thompson .
Warner Thompson
Albion Edmund L. Pitts Medina
Henry A. Childs "
" Stanley E. Filkins "
" Edward Posson "
" Hosea B. Dayton "
" Charles Whedon •'
'' George A. Newell ''
" Morgan L. Brainard "
" Fred L. Downs "
" Leon M. Sherwood " "
'• John J. Ryan "
'' Edwin B. Simonds "
" Irving L'Hommedieu . "
Albert J. Coe "
" James Swart "
WiUiam E. Hobby Holley
'• Harry 0. Jones ''
" D. S. Copeland Clarendon
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
There were few lawyers, and certainly none of great prominence, in
what is now Orleans county, at or before the date of the formation of
the county. Lawyers naturally gravitate towards a county seat, and
this fact alone would have kept the villages of Orleans county nearly
destitute of them when the county seat was at a distant point. But
with the erection of the new county, attorneys began to locate therein
and especially at Albion and Medina. The bar of this county has al-
ways been a reputable one, numbering among its members many
attorneys of widely- recognized ability and honor, while a few reached
the highest positions in the judiciary of the State.
At the head of the roll of honor of the attorneys of this county must
be placed the name of Sanford E. Church. A son of O. S. Church, he
was born at Milford, Otsego county, April i8, 1815, came to Monroe
county with his parents when young and there was educated. At the
age of twenty-one they removed to Albion. He had made the most
of his educational opportunities, and had also taught a number of
terms. At Albion his professional and political career began. He
served as deputy in the county clerk's office in Orleans county three
years, then began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 113
age of twenty-five. A year later he was elected as Democratic mem-
ber of Assembly from Orleans county, being the youngest member of
that body, which included the names of John A. Dix, Horatio Seymour
and other distinguished men. At the close of his legislative term he
resumed his law practice at Albion, and in 1844 formed a partnership
with Noah Davis, jr., later the distinguished Judge Davis of New York.
This firm continued for thirteen years, when Mr. Davis was appointed
to the supreme bench. In 1850 Mr. Church was elected lieutenant-
governor on the Democratic ticket by a majority of 8,000. In 1852 he
was re-elected, with Horatio Seymour as governor, and in the fall of
1857 Mr. Church was elected comptroller of the State. In 1867 he
was elected chief justice of the Court of Appeals by 90,000 majority,
which position he held until his death, in 1880. In 1868 he was pre-
sented for the presidential nomination by the State delegation in the
National Democratic Convention. Judge Church was of impressive
appearance, broad and deep in his knowledge of law, earnest in man-
ner, and cogent in his reasoning, added to which he was an eloquent
orator. He married Ann Wild of New Hampshire, a descendant of
one of the oldest families of New York. They had two children, Hon.
George B. Church, of whom an extended notice is given on a subse-
quent page of this volume, and Helen A., the wife of Dr. S. R. Coch-
rane of Albion.
Noah Davis came to Albion in his childhood and found employment
in early life in copying under Judge Church in the clerk's office. His
parents were poor and unable to give him good opportunities to secure
an education, but he was an industrious student, walking to Gaines to
attend the Academy and copying in his spare hours. He studied law
in Lewiston, and after his admission to the bar began practice in
Buffalo. Not meeting with his anticipated success he returned to
Albion, by an arrangement with his friend. Judge Church, and the
result was the formation of the successful firm before mentioned.
Though of opposing politics, the two men were sincere friends and
continued so. Judge Davis rose to distinction at the bar and in the
judiciary; was elected to Congress in 1869, resigned in 1870, removed
to New York City and practiced with Judge Davies. There he gained
further honors at the bar, was appointed U. S. district attorney by Presi-
114 LANDMARKS OF
dent Grant and was elected jud^c oi the Supreme Court. He was also a
candidate for the United States Senate against Roscoe Conkling
and nearly reached election. He is now engaged in practicing law in
New York City.
Gideon Hard located in Albion in 1826, when he was twenty- nine
years of age and began the practice of his profession. He was elected
school commissioner of Barre in 1827, and in the autumn of that year
was appointed county treasurer, which office he held six years. He
was elected to Congress in 1832, as a Whig, and re-elected in 1834. In
the spring of 1837 he returned to Albion and to his practice. In 1841
he was elected State senator, which body then comprised the Court for
the Correction of Errors, of which court Mr. Hard became a member. He
was re-elected in 1845, ^n*^ i" 1848 was appointed canal appraiser,
holding the office two years. In 1850 he again returned to Albion and
continued in practice until 1856, when he was elected county judge,
serving as such four years. After the expiration of his term Mr. Hard
lived a life of retirement until his death. He was an able lawyer, an
active and incorruptible legislator, and an upright judge.
Henry R. Curtis was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1800,
studied law in Skaneateles and Elbridge, N. Y., and settled in Albion
in the fall of 1824. He formed a partnership with Alexis Ward, who
had previously been admitted to the Supreme Court. In 1831 he was
appointed district attorney, in which office he continued by successive
appointments (excepting 1832) until June, 1847, when he was elected
county judge and surrogate — the first judge chosen under the constitu-
tion of 1846. He was re elected in 1850 and died before the expiration
of his second term Before his election as judge he had held the office
of examiner and master in chancery, and many civil town and village
offices. For twenty- five years he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian
church. As a counselor he was a peacemaker, judicious, cautious and
sound. He died September 20, 1855.
Alexis Ward was born in Addison, Vt., May 18, 1802. He studied
law with Judge Wilson, of Auburn, N. Y., was admitted to the bar in
1823, and the next year settled in Albion, where he was soon afterward
appointed a justice of the peace. On the retirement of Judge Elijah
Foot, the first judge of Orleans county, Mr. Ward was appointed to the
ORLEANS COUNTr. 115
office, February, 1830, and held the position by re-appointment until
January, 1840. In 1834-5 ^^ was instrumental in procuring the charter
of the Bank of Orleans, the first bank in the county, and in 1836 was
chosen its president, which position he held until his death, November
28, 1854. Mr. Ward was active in public affairs; aided in founding
the Phipps Seminary and Albion Academy ; was conspicuous in pro-
moting the Rochester, Niagara Falls and Lockport Railroad ; projected
the plank roads of the county, and with Roswell and Freeman Clarke
built the stone flouring mill in Albion. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church and an exemplary Christian. In November, 1854,
he was elected to the Assembly, but his death prevented his taking the
seat.
Judge Arad Thomas was born at Woodstock, Vt., in 1807. He re-
mained at home and labored with his father till he was seventeen years
of age, and in 1830 graduated at Union College. He was deputy
secretary of state for Vermont in 1831, and in 1832 removed to Gaines,
where he studied law with Hon. W. W. Ruggles. He was admitted to
the bar of the Supreme Court, and in 1836 removed to Albion. He
was elected a justice of the peace in 1843 ^"d held the office during
eight consecutive years. He was elected county judge and surrogate,
and held the office from i860 to 1864. He was an active member of
the Orleans County Pioneer Association, and the success of that society
was largely promoted by his intelligent labors. At the urgent solicita-
tion of his fellow members he prepared and published, in 1871, at a
pecuniary sacrifice, his excellent Pioneer History of Orleans county.
He died several years since.
William Penniman was born in Hillsborough county, N. H., August
5> 1793* ^nd died near Albion. After his school days he removed to
Ontario county, N. Y., in September, 18 16, and thence came to Albion ;
two years later he settled on a farm near Eagle Harbor, He was not a
lawyer by profession, but in 1825 was appointed a judge of the Court
of Common Pleas and was one of the first bench of judges of the
county. He held the office five years and in 1831 was elected justice
of the peace at Barre and served until his removal to Eagle Harbor.
He taught school many years in this county and was very successful in
that vocation. He was school commissioner and inspector of schools
116 LANDMARKS OF
during the eight years he lived in Shelby, and was town superintendent
of schools three years in Barre. It has been written of him that "as a
judge he was firm, upright and impartial, and in all his official and
social relations sustained a character marked for sound views of men
and things, honest, faithful, and true."
Edwin Ruthvin Reynolds was born in Fort Ann, Washington
county, February i6, 1816, and was the oldest of four children of Li-
nus J. and Alice (Baker) Reynolds. The father was a minister of the
Baptist church and also a practical printer and editor. The son learned
the printing trade while young, in his father's office of the Northern
Spectator, at East Poultney, Vt, at the same time with the late Hor-
ace Greeley. Mr. Greeley and young Reynolds were firm friends in
youth, and their acquaintance was maintained until the death of the
great journalist. Mr. Reynolds prepared for college and entered Brown
University in the class of '39, afterward receiving the degree of A. M.
While still engaged in his college studies, and at the age of twenty-one,
he came to Albion, as principal of the old Albion Academy. His in-
cumbency of that position continued from January, 1838, to December,
1846, and the institution under his charge was in every way successful
and prosperous. In 1840, while teaching, he began a course of law
studies under the direction of A. H. & D. H. Cole, and was admit-
ted to practice in 1843. He was the first county superintendent of
schools in Orleans county, in 1842-43, and then established the first
normal school in the State. In 1846 he began practice in Albion, and
has since been a prominent member of the county bar. Among his
law partners was the late George H. Stone, and during twelve years,
beginning in 1867, Albert W. Crandall. Mr. Reynolds was for five
years a justice of the peace of the town of Barre, and clerk of the board
of supervisors three years. He was elected to Congress and served in
i860 and 1 861, and was one of the war committee of Orleans county,
from i860 to 1865. While in Congress he was the friend and supporter
of President Lincoln, and this and his early acquaintance and life-long
friendship with Horace Greeley are among the most valued of his past
associations. His term of service was at the outbreak of the secession
movement and the beginning of the war of the rebellion. While there
he had the honor and pleasure of standing near Abraham Lincoln when
ORLEANS COUNTY. II7
he delivered his first inaugural address. He also had the satisfaction
of casting several votes of which he has always been proud : i. Vot-
ing for the admission of " bleeding Kansas " as a free State. 2. Voting
with Roscoe Conkling, Burlingame, Washburn, Lovejoy, Wade and the
others of " the old guard " of 65 members who stood out against every
project for extending slavery to the Pacific on the line of 2,6 degrees,
30 minutes, or on any other line whatever. 3. Voting for the Morrill
tariff bill, which furnished the sinews of war to enable the country to go
safely through the conflict with the slave- holding confederacy. He also
introduced and advocated a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Co-
lumbia, at that time as unpopular a measure as a public man could pro-
ject. In 1863 Mr. Reynolds was elected county judge and surrogate,
and served one term of four years. During thirteen years he was
chairman of the Republican county committee, and also served on the
State committee, and was one of the three members of the executive
committee in 1858. In 1868 he was an elector on the Grant ticket, and
in 1872, was a Greeley elector, and has been a delegate to the State
convention four times. In 1858 and 1859 he owned and published the
Orleans American, and has written much for that and other journals,
besides several pamphlets, speeches and addresses. He was married,
in November, 1847, to Elizabeth Ann Gale, and they had two children,
one of whom is living — Grace, wife of John M. Phillips, of Hulberton,
N. Y.
Benjamin L Bessac was a native of New Baltimore, Greene county,
born March 12, 1807, and was the son of Lewis Bessac. In early
life his father was a blacksmith, but later became a farmer in Chenango
county where he took up a farm of 160 acres. However, previous to
this time, he had started for Ohio with the intention to settle, but be-
came snow-bound at Tonawanda Creek, and it was there he began to
work as a blacksmith. At a later date he returned to Chenango
county. When Benjamin was twelve days old his mother died, and- he
was brought up in the family of an aunt in Greene county. After re-
ceiving a common school education he taught for a time, then attended
the Greenville Academy. He prepared for college, intending to enter
the sophomore class at Union, but went to New York where he was
employed in a store for a time. Later on he went to Alabama where
118 LANDMARKS OF
his wife founded the Mobile Female Seminary, and where he worked as
clerk in the United States Bank. In March, 1832, Mr. Bessac returned
north, and after traveling for a time began a course of law study at
Cairo, Greene county, with Amasa Mattoon, and later was with Judge
Hiram Gardiner, at Lockport. In 1835 he was admitted to practice,
and in June of that year became a resident of Albion. Mr. Bessac is
remembered as having been one of the leading lawyers cf his time. At
the Orleans county bar he was associated in business with some of the
best lawyers of the county, among whom may be mentioned the names
of the late Daniel H. Cole, George Stone and Judge Church. The lat-
ter read law in Mr. Bessac's office and afterward became his business
partner. His last law partner was George Bullard, Esq. Mr. Bessac
was master in chancery for many years and was appointed first judge
of the county, receiving his appointment from Governor Bouck, in
1844. In 1853 he was elected district attorney and served one term.
His law library was one of the best and most extensive in Western New
York, and naturally his office was the resort of many of his legal asso-
ciates and law students. Mr. Bessac died December 23, 1871, his
wife surviving him and dying July 7, 1890. He was brought up in
the Reformed Dutch church, having united with the society at the age of
fourteen. In Albion he was a member of the Presbyterian church af-
ter 1842. His wife was Deborah, daughter of Rev. Simeon Dixinson,
of East Haddam, Conn. They were married April 11, 1830. De-
borah Bessac died suddenly in December, 1831, and on June 18,
1835, Mr. Bessac married Caroline G. Baker. The children of this
marriage were : Benjamin L., who died an infant ; Addison G., who
died at the age of thirty eight; Sanford C, of Albion, and Cornelia,
wife of F. E. French, of Albion.
Almeron Hyde Cole was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., April 20,
1798. He prepared for college at Auburn and entered the sophomore
class of Union College in 18 15. Two years later he left school in con-
sequence of the death of his mother, and in the fall of 1817 entered the
law office of Judge Joseph L. Richardson, of Cayuga county, as a stu-
dent. He was admitted attorney in the Supreme Court in his twenty-
first year, formed a partnership with Judge Richardson, which was dis-
solved a few months later, and then made a new business connection
ORLEANS COUNTY. HO
with George W. Fleming, at Seneca Falls. In the spring of 1825 both
came to Albion and practiced together until 1832, meeting with de-
served success. After leaving Mr. Fleming, he was for a time partner
with his brother, Hon. Dan H. Cole. He served seventeen years as
justice of the peace of Barre, and in November, 1847, was elected State
senator, served one term and declined a re-election. He resumed prac-
tice in Albion, but a large amount of business connected with the set-
tlement of an estate in Cayuga county, of which he was executor, he
gave up his time to those duties and the management of a large farm
in Gaines. Judge Thomas says of Mr. Cole: "Although a good ad-
vocate and a strong and logical reasoner at the bar, Mr. Cole was not
so fluent and polished a speaker as his partner, Mr. Fleming. In their
earlier years of practice together, Mr. Cole furnished his quota of brains
to the firm, while Mr. Fleming furnished the tongue." Mr. Cole was
never married. Coming to the county when it was first organized, he
was prominent in public affairs and well known to the people of the
county. He died October 14, 1859.
William J. Babbitt was a native of Providence, R. I., born in Septem-
ber, 1786. He learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at it until
he settled in Gaines, where in 1812 he took up the farm where he ever
afterwards lived, and moved his family thereto in 18 13. No profes-
sional lawyer lived in the county for several years after that and Mr.
Babbitt being a fluent talker, was frequently called on to try the occa-
sional law suits of the people in justice's court. He improved in this
practice and became the most noted pettifogger north of the Tona-
wanda swamp He was prominent in the measures for erecting the
town of Gaines in 18 16 and and on the 1st of July of that year, apphed
for and secured a post-office at Gaines and was made postmaster. He
held the office five years. In 183 1-2 he represented the county in the
Assembly ; was appointed justice of the peace in 181 5 and held the of-
fice in all twenty- three years ; was several times supervisor of the town
and held other town offices. He acquired a character for uncompro-
mising fidelity in business matters, and by a life of industry and econ-
omy, accumulated much property. His wife was Eunice Losey. He
died July 20, 1863.
120 LANDMARKS OF
Ben Field, born at Dorset, Vt., in i8i6, removed with his parents to
Albion in 1828. He was educated at Albion, Brockport, in the schools
of those villages and at Burr Seminary, Vt. He worked in his father's
marble shop till he was about seventeen years of age, read law with
Alexis Ward and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. He
was for a while engaged in constructing on railroad work with Tousley,
Lee & Company. In company with a Mr. Ferry, of Syracuse, he put
sleeping cars on the Michigan Central Railroad and the Northwestern
Railroad and continued in this business till i860, when, in company
with George M. Pullman, he was interested in putting sleepers on the
St. Louis and Alton Railroad, continuing with Mr. Pullman until
December, 1865, during which time many valuable patents were
obtained. Mr. Pullman purchased his interest and he retired from the
business. Mr. Field was for many years one of the foremost men in
State politics, and had a very extensive acquaintance. He was State
Senator in 1854-55, member of the commission to settle the Connecticut
boundary in 1856, and for many years secretary of the Republican
State Committee. He was a pleasing conversationalist and a man of a
large amount of general information and was especial authority on State
and National politics. He died at Albion in 1879.
William W. Ruggles was born in Hardwick, Mass., January i, 1800.
He began the study of law when eighteen years old in Salem, N. Y.,
finishing in Albany. When admitted" to the bar he settled in Albion
and formed a partnership with Judge Moody. In 1824 he removed to
Gaines and began practice. He aided in founding the Gaines Academy
and the bank at that place. He held the offices of master in chancery,
Supreme Court commissioner, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, just-
ice of the peace and various town offices, and was several times candi-
date for the State Legislature, but was defeated with his party. He died
in Gaines, April 22, 1850.
Reuben Bryant was born in Worcester county, Mass., July 13, 1792,
and graduated from Brown University about 1815. After spending
some time teaching he removed to Livingston county, N. Y., and there
studied law. After being admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court,
he settled for practice in Holley about 1823, where he was the pioneer
lawyer. In the fall of 1849 he removed to Albion, where he practiced
ORLEANS COUNTY. ]21
until 1855 ; in that year he removed to Buffalo to aid his son William
C. Bryant, now a veteran of the Buffalo bar. Fie was appointed mas-
ter in chancery by Silas Wright, and held the office until it was abol-
ished in 1846. He was a thorough scholar, well learned in Greek
and Latin, and as a lawyer had a clear perception of the facts and the
law in their bearing upon cases; but too exact, cautious, and diffident
to be a successful advocate. He died in Buffalo in January, 1863.
Hiram S Goff was a native of Winfield, Herkimer county, N. Y.,
born in 1802 and settled in Albion in 1831, in which year he had been
admitted to the bar. He began practice with Gideon Hard, and the
firm continued until 1839. After practicing for a time alone he was
associated with several other partners, among them John H. White,
who was with him from 1863 to 1869. Mr. Goff held the office of mas-
ter in chancery, and was a careful, able and conscientious lawyer. He
died in 1893.
Edwin Porter located in Albion in 1856, having been admitted to
practice at the General Term held in Albion in the fall of that year ;
he was then twenty-nine years old. He formed a partnership with S.
S. Spencer, which continued three years, and then practiced with I. M.
Thompson, of Albion, until the beginning of the war, when Mr.
Thompson enlisted. Mr. Porter practiced alone until 1876, when he
formed a partnership with Calvin J. Church. In 1854 Mr. Porter was
elected school commissioner and served two years. During the John-
son administration he was appointed internal revenue assessor, and held
the office about three years ; he was also president of the village one
year. Mr. Porter's legal education was secured under severe difficulties,
his law studies being intermitted with teaching school to defray his
expenses.
Robert H. Brown studied law with Judge Bessac and was admitted
to the bar of Orleans county in 185 i. He practiced with Hon. W. K.
McAllister and subsequently removed to Detroit, where he remained
in practice a few years and held a judicial office. In 1868 he removed
to Atlanta, Ga., and practiced for some years. He held the office of
attorney-general for that State and was one of a committee to revise
the State code. He afterwards returned to Albion but did not resume
practice.
122 LANDMARKS OF
John Hull White was born in Stanford, Dutchess county, N. Y., Feb-
ruary 29, 1820, and is the third of seven children of Walter and Mary
(Avery) White. His father was a farmer and the son lived on the
farm during his youth, and later was employed as clerk in a store in
New York. Three years later he returned home, the family having in
the mean time moved to Mendon, Monroe county, N. Y. He attended
school at the Macedon and Waterloo Academies, read law with Denton
G. Shuart, of Honeoye Falls, A. P. Kimball, of Penfield, and finished
his course with Houghton & Sprague, in Buffalo. Mr. White was ad-
mitted to practice July 2, 1848, and soon after located in Albion, where
he has since remained. He has generally practiced without a partner,
but was associated for a time with Reuben Bryant, and later with
Hiram S. Goff. While his practice has been of a general character, he
is especially prominent as a trial lawyer and has been connected with
many important cases in this region, particularly in railroad litigation.
In politics Mr. White is a conservative Democrat and has been the
candidate of his party for the offices of district attorney, county judge,
and representative in Congress; and while the majority in the county
and district has always been largely against his party, the vote he has
received has been a source of gratification to himself and his friends.
Mr. White has been president of the village, and president of the
Board of Education thirteen years and a member sixteen years. Mr.
White has been many years conspicuously identified with Odd Fellow-
ship, his membership in the order beginning in 1848. He has advanced
through all the various lodge and encampment degrees to the position
of grand master of the State, and in 1887 was elevated to the high
position of grand sire of the order — the greatest honor that the order
can confer. He has also been a member of the Sovereign Grand Lodge
since 1865. He is the author of a valuable digest pertaining to Odd
Fellowship, a work that has attracted much attention in the order
throughout the country. He has also been a contributor to other
works on the same subject. Mr. White was married on January 19,
1850, to Temperance, daughter of Matthias B. Miller, of Dutchess
county. After the death of his wife Mr. White married Mrs. Mary A.
Miller, widow of Capt. John B. Miller. She died in 1 891, and in June,
i8q2. he married Frances M. Noble, of Albion.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 123
John Gilbert Sawyer is a native of Vermont and born at Brandon
June 5, 1825. He is the eldest but one of seven children of John F.
and Mary J. Sawyer. In 1831 the family removed to Western New
York, settling at Knowlesville, where the father was a carpenter and
joiner. John G. Sawyer was educated in the district schools and at the
Hillville Academy, in preparation for a collegiate course. To secure
the latter he went to Kentucky and later to Arkansas, where he taught
school nearly three years to obtain means to pay his college expenses.
In the fall of 1846 he returned home with the intention of entering
college, but for personal reasons the plan was abandoned and in the
spring of 1847 he settled in Albion and began a course of law study in
the office of Curtis & Stone, finishing with Judge Bessac. He was ad-
mitted to practice in 1852, but prior to that time, in 1848, he was
elected superintendent of public schools for this county ; the duties of
this office interfered somewhat with his law study and delayed the
date of his admission. In 1851 he was elected justice of the peace and
held the office about five years In the fall of 1855 he formed a part-
nership with the late Judge Church, which business connection was
not practically ended until the death of Judge Church. In the fall of
1862 Mr. Sawyer was elected district attorney, and in 1863 was elected
county judge, in which capacity he served sixteen years, having been
twice re-elected. In the fall of 1884 Judge Sawyer was elected to
Congress and served in that body three consecutive terms. Politically
Judge Sawyer is well known as a stalwart and staunch Republican. He
was originally a Whig, and was one of the organizers of the Republi-
can party in Orleans county. As a lawyer and a judge he has won
merited distinction, while his character as a man has made him a large
circle of friends. On the 27th of June, 1855. Judge Sawyer was mar-
ried to Eliza A. Shaw, of Plainfield, Mass. They have five children,
two of whom are living.
Seth S. Spencer left the town of Barre in the spring of 1852, when
he was twenty-one years old and settled in Albion to study law. He
was at first in the office of William R. McAllister, and finished with
Church & Davis. He was admitted to practice in the fall of 1856, and
began in association with Edwin Porter, continuing thus until the spring
of 1862. He was then elected justice of the peace and served in that
124 LANDMARKS OF
office until December, 1875. While in that office he formed a partner-
ship with Holmes & Thompson under the name of Holmes, Thompson
& Spencer, afterwards Thompson & Spencer, and now Thompson,
Spencer & Thompson. He was appointed clerk of the Board of Super-
visors, and filled the position most acceptably during twelve years.
He was appointed postmaster under President Harrison.
Irving M. Thompson settled in Albion in 1852, from Carlton, and
began the study of law in the office of Judge Bessac ; he was then
twenty-one years old. Four years later he was admitted and began
practice with Charles H. Holmes; his next partnership was with Wil-
lard F. Warren, which continued until 1861, after which and until the
war he was associated with Edwin Porter. He enlisted and served in
the 17th Battery, and three years later returned to Albion and formed
a second copartnership with Mr. Holmes; in 1871 S. S. Spencer be-
came a member of the firm. Mr. Thompson was district attorney in
1866-69, and also held the office of postmaster of the village. He has
been many years a member of the Board of Education of the village
of Albion.
W. Crawford Ramsdale was born in Malta, Saratoga county, March
5, 1856, and is the youngest and only son of six children of William
and Parthenia (Crawford) Ramsdale. The family removed to Orleans
county and live in the town of Gaines. The subject passed his youth
on a farm, was educated in the district schools, Albion Academy, at-
tended Miss Foster's select school and graduated from the University
of Rochester in the class of '79. Mr. Ramsdale studied law with John
H. White, of Albion, and was admitted as an attorney in 1881, and as
counselor at a later date. He has always practiced at the county seat
and though still comparatively young in years and in professional ex-
perience, Mr. Ramsdale is regarded as one of the leading men at the
bar of the county. In politics he is Democratic and is an important
factor in the councils of his party. He has been the nominee of the
Democracy for the offices of county treasurer and county judge and
surrogate, in the canvass for the former office being defeated by only
180 votes. In January, 1884, Mr. Ramsdale married Ellen J., daugh-
ter of the late Andrew Wall, of Albion.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 125
Dean F. Currie was born in Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y., Sep-
tember 17, 1847, ^"d is a son of Earl S. and Wealthy B, Currie. Of
the three children of these parents, Dean F. is the only son. His
father was a farmer and the son was brought up on the homestead ; was
educated at the Clinton Liberal Institute and Dwight's Rural High
School and took a special course at Hamilton College, graduating from
the law department. Mr. Currie was admitted to the bar in 1870 and
during the next ten years practiced in Clinton. In 1881 he removed
to Albion, where he has since been in practice. While constantly de-
voted to his profession, Mr. Currie has always been prominent in local
politics and one of the Democratic leaders in Western New York. He
was the nominee of his party for the Assembly in 1883, and was de-
feated by only twenty- nine votes. In 1884 he again ran for the office
and was defeated by sixty-eight votes. In 1885 he was elected police
justice of the village of Albion and served three years. On February
10, 1888, Mr. Currie was appointed by President Cleveland United
States consul at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where he served in that posi-
tion until July 1st, 1892. In the fall of this year he was Democratic
candidate for the senatorship of the thirty- first district and ran ahead
of his ticket. As a lawyer Mr. Currie has been connected with some
of the most important cases tried at the local bar, including three
murder cases, in one of which while defending Emery B. Butler, in
1887, he was stricken down with paralysis. While his practice is of a
general character, he has been particularly successful in criminal causes.
On July 3, 1873, Mr. Currie married Florence A. Stafford, of Clinton,
Oneida county, N. Y. They have one child.
Thomas Lawrence Hughes was born in Albion October 27, 1865,
and is the third of eleven children born to Patrick and Elizabeth
Hughes. Thomas attended the district schools, but received his edu-
cation principally at St. Raphael's Academy (a parochial school). He
graduated from the Albion Free School in 1886 and was the orator of
his class. He read law with John H. White and was admitted in
Rochester at the June General Term in 1891. In the same month he
formed a partnership with Thomas A. Kirby. Mr. Hughes is a strong
Democrat and is active in the councils of the party in Orleans county.
When he had just reached his majority he was elected town clerk and
126 LANDMARKS OF
re-elected a second term. He has been a delegate to both county and
State Democratic conventions, and in 1890 was clerk of the Assembly
cities committee He has also been clerk of the Senate judiciary com-
mittee. Mr. Hughes was one of the founders of the Weekly News, an
Albion newspaper, and was its editor two years.
Thomas Austin Kirby was born in Albion March 22, 1868, and is
the eldest of three children of John and Catherine (Moynihan) Kirby.
Until he was fifteen years old Thomas attended the village schools,
then worked one year as an iron moulder, which is his father's occupa-
tion. In 1886 he began studying law with John Cunneen, in Albion
(now of Buffalo), and was admitted to practice in Rochester in 1889.
Previous to his admission he taught school at South Barre and later
attended the Cornell University Law School, from which he graduated
in 1889. He began practice in Albion in July, 1889, and in June, 1891,
became one of the present firm of Hughes & Kirby, who are both able
trial lawyers. Since attaining his majority Mr. Kirby has been an ar-
dent Republican and has closely identified himself with the work of his
party in the county, and was chairman of the Republican county com-
mittee for two terms. In the Democratic village of Albion he has been
three times elected police justice, first in 1892. He is the only Pvcpub-
lican ever elected to any village office for three successive terms. He
has before him a promising future.
Hon. Charles H. Holmes was born in Albion, Orleans county, N. Y.,
on the 24th day of October, 1827. He acquired a good English edu-
cation in the common schools and Albion Academy, and in his twenti-
eth year commenced the study of the law in the office of Hon. Henry
R. Curtis at Albion, and continued his studies with Church & Davis. He
entered the Albany Law School in 1853 and graduated in 1854. He
was married to Miss Mary A. Spencer on the 13th day of June, 1854.
Mr. Holmes was a self-made man, struggling against poverty and re-
sorting to manual labor and school teaching to procure means to defray
his expenses in securing an education. He was in partnership with
Henry D. Tucker from January, 1858, to 1863 in the practice of the
law. In July, 1865, he formed a partnership with Lieut. Irving M.
Thompson, which continued till Mr. Holmes's death, Seth S. Spencer
joining the firm in the spring of 1871. Mr. Holmes possessed a good
<\-J^ClCie O. ^^^fy-yv^rr^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 127
legal mind and was very successful as a jury lawyer. He was a man
of indomitable energy and perseverance. His practice became quite
extensive, and regardless of his health, he put all of his vitality and
energy in his cases. While trying a complicated suit in the Orleans
circuit in March, 1873. before Judge Lamont and a jury, he fell to the
floor from an attack of epilepsy. He never fully recovered from this,
and was stricken down with apoplexy on the 30th day of September,
1874, and died the next day. His funeral was attended by a large
assemblage of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Holmes was elected to
Congress in 1870, representing the congressional district composed of
the counties of Monroe and Orleans, and while holding that position,
represented his constituency in a satisfactory manner. He joined the
Presbyterian church in Albion in his twentieth year, and continued a
member till his death, during all of that time being connected with the
Sabbath school in some capacity.
Isaac S. Signor was born at Skaneateles, N. Y. His family were
originally from Dutchess county. He attended Elbridge Academy and
graduated from Hamilton College in 1870, taking the first Kingsley
prize in debate at the end of the senior year. At the end of 1871 he
graduated from the law school and the same year commenced practice
at Albion, where he remained for two years. He then went to New
York city and v/as in the office of Davies & Work, and still later with
Judge Hawes. The firm of Griggs & Signor was then formed and they
did business at 237 Broadway for over three years. In 1878 he re-
turned to Albion and since 1879 the firm of Signor & Wage has been
in existence. Judge Signor was elected district attorney on the Re-
publican ticket and served from 1881 to 1884. He was then elected
county judge and was reelected. He was married in 1878 to Mary
Grierson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Edwin L. Wage was born in Providence, Saratoga county, January
27, 1836, and was the eldest of three children of William and Julia
Wage. The family came to East Gaines in 1844 and thence moved to
Barre. In the latter town the mother died, and the father in Albion.
After an elementary education at Albion Academy, Edwin spent his
early life on a farm and also taught school. In July, 1862, he enlisted
as a private in Company D., 151st N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, and on
128 LANDMARKS OF
the organization of the company was made sergeant. In January,
1863, he passed an examination before Gen. Casey's board and was
commissioned captain in the 20th Regiment of U. S. Col. troops,
upon which he joined the command in New York harbor and proceeded
to New Orleans. Here he was permanently detached from the regi-
ment and appointed assistant provost marshal and stationed at Carroll-
ton, La. Capt. Wage resigned and was mustered out of service in
August, 1865. Returning home he engaged in fire and life insurance,
about eight years, after which he read law with Reynolds & Crandall,
after which he entered Hamilton Law School and was graduated from
there and admitted to practice in 1879. In this year the law partner-
ship of Signor & Wage was formed, which has continued to the present
time. In politics Mr. Wage is a strong Republican and was supervisor
of the Eleventh Census for the Tenth District, N. Y. He married in
1865, Helen M. Comstock, daughter of Arnold Comstock, of Carlton,
N. Y.
Irving L'Hommedieu was born in the town of Shelby, Orleans
county, N. Y., January 12, 1865. He is a son of Hon. Wallace
L'Hommedieu of this county, his mother's maiden name being Frances
M. Berry, a daughter of the late Colonel John Berry, of Holley, N. Y.
He was educated in the common schools and the Medina Academy.
In 1884 he began studying law, entering the office of Hon. Edmund L.
Pitts at Medina. He taught school during the winters of 1883-84
and 1884-85. He graduated from the Albany Law School in 1886 and
was admitted to the bar the same year. From 1886 to 1888 he re-
sided at Omaha, Nebraska: returning to Medina in 1888 the law firm
of Simons & L'Hommedieu was formed, which partnership still exists.
June 29, 1887, he married Christina Breed, a daughter of Charles H.
Breed, of Medina. Mr. L'Hommedieu is a prominent Freemason,
being a member of the lodge, chapter, council, commandery and Lodge
of Perfection, having held many Masonic offices, and is at present the
master of the council He is also an Odd Fellow, and is a member of
the Alert Hose Company of Medina, of which he is now president. He
was appointed village attorney of Medina in March, 1893, and was
elected a member of the Board of Education in August, 1892, both of
which positions he still occupies. Mr. L'Hommedieu is an ardent Re-
publican and takes an active interest in politics.
(is^^^w"^^^'
ORLEANS COUNTY. 129
Edwin B. Simons was born in Shelby, Orleans count}-, and is a mem-
ber of the law firm of Simons & L'Hommedieu He was elected dis-
trict attorney in 1893. He is a prominent lawyer and politician
Orange A. Eddy was among the prominent men of HoUey, and was
born in Barre, February 20. 1832. He was a son of Samuel Eddy, of
Barre, who was a farmer. Orange A was educated in the district
schools of his native town and at Albion Academy. He studied law in
the ofiice of Church & Davis, of Albion, and May 17, 1867, was ad-
mitted to the bar. He immediately began the practice of law in Holley
and continued the same until his death, May 13, 1884. In politics he
was a Democrat, for several years was justice of the peace. He was a
man of sterling integrity, and commanded the respect and trust of his
fellow townsmen to a remarkable degree. A certain attorney was once
remarked that he was the only honest lawyer he ever knew. He was
known tor his kindness of heart, being always ready to listen to and aid
those in distress. In 1866 Mr. Eddy married Harriet M. Hendrick,
daughter of David Hendrick, of Holley, who survives him. They had
two children, Grace Augusta, who died young, and Mary Louise, who
married Frank W. Cady, D. D. S., and resides in Albany, N. Y.
John W. Graves was reared in the southern part of this State, and
during his professional career lived and practiced in Medina, where he
died about three years ago. He was admitted to the bar in this
judicial district. No man in Orleans county ever possessed a greater
degree of native ability, and no one excelled him in summing up cases.
Large in stature, and endowed with exceptional powers of endurance,
he was regarded as one of the most powerful trial lawyers in the State ;
his adroitness in managing cases and his ability for cross-examining
witnesses were seldom equaled. At one time he was a partner of Hon.
E. L. Pitts, and upon the creation of the office of United States internal
revenue assessor he was the first to receive an appointment to that
position. During several of the latter years of his life he was a justice
of the peace in Medina.
Hiram E. Sickels began the practice of law in Orleans county and
for several years followed his profession in Medina, being a partner of
John W. Graves. In 1871 he was appointed reporter in the Court of
17
130 LANDMARKS OF
Appeals, a position he still holds. He is a first-class lawyer, and is
conceded to be the ablest reporter that judicial body ever had.
Adna Bowen was a native of Shelby, studied law and was admitted
in this county, and died in Medina, where he had always practiced.
He was an exceptionally good trial lawyer and possessed a thorough
knowledge of law.
James De Puy, a native of this State and a partner of Adna Bowen in
Medina, was both a popular and kind-hearted gentleman and a good
legal practitioner. During the latter years of his life he entered with
others into oil speculation, and died in Canada.
Archibald Servoss was one of the earliest attorneys in Medina. After
practicing there many years he removed to Rochester, where he died.
Silas M. Burroughs was a colonel in the State militia, and for many
years a very able lawyer in Medina, where he died. He was member
of Congress and held a number of other offices of trust and
responsibility.
Ephraim Garter practiced law in Medina during his early life, but
about 1849 l"*^ removed to California, where he became a judge of one of
the higher courts, and where he died. His brother, Reuben Garter,
was also an attorney in Medina, but finally abandoned the practice of
law and moved away.
Stanley E. Filkins was born in Bethany, Genesee county, February
19, 1836. Educated at the Grand River Institute in Ohio, he began the
study of law with Brown & Glowackie, of Batavia, N. Y., and finished
with Merrill T. Jenkins, of East Randolph, Cattaraugus county, being
admitted to the bar in Erie county in 1857. I" the spring of i860 Mr.
Filkins commenced the practice of his profession in Medina, where he
has ever since resided. Excepting a partnership of four years with A.
J. Coe he has alwaj^s practiced alone. Although he has frequently
been offered public office he has steadfastly refused to accept the same,
preferring instead to devote his time and talents to his legal profession,
in which he has attained a distinguished position. He is regarded as
one of the best lawyers in Western New York.
Harry Orlando Jones was born in 1859 in Holley. His father, Harry
O., was a son of Reuben D. Jones, who was a native of Boston, Mass.
Reuben D. Jones resided in Holley several years and conducted a hotel,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 131
then remov^ed to Chicago, where he engaged in the wholesale dry goods
trade. His son, Harry O., was engaged in business with his father for a
number of years, then engaged in the oil trade in New York. In 1854
he married Cornelia E., daughter of Hiram Frisbie of Holley. Their
son, the subject, was educated in the common schools, and entered the
Brockport school, graduating from the academic department in 1878.
He entered Hamilton College, graduating in 1882, began the study of
law in Syracuse, and was admitted to the bar in 1885. From then until
1888 he was engaged in the practice of his profession in Rochester.
He was one of the organizers of the Holley Electric Light Co, and was
its first president. In 1 893 he was elected supervisor of Murray on the
Democratic ticket, and the same year was a candidate for member of
Assembly from Orleans county.
William E. Hobby, a prominent member of the Orleans county bar,
has for many years been in practice at Holley and has had an extensive
business. During the war he was in the navy. He is a prominent
citizen of the county.
Gurdon W. Fitch, son of Dr. W. R. Fitch, was a member of the law
firm of Sawyer & Fitch, and several years was clerk of the Surrogate's
Court. He was among the most prominent of the younger members
of the bar.
Several citizens of Orleans county in early years held judicial offices
who were not educated for the legal profession. John Lee, ancestor of
the Lee family in Barre, was a native of Massachusetts, migrated to
Madison county, N. Y., and thence to Barre in 18 16, where he took up
a tract of land. He was an intelligent and energetic man and foremost
in public affairs. He was appointed a judge in the Court of Common
Pleas of Genesee county and filled the ofifice with ability. He died in
October, 1823.
Abraham Cantine, a native of Ulster county, N. Y., was a soldier in
the war of 18 12, returned to Ulster county and was appointed sheriff,
soon after which he settled in Murray, Orleans county. He was elected
to the Assembly for 1827, and served five years as an associate judge of
the Court of Common Pleas. He was also collector of tolls on the canal
in Albion in 1835. He lived in the latter place several years before his
death, which took place in 1840.
132 LANDMARKS OF
Eldridge Farwell, the conspicuous pioneer of Clarendon, a record of
whose life is given in the history of that town, was appointed a judge
in the Court of Common Pleas in 1825, and held the office five years He
died October 15, 1843.
Robert Anderson, a pioneer of Gaines, was appointed a justice of the
peace in 1817 and held the office until 1822, and in the winter of that
year was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas; he held the
office two years and resigned. He held the office of supervisor many
years before and after the organization of Orleans county, and was in
the Legislature in 1822.
Austin Day, a native of Vermont, settled in Murray in 181 5 ; served
as constable several years, and practiced pettifogging considerably. He
held the office of judge of the Court of Common Pleas about five years,
and was elected sheriff of the county in 1847. He removed to Albion in
1848, and died October 15, 1858.
Elijah W. Wood was a native of Massachusetts and settled in Murray
at an early day. He served many years as constable and justice of the
peace, and practiced pettifogging. During one term of five )'ears he
served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
CHAPTER XI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The pioneers of any locality have always been followed by the " good
physician." This is one of the unpleasant necessities of human ex-
perience. In the early years of the present century the State of New
York, unlike Pennsylvania and the New England States, had done very
little to encourage science, and there was no school of medicine worthy
of the name nearer than Boston or Philadelphia. Few young men
could then afford to go so far to qualify themselves for a profession,
whatever inducements its future seemed to promise him. This led to
the prevailing custom among young aspirants for medical practice to
enter the office of a neighboring physician, study his books two or three
ORLEANS COUNTY.
133
years, and at the same time accompanying his tutor in professional
visits. At the end of the term the young doctor felt qualified to begin
his professional career. The laws then governing the admission to
practice of physicians were practically worthless, but in 1806 the
Legislature passed an act repealing former laws applying to the
medical profession, and authorizing the formation of a general State
Medical Society and county societies This action was immediately
productive of great benefit to both the physicians and the public.
Charlatans were excluded and a standard fixed for the admission of
students to the county societies which insured the public against mal-
practice by uneducated persons.
The Orleans County Medical Society was organized Januarys, 1873,
at a meeting held in the office of Dr. J. W. Randall, in Albion ; he was
the chief actor in promoting the organization. There were present
at the meeting, Drs. Randall, H. W. Lewis, H. C. Tompkins, E. R.
Armstrong, R. W. Smith, William McKennan, E. P. Squier, Thomas
Cushing, C. S. Pugsley, J. H. Taylor, W. Noble, J. D. Warren, S. R.
Cochrane, R. E. Cochrane, and James Chapman.
Dr. Randall presided over the meeting and Dr. Chapman acted as
secretary. The name as given above was adopted and a committee
appointed to prepare and report a constitution to a subsequent meeting.
The second meeting was held on the 5th of February, at which the con-
stitution was adopted. Among its provisions was one establishing the
place for holding the regular meetings in Albion (unless otherwise
voted) on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October of
each year, the first one in each year to be the anniversary meeting.
The first officers elected were as follows : President, Dr. J. W. Randall ;
vice-president. Dr. Thomas Cushing; secretary and treasurer, Dr. James
Chapman; executive committee, Drs. William McKennan, E. P. Squier,
and C. S. Pugsley. The official term was fixed by the constitution at
one year.
The anniversary meeting of 1875 was held publicly in the court
house, the previous meetings having usually been held in the offices of
members of the society. The attendance at the anniversary meeting
was large, and the members of the society enjoyed a banquet after the
exercises at what is now the Orleans House. At the meeting of July
134 LANDMARKS OF
1 8, 1877, it was voted that subsequent meetings should be held on the
first Thursday of May and November, the election of officers to take
place at the latter.
The meetings of this society since its organization have been, as a
rule, well attended and many of the members have taken an active in-
terest in the proceedings, as shown in numerous papers and essays that
have been prepared and read.
The present officers of the society are as follows: President, Dr.
George J. Lund, of Medina; vice-president, Dr. F. B. Storer, of Holley ;
secretary and treasurer, Dr. Daniel H. Brennan, of Albion ; censors,
Dr. Charles E. Fairman, Lyndonville ; J. J. Simonds, Barre Center;
William Eman, Gaines; and F. L. June, Waterport. The annual
meetings are now held in Albion ; the spring meetings in Medina ; the
summer meetings in Holley. Following is a list of the members in
1894: Albion, Drs. Daniel H. Brennan, J. G. Dolley, Willard R.
Fitch, Harriet Watson, S. R. Cochrane, J. E. Sutton, Elizabeth M.
Squier, and M. L. Caverly. Barre, J. J. Simonds. Carlton, F. L.
June, Edward Wittier. Gaines, William Eman. Kendall, R. W.
Bamber. Holley, F. B Storer, John H. Taylor, Edwin R. Armstrong.
Ridgeway, George J. Lund, Edward Munson, James Chapman, John T.
James, Edward M. Tompkins, James F. Stokes. Yates, Charles E. Fair-
man. Shelby, Harvey L. James.
Orson Nichoson was one of the earliest physicians of Orleans county,
and a man of character and prominence both in and out of his pro-
fession. He was a native of Saratoga county, where he was born March
2, 1795. In August, 1 8 19, he settled in the then town of Barre, and in
1822 removed to the village of Albion, where for many years he had a
large practice. When his health became impaired by his arduous
labors, he joined with Dr. L. C. Paine, another early doctor, and they
carried on a drug business, books, etc., until a few years before his
death. Dr. Nichoson was chosen clerk of the county in November,
1825. He was the first regular physician to settle in Albion. His
death occurred May 7, 1870.
Jesse Beech was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., March 20, 1787.
His son. Dr. John H. Beech, of Michigan, furnished Judge Thomas
with some data regarding his father and early times in this county. He
ORLEANS COUNTY. I35
said, " In those days medical colleges were not accessible to students of
ordinary means " (as we have explained on a preceding page.) "There
was a public prejudice against dissections, and the students of the two
doctors (with whom his father studied) occupied a room in the steeple
of a church in Charleston, N. Y., where they dissected bodies. One of
the class would stay in the steeple all day Sundays with their cadavers,
to keep the hatch fastened down to exclude intruding boys." Dr Jesse
Beech began practice at Esperance, N. Y., in 18 13. In the fall of 1815
he located in Gaines, which it was then thought would ultimately be a
county seat for a new county. In the years 1817, 18 18 and 18 19 it took
him three or four days to make the circuit of his patients. Dr. Beech
was a strong advocate of temperance, a fine horseman and often officiated
as marshal on public occasions. It the later years of his life he kept a
drugstore in connection with his practice. He died March 4, 1829.
John H. Beech was born September 4, 18 19, and in his youth served
as clerk for Fanning & Orton, of Albion. He afterwards attended the
Gaines Academy until he was eighteen years old, when he began
studying medicine with Drs. Nichoson and Paine, in Albion. He
graduated at the Albany Medical College in 1841. He practiced from
his old homestead until 1850, when he removed to Coldwater, Mich.
He was the only son of Dr. Jesse Beech.
William White, whose name we have already mentioned, was probably
the first physician who settled in Orleans county, and came very early
in the century. Little is now known of his nativity and early years.
He first settled in the town of Ridgeway, but in a few years removed to
Albion village and built a saw-mill on Sandy Creek a little south of the
village. As the place became more thickly settled, Dr. White gave
more of his time to medical practice, had a large business and about the
time of the opening of the canal, opened a small drug store in connec-
tion with other business, and for a time practiced in partnership with
Dr. Green Nichoson. He was appointed the first surrogate of Orleans
county. Later he managed boating operations on the canal, was on a
farm in Carlton a while, and about 1842 returned to Albion and re-
sumed practice, adopting the homeopathic system. He was not very
successful, and removed to Holley. While there he served as justice of
the peace several years, and died there.
136 LANDMARKS OF
Christopher Whaley was born in Connecticut, June i6, 1798, and
settled with his parents at Verona, N, Y., in 1803. He was educated
as a physician at the medical school at Fairfield, N. Y., and graduated
in June, 1819. In September of the same year he located at Shelby
Center. In February, 1832, he removed to IMedina, where he continued
in practice and died October 26, 1867. ^^- Whaley was a very suc-
cessful physician and devoted his entire energies to his profession. It
was truly said of him that "he never refused his services to any one in
need of them, whether they were rich or poor, and without taking into
consideration the possibility of losing his fee," Dr. Whaley was suc-
ceeded in Shelby in early years by Dr. George Norton.
Elisha Bowen was an early and successful physician of the town of
Yates. He was born in Windsor county, Vermont, in 1791 and was
educated at Dartmouth College. He married and settled first in Pal-
myra, N. Y., where his wife died, and in 1820 he removed to Yates,
locating between Yates Center and the lake. He was the first and for
many years the only physician in the town. Dr. Bowen was the father
of twelve children, having been married three times. He was one of the
thirteen persons who formed the Baptist church in Yates in 1822, and
continued a member through his life. He was a conscientious and kind
hearted man and a good physician. He died April 6, 1863.
Willard R. Fitch, who since about 1867 has been a practicing phy-
sician residing in the western part of Albion, but who came to the town
to retire from professional work and engage in farming for a limited
time, was born in Otsego, February 16, 1 826. He received an academic
education, and also attended the Albany State Normal School. After a
course of medical study with Doctors Manley, Thayer and Cummings,
he attended a medical college ai Pittsfield, Mass., and still later was
graduated from the New York City University Medical College. Dr.
Fitch began practice at Oneida, N. Y., and with the exception of one year
in the army, practiced in that town eighteen 3'ears. Dr. Fitch entered
the service as assistant surgeon of the Second N. Y. Militia (82d
Regiment) and served about thirteen months. After the war, being in
poor health, he spent two years in Mobile, Ala., and in 1867 bought
and came to the old Perkins farm in Albion, and although intending to
remain there for a short time only, the doctor has been kept in constant
ORLEANS COUNTY. 137
practice during his residence in this locality. However, for two years
he was in a drug store in Lockport. In 1852 Dr. Fitch married Maria,
daughter of Rev. D, D. Ransom, and they have had five children .
Evaline.who died aged seven ; Gurdon W., a lawyer of Albion ; Freddie,
who died in infancy ; Edward H., who died at twenty ; and Luella. He
is a strong Republican, and has been justice of the peace eight years.
He is now one of the deacons in the Knowlesville Baptist church. He
was one of the United States examining surgeons for pensions for
Orleans county nearly two years.
Horace Phipany, son of Joel, was born in Hindsburgh, Vermont,
February 9, 1806, and learned the shoemaker's trade of his father. He
moved to Sheldon, Wyoming county, thence to Millville in this county,
and in 1824 settled in Gaines, where he followed shoemaking for a short
time. He soon took up the study of medicine with Dr. Elisha Whaley
and later with his uncle, Dr. Richard Gates, both of Medina, teaching
school occasionally to meet his pecuniary expenses. In 1827 he began
the practice of his profession in Lyndonville as the second physician in
town, where he continued until his death October 28, 1850. He was
school inspector many years, held several minor town offices, and was
supervisor of Yates in 1847 ^"^ 1848. He married Elizabeth Blanchard
and their children were Arthur H., born November 13, 1834; A. Hal-
ler, born September 4, 1836, who enlisted in Company C. 3d N. Y.
Cavalry August 3, 1861, and served until August 3, 1864 ; Mary E.
(Mrs. Walter E. Smith); Carroll, born July 9, 1842, who enlisted in
Company A, 8th N. Y. H. A., promoted corporal May 19, 1894,
wounded in front of Petersburg, and discharged May 6, 1865; and
Catherine E. (Mrs. E. B. Brown). Arthur H. Phipany is a merchant
in Lyndonville, the firm being Phipany & Gale, succeeding Hon. Henry
M. Hard.
Hervey Blood, who for many years was well known to the older resi-
dents of the northern part of Orleans county as a minister of the gospel,
and later as practicing physician, was a native of Conway, Mass., born
about 1804. Coming to this State he located at Broadalbin, where he
taught school several years, then moved to Whitesboro and Hamilton,
at the latter attending Colgate Academy. He afterward engaged in
missionary work in Western New York under the direction of the Home
18
138 LANDMARKS OF
Mission Board, and in connection with his labors he came to Carlton in
1825. Here he bought land and built a house, and although he was
afterward stationed at various other places, Carlton was considered the
home of Mr. Blood and family. As the result of hard and constant
ministerial work, his voice failed, and he was compelled to change his
avocation. He read medicine in Gaines, and was graduated from a
medical institution at Willoughby, Ohio. Dr. Blood practiced in Carl-
ton and Yates about ten years, until the time of his death, July 27,
1864. He married EHza Cooley, and to them one child was born, Ad-
oniram Judson, who settled in Missouri and died there in 1892. After
the death of his wife, Mr Blood married Gracilla, daughter of Anthony
Miles, a pioneer of the town. The children of this marriage were :
Francis Wayland, Cornelia Ann and Francis W. (all of whom died
young), and Hervey, of Albion.
William Noble was a native of Weathersfield, Conn., born May 9,
1803, and was the son of Elnathan and Mary Noble. The family left
Connecticut about 1805, and settled at Geneva. William Noble was
educated at Albany and New York city, at the latter in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, and completed his medical education at Cas-
tleton, Vt. He studied medicine in New York city under the direc-
tion of Dr. Valentine Mott and other well known and equally distin-
guished physicians. He began practicing in Albany, and thence
moved to Hudson, Ohio, from the latter place coming to Albion, in
1840. From this time until his death. Dr. Noble was in continuous
practice in Orleans county, and was a physician of much prominence
among the local practitioners, while as a surgeon was perhaps un-
equaled in the county. Dr. Noble died in Albion, April 18, 1878.
His wife, whom he married at Albany, June 2, 1829, was Amelia Stiles
Denio.
Harriet Noble Watson, better known as Mrs. Dr. Watson, was
educated at Phipps Seminary, and received her medical education at
the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women, New York
City, from which she was graduated. She practiced medicine parts of
two years in New York and has visited the noted hospitals of Europe.
She entered the medical profession in answer to her father's desire that
she should continue practice in Albion as he had done. Dr. Harriet
ORLEANS COUNTY. 139
Watson is a member of the Orleans County Medical Society and has re-
cently been appointed physician at the Western House of Refuge for
Women in Albion.
John Jacob Simonds,M.D., was born in Shelby, January 14, 1857, and
was the son of Egbert B. and Arvill (Zimmerman) Simonds, the eldest
son of their five children. His father was a carpenter and joiner and
wheelwright, later a farmer, in which pursuit John J. was brought up.
He was educated in the common schools and had always a great de-
sire to study drugs and medicines which he kept constantly before him,
and attended the university in Buffalo together with his brother, another
physician in Akron, N. Y., and graduated from that university in
March, 1 890. He practiced one year in Buffalo and a like time in
Shelby and then located in Barre Centre, N. Y., where he has had a
large clientage and is successful in his professional work ; is a member
of the County and State Medical Societies ; was married April 12, 1882,
to Abbie Moratty, of Shelby. He has had two children born to them,
one of which is now living.
Joseph Bullock Brown, son of Rufus and Margaret (Bullock) Brown,
was born in Albany July 26, 1822, His early education was acquired
at the Albany Medical College, and he was a graduate from that insti-
tution. In 1845 ^^- Brown was appointed physician at Clinton Prison,
where he remained three years, and then practiced surgery at Detroit
one year. In 1849 he received an appointment as surgeon in the regu-
lar army, and previous to the war of 1861-65 was stationed in Oregon,
Texas, and Washington Territory. At the outbreak of the Rebellion
he was ordered east and assigned to the Army of the Potomac, then
under General McClellan. Later on he was made chief ofificer in the sur-
geon-general's office in the Army of the Cumberland, and served in
that capacity until the close of the war, and for meritorious service at
Fort Columbus Colonel Brown was promoted to brigadier-general, and
thereafter he was commonly known as General Brown. The next three
years following the war General Brown was stationed at Governor's
Island, followed by six years in Nebraska, and the remaining thirteen
years of his active service were spent in New York, where he was pres-
ident of the Medical Examining Board. In 1886, then being sixty-
four years of age. General Brown was retired from active duty and
140 LANDMARKS OF
service. He lived a few years at Tarrytown and in 1887 came to Al-
bion, and during the remainder of his life occupied the old Bullock
homestead. Here he died October 21, 1891. When not engaged in
his regular duties, General Brown devoted himself to the study of the
classics or photography, in which he was proficient. As an artist he
attained more than passing prominence, and with his other attainments
was schooled in scientific work. April 20, 1848, he married Catharine
R., daughter of Jotham and Selecta Crawford, then of Saratoga Spa,
and they have had four children, the first of whom died in infancy :
Alice and Warren C. and Louisa M. Brown.
Dr. William McKennan came to Albion in the fifties, while a young
man, and during his professional career attained a high eminence in the
practice of medicine. He was also considered a good surgeon, but was
especially distinguished as a physician. He married, first, Miss Harriet
P. Guild, a teacher in the old Albion Academy, by whom he had two
children — one now deceased and a son living in the West. He married
for his second wife Miss Helen Gale, of Albion, who resides in Roches-
ter, Dr. McKennan died here in the prime of life.
Dr. Walter R. Sanford, son of Wait Sanford, was born in Pawlet,
Vt, April 30, 18 12. He was educated in the public schools he be-
gan the study of medicine with Dr. J. V. C. Teller in Marion, Wayne
county, was afterward with Dr. William W. Gardner, Walworth, attended
Professors Delamater & Loomis's Medical School at Palmyra, took
lectures at Fairfield Medical College, and received a diploma from the
Herkimer County Medical Society. He came to Kendall in 1836 to
commence the practice of his profession, which he continued for over
fifty years, until recently, when old age compelled him to retire. For
some time he was an inspector of common schools and was postmaster
of Kendall from 1845 to 1853. In May, 1838, Dr. Sanford married
Abigail S. Higby, of Chapinville, N. Y., who died in 185 1. Their
children were: Elizabeth B., of Canandaigua ; William R., Amelia J.
(Mrs. W. F. McEuen), of Chicago; Sherrill H., and Elbert A., deceased.
His second wife was Mrs. Catherine V. S. Saunders, by whom he has
one child, Annie L. (Mrs. R. Howard Wallace.) Sherrill H. Sanford,
born October 12, 1846, married Margaret Ashmun, of Cosmopolis,
Wash., and has four children. He began mercantile business in 1872
ORLEANS COUNTY, 141
in a store south of the hotel, but the next year moved to his present
location. He has been town clerk four terms and was postmaster under
Cleveland's first administration.
Thomas Gushing, M. D., the son of Enos Gushing and the grandson
of Thomas Gushing, was born near Gazenovia, N. Y., in December,
1 82 I. His father and grandfather came from Hingham, Mass., in 1790,
his father being then ten years of age. They were of the family of
Gushings who were quite numerous in Massachusetts, whence they have
spread to all parts of the country. His father was a teacher, a civil en-
gineer and surveyor, and a farmer. Dr. Gushing received his academic
education at the Ghittenango Polytechny, in his native county, and sub-
sequently studied some of the higher branches and languages without
a teacher. He studied medicine at Gazenovia, where he commenced
practice in partnership with his preceptor. He attended a course of
lectures at Albany and another at Buffalo, where he graduated. He
removed to Brocton (then Salem Gross Roads), Ghautauqua county,
N. Y., in 1848 ; thence to North East, Erie county, Pa., in 1853, and in
1 860 came to Barre in this county, where he has since resided. In 1 848
he was married to S. A. Grittenden, by whom he has three sons and a
daughter. One of the sons is a dentist, one a farmer, and one is the
ethnologist of the Smithsonian Institution. During the war of the Re-
bellion he served first as assistant surgeon 28th N. Y. Volunteers in
Virginia and Maryland, and afterwards as surgeon 29th U. S. G. In-
fantry in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. He was at the
battle of Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. At the
close of the war he purchased a farm near Barre Genter, where he has
since resided. In addition to professional matters Dr. Gushing has
always manifested a lively interest in the progress of science, and has
written several monographs on scientific subjects. In 1878 he aban-
doned the practice of his profession, and he has since been engaged in
historical, literary, and scientific labor. He is somewhat noted for his
eccentricities. Liberality of thought, loyalty to his convictions, and
fearlessness in the expression of his opinions, are his distinguishing
characteristics.
Gharles E. Fairman. — The ancestors of the Fairman family came
from Scotland and were among the early colonists of Gonnecticut
142 LANDMARKS OF
John Fairman married Emma Streeter, and died August 6, 1826.
Their son Charles, born in Northfield, Mass., August 6, 1823, was edu-
cated in Townshend (Vt.) Academy, Black River Academy, Hancock
(N. H.) Literary and Scientific Institute, and Waterville (Me.) College
(now Colby University), from which he was graduated in 1850. In
1852 he came to Yates as a teacher in Yates Academy, of which he
became principal in 1853, which position he held ten years. From
1863 to 1867 he had charge of Medina Academy and then for one
year of Nunda Academy. In 1868 he was elected to the chair of
mathematics in Shurtleff College in Alton, 111., which in 1873 conferred
upon him the degree of LL. D., and with which institution he is still
connected. In June, 1853, he married Mary Gambell, of Yates ; chil-
dren— Dr. Charles Edward, Willis L., Grace E, Bertha J., Agnes L.,
and Alice M. Dr. Charles E. Fairman, born December 28, 1856, fol-
lowed the fortunes of his father until 1873, when he entered the senior
class of Rochester University at the age of sixteen, from which he
graduated as A. B. in 1874, the youngest graduate that institution ever
turned out. After studying medicine in the offices of Dr. B. T. Smel-
zer, of Havana, N. Y., and Dr. John D. Warren, of Lyndonville, he en-
tered the St. Louis Medical College, graduating therefrom as M. D. in
1877. He also received the degree of A. M. from the University of
Rochester in 1877. He then located in practice in Lyndonville, where
he has since resided. February 5, 1878, he married Lois C , daughter
of Dr. J. D. Warren. Dr. Fairman is a member of the Orleans County
Medical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and corresponding member of Rochester Academy of Science.
He is a terse and scholarly writer and is the author of several valuable
medical papers and pamphlets.
Hiram W. Lewis, son of Shubael, was born in Orleans county Feb-
ruary 13, 1823. His preparatory studies were pursued at Brockport,
Monroe county and at Millville Academy. He taught school, pursuing
the study of medicine at the same time. His medical education was
thorough and complete. He studied at Harvard Medical School, Rush
Medical College and Buffalo Medical College. The first five years he
practiced in his native town of Clarendon. In 185 1 he removed to
Albion and continued in practice till his death in 1887. He married
ORLEANS COUNTY. I43
Melissa P., daughter of Orson Tousley, of Clarendon, in 1847 who sur-
vives him. His career as a physician was marked by pecuHar fidehty,
patience and an increasing interest. The confidence which he won
from the pubHc was very gratifying to him, even to the end of hfe. The
poor always found in him a friend and confidential adviser. He said
that the practice of medicine was of increasing moment to him as it
afforded such opportunities to relieve human suffering.
Dr. Dana Shaw was born in Massachusetts in 1798. In his youth he
received a common school education, and afterward studied medicine,
attending lectures at Castleton, Vt. In 1827 he removed to Orleans
county and settled at South Barre, where he practiced his profession
some years. He removed to Barre Center, where he died in 1852.
He was a skillful physician and a highly esteemed man. His wife, to
whom he was married in 1827, was Elizabeth Whiting, of Massachu-
setts. She died in 1883. Their children were two daughters; one, the
wife of Hon. J. G. Sawyer, of Albion, died in 1850; the other, unmar-
ried, died in 1852.
Dr. Abiel Bowen was born at Guilford, Vt., in 1798, and came to
Western New York with his father's family early in the present century.
He studied medicine at Middleport, N. Y., and graduated at Fairfield
Medical College. He engaged in practice in Shelby, and in 1828
established himself at West Shelby, where he purchased a farm. He
practiced medicine there till about 1840. He died in 1847. ^^ 1826
he married Anna S. Cone, a native of Vermont, born in 1803. She
died in 1852. They had seven children, of whom two died young.
Anna S. Bowen was a teacher in the West during many years, and was
literary teacher in the Institution for the Blind for nine years. Adna was
an able lawyer, and practiced in Medina, N. Y., where he died in 1883.
George is an eminent lawyer in Batavia. Abiel, a successful dentist, is
a resident of Medina, where he has practiced his profession during
many years. Marian J., who married H. C. Finch.
John Hale Taylor, M. D., was born at Rome, Oneida county, N. Y.,
August 1 8th, 1844 His father, Mortimer H., was a native of Glaston-
bury, Conn., and came to Oneida county, where he married Mary
Brainard. In 1850 he moved to Orleans county, and settled upon a
farm in Clarendon. Dr. Taylor was educated at the Holley Academy
144 LANDMARKS OF
and Brockport Collegiate Institute. He studied medicine with Drs.
Horace Clark and William B. Mann, of Brockport, N. Y., and gradu-
ated at the University of Buffalo February 24, 1869. He settled in
HoUey, where he has since remained, and secured a large practice. In
1889 he took a post-graduate course in medicine at the New York
Polyclinic College and Hospital, and at the same time took a private
course of instruction in gynecology under Dr. James R. Gofife, of New
York; also a course in operative surgery under Dr. Robert H. M. Daw-
barn, of New York. He is a member of the Orleans County and Cen-
tral New York Medical Societies and the New York State Medical As-
sociation. Dr. Taylor was elected president of the Orleans County
Medical Society in 1892, and was coroner for fifteen years. He is a
member of Murray Lodge, No. 380, F. and A. M., and was master in
1883 and 1884 and secretary several years. He is also a member of
Orleans Chapter, No. 175, Royal Arch Masons, and of Monroe Com-
mandery, No. 12, Knights Templar. In 1870 Dr. Taylor married Har-
riet A. Hartwell, of Medfield, Mass., and they have two sons, John M.
and Forrest E.
Dr. William F. Eaman is a grandson of George Eaman, who was
born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, and died August 16, 1847,
aged sixty. The latter married Janette Grant, of Edinburgh, Scot-
land, who died March 7, 1852, aged sixty- five. George I., father of
our subject, was born in Amsterdam, May ii, 1825, and now lives at
Ransomville, Niagara county. His wife was Sara J. Sickels, who was
born in Buffalo, November 20, 1825, who is still living. Dr. Eaman
was born in Dunville, Canada, in 1853, and attended the public schools
of Ransomville, and later the Wilson Union School at Wilson, Niagara
county, and the Lockport Union School, meantime pursuing studies in
anatomy and physiology, after which he taught school three winters,
still keeping up his studies in medicine, and attending school during the
spring terms. He next entered the office of Dr. M. S. Kittinger, of
Lockport, who is widelj' known through Niagara county, and remained
with him over five years, during this time, however, spending two years
at the Buffalo Medical College. He then attended Bellevue Hospital
Medical College in New York city, where he graduated in February,
1877, and immediately began practice in Gaines, where he has been
ORLEANS COUNTY. 145
eminently successful. September 30. 1880, he married Anna M.
Kemp, daughter of Simon Kemp of this town. She was born October
I3> i859> ^"d they have had four children : Howard, born October 13,
1884; Bessie L , born December 17, 1886; Marjory D., born March
20, 1889; and Myron B., born October 13, 1891, who died March 10,
1893-
Andrew J. Eaton, M. D., is a son of Ebenezer Eaton, and was born
in Laona, Chautauqua county, January 19, 1824. He attended the old
Fredonia Academy and began the study of medicine with Dr. Charles
Smith of Laona, continuing with his cousin, Dr. Willard Eaton, of
Eagle Harbor, Orleans county. He took lectures at the Central Eclec-
tic Medical College of Rochester, received a degree of M. D. from the
Eclectic Medical College of the city of New York, and began the prac-
tice of his profession in Palmyra, Wis., in 1848. One year later he re-
moved to Hillsdale, Mich., whence he came to Millville, Orleans
county, in 1852, but in 1864 settled permanently at Kendall Mills,
where he has since resided and continued his professional career. Dr.
Eaton is a member of the Western New York Medical Society of
Buffalo, a member and formerly vice-president of the Genesee Valley
Eclectic Medical Society, long a member of the I. O. O. F. and an
active member of Murray Lodge and Orleans Chapter of Masons. He
married Ruth A., daughter of Ebenezer K. Webster, of Kendall Mills,
and has one son, Carl Simon, who is pursuing the study of dentistry.
CHAPTER Xn.
THE PRESS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
The reader has learned in these pages that the village of Gaines was
once the leading place in the county, and came very near being the
county seat. It is this fact that accounts for the first newspaper in the
county being established at Gaines, Judge Thomas places the date of
the first issue about the year 1824; while other authorities make it as
early as 1822. The paper was called The Gazette, and it was con-
19
146 LANDMARKS OF
tinued about four years by Seymour Tracy. In July, 1827 (probably
after the discontinuance of The Gazette), John Fisk established The Or-
leans Whig at Gaines. It was continued regularly several years, but
the date of its death is lost, as far as we know.
The first newspaper published in what is now Albion, was called The
Newport Patriot, and was issued by Franklin Cowdry in 1823. It took
its name from the little hamlet of Newport, which afterwards received
the name of Albion. In February, 1825, Timothy C. Strong became
the proprietor and changed the name of the paper to The Orleans Ad-
vocate. In the year 1828, amid the anti- Masonic excitement, Mr.
Strong espoused the cause of anti-Masonry and changed the name of
the publication to The Orleans Advocate and Anti- Masonic Telegraph,
and in February of that year shortened the title to The Orleans Anti-
Masonic Telegraph. In June, 1828, another change was made to The
Orleans Telegraph, and a little later the name of the paper was made
The American Standard. The establishment was transferred to J.
Kempshall, who conducted it about two years, when it again passed
into possession of Mr. Strong, who changed the name of the paper to
The Orleans American. In 1844 the property passed to possession of
J. & J. H. Denio, who continued the business until 1853, when it was
purchased by S. A. Andrews. With various partners, he continued
the publication until January, 1861, when the establishment was pur-
chased by D, S. & H. A. Bruner. This firm continued until July i,
1868, when H. A. Bruner became sole owner, and has ever since con-
ducted the paper with signal ability and success. In December, 1868,
the entire estabhshment was burned, but was promptly rebuilt by Mr.
Bruner, and equipped with modern machinery and fixtures. Since the
formation of the Republican party The American has been a staunch
supporter of the political principles of that party and wields a strong
influence throughout Orleans and adjoniing counties. P^or nearly
thirty- five years Mr. Bruner has faithfully and ably filled the editorial
chair.
Henry A. Bruner, the editor and proprietor for over thirty years
past of The Orleans American, is a son of Jacob and Esther Arwine
Bruner, and was born in Danville, Pa. While yet a lad the family
moved to Yates county, New York.
^V^s— -^-t^-^ ^yh^ ^^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 147
Mr. Bruner in his childhood and youth had no other than the hum-
blest opportunities for education afforded to every child in our common
schools. But he diligently improved what chances he had for learning.
Upon the death of his parents, being left poor, he first learned the trade
of harnessmaking, but soon afterward managed to attend a select school
and the public schools in Penn Yan, commenced teaching, and subse-
quently finished his education at the State Normal School in Albany,
where he graduated in the spring of 1847, and again taught school for
a number of years, with such reputation and success, that, in June,
1856, he was appointed the first school commissioner of Yates county,
and the next year, 1857, was elected to the same position, holding it in
all for four and a half years.
In January, 1861, Mr. Bruner came to Albion, and, with his brother,
David S. Bruner, bought of Andrews & Ray the Orleans American, tak-
ing possession January 17. His brother's health failed, and July i, 1868,
Henry A. Bruner became and has ever since been sole proprietor. His
course as editor of the first-established and leading newspaper in Or-
leans county, has been to assert and maintain the principles and ascend-
ancy of his party with uniform loyalty and consistency, steadily holding
a leading position and wielding a more or less efficient influence in its
councils. His services have been to some extent recognized by his polit-
ical friends. He was postmaster at Albion four and a half years,
1871-1875, appointed by President Grant.
Mr. Bruner was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in
1880, which nominated Garfield, and was a special inspector of customs
under Harrison's administration.
He was married in October, 1852, at Starkey, Yates county, to Je-
rusha Maria Pierce, who died February i, 1865. In September, 1866,
he married Sara S. Smith, of Albion. His only surviving child, Liz-
zie, is the wife of Dr. John E. Sutton, a practicing physician in Albion.
There is a tradition that a few numbers of a Democratic newspaper
were published in Albion prior to 1829. In that year Anti-Masonry
was flourishing in Western New York ; the Democratic party was in
the minority and without an organ. Chiefly through the influence of
Alexis Ward, Cephas S. McConnell came to Albion, and on the 21st of
October, 1829, issued the first number of the Orleans Republican. He
148 LANDMARKS OF
continued the publication with a fair degree of success until 1841, when
he sold out to a Mr. De Puy, and removed to Rochester. He returned
in 1847 ^"d started the Orleans Democrat, which he soon discontinued
and bought back The Republican. He sold the property to Mr. J. O.
Willsea in 1848, and removed to Chicago where he died in 1855. In
1850 Calvin G. Beach became associated as partner with Mr. Willsea,
and the firm of Willsea & Beach conducted the business with success
until i860, when Mr Willsea retired. Mr. Beach continued the publi-
cation alone until his death, which occurred July 8, 1868. Mr. Beach
was born in Rochester, on June 30, 1830, and learned the printer's
trade with Shepherd & Graves, of that city. He came to Albion in
1850, and had just reached his majority when he became partner with
Mr. Willsea. In the conduct of his paper, Mr. Beach was assisted by
his wife, a woman of rare literary attainments, who was a contributor
to many of the papers and magazines of that day. Since the death of
Mr. Beach, his widow has continued the publication of the paper. La-
fayette H. Beach, the present editor and manager of The Republican,
was born in Albion, on April 2, 1856; was educated at the old Albion
Academy and graduated when fifteen years of age. Abandoning his
desire for a college course, he entered his mother's printing office in
1 87 1 and served a full apprenticeship. In 1878 he became associated
with an older brother in the editorship of The Republican, and in 1882
was made sole editor and manager. Two other sons of the late Calvin
G. Beach are engaged in journalism — Fred G. Beach, holding a prom-
inent position with The Rochester Democrat, and Robert K. Beach,
being editor of The Rochester Morning Herald. Editor Beach of The
Republican is married and is the father of five children. He is iden-
tified officially with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Albion, and has
been superintendent of its Sunday- school for fourteen consecutive years.
He has also been secretary of the Orleans County Agricultural Society
for a period of sixteen years.
The Republican is the Orleans county organ of the Democratic party
and wields a powerful influence in that direction.
The Saturday Chronicle was started in Albion in the autumn of
1876, by William B. Young, who was a practical printer. It v^as neu-
tral or independent in politics. The paper was discontinued after about
two years.
ORLEANS COUNTS. I49
The first number of the Orleans County Herald was issued Septem-
ber 4, 1888, by Frank E. Kittredge. It was started as a nine- column
folio. In 1889 it was purchased by Clark D. Knapp. After several
changes in proprietorship, the establishment recently (1894) passed to
Ben A. Osborn and William B. Young. It is Republican in politics,
is ably conducted and liberally patronized.
The Weekly News was established in Albion in 1888, by John
Cunneen. The success of this publication has led to its being severa]
times enlarged, until it reached the eight-column quarto size. Tlie
paper is independent in politics and pays particular attention to local
news. In 1890 Pearl Coann became editor and proprietor of the paper
and it is now owned and edited by A. M. Eddy. Mr. Coann has
established and now edits The Albion Free Lance, a weekly publication.
The Young Oologist, a monthly publication devoted to birds, their
nests, eggs and habits, was started in Albion in 1884. Two years later
the name was changed to The Oologist. The editor and publisher is
Frank H. Lattin, with Neil J. Posson, of Medina, as associate editor.
The magazine has been very successful and has a large circulation,
Previous to the establishment of permanent newspapers in the village
of Medina, several publications were started and soon added to the
great newspaper death-roll. The first of these was The Medina
Herald, which was begun in 1832 by Daniel P. Adams; it lived only
two or three years.
In 1837 J- & J- H. Denio began the publication of The Medina
Sentinel. In the next year the name of the paper was changed to The
Orleans Sentinel and it lived until [842.
A paper called The Bucktail was started just previous to the suspen-
sion of The Herald, and afterward its name was changed to The
Medina Democrat. It expired after two or three years of existence.
S. M. Burroughs was the publisher.
In 1850 H. A. Smith began the publication of The Medina Citizen.
In 1855 the title was changed to the Medina Tribune, which it still
retains. Samuel H. Clark succeeded Mr. Smith as publisher, con-
tinuing to January i, 1871, when the establishment was purchased by
John P. Gates and Frank H. Hurd. On January i, 1874, Mr. Hurd
purchased his partner's interest, and a year later Fred. M. Taylor be-
150 LANDMARKS OF
came a partner in the business. On January i, 1877, ^^- Hurd again
became sole proprietor and has continued the business alone to the
present time. The Tribune is Republican in politics and under Mr.
Kurd's able conduct has become a powerful factor in the councils of the
party, gaining a large circulation.
Frank H. Hurd was born in the town of Yates August 7, 1847, ^"d
received his education at the Yates Academy. At the age of sixteen
he began to learn the trade of printer and has been connected with the
printing and publishing business ever since. He was first with The
Orleans Republican in Albion, a year in Syracuse and then with The
Auburn Morning News, After two years in Auburn he returned to
Albion and had charge of the mechanical department of the Orleans
Republican for a year. In 1871 he purchased The Medina Tribune,
and has been its proprietor and editor ever since. Mr, Hurd is a
prominent Mason, belonging to the Chapter at Albion and the Genesee
Commandery at Lockport, N. Y. He is active in politics and has been
secretary of many conventions. In 1874 he married F. Louise Williams,
of Rome, N, Y., who died in 1883. In 1885 he married Dolores E
Frary, of Medina. His father was Seymour A. Hurd, a merchant of
Yates, son of the late Isaac Hurd, of that town. His mother was Mary
Frost Hurd, daughter of the late Chester Frost, of Shelby. His ances
tors, on both sides came from New England to this county in
pioneer days.
The first number of The Orleans Democrat was issued in Albion in
May, 1870, by W. W. Malay, who removed the establishment to
Medina in February, 1871. In 1872 W, W, Mount purchased a half
interest in the business, but withdrew a year later. In 1873 C, W.
Tucker became a partner and was succeeded six months later by A, M,
Thistlewaite, In 1874 Mr. Malay again became proprietor of the
concern and in the fall of that year sold a half interest to Adna Bowen.
The paper was suspended in 1876, but was revived soon afterwards
under the title of The Medina Democrat, by Bowen & O'Brien. Five
months later W. W, Malay became sole editor and proprietor, and per-
manently discontinued the paper in 1877.
The Medina Register was started in the month (April, 1877,)
that saw the death of The Democrat by Beach Brothers, who used the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 151
type and apparatus of The Democrat. In August of that year Joel B.
Svvett became sole proprietor of the establishment and successfully con-
ducted the business until i88i, when he was succeeded by the present
editor and proprietor, M. A. Bowen. Mr. Bowen was born in West
Shelby November 7, 1859. He began work at the printing business
before he finally left school, at first in the office of the Orleans Democrat.
When he took possession of The Register he was fully equipped for the
successful practical conduct of an able Democratic newspaper. He is a
fluent and forcible writer and possesses business qualifications of a high
order. He has made the Register an influential organ in the politics of
Western New York as well as a welcome news medium in a large num-
ber of homes. In 1882 Mr. Bowen was married to Harriet Green ; they
have a son and a daughter. Mr. Bowen's father was Adna Bowen, also
a native of Medina ; his mother was Eunice Post.
The only village in Orleans county, other than Albion and Medina,
to boast a newspaper is the sprightly place of Holley. The first paper
published in Holley was called The Holley Bulletin, and was issued in
the fall of 1868 by Jay Densmore. It was a small weekly sheet, but
after a few issues was changed to a semi monthly and quadrupled in
size. Before the completion of the first volume the paper was discon-
tinued and the office removed elsewhere.
The Monthly Advertiser, devoted to general reading and advertise-
ments, was first issued in Holley in the fall of 1869, but only a few
numbers were issued.
In the autumn of 1870 the publication of The Holley Standard was
begun by Cyrus Marsh. The paper was continued with fair success
until 1874, when the office was burned. Mr. Marsh then purchased
The Brockport Democrat office and issued a paper called The Demo-
crat and Standard, and designed to represent both villages. This plan
was not successful and Mr. Marsh established a new office in Holley
and resumed the publication of The Standard. In 1877 he sold out to
Frank A. Lanstrom, who in turn sold to Frank A. Hayden a year
later. He continued the paper until the spring of 1882, when he sold
to the present proprietor, C. C. Hayden. The office was burned in
January, 1885, but was re-established at once. The Standard is inde-
pendent in politics. C. C.' Hayden was born in Sennett, Cayuga county.
152 - LANDMARKS OF
N. Y., February 12, 1858; received his education in district schools
and Auburn High School. He learned the printing trade in the offices
of The Brockport Democrat and The Holley Standard, also acting as
local reporter. In 1880 he went to Titusville, Pa., remaining nearly two
years, as reporter on The Daily Herald and Daily World, and in 1882
purchased The Holley Standard. Mr. Hayden is a fluent writer and
possesses the natural qualities that make the successful journalist.
In 1878 a monthly paper called The Agitator was established in
Holley, as the organ of the Good Templars of Orleans county. It sur-
vived only a short time.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Quarrying Industry — Its Development and Present Proportions — First Quarry
Opened — Operators and Owners — Statistics.
In a previous chapter, describing the geology of Orleans county,
special reference has been made to the formation of the celebrated
Medina sandstone, a stratum that underlies nearly all that area be-
tween the Niagara limestone terrace and Lake Ontario. This forma-
tion was so named because it was best shown at Medina, along the
shores of Oak Orchard Creek, where it was first discovered and utilized
for building and other purposes. It seems to be divided into four
different bands, the most valuable rock being found from five to thirty
feet below the surface. It is characterized by its extreme hardness,
compared to similar substances, and by contractors and builders is re-
garded as one of the best varieties of stone found and utilized in the
United States for building purposes. It is devoid of any granite quali-
ties, however, is easily cut and fashioned into the most artistic of
architectural shapes, and for durability it surpasses the average build-
ing stone, the action of climatic changes having little influence upon its
disintegration. It can be hewed and split, will not crack or break like
limestone, and does not wear smooth and slippery like granite. It is
usually found in layers of from one inch to four feet in thickness and
ORLEANS COUNTY. 153
varies in color from a light gray to a deep or brownish red. Naturally-
rich in beauty, which is enhanced by the artistic conception of the archi-
tect or designer, it is susceptible of a variety of uses and unexcelled for
architectural purposes.
In Orleans county the business of quarrying this stone has developed,
next to agriculture, into the leading industry, especially along the lines
of the Erie Canal and New York Central Railroad, where the opera-
tions are almost entirely confined In many ways it has had a material
influence upon various other industries, some of which are directly
tributary to this, and from a financial standpoint it has brought numer-
ous benefits to the whole population. From an insignificant beginning
it has grown to enormous proportions, and that, too, in the last quarter
century. This development is mainly due to the excellent transporta-
tion facilities afforded by the canal and railway, which compete so
briskly for shipments that distant markets are opened almost to the
very quarry pits. Nearly all the quarries in the county lie within a few
rods of the canal, while many are supplied also with special switches
from the railroad. The old method of drilling by hand, though still
employed to some extent, has been generally superseded by the steam
drill, and many other labor saving devices have been introduced in re-
cent years. In the larger quarries the work is nearly all executed by
machinery driven by steam — steam derricks, steam drills, steam pumps,
and steam crushers — employing hundreds of men and turning out
thousands upon thousands of cords of stone each season. The product
is shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada, and utilized for
every purpose for which rock is used, the demand in many cases ex-
ceeding the supply.
Bowlders of this rock were utilized at a very early day for building
and other purposes, but it is not known that any quarries were opened
or worked during the first quarter of a century after the settlement of
this region commenced. As previously stated this sandstone was first
employed for building purposes in the vicinity of Medina, and there also
the first regular quarry in Orleans county seems to have been opened.
It was located north of the canal, where the Medina Manufacturing
Company's factory now stands, and was opened by John Ryan in 1837.
This quarry furnished a good quality of building stone, but the flags
154 LANDMARKS OF
taken from it were rough and unsuitable for use. A year later Mr. Ryan
found good flags at a locality some distance northwest from the Shelby
street canal bridge. Not wishing to develop this quarry then he filled
the excavations he had made and in 1844 he purchased one hundred
and fifty acres there and opened the quarry. He owned and operated
it till 1865, was in charge of it until 1870. He sold it in 1865 to Chase
& Howell, and it is now owned and operated by the widow of Mr.
Howell. Seventy men are employed in it and stones for street work
are mostly produced.
In 1845 James Kearney purchased land lying between this quarry
and the canal, and opened a quarry on it. He operated this until his
death some thirty years ago, and it has ever since been owned and
worked by his heirs. It is not now extensively operated.
As early as 1827 Isaac Bennett procured stone for building purposes
on the east side of Oak Orchard Creek, at and in the vicinity of what is
known as Laurel Hill, or " Paddy Hill."
In 1839 James Cullen opened a quarry on Mr. Bennett's land, which
he worked until his death in 1847, after which it became the property
of Patrick Horan. The quarry property included twenty- four and one-
half acres when purchased by Mr. Horan, and he since added to it
forty-eight and one-half acres. The number of hands employed in this
quarry has varied in different years, ranging from forty to one hundred
and fifty. Mr. Horan died in 1893, and it has since been worked by
his estate. All varieties of stone are produced.
In 185 I the Holloway Brothers, John, Isaac and William, stone deal-
ers in Buffalo, purchased eight acres of land east from Oak Orchard
Creek and north from the canal, and opened thereon a quarry. From
time to time parcels of land have been added to this original purchase
until the tract now includes seventy-eight acres. This quarry has ever
since its first purchase been worked by the Holloway Company, al-
though the original brothers are dead and the property belongs to their
heirs. One hundred and twenty men are employed, and the product is
almost exclusively what is known as street work.
In 1868 a quarry was opened by George Rand on the farm of Nelson
McCormick, a mile east from Medina and north of the canal. Mr.
Rand operated it two or three years, since which Mr. McCormick, and
ORLEANS COUNTY. 155
his son Adalbert J., the present proprietor, have worked it. Fifty-
hands are employed, and all varieties of stone are produced.
The Reynolds quarry was opened in 1873, on the farm of Hiram D.
Reynolds, north of the canal and one mile and a half east from Medina.
It was opened by Arnold & Cushman, who operated it under a lease
eight years. Mr. Reynolds then operated it a year, when it was worked
for a time by Noble & Lyle. The operator is H. D. Reynolds, who
has recently resumed the proprietorship. All kinds of stone are pro-
duced in this quarry and twenty men are employed.
There are several quarries about three miles west from Medina. One
of these, the Levalley quarry, was first worked between thirty and forty
years since.
In Albion stone was quarried for local use at an early day, but the
business of quarrying for shipment did not commence prior to about
i860. For the first few years the industry developed quite slowly. In
this town quarries have been worked in the formation known as the
Clinton rock, which lies between the Medina sandstone and the Niagara
limestone ; but the products of these were only utilized for local pur-
poses.
The De Graff Quarry — In 1877 L. R. Sanford opened a quarry in
Sandy Creek, and George Clyde and L. M. Loss opened another a short
distance east and north on State street. These quarries were worked
about a year and afterwards nothing more was done there till May, 1890,
when De Graff and Roberts purchased nineteen and one-half acres north
from the railroad and commenced operations. They now own another
quarry at Eagle Harbor, and in both about lOO men are employed.
All kinds of stone are produced. The stone for the Pullman church are
from the Eagle Harbor quarry.
The Goodrich & Clark Stone Company purchased twenty-six acres
of land between the canal and railroad east from Albion village in 1885,
and at once commenced quarrying stone there. From this place stone
had been taken for the building of the gristmill on State street in 1833,
and also for the county jail ; but no work had been done there for many
years. Messrs. Goodrich & Clark commenced in a modest way, employ-
ing only six men the first year, but their business has steadily increased
till the number of men employed reaches 250. All varieties of stone are
156 LANDMARKS OF
produced here, and the products are sent to all parts of the country.
In 1890 this firm quarried about one-fifth of the entire product of the
Medina sandstone belt.
The Albion Stone Company. — About i860 H. J. Sickels was the
owner of a quarry next east from where Goodrich & Clark are now
operators. The quarry became the property of Eugene Sullivan and
Thomas f^odge, and was worked by them till the autumn of 1874, when
it was purchased by the Albion and Medina Stone Company, a corpor-
ation formed under the laws of Ohio. In 1885 the company was re-
organized under the name of the Albion S^one Company, of which H.
M. Claflin of Cleveland, Ohio, is president. About 150 men are em-
ployed in this quarry ; a few years ago the number reached as high as
500. All varieties of stone are produced here, with paving, curbing and
block stone as specialties, of which the Claflin Paving Company con-
sume large quantities. The company has some 1200 feet of dockage on
the canal and a branch track from the railroad. Thomas Hallifax of
Lockport, is the general manager.
The Gilbert Brady Quarry. — About i860 Burt Lake opened a quarry
on his farm, one and one-half miles east from Albion. He was succeed-
ed by Whitmore, Rathburn & Carson in 1873. In 1878 the firm became
Brady & Rathburn, and in 1880, after the death of Mr. Rathburn, Gil-
bert Brady became sole proprietor. To the original property he has
added from time to time till about seventy five acres are now included.
The strata of rock are worked to a depth of sixteen feet. He employs
150 men. Two thirds of the products of this quarry are the different
varieties of building stone, and one-third is street work. Most of the
stone produced is sold west of Buffalo. Mr. Brady has about 800 feet of
dockage on the heel path side of the canal and a switch from the rail-
road. James D. O'Brien has been foreman of this quarry since 1891.
Charles A. Gorman and Stanley E. Filkins, in the spring of 1894,
opened a quarry on thirty acres of the Tanner farm, east of Albion, be-
tween the railroad and canal. They bought the property in April, 1893.
They employ about twenty- five or thirty men and produce building
and paving stone. Mr. Gorman individually deals in stone, taking the
entire product of several other quarries. With Joseph Stork, under the
firm name of Gorman & Stork, he leases a quarry in Albion of ex-
County Clerk Ross, in which some twenty-five men are employed.
ORLEANS COUNTY. I57
Martin Scanlon opened a quarry on a tract of fifteen acres, on the
south side of the canal, in 1891. He employs about twenty-five men
and produces mainly stone for street work.
Garrett & Atkinson opened a quarry near that of Scanlon's in 1892,
on sixteen acres bought of C. H. Bidwell. They employ twenty five
men, produce stone for street work, and like Mr. Scanlon ship by both
canal and railroad.
Chadwick Brothers (Allen and Thomas) reopened a quarry in 1885
which was formerly operated by Samuel Weir. Their tract embraces
forty seven and one half acres on the south side of the canal, and their
quarry produces both flag and building stone. About thirty men are
employed. On the opposite side of the canal from the Chadwick
quarry is another owned by Maynard A. Jaquith and leased by Nicholas
Brayer, of Rochester. It has not been operated since the fall of 1893.
William Newsome opened his present quarry on the north side of the
canal in the spring of 1894. It covers about six acres, and mainly
stone for street work. From twelve to fifteen men are employed. Mr.
Newsome formerly owned a quarry one mile from Murray which he
worked out in 1893.
The first quarry opened in the town of Murray was on the farm of
Samuel D. Copeland in 1853 by a Mr. Streeter, of Buffalo. It was
opened and worked to procure building stone for St. Paul's (Episcopal)
Church on Delaware avenue in Buffalo. Stone were not in as great
demand then as now, and being at some distance from the canal the
quarry ceased to be worked.
In 1865 Alfred J. Squire opened a quarry on his farm on the north
side of the canal, east of Hulberton. He still owns the property, but
has recently leased the quarry interests to his sons, G. H. and A. R.
Squire. They have in all three quarries, only two of which are
operated, in which from forty to fifty men are employed. From the
quarry originally opened on this place were taken the stone for the com-
pletion of the tower of St. Paul's Church in Buffalo.
The third quarry opened in Murray was in Brockville, or Brock-
way's Bridge, in 1873. No more were opened till about ten years later,
but in the last decade the business has developed to enormous pro-
portions. Beginning on- the west side of the town they are found about
in the following order :
158 LANDMARKS OF
Thomas Chadwick, X., as he writes his name to distinguish it from
that of one of the same appellation previously mentioned, has a quarry
on the north side of the canal, where he employs from ten to fifteen
men.
On the same side L. G. Burns opened another in 1888. They own
four acres and employ about ten men. Their product consists of
street stone.
Baldwin & Hinds (George B. and Fred N. H.) opened a quarry on
leased land in 18S9 and another on their own property in 1894, both
on the north side of the canal. They employ about forty men altogether
and produce mainly street stone.
Downing & Company (James and Mark Downing, John and Patrick
Donovan, and James Calahan) opened a quarry adjoining the above in
1893, on leased land belonging to M. K. Hinds. They employ about
fifteen men and turn out stone for street work.
John Chadwick opened a quarry on leased land on the north side of
the canal in November, 1893, where they employ some fifteen men, pro-
ducing mostly street stone.
Carlson & Anderson, in the spring of 1894, opened a quarry on
leased land east of Hindsburg, on the north side of the canal, and em-
ploy about fifteen men.
C. F. Gwynne is one of the largest quarrymen in the county. He
opened his first quarry in 1886 on the farm his father settled upon in
1844, his second in 1890, another in 1891, and a fourth in 1892,
utilizing about twenty-five acres for the purpose — all on the paternal
homestead. One of these quarries Mr. Gwynne leases to Charles J.
Hamilton, who employs about forty or forty-five men. A second he
leases to Reed & Hollingworth, who furnish employment to from forty
to fifty men. The other two quarries he operates alone and employs
from fifty to seventy five men. These quarries produce all kinds of
stone, which are shipped by canal at the works and by rail from Murray
Station.
Fancher & Cornwell (Edward F. F. and Lafayette C.) bought of
George Hebner a quarry of six acres north of the canal in 1893, where
they employ from forty to fifty men and produce all kinds of stone,
making a specialty of that for building purposes.
ORLEANS COUNTY. I59
Edward F. Fancher purchased thirty- two acres of Eri Stiles in 1888
and opened a quarry, in which he employs from forty to sixty men.
He produces all kinds of stone, and, like the others, ships by both
canal and rail.
Charles J. Hamilton, in 1893, bought the quarry opened by H. F.
Smith in 1890, which he operates in addition to the one he leases of
C. F. Gwynne. In this he employs thirty or forty men.
Mooney Brothers, of Medina, in 1891, purchased of G. J. & D. C.
Hebner a quarry on the north side of the canal, east of Hindsburg,
where they employ about forty men, and from which they produce all
kinds of stone.
Constantine Van York opened a quarry west of Hulberton in 1889 on
land bought of Thomas Hooker. He employs some fifteen men and
turns out stone utilized for street purposes.
John Hebner opened his quarry in 1877 on land purchased of Henry
Burns. He has about seven acres and employs some twenty men. His
son, Henry Hebner, leases a quarry on the south side of the canal from
Hon. Marcus H. Phillips.
Bernard O'Reilly opened a quarry east of Hulberton, north of the
canal, in 1882, where he employs thirty-five or forty men and produces
all kinds of stone, making a specialty of selected varieties. He also
owns fourteen acres of quarry land at Brockway's Bridge.
A. H. Ford has eight acres upon which he opened his present quarry
in 1888. He employs twenty or twenty-five men and turns out
principally dimension stone.
Sturaker & Sullivan opened their quarry on the north side of the
canal in the fall of 1884. The land, comprising six acres, is owned by
Mr. Sturaker, who leases it to the firm. They employ about twelve
men and ship altogether by canal.
Balmforth Brothers (John, Arthur and William H.), in 1892, leased
of Marcus H. Phillips a quarry on the south side of the canal in which
they employ from twenty to thirty men. They quarry all kinds
of stone.
A. Hamilton & Son lease a quarry of Henry Roraback, on the south
side of the canal, and employ twenty or twenty-five hands. They
began work here in 1893. Their specialty is building stone.
160 LANDMARKS OF
Thomas Campolicti leased in 1893 the quarry formerly run by Joseph
Christopher, on the south side of the canal. He employs about
twelve men
In 1870 Patrick Horan opened a quarry on the south side of the
railroad, a mile east from the station at Holley. He was succeeded by
Peck & McRae, and they by Chase & Roarke, and they by Camp &
McRae. In 1881 the property was purchased by Timothy O'Brien, and
the business is now conducted by his heirs under the firm name of
O'Brien & Co. They also have another quarry at Hulberton. About
140 men are employed in these quarries. The property consists of 160
acres on both sides of the railroad, and all kinds of stone are produced.
In 1885 Charles A. Gorman and Michael Slack purchased twenty
acres on the south side of the railroad, about a mile east from Holley
Station, and in the spring of 1886 opened a quarry there. In 1887 Mr.
Slack purchased the interest of Mr. Gorman and has since worked the
quarry. He employs from eighty to lOO men.
In 1887 Hiram B. Joslyn commenced work in a quarry that had been
opened by Camp & McRae, on the east side of Sandy Creek, a mile
south from Holley. In the spring of 1890 the quarry was purchased
by John Downs and Charles Gorman, who employ in working it fifty
men, and produce all kinds of stone.
In the summer of 1889 Thomas Denby leased land for a quarry on
the Keys estate, a mile north from Holley. Soon afterward M. M.
McCrillis and Frank R. Glidden became partners of Mr. Denby, and they
opened the quarry. It is now operated by W. A. Keys, who employs
about twenty- five men.
Craven, McCarthy & Co. opened a quarry on the McCarthy farm in
1891 and now employ some twenty men.
In the foregoing account of the stone quarrying interests in Orleans
county it is not intended to give a complete list of the various operators
or firms engaged in the business, but rather to record in a permanent
form the more important concerns and to show the phenomenal
development of the industry. Quarries are being opened continually
and others are exhausted or abandoned, yet the business keeps increas-
ing in magnitude and the supply of valuable stone appears inexhaustible.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 161
CHAPTER XIV.
SECRET SOCIETIES, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, ETC.
FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 1
On the 20th day of February, i8i2, a petition was addressed to the
Grand Lodge of the State of New York, asking that a warrant be
granted for a Masonic lodge in the town of Murray, and on the 3d of
June following, the petition with a recommendation of Genesee Lodge
No. 130 was read at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge and
referred to the grand officers. On June 12 a dispensation was granted
to the petitioners under the name of Fredonia Lodge No. 246, under
which it continued to work until September, 8, 18 15, when a warrant
was granted to the lodge. For some years its meetings were held at
the house of Abel Baldwin, in the present town of Clarkson, Monroe
county, which was then a part of Murray, On July 13, 1820, a reso-
lution was passed by the lodge to remove from Clarkson to Sandy
Creek, in the present county of Orleans, and on the 6th of September,
1820, the following is recorded in Grand Lodge records:
'' Communication from Fredonia Lodge No. 246, stating that by a, division of the
town of Murray, that part of the township in which the lodge was held had become
the town of Clarkson, and praying for leave to remove from the said town of Clark-
son, the present place of its meetings, to the village of Sandy Creek, in the said town
of Murray, was read and leave granted accordingly."
The last return made to the Grand Lodge was in December, 1822,
and at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in June, 1833,
the warrant was ordered to be taken up, thus ending the existence of
Fredonia Lodge 246. The warrant was probably lost in the exciting
times of 1826 to 1833. The following persons were masters of this
lodge: 18 16, Arnold Markham ; 1817, Adney Penfield ; 18 18, Aretas
Haskell; 1816 to 1821, Elijah W. Wood; 1822, Solomon C. Wright.
' The following account of Free Masonrj- in Orleans county is condensed from a fuller account
prepared by George A. Newell, of Medina, the use of which is kindly permitted for these pages.
21
1G2 LANDMARKS OF
Under date of Ridgeway, county of Genesee, and State of New York,
November 2, A. L., 5815, a petition was sent to the Grand Lodge for
a lodge in that town to be called Alluvion Lodge. The petitioners
recommended Oliver Booth, 2d, to be the first master ; William White,
senior warden ; and David Hooker, junior warden of the new lodge.
The signatures to this petition, besides those of the above named offi-
cers, were :
Nehemiah Gardner, Ray Marsh, James Brown, Jeremiah Brown, Ira Webb, all of
Ridgeway ; James Mather, Jesse Beach, Griles Slater, Paul S. Brown, William Perry,
Elliott Bassett, all of Gaines; Joseph Hart, Artemus Houghton of Barre.
The petition was endorsed by a certificate signed by the officers of
Fredonia Lodge. On March 12, 18 16, a warrant was issued by the
Grand Lodge to Alluvion Lodge No. 257, and the first lodge meeting
was probably held July 10, 1816. The officers of this lodge, as far
as their names are obtainable, were as follows for the years 18 16 to
1824, inclusive, excepting the year 1822, the names given in the order
of the years :
Oliver Booth, 2d (three years), Elijah Hawley, David Hooiier, John Lewis, Edward
Arnold, William Hughes, Masters; William White (three years), David Hooker
John Ripley, Alexander Coon, senior wardens ; David Hooker (two years), Oliver R.
Bennett, Alexander Coon, John Lewis, Noel Potter, junior wardens; James Mather
(1818), Jeremiah Brown, Amos Barrett (two years), treasurers; James Brown, Horace
Church, Nirum Allen, Cotton Nash, Jeremiah Brown, Samuel Tappan, secretaries.
The meetings for the first few years were held at Murdock's Tavern,
just west of Murdock's Corners, and afterward at the hotel at Ridgeway
Corners. It is also probable that the lodge held meetings at other
places in the town, and during the Morgan excitement some meetings
were held at the houses of the brethren. The first person initiated in
this lodge was Zerah Webb, of Ridgeway, August i, 18 16. Alexander
Coon was initiated September 5, 1816 ; Cornelius Ashton, January 30,
1817; Amos Barrett, March 11, 1819. Others who were initiated in
this lodge were Israel Murdock, Seymour B. Murdock, and Aaron Par-
ker. The lodge was seldom represented at the Grand Lodge. From
the by-laws of this old lodge, which are in possession of Mr. Newell, it
is learned that every candidate paid for initiation $6 ; for passing the
degree of fellowcraft, $4 ; and for raising to the degree of master
ORLEANS COUNTY. 163
Mason, $4. That no officer except the tiler received compensation for
his services. That each member, excepting the treasurer, secretary,
stewards and tiler, paid twelve and a half cents at each regular com-
munication, in addition to the quarterly dues required by the constitu-
tion. That visiting brethren, after the first visit, paid a like sum. That
the tiler received $1 per evening and fifty cents from each candidate
initiated, and was subject to fines for neglect of duty or absence. On
the 27th of December, 1823, there were ninety-four members in good
standing.
From the membership of Alluvion Lodge sprang Niagara Felicity
Lodge No. 375, at Wilson ; Morning Sun Lodge No. 377, at Middle-
port, and Hartland Lodge No. 443, at Hartland, all of which disap-
peared in the Morgan excitement.
On the 9th day of March, 18 19, a petition was signed and sent to the
Grand Lodge, asking for the grant of a warrant to form a lodge to be
known as De Witt Clinton Lodge, to be held in the town of Gaines,
with John Lee, as master ; Ithamar Hebard, senior warden, and Asa-
hel Lee as junior warden, which was recommended by Alluvion Lodge
by resolution passed March 1 1, 18 19. The petitioners finding that the
fee for a charter was more than they had supposed, withdrew the peti-
tion before it was acted upon by the Grand Lodge.
Another petition was, however, drawn June 15, 1820, recommended
by Alluvion Lodge No. 257, August 17, 1820, and on November 22,
1820, a warrant was granted by the Grand Lodge to John Lee, master;
Oliver Booth, 2d, senior warden, and Asahel Lee, junior warden,
to hold a lodge in the town of Gaines, in the county of Genesee, by the
name of Genesee Union Lodge No. 332, for which the fee was $75.
The meetings were held in the house of Pardon Macomber, in the vil-
lage of Gaines. The officers of this lodge, as far as obtainable, from
1820 to 1824 inclusive, were :
Masters, John Lee, Asahel Lee; the senior wardens, Oliver Booth, 2d, and Elisha
Blount; the junior wardens, Asahel Lee, Nathan Whitney, and Simeon Butcher; the
treasurers, William Perry and John Proctor ; the secretaries, James Mather, Haw-
kins, and Oliver Booth.
The last return from this lodge on file with the Grand Lodge was
made to June, 1827, and its charter was forfeited in 1834, for failure to
pay Grand Lodge dues.
164 LANDMARKS OF
The next lodge in what is now Orleans county was Charity Lodge
No. 376, the petition for which was dated March 25, 1824 Alluvion
Lodge gave its consent May 6, 1824, and Genesee Union Lodge May
13, 1824. On June 4, 1824, a warrant was granted by the Grand
Lodge to Jacob S. Flint, master ; Charles Lee, senior warden ; and
John A. Buckland, junior warden, to hold a lodge in the town of Barre,
by the name of Charity Lodge No. 376. The record book of this
lodge is now in possession of Renovation Lodge No. 97. It shows
that the following were the first officers of Charity Lodge:
Jacob S. Flint, master; Charles Lee, senior warden; John A. Buckland, junior war-
den; 0. H. Gardner, treasurer; I. K.Brown, secretary; Nathan Whitney and R. S.
Smith, deacons; Ora Lee and OHver Benton, stewards; Orange Starr, tiler.
Besides these, D. P. Bigelow, Pliny Hitchcock, and Joshua Raymond
were present at the first meeting, Mr. Newell is in possession of in-
teresting transcripts from the record book of this early lodge, for which
space cannot be spared in this work. It may be added that there were
in all thirty-three communications of the lodge, and among all the peti-
tions, only one was rejected. The last return was made to the Grand
Lodge in 1827, and the charter was declared forfeited at the annual
communication of Grand Lodge in 1834.
On the 5th day of February, 1824, at the annual convocation of the
Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons held at Albany, a warrant was
granted to Comps. Simeon Dutcher, H. P., William Hughes, K., and
Stephen V. R. Holmes, S., to hold a chapter at Gaines, county of Genesee,
by the name of Gaines Chapter No. 82. At the next annual con-
vocation in February, 1825, the chapter was not represented. Feb-
ruary, 1826, the chapter was represented by Robert Anderson ; in
1827 by Elihu Mather, and in 1829 by Oliver Benton. There seems
to be no further reference to this chapter in the records of the Grand
Chapter. In one of the pioneer histories of Orleans county it is stated
that Dr. Jesse Beach was high priest in 1826. In another, the son of
Dr. Beach states that his father organized Gaines Chapter. It has been
impossible to verify either of these statements.
This brings us to the time when the alleged abduction and death of
William Morgan put a quietus on nearly all the lodges in Western New
York. The year 1826 opened with dissensions still existing between
ORLEANS COUNTY. 165
the two grand lodges which had been carried on for a number of years.
The annual communication of both grand bodies passed without a re-
union or settlement of the existing differences, and these bodies ap-
peared as far apart as ever. Among the subordinate lodges, especially
in Western New York, scanty support was furnished ; dues were in
arrears to the lodges and from the lodges to the grand lodges ; the
year of the "great sickness" was at hand and the brethren were in
very many cases in sore straits. At this time and in such a situation
the great blow to masonry was struck.
For some time rumors of the publication of an alleged expose of
Freemasonry had been rife. Attempts to suppress it had been made, .
but apparently without success. Then came the alleged abduction of
William Morgan and the commencement of the bitter fight which raged
violently for several years. Families were disrupted, churches were
the scenes of crimination and recrimination, and political contests were
fought on the basis of Masonry and anti- Masonry. The long friend-
ships of the early settlers were blown to the winds ; children of prom-
inent Masons were sneered at and reproached with being the children
of murderers ; ministers of the gospel were excommunicated and ex-
pelled ; some brethren, unable to withstand the contumely heaped
upon them, renounced the institution and the meetings of the lodges
ceased. Brethren were arrested, indicted and tried for the abduction of
Morgan, and the fight continued in the courts for years.
In Orleans county Elihu Mather was indicted and tried, but after a
trial lasting ten days, with eminent special counsel arrayed against him,
was acquitted, and the questions arising therefrom are found in the
legal reports of this State. Avery Downer, a schoolmaster residing in
the town of Gaines, was also indicted, but before the trial the indict-
ment was nolle prosequied. The courts of Niagara county were more
burdened with trials arising out of the abduction. One of the charter
members of Medina Lodge, Brother Jeremiah Brown, was tried therein,
and after a great deal of trouble and expense to him, was acquitted.
Brother Simeon Dutcher, the junior warden of Genesee Union Lodge
No. 332, an elder of the Baptist Church in the town of Gaines who had
for many years administered acceptably to the spiritual needs of the
early settlers, and had been by them much respected, was excommuni-
166 LANDMARKS OF
cated and dismissed from his church because he would not renounce
Free Masonry. Many of the brethren, disapproving the character of
the Morgan affair, deprecated the action of the leaders and became
lukewarm.
But amidst all this excitement and ill-feeling, there were brethren
whose love for the fraternity was so strong, whose zeal in the good
work was so fervent, and whose faith in the principles of the order was
so firmly established, that although surrounded by enemies of the in-
stitution and of themselves, they kept up in secret their fraternal meet-
ings and preserved the embers which in later years kindled the present
prosperous condition of the fraternity.
The following sketch of " Morganism in Orleans County " is from
the pen of Robert Morris, LL. D., Masonic historian, and adequately
presents the subject :
The relation which Orleans county bears to the celebrated Morgan deportation of
September, 182G, is found in two things. First, the great road westward from Roches-
ter traverses the county from east to west, and it was along this route on the morning
of Wednesday, September 13, that the noted Morgan was brought on his way to Can-
ada. Second, Oak Orchard Creek, which enters the lake near the center of the water
hne of Orleans county, was the scene of theamusing.procedure a year later, when the
body of Timothy Munroe was drawn from the water and made for electioneering pur-
poses to pass for the cadaver of William Morgan.
A full explanation of the part taken by citizens of Orleans county in the removal of
Morgan requires a statement in some detail of Morgan himself. For the popular opin-
ion on this subject is as far from the truth as the granite statue, so conspicuous in, the
old burying ground at Batavia, is unlike the appearance of Morgan while in the flesh.
From the year of my initiation into masonry ( 184G ) I have earnestly sought the
truth in relation to this affair, not to vindicate Free Masons who were responsible for it,
but to place on record the facts as they occurred. For nearly foity years I have forbore
publication, preferring to continue my gleanings that my successor might be the better
able to finish the work ; nor should I have gone into print at all but for the utterly false
and scandalous charges against our brethren made by Thurlow Weed in the last days of
his life. Blind, bed-ridden, paralytic, a wreck in mind and body, the old politician reiter-
ated from the memories of fifty years statements so detrimental to Masonic history and
so adverse from the truth, that I should have been recreant to my trust as historian had
I not accepted the challenge and placed in bold lines the falsity of the story.
From 1846 to 1860 I spoke to a hundred persons, more or less, citizens of Batavia,
Canandaigua, Rochester, Medina, Albion, etc., who had been personally acquainted
with William Morgan. The united testimony of these persons was that he was a low-
minded man, a sot, a bummer, unprincipled, an ignoramus, a worthless fellow. In 1824
he came to Rochester as ajourneyman bricklayer, bringing with him from Canada a
ORLEANS COUNTY. 167
Masonic certificate ( " diploma " ) of membership. This proved afterward a forgery,
but enabled him at the time to gain admission into the lodges, and even during two
years to visit a number of lodges through Western New York as a sort of instructor.
Morgan was a drunken fellow, and in his cups boastful aud loquacious. In a frenzy
of his falsehood he had claimed to be a captain in General Jackson's army at New Or-
leans. Needless to say, the lie was cut from whole cloth. In another carousal he
sneered at Free Masonry, and acknowledged that he had got into the lodge by fraud.
This was serious, and the order entered upon a series of inquiries which fully ex-
posed him as an imposter. The surrounding lodges were warned of the discovery.
Morgan was threatened with severe penalties if he persisted in his imposition, and early
in the summer of 1826, the matter seemed to be quieted down, but then it was dis-
covered that Morgan was engaged with a printer named Miller in the preparation of an
exposition of Masonry.
The governor, De Witt Clinton, an ardent Mason and an astute, sagacious man, ad-
vised the brethren to pay Morgan for the work as far as finished, destroy the printed
sheets and offer him sufficient inducement to return with his family to Canada. This
was done ; the printed sheets were cremated in presence of witnesses, and a receipt for
the money paid him ($100) was given by Morgan. A farther sum of $400 was
promised if he wo'ild leave this State. But an obstacle was interposed here which
those who study this curious bit of history do not take into consideration. Morgan
was in jail at Batavia, or rather in the jail limits for debt. It was known, too, that
several creditors wf^re preparing to present claims upon him the moment he was re-
leased, the amount approaching a thousand dollars. A tavern keeper in Canandaigua
had charged Morgan with the theft of a garment some months before, and to get
Morgan away from the jail limits at Batavia, he swore out a criminal warrant and
placed it in the hands of a sheriff's officer to execute. Taking with him a small posse,
the officer went to Batavia, arrested Morgan and brought him to the jail in his own
county. This was Monday, September 11. It has been clearly established that the
whole movement was undertaken by consent of Morgan, who on the Sunday night
previous, had accepted the plan, " to prepare a home in Canada, and to lay aside all
pretence of being a Mason." The Masonic fraternity on their part agreed to send his
family to him as soon as he had a home for them, and to pay him |400.
Arrived at Canandaigua, the charge of theft was withdrawn and Morgan was further
detained by virtue of an execution for a debt of $1.65, due to a person in that place.
This was 7 p. m. of September 11, and thus ended the first act of the drama.
During the Monday, Tuesday and Tuesday evening the Masonic brethren, in confer-
ence with Morgan, perfected their plans and engaged carriages and drivers for the de-
portation. About 9 p M., the execution having been lifted, Morgan was released from
the prison, entered a carriage and was driven that night, with several stoppages, as far
as Rochester and Hanford's tavern, four miles beyond. There the party turned west
over what is well known as the Ridge road. At the change of horses, breakfast was
had, and about 6 a. m. the second movement began.
Conversing with citizens of Orleans county twenty-five years afterward, I inquired
particularly whether Morgan was hoodwinked, bound, or under any restraint whatever.
168 LANDMARKS OF
Jeremiah Brown, a member of the Legislature, who drove the carriage from Ridgeway
ten miles west of Gaines, declared with vehemence that lie was not. He kept a hand-
kerchief over his eyes when the sun was hot, as they were much inflamed; but no
restraint whatever was placed upon him. He sung, walked, slept and drank gin at the
taverns at his discretion. He got out where he pleased and when he pleased. He
helped to stop a runaway yoke of oxen. He picked up and petted a little child who
had fallen and was crying. " Never did maiden leave parents more willingly to ac-
company her lover than Morgan left New York. He bad escaped his creditors. His
pockets were full of money. A new career was open to him. He was as happy as a
gin-sodden creature of that stamp could be."
The persons who drove the carriage to Rochester and from Lewiston to Youngstown
gave the same sort of testimony. Orson Parkhurst, who acted as coachman from
Rochester to Gaines, made similar declarations. James Mather lent his horses to the
party as they came to his residence, and his brother Elihu got on the box. For this
they were indicted, and during three years Elihu was put to much trouble and cost
to clear himself of the charge of abduction, while James, for refusing to testify against
his brother, was attached for contempt of court and fined $25.
Isaac Allen, two miles west of Clarkson, had lent his horses to the party to be used
until they reached Mather's, and for this he was severely questioned by the Grand
Jury of Orleans county. Refusing to reply, he was committed for contempt of court,
detained in prison a few days, and then discharged. The State prosecutor announced
that this estimable citizen was punished as an example to other contumacious wit-
nesses.
Another witness (in Niagara county) submitted to a fine of $100 and four months
imprisonment rather than pander to the popular excitement.
Jeremiah Brown had, to use his own expressive language, " a heap of trouble." As
early as February, 1827, he was subpoenaed as a witness at Batavia, tried at Lock-
port June, 1830, and not for a year or two after that was he freed from the entangle-
ments of " this pesky case."
This is all the Morgan history, as far as Orleans county is concerned.
He arrived at Youngstown on Thursday, 1 a. m., and was confined for a short time in
the old disused powder magazine of Fort Niagara. At a conference with Colonel
King, he expressed his consent, in the most explicit terms, to the deportation thus far
carried out. On Sunday night, the I7th, a party of Canadian Masons took charge of
him and conducted him into the interior of the country. There the wretched man
who had betrayed every one who trusted him, betrayed them. No sooner did they
leave hira than he changed his name, purchased a horse and struck down the river as
far as Montreal. There he sold his horse, and from that point he fades out of history.
There is not a paVticle of evidence as to his course afterwards.
The second introduction of Orleans county into the ^lorgan affair is connected with
the amusing episode of Timothy Munroe. It seems that, stimulated by the hope of re-
ward, emissaries of the anti-Masonic party had for months during the fall and winter
of 1826-27 been engaged in dredging the bed of the Niagara River near its mouth in
hopes to secure the body of William Morgan. Daily canards were sent forth from the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 169
scene of operations and the public mind kept in a state of agitation on this subject.
Even while the trials were going on in Canandaigua a handbill was circulated, " that
the body of Morgan was on its way, fish-eaten, ironed, gagged, etc.," but nothing was
found, and after May and June it was admitted that the body, if there, must have fallen
to pieces.
But now new food was supplied the public appetite, and for a few days Orleans
county was alive with intelligence. At Oak Orchard Harbor, forty miles east of
Niagara River, a body was found on Sunday morning, October 7, 1827, which at once
was accepted as that of William Morgan. It was in a frightful condition, horrible to
eye and nostril, and the carrion birds were preparing to pounce on it, when some per-
sons watering their horses, discovered the body and gave the alarm. The coroner was
summoned and, assisted by a jury of twenty-four persons, performed his duty. De-
scription of the body : " Length, 5 feet, 10. No scars or noticeable marks. About
46 years of age. Remains of heavy whiskers and thick hair on the head. Teeth of
ordinary character and sound. Package of religious tracts in pocket. Verdict, found
drowned. Body decently coffined and interred."
Newspaper notices of the affair were made as usual. One of these fell under the
eye of Thurlow Weed. His instant decision Avas that the body was that of William
Morgan. Collecting a number of persons who had known Morgan, he hastened to
the spot, and on October 13 the body was taken up and removed to Carlton. Mrs.
Morgan was sent for and came in company with a number of friends. On Monday
morning the little village was thronged with visitors. Another coroner, one Robert M.
Brown, was employed who, with his twenty-four jurymen, opened the coffin and in-
spected the body, which was now " black, bloated, putrid and offensive beyond any-
thing conceivable." By this time the bunch of whiskers had disappeared (for Morgan
wore no whiskers). All the hair from the top of his head had been removed (for Mor-
gan was a bald man). The ears were filled with long white hairs (for Morgan's ears
were thus adorned). But none of the witnesses on the first inquest were questioned.
Mrs. Morgan, after a hasty glance at the carrion, turned away and signed a sworn
statement, "that she was fully convinced in her own mind that this was her hus-
band."
Coroner's verdict: " That the said William Morgan came to his death by drowning."
So a grand funeral prosession was formed in which representatives from every town-
ship in Orleans county participated ; and right through that Groshen of Western New
York, along the lanes that were sweet with ripe apples, and past houses where httle
boys, playing, asked their mothers the meaning of the ceremony, and through the upper
half of Genesee county, went the crowd loudly proclaiming that Morgan was found
at last, and the mystery was solved. Circular notices were scattered on the wind de-
nouncing his murderers, and throwing out horrid threats against the Free Masons.
One James Cochrane occupied the steps of the Court House and made a funeral sermon.
But the principal citizens of Batavia, both Masons and anti-Masons, refused to give
credence to the supposed discovery, and in a very few days more the truth was brought
to light. The body was that of Timothy Munroe, a resident on the Canada shore, opposite
Fort Niagara, who had been drowned while crossing the river (September 24), two
22
170 LANDMARKS OF
weeks before the Oak Orchard developments. His wife and son, seeing the newspaper
accounts, came to Orleans county and thoroughly identified the clothing, boots, tracts,
etc. Going on to Batavia, a third inquest was held, the body being again exhumed, and
the matter established beyond all controversy by the verdict, " This is the body of
Timothy Munroe, who was drowned in the Niagara River, September 26, 1827."
But these things have passed away. Not a person is left who participated in either
of those three examinations. A third generation is occupying the land thus strangely
agitated. Free Masonry has revived and hard feelings we may have entertained are
forgotten. But let it stand on record in Orleans county, that the principles of Masonry
neither justify murder nor abduction ; that all our dealings with William Morgan were
for his benefit, as well as our own security ; that the course pursued with him was
under counsel of the wisest and most prudent men of the day, and that to his own
breach of contract is due all that is of mystery and uncertainty in the whole affair.
In this connection it is proper to quote the following preamble and
resolutions from the minutes of Genesee Commandery No. lo, K. T.,
then located at Le Roy and now at Lockport, under date of April 20,
1827.
Whereas, The principles of national and personal rights secured to us by our fore-
fathers are the best calculated to secure the peace and happiness of mankind; and,
whereas, in a firm adhesion to these principles depend the welfare and safety of indi-
viduals and our government; and, whereas, the great principles first taught in our insti-
tutions are "Thy first homage thou owest to the deity ; the second to the authority of
civil society ; honor the father of the State ; love thy country, be religiously scrupulous
in fulfilling all the duties of a good citizen ;" therefore
Resolved, That the duty we owe to those principles is paramount to all others, and
any deviation from them meets with our entire disapprobation ;
Resolved, That the late outrages perpetrated on the person and property of William
Morgan and David C. Miller are a violation of the laws of our country and this institu-
tion, and that we will hold any member of this order who will not use all lawful means
to discover the fate of the said William Morgan and bring the perpetrators thereof to
justice, as an unworthy member and one who ought to be expelled.
Resolved, That we as a body disclaim any knowledge or participation in these un-
paralleled outrages ;
Resolved, That we disapprove the conduct of the editors of public journals, who have
refused or neglected to pubhsh any facts in their knowledge, respecting those outrages,
and who have endeavored to palliate them by publishing falsehoods and vague reports ;
Resolved, That we approve the independent stand of those editor.s who have published
all the facts within their knowledge in regard to the Morgan affair, and that we will
cordially support them in their efforts to promote the end of public justice.
Resolved, That John Hascall, C. A. Smith, and T. D. Moore be a committee to corre-
spond with other committees to discover the fate of the said William ]\[organ and bring
the guilty to punishment ;
Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the Le Roy Gazette.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 171
The first revival of Free Masonry in Orleans county took place in
the latter part of the year 1843, when seventeen brethren, nearly all
probably members of Fredonia Lodge No. 246, signed and forwarded
to the Grand Lodge, stating substantially that they were residents of
the towns of Clarendon, Murray and Kendall ; were Master Masons and
had been in good standing; that no lodge existed nearer than thirty or
forty miles of them ; that "the times are propitious ; anti- Masonry is
dead. The acrimony of our fiercest enemies has subsided into apathy ;"
and that therefore they were desirous of forming a new lodge in the
town of Murray, to be called Renovation. The signers further stated
that in hope of a favorable reply to the petition, they had elected
Aretas Haskell, first master ; Elijah W. Wood, first senior warden, and
Jeremiah Aver\% first junior warden. The warrant was issued June 8,
1844, to the above named officers, excepting that Aaron Baldwin was
made junior warden, and the lodge was called Renovation No. 97.
The first meeting was held April i, 1844. The records of the Grand
Lodge show that Joseph Nixon, said to be a Knight Templar, installed
the officers of Renovation Lodge on August 12, 1844. It appears as
far as records show, that meetings of the lodge were not held very fre-
quently for some time, nor with regularity ; the place of meeting for
installation was at Sandy Creek. Meetings were held at other points —
in 'Medina, August 13, 1846; at Eagle Harbor in 1850, and after
August, 1850, in Albion; on December 8, 1845, E. VV. Wood was
elected master; Abel Baldwin, senior warden, and S. Lewis, junior war-
den ; on November 30, 1846, the following officers were elected :
Elijah W.Wood, master ; Alexander Coon, senior warden ; Silas Knapp, junior warden ;
Oren Britt, treasurer; Levi Davis, secretary ; C. C. Phelps, senior deacon ; B. F. Tow-
ner, junior deacon; Isaac Knapp, and Ora Lee, stewards.
In 1848 the officers were the same as during the preceding year, ex-
cept secretary.
The next record of election gives the following officers for December
4, 1848:
Silas Knapp, master; Alexander Coon, senior warden ; B. F. Towner, junior warden ;
Oren Britt, treasurer ; Isaac Knapp, secretary ; C. C. Phelps, senior deacon ; H. Farwell,
junior deacon ; H. N. Beers and Joseph Nixon, stewards ; S. T. G-rummond tiler.
The record for 1850 is not given, but the officers were as follows :
172 LANDMARKS OF
Elijah W. Wood, master; 0, C. Phelps, senior warden ; L. Pullman, junior warden ; L.
D. Spaulding, treasurer; W. H. Drew, secretary.
The officers elected December i6, 1850, were:
Elijah W Wood, master; W. H. Drew, senior warden ; Lewis Pullman, junior war-
den ; L. D. Spaulding, treasurer; Charles A. Danolds, secretary.
On December 8, 1851, the following officers were elected :
William H. Drew , master ; Lewis Pullman, senior warden; Lorenzo Spaulding,
junior warden ; Elijah W. Wood, treasurer; Ozias S. Church, secretary.
On December 20, 1852, the following were elected :
William H. Drew, master; Lewis Pullman, senior warden; J. Downs, junior war-
den ; J. Starkweather, treasurer ; A. G. Beebe, secretary.
On December 12, 1853, the following were elected :
Elijah W. Wood, master; S. F. Benjamin, senior warden ; A. J. Weeks, junior war-
den ; John Young treasurer ; E. R. Tanner, secretary.
On the records of February 6, 1854, appears the following :
" The undersigned would respectfully state that we wish to withdraw from this
lodge for the purpose of organizing a lodge at Medina. Silas Knapp, Isaac Knapp,
P. D. Beecher, Curtis Barnes, S. F. Benjamin."
Permission of withdrawal was granted, and on March 13, 1854,
similar consent was given to request for withdrawal from H. N. Beers,
S. T. Grummond, James Sheppard, and C. Ashton. This led to the
organization of Medina Lodge No. 336, noticed a little further on. The
masters of Renovation Lodge No. 97, from and including 1854 to the
present time, have been as follows :
Elijah W. Wood, 1854; A. J. Weeks, 1855; EHas Beach, 1856-57; E. R. Tanner,
1858; George Mather, 1859-63, and 1868, 1872 and 1873; Orlando Hardy, 1864; Wil-
lard H. Storms, 1865 ; George W. Barrell, 1866 and 1876-79; Thomas Bell, 1867,
and 1869-71 ; Samuel H. Taylor, 1874-75 ; Albert S. Warner, 1880-81 ; Alexander
Hayes, 1882-84; Samuel R. Cochrane, 1885 ; Charles D. Ross, 1886-89; Gurdon W.
Fitch, 1890-92; W. Crawford Ramsdale, 1893-94.
The officers for 1894 are as follows:
W. Crawford Ramsdale, W. M.; Lyman S. Linson, S. W.; Byron V. Botsford, J. W.;
George S. Hutchinson, treasurer; Alph H. Sears, secretary ; Orville H. Taylor, S. D.;
Wells D. English, J. D.; Charles E. Hart, S. M. C; William D. Enghsh, J. M. C; Rev.
F. S. Dunham, chaplain ; John B. Bordwell, organist ; R. 0. Smith, tiler.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 173
Medina Lodge No. 356. On the i ith of January, 1854, the following
Master Masons petitioned for a dispensation to organize a lodge with
the above name :
Samuel F. Benjamin, Curtis Barnes, Peyton D. Beecher, H. Beecher, H. M. Beers,
William Bidleman, Silas Knapp, Isaac Knapp, James Sheppard, S. T. Grummond. Ira
Barnes, John W. Culver, Alexander Coon, and Jeremiah Brown.
The petition was recommended by Cataract Lodge No. 295, of
Middleport, and granted February i, 1854, with the following officers:
Samuel F. Benjamin master ; Curtis Barnes, senior warden ; Peyton D. Beecher,
junior warden.
At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge for 1854 a
warrant was granted to Medina Lodge No. 336, the warrant being
dated June 20.
Following are the officers of this lodge for 1894:
Everett M. Baker, W. M.; Irving L'Homraedieu, S. W.; Henry Pease, J. W.; George
W. Frary, treasurer; George A. Newell, secretary ; Edward W. Tripp, S. D.; Edward
E. Crook, J. D.; Louis E. Henion, S. M. C; George S. Helenbolt, J. M. C; Peter F.
Hevenor, tiler.
The following are lists of the masters, senior wardens, and junior
wardens since the formation of this lodge :
Masters — Samuel F. Benjamin, 1854-55; Silas Knapp, 1856; Christopher Whaley,
1857-58; Benjamin C. Blake, 1859-60; Christopher Whaley, 1861-62-63; Ira
Barnes, 1864; Benjamin C. Blake, 1865; Samuel F.Benjamin, 1866; Benjamin C.
Blake, 1867; Homer Belding. 1868; William H. Watson, 1869; Jacob Gorton, 1870;
Benjamin C. Blake, 1871; Henry A. Childs, 1872-73-74; Lyman F. Zimmerman, 1875;
Samuel C. Brownell, 1876-77; Edmund L. Pitts, 1878-79; George A Newell, 1880;
Henry A. Childs, 1881; Edward Posson, 1882-83-84; W^illiam P. Tanner, 1885 ; Ed-
ward Posson, 1886-87-88-89 ; Francis Barker, 1890; John Cunningham, 1891; Edwin
B. Simonds, 1892; Everett M. Baker, 1893.
Senior Wardens — Curtis Barnes, 1854-55; Christopher Whaley, 1856; Benjamin C.
Blake, 1857; Ira Barnes, 1858; William C. Brown, 1859-60; George C. Cook, 1861;
George F. Welch, 1862; John Allen 1863; M.L.Barrett, 1864; Christopher Whaley,
1865; Nelson Deline. 18G6 ; George Ward, 1867; Wilham C. Brown, 1868-69; L
Morris Knapp, 1870; Erwin A. Bowen, 1871; Lyman F. Zimmerman, 1872-73-74;
Samuel C. Brownell, 1875; Edmund L. Pitts, 1876-77; Jacob Gorton, 1878; George
A. Newell, 1879 ; Edward Posson, 1880 ; John T. Cothran, 1881 ; William P. Tanner,
1882-83-84; George Snaith, 1885-86; Francis Barker, 1887-88; John Cunningham
1889 ; Edwin B. Simonds, 1890; Everett M. Baker, 1891-92 ; Irving L'Hommedieu, 1893'
174 LANDMARKS OF
Junior Wardens — Peyton D. Beecher, 1854; John W. Graves, 1855; Benjamin C.
Blake, 1856; Ira Barnes, 1857; William C.Brown, 1858; J. T. Rindge. 1859; George
C. Cook, 1860; R. J. Bordwell, 1861 ; M. S. Barrett, 1862 ; A. J. Fay, 1863 ; John N.
Sherwood, 1864; George Ward, 1865; George H. Alford, 1866; D. A. Van Wie, 1867;
Silas A. Snell, 1868 ; Jacob Gorton, 1869; Henrjr A. Childs, 1870; N. G. Brown, 1871;
Samuel C. Brownell, 1872-73-74; Edmund L. Pitts, 1875 ; Myron S. Newell, 1876-77;
George Schemerhorn, 1878; Edward Posson, 1879; John C. Thurston, 1880; William
P. Tanner, 1881; George Snaith, 1882 83-84 ; Francis Barker, 1885-86; John Cun-
ningham, 1887-88; Frank R. Downs, 1889; Everett M. Baker, 1890; Irving L'Homme-
dieu, 1891-92; Henry Pease, 1893.
Murray Lodge No, 380, F. & A. M., was organized in the village of
Holley May 16, 1855, and received its charter in June following. The
number of charter members was twenty, and the first officers as fol-
lows: D. D. Sprague, W. M. ; O. Hardy, S. W. ; George N. Bowman,
J. W. In the fire of October 25, 1866, the lodge lost all of its prop-
erty, but it was fully insured. Again in July, 1874, fire destroyed the
lodge property at a loss of $600, the charter being burned. The offi-
cers of the lodge for 1894 are as follows :
George H. Sheffield, worshipful master; Henry J. Buell, senior warden; Courtney
P. King, junior warden ; George N. Bowman, treasurer; Hiram B. Joslyn, secretary ;
Alfred M. Potter, senior deacon; Bruce B. Atkins, junior deacon; William A. Bissell,
senior master of ceremonies; David H. Partridge, junior master of ceremonies; S.
Fisk Manly, tiler ; Rev. A. D. Abrams, chaplain ; Webster E. Howard, marshal.
Yates Lodge No. 675, F. & A. M., Lyndonville, worked under a dis-
pensation from October 29, 1867, to June 20, 1868, when a charter
was obtained with Noah Shepardson, W. M. The masters of this lodge
have been :
S. G. Johnson, 1869; Uriel Timmerman, 1870, 1874, 1878-79; A. B. Fisk, 1871,
1873, 1875-76, 1892; Joseph S. Spalding, 1872, 1877; George A. Waterbury, 1880-
81, 1885-86, 1889, 1893-94; Morell Dates, 1887; H. B. Fuller, 1890-91.
The lodge has now 150 members. The officers of this lodge for
1894 are as follows :
George A. Waterbury, W. M. ; B. M. Beecher, S. W. ; R. Cummings, J. W. ; A. B.
Waterbury, treasurer; C. E. Thurber, secretary; H. B. Fuller, S. D. ; Truman Thoms,
J. D. ; J. 0. Stokes, S. M. of C. ; Thomas Erskins, J. M. of C. ; S. G. Johnson, chap-
lain ; A. B. Fisk, marshal ; W. C. Sawyer, tiler.
Social Lodge No. 713 (Kendall). This lodge was instituted January
28, 1871, with thirty-eight members, under dispensation to the fol-
lowing ofificers :
ORLEANS COUNTY.
175
William S. Jewett, W. M. ; Oscar Munn, S. W. ; John W. Simkins, J. W. ; James
Whitehouse, S. D. ; Ira B. Bates, J. D. ; Sumner Austin, secretary ; Samuel A. Bates,
treasurer.
This lodge was incorporated under State law in 1874, the first Board
of Trustees being William S. Jewett, Alonzo Egelston, and Samuel
A. Bates. The lot and stone building formerly owned by the Sons of
Temperance was deeded to the trustees of Social Lodge December 14,
1874. The officers of the lodge for 1894 are as follows:
C. S. Bridgeman, W. M. ; Joseph Mann, S. W. ; W. W. Morey, J. W. ; S. B. Bayer,
treasurer ; E. 0. Smith, secretary ; R. W. Bamber, S. D. ; Alonzo Egelston, Cornelius
Fenner, and J. Mann, trustees.
The following are past masters of the lodge :
William S. Jewett, Oscar Munn, John W. Simkins, James Whitehouse, Ira B. Bates,
William N. Spicer, and C. S. Bridgeman.
Social Lodge now has about fifty-five members.
Orleans Chapter No. 175. Royal Arch Masons. On the 3d day of
May, 1862, a dispensation was issued to a number of companions living
at or near Albion for a chapter of Royal Arch Masons to be known as
Orleans Chapter, in which George Mather was named as high priest,
Charles H. Adams as king, and Hiram Preston as scribe, and to be
located at Albion, At the annual convocation of the Grand Chapter,
held on the 4th day of February, 1863, a charter was granted to
Orleans Chapter No. 175, and the officers named therein were the same
as in the dispensation. The ruling officers have been as follows :
Year. High Priest.
1862 George Mather,
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869 Samuel H. Taylor,
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
King.
Charles H. Adams,
George S. Hutchinson,
L. C. Paine,
Samuel H. Taylor.
Henry R. Curtis,
u
Orlando Hardy,
Abram H. Goodman,
George Mather,
George W. Barrell,
George Mather,
Scribe.
Hiram W. Preston,
Martin Slussor,
Henry R. Curtis,
Orlando Hardy,
Abram H. Goodman
Simon Adler,
Abram H. Botsford,
Robert 0. Wilkins,
Charles B. Cowles,
176
LANDMAEKS OF
Year.
1876
1877
1878
1879
High Priest.
Samuel H. Taylor,
King.
George N. Bowman,
George W. Barrel!,
Scribe.
Abram H. Goodman,
Ro'-ert 0. Wilkins,
1880
1881
George W. Barrel!,
Robert 0. Wilkins,
George A. Newell,
Oscar Minn,
Albert S. Warner,
1882
«
a
((
1883
George A. Newell,
A. S. Warner,
George B. Church,
1884
1885
1886
a
I. M. Thompson,
u
1887
a
u
«
1888
a
l(
Robert Clark,
1889
1890
(C
If
Robert Clark,
1891
1892
C(
Gurdon W. Fitch,
Irving L'Hommedieu,
1893
u
Gurdon W. Fitch,
Irving L'Hommedieu
1894
u
Orville H. Taylor,
Robert Clark.
The officers for 1894 are :
George A. Newell, E. H. P.; Orville H. Taylor, king ; Robert Clark, scribe ; George
S. Hutchinson, treasurer ; Alph H. Sears, secretary ; James J. Mustill, C. of H.; Irving
L'Hommedieu, P. S.; Homer J. Luther, R. A. C; John G. Rice, Lyman S. Linson
Byron V. Botsford, M. of Vs.; Rev. F. S. Dunham, chaplain ; John B. Bordwell, or-
ganist: R. 0. Smith, tiler.
Alph-Omega Council No. 71 of Royal and Select Masters. — October
18, 1878, a dispensation was granted by Most Illustrious George M.
Osgoodby, grand master, to Robert H. Brown as thrice illustrious mas-
ter, George W. Barrell as illustrious deputy master, and Albert S.
Warner as illustrious principal conductor of the work, to hold a council
of Royal and Select Masters at Albion to be known as Alph-Omega
Council No. 71. The council was instituted by the grand master on
the evening of November 22, 1878, and a warrant was granted by the
grand council September 2, 1879. Its ruling officers have been as
follows :
Year.
Master.
Deputy Master.
P. C. of W.
1878
Robert H. Brown,
George W. Barrell,
Albert S. Warner
1879
u
»
((
1880
u
«
u
1881
«
»
«
ORLEANS COUNTY.
'ear. Master,
882 Albert S. Warner,
883 George A. Newell,
884
885
886
887 Charles D. Ross,
888
889 George A. Newell,
890
891
892 «
893
894 Irving L'Horaraedieu,
Deputy Master.
George A. Newell,
Alex. Hays,
P. c. of w.
Alex. Hays.
Charles D. Ross.
Charles D. Ros«, Roberi R. Wilkins.
George S" Hutchinson, Irving M. Thompson.
John Cunningham,
Irving L'Hommedieu,
James J. Mustill,
The officers for 1894 are as follows:
Irving L'Hommedieu, T. I. M.; James J. Mustill, I. D. M.; Irving M. Thompson,
I. P. C. of W.; Alph H. Sears, recorder; George S. Hutchinson, treasurer; Homer J.
Luther, C. of G.; Lyman S. Linson, C. of C; William D. English, steward ; Rev. F. S.
Dunham, chaplain ; John B. Bordwell, organist ; Arthur Harris, sentinel.
A number of the brethren, residents of Orleans county, have been
honored with higher official station beyond the subordinate bodies, as
follows :
In Grand Lodge. — Hon. Henry A. Childs, district deputy grand master 1871, com-
missioner of appeals 1878-1883 ; Hon. Edmund L. Pitts, commissioner of appeals
1885-1890 ; George W. Barrell, district deputy grand master 1878 ; Albert S. Warner,
district deputy grand master 1881 : George A. Newell, grand steward 1882-1883, district
deputy grand master 1885-86 ; Charles D. Ross, district deputy grand master 1889-
1890 ; Edwin B. Simonds district deputy grand master 1894, assistant grand lecturer
1893 ; Edward Posson, assistant grand lecturer 1887-1891.
In Grand Chapter. — George A. Newell, grand master of second veil 1889.
In Grand Council — George A. Newell, most illustrious grand master 1894.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
As preliminary to the history of the order in this county, it may be
appropriate to state that the American branch of the order was organ-
ized at Baltimore, Maryland, April 26, 18 19, by five English Odd Fel-
lows belonging to the branch known as the Manchester Unity in En-
gland. From this small beginning the order has extended into almost
all parts of the habitable globe, and numbered January i, 1893, 773,-
481 adult males and 96,312 females, making a total of 869,793. The
178 LANDMARKS OF
Manchester Unity at the same time numbered 709,405 adult males and
82,243 juveniles, both orders combined giving a grand total of 1,561,-
439 members, the most numerous and wealthy secret order in the
world.
The first lodge organized in this county was at Medina. At one
time five lodges existed in the county. One of these has long been de-
funct, another was merged in the lodge at Albion, and another remained
dormant thirteen years, but was revived and is now a prosperous lodge.
Owing to divisions of the order in this State but two lodges, Albion
and Holley, maintained their integrity, and these have experienced
their seasons of adversity. The three subordinate lodges in the county
are now prosperous. The Encampment branch is also in a flourishing
condition and the Rebekah lodges are doing finely.
SUBORDINATE LODGES I. O O. F. H. E. HATCH, D. D. G. M.
Orleans Lodge No. 217 was the first lodge chartered in the county.
The petition was for Red Jacket Lodge No. 139, and was signed by
James W. Otto, R. S. Castle, William Fonda, I. W. Swan and F. W
Barlow, and the charter was voted to it as Red Jacket No. 139, the
petitioners being the first charter members. It is supposed that the
charter when issued to them was, as Orleans Lodge No. 139, but no
record can be found as to when or how the change was made. The
charter bore date February 18, 1845, ^^^ the lodge was instituted
March 14 of the same year by D. D. G. M. Edgar C. Dibble, of Bata-
via. It ceased to work in 1856 and remained dormant for thirteen
years. It was resuscitated and reinstituted July 21, 1869, and the fol-
lowing, who were former members, are the names in the charter : D.
W. Cole, E. Fuller, jr., John G. Bateman, Henry Williams, George
Sutter, George W. Frary, John Alcorn and Hiram E. Sickels, now re-
porter of the Court of Appeals. The first elective officers under the
new dispensation were : D. W. Cole, N. G. ; D. Sherwood, V. G. ; D. O.
Phelps, secretary ; and George W. Frary, treasurer. The present officers
are : Ora Pratt, N. G ; J. Klino, V. G. ; C. C. Hopkins, secretary ; H. M.
Colby, treasurer. Since its reinstatement the lodge has prospered con-
tinuously and is now an active and energetic lodge. It has purchased
the Potter lot on Center street at a cost of over $3,000, and intends to
ORLEANS COUNTY. 179
erect thereon a fine lodge building. It will be seen from the lists given
above that the lodge is and has been composed of prominent and influ-
ential citizens. Among those not mentioned above are the venerable
John Ryan, Dr. Christopher Whaley, Elisha S. Whalen, a member of
the Assembly, Andrew Ellicott, Roswell Star, William Russ, W. W.
Potter, and Henry Williams. Of these older members R. S. Castle,
John Ryan, Henry Williams, George W. Frary still survive.
Albion Lodge, No. 58, was the second lodge instituted in the county
by dispensation from the Grand Lodge of New York. The ceremony
took place at Albion, March 13, 1846, and was conducted by James
W. Otto, special deputy. Its chartered number was 212 and the
charter members were: H.J. Van Dusen, A. S. Delano, Charles James,
Olney Gold, William K. McAllister, WiUiam Noble, S. E. Church, John
Tanner and John B. Lee. Large delegations attended the institution
from Lockport and Medina. The first officers were :
H. J. Van Dusen, N. Gr. ; Charles James, V. G. ; A. S. Delano, secretary ; W. K. Mc-
Allister, P. secretary ; Ben Field, treasurer ; William Noble, W. ; John B. Lee, C. ;
A. R. Quinby, 0. Q. ; John L. Moulthrop, I. (J-. ; Olney Gould, R. S. N. G. ; Howard
Abeel, L. S. N. G. ; S. E. Church, R. S. V. G. ; John Tanner, L. S. V. G ; George H.
Stone, R. S. S. ; Charles Baker, L. S. S. ; M.^Ballard, chaplain. ;
These lists contain the names of many who afterwards distinguished
themselves. Sanford E. Church, late chief judge of the Court of Ap-
peals ; Col. James, Gen, John B. Lee, Dr. William Noble, W. K. Mc-
Allister, late judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois; ex-Senator
Ben Field and Howard Abeel. A room was fitted up in Swan's
block, corner of Batavia (now Main) and Bank streets, at a cost of $700.
The lodge room was over the north half of the block until the Orleans
Republican newspaper removed from the south half, and since that
time it has occupied the whole upper story of the block, except for a
short time in 1882, after the block was burned, it occupied temporary
quarters in Burrow's block, until the Swan block was rebuilt, when it
returned to its old quarters, where it now remains. In the division of
the State, which occurred soon after its organization, it attached itself
to the Grand Lodge of Northern New York. After the reunion in
1865, its number was changed to fifty- eight. The prosperity of the
lodge has been varied. Its membership was at one time reduced to
180 LANDMARKS OF
fifteen, all told, but its present membership is 146. Its revenue during
the past year was $1,068, and it expended for relief during the same
period, $357. The lodge has an invested fund of over $2,500, and its
furniture and paraphernalia are valued at about $2,000. Among the
oldest and best known members of the lodge during its existence, in
addition to those above named, are :
Hon. Noah Davis, late justice of the Supreme Court, and ex-M. C. ; Dan H. Cole
ex-county judge and State senator; Henry A. Glidden, ex-clerk of the State Senate;
John H. White, past grand sire of the order, past grand representative to the Sovereign
Grand Lodge for nineteen years and author of the digest of the laws of Odd Fellow-
ship, known as White's Digest ; William J. Hanington, George H. Owen, William H.
Pells, John Tanner, Charles H. Moore, Ward Buel, John H. Denio, Peter Galarnau,
David Hardie, George W. Ough. The present officers of the lodge are: George W.
Caswell, N. G. ; Thomas Graves, V. G. ; John B. Bordwell, secretary ; John Bidelman
permanent secretary ; W. J. Hanington, treasurer. The trustees are : John H.White,
James Blott and Charles Bidelman.
Ridgeway Lodge, No. 283, was the third lodge chartered in this
county. The charter was granted May 17, 1847, to B. Hix Mills,
Robert L. Hill, J. McMartin, L. C. Grover, A. M. Frost, Folsome Rich-
ardson, William Wood, A. V. Belding, Joseph S. Swan, William North
and Isaac Smith. This lodge was located at Knowlesville and con-
tinued to work until about 1856 when it ceased to work and has never
been revived.
Holley Lodge, No. 42, comes next in order. It was chartered,
November 17, 1848, the charter members being Dr. John W. Titus,
Franklin Hinds, Jacob Sawyer, Jabez Allison and Nicholas E. Darrow,
the latter of whom is the only survivor at this date, July, 1894. Col.
Darrow still survives and resides at his home in the town of Clarendon
honored and beloved by all who know him. He still retains his mem-
bership, and is, as he always has been, an ardent Odd Fellow. Dr.
Titus was the first noble grand; Hiram S. Frisbie, secretary; Jacob
Sawyer, permanent secretary; Jabez Allison, treasurer.
Immediately after the division in this State and in 1850 the number
of the lodge was changed to 140. and after the reunion was again
changed, this time to its present number, forty- two. In ib62 the lodge
was incorporated by special act of the Legislature. Its original place
of meeting was in the old Frisbie block on the east side of the square.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 181
This block was burned in October, 1866, at which time the lodge lost
its furniture and records. It then purchased of J. W. Robb and fitted
up the second story of the building on the corner of State street and
the public square, and occupied it until September, 1871, when it was
again burned out, and suffered a total loss, including its charter. It
occupied successively for various periods the Newton block, the Bliss
block and the Buel block. In 1891 the lodge purchased a lot on the
square and erected a hall at a cost of $6,000, which is entirely paid for
and is now occupied by the lodge, except the first story which is
rented. Its furniture and paraphernalia are valued at $1,000. This is
one of the most prosperous lodges in the county and is emphatically a
farmer's lodge, many of the members residing in the surrounding towns.
Its present membership is 157.
Eagle Harbor Lodge, No. 387, was chartered July 23, 1849, with the
following charter members : L. S. Whitney, A. S. Delano, John Cornes,
L. A. Hitchcock, David H. Danolds, Charles A. Danolds, John Stark-
weather. Arthemas Chase, John M. K. Hilton, A. O'Harrow and Albert
M. Lawrence, and was instituted at Eagle Harbor. The lodge ceased
to work in i860, and was afterwards merged in Albion Lodge.
SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS, I. 0. 0. F. — W. J. RANDS, D. D. G. P.
Orleans Encampment No. 28 was instituted at Albion, January 25,
1848, as No. 60 and has continued its existence to the present time.
In the division of the order in this State it has attached itself to the
Grand Encampment of Northern New York and at the reunion of the
order was numbered 28. Its first officers were:
H. J. Van Dusen, C. P. ; Marcena Ballard, H. P. ; Stephen Gates, S. W. ; John B.
Lee, J. W. ; George H. Stone, scribe ; Thomas J. Clark, treasurer.
Most of the prominent members mentioned as belonging to Albion
were or are members of the encampment, besides the following from
other lodges :
Jabez Allison, Charles Craig, 0. C. Wright, Asahel Merriman, Rev. P. P. Kidder, N.
E. Darrow, Charles A. Danolds, Ransom P. Orr, Daniel S. Ross, John B. Feezlear,
Nathan 0. Warren.
The encampment now numbers fifty- two members and has a good
financial standing. Its present officers are :
182 LANDMARKS OF
Frank Tyler, C. P. ; E. W. Bronson, S. W. ; John W. Shourds, J. W. ; John Mattinson,
H. P. ; John Bidelman, scribe, and Ward Buel, treasurer.
Medina Encampment No. io6, was instituted at Medina, October 4,
1887, by E. O. Caldwell, grand patriarch. The charter members were :
C. C. Hopkins, M. A. Bowen, C. S. Hoag, John E. Clark, F. C. Wilson, C. E. Shisler, and
A. S. Broughton.
Nineteen were exalted at the institution. The first officers were :
C. E. Shisler, C. P. ; F. E. Wilson, H. P. ; John E. Clark, S. W. ; C. C. Hopkins,
scribe ; M. A. Bowen, treasurer, and C. S. Hoag, J. W.
The present membership is fifty-seven, and its present officers are:
Thomas Piatt, C. P. ; F. C. Wilson, H. P. ; J. Klino, S. W. ; C. C. Hopkins, scribe ;
M. H. Colby, treasurer, and J ames Evans, J. W.
REBEKAH LODGES, I. O. O. F. — MRS. JENNIE GOFF, D. D. G. M.
Charity Rebekah Lodge No. 27 was instituted at Holley, June 29,
1 87 1, by Henry A. Glidden, D. D. G. M. The charter members are:
John B. Feezlear, and Eliza his wife ; Alvinza L. James, and Almira his wife; Will-
iam N. Pratt, and Lucretia his wife ; Nathan 0. Warren, and Eliza his wife ; D. R.
Wright, and Betsey his wife ; Ransom P. Orr and Elsie his wife ; Daniel S. Ross, and
Melina his wife. R. P. Orr was the first noble grand.
The present elective officers are :
Emma Bradford, N. G. ; Anna Hard, V. G. ; Eva Warren, Sec. ; Emma Bronson, F.
Sec. ; and Mary Gaylord, Treas.
It has a present membership of one hundred and fifty.
Abeel Rebekah Lodge No. 131 was instituted at Albion, May 8,
1891, by William R. Spooner, G. M., with forty-four charter members.
It was named in honor of Howard Abeel, then lately deceased, an old
and zealous member of the order. Its first officers were :
Miss Maggie Hardie, N. G. ; Mrs. Jennie Goff, V. G. ; Mrs. Alma Caswell, Sec. ; Mrs
Mary Woolford, Treas.
The present officers are :
Mrs. Anna L. Wilkins, N. G. ; Mrs. Hattie Vandell, V. G. ; Mrs. Dora Richmond,
Sec; Miss Maggie Hardie, Fin. Sec, and Mrs. Charlotte F. Griswold, Treas.
The present membership is ninety-one. Fifty brothers and forty-one
sisters.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 183
Welcome Rebekah Lodge No. 146, was instituted at Medina, Febru-
ary 6, 1893, by Charles H. Morgan, G. M. The charter members were :
Mrs. Alice Waterson, Mrs. Hattie Culver, Mrs. Helen Swart, Mrs. Emily Hamlin
Mrs. Ellen B. Evans, Mrs. Emma C. Callaghan, James Swart, Frank D. Hamlin, C. S.
Hoag, James Evans, William Boyd, J. H. Klino, W. J. Culver, and James Waterson.
The first officers were :
Mrs. Ella Colby, N. G. ; Mrs. Helen Swart, V. Gr. ; Mrs. Alice Waterson, Sec. ; Mrs.
Emily Hamlin, Treas.
The present officers are :
Mrs. Helen Swart, N. G. ; Miss Jennie Begole, V. G. ; Mrs. Charles Sikes, Sec. ; and
Mrs. William Wheeler, Treas.
The present membership is seventy, thirty-eight brothers and thirty-
two sisters.
Orleans County Agricultural Society. — In years past and
prior to 1850 there was an agricultural society in existence in this
county, but no records of its operations are in existence, as far as can
now be learned. This society never owned any real estate, but held
annual fairs for some years north of the canal in Albion on a lot after-
wards used for circus performances and other exhibitions, tents being
used for shelter and protection. An annual plowing match was one of
the features of the fairs. There was no race track on the ground. While
this society was an unpretentious organization and its exhibitions were
insignificant when compared with later societies, it was sufficiently suc-
cessful to pay its current expenses.
In October, 1856, the present society was organized, with T. C.
Bailey president and Hiram S. Goff, secretary. In 1857 the society
purchased twelve acres of the present grounds, situated on the south
side of State street, in the western part of Albion village, and there
erected rude and inexpensive buildings for the accommodation of ex-
hibitors at its annual fairs. A half mile track for trials of speed and
other purposes was graded. These so called trials of speed gradually
became more and more prominent in the annual fairs of the society,
while exhibitions of stock and other products attracted less and less
attention, became steadily smaller, and the fairs ultimately seemed to
184 LANDMARKS OF
merit the term often applied to them of " agricultural horse races.'
Large premiums were awarded to winning animals in the races, and
competitors from all parts of the country were invited. These large
premiums kept the treasury of the society depleted, while the races
drew hither large numbers of very undesirable characters. For a long
time the farmers of the county permitted this course to be followed, but
they finally protested and determined to inaugurate a different kind of
administration. They elected officers pledged to carry out their wishes ;
more and larger premiums were offered for farm products and stock,
and the fast horse was placed in the subordinate position to which he
was in their estimation entitled. Predictions of early failure of this
policy were freely made by its opponents, but the farmers of the county
came forward in force to support their representatives, and during more
than twenty years the prosperity of the society has been remarkable.
A debt that had long existed against the society was soon paid off;
new and commodious buildings replaced the original rude structuies;
sheds and pavilions for the convenience of e.xhibitors were erected ;
large additions were made to the area of the grounds; a new track
was graded and a new and more capacious grand stand was erected.
The exhibitions of the annual fairs steadily increased in quantity and
advanced in quality, until they are now rivalled by few in surrounding
counties. The sale of intoxicating beverages at the fairs is prohibited,
and the farmers of the county feel a laudable pride in the prosperity
of the society. The grounds of the society now comprise about twenty-
six acres. There are now (1894) 241 life members, who in reality own
the property of the society, though the annual members have a voice
in elections. The officers of the society for 1894 are:
George S. Clark, president; OraLee, first vice-president ; La Fayette H. Beach, sec-
retary ; Augustus W. Barnett, treasurer ; William G. Mack. Elijah B. Lattin, Peter B.
West, lletvey Blood, William Whipple, S. E. Howard, directors. Besides these offi-
cers there are ten vice-presidents, one from each town in the county.
Orleans County Poorhouse. — The first action taken in this county
towards the erection of a county poorhouse was at the fall meeting of
the Board of Supervisors in 1829. A special meeting to consider this
subject was called for the next February At this meeting Nehemiah
Ingersoll, Elisha Wright, and Avery M. Starkweather were appointed
superintendents of the poorhouse, and the sum of $2,000 was appro-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 185
priated for the use of the " county poor establishment." The superin-
tendents were directed to contract for a lot and to erect a building
thereon. At another special meeting of the board on June 22, 1830,
it was " Resolved, That the distinction between the town and the
county poor be and the same is hereby abolished, and that the expense
of maintaining all the poor shall be a county charge."
In pursuance of this action a farm was purchased about three miles
south of Albion village, and there the first buildings were erected.
These served their purpose until 1878 when the present building was
erected.
Western House of Refuge for Women.— In 1890 an act was
passed by the Legislature for the establishment of a reformatory insti-
tution under the above name, by the provisions of which the location
was to be determined by the Board of ^Managers, of which Hon. E.
Kirke Hart, of Albion, was president. Several places in the western
part of the State competed for the site of the institution, and after
ample consideration of the claims of each, the board fixed upon Albion
as the most eligible. About ninety-seven acres of land adjoining the
western boundary of the village corporation were purchased, and in
1892 the first buildings were erected at a cost of $62,000. In the next
year additional structures were erected at an expense of about $30,000.
A. J. Warner, of Rochester, was the architect. These buildings, all of
which are of brick, have a total capacity of 150 inmates, the present
number being about forty. The buildings are constructed on what is
known as the cottage plan, viz. : A refuge, or prison building, and four
isolated cottages, the latter being graded and occupied according to the
deportment of the inmates; besides this, a regular order of promotion
is maintained. There is also an administration building and a hospital.
The institution is supported by the State and the officers are appointed
by the governor. The Board of Managers for 1894 consists of:
William B. Dye, of Albion, president ; Sarah J. Fee, of Rochester, secretary ; George
Sandrock, of Buffalo, treasurer ; Hon. C. E. Walker, of Batavia, and Mrs. Ellen ^ .
Ramsdale of Albion. The hospital physician is Mrs. Harriet Watson, M. D., and Mary
K. Boyd is the superintendent.
186 LANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER XV.
SCHOOLS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
BY FREEMAN A. GREENE, A. M.
Early Schools. — The district school in pioneer days was quite un-
like the common school of to-day. The neat, well painted, well fur-
nished, well ventilated, wood or brick school building now stands
where the little log school house stood, with its high desks on three
sides of the room, with seats behind for the big boys and girls, low
seats in front for the small girls and boys, a big box stove in the
center of the room, and the teacher's high desk in one end, usually op-
posite the front door. Slate and pencil instead of blackboard, quill
pens, made by the teacher, took the place of the fine Spencerian or
Gillott steel pens now in common use. Books were few. Daboll's
arithmetic, Webster's spelling book, the old English reader and Porter's
rhetorical reader, and an atlas with a geography proper separate, used
by the older boys and girls, completed the list. Later came Colburn's
mental arithmetic, Sanders's reader's, Brown's grammar and Mitchell's
geography, still in strong contrast with the beautifully illustrated text
books in the hands of every school boy nowadays.
Only small children attended school in the summer season, in winter
both large and small. The large boys prided themselves more upon
their physical strength than upon their ability to cipher or parse.
Physical culture was acquired in those days by wrestling, jumping and
running. The teacher must be a man of muscle as well as courage and
brains, for the great sturdy, full grown boys too often would pick him
up and pitch him out of the door or window.
Mr. J. B. Swett in writing of the district schools of forty years ago
tells this true story :
A compactly built man by the name of Harman J. Tilden, now residing in Niles,
Alameda county, Cal., was called to teach in the old brick school house, still standing,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 187
but unoccupied, among the old oaks on the Ridge road, a mile east of Ridgeway Cor-
ners. His predecessor had been turned out.
The first morning Mr. Tilden called the school to order, and every seat was filled.
That day went well, as the boys were sizing him up. About the middle of the after-
noon of the next day six burly fellows rose from their seats and began a march around
the big box stove. A mild remonstrance from the teacher was followed with whistling,
singing and stamping as they marched. The next instant Mr. Tilden was among them
like an untied thunderbolt. He caught one of the biggest by the coat collar and the
seat of his pants, and, raising him at arms length over his head, threw him against the
other five, who were standing, open-mouthed, watching this wonderful display of
strength. As a consequence four of the bullies at once lay sprawled in a heap upon
the floor. The other two faced the teacher with fists drawn to strike, and were at once
promptly knocked down. By this time the other four regained their feet and started
for the door, but Mr. Tilden was there first.
Backing up against the door, he spoke in a very mild and pleasant manner, while a
sweet persuasive smile played upon his features.
"My young friends, will you now take your seats and remain there, or shall I be
compelled to use force? I came here to teach and manage this school, and it pains me
to find so many of the scholars insubordinate."
Taking out his watch and glancing at it, he continued : "It is now two minutes past
3 o'clock. If you are not in your seats in two minutes and six seconds past 3 o'clock
I will proceed to administer to each of you the severest whipping you ever endured."
At the word six seconds each one of the bullies started for his seat, and the school ex-
ercises proceeded as quietly as though nothing had occurred to disturb them. It is al-
most useless to say that Mr. Tilden's success was assured.
The above circumstance shows the condition of the district schools
many years ago, for the older boys made it their main business to turn
out the teacher it they could.
The general atmosphere of the school was sport and physical de-
velopment, rather than mental excellence. Another instance occurs to
us where the big boys rose in a mass and filed out in line to carry out
the teacher, who pitched three of them out of the window before the
rest concluded to take their seats.
Nowadays, we think that it is gambling to play marbles for keeps,
but what would we think to see boys and girls gambling for pins in the
good old-fashioned way. Who does not remember the little square
top with the letters A, N, P and T, one on each square face ? With a
good supply of pins and a top all was ready. Each one spun the top,
and if A was up when it stopped the lucky spinner took all the pins put
down on the desk, chair or floor ; if N, none : if T, one, and if P.
188 LANDMARKS OP
he put one down. All, often including the teacher, engaged in this
game, morning, noon, recess and night.
There were many good features in the schools of long ago. Difficult
problems were given out, and often days were spent in solving them.
Independence of thought and much self-reliance were the result.
The old-time spelling schools awakened a deep interest in this im-
portant subject. The school exhibitions and debating clubs aroused
ambition in those who became our prominent jurists and statesmen.
Often the teacher was a college graduate or a man of unusual ability,
as well as a man of muscle, and he would manage a school of seventy
or ninety pupils.
Algebra, geometry, physics and physiology were among the subjects
taught. Of course the younger children received more attention dur-
ing the summer term. Many can remember the large and excellent
schools taught by Hon. Abel Stilson, Almanzar Hutchinson, Nelson W.
Butts, Hon. Henry A. Glidden and others.
To-day the attendance is much smaller, and the pupils found in our
district schools are young. Many rural schools have but six or seven
children in them and none exceed forty or fifty. The older children
are sent to the village or union schools, a fact that makes the union
school stronger and the district school weaker. Too often a young, in-
experienced girl of fourteen or sixteen years of age is employed to
"keep school," so that the average district school of to-day is not as
strong as was the school of fifty years ago.
The Early Academies and Phipps Union Seminary. — The
following are the six early academies with the year in which each was
organized :
Gaines Academy, organized in 1827 ; Albion Academy, organized in 1837 ; Mill-
ville Academy, organized in 1839 ; Yates Academy, organized in 1841 ; Medina Academy,
organized in 1850 ; HoUey Academy, organized in 1850 ; Phipps Union Seminary was
organized in 1837, just before the Albion Academy.
Gaines Academy, 1827. — A select school was conducted success-
ively by Miss Clarissa Burbank, a Mr. Hooey, Hon. Alamanzar Hutch-
inson and others. Gaines Academy, the first in Orleans county, was
the outgrowth of this select school, and was incorporated April 14,
1827, and admitted by the Regents of the University of the State of
ORLEANS COtTNTT. 189
New York, January 26, 1830. William J. Babbitt was among the more
prominent citizens who secured the charter and promoted the welfare
of the school.
The academy was very prosperous for several years, especially under
the principalship of Professors Julius Bates and Gazley. Hon. Noah
Davis attended this academy one year, and each day walked back and
forth to and from his home in Albion.
Albion Academy, 1837. — The organization of the Albion Academy
in 1837 and its history, are necessarily intimately connected with that
of Phipps Union Seminary, for both had a common origin and were
built under the same subscription. To Miss Caroline Phipps, more
than to any other one person, was due the establishment of the sem-
inary, which led so soon to the organization of the academy.
The act incorporating the Albion Academy was passed May i, 1837.
The school was opened on the first Monday of February, 1838, in the
basement of the old Baptist Church on Main street (afterwards known
as Concert Hall).
The first Board of Trustees chosen were :
Orson Nichoson, president, John B. Lee, Harvey Ball, Roswell S. Burrows, Hugh
McCurdy, Freeman Clarke, Abram Cantine, Thomas S. Clark, Franklin Doty, Sidney
Burrell, Abram S. Mills, and Alexis Ward.
Hon. Edwin R. Reynolds, then a junior in Brown University, was the
first principal. The following thirty-six students were in attendance
the first term :
Isaac B. Beadle, Ezra Brown, Wm. C. Burrell, Charles R. Burrows, William Burrows,
Freeman Butts, Elias Freer Burns, Ebenezer H. Brink, William Church, Warren Clark
Lamont Deland, Norman Davis, David M. Farr, Samuel B. Hard, Henry Wood, Corliss
B. Gardner, Aaron Orr, Williau. Gr. Swan, Charles Strong, Robert Stockdale, Henry
Strong, George H. Ward, Norman Wadhams, Orville Leonard, Thomas Ledyard, Roscoe
McConnell, Cyrus F. Paine, Orpheus A. Root, James Rathbun, Achilles Terry, Asher
Terry, Oscar Wilcox, George H. Sickels, Francis Ball, William Kent, A. Phillips — 36.
Latin, Greek, French, with English and mathematics were among the
subjects arranged to be taught. In the fall of 1838 the school was
transferred to the second story of a frame building, now standing on
the corner of West Bank and Liberty streets. In the fall of 1839, it
occupied the then unfinished academy building now used by the Albion
High School.
190 LANDMARKS OF
An entire square of three acres had been purchased in 1839, and on
it a four story brick building forty by sixty feet was finished in 1840.
The funds for the purchase of lot, and erection of building were obtained
in the following manner :
The enterprising citizens of Albion, in April, 1836, raised by sub-
scription about $4,500 1 and loaned it to Miss Caroline Phipps, for the
purpose of founding Phipps Union Seminary. Miss Phipps gave a
mortgage on the seminary property, when the building was erected, for
the above amount to secure the loan, which subsequently she paid in
full. This mortgage was sold and the proceeds used in the purchase of
the acadamy lot and the erection of the building.
The entire cost of real estate, bell, furniture and apparatus was about
$6,000.
Mr. Reynolds having been elected to the newly created office of county
school superintendent in the fall of 1841, resigned as principal and Rev.
Justus W. French became his successor.
Following is a list of the principals and assistant teachers of the
academy from 1837, to the establishment of the Albion Union School
in 1876:
1. Edwin R. Reynolds, principal from February 1, 1838, to July, 1840. Assistants,
Samuel B. Taylor, Jonathan O. Willsea, Orlina M. Sturges, and James M. Kellogg.
2. Rev. Justus W. French, A. M., principal, 1841-44. Assistants, George W. Coann,
since missionary to Persia for thirty-five years ; Seth B. Cole, since county judge of
Rockland county, N, Y.; Levi S. Fulton, since superintendent of House of Refuge,
Rochester, N. Y.; Miss Judson.
3. Associate principals, 1844 to July, 1846, Rev. Justus W. French, A. M.; Edvi^in
R. Reynolds. Assistants, Orlina M. Sturges, since Mrs. Governor J. T. Lewis,
Columbus, Wis.; Ann Eliza French, since Mrs. Judge Seth B. Cole ; George W. Coann,
Nelson W. Butts, afterwards a popular common school teacher.
4. Edwin R. Reynolds, principal fall term of 1846. Assistants, Oliver P. Henion,
Martha Stone. Number of pupils in 1845, 232 ; number of pupils in 1846, 258.
5. Frederick R. Ward, A. M., principal from December, 1846, to February, 1848.
Assistants, Rev. Justus W. French, for a time ; Veramus Morse, A. B.; Abel Stilson,
spring and fall of 1847.
6. Peres Brown, A. M., principal from February, 1848 to November, 1851. Assist-
ants, Oliver Morehouse, Mortimer L. Brown, Florilla S. Reed.
7. Hiram Wheeler, A. M., principal with Mr. Brown, 1849 to 1852. Assistants, Ann
Clarke, Florilla S. Reed, Emma N. Beebe.
' See Phipps Union Seminary.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 191
8. Joel Whiting, principal 1852-60. Assistants, Harriet P. Guild, since Mrs. Dr.
William McKennan ; Philana A. Foster, three and a half years; Frances Thrall, Ann
Clarke, Helen M. Baker, Alonzo J. Howe, OHver Morehouse, Frederick Probst, teacher
in German.
9. Franklin S. Lyon, A. M., began fall term 1856, assistant to Mr. Whiting four
years, principal to 1864. Assistants, Alma 0. Briggs, preceptress; Helen Prescott, pre-
ceptress; Emily H. Grinnell, since Mrs. Samuel W. Smith; Nelson W. Butts, Samuel
W. Smith, W. Martin Jones.
10. James K. Bellamy, A. M., principal 1864 to spring term 1866. Assistants, Oliver
Morehouse, George R. Smith, since a Presbyterian clergyman ; Morell D. Dusenberre,
Ellen Gates.
IL Oliver Morehouse, principal 1866-71. Assistants, Albert W. Morehouse, George
W. Buck, Ann Clarke, Lelia J. Wood, Raymond Benedict, John V. B. Lewis, Mary
Cauldwell, George W. Billings, Ellen Gates, since Mrs. Deming Sherwood; Sarah
Sweet, since Mrs. W. R. Smith. Mr. Morehouse served, in all. twelve years as teacher
and principal. Number of pupils in 1867, 368.
12. Theodore T. Chapin, A. M. principal, 1870-74, since professor in Cook Academy
Havana. Assistants. Philana A. Foster, preceptress ; Mrs. Mary Jane Prudden, since
Mrs. C. F. Curtis ; Carrie R. Baker, Mary Letchell.
13. William T. Mills. A. M., principal, 1874-75.
14. Abel Stilson, principal, 1875.
15. Francis W. Forbes, A. M., principal one year to spring term of 1876.
The general act establishing State Normal Schools in this State was
passed in i866, and its effect, as now well known, was disastrous to the
old academies and seminaries.
The State made larger appropriations to these institutions, thus
diverting from academies and seminaries a portion of the funds which
had been appropriated to them and establishing rival schools. In
several places the academies became normal schools. Brockport
Collegiate Institute was converted into a normal school.
The tuition and books were furnished free by the State in all normal
schools, which the academies could not do. This necessitated the dis-
continuance in this State of over eighty prosperous academies. The
principle of supporting by tax the common school with its academic
department was soon adopted. Only those academies which had a
sufficient endowment fund could be self supporting. This gave rise to
the establishment of our present system of union schools, which has so
generally taken the place of academies.
The friends of the academy were constantly contributing liberally to
its support. The following citizens of Albion subscribed for shares, at
192 LANDMARKS OF
$25 each, in the school property as stockholders, to the amount of
$5,850.
Franklin Doty, 5 shares ; Harvey Goodrich, 4 ; C. W. Swan, 5 ; Hugh McCurdy, 6
Freeman Clarke, 10 ; Elizar Hart, 2; 0. Nichoson, 4 ; L. Burrows, 32 ; D. Swan, jr., 2
L. Warner, 7; S. Fitch, 2; A. Wall, 1 ; John B. Lee, 4 ; P. Dyer, 2; L. Bailey, 2; H. S
Goff, 2 ; Oliver] Brown, 1 ; R. S. Burrows, 50 ; John Green, 1 ; Artemas Loveland, 1
I. U. Sears, 1 ; Christopher Paine, 1 ; Asa L. Gale, 1 ; J. A. Lattin, 1 ; B. Farr, 1
Aaron Phipps, 1 ; Charles Lee, 1 ; B. Clapp, 1 ; Oliver Benton, 1 ; A. Hyde Cole, 1
William Gere, 1 ; Arad Thomas, 1 ; J. Jewett, 1 ; H. V. Prentice, 1 ; George Dorranee,
1 ; S. Field, 1 ; H. D. Tucker. 1 ; W. A. West, 1 ; J. C. Ledyard, 1 ; E. Piatt, 2 ; Alexis
Ward. 22 ; L. C. Paine, 5 ; Joseph M. Cornell, 31 ; Z. Clarke, 4 ; G. H. Sickels, 8. Total,
234 shares.
The above shareholders donated their shares to the village, when the
property was purchased by the village trustees in the fall of 1876, for
$2,500, provided the village pay a mortgage resting on the academy
building of $2,000 and an accrued interest of about $200. The Albion
Academy was discontinued in the spring of 1876.
The Alumni Association of the Albion Academy, at whose instance
Mr. E. R. Reynolds compiled his invaluable pamphlet, was organized
in 1882. Since that time meetings have been held nearly every year,
old friendships renewed, and congratulations tendered, and several
valuable addresses have been delivered before the association, notably
those of Rev. Corliss B. Gardner, of Rochester (1887), Rev. Dr. J. C.
French, of Newark, N. J. (1888), Professor Lyon, of Fredonia (1889),
and Hon. Rufus B Bullock, ex Governor of Georgia (1891).
The officers of the association for 1894 are :
Hon. Marcus H. Phillips, Hulburton, N. Y., president; Hon. Samuel W. Smith,
Albion, N. Y., vice-president; E. Clark French, Rochester, N. Y., secretary; Frank
Wood, Albion, N. Y., assistant secretary.
MiLLVILLE Academy, 1839 — Millville Academy was organized in
1839 3.nd in the same year erected a stone building. It was incor-
porated in 1840 under the State laws and recognized by the Board of
Regents.
The academy was very prosperous for a number of years, receiving
aid from the Regents annually, as high at one time as $2,000. It was
very popular and largely attended. In time a new sti"ucture was added
to supply more room. The first corps of teachers consisted of James
F. Cogswell, Charles G. Ilazeltine, and Miss Clara S. Montague.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 193
Hon. John G. Sawyer obtained a large part of his education at this
popular institution and always speaks of it in the highest terms. The
number of academies in different parts of the county increased and then
this institution declined and finally forfeited its charter. District No. 7
of Shelby afterwards used the building for school purposes.
Yates Academy. — Yates Academy, the fourth academic institution
in the county, was organized in October, 1841, largely through the
earnest and liberal efforts of Peter Saxe, brother of the poet, John G.
Saxe. Mr. Saxe was a successful merchant at Yates Center for many
years, and was always a faithful friend of education and contributed
liberally to the support of the academy.
The academy was incorporated by the Regents of the University in
August, 1842.
The first Board of Trustees weie:
Peter Saxe. Thomas Jewett, esq., Eichard Barry, James Parmelee, John L. Lewis,
Philo Warner, B. H. Gilbert, esq., Gen. Grosvenor Daniels, James Lum, Chester Frost,
Joel C. Parsons, Warren Chase and Joseph Cady.
Officers of the board. — Rev. Arab Irons, M. D., president; Thomas Jewett, esq., sec-
retary ; Peter Saxe, treasurer.
First corps of teachers. — Benjamin Wilcox, jr., A. B., principal ; Silas Gilbert, assistant
principal; Miss Harriet E. Rogers, preceptress; Burt Van Horn, Sluraan S. Bailey,
assistant pupils.
Attendance first year. — Ladies, 81 ; gentlemen, 80 ; total, 161. Attendance second
year.— Ladies, 114 ; gentlemen, 119 ; total, 233. Attendance in 1845.— 338.
Teachers of Yates Academy, from 1842 to 1856 as nearly as could
be ascertained :
1. Benjamin Wilcox, A. B., principal from August 1841, to June 1845 ; Silas Gilbert,
assistant principal, 1841-43 ; Levi Reuben, assistant principal, 1843-46 ; Miss Elizabeth
F. Flagler, preceptress, 1841-44 ; Miss Fidelia M. Arthur, preceptress, 1845 ; Miss Julia
Gage, assistant, 1843 ; Miss Adeline E. Nichoson, assistant, 1845 ; Paris O. Dolley,
assistant, 1844.
2. William F. Bascom, A. M., principal, 1845 ; J. 0. Willsea, assistant, 1845 ; Miss
Roxena B. Tenny, preceptress, 1845 ; Mrs. Anna F. Bascom, teacher of music, 1845.
8. J. O. Willsea and Andrew G. Riley, A. B., associate principals, 1846-47 ; J. Collier
Cobb, assistant ; Mrs. A. F. Willsea, preceptress ; Mrs. H. Gray, teacher of music.
4. William B. Brunnell, A. M., principal, 1848-53; Andrew G. Riley, A. M., M. D.,
assistant, 1848 ; Mrs. E. L. Bunnell, preceptress, 1848-53; Miss L. M. Clark, assistant,
1848-51; Miss Mary J. Blair, teacher of music; Miss Adalaide M. Harrington, teacher
of music; B. L. Knowlton, A. B., assistant principal, 1850; Charles Fairman, A. B.,
194 LANDMARKS OF
assistant principal, 1852 ; Miss Eliza A. McClay, assistant, 1852 ; Samuel G. Stone,
teacher of penmanship.
5. Charles Fairman, A. M., principal, 1S53-62 ; William C.Pratt, assistant; Miss
Mary E. Tappan, assistant; Miss Jessie H. Pratt, assistant; Mrs. Mary E. Fairman,
preceptress, 1855-60; Mrs. Elizabeth A. McClay, preceptress, 1853-54; Miss Eliza R.
Eastman, teacher of music; Miss Elizabeth C. Rees, teacher of music; Mr. George R.
Frise, teacher of penmanship ; Mr. George H. Shattuck, teacher of penmanship ; Miss
Cynthia A. Weld, preceptress.
The first year, in November, the school was divided into two Hterary
societies, known as the Cieosophic and the Euglossian. These societies
met alternately every Tuesday evening in the term for mutual criticism
and encouragement. Those two co-organized societies constituted a
single association called the Adelphic Union, the object of which was
reciprocal assistance in all that pertained to their general interest, as
members of the academy.
A quadrennial catalogue of the officers and members of the Adel-
phic Union, published in 1845, shows a membership of 565.
The academy was very prosperous for many years, and educated many
eminent men and women. Hon. Burt Van Horn, of Lockport ; Chaun-
cey H. Lum, of Lyndonville ; Hon. Edmund L. Pitts, of Medina, N. Y.;
Hon. Eli S. Parker, of Washington, so intimately associated with Gen.
Grant during the Civil War ; Irving M. Thompson, esq., of Albion ; Hon.
Myron L. Parker, Hon. Henry M. Hard and Prof A. B. Evans, so many
years principal of Lockport Union School, were among the students
here. The first principal was Prof. Benjamin Wilcox, and the last,
Prof Sherman Burroughs. Prof. William B. Bunnell, associate author
of Adam's arithmetic ; Dr. Charles Fairman, now professor of mathe-
matics and acting president of Shurtleff" College, Upper Alton, III. ;
F. A. Greene, A. M., Burr Lewis, A. M., and Augustus Tuttle, were
among the principals.
The Board of Trustees for the academic year, 1853-54, contain the
names of many of the founders of the academy, and its life long friends.
Grosvenor Daniels, president ; Asahel Johnson, secretary ; Jonathan Blanchard, col-
lector; Henry Barry, treasurer; Worthy L. Mead, Tunis H. Coe, Cyrus Clark, Philetus
Snyder, Edwin St. John, Edwin Rockwell, A. Onderdonk, Grosvenor D. Church, Lyman
Bates, Daniel Haner, Jefferson Edmunds, James Edmunds, Sherman Dibble, Abner
Ray, Burt Van Horn, Henry T. Flagler, and Byron Densmore. Among its Board of
Visitors were : Rev. Abel Haskell, Dr. Israel Chamberlayne, Merritt Hard, esq., Hon.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 195
Samuel Tappan, Prof. Raymond, H. L. Achilles, esq., Rev. James 0. Stokes, Rev. E.
Savage, and Col. Jasper Grow. Dr. Hervey Blood was clerk of the Board for several
years.
Board of Instruction, 1853-54:
Charles Fairman, A. M., principal, ancient languages, mathematics and German;
William C. Pratt, assistant, natural sciences and mathematics; Elizabeth A. McClav,
preceptres.s modern languages, natural sciences, drawing and painting ; Mary E. Fair-
man, teacher of English and French ; Gerge P. Fnse, teacher of penmanship.
Students came from abroad, so well-known was Yates Academy.
They came this year from Connecticut, Vermont, New York city, Il-
linois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Canada, and Tennessee.
Attendance 1853-54.— Males 108, females 107 ; total, 215. Spring term, 124; fall
terra, 90; winter term, 125.
Students pursuing ancient languages G. Students pursuing modern languages 23.
Students taking drawing and painting 31.
Board in good families at $1.75 per week, including all expenses.
Academic year embraced three terms of fourteen weeks each. Tuition per term :
Primary department, $3.00; common English, $4.00; higher, $5.00; ancient languages,
French and double entry book-keeping, $6.00. Extras per term: Spanish, German,
Italian, and drawing from cards, $2.00; crayon and other fine drawing, $4.00; paint-
ing in water colors, $6.00; painting in oil colors, $10.00; music, $8.00; incidental
charge, 25c; penmanship by a master, for twelve lessons, $1.50.
This institution for forty-eight years educated many young men and
women for college and for life, and was the last academy in the county
to surrender its charter. The last Board of Trustees consisted of:
E. E. Woolston, president; Edward L. Brininstool, secretary; Stephen A. Coe, A.
B. Millis, John W. Day, Chauncey H. Lum, Walter A. Tuttle, Henry E. Breed, David
Coon, Henry H. Vosseler, Charles Pettis and Hon. Henry M. Hard.
In 1886 it was combined with the district, and in 1889 the academy
was discontinued. The building has since been unoccupied.
Medina Academy, 1850. — Medina academy was incorporated by
special act of the Legislature in 1850. The authors of this act were wise
in establishing this academy on a solid basis. The schools of the village
still continue under the same organization, known as the joint district
number twelve of Ridgeway and Shelby. The trustees appointed
under this act were: Christopher Whaley, Silas M. Burroughs, John
Ryan, Daniel Starr, Isaac M. Swan, and Archibald Servoss, who consti-
tuted the first Board of Education of the village of Medina. They
196 Landmarks op
were granted the power to establish and organize a classical school to
be known as Medina Academy, with the same obligations and privileges
of any other academy incorporated in the State. A three- story stone
building was built on a lot, donated by Hon. Silas M. Burroughs, at the
head of Pearl street, and fronting on Catharine street, where the present
academy building now stands.
The first school was opened in 185 1 with the following corps of
teachers :
Thales Lindsey, A. M., principal; David H. Devoe, assistant principal; Ann D. Day,
preceptress; Martha D. Lyman, primary department; H. Amanda Clark, assistant
primary department; Eunice E. Husted, 2d assistant primary department; Mary E.
Fargo, teacher of music.
Principals since the academy was opened in 185 i :
Thales Lindsley, A. M., 1851-55; Ira Buell, 1855; Marvin M. Baldwin, 1855-61;
Robert L. Thatcher, 1861-62 ; Levi D. Miller, 1862-63 ; Charles Fairman, LL. D., 1863-
68; Hon. Ira D. Edwards, 1868-69; M. H. Paddock, 1869-73; M. J. Keeler, 1873-75;
Frank J.| Squires, 1875-70; P. K. Pattison, 1878-80; John T. Cothran, A. M.,
1876-78, 1880-82 ; Ralph H. Bowles, 1882-83 ; W. S. Smith, 1883-84 ; Charles E. Allen,
A. M., 1884-91 ; Henry Pease, A. M., 1891-
The academy has been prosperous from the time of its organization
and steadily grown in favor and strength, for it was founded upon the
modern system of maintaining an academic department by tax upon the
assessed valuation of the district, It has always been a free academy,
by which title it is popularly known now. In 1884 the building was
enlarged to nearly double its capacity to meet the needs of the school.
It now has eight grades in which eight teachers are employed, besides
the academic department.
Teachers in Academy. — Henry Pease, A. M., principal ; Greek, History, Civics,
Economics. Ida A. Clark, Natural Sciences. Emma L. Stone, French, German, Latin.
Mary E. Phelps, English. Harriet A. Lounsbury, Mathematics, Bookkeeping and Pen-
manship.
Grades. — Ada Bennett, 8th grade ; L. Alice Torrey, 7th grade ; Hattie L. Pettit, Gth
grade ; Marian L. Brace, 5th grade , Ella N. Colby, 4th grade ; Constance A. Bowen
3d grade ; Frances C. Gilford, 2d grade ; Mary D. Hood, 1st grade.
Oak Orchard Street School. — Melinda C. Smith, principal; Kate L. Ryan, Margaret
Lenahan, Hattie E. Prudden.
Laurel Hill School. — Margaret Ryan, principal; Kittie Tuohey.
Eagle Street School. — Hannah Tuohey, principal ; Emma M. Griffin.
Elizabeth Street School — Carrie L. Sutter.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 197
Board of Education 1894-95, — Edward Munson, president; M. A. Bowen, secretary;
Rev. William J. McNab, Roswell N. Post, John J. Ryan, Michael Slack, Seth G. Row-
ley, Hon. Edmund L. Pitts, Irving L'Hommedieu. Officers: George A. Newell, treas-
urer ; William Comerford, collector ; Charles N. Hood, district clerk ; F. T. Latham,
regent's examiner. Visiting Committee: Miss Julia Merritt, chairman ; Mrs. L. Bren-
nan, Mrs. A. F. Bush, Mrs. A. T. Smith, Mrs. J. N. Kersburg, Mrs. M. Cooper, Mrs.
M. A. Bowen, and Mrs. H. A. Acer.
Former members of the Board of Education since 1861. — James Kearney,. A. Bancroft,
L. W. Merritt, A. K. Tuthili, Hon. Henry A. Childs, Oscar Whedon, J. C. Davis, A. J.
Lyon, John Furguson, M. W. Ryan, William S. Tamblin, William Headley, Charles H.
Headley, Dr. James Chapman, Lewis J. Ives, Bernard O'Reilly, Darwin Fuller, 0. K.
Johnson, C. A. McCormick, Albert L. Swett, Dr. R. S. Bishop, Albert J. Hill, Dr. E.
P. Healey, B. Fairman, C. Farnham, C. S. Hoag, Hon. E, S. Whalen, J. C. Sheppard,
Richard Becker, Albert Ball, M. McDonald, Owen Boyland, Col. Erwin A. Bowen, S.
C. Brownell, J. K. Burroughs, Edward Posson, Albert M. Berry, E. Fitzpatrick, D. H.
Abell, C. S. Murdock, William H. Lee, W. W. Patten, John W. Graves, Hon. John
Parks, Dr. C. Whaley, S. C. Bowen, B. M. Anthony, Edward Davey, M. C. Bignall, J.
D. Kearney, S. G. Purdy, John N. Kennan, S. E. Filkins, Jacob Gorton, Michael Cooper,
L.Robinson, Manley Gaylord, Aaron B. Hunt, H. A. Fairman, Seth G. Rowley, Samuel
E.' Clark— 61.
Twenty teachers are now employed in all the schools. In 1875 the
Board of Education, by vote, made the schools wholly secular. For
many years a parochial school was maintained but was discontinued in
1865, and since then all the children have regularly attended the public
schools.
The district library contains about one thousand volumes and is val-
ued at $1,200. The philosophical, chemical and astronomical apparatus
is estimated at eight hundred dollars. In 1889 and '90 1,100 children
attended school out of a school population of 1,400, and about one
hundred non-resident pupils some portion of the school year.
HOLLEY Academy, 1850 — In the fall of 1846 Worden Reynolds
opened a select school in an old hotel building near the northwest cor-
ner of the public square. This led to the founding of HoUey Acad-
emy, as other select schools had done elsewhere in the county. The
citizens of Holley felt the need of an institution, at home, that would
furnish instruction in branches higher than were then taught in common
schools.
A public meeting was called for March 29, 1847, and at this meet-
ing Hiram Frisbie, Augustus Southworth, and William Hatch were
198 LANDMARKS OF
chosen a committee to solicit subscriptions for the founding of an
academy. They succeeded in securing the required amount in money,
lumber, lumber at mill, timber, lime, brick, building stone, plows,
village lot, boots and shoes, teaming, and "my work," so that the follow-
ing summer a two-story brick building was erected on a lot donated by
Hiram Frisbie, situated on Wright street, and valued at $300.
It was conducted as a private school until March 28, 1850, when it
was incorporated by the Regents as Holley Academy. The building
cost $2,406 ; library, $161.25 i apparatus, $153.78 ; lot valued at $300 ;
total, $3,021.25. The academy started free from debt. The first
Board of Trustees were : Augustus Southworth, president ; Col. John
Berry, secretary; Luther D. Hurd, treasurer; James Benjamin, Hora-
tio N. Keys, H. B. Perry, and Ransom P. Orr.
The first principal was Chandler T. Ford, A. B., a graduate of Will-
iams College. His successors down to 1868, when the academy was
changed to Holley Union School and Academy, were :
Loren Barnes. A. B., Edward 0. Hall, William L. France, William D. AUe, A. M.,
Joseph Gile, Peter J. Carmichael, Hon. Ira Edwards, and George R. Smith. The pres-
idents up to this time were : Augustus Southworth, H. N. Bushnell, William Hatch,
Chaunoey Robinson and H. N. Keyes. Secretary from 1850 to 1868, Col. John Berry.
For eighteen years this institution did most excellent work, but like
many other academies was not financially a success.
The population of Holley had so increased that the common school
accommodations were insufficient. It was therefore decided to unite
the public school and the academy. April 6, 1868, the trustees of the
academy turned over the academy property to the trustees of the
Union Free School, " upon the express condition that an academical
department shall be kept up therein without any vacation to exceed at
anyone time more than one year; and upon the failure to keep up
said academical department as above provided, said academy property,
both real and personal, shall revert back into the hands of the original
contributors or their representatives." The institution was to be known
as the Holley Union School and Academy. The first trustees chosen
were: George W. Pierce, president; Jeff"rey Harwood. secretary; Dr.
E. R. Armstrong, James Farnsworth, Nelson Hatch, and D. H. Par-
tridge. Col. John Berry, Augustus Southworth, and Horatio M. Keys
ORLEANS COUNTY. 199
were made honorary members for their long and faithful labors for the
benefit of the academy.
The following principals have served since 1868 :
Professor G-age, Burr Lewis, A. M.; D. J. Sinclair, A. B.; Abel Stilson, Lott Farns-
worth. Marvin M. Baldwin, A. M.; A. W. Dyke, A. M.; George H. Kneeland, H. J.
Pease, Henry Pease, A. M.; Willis E. Bond, A. M.; Herbert Reed, A. M.; and Henry
D. Hopkins, A. M., the present principal. The presidents of the Board of Education
since 1880 have been Hardni Beebe, Mrs. D. M. Partridge, Ira Edwards, J. D. Cogs-
well, C. A. Chase, Dr. E. R. Armstrong, and E. D. Bronson.
In 1882 the increased attendance necessitated better accommodations.
An addition was then made to the building at a cost of $4,500. In
1889 the board purchased the Coy house and lot adjoining the school lot
for $2,200. Two rooms were arranged for school use, but this was in-
sufficient. In 1868 three teachers were employed for 100 pupils. There
are now eight teachers and the number of pupils has increased to
over 350.
The present Board of Education are :
C. A. Chase, president; George H. Savage, W. T. Pettingill, M. M. McCrillis, C. D.
Bronson, and Horace Farewell.
Teachers — Henry D. Hopkins, A. M., principal ; Anna L. Potter, preceptress ; Jennie
A. Coles, 7th Grade ; Caroline E. Ridler, 5th and 6th Grades ; Lina L. Warren, 4th
Grade; Susan L. Love, 3rd Grade; Mary A. Maynard, 2nd Grade; Helen M. Orr,
1st Grade.
Phipps Union Seminary, 1837 — The founder of this once famous
institution was Miss Caroline Phipps, daughter of Joseph Phipps, one
of the early pioneers of Orleans county. She attended the district
school at Eagle Harbor, and at the early age of fourteen taught her
first school at Gaines Basin. In 1832 she attended the Gaines Academy
and later the Nichols Ladies' School at Whitesboro, N. Y. In 1833
she began a select school in the old Eagle Tavern building in Albion,
on the lot where her seminary afterwards was built (now a part of the
Court House Square), near where the county clerk and surrogate's
office now stands. She was an ambitious woman, with progressive ideas
and great self-reliance.
In August, 1833, she boldly issued a circular letter announcing her
intention of founding a female seminary in character similar to the
famous Willard Seminary of Troy, N. Y. She met with considerable
200
LANDMARKS OF
opposition from leading citizens, who believed it better to establish an
academy for boys and girls. It was not until April, 1836, that a sub-
scription of about $4,500 was raised for the purpose of founding the
seminary,
The amount was loaned to Miss Phipps, who gave a mortgage on the
seminary property and subsequently paid the debt in full.
Following is the original subscription, containing the names of many
citizens who have been conspicuous for good works in Orleans county •
Alexis Ward ; |200
Franklin Doty 100
James Stevens .... 100
Hugh McCurdy 100
Henry J. Sickels 50
Freeman Clarke 200
Norman Bedell 50
J. J. Orton 50
William James 100
Franklin Fenton. 100
James Hazen 75
Seymour Treadwell 100
0. Nichoson 100
D. Holt,jr 25
Alpheus Barrett 25
George Champlin 50
Abel R. Torrey. . 50
David Swan 50
E. T. Noble , 25
Alderman Butts, 75
Sheldon Hopkins 25
Moses Bacon . 50
Andrew Wall 25
Benjamin Greig 25
John B.Lee 100
Samuel Fitch 50
William Fisher .30
John Henderson 25
Pierpont Dyer 25
Lansing Bailey 50
Jacob Iden $ 25
Hiram S. Goff 50
T. H. Blackwell 25
Samuel Whitcomb 25
Roswell S. Burrows 200
Thomas C. Fanning 100
Harvey Goodrich 100
C. W. Swan 100
Joshua Rathbun 100
A. PI. McKinstry 100
Roswell Clark 100
Elizur Hart 50
Thomas S. Clark 100
Abram Cantine 100
T. and S. Burrell 100
James Holmes 50
A. B. Mills 100
F. Holsenburg 25
Cyrus Farwell 50
Eliza Dana 25
Harvey Ball 50
Lorenzo Burrows 100
Hiram Sickels 25
Rice Warner 50
Lewis Warner (goods) 100
Calvin Church 50
Oliver Brown 25
N. M. Miller 25
J. M. Andrews 25
William H. Watson 25
Some more subscriptions were afterwards made, and by this fund and
the public spirit and liberality of the above named citizens of Albion,
the seminary and Albion Academy grew.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 201
Miss Phipps erected a four-story brick building, 40x60 feet. The
cost of the real estate was $14,000, and the school furniture was valued
at about $3,000. The school opened in January, 1837. I^ "^^t with
signal success from the beginning. It soon had an attendance of 100
boarders and 100 day scholars. They came from far and near from all
parts of the country. Miss Phipps was married in 1839 to Henry C.
Achilles and they, assisted by her two sisters, Misses Mary and So-
phronia Phipps, conducted the seminary about nine years. In July,
1848, it was sold to Rev. Frederick James, but soon reverted to its first
managers. They continued again with flattering success until July,
1866, when it was sold to Rev. G. A. Starkweather. Three years later
it again came back into the hands of its first managers. It steadily in-
creased in popularity, and for over twenty years it ranked among the
first institutions of its kind in the State. They employed ten teachers,
whose salaries amounted to $2,000.
In 1857 a large addition was made to the seminary building to meet
the needs of the school on account of the increased attendance. The
grounds were also enlarged.
A fire occurred in the seminary building in the autumn of 1874, and
another in the spring of 1875 which so crippled the institution that it
was discontinued. The property was purchased by the county and
now forms a part of the Court House square. Following is a list of
teachers of the seminary, as nearly as could be compiled by Mr. E. R.
Reynolds.
Caroline Phipps, Sophronia Phipps, Mary A. Phipps, Martha A. Ballard, Helen Phelps,
C. E. Church, Amelia F. Barnard, Damie A. Colburn, Jane M. Cole, H. M. Ellsworth,
Martha Everts, L. H. Reed, Mary Jane Pratt, Alzina Farr, Mary White, Helen Doty,
Jane Seaton, Harriet Stewart, Sarah Green, Charlotte Crittenden, Louisa Metcalf, Mary
F. Waterbury, Maria Sheldon, Carrie Anderson, Louisa F. Sawyer, Minerva O'Harrow,
Caroline B. Hoyt, Etta Alderson, Harriet M. Marshall, Francis H. Miller, Julia Paine,
Mary Ingoldsby, Sarah Smith, Mary Jane Anderson, Minnie Hodge, Harriet Smith,
Charlotte Goodell, Sarah Stewart, Anna P. Sill, Abba Barnard, Sarah E. Baker, Pamelia
Grey, Catharine C. Abeel, Maria Pollock, Ellen A. McKinstry, Mary Everts, Mary
Salisbury, Camelia Leach, Mary Buell, Mary Howland, Martha Achilles, Anna C. Peak,
Ellen H. Avery.
Albion Union Free School, 1876. — At the regular school meet-
ing, the second Tuesday in August, held at the village hall, in Albion,
202 LANDMARKS OF
Hon. Sanford E. Church was chosen chairman and the following officers
elected :
N. Z. Sheldon, trustee ; Fred G. Beach, clerk ; George Freame, collector, David
Hardie, librarian.
On motion of Hon. John G. Sawyer, John H. White, Abel Stilson,
Charles H. Moore, E. R. Reynolds, and Seth L. King were appointed a
committee to examine the general laws on the subject of organizing a
Board of Education and of procuring such amendments thereto as might
be necessary for the organization of a Board of Education and the estab-
lishment of a Union School in the village of Albion. On motion of
J. H. White, Hon. John G. Sawyer was added to the committee.
The following Monday evening a meeting of School District No. i,
of the town of Albion was held at the Court House, to take action in
organizing a Union School. Hon. Daniel H. Cole was chosen chairman
and Hon. Henry A. Glidden offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That a Union Free School be established within the limits of School District
No. 1, in the town of Albion, Orleans county, pursuant to the provisions of title 9,
chapter 555, laws of 1864, of the acts relating to public instruction as amended by the
laws of 1876.
This resolution was adopted. A Board of Education, consisting of
nine members, was nominated by Edward Porter, esq., and elected by
a nearly unanimous vote :
For one year, Charles H. Moore, Henry A. Glidden ; for two years, Joseph M. Cor-
nell, George W. Ough, Charles A. Keeler ; for three years, John N. Proctor, Abel Stil-
son, Abram H. Goodman.
Upon the organization of the above board, John H. White was
elected president, and Abel Stilson clerk.
The Union School was organized with a course of study extending
through twelve years, and divided into three departments, viz. : Primary
Department, Grammar School, and High School, each embracing four
years of the course of study, and therefore embracing four grades. The
schools were then placed under the charge of a superintendent appointed
by the Board of Education.
In August, 1876, the Board of Education purchased for $2,500 the
real estate of the Albion Academy. The academy occupied an entire
square of three acres, bounded by West Bank, West State, Academy
ORLEANS COUNTY. 203
and West Academy streets. The High School and Grammar School
were placed in this building, and the primary schools in the four dis-
trict school buildings, owned by the district. In 1878 an addition was
made to the High School, 120 by 60 feet, and again in 1885, another
forty by twenty feet. A fine two-story brick building just south of the
Court House square was afterwards built, now known as the Central
Primary. The Public and Town Libraries are on the second floor of this
building.
School opened September 11, 1876, with the following corps of
teachers :
Freeman A. G-reene, A. M., principal, Latin, Greek and natural sciences (served as
principal from 1876 to 1883, superintendent since 1883, eighteen years). James H.
Mattison, assistant principal, mathematics and hterature. Una Stilson, French, Ger-
man and mathematics. Jennie J. Brown, reading and mathematics. Grammar School :
Ella Wirt, Margaret McGuire, Fannie A. McCraken. Primary Department : Eliza C.
Gillette, Cora M. Willsea, Libbie M. Fuller, Fannie E. Hubbard, Addie J. Briggs.
Superintendent and teachers 1894-5, with title and college from
which they are graduates :
Freeman A. Greene, A. M. (University of Rochester), superintendent. High School:
Charles Hamilton, A. M., University of Rochester, principal, Latin, Greek and mathe-
matics. Anna F. Barrett, A. B., Cornell University, graduate of Albion High School,
1888, modern languages, literature and mathematics. Frances Olmstead Abbott, Nor-
mal, science, history and composition. Elizabeth Grace Fisher, A. B., Vassar College,
German, Latin, rhetoric and history. Elvira 0. Cousins, 0. B. Emerson College,^elocu-
tion, physical culture and vocal music. Carrie R. Baker, principal Intermediate De-
partment. Sarah L. Hatfield, teacher of drawing throughout Union School. Gram-
mar School : Teachers, with year of graduation from Albion High School. Lolah M.
Barren 1881, principal seventh and eighth grades. Alice L. Harris. 1886, assistant.
A. Grace Harris, 1887, assistant. Etta Alderson, principal, sixth grade. Jennie H.
Mattinson, 1880, principal fifth grade. Minnie B. Glenn, 1888, assistant. Primary
Department : Anna L. Mason, 1889. Ida M. Bratt, 1884. Florence M. English, 1892.
Mary F. Dowd, 1889. Nellie M. Bowles, 1893. Le Vanche Gallanneau, 1887. Cora
R. Byington, Ella M. Hill, 1885. M. Jeannette Robertson, 1890. 12 teachers employed
in 1876. 22 teachers and 1 superintendent in 1894.
Twenty-eight difi'erent teachers employed in Albion High School since 1876 with de-
gree, college from which they graduated, and term of service. —Freeman A. Greene, A .
M., Univ. of Rochester, principal 7 years, superintendent 11; James H. Mattison, 1
year: Una Stilson, 2 years; Jennie J. Brown, 3 years; Frances W. Forbes, A. M.,
Univ. of Rochester, 1 year, resigned to accept a professorship in Buffalo Normal
School ; Mary J. Hawthorne, 3 years ; William P. L. Stafford, A. M., Hamilton, 3
204 LANDMARKS OF
years ; Frank H. Hall, A. M., Hamilton, 2 years ; Alice L. Hulburd, A. M., Vassar, 5
years ; Helen M. Farrand, A. M,, Univ. of Michigan, 3 years ; Julia A. Sawyer, one
year at Wellesley, 5 years; Helen L. MoChesney, A. M., Ingham, preceptress 12 years,
resigned June, 1894, to travel abroad; Lowell C. Smith, A. B., Hamilton, 1 year;
William J. Rushmore, A. M., Harvard, 1 year; George W. Benton, Univ. of Indiana,
3 years ; Abigail K. Wolcott, A. B.. Elmira, 3 years ; Emma J. Haney, 4 years ; S.
Ida Price, 2 years, taught 3 years in the Grammar School; Carrie R. Baker, 6 years,
taught in Union School since 1878 ; Charles A. Hamilton, A. M., Univ. of Rochester,
6 years; Katharine M. Cochran, A. B., Vassar, 4 years, resigned to accept a position as
teacher of Latin in New York Teachers' College ; Albert C. Burrows, B. S., Univ. of
Rochester, 1 year ; Cora F. Ilerrick, 2 years, taught in Union School from 1878 to
1889; Seymour Olmstead, 2 years; Frances 0. Abbott, 2 years; EUzabeth Smith, 2
years ; Harriet C. Paul, 2 years ; Sarah L. Hatfield, 3 years.
IN MEMORIAM.
Sarah J. Hale, '79, graduate of Albion High School, died March 22, 1883 ; Fannie
Hubbard, died September 23, 1883 ; Margaret M. McGuire, died February 22, 1885 ;
Sarah E. Wall, '85, died March 2, 1889; Mamie E. Hubbard, '86, died May 22,
1892.
Board of Education 1894, with term of service. — John H. White, 16 years, presi-
dent; Irving M. Thompson, 14 years, clerk; George W. Ough, 18 years; Franklin
Clarke, 1 year; Albert C. Burrows, 1 year; Ezra T. Coann, 12 years; William B.
Dye, 1 year; Orville H. Taylor, 4 years; Isaac S. Signor, 4 years.
Other members of the board since 1876.^ — Albert S. Warner, 5 years; Thomas Hales,
1 year; Seth S. Spencer, 7 years; John Bidelman, 1 year; John Cunneen, 5 years;
Joseph M. Cornell, from 1876 till he died, July 4, 1890, trustee of Albion Academy for
many years and contributed liberally to its support; Abram H. Goodman, 13 years,
from 1876 till he died, Februaiy 17, 1891 ; Abel Stilson, 4 years ; Henry A. Glidden,
6 years; Charles A. Keeler, 1 year; John W. Proctor, 4 years; E. Kirk Hart, 4
years, from 1889 till he died, February 18, 1893; Charles H. Moore, 17 years, from 1876
till he died, August 4, 1893. Twenty-two have served on the board since 1876.
Officers of board with term of service. — Presidents: John H. White, 1876-77, 1882-
94; John N. Proctor, 1878-9; Charles H. Moore, 1880; Albert S. Warner, 1881.
Clerks— Abel Stilson, 1876-80; Henry A Glidden, 1880-2; Seth S. Spencer, 1882-
9; Irving M. Thompson, 1890-4.
Rev. A. 0. Osborn, D.D., Regents' Examiner.
IN MEMORIAM.
Members of the Board of Education. — Thomas Hales, died July 20, 1884 ; John N.
Proctor, died February 1 1, 1889 : Joseph M. Cornell, died July 4, 1890 ; Abram H.
Goodman, died February 17, 1891^; E. Kirk Hart, died February 18, 1893 ; Charles H.
Moore, died August 4, 1893; Henry A. Glidden, died January 31, 1894.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 205
But one year was needed to convince the people that the graded
system of public schools was the best. The first year's school closed
June 28, 1877, with promotions, awarding of prizes, appropriate public
exercises and a picnic in the Court House Park. The following is the
programme of the first closing exercises of the High School :
Piano solo, Minnie Powers. Quartette, Misses Tanner and Chester and Messrs. How-
ard and Stebbins. Essay, ''Cross Roads," Fannie W. Burleigh. Essay, "Fences"
Clinton Clark. Essay, "Improvement of Time," Clara Goodwin. Essay, "Envy,"
Dora Hannington. Oration, H. W. Lattin. Essay, "The End not Yet," Mollie Lattin.
Piano duet, Minnie Powers and Clara Proctor. Essay, " Fate," Lena Van Voorhies.
Essay, "Pleasures of Memory," Mary Tanner. Essay, "Labor," Jessie Thatcher. Es-
say, "Mysteries," Ida C. Young. Essay, "Footprints of Time," with valedictory, Carrie
E. Thompson.
Eight of the above pupils afterwards graduated from the High
School, and Miss Ida C. Young taught several years in the public
schools of Albion and Rochester.
At the opening of the second year two rival literary societies were or-
ganized, known as the Kappa Phi and Alpha Phi, which did much to
awaken a deeper interest in rhetorical work, The first public exercises
the Kappa Phi had was October 10, 1877, with the following pro-
gramme :
Singing by the school. Declamation, "Columbus," Warren Gordis. Recitation,
" Her Letter," Grace Wirt. Essay, " Flies," Mollie Houghtaling. Song, " The Wolf
at the Door," Clara Van Camp. Recitation, " The Messenger," Alice Torrey. Recita-
tion, Nellie Winch. Declamation, " Lessons of History," Lewis Rogers. Song, " Gently
Down the Stream of Time," Lizzie King. Recitation, " Our Folks," Addie Gibson.
Recitation, " Song of Home," Lena Phelps. Song, '' Jennie, the Flower of Killdare,"
Hattie Clark. Declamation, "Wounded," W. S. Hunt. Poem, " Make the Best of It,"
Carrie Thompson. Singing by the school. Recitation, '' The Blue and the Gray," Liz-
zie King. Recitation, Mittie Straight. Essay, " Trip to the Moon," Gussie McGerald.
Song, '' Among the Hay," Alice Torrey. Declamation, Charles Gushing. Essay. " Drift-
w^ood," Sarah Hale. Recitation, Annie Lawrence. Declamation, Bennie Williams.
Singing by the school.
John H. White, president of the Board of Education, was present and
addressed the school.
October 27, 1877, occurred the first public exercises of the Alpha Phi
society. Hon. Sanford E. Church addressed the school at the close of
the following programme :
206 LANDMARKS OF
Song, " G-eneveive," Getty Lewis. Declamation, "Sheridan's Ride," Henry Glenn.
Essay, " Faith." Ide C. Young. Recitation, " Launching the Ship," Lillie Northrup.
Song, '' Take This Letter to My Mother," Minnie Mason. Declamation, H. W. Lattin.
Essay, " I," Fannie Burleigh. Recitation, •' Widow of Glen Cove," Julia A. Sawyer.
Song, "Old Folks at Home," Louise Diem. Declaration, "Picturesque of Rome,"
George Glenn. Recitation, " Parson Avery,"' Clara Mason. Song, "Drifting With the
Tide," Hattie Warner. Essay, " Good Breeding," Milo Root. Declamation, "Queer
People," Louis Landauer. Poem, '' Kiss Me First," Alice Daniels. Recitation, "Cur-
few," Kessie Buell. Select reading, Getty Lewis, Song, " Patriotic," Quartette. Se-
lect reading, Prof. Forbes. Song, Louise Diem.
Two literary papers were edited, one by each society, Sarah Hale
was first editor of the Kappa Phi Herald, and N. S. Dibble of the Alpha
Phi Scrap Box.
Through the liberality and interest taken in the public schools by our
citizens, over $ioo every year is distributed in prizes. The first prizes
awarded were at the close of the first year, June, 1877.
The president's prize, a gold badge, gift of John H. White, esq., for highest standing,
scholarship, deportment and attendance for the year, awarded to Fannie W. Burleigh ;
second prize, Bancroft's complete history of the United Slates, Sarah Hale; third prize,
Dickens' complete works, Ida C. Young; fourth prize, Dickens' complete works, Carrie
E. Thompson. Best declamation, Shakespeare's works and Life of Napoleon, George L.
Glenn; second best declamation, Pope's poetical works, Eldridge Crego ; third best
declamation, Character Sketches, John Latta. Best recitation, four books, Getty Lewis
[Miss Lewis took the prize at the Interacademic State prize contest held in Albany,
N. Y.] ; second best recitation, Tennyson's poems, Sarah Hale ; third best recitation,
" Starling," Clara Tanner. Best essay, f( ur books, Jessie Thatcher ; second best essay,
two books, Fannie W. Burleigh ; third best essay, Milton's poems, Ida C. Young.
June, 1880, William C. Bailey, M. D., now residing in Knoxville,
Tenn., established a prize, $10 in books, for excellence in physiology ;
(discontinued, June, 1892). In June, 1882, Ezra T.Coann, estabhshed two
prizes $5 each for the best oration and the best essay given at Commence-
ment. June, 1885, Clark D. Knapp, esq., offered Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary for proficiency in civil government. (Discontinued June,
1894.) June, 1889, Hon. Isaac S. Signor, three prizes $5 each for ex-
cellence in rhetorical work in the High School. June, 1891, W. P. L,
Stafford, esq., offered a prize of $10 in books for proficiency in
1st year Latin. June, 1892, Lyman S. Linson, offered a prize in botany,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 207
$iO in books. Charles H. Moore a prize in drawing $io (discontinued
June, 1894). Edwin L. Wage, esq., prizes in spelling amounting to $15.
June, 1893, Rev. E. H. Rudd, a prize of $5 for best scholarship for the
year in the High School to the student pursuing a regular course.
George W. Barrell, a prize of five dollars in chemistry and laboratory
work. The following persons have won the above prizes given in the
order of the year in which the awards were made :
Bailey Prize — Jennie H. Mattinson, Milo Root, Franlc H. Lattin, George P. More-
house, Edith B. Winch, Minnie Gcodnow, Luella Parmalee, Hattie M. Porter, Burrit A.
Hunt, Nellie Osborn, Martha Braley, Gertrude Cardus, Edward Reade, Oscar Kenney,
with honorable mention of William Allen and Blanche Harris.
Coann Prizes — Best Oration : Andrew Snyder, Warren Gordis, a graduate of Uni-
versity of Rochester; George P. Morehouse, Charles P. Worden, James Swart, Frederic
M. Thompson, a graduate of Georgetown University School of Law ; Homer B. Thomp-
son, Edwin W. Hellaby, attending Hillsdale College; Thurlow W. Buxton, attending
University of Rochester; Kirke G. Bumpus, and Ralph Mosher. Best Essay : Julia
A. Pendry, Josie C. Robertson, a graduate of Wellesley, assistant librarian of Chicago
University ; Edith B. Winch, Nellie M. Eaton, Florence H. Beach, Minnie B. Glenn,
Kittie B. Rowley, Anna L. Cole, a graduate of Syracuse University, in 1894 ; Florence
Merrick, Stella Robertson, attending Chicago University ; Nellie M. Bowles, Gertrude
Hubbard.
Knapp Prize.— Anna F. Barrett, graduate of Cornell University, teacher in Albion
High School; Frank J. Tanner, Anna L. Cole, Franc E. Barnett, Nettie A. Shook, Edna
A. Young, Howard Chester, attending Colgate University ; Margaret Toulson, Ethel
Skinner.
Signor Prizes. — Best Declamation : Homer Thompson, Frederic M. Thompson, hon-
orable mention ; Lou's Pickett, William H. Lennon, Thurlow W. Buxton, Kirke
Bumpus, Ralph Mosher, George Galarneau, Charles Harding. Best Recitation : Arta
Trow, two special prizes of $5 each awarded to Anna Cole, and Belle Higgerson by the
committee; Belle Higgerson, Florence Merrick, Sadie Smith, a special prize, Shake-
speare's works to Hattie Squier, by the committee ; Beth Reynolds, Bertha Baldwin,
Velma Blobb, Lizzie Baldwm. Best Essay : Minnie Goodnow, (honorable mention of
Addie Goodnow and Cora Cass), Belle Higgerson, Homer B. Thompson, Robert J. Cole,
graduate of Columbia College ; Jessie Allen, Ralph Mosher, Louise S. Hart, Clarence
Abbott.
Stafford Prize. — Edward H. Reade,Lizzie Baldwin, Fred Millspaugh, Jennie Tibbetts.
Linson Prize. — Jessie D. Allen, Edward H. Reade, Frances Clark.
Moore Prizes.— 1892 : Lillian Francis $5, Martha Braley $3, Daisy English $2.
1893: High School, William Allen; Grammar School 8th grade, Lelia Martineau ; 7th
grade, Robert Beresford ; 6th grade, Jessie Haight; 5th grade, Gussie Nichols.
Wage Prizes. — 1893: High School, Ralph Mosher; Grammar School 7th and 8th
grades, Clark Babbitt; 6th grade, Joseph Bentley; 5th grade, Charles Brown, and
208 LANDMARKS OF
81 books awarded to pupils in the Primary schools. 1894. : High School 1st, Mary
Amelia Bates ; 2d, Arthur Thomas; 3d, Florence Mattinson. Grammar School 8th
grade, 1st, Ethel Bowlee ; 2d, Robert Beresford ; 7th grade. 1st, Joseph Bentley ; 2d,
Lenna Burke ; 6th grade, Nellie Cahoon and Daisy Brown ; ."ith grade, Leon Beach,
George Brown, Julia Miller, Beatrice Signer, Lalie Knott. Books were awarded to
thirty-eight pupils in Primary Department.
The schools are well furuished with apparatus and reference books
used in the several departments.
Department of Science. — There is a well- equipped laboratory for in-
struction in the sciences, where each student can perform experiments
himself The appointments in this department are valued at $2,ooo.
There is also a museum, consisting of a large number of natural his-
tory specimens and a nearly full set of duplicates of the fossils and
minerals of the State collection, presented to the school by Professor
Hall, of Albany, State geologist, at the request and influence of Hon.
Lorenzo Burrows, so long an honored member of the Board of Regents,
and Hon. Henry A. Glidden, who was then a member of the State
Legislature.
Department of Literature. — The increasing attention given to the
study of the English language in all our public schools as well as in
our higher institutions of learning, is one of the marked and hopeful
signs of the times. It is the aim of the literature department of the
High School, so long under the direction of Mrs. H. L. McChesney,
not only to instruct the organized classes, but as far as possible to direct
the reading of the whole school. The Board of Regents furnish a
course in English reading and literature which is very valuable.
Teachers' Department. — By appointment from the State superin-
tendent of public instruction a course of instruction in the art and prac-
tice of teaching is given for a period of thirty- two weeks each year.
This training class is under the direction of Mrs. Frances O. Abbott,
and has furnished a large number of teachers for the common schools.
Its membership in one term has been composed of representatives from
each town in the county.
Libraries. — Albion is justly proud of her excellent libraries. They
consist of the public and town libraries located in the second story of
the Central Primary Building, Miss Lillian Achilles librarian, and the
school library, more especially for school use, in the second and third
ORLEANS COUNTY. 209
stories of the High School building, Prof. C. A. Hamilton librarian.
They contain 7,230 volumes. A dictionary catalogue, including
author, subject and title, prepared by the librarian, has been published
by the Board of Trustees, and a supplement of the 450 volumes re-
cently added is in preparation. The number of books circulated from
June, 1893, to June, 1894, was 9,000. There are about 500 regular
patrons. A course of home reading required in all grades of the pub-
lic schools makes the library in greater demand. It is an important
factor in all school work at the present day.
The Albion Literary Association raised funds by entertainments and
by subscription and accumulated a large library. This was burned,
and the insurance money, about $600, the association gave to the
Board of Education, who put the money with an equal amount fur-
nished by the Board of Regents, and thus added $1,200 worth of
books to the public and school libraries. The following programme
was given for the benefit of the association in the village hall in Novem-
ber, 1887, by the " Old School Boys " :
The Well of St. Keyne, E. R. Reynolds. Hohenlinden, Ezra T. Coann. Speech of
Sempronius, Norman S. Field. Vocal Music, Dr. Balcom, Gr. W.Mitchell, Misses Diem
and Northrup. Connecticut in 1776, W. W. Beckwith. Lochiel's Warning, E. R. Rey-
nolds and Abel Stilson. Hunting Tower, Nellie Hale and Johnnie Bordwell. Napo-
leon Bonaparte, John H. Denio. Recitation, Hymn, Henry A. Glidden. Rhetorical
Medley, R. H. Brown. Vocal Music, Messrs. Straight and Mitchell, Mrs. Higgerson
and Miss Ella Wirt. The Death of Hamilton, John N. Proctor. Declamation, L. C.
Hill. The Destruction of Sennacherib, Rufus B. Bullock. Song, James Lewis.
The farce "Box and Cox" concluded the entertainment, and the association realized
nearly $140 for the library.
Albion High School has had 194 graduates from 1879 to 1894.
Twenty-one different colleges are represented by them as graduates or
students. The Alumni Association was organized in June, 1880.
Officers, 1894. — Charles G. Mack, '89, president; Louis F. Greene, '93, vice-presi-
dent; Florence M. English, '92, secretary; A. Grace Harris, '87, treasurer; Henry
W. Fox, jr., '90, orator; Mrs. Florence Beach Church, '86, poet; Grace A. Crandall,
'91, essayist; Franc E. Barrett, '88, statistician.
Knowlesville Union School. — Dr. H. C. Tompkins and A. L. Hill
circulated a petition in 1859 in three districts, including the Knowles-
ville district, to unite and organize a union free school, under the gen-
210 LANDMARKS OF
eral act. At a meeting held the same year, the voters decided to or-
ganize.
In 1887 a fine, convenient and well furnished brick school building
was erected.
The present Board of Education consists of Dr. H. 0. Tompkins, A. L. Hill and
Daniel Hitchcock. Officers: Dr. E. M. Tompkins, district clerk; E. E. Woodford,
treasurer ; J. H. Filer, librarian ; principal, John H. Filer.
Lyndonville Union Free School. — The Lyndonville Union School
House occupies a lot purchased of Samuel Tappan, in 1845, by the
trustees of the district. June 25, 1835, Samuel Clark donated a plot of
land in the rear of the Methodist Church for school purposes. This
was sold and a new lot purchased, and the present building erected
thereon by Elisha Sawyer and Simeon Hale, at a cost of $1,149. The
first trustees were Cyrus Clark, Calvin P. Clark, and Henry McNeal.
Among the first teachers were: D. M. Kelsey, Louisa M. Brown,
Caroline Close, Rowena L. Parks, Mrs. Ann Tappan Lee. Mrs. Cor-
nelia Johnson Tuttle taught here early for $2.00 a week.
The school was admitted by the Regents in the winter of 1893.
Chauncey H. Lum, the president of the Board of Education, and for
many years an active trustee of Yates Academy, was the prime mover
in securing the charter.
The present board is: Hon. Henry M. Hard, president ; Walter A. Tuttle, secretary ;
Charles E. Fairman,A. M., M. D., David S. Fraser, M. D., and R. S Wright, D. D. S. ;
principal, Edson L. Moore.
Mr. C. H. Lum, August 21, 1894, says :
We have enlarged our school building in Lyndonville, and are gomg to try and make
a first-class union school, also to supply a great need in our vicinity. We ought to do
something to regain what we have lost, since the Yates Academy has ceased its great
work in our town and vicinity. We must do what we can to fit our boys and girls for
the responsible duties of life and citizenship.
The cause of education will not suffer where such strong friends of
education reside.
Waterport Union School was organized at the annual meeting in
1887. Admitted by the Regents, June, 1893. First principal, John
H. Filer, first president of board, G. S. Wilson.
The present board is D. D. Bromley, W. H. Parker, and F. G. Miller. Teachers :
Augustus W. Behrand, principal; Miss Oatman, assistant.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 211
County Supervision of the Common Schools. — In 1841 the Legislature
provided for the election of county superintendents of common schools.
Edwin R. Reynolds became first superintendent and served from 1841
to 1843 Jonathan O. Willsea, 1844-5. John G. Smith, 1846
In 1847 the office was abolished by the Legislature, and the duties
of the position devolved upon what was known as town superintendents
chosen in each town.
In 1856 the office of school commissioner was created with jurisdic-
tion throughout the Assembly district. That position has been filled
by the following persons :
Oliver Morehouse, 185G-60. Marcus H. Phillips, 1861-65. Montraville S. Root,
1865. Abel Stilson, 1866-69. James H. Mattison, 1870-72. William W. Phipps,
1873-75. Edward Posson, 1876-85 ; 1890-93. Charles W. Smith, 1886-90. Elbert
0. Smith, 1894.
Freeman G. Greene, A, M., has been superintendent of the Albion
public schools since 1883. Since 1887 Albion has received $800 a
year for superintendent from the common school fund.
School Commissioner Posson in his annual report for 1893 to the
State superintendent says :
The towns in the county with number of districts with school houses,
and amount of money raised by local tax, are :
Albion, 10 $10,204
Barre, 13 2,106
Carlton, 17 3,053
Clarendon. 9 1,445
Gaines, 12 2,929
Kendall, 10 1,960
Murray, 12 6,105
Ridgeway, 16 10,964
Shelby, 14 3,085
Yates, 13 2,370
Total $44,221
Amount of public money received from State, $24,165; total expended for support
of schools, $68,386; assessed valuation of districts in county, $17,159,363; number of
trees planted in 1893, 104; value of school buildings and sites, $185,810; whole num-
ber of children attending school, 6,529 ; aggregate days attendance during the year,
683,714; number of teachers employed, 185; number of official visits by Mr. Posson,
368.
212 LANDMARKS OF
The schools of Orleans are in a fairly prosperous condition. The
village schools are doing excellent work, owing very largely to the
employment of trained and experienced teachers. The rural schools
cannot accomplish the best of work until the trustees employ a better
grade of teachers and retain them as long as their work shows satis-
factory results.
I believe that nearly all the teachers of this county are keeping them-
selves informed in the best methods of teaching, as seven are now at-
tending State Normal Schools after having taught from three to five
terms each.
EARLY DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN THE SEVERAL TOWNS.
Judge Thomas, in his excellent history of Orleans county, furnishes
the following interesting facts of the early schools of the several towns
of the county :
Albion and Barre. — Albion formed a part of Barre in the time of
early schools. Dr. Gushing writes that the first school within the pres-
ent limits of the town of Barre was taught by Sally, daughter of John
Lee, in a log house at Lee's Settlement in 1818 and 1819. Miss Lee
married Andrew Stevens, and died at Towanda in 1828. The de-
struction of the town records in 1866 prevents other knowledge of the
formation of districts.
Luther Porter, of Porter's Corners, says : " There was no school in
my neighborhood for several years after 1820. The first school house
there was erected at Sheldon's Corners. The district was afterwards
divided and a log school house built about a mile north of Ferguson's
Corners. Again the district was divided, and in 1871 stood as district
No. 12, with a good school house. The town of Albion now has ten
good school houses and Barre thirteen.
Carlton, 1810-11. — The first school in Carlton was taught by Peleg
Helms in the winter of 1810-11. This was the first school in Orleans
county. At the present time Carlton has seventeen school houses, and
with their sites are valued at $13,000.
Clarendon, 18 13. — Mrs. Amanda Bills had the honor of teaching the
first school in the town of Clarendon,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 213
Clarendon Village, 1813. — The first school building, 14 by 18 feet,
was built in 1813, of logs, on a lot a short distance south of Farwell's
Mills, now Clarendon village. In the summer of 18 18 a frame school
house was built at Farwell's Mills, near the site of the present stone one
built in 1846, and Horace Streeter taught the first school there the fol-
lowing winter. In the summer of J 81 5, Minerva Tousley taught in the
first school house in district No. 4, which was built of logs in 18 15.
Erastus S. Coann, in the winter of 1815-16 taught the first school in
district No. 13, in a log school house built in the fall of 181 5, just east
of the Holley road near where A. L. Salisbury resided in 1878. The
town of Clarendon contained nine school districts at the time of its or-
ganization. It now has nine school houses, which with their sites are
valued at $7,350.
Gaines, 1813-14. — Orin Gleason, in the winter of 1813-14, taught
school in the first building used for school purposes in the town of
Gaines. It was a log cabin built by a settler on the premises, since
known as the Ezra Hunter farm. Miss Rebecca Adams taught the
first summer school here.
East Gaines, 18 15. — In 18 15 Hannah Strickland taught the first
school at East Gaines in a log school house south of the Ridge Road on
the west branch of the creek near where William Billings lived in 1878.
On what was Albert Randall's farm in 1878 stood the first school house
in the adjoining district south.
Bullard District, 18 16. — Miss Anna Frisbie taught the first school
in the Bullard district in a log school house built in 18 16, on the farm
north of the Ridge Road, which was owned in 1878 by John Hyde.
In 1822 a substantial brick building was built on a new site. This
was superseded by a stone building a little further west.
Gaines Village. — Ira H. Beach taught the first school in the vil-
lage of Gaines, in a log house. Miss Lucretia Downer taught in a new
school house built in 1832, near the residence (in 1878) of Simon
Kemp.
Five Corners, 18 17. — Miss Ruth Haywood in 18 17 opened a school
at Five Corners in Frederick Holsenburgh's corn house. Four years
later, on the site of the present building, was erected the first school
house in that district.
214 LANDMARKS OP
Fair Haven, 1817. — Near the site of the present school building at
Fair Haven, a school house was built in 1 8 1 7. John McOmber was one
of the first teachers. About this time the citizens of Gaines and Fair
Haven districts united and built a school house a short distance west of
the Burgess residence. The first school house in district nnmber five
was built a few rods east of where the Otter Creek crosses the Ridge.
It was a board structure, rudely finished with two windows on each
side, a door at one end, and a chimney at the other.
Gaines Basin, 1832. — On the east side of the road where the canal
now passes, was built, in 1832, the first school house at Gaines Basin.
It was nothing but a log shanty, with a shed roof and a floor of loose
boards. Miss Nancy Bullard was the first teacher in that primitive
school building. Miss Caroline Phipps, founder of Phipps' Union Sem-
inary, taught her first school here at the early age of fourteen.
Eagle Harbor, 1822. — The first school house at Eagle Harbor stood
on the west side of the street and was built in 1822. In 1841 a second
house was built on the site of the present house, which was built in
1846.
Kendall, 18 19. — Gordon Balcom taught the first school in the town
of Kendall in a log school house on lot 123, built in 18 19 This was
burned in a few years, and a frame building placed on the same lot.
The present stone building was built in 1839. At the organization of
the town in 1837 there were thirteen districts, four of which were parts
of other districts extending into other towns. The number of children
taught the first year after the organization was 631. In 1850, 652. In
1878 there were sixteen districts, seven of which were joint districts. In
1 894 there were ten school houses and 332 children were taught. About
1820 the first log house in district number five was built on lot 130.
Miss Sarah Rice was the first teacher in summer and Owen Miner in
winter. Emily Bassett taught the first school in district number nine,
in a shed belonging to William R. Bassett.
Kendall Village. — The first school in Kendall village was taught in a
part of a double log house on the northeast corner of lot 1 19, about the
summer of 1824, on the site of the Baptist Church. Orin Miner, Salo-
ma Roblee and Cornelia Merrill were among the very early teachers.
Murray, 18 14. — The first school house in the town of Murray was
ORLEANS COUNTY. 215
built in district No. 12, in 18 14, and school was taught the same year
by Fanny Ferguson.
Holley, 1815. — The first school house in the village of Holley was
made of logs and built about 1815, and stood near the site of the rail-
road depot. Lydia Thomas was the first teacher. In 1840 a stone
school house was built on the corner of Albion and North streets, which
served for several years.
Hulburton, 1822. — In about 1822 the first school house was built of
logs in Hulburton. Alfreda Smith and Ryan Barber were among the
first teachers. This building was burned in the winter of 1827-8. The
following summer school was taught in a barn on Main street, south of
the canal, and the next winter in a log dwelling, north of the village.
In 1828 a frame school house was built nearly opposite the one in
present use, which was built in 1840. In 1894 Murray had twelve
school houses, value $6,105, and 705 children attending school.
Ridgeway, 1814. — In 1814 the town of Ridgeway was divided into
seven school districts ; district No. i was bounded on the east by Oak
Orchard Creek, and on the west by the county line, making the district
about eight miles long, and it extended as far each side of the
Ridge road, as there were inhabitants. The first log school house was
built in 181 5 on lot 24, and the first school was taught there by Miss
Lucy Judson. Daniel's district — Samuel Salisbury says in Judge Thomas'
hi.story (page 224), that he attended school two miles south of what is
now Lyndonville ; this school house was built of logs and was used for
many years as a place of worship.
Knowlesville, 18 17. — At Knowlesville the first log school house was
built in 1817, a little north of where the brick school house was after-
wards built, on the west side of the street north of the canal. Districts
Nos. 5, 6 and 15 form the Union Free School. In 1894 Ridgeway had
sixteen school houses, valued at $10,964, and 1,700 children taught.
Shelby, 1815. — Cornelius Ashton taught the first school in the town
of Shelby in the winter of 1815-6. Judge Penniman taught near Mill-
ville about 1820, and continued for several years. The first school
house was south of Shelby Center, near Wordon's tannery. The first
brick building in the town was the brick school house at Shelby Cen-
ter. This was given to Robert Drake in payment for collecting the tax
216 LANDMARKS OF
for building the new school house. In 1894 there were fourteen school
houses, valued at $3,085, and 481 children attended school
Yates. — The first brick building in the town of Yates was the first
brick school house, now (1894) occupied by Arthur Phipany for a
dwelling in Lyndonville, Yates has thirteen school houses, valued at
$2,370, and 490 children attended school during the school year end-
ing July 31, 1893,
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ALBION.
The town of Albion was erected from Barre in 1875 ^^d was named
from the village of the same name — the county seat of Orleans county.
The name is derived from that of the largest of the British islands. One
ancient writer (Agathemerus) calls the largest two of these islands
Hibernia and Albion ; and Pliny says, " the island of Great Britain
was formerly called Albion, the name of Britain being common to all
the islands around it." In poetry the name is still retained ; the "hills
of Albion," and "Albion's sons," are not uncommon forms of expres-
sion. Philologists are not agreed as to its etymology. According to
some it is derived from a Greek word which means white, and the name
was given to this island because of the white, chalky cliffs on its coast.
Others derive it " from a giant, the son of Neptune, mentioned by several
ancient writers ; some from the Hebrew alben (white) ; others from the
Phoenician alp or alpin (high and high mountain), from the height of
the coast. Sprengle, in his Universal History of Great Britain, thinks
it of GaeHc origin, the same with Albyn, the name of the Scotch
highlands. It appears to him the plural of alp, or ailp which signifies
rocky mountains, and to have been given to the island, because the
shore which looks toward France looks like a long row of rocks. The
ancient British poets call Britain Inis Wen the white island." What-
ever view is adopted with regard to the etymology of the name, it is
certain that it was the name of ancient England, and probably that fact
or its poetic use led to its adoption here.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 217
The town is bounded on the north by Gaines, on the east by Murray
and a small portion by Clarendon, on the south by Barre, and on the
west and a small portion on the north by Ridgeway, a small portion is
also bounded west by Shelby It has an area of 16,337 acres, and is
traversed from east to west by the Niagara Falls branch of the New
York Central & Hudson River Railroad. The Erie Canal also traverses
the northern part of the town except for about two and one- half miles
immediately west of Albion village, which is in Gaines. Flowing
northerly through the west part of the township is Otter Creek, while
through the center flows Sandy Creek, which courses through the
eastern edge of the village. These are the only streams of importance
in the town. Grain and fruit are the chief agricultural productions, and
the soil is a clay loam. The surface is generally level and the soil is
very productive. About two miles east from Albion village are a num-
ber of sandy hills, which have been utilized for the tasteful cemetery of
Mount Albion. The town is especially noted for its extensive quarries
of Medina sandstone, a stratum that underlies nearly its whole area.
During several years the question of holding the town elections in
Albion instead of Barre Center, (which was near the geographical center
of the town of Barre) had been periodically agitated. This change was
favored by the political party that was strongest in Albion, and was
opposed by the party that was dominant in the town ; and a majority
could not be induced to vote for the change. In 1875 a majority of
the Board of Supervisors were of the same political party as a majority
in the village, and a proposition was made to divide the town. After a
bitter contest this was carried and the new town was erected from the
north part of Barre. The line established between the two towns
divided the northern tier of lots in the first and second ranges of the
fourteenth township, leaving about one-third of each of these lots in the
town of Barre. This location of the line was determined by party con-
siderations. The meeting at which the supervisors voted to divide the old
town of Barre, was held January 3, 1875. The first board of town officers,
elected April 8 of that year, consisted of Norman S. Field, supervisor ;
Jay H. Sweet, town clerk ; George A. Porter, Andrew L, Dibble,
Arnold Gregory, and Leroy R. Sanford, justices of the peace ; George
Edmonds, collector; Hiram Reed, assessor; William A. Tanner, high-
28
218 LANDMARKS OF
way commissioner ; David Olmstead, overseer of the poor. The super-
visors of Albion have been as follows :
Norman S. Field, 1875-77; John H. White, 1878-79; William B. Dye, 1880; Will-
iam Hallock, 1881-82; David Hardie, 1883-84; Charles 0. Hartwell, 1885-8G; Kirk
D. Sheldon, 1887 ; Henry D. Reed. 1888-90; Robert Clark, 1891-92 ; Coley P. Wright,
1893-94.
Originally the lands in the town were largely apportioned to settlers
or purchasers by articles, which were negotiable, and in many instances
these instruments were assigned several times before the purchase price
was paid and deeds secured. They were not recorded, and therefore
the records in the county clerk's office give no reliable information as
to the first settlers. From original entries in the books of the Holland
Land Company, however, the following account of sales by articles and
deeds is gleaned. It must be remembered that the town includes the
south three-fourths of the north tier of lots in the first and second
ranges of the fourteenth township, and the north three tiers ot lots in
the same ranges of the fifteenth township, except lots 57, 58 and 59 in
the fifteenth township and second range, which lie in Ridgeway :
The north part of lot 8, town 14, range 1 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26,
1828. G-eorge A. Love purchased by article 75 acres next south from the above, Feb-
ruary 21, 1823 ; and William Love purchased 97i acres, including this, October 28, 1831.
This land was deeded in parcels to the Bank of Monroe, John D. Maxon, Leonard
Williams and Thomas Grant, 1835-37. Philip Frederick purchased by article 100 acres
of lot 8, March 22, 1822. December 30, 1830, a part, 55 acres, of this was transferred
to Nathan Bathrick. and December 20, 1833, was deeded to Elijah Root. The south
part, 100 acres, of lot 8 was articled to Orrin Fuller, January 5, 1822. It reverted,
and on the 24th of December, 1831, 80 acres were articled to Jonathan Fiench. De-
cember 8, 1833, this tract was deeded to Gershom Holdridge. November 3, 1832, 42-J
acres were articled to Daniel B. Austin, and afterward transferred to John D. Maxon.
The middle part, 100 acras, of lot 1, town 15, range 1, was sold by article to Alban
Spencer, April 16, 1820. It was deeded to him November 29, 1833. The east middle
part, 100 acres, of lot 1, was taken up by Joel Newman, April 11, 1820. It was
deeded to Joseph A. Wright June 1, 1834. Alvah Benedict purchased by article the
east part, 76 acres, of lot 1, April 25, 1820. It was again aiticled to John Minckley,
January 18, 1828. It was deeded to Orson Nichoson and Abraham B. Mills, October
11, 1833. John J. Andrews took up the western middle part, 100 acres, of lot 1, March
22, 1820. It was transferred to Salmon Dibble, January 18, 1828, and deeded to him
November 6, 1833. The western part, 100 acres, of lot 1, was articled to William
Wright. May 7, 1816, and deeded to him Augu.-t 27, 1835.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 219
The northeast part, 190 acres, of lot 2, was sold by article to Artemus Thayer April
28, 1815. September 10, 1824, 100 acres of this were articled to Moses Smith, and
deeded to hira December 6, 1833. The rest of the northeast part of lot 2 was several
times transferred in parcels, and was deeded as follows : 50 acres to Washington
Thayer, October 14. 1833 ; 44^ acres to John Minckley, December 23, 1834 ; and 30
acres to Joel Minckley, January 1, 1836. The west part of lot 2, 128 acres, was arti-
cled to James P. Harkness, May 11, 1815. It was articled to John P.Andrews, Au-
gust 4, 1825, and to Joseph Bentley, January 31, 1828. The south part, 78 acres, of
this was transferred to Ezekiel Root, February 12, 1832, and was deeded to him
August 3, 1832. Fifteen acres were transferred to Moses Smith, February 12, 1833,
and were deeded to him January 30, 1837. Thirty-five acres (north pait) were deeded
to Jedediah Phelps, February 12, 1833. The southeast part of lot 2, 88 acres, was sold
by article to James P. Harkness, May 11, 1815, and transferred to Hix & Minckley
December 29, 1824. It was divided between these partners and was finally deeded as
follows: To Amma Whiteraarsh, May 31, 1833 ; to Samuel Hoag, November 23, 1833 ;
and to William Minckley, December 10, 1835.
Joseph Butterfield purchased by article the southeast part, 100 acres, of lot 3 Decem-
ber 9, 1814. He received a deed for 49 acres of this July 5, 1826. On the same day
51 acres were transferred to George W. Hetsler, and were deeded to him May 6, 1827.
The northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 3, was articled to James Hicks December 9, 1814.
December 14, 1822, the article was renewed to John Nichols. March 6, 1828, it was
transferred to Archibald Mahon, and was deeded to him November 28, 1833. John
Mansfield purchased by article the northwest part, 140 acres, of lot 3, November 24,
1815. April 8, 1825, 50 acres of this were articled to Orra Clark, who received a deed
for 23-^ acres November 13, 1830. Of the 50 acres transferred to Orra Clark 26^ acres
were transferred November 19, 1833, to Cyrus Lagnith, who received a deed for the
same November 29, 1835. April 8, 1825, 90|^ acres of the northwest part of lot 3 were
transferred to Jesse Munson and were deeded to Thomas Jones January 30, 1828.
The southwest part, 142 acres, of lot 3, was articled to John Phelps April 12, 1816, and
deeded to him March 7, 1828.
The west part, 100 acres of lot 16, town 14, range 1, was taken up April 9, 1817, by
Zerah Fenner and Johnson Carpenter, transferred to Daniel Furguson April 4, 1828,
and deeded to Joseph House November 7, 1833. Fifty acres of lot 16 were articled to
Jacob Howe April 29, 1817, to Ira Bartholomew November 10, 1829, and deeded to
Peter Storms December 21, 1832. November 5, 1817, Isaac Beech bought 50 acres of
lot 16, and November 29, 1827, it was articled to John Grant. It was deeded to Philip
Green January 28, 1832. November 5, 1817, 100 acres of lot 16 were articled to Row-
ley Beech, and again to Zebediah Heath March 10, 1828. The tract was deeded to Mr.
Heath January 18, 1833. The east part, 62| acres of lot 16, was taken up by John P.
Babcock June 11, 1818. September 5, 1828, it was articled to Thomas Grant, and
September 8, 1835, it was deeded to Philip Green.
John Wright took up the northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 9, town 15, range 1, Sep-
tember 26, 1815. It was articled to Barry Chase October 17, 1827, and deeded to him
October 29, 1833. The northwest part, 100 acres, of lot 9, was sold by article to
220 LANDMARKS OF
George Griffith September 26, 1815. June 14, 1826, 50 acres of this were transferred
to Justus Olmstead. The whole was deeded to Asa Williams November 8, 1833. Cal-
vin Rich took up the southwest part, 69 acres, of lot 9. May 7. 1816. March 2, 1829,
49 acres of this were articled to Joel Smith, and 20 acres to Joseph Davis. The whole
tract was deeded to John Chase November 13, 1833. Jonathan Rich purchased by
article the southeast part, 69 acres, of lot 9, December 2, 1817. It was articled to
Jacob Wright November 20, 1827, and deeded to him November 15, 1832.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 10, was sold to Nehemiah Blanchard April 16, 1816.
Seventy-five acres of this were articled to Jacob Annis May 28, 1828, and deeded to
him November 7, 1833. Twenty- five acres of this north part were articled to Willard
Blanchard May 28, 1828, and to Samuel BIoss November 27, 1833. Mr. Bloss received
a deed for this and a part of lot 11 November 27, 1833. The middle part of lot 10, 100
acres, was articled to Jacob Annis August 26, 1816. Fifty acres of this were trans-
ferred to Jerome B. Annis October 7, 1824; to Thomas Annis December 28, 1831, and
were deeded to Jacob Annis November 29, 1833. Fifty acres were transferred to
Thomas Annis December 28, 1831, and deeded to him November 15, 1836. Josiah
Shattuck took up the south part, 144 acres, of lot 10, December 2, 1820. Twenty- five
acres of the west portion of this were transferred to Caleb Van Ness October 19, 1829 ;
to Elijah Root November 18, 1833 : and were deeded to Francis Root September 10,
1835. The east portion of the south part of lot 10, 119 acres, was transferred to Jacob
Annis October 19, 1829, and 50 acres of this were deeded to Freeman N. Chase Decem-
ber 21, 1833. Sixty-nine acres were deeded to John F. Bisby December 21, 1833. The
west part of lot 11, 208 acres, was articled, to John Phelps April 12, 1816. April 14 the
south 71 acres was transferred to Samuel N. Tanner, and deeded to him March 27, 1826.
April 13, 1828, 137 acres were transferred to Joseph Van Camp, and were deeded to
him November 23, 1833.
The west part of lot 11, 130 acres was taken up by Abijah Newton, April 1, 1816 ;
March 30, 1825, was transferred to Nathan F. Clark. It was articled to Josiah Bloss,
April 2, 1828, and a portion transferred to Cyrus Jaquith, November 19, 1830. It was
deeded to him November 27, 1833. Seventy-one acres of this west part were deeded
to Samuel Bloss, November 27, 1833.
The east part, 120 acres, of lot 24, town 14, range 1, was taken up by William Hig-
bee, October 31, 1816. It was articled in two parcels to Lancaster Gordon, August 22,
1828, and March 3, 1829. Several payments by Mr. Gordon were in wheat. The
whole was deeded to William Hoit, January 7, 1835. William Higbee also took up 116
acres of lot 24, February 22, 1817. The tract was articled to Samuel Williams, March
31, 1828, and was deeded to him November 23, 1833. Jordan Smith purchased the
west part, 120 acres, of lot 24, February 22, 1817. It reverted, and the east 60 acres
were articled to Experience Cass, November 25, 1829, transferred to Jeremiah Gates,
December 4 1830, and deeded to Davis Bailey, September 6, 1836. The west 60 acres
were deeded to Renssela^ Fuller, February 11, 1830.
The southwest part, 153 acres, of lot 17 was taken up by John Mansfield, November
23, 1815. The southeast part, 100 acres, was articled to Arthur Barnes, October 17,
1815. The north part was taken up by John Barnes, September 26, 1815. These
ORLEANS COUNTY. 221
parts were variously subdivided and transferrer], and the lot vs^as deeded as follows:
Seventy-six and one-half acres to Anthony Tripp, April 2, 1830; 56 acres to William
Chase, August 31, 1833; 49t} acres to Warren Chase, August 31, 1833; 50 acres to
James Gibbs. September 6. 1833 ; 50 acres to Zophar Willard, October 11, 1833 ; 50+
acres to Julius Coy, November 23, 1833; 15 acres to William Wright, December 6,
1833; and 50 acres to Arthur Barnes, June 1, 1834.
The east part, 150 acres, of lot 18 was articled to Jonathan Rich, September 26,
1815. The northwest 50 acres of this was transferred to Dyer F. Wickham, and was
deeded to him June 25, 1829. Sixty acres were transferred to Dyer F. Wickham, and
were deeded to him June 25, 1829. Sixty acres were transferred to Lyman Burley,
and were deeded to him October 28, 1833. Forty acres were transferred to Anthony
Johnson, and were deeded to him November 22, 1834. The middle part, 100 acres, of
lot 18 was taken up by Enoch Hyatt, May 1, 1816, and on the 31st of October, 1831,
the south 50 acres of this part were deeded to him. The north portion, 50 acres, of
this part was finally deeded, along with the north portion of the west part of the lot to
Lyman 0. Patterson, October 14, 1833. Isaac Rockwell took up the west part of lot 18,
and after some subdivisions and transfers it was deeded ; a portion to him, 50 acres to
Phineas Briggs, November 23, 1833, and 35 acres to Elizabeth Barnes, December 6,
1833.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 19 was articled to Hiram Johnson, May 1, 1816.
March 7, 1825, the east half of this was transferred to Aaron Fuller, and was deeded
to him January 6, 1834. The west half was transferred to Cyrus Angell, March 7,
1825, and was deeded to him June 1, 1834. Christopher Crandall took up the north
part, 141|- acres, of lot 19, May 1, 1816. Of this the west 911-2 acres were deeded to
him April 1, 1831. The east 50 acres were deeded to Francis B. Tanner, September 9,
1828. The north part, 150 acres, of lot 19 was articled to William Yates, April 9, 1816.
The east 100 acres of this were transferred to Samuel N. Tanner, April 14, 1824, and
were deeded to him January 3, 1825. The west 50 acres were transferred to Benja-
min Green April 14, 1824, and were deeded to him September 29, 1827.
The west part, 164 acres, of lot 32, town 14, range 1, was taken up by James Healy
March 18, 1816, and deeded to Thoda Garret November 19, 1833. The east part, 100
acres, of lot 32 was taken up by Abraham Matteson November 16, 1816. One-half was
articled to Horace Fitch October 1, 1829, and the remaining 50 acres to Reuben Pierce,
November 16, 1829. The east half was deeded to Henry Ingals September 14, 1835,
The middle portion, 114 acres, of lot 32 was articled to Jacob Howe April 12. 1818.
and again articled in parcels to Horace Fitch and to George Dorrance January 26,
1829. It was deeded to Horace Fitch January 6, 1834.
October 6, 1815, John Jones purchased by article the east part, 105 acres, of lot 25,
town 15, range 1 ; July 13, 1824, the north half of this was articled to Curtis &
Sprague April 13, 1830, a part of this north portion was transferred to Ezra S. Curtis,
then to Isaac Pope, and on the 13th of November, 1833, it was deeded to Nathaniel
Root. Another parcel of this north portion was transferred to Vine Sprague April 30,
1830. and was deeded to him November 18, 1833. The south portion of this east part
was deeded to Anthony Tripp July 13, 1824. The west part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was
222 LANDMARKS OF
taken up by Charles Crittenden August 24, 1815, and was deeded to Solomon Hartwell
July 22, 1823. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was articled to Peter Robinson
August 24, 1815. It was transferred to Solomon Hartwell November 5, 1823, and the
north 50 acres of it were deeded to him December 14, 1832. The south 50 acres were
transferred to William Hartwell December 3, 1827, and were deeded to him June 10,
1833.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 26 was articled to William McAllister December 21,
1810. It was transferred to Orrin White November 21, 1822, and the west portion, 50
acres, of it to Robert Caswell October 6, 1828. This portion was deeded to Mr. Cas-
well June 6, 1834. The east 50 acres of this north part were transferred to Jonathan
Hitchcock October 6, 1828, and were deeded to Samuel N. Tanner November 27, 1833.
The middle part, 105 acres, of lot 26 was articled to Lewis Hawlev July 18, 1816. It
was deeded to Philetus Bumpus June 30, 1829. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 26
was taken up by Jonathan Biown October 7, 1816. The west portion, 50 acres, of
this was transferred to Philetus Bumpus June 30, 1829, and was deeded to Robert Cas-
well June 1, 1834. Twenty-five acres of the east half of this tract were transferred to
Isaac Pope October 2, 1830, and deeded to Nathan Root November 13, 1833. The
other twenty -five acres of this east half were transferred to Seneca Barnes October 30,
1830, and deeded to Phineas Briggs November 23, 1833.
The south half, 151 acres, of lot 27, was taken up October 16, 1810, by Abishai
Annable. The east portion, 101 acres, of this half was transferred to Eleazer Risley
October 17, 1820, and was deeded to him October 5, 1826. The west portion, 50 acres,
was transferred to S. and B. Hudson October 17, 1820, and was deeded to Samuel B.
Hall August 3, 1826. The north half of lot 27, 151 acres, was articled to Anderson
Rowland May 30, 1815, and June 12, 1815; was transferred to Oliver Brown Novem-
ber 15, 1825, and was deeded to him December 21, 1829.
The north part of lot 40, town 14, range 1, was taken up by Oliver Benton Novem-
ber 2, 1812. Mr. Benton's deeds for this were dated May 28, 1814, and August 12, 1826.
Thomas Langley purchased bv article 54 acres of lot 40 September 16, 1815. The land was
articled to Joseph H. Brown March 24, 1825, and deeded to him November 23, 1827.
The south part of lot 40, 100 acres, was taken up by Philip Bonesteel October 16, 1815.
It was deeded to John W. Holland September 1, 1824.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 33, town 15, range 1, was taken up by Anthony
Tripp, October 19, 1811, and was deeded to him September, 16, 1819. Nathan Whit-
ney purchased by article the middle part, 160 acres, of lot 33, October 27. 1813. It
was deeded to Jonathan Whitney February 19, 1822. Jacob Young purchased by
deed the north part, 100 acres, of lot 33, June 7, 1813. Joseph Hart took up lot 34,
358 acres, November 11, 1811. It was deeded to him November 12, 1819.
Lot 35, 358^ acres, was articled to William McAllister, December 11, 1811. De-
cember 3, 1819. 266-J acres, the north and east part, were deeded to William and the
southeast part to Joel Bradner.
The north part, 120 acres, of lot 8, town 14, range 2, was taken up by Eleazer West,
October 29, 1813. August 11, 1825, the west portion, 80 acres, of this north part
was articled to James Storms, to whom it was deeded December 9, 1833. August 11,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 223
1825, the east portion, 40 acres, of this north part was articled to Andrew Rawson, and
was deeded to him March 31, 1829. The middle part, 125 acres, of lot 8, was taken
up by John Doak, May 21, 1815. It was articled to Andrew Rawson August 11,
1825, and was deeded to Alvah Lewis October 12, 1835. The south part, 120 acres, of
lot 8, was taken up by Bela Benton, May 29, 1815. The west portion, 60 acres, of
this was articled to Clara Munsee. August 9, 1826, to Alvah Lewis, December 3, 1828,
and to Sherman Wells, November 15, 1824. It was deeded to him, with a part of lot
7, November 12, 1836. The east portion, 60 acres, of this south part, was articled to
Angell Paine August 9, 1826, and was deeded to him March 1, 1835.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 1, town 15, range 2, was taken up by Oliver Ben-
ton June 12, 1812. The east 50 acres of this part were articled to James Brisban June
13, 1823, and the west 50 acres to ^Bela Benton June 13, 1823. The last was trans-
ferred to John Mervin, September 13, 1826, and was deeded to him March 12, 1828.
Of the east portion, 20 acres were deeded to Eldridge Hubbard, September 24, 1835,
and 30 acres to William H. Smith, December 10, 1835. The middle part, 100 acres, of
lot 1, was articled to Reuben Darrow March 20, 1813, and deeded to him March 9, 1824.
The north part of lot 1, and south part of lot 2, 303 acres, was articled to Nathan Whit-
ney, jr., November 23, 1813, and was deeded to him November 23, 1815.
The middle part, 110 acres, of lot 2, was articled to Frederick Holsenburg April 20,
1812, and was deeded, April 21, 1820, to Ebenezer Rogers. Silas Benton took up the
north part, 110 acres, of lot 2, April 20, 1812. It was deeded to John Bradner April
21, 1820.
The south part, 200 acres, of lot 3, was taken up by Elijah Darrow, April 20, 1812.
The south half of this was deeded to Horace Bishop, April 21, 1820. The north half
was deeded to John Hortsbarger, April 21, 1820. The north half of lot 3 was articled
to Jesse Bumpus August 12, 1815. The article was renewed to Philetus Bumpus,
August 13, 1823, and the land was deeded to Roswell Burrows October 11, 1825.
Gregory Storms took up the east part, 120 acres, of lot 16, town 14, range 2, No-
vember 21, 1814. The north portion, 94 acres, of this was deeded to John H. Tyler
and others, supervisors of the towns in Orleans county, November 28, 1833, The south
portion, 28 acres, was articled to Nehemiah Ingersoll. December 7, 1833, and deeded to
Norman Ward November 17, 1836. The middle portion, 121| acres, of lot 16, was
articled to Selah Belding, November 11, 1814. It was transferred to Asa Paine, No-
vember 26, 1822, and was deeded to him May 3, 1831. The west part, 122 acres, of
lot 16, was articled to Christopher Paine, November 26, 1822, and 96^ acres were
deeded to him November 9, 1833. The balance had been deeded to him May 25, 1832.
The west part, 117 acres, of lot 9, town 15, range 2, was articled to Windsor Paine
November 6, 1815. The south 60 acres of this were transferred to Jonathan Sheldon
November 7, 1823, and were deeded to him July 5, 1836. The north 57 acres were
transferred to John J. Brown November 7, 1823, and 50 acres of this to Richard Strat-
ton September 13, 1828. Forty- five acres were deeded to Ebenezer Rogers Novem-
ber 12, 1834. Seven acres were deeded to Christopher Benjamin September 13, 1828,
and five acres to the same party November 11, 1834. The east and middle parts, 238
acres, of lot 9, were articled to Samuel Goodrich June 3, 1815. One half of this tract
224 LANDMARKS OF
was deeded to John Melvin September 23, 1836, and the other half to Orrin Crane Oc-
tober 14, 1833.
The east part, 150 acres, of lot 10, was articled to Bardwell Farr March 10, 1815.
Seventy-five acres of this were transferred to Thomas Hebard May 10, 1823, and deed-
ed to him August 30, 1830. The middle part, 103^ acres, of lot 10, was taken up by
Eddy B. Paine July 26, 1815. Fifty-six and one-half acres of this were deeded to
Lansing Bailey June 8, 1833, and 47 acres to George Howland September 3, 1833. The
west part of lot 10, 100 acres, was articled to Isaac Leland June 27, 1823, and deeded
to him July 31, 1826.
The south part, 11 acres, of lot 11, was taken up by Stephen Abbott August 26,
1814, and deeded to Caleb C. Thurston August 24, 1821. The south middle part, 60
acres, of lot 11, was articled to Elijah Devereaux December 10, 1814, and deeded to
Lansing Bailey December 14, 1821. The north middle part of lot 11 was articled to
James St. Clair August 31, 1815, and deeded to him June 11, 1834. The north part,
77 acres, of lot 11, was deeded to Lansing Bailey April 22, 1823.
The west part, 200 acres, of lot 24, town 14, range 2, was taken up by William Gill
May 2, 1815. April 29, 1825, 100 acres of this were articled to Adonijah Bond, jr., and
of this last 50 acres were transferred to Caleb Sailesbury September 8, 1828. This
50 acres was deeded in parts to Hugh McCurdy February 21, 1833, and to Gideon Hard
February 25, 1833. The other 50 acres was deeded to Adonijah Bond, jr, November
13, 1833. April 29, 1825, 100 acres were transferred to Isaac Mason, and after several
transfers this portion and the balunce of lot 24 were deeded as follows: 70 acres to Ste-
phen A. Knapp January 10, 1832; 76 acres to Jesse Mason February 15, 1833; 30
acres to Jonathan D. Sheldon December 18, 1835; 50 acres to Isaac Clark February 15,
1833 ; 19i acres to ElishaD. Brown February 15, 1833, and 5 acres to Elijah P. Sill Feb-
ruary 15, 1833.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 17, town 15, range 2, was taken up by Truman Mason
October 11, 1815, and 100 acres were deeded to him January 7, 1829. Fifty acres were
transferred to Asa Parker March 5, 1824, and were deeded to Isaac Parker June 1,
1833. The south and middle part of lot 17 was articled to Jesse Mason October 1,
1815. October 15, 1823, 129 acres of this were transferred to Nathaniel Brooks, and
February 14, 1829, to David and Stephen Knapp. This parcel was deeded to David
Knapp September 7, 1832. October 15, 1823, 50 acres were articled to Artemas Love-
land, and were deeded to him October 29, 1825. October 15, 1823, 78 acres of the same
were articled to Crosby Maxwell, and this portion was deeded as follows; 28 acres to
Edward Dunham November 10, 1831, and 50 acres to Crosby Maxwell August 1, 1833.
The east part, 150 acres, of lot 18, was articled to Eddy B. Paine September 12,
1815. September ] 1, 1823, it was deeded to Thomas Parker. The west part, 88 acres,
of lot 18, was articled to Enos Rice June 7, 1816. It was transferred to Asa Parker
February 11, 1825, to Youngs A. Brown November 1, 1830, and was deeded to Thomas
Parker June 1, 1833.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 19, was deeded to the trustees of the First Congre-
gational Society of the town of Barre, March 8, 1822. The middle part of lot 19, 153
acres, was taken up by Thomas Witt, and John Shirley, February 27, 1822. October
ORLEANS COUNTY. 225
16, 1830, 76i acres of tliis were transferred to Thomas Witt, and were deeded to O.
and A. N. Ropers, June 1, 1834. Seventy-six and one-half acres of the siirne were
arti'Med to Azariah Loveland October IG, 1830, and deeded to Sleiihen B.Thurston
November 25, 1833. The north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 19, was articled to Jo^eph
Carr, February 22, 1822. It was transferred to Stephen Sanderson June 24, 1831, and
deeded to Davis Bailey April 10, 1835. The south part, 50 acres, of lot 19, was taken
up by Alfred Denn, February 27, 1822, and transferred to Artemus Loveland, October
IG, 1830. It was deeded to him January 7, 1834.
Lot 32, town 14, range 2, 240 acres, was purchased June 24, 1815, by Nathan Com-
stock. July 31, 1815, the article was cancelled by mutual consent, and on the same
day the lot was articled to Daniel C. Miller. October 22, 1830, 70 acres of this were
transferred to Abiathar Mix, and June 1, 1834, to Charles and David Mix; and Sep-
tember 24, 1829, 120 acres were articled to David Dunham and Cyrus Houghton. The
lot was deeded as follows: Sixty acres to Edward Dunham, ]r., February 15, 1833;
GO acres to Obadiah Luce, October 5, 1835 ; and 145 acres (including a part of lot 31)
to Charles and David Mix, June 1, 1834.
The south part, 172 acres, of lot 25, town 15, range 2, was articled to Nathan Comstock
June 24, 1816, but the article was cancelled by mutual agreement. It was again arti-
cled to David C. Miller, July 31, 1816. May 22, 1828, 70 acres were transferred to
Anson Mason, and were deeded to Gideon Hard February 25, 1833. October 28, 1831,
85i acres were transferred to Artemus Chase, and were deeded to him and Walter
Sherwood November 2, 1832. December 27, 1833. 16^ acres were deeded to Abiathar
Mix. The middle of the north part of lot 25, 100 acres, was articled to Lemuel Willard
November 15, 1815. September 27, 1825, 50 acres of this were transferred to Luther
Parmly, and November 25, 1833, to Urban Thurston, to whom they were deeded No-
vember 25, 1833. November 25, 1825, 50 acres of the same were articled to Horace B.
Hibbard, and May 11, 1829, to Daniel Prout, to whom they were deeded October 7,
1833. November 15, 1815, the northeast part, 120 acres, of lot 25, was sold by article
to Caleb C. Thurston. November 15, 1823, 64 acres of this were transferred to William
Thurston, and were deeded to Lydia Thurston and others, February 12, 1829. No-
vember 15, 1823, 56 acres of the same were transferred to Scott Parker, and December
6, 1833, to Rufus Reed, to whom they were deeded December, 6, 1833. The west
middle of the north part of lot 25, 100 acres, was articled to Lemuel Willard, April 9.
1816, and 50 acres of this were transferred to David Wescott, June 2, 1828. They
were deeded to him November 1, 1833 ; fifty acres were transferred to David Williams,
1829, and were deeded to Leonard and Houghton Warner December 1. 1838. The
northwest part, 107 acres, of lot 25, was articled to Silas Williams April 11, 1816. De-
cember 3 1827, 67 acres of this were transferred to Leonard Warner, and September 2,
1833, to Leonard and Houghton Warner, to whom they were deeded, with 25 acres
more, September 2, 1833. Forty acres of the same were transferred to Samuel Bailey
December 3, 1827, and to Daniel Parker December 2, 1833. This land was deeded to
him July 9, 1832.
The south middle part, 100 acres, of lot 26, was taken up by Asa Kelley, May 5,
1816. November 29, 1834, it was articled to George C. Davis, and February 13, 1829,
22G LANDxMARKS Of
to Jonathan Delano and others. It was deeded to Elijah Darrow. The north part, 122
acres, of lot 26, was articled to Israel Hale, April 13, 1816. It was deeded to Asahel
Fitch February 20, 1821. The north middle part of lot 26 was sold by article to Levi
Hall, April 13, 1816. It was transferred to Arnold Pain February 27, 1828, and deeded
to Archibald Daniels December 19, 183^. Sixty acres of lot 26 were articled to Henry
S. Allen June 18, 1816, and transferred to William S. Flint June 17, 1825. They were
deeded to him December 12, 1835. The south part, 70 acres, of lot 26 was taken up
by William Sherwood November 29, 1819. February 12, 1829, it was articled to Elihu
Mosher, to whom it was deeded June 17, 1833.
The east part, 124 acres, of lot 40, town 14, range 2, was sold by article to Joshua
Porter, December 7, 1815, and the article was renewed to Allen Porter, December 6,
1823, and to Elkanah Porter, December 4, 1827. It was deeded to the latter Novem-
ber 29, 1833. The west part, 205 acres, of lot 40 was articled to Joseph Rockwood,
December 7, 1815. December 8, 1823, 102 1-2 acres were transferred to Stephen Por-
ter, and were deeded to his heirs November 19, 1834. December 8, 1823, 102^ acres
were transferred to Elisha Lazenby, to whom they were deeded November 20, 1832.
The west part of lot 33, town 15, range 2, 95 acres, was articled to John Rose, Feb-
ruary 3, 1817, ard was deeded to William Sherwood, January 1, 1828. The east and
middle part, 170 acres, of lot 33 was taken up by Joshua Porter, December 7, 1815, and
was. deeded to Elkanah Porter, December 6, 1823.
Silas Williams purchased by article. May 25, 1816, 80 acres of the west middle part
of lot 34, and the land was transferred May 26, 1824, to Jarvis M. Skinner, and was
deeded to him, May 10, 1832. The east part, 200 acres, of lot 34 was articled to Almon
A. Sweeting and Alexander Terrell, January 4, 1816. March 6, 1824, 63 acres of this
were articled to Silas Williams, and December 20, 1827, to Aaron Phipps, to whom they
were deeded, November 9, 1833. March 6, 1824, 77 acres were articled to Elijah Warner,
and were deeded to him November 29, 1831. March 6, 1824, 60 acres were articled to
Jonathan Delano, jr., and were transferred to Michael C. Atwell, January 12, 1831.
The land was deeded to Daniel R. Daniels, December 19, 1834. The middle part, 100
acres, of lot 34 was articled to Silas Williams, April 22, 1816, and transferred to Har-
vey Mosher, May 9, 1825. It was deeded to him February 9, 1830. The west part, 78
acres, of lot 34 was taken up by Windsor Pame, October 18, 1819. October 17, 1827, it
was deeded to Jarvis M. Skinner.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 35 was articled to Horace Rood, October 6, 1815.
Fifty acres of this was transferred to Edward Durfee, October 6, 1824, to Charles Car-
penter, January 31, 1829, and to Amos A. Samson, December 23, 1833. He received
his deed December 22, 1836. October 6, 1824, 50 acres of the same were transferred to
Ezra B. Delano, and December 23, 1830, to Norton Briggs. The west part. 100 acres,
of lot 35 was articled to Durfey Delano, April 3, 1816, and was deeded to him December
16, 1831. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 35 was taken up by Avery M. Stark-
weather, April 3, 1816, and was deeded to him November 28, 1823. The east middle
part of lot 35, 57 acres, was articled to John Granger, April 24, 1816, and to Norton
Briggs, June 8, 1824. Twenty- five acres of this were deeded to Avery M. Stark-
weather, May 19, 1830. The balance, with 50 acres more, was deeded to Daniel R.
Daniels, July 16, 1833.
ORLEANS C0UNT7. 227
The west part of lot 48, and the east part of lot 56, town 14, range 2, 100 acres, were
articled to Joseph Stoddard. July 6, 1815. The article was renewed to William H.
Bigelow, May 26, 1823, and to James Ferguson, December 30, 1830. The tract was
deeded to the latter June 1, 1834. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 48 was taken up
by Joseph Stoddard, July 6, 1815. The land was divided and transferred, and was
deeded, 50 acres to Henry Jewell Wirt, December 29, 1829, 25 acres to the same, June 1,
1834, and 25 acres to James Ferguson, June 1, 1834. The east part, 231 acres, of lot
48 was taken up by Wdliam Hutchinson, September 20, 1816. Fifty-eight acres of
this were transferred to Henry R. Loomis, September 21, 1824, and deeded to him, Sep-
tember 2, 1833. Fifty acres were transferred to Russell Loomis, September 21, 1824,
to Eh'za Hart, December 30, 1830, and deeded to Walter Holmes, June 1, 1834. One
hundred and fifteen acres were transferred to James Hutchinson, September 1, 1824,
and 00 acres were deeded to him, January 10, 1833. Fifty-five acres were deeded to
John Church, December 24, 1833.
Lot 41, town 15, range 2, after being variously divided and subdivided and transferred
was deeded as follows: The north part, 4:7^ acres, to David Carr ; the north middle
part, 50 acres, to Henry Root, December 17, 1833 , the middle part, in two parcels of
50 acres each, to William Breed, and Sally Raymour, both November 16, 1833; the
southwest part, 86i acres, to Elizur Hayes December 19, 1832 ; the southeast part, 50
acres, to Enos Rice October 7, 1835, and 11 acres to Enos Rice December 3, 1833.
Lot 42 was deeded: Tue northeast part, 56 acres, to Jotham Moore May 15, 1835 ;
50 acres east and south from that part to Joshua Ferris May 15, 1835 ; 50 acres next south
from Amos S. Sampson January 1, 1835 ; 51 acres, southeast part, to Joseph Hart Janu-
22, 1834; 25 acres, northwest part, to Jonathan Clark June 4, 1833; 50 acres, next
south, to Caleb Case January 9, 1834; 58 acres, south middle of the west part, to
Benjamin F. Foot November 11, 1836; and 50 acres southwest part, to William Foot
September 1, 1835.
The northwest part, 75 acres, of lot 43 was articled to Reuben Clark June 2, 1819.
It was deeded to Luke Hitchcock October 12, 1824. The southwest part. 75 acres, of
lot 43 was taken up by Zenas Lowry June 17, 1811. It was articled to Benjamin F.
Foot June 18, 1819, and was deeded to him June 18, 1819. The middle part, 70
acres, was articled to Philip Davenport December 11, 1815, and again to Asher Free-
man January 24, 1827. It was deeded to Stephen and John Case January 25, 1833.
The east part, 140 acres, of lot 43, was deeded to Robert Allen November 26, 1823.
Jason Brundage took up the west part, 200 acres, of lot 56, town 11, range 2, April
28, 1815. Of this 86 acres were deeded to Warner Perkins April 10, 1834, and 14
acres to William Willets December 14, 1835. One hundred acres were articled to
Ehzur Coon June 12, 1823, and were deeded to him December 31, 1837. Thomas
Bennett took up the east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 56, July 1, 1815, and received
his deed June 1, 1834. The east part of lot 56, with the west part of lot 48, was
deeded to James Ferguson June 1, 1834.
The northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 49 was taken up by Joshua Ferris January 8,
1816. March 14, 1825, 50 acres of this were articled to Joseph Root, and were
deeded to him March 12, 1829. March 14, 1825, 50 acres of the same were articled to
228 LANDMARKS OF
Levi Root, and were deeded to him March 12, 1829. The southeast part, 100 acres, of
lot 49 was articled to Jonathan Ferris, jr., January 8, 181G. It was transferred to
Samuel B. Perkins December 24, 1827, and was deeded to him December 31. 1833.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 49 was taken up by Joshua Bailey Match 12, 181G
The north portion, 64 acres, of this was deeded to John M. Ferris September 19, 1832.
The south portion, 3G acres, was deeded to William E. Cook December 1, 1827. The
west part, 113 acres, of lot 49 was deeded : The north 88 acres to Jonathan Ferris, and
south 25 acres to Jonathan Morse, both May 14, 1824.
The north part, 50 acres, of lot 50 was articled to Elijah Shaw August 1, 1816. and
was deeded to Jonathan Clark March 3, 1823. The middle part, 200 acres, of lot 50
was taken up by Elijah Shaw August 1, 1816. November 17, 1827, 50 acres of this
were articled to David Foot, and January 20, 1834, deeded to Josiah Shaw. The
balance, 150 acres, was deeded to Elijah Shaw November 19, 1833. The south part, 80
acres, of lot 50 was articled to Joseph Root February 29, 1820, and was deeded to
him December 29. 1835. The south middle part, 62 acres, of lot 50 was taken up by
Gideon Freeman December 13, 1819. It was articled to Cyrus Stewart January 13,
1830, and was deeded to James Butts May 15, 1835.
Lot 51, 249 acres, was taken up by Gideon Freeman December 18, 1811. April 19
1811. 90 acres of this were articled to William Stoddard. October 12, 1824, the middle
part of the lot. 145^ acres, was deeded to Luke Hitchcock. April 19, 1819, 55+ acres
of this lot were articlt d to Michael Atwell, and May 6, 1828, to Obadiah Luce. This
land was deeded to Luke Hitchcock November 4, 1830. April 19, 1819, 48 acres of
lot 51 were articled to Jonathan Clark, and were deeded to him March 3, 1823.
The west part, 179i acres, of lot 64, town 14, range 2, was articled to Elihu Church
June 13, 1815. Of this part 50 acres were articled to Robert McK. Burns June 14,
1823, and to Joshua Ferris December 24, 1827. Forty-eight acres were transferred to
Roswell Burton June 14, 1823. Eighty-one and one-half acres of the same were
articled to Thomas S. Hill June 14, 1823. The lot was deeded: 75 acres to Alpheus
French September 1, 1830; 27 acres to William Willetts September 1, 1830; 50i acres
to John Stevens October 27, 1831; 98 acres to George Taylor May 8. 1832; and 25
acres to John Stevens February 20, 1833.
Not only is the area of the town of Albion, outside of the village, less
than that of any other town in the county, but it immediately surrounds
the village corporation and for this reason the territory has been kept
largely in the condition of a suburban district. Its history, therefore,
compared with that of other towns, is meager.
It will be observed from the foregoing list of grantees that the first
article for land in what is now the town of Albion was recorded
December 21, 1810, and conveyed to William McAllister the north 100
acres of lot 26. township 15, range one. In 1822 the east 50 acres of
this were transferred to Orrin White and in 1828, the west 50 acres to
ORLEANS COUNTY. 229
Robert Caswell. The first deed given by the Holland Land Company,
in this town was given to Jacob Young, by original purchase, June 7,
1813, for the north 100 acres of lot 33, township 15, range one, on the
east side of the Oak Orchard Road about one and one-half miles
south from Albion village. Mr. McAllister also took an article for
358^ acres of lot 35, township 15, range one, December 11. 181 1, and
the same day Joseph Hart took up 358 acres of lot 34. William
McAllister evidently settled here in the year 181 1 and became the first
permanent white settler in the town. He made the first clearing in
the village of Albion and built the first house, a log structure, in the
township, and in that rude cabin his wife died in 181 2, which was prob-
ably the first death of a white person in the town. No clergyman was
present to conduct the funeral obsequies and no coffin could be obtained
in which to encase the remains. A substitute for the latter was impro-
vised by splitting and hewing out a few rough planks and fastening
them together with wooden pins. A few other articles for land were
taken out in 181 1 and 1812, and it is presumed that the purchasers
settled upon their grants, but the war which broke out in the latter
year, caused the westward tide of immigration to cease temporarily.
The proximity of this section to the scenes of depredation and battles,
rendered actual settlement very precarious, yet those who had come,
braved the uncertainties of the frontier, and as soon as the war ceased,
settlers began to arrive in large numbers. The famous ridge guided
them into the vicinity, whence they turned to the southward into this
town over the Oak Orchard road, which the Holland Land Company
had caused to be surveyed as early as 1803 as far as the forks below
Barre Center, mainly over an old Lidian trail, but which, when they
came, had become so thickly covered with an undergrowth that it was
almost impassable. By the year 1819 nearly all the land in town had
been articled cr deeded. Improvements were rapidly prosecuted and
the wilderness quickly blossomed into productive farms and comfortable
homes.
Up to the time when the Erie Canal was constructed no villages had
come into existence in what is now the town of Albion. What were
thought to be the nuclei of two had been established. In 18 18 Abiathar
Mix commenced the business of making potash at Porter's Corners, in
230 LANDMARKS OF
the u'estern part of the town. He also opened a store for the sale of
dry goods and groceries, and a tavern for the entertainment of way-
farers. His brother, Ebenezer Mix, a clerk in the land office at Batavia,
furnished a part of the capital for these enterprises. This was the
pioneer store and the first ashery in the town; and people living where
the village of Albion now is went there to purchase goods. The pio-
neer saw mill was built by Dr. William White, in i8i6, on lot 26,
southeast from the village, on the east branch of Sandy Creek About
1824 a grist mill was built at the same place by a Mr. Caswell. These
were subsequetly destroyed by fire, and in their place a Mr. Collins
erected a stone building for a grist mill. No machinery was ever put
in this structure and it has gone to ruin. A tannery and shoe shop
were established just north from Porter's Corners about 18 19 by Will-
iam Sherwood, and quite a business in both branches was carried on
for some years. The canal, and the location of the county seat, gave
the death blow to the prospects of a city here, and no trace of these
places of business now remains. The store and ashery have gone to
ruin, and the tannery buildings have been removed. Two saw mills
were built just north of this place, on Otter Creek, which runs by it,
but both have long since been demolished, and the stream since the
clearing away of the forest has dwindled to a brook. In 1819 Orris H.
Gardner established a store at Benton's Corners, and continued the
mercantile business there till he changed his location to Albion, when
that village sprang up. In 181 5 Abram Mattison opened a tavern on
the west side of the Oak Orchard road, about one-fourth of a mile north
from the " Poorhouse road." It was a double log house floored with
'' puncheons." At this primitive hostelry early settlers were entertained
as they journeyed from the Ridge road to their future homes in the
wilderness, and here, after the organization of the town of Barre, town
meetings were held. Here, on the Fourth of July, 18 19, the first ball in
this region was held. Probably all of the company present on that occa-
sion have passed away. This was the first tavern in town. Afterward
another was kept at Benton's Corners by Oliver Benton, who was born
in Ashfield, Mass., in 1791, and died in 1848. He came to Barre (now
Albion) in 1812 and took up a large tract of land at what is still known
as Benton's Corners, where he ever afterward resided. After some
ORLEANS COUNTY. 231
years he built a large and commodious house and for a long time kept
a tavern, at which town meetings, balls, and other gatherings were held.
He was the first postmaster in the old town of Barre and held the office
many years. He was the second sheriff of the county and served three
years.
William Bradner came from Palmyra, N. Y., to Gaines, and soon
afterward purchased from William McAllister his article for a part of
lot 35 on the east side of Main street in Albion. On the 3d of
November 18 19, the Holland Land Company deeded 266^ acres of
this lot to him, and 92 acres of the southwest corner of the lot to Joel
Bradner. In 1822 William Bradner sold 100 acres of the northwest
part of his tract to Ingersoll, Smith & Bucklen.
Anthony Tripp was a native of Rhode Island. In his childhood he
went with his parents to Columbia county, N. Y., where he remained
till adult age and married. He went thence to Delaware county
and in 181 1 came to Orleans county and purchased one hundred
acres of land two miles south of the village. His was the sec-
ond article for land in the town of Albion. By reason of the war
he did not at once occupy his land. In 1817 liis eldest son built
a log house there, and in 1824 Mr. Tripp moved his family to the place,
where he remained till his death. His wife was Mary Brown. Their
children were : Samuel, Tabitha (Mrs. Sylvester Patterson) ; Stephen
R,, who married Ruth Mott ; Anthony, Alvah, who married Jane H.
Blakeley ; Mary (Mrs. Psalter S. Mason); and Almeron, who married
Sylvia Bruno. The wife of Alvah was killed in 1866 by the fall of a
chimney through the roof of a store where she was trading.
Joseph Hart came to Albion in the fall of 1811 and purchased by
article, on December 1 1, a part of lot 34. In 1812 he moved his fam-
ily hither and remained during the war of 18 12, in which he was several
times called out to do military service. He was a very prominent man
in the new settlement. At his barn the First Congregational Church of
Barre was organized and services held there for some time. Subsequently
he was largely influential in the organization of the Presbyterian Church
of Albion, in which he was long a ruling elder. He became very
wealthy. His son, Elizur Hart, became a constable at the age of
twenty, and while performing the duties of that ofifice judiciously in-
232 LANDMARKS OF
vested $500 of his own money and a like sum belonging to his brother
William. By shrewdness and remarkable business tact he accumulated
considerable property, and in i860, in partnership with Joseph M.
Cornell, he founded the Orleans County Bank, which five years later
became the Orleans County National Bank, of which he was president
until his death. He left a large fortune, and in his will bequeathed to
the Presbyterian Church in Albion for a church edifice the munificent
sum of $50,000. and $5,000 for a Sunday-school fund. His son, E.
Kirke Hart, succeeded him as president of the bank and held the posi-
tion until his death, when his son, Charles E. Hart, the present incum-
bent, became the chief executive officer.
Stephen B. Thurston was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1808. In
the spring of i8i4he removed with his father, Caleb Thurston, to
what is now the town of Albion. In 1830 he purchased seventy-six
acres of lot nineteen, about a mile and a half west from the village, and
resided there till 1865, when he removed to Albion. His wife, to whom
he was married in 1832, was Julianna Williams, who was born in Ot-
sego county, N. Y., in 18 12.
Lansing Bailey, a native of Rensselaer county, N. Y. , at the age of
seven removed with his father's family to Whitestown, N. Y. In 1809
he married Loda Parmelee, and in the autumn of 181 1 came on foot to
Orleans county, and purchased by article 250 acres on lot 12, range 2,
a mile west from Albion, and soon returned home. In February, 1812,
with his wife and child, and his brother, he came to settle on his pur-
chase. They came on a sled drawn by two yoke of oxen, and they
drove five other cattle. They lived in a shanty on their farm till the
fall 18 1 2, when they built a rude log house, cut a road to the ridge,
where Mrs. Bailey had staid with a relative, and moved the family to
the farm. The next winter their stock were kept on browse. In the
fall of 1813 Mr Bailey was one of the Election Board. The polls were
opened at four places, several miles distant from each other, and the
board traveled from one to another on foot. There was not then a
horse in the town His first children — a pair of twins — were cradled in
the half of a hollow log. In August, 18 13, his wife and brother died,
and some two years later he was married to MiiS Sylvia Pratt, of
Whitestown. During the war of 18 12 the few settlers in this county
ORLEANS COUNTY. 233
were often alarmed by the reports of the approach of hostile parties,
and on two or three occasions Mr. Bailey went out with a mihtary com-
pany, on one of which occasions he was out a month. By industry and
frugality Mr. Bailey acquired a competence. Of his twelve chil-
dren nine lived to adult age. He was a prominent and influential man,
and was ten times chosen supervisor of Barre. Many years before his
death he sold the land where he first settled, which was in Gaines, and
purchased the northeast part of lot lo, near the village of Albion,
where he died in 1866.
Gideon Freeman was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1787. In
1799 he went with his father to Cayuga county, and in 1812 came to
Albion and settled in the northwest part of the town. He was the first
settler there, and the place was called from him the Freeman Settle-
ment. He removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he died in 1832. His
son, Chester Freeman, was born in Cayuga county in 1807, ^"^ came
to Orleans county with his father in 18 12. During most of his life he
resided on lot 31, 2d range, in Barre.
Nathan .Paine, the father of Stephen (the first settler in Barre),
Nathan, Samuel, Christopher and Asa, was a resident of Rhode Island,
where his sons were born. He removed with his family to Richfield,
N. Y., whence, after some migrations, they came to Orleans county.
Asa Paine was noted for his ready wit Samuel finally moved to
Yates, where he died.
Elijah Shaw, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1787, came to Or-
leans county in 18 12, but returned to Cayuga county, and was drafted
in the war of 1812-15, in which he served until its close. In 181 5 he
settled permanently in Albion, on lot 50, in the west part of the town,
where he died.
Nathan Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1791, came to Or-
leans county in 1813, and took up a part of lot 33, one mile south from
Albion. In 18 14 he was at the taking of Fort Erie. He was the first
supervisor of the town of Barre, and held the office of justice of the
peace several years. He was active and efficient citizen, was often
placed in positions of trust, and always discharged his duties faithfully.
In 1827 he removed to Elba, Genesee county, and afterward to Illinois.
234 LANDMARKS OF
Rev. Francis B. Tanner, a Baptist clergyman, came to Orleans county
in 1815, and took an article for 100 acres of lot 29 in Gaines, northeast
from Albion village. He removed to Albion in 18 18, and located on
lot 19, east from the village. He was the first of the Tanner family
that came to the town. After a few years he removed to Chautauqua
county, where he died. His nephew, Samuel N. Tanner, came to Al-
bion in 1 8 19, and purchased a part of lot 19, opposite Mt. Albion
Cemetery, where he died. His father, William Tanner, a shoemaker,
also died here, as did also his grandfather, William Tanner, sr.
Jesse Mason, a native of Cheshire, Mass.. settled on lot 17, range 2,
in Albion, in 18 15, but subsequently removed to Ohio, where he died.
He was an able and energetic man, and public spirited in all social
matters.
Jonathan Clark was born in Rockingham county, N. H., in 1790
At the age of fifteen he went to live with an uncle in Salem, Mass.,
whence, in 1812, he started on a voyage to the East Indies. He had
his share of the experiences of sea life, and reached Salem on his return
January i, 18 16. In July of the same year he started on foot for
Western New York. After reaching Auburn, he rode to Gaines with
Gideon Freeman. He soon purchased the farm on which he afterward
resided, a part of lot 50, in the western part of Albion. On this he
cleared a small area, built a log house and returned to Salem. In that
autumn he was married to Abigail Simonds, a native of Salem, and
they returned to their future home with a span of horses and a wagon,
making the journey in twenty-one days, and arriving January i, 1817.
They had neither table, chairs, nor bedstead, but Mr. Clark made these
" in true genuine pioneer style." Mrs. Clark died in 1824, and he
married, in 1825, Elizabeth Stevens. In the same year they moved
" out of the old home into the new," where they afterward resided.
They became members of the M. E. Church in 1829.
Christopher Crandall came from Truxton, N. Y , in 18 16, and settled
on lot 19, east from Albion. He had then a young but numerous
family, most of whom grew to adult age. One of his daughters died
young, and it is remembered that her coffin was made of a wagon box
cut up for the purpose. Mr. Crandall resided on the farm where he
first settled till 1 840, when he removed to the western part of the town
of Gaines, where he died.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 235
Ebenezer Rogers, a native of Norwich, Conn., was born in 1769.
His wife, also a native of Connecticut, was Betsey Lyman. They re-
moved to Onondaga county, N. Y., in 18 12, and to the place where he
passed the rest of his life, in the south part ot the village of Albion, in
18 16. There were but few settlers in the present town then, and many
who came afterward made their homes with him while building their
cabins, in some instances several miles away. Of a strong physical
constitution, he lived to the great age of ninety- six. He had strong
religious convictions, and was active in the formation of religious so-
cieties of the New England creed, and was one of the constituent mem-
bers of the First Congregational Church of Barre, afterward located at
Barre Center, and subsequently of the First Presbyterian Church of
Albion, of which he was long a ruling elder and a deacon.
Joshua Porter, the father of Allen, Elkanah and Samuel Porter, pur-
chased by article for these sons nearly 300 acres on lot 40, 14th town-
ship, and lot 33, 1 5th township, 2d range, west from the county almshouse
at what was afterward known as Parker's Corners. Samuel died early,
and the land became the property of the other brothers. Allen Porter
served in the War of 1812 under Maj.-Gen. Brown and Col. Peter B.
Porter at Buffalo, and volunteered to assist in the defence of Fort Erie.
He came to Albion in the spring of 1816, and during the remainder of
his life lived on a portion of the land purchased by his father. Stephen
Porter, a brother of Joshua, moved to Chenango county, N. Y , from
New England, about 18 12, with his wife and six children, and one
year later came to Ontario county, whence he removed in the fall of
181 5 to Albion, where he settled on 100 acres of lot 40, range 2, to
which he brought his family in 1820. Luther Porter, second son of
Stephen, was born in Ashfield, Mass., in 1805. He came to the farm
in Albion, which his father purchased, and passed his life there. He
was for five consecutive years supervisor of the town of Barre, and was
twice married. His wives were Miss Lydia Scott, of Ontario county,
and Caroline, daughter of Orange Culver, of Barre. Amos Porter, a
half brother of Joshua and Stephen, was born in Tolland county. Conn.,
in 1788. He was drafted in the War of 18 12, and served a short time.
In 181 5 he married Mary Geary, also of Connecticut, They removed
to Orleans county in 1836, and located on lot 38, three miles west from
Barre Center. There he died in 1866. His wife died in 1868.
236 LANDMARKS OF
Avery M. Starkweather, a native of Connecticut, came to Albion in
i8i6 and located on lot 35, near Eagle Harbor. For thirteen years he
was an assessor in Barre and was supervisor of that town in 1842 and
1843-
Zenas F. Hibbard was of Scotch descent and was born in Scroon,
N. Y., in 1804. His father afterward removed to Brandon, Vt., whence
he came with his family to Albion in July, 1 8 16, and settled on lot 10,
one mile west of the village, where he lived sixteen years, when he
moved to Barre Center, where he died in 1853. Zenas F. Hibbard at-
tended the first school taught in this town where Albion village now
stands. In 1828 he married Amanda Wrisley, in Barre, who was born
in Massachusetts in 1809.
Jacob Annis, a son of Thomas Annis, of New Hampshire, was one
of eighteen children. He was born in New Hampshire in 1790, and
served three months as a teamster in the war of 1812. He came to
Albion in 18 17, and took up 100 acres of lot 10, two and one-half
miles southeast from Albion village. On this, in 18 18, he built a log
house without nails, glass, door, or chimney ; roofed it with bark and
split the plank for a floor. In 18 19 he married Mary Loudon, of Mont-
gomery county, N. Y., and they commenced life together on the farm
where they passed the rest of their lives. Their son, Joshua W. An-
nis. inherited the old homestead where he was born. He married Mary
Hill, of Barre Center. He is now dead.
John Minckley was born on Grand Island, in Lake Champlain, in
1794. In 1817 he came to Orleans county, and in 1819 took an article
for a part of lot 2, on the Transit line, four miles west from Albion.
He afterward purchased other land on the same lot, and resided there
till his death in 1875. In 1820 Mr. Minckley married Miss Amy
Smith, a native of Massachusetts, who died in i860. In 1820 Joel,
Enoch, William and Elijah Minckley came to Albion. Of these the
first remained about fifteen years and went west. Elijah died here in
1829.
Artemas Loveland, born in Massachusetts in 1795, removed to Smith-
field, Madison county, N. Y., where he married Phoebe Paine, who was
born in 1794. In 1817 they came to Albion and settled two miles west
from the village, where they remained till their deaths. He came with
ORLEANS COUNTY. 237
a yoke of oxen and a sled, and on his arrival had $6 in money. He
died in 1888. Azariah Loveland came some time after Artemas, and
at first worked for him. He finally settled in the same neighborhood
and remained during his life. He was twice married ; the last time to
Celestia Wells, of Shelby. They had five sons Mr. Loveland was
drowned in the canal in 1858. Mrs. Loveland died in 1871.
Mrs. Mabel Peck, a widow with six sons, settled in the town of Al-
bion two and a half miles west of the Oak Orchard road in the autumn
of 1 8 18. They lived in a rude cabin, twelve by sixteen feet, during
the first winter. Her elder sons labored to clear their land, and she,
with her spinning wheel and loom, earned the means to gradually im-
prove their buildings and surround her family with such comforts as
could then be procured. She reared her sons to respectable and worthy
manhood.
Nathaniel Braley was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in
1796. In 1802 he removed with his parents to Palmyra, N. Y., where
his father soon afterward died. He resided with married sisters till the
age of six years, when he and his mother resumed housekeeping. In
1 8 19 they returned to their home on what was afterward known as the
Cady place. They built a log house, covered with bark, and which
when first occupied had neither door, \^'indow, nor chimney. Mr. Bra-
ley married Sarah Wickham, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y.,
in 1799, and came to Gaines in 18 16 with her brother, Dyer Wickham,
and her uncles, Daniel and Jonathan Brown. They had ten children,
seven of whom were born in their original log house. These were :
Charlotte, William S., John W.. Alfred, N. Russell, Mrs. Cynthia E.
Packard, J. Duane, Jeanette R., Mrs. Sarah B. Nichols, and Byron B.
Byron B. Braley is now the owner and occupant of the paternal home-
stead. Nathaniel Braley brought with him a quantity of apple seeds,
which he had washed from some pomace at a cider mill, and these fur-
nished many of the pioneers with their first orchards. To his first pur-
chase of eighty acres he added an adjoining lot of fifty acres, and on
this built a frame barn and a substantial brick house. In 1836 he and
Alfred H. Rice purchased the clothiery and saw mill of Smith & Lee.
This afterward became the woolen factory of Braley & Northrup, suc-
ceeded by Braley & Sons, and latterly the grist mill of Robert Van
238 LANDMARKS OF
Stone. In 1837, by an exchange with Palmer Cady, Mr. Braley be-
came the owner of what had been the Crandall farm, on which he re-
sided till his death in 1880. There also his mother died in 1841, at the
age of eighty seven, and his wife in 1870.
Joseph Root, a native of Connecticut, and a Revolutionary soldier,
moved to Whitestown, N. Y., where he married, and came thence to
Genesee county, whence he removed in 1820 to Albion. He settled
on lot 50, in the west part of the town, where he died. He had
ten children.
William Penniman was born in Hillsboro county, N. H., in August,
1793, nnd received there a good common school and classical educa-
tion. In 1 8 16 he emigrated to Ontario county. N. Y., and in 1820 to
Shelby. After eight years' residence in that town he removed to the
village of Albion, and two or three years later to a farm near Eagle
Harbor, where he ever afterwards resided. He was appointed a judge
of the Court of Common Pleas in 1825 and served five }ears. He
also held the offices of justice of the peace, and commissioner, in-
spector, and town superintendent of common schools. He was a
member of the constitutional convention of 1846. He was much in-
terested in the subject of common schools and was for many years a
teacher. He was a firm, just and impartial judge, and was upright,
sagacious, and true in all his relations.
Alban Spencer was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1786. He came
first to Alexander, Genesee county, and in 1820 removed to Albion.
He purchased a portion of lot i, in the southeast part of the town.
He married Miss Abigal Griswold, of Litchfield, prior to his removal
to Alexander, and reared nine children to adult age. Of these S S.
Spencer, an attorney and the present postmaster in Albion, is the only
surviving son. Mr. Spencer died in 1861. His wife died some two
years later.
Thomas W. Allis was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1798, but
was reared from the age of seven years in Hampshire, Mass. With a
younger brother, became to Kendall in 1820, and located a mile east
of the Transit line and three and one-fourth miles north from the Ridge
road. They kept bachelors' hall on their ranch four years. In 1824 he
married Miss Elizabeth Clements, of Warren county, N. Y. He added
ORLEANS COUNTY. 239
to his first purchase of lOO acres till he was the owner of 250 acres of
land, on which he made substantial improvements and acquired a com-
petence. He held various town offices, including that of justice of the
peace. In i860 he sold his farm in Kendall and removed to Albion,
where he passed his declining years.
Adonijah Bond was born in Conway, Mass., in 1788. In 1802 he
went to Lenox, N. Y.. and in 18 16 he married Sally Jennings, of Sara-
toga county. N. Y. In 1820 he came to Albion and located on lot 24,
a mile west from the County Almshouse, where he resided till his
death, in 1854. His wife died in 1874. They reared seven children.
Mrs. Caroline T. Achilles, the daughter of Joseph Phipps, was born
in Rome, N. Y., and came, with her father's family, to Albion at an
early age. She was educated at home under the superintendence of her
father, and afterward at the Gaines Academy, and at a ladies' school in
Whitesboro, N. Y. She had already been a teacher in a common
school, and on leaving Whitesboro she became an assistant in a classical
school in Albion. This school, which was kept in a building on the
present site of the county clerk's office, was transferred to her, and, with
an elder sister, she commenced teaching on her own account in 1833.
The school was at once a success, and was soon converted into a female
seminary. By the aid of prominent citizens of Albion a large brick
edifice was erected in 1836, and the Phipps Union Seminary was in-
corporated in 1840. Miss Phipps was married to Colonel H L.
Achilles in 1839, ^"^ ^•^'' ^^^ years they resided in Boston. In 1849
they returned and she resumed charge of the seminary, which became
again prosperous under her administration. In 1866 she again trans-
ferred it to others, and three years later took charge of it once more.
In 1 88 1 the property was sold to the county of Orleans. The build-
ings were torn down, the grounds were graded, and the county clerk's
and surrogate's office was erected thereon. Mr. and Mrs. Achilles both
died in 1881.
Luke Hitchcock came to Albion at the beginning of the construc-
tion of the Erie Canal, of which he was a contractor on that portion
passing through the western part of the town. In 1821 he bought a
part of lot 51, but after finishing his work he returned to Oneida
county, where he died His farm here descended to his son, Lee A.
Hitchcock, who still owns and occupies it.
240 LANDMARKS OF
Jeremiah Iiigersoll was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1876.
At the age of thirty he removed to Batavia, and a year or so later to
Elba, Genesee county. In company with James T. Smith and Chil-
lian J. Buckley he purchased from William Bradner for $4,000 100
acres of land in Albion, fronting on Main street one-half mile, bounded
on the north by the south line of Gaines and extending east 100 rods.
Mr. Ingersoll soon became the sole owner and had a large part of it
laid out ill village lots. He erect;ed a warehouse at the foot of Pratt
street, which was for a time carried on by him and Lewis T. Buckley.
He also erected a wooden store building on the corner of Main and
Canal streets, and in company with Dudley Wells conducted mercan-
tile business there several years. He was active in procuring the loca-
tion of the county seat at Albion, and donated to the county the grounds
where the court house stands. He came to Albion to reside in 1826,
and remained till 1835, when he removed to Detroit; thence, in 1845,
he went to Oneida county, New York, where he remained till his
death in 1868. He always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of
Albion and Orleans counties, and at his request his remains were in-
terred in Mount Albion Cemetery. His first wife was Miss Polly Hal-
sey, of Columbia county, New York. She died in 1831. His second
wife was Miss Elizabeth C. Brown, of Oneida county, who died in 1869.
She shared her husband's attachment to Albion, and in her will be-
queathed $10,000 to the Episcopal church of that village, of which she
and her husband were members.
Justus Ingersoll, a brother of Jeremiah, was born in Dutchess county.
New York, in 1794. In his youth he learned the trade of a tanner. In
18 18 he removed to Elba and soon afterward to Shelby Center, where
he conducted a tannery and shoe shop. On the completion of the canal
he removed to Medina and erected there a large tannery. In 1835,
after the destruction of his tannery by fire, he went with his brother to
Detroit, where they engaged largely in the leather business, but were
not successful. He was a magistrate at Shelby Center, an Indian agent
and a postmaster while at Medina, and was also a judge in Orleans
county. He was an active, upright and courteous man. He died in
1845. Of his military career Judge Thomas says : "On the breaking
out of the war with Great Britain in 18 12 he entered the army as an
ORLEANS COUNTY. 2U
ensign in the 23d Regiment of Infantry. He served on the northern
frontier in several engagements, and was in the celebrated charge on
Oueenston Heights. He was promoted to the rank of captain for meri-
torious service. In one of the battles in Canada in which he served as
captain of infantry, he was wounded in the foot. Refusing to leave his
company and being unable to walk, he mounted a horse and continued
witli his men. In another engagement he was shot through the body,
the ball lodging in a rib. He refused to have it removed, as he was in-
formed that a portion of the rib would have to be cut away, which
would probably cause him to stoop ever after in his gait. He was a
favorite with his company and much esteemed by General Scott, under
whom he served."
Abraham Cantine was born in 1790, in Ulster county, N. Y., served
as a captain in the war of 18 12, and was wounded in the sortie at F'ort
Erie. After the war he served a term as sheriff of his native county,
and about 1822 removed to Murray. In 1827 he was a member of the
State Legislature, and in 1829 was appointed to resurvey the land be-
longing to the Pultney estate in the 100,000-acre tract. He was an
associate judge of the Orleans County Court of Common Pleas during
five years, and in 1835 was collector of canal tolls at Albion, to which
place he had several years before removed, and where he died in 1840.
Asa Parker, a brother of Thomas, sr., came to Albion in 1821, and
settled on the same lot (18) with his brother. Some years afterward
he removed to Shelby, and still later to Michigan, where he died at the
age of ninety-three. Elisha Parker, another brother of Thomas, sr.,
came to Orleans county ten years later, and settled near the line be-
tween Barr and Shelby, where he died. Richard Parker, son of
Thomas, sr., was born in 181 5, and came with his father's family to
Albion when eight years of age. In 1848 he married Angeline Love-
land, who was born in 1823, and who survives him He died in 1894,
Thomas Parker, another son of Thomas, sr., was born in Albion, and
was sheriff of the county and postmaster of the village.
Jonathan Sheldon, a native of Massachusetts, settled in Albion on a
farm west of the county almshouse in 1823, where he and his wife both
died. The place where he located has since been known as Sheldon's
Corners.
242 LANDMARKS OF
Roswell S. Burrows was born in Groton, Conn., in 1798. At the age
of twenty he entered Yale College, but because of ill health did not
complete his college course. The honorary degree of A. M. was con-
ferred on him by his alma mater in 1867. His first business enterprise
was in the manufacture of cotton, but this did not prove profitable, and
in the sale of his factory he was defrauded of the capital he had in-
vested. He came to Albion in 1824, and established a store in a small
wooden building on the east side of Main street, on the present site of
the Burrows block. In the same year his younger brother, Lorenzo,
came, and in 1826 the firm of R. S. & L. Burrows was formed. In 1827
Mr. Burrows built the warehouse on the canal, next east from Main
street, and the firm added warehousing and produce dealing to their
mercantile business. About 1837 they sold their stock of goods. They
established the Bank of Albion in 1834. which was the first bank in
Orleans county. In 1863 Mr. Burrows founded the First National
Bank of Albion, the first bank organized in the State west of Syracuse
under the national banking system Of both these banks Mr. Burrows
owned a majority of the stock, and was their president and principal
manager. During his long business career he was concerned in many
business enterprises, and was director and trustee in several corpora-
tions His clear-headedness, sagacity and coolness alwa}s led him to
safe investments, and he accumulated an immense fortune. He was a
munificent benefactor of the Rochester Theological Seminary. After
the death of Professor Neander, of Germany, he purchased the library
which that eminent scholar had collected, and presented it to that in-
stitution. He also donated to that seminary the sum of $100,000 as
an addition to its endowment. Lorenzo Burrows, previously mentioned,
is noticed at length on another page of this volume. He was county
treasurer in 1840, assignee in bankruptcy for Orleans County Bank
under the law of 1841, supervisor of Barre in 1845. t'lccted to Congress
in 1848 and re-elected in 1850, elected comptroller of the State in 1855,
became one of the Regents of the University of the State of New York
in 1858, and was appointed one of the commissioners of Mt. Albion
Cemetery in 1862. He discharged the duties of all these positions with
singular ability and strict fidelity.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 243
Harvey Goodrich, a son of Zenas Goodrich, who was a native of
Massachusetts, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1791. While a
young man he removed to Auburn, N. Y., where he worked at his trade
of a hatter. In partnership with his brother-in-law, George W. Stand-
art, he became a contractor on the Erie Canal, and in 1824 they came
to Albion and engaged in the mercantile business. After the death oif
his partner, he was for many years a hatter and furrier and produce
dealer in Albion. He was active and energetic and was an earnest
Christian, and was active in the organization of the Presbyterian Church
in Albion, and from the time of its formation till his death he was one
of its ruling elders. He was commonly known as " Deacon Goodrich,"
though he was never chosen to that office. He was particularly noted
for his kindness to the poor and to the sick, and was highly esteemed
by all who knew him He was stricken with apoplexy in i86i,and
died in 1863.
Hiram Sickels, a hatter by trade, came to Albion village in 1824 and
opened a hotel. Later he became a merchant and still later went into
partnership with Harvey Goodrich in the manufacture and sale of hats.
More is said of Mr. Sickels and of his family elsewhere. William G.
Sickels, a brother of Hiram and the father of Perry Sickels, was also an
early resident of Albion. Peter F. Sickels, another brother of Hiram,
settled in Albion in 1828, and was for many years a grocer. His son,
Henry J. Sickels, was long a prominent citizen and an active business
man, and was also an influential Democratic politician. He died about
1880.
Asa Howard came to Albion in 1825 and engaged in business as a
cabinet-maker. From 1831 till 1838 he resided in Genesee county, but
excepting that period he lived here until his death. In 1843 h^ en-
gaged in the produce and forwarding business in a warehouse on the
canal at the foot of Clinton street.
Timothy C. Strong was born in Massachusetts in 1790. At the age
of sixteen he became a printer. At the age of twenty-one was mar-
ried to Amelia Goodell, of Litchfield, Conn. In 1825 came to Albion
(then Newport) and purchased from Mr. Cowdry the Newport Patriot.
He published this paper under different names till 1844. Was chosen
county clerk in 1834, and held the office by re-election three terms.
He died in 1844.
244 LANDMARKS OF
Ambrose Wood was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1803.
In 1825 removed to Albion and engaged in shoemaking. After a few
years became a grocer's clerk, and later engaged in the grocer}' busi-
ness. In 1846, in partnership with J. H. Hollenbeck, he engaged in
the hardware business. He held the office of county treasurer from
1850 to 1857; retired from active business in 1863, and died in 1881.
He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church. In 1838 he mar-
ried Mary C. Reynolds, of Albion. They reared four daughters and a
son, Frank Wood, now of Albion.
Andrew Wall was born in London, England, November 22, 181 1. In
March, 1833, he left his native country and came to America, landing
in New York city April 23, and arriving in Albion May 3. He went
to work in David Swan's bakery, whose business he purchased two
months later, and eventually established a large trade. At a point east
of the bridge on the tow-path of the canal he built an oven and ice
house, and about 1850 a candle factory, all of which he was obliged to
abandon when the canal was enlarged, and from there he moved " up
town" and established a similar business. For about forty years he was
vestryman or warden of Christ Episcopal Church. He was a man
widely known and greatly respected. He died November 21, 1882.
Joseph Woolford, who was born in Bath, England, October 26, 1808,
is said to have been the first English settler in Albion, whither he came
in 1830. A baker by trade, he was a brother-in-law of Andrew Wall,
with whom he was associated in business. He died here March 23, 1886.
William Gere was born in Galway. Saratoga county, in February,
1799, being one of ten children born to Hon. Isaac Gere, at one time
State senator. William married in Galway Miss Fanny Swan, moved
to Albion at an early day, and was long a prominent merchant. For a
time, and at his death, he was associated in the business with his son
Isaac and his son-in-law, J. N. Proctor, who continued it after his de-
mise. Their store was on Main street near the canal. His only son,
Isaac Gere, died here about 1866.
Thomas S. Foster, son of John, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y.,
August 27, 1806. In 1810 he moved with his parents to near Penn
Yan and in 18 14 to Palmyra, where he married Hannah D. Alexander
on January 29, 1826. He was a blacksmith by trade, but during the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 245
construction of the Erie Can?l was a foreman of excavation, and during
his active life was always engaged in canaling in various capacities. In
1837 he came to Rochester, where he was a station keeper, one of the
appraisers of horses, and superintendent of horses between Albany and
Bufifalo four years. He moved to Fairport, and thence in 1852 to Clar-
endon, after which he was appointed superintendent of the canal be-
tween Brockport and Sulphur Springs, a position he held four years.
In 1866 he removed to Albion, where he has since resided. He retains
a memory rich in personal reminiscence. His daughter, who resides
with him, was long a teacher in the Albion High School, and for some
time has had a private school of her own.
Rice Warner, son of Lewis, was born in Conway, Mass., in 1797.
With his father's family he removed to Phelps, Ontario count)', where
in 18 1 8 he married Rebecca Scott Carson. In 1831 they came to Or-
leans county and located in Albion village, where they remained till
the death of Mr. Warner in 1885. For many years he worked at the
business of tanning, currying and shoemaking, in partnership with his
brother Lewis. Their tannery was where the gas works are now lo-
cated. In the later years of his life he engaged in lighter work, and he
was for many years an overseer of the poor. He was noted for the
cheerfulness and kindness of his nature. He died in 1885, his wife in
1879. They reared eight children, of whom Mrs. Edward Baker and
Mrs. I. M. Thompson reside in Albion. Lewis Warner, a brother of
Rice Warner, was born in 1803. He came to Albion in 1829. In the
latter years of his life he was not engaged in active business. He died
in 1887. He was twice married. His first wife died early, and his sec-
ond wife died in 1873. He died some years ago.
Leonard Wai ner, a cousin of Rice, Lewis and De Witt C. Warner, was
born in Orleans county, N. Y., in 1801. His wife was Lavina Thur-
ston. They came to Albion in 1825 and settled on lot 25, a mile and
a half from Eagle Harbor. Otter Creek passed through his farm, and
he and his brother Houghton built on that stream a saw mill which they
operated many years. He died on the farm where he settled in 1848.
His wife died in 1883. They had seven children. Houghton Warner
was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1808. He was married in 1831
to Mary Frary, and in the same year they removed to Albion and set-
tled on lot 25. There Mrs. Warner died in 1854, and he in 1859.
246 LANDMARKS OF
Elihu Mosher, a brother of Harvey Mosher, came to Albion about
1827, and settled on lot 34, some two miles south of Eagle Harbor.
His son, William Mosher, died May 17, 1894.
Noah Davis was a native of Connecticut. In his youth he removed
to Massachusetts, and while there he was married to Mrs. Freclove
Barber, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., a daughter of Dr. Arnold, of that place.
In 1826 they came to Albion, where he established a drug, grocery
and dry goods store. His store was burned after a few years, and he
never resumed the business. He was for many years a constable and
the collector of the town He died in 1858. His children were : Judge
Noah Davis, born in Massachusetts, Naman, Freelove, Ellen, Sarah and
Lorenzo, born in Albion.
Spafiford Field was born in Vermont in 1779. At the age of seven-
teen he became an apprentice to a tanner and shoemaker, named Col-
lins. In 181 I he married Sarah, the daughter of Mr. Collins, and re-
mained with his father in law till 1 822, when he removed to Weeds-
port, N. Y., and there worked at shoemaking. In 1828 he came to
Albion, and engaged in the marble business. While a resident of Ver-
mont he had been incidentally connected with the production of com-
mercial marble, and one of his sons, Ben Field, had learned the business
of marble cutting. He continued in this business till i860, when he re-
tired. He died in 1869; his wife died in 1875. Of their children,
Loraine, Jane, Ben, Norman S. and Huldah, were born in Vermont ;
Sarah in Weedsport, and Allen and Agnes in Albion. Loraine became
the wife of Elizur Hart, and Jane married Henry A. King. Ben Field
continued in the marble business till 1838, after which he read law and
was admitted to the bar in 1842. He never engaged in the active
practice of his profession, but became a prominent and influential poli-
tician. He served one term as State senator, and was for many years
an active member and secretary of the New York State Republican
Committee. He died in 1879 at the age of sixty-three. He was not
married. Norman S. Field was also engaged in the marble business
many years at Albion and Lockport, and for three years was a hard-
ware merchant. He retired from active business in 1878.
Orrin D. Crane was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1798. In 1830
he removed to Orleans county and settled in Albion on lot 9, opposite
ORLEANS COUNTY. 247
the county alinhouse, where he died in 1878. In 1826 he married
Sarah Warner, who died in 1882. They reared three daughters: Mary
A. (Mrs. George Mather), Caroline A., deceased, and Charlotte E.,
now Mrs. D. Brockway Day.
Mark H. Beecher was born in Connecticut in 1807. He entered the
United States Navy in 1841, and was in active service during the Mexi-
can war. In 1848 he became professor of mathematics, with the rank
of captain in the Naval Academy at Newport, R. I., and was afterward
on duty at the observatory in Washington, D. C. At the age of sixty-
two he was retired from active duty and made his residence in Albion
till his death in 1882.
Elsewhere in this volume will be tound many other biographical
notices of early settlers and prominent citizens of the town and village
of Albion, and among them may be noted here the names of Dr. Or-
son Nichoson, Hon. Henry R. Curtis, Alexis Ward, Judge Noah Davis,
Hon. Sanford E. Church, Judge Arad Thomas, Hiram S Gofif, Benja-
min L. Bessac, Hon. Gideon Hard, Hons. A. Hyde and Dan H. Cole,
Rev. Solomon Hartwell, Orra Clark, Aaron Phipps, Samuel Wright,
Enos Rice, Jervis M. Skinner, Jeremiah Bailey, Ezekiel Root, Joseph A.
Lattin, Cyrus Jaquith, Samuel Williams, and Harvey Mosher.
In the early settlement of this town almost the only method by
which the pioneers could get money to pay their taxes, or to make the
necessary payments on their lands, was by burning the timber and con-
verting the ashes into black salts or potash, which was drawn to the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, and shipped thence to Montreal. Trans-
portation by land was slow and arduous, and only ceased upon the com-
pletion of the Erie Canal, which gave a decided impetus to all agri-
cultural and business interests. New markets were opened up to the
struggling inhabitants, and better communication with the outside world
was henceforth enjoyed. The long strings of wagons and the old stage
coaches then became things of the past, and villages sprung up and
created new avenues of industry. Gradually the wilderness was trans-
formed into beautiful homes and re- echoed with the civilizing influences
of a new era. The final spoke in the wheel of commerce came in the
form of the railroad, which afforded still greater facilities for general
traffic, and which materially hastened a development of the town's re-
248 LANDMARKS OF
sources, whose birth was contemporaneous with the construction of the
canal.
The first highway in the town was the Oak Orchard road, which
runs north and south through Albion village, where it is known as
Main street. Intersecting this, near what is now the line between Barre
and Albion, is the Salt Works road, which was opened by the Hol-
land Land Company at a very early day to the salt works north of
Medina. This highway has long since been discontinued.
The town of Albion has been the home of and still contains the dust
of a goodly number of honored Revolutionary soldiers, the names of
many of whom are mentioned in the foregoing pages of this chapter.
During the War of 1812 the few inhabitants here courageously went to
the front at the call of duty, and many more who served in that struggle
afterward became citizens. In the great Rebellion large numbers of
men gallantly volunteered and served with distinction on the field of
battle. The ladies were equally as patriotic, and did all in their power
to provide the comforts and even the necessaries of life for those at the
front. The first public meeting in Albion to take action on the war
assembled April 18, 1861, when flags were unfurled on several build-
ings in the village. On May 13, the first company of infantry — Captain
Hardie's — left and was followed on the 20lh by another. The town
always responded promptly to calls for troops and invariably filled her
quota. The first draft came July 15, 1863, and Barre (including also
what is now Albion) was given a quota of 197 men. With the end of
the war came a sense of relief and the surrender of Lee was signalized
here by an appropriate celebration. The town of Albion then formed
a part of Barre, and in separating the names in the single list compiled
for that township under State authority, it is quite possible that mistakes
have been made, notwithstanding the care which has characterized the
work. The soldiers who went out from what is now Albion were as
follows :
William H. AUard, 17lli Bat. Edwin BrumOeld, 15ist Inf.
H. L. Achilles, 105th Inf. Henry B. Barnard, 2d Mounted Rifles.
H. L. Achilles, jr., 27th Inf. Joel P. Barnes, 151st Inf.
George Anabler, 17th Bat. Joel P. Barnes, jr., 4th II. Art.
Oliver C. Benton, 17th Bat. Albert L. Barnes, 8th Cav.
Jonathan Broit, 17th Bat. William H. Barnes, 4th H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
2^19
Addison G. Bessac, 17th Bat.
Clark R. Baker, 6th Sharpshooters.
Frederick Butler, 9lh H. Art.
Frederick H. Baker, 8th Cav.
John Bradley, 4th H. Ait.
Charles Beuham, 8th H. Art.
Henry C. Beach, 8th H. Art.
Lewis AL Blackwell, 8ih H. Art.
George W. Blackwell, 27th Inf.
Cassius Blanchard, —
Orrin L. Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
Lyman P. Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
George D Blanchard. 1st Art.
Daniel D. Blanchard. 8th H. Art.
Charles H. Beach, 8th Cav.
Hiram J. Buck, 17th Bat.
Frederick P. Buck, 151st Inf.
Thomas Bell, jr., 8th Cav.
Charles Carpenter, 151st Inf.
Hiram H. Bidwell, 17th Bat.
Horace W. Curtiss, 9th H. Art.
William N. Crann, 27th Inf.
Henry B. Cleveland, 17th Bat.
Thomas Carruthers, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Lewis M. ClifTord, 27th Inf.
William Collins, 16th Cav.
Julius Connor, 8th H. Art.
George D. Curtiss, 8th Cav.
John H. Cole, 8th H. Art.
Daniel T. Deveraux, 8th H. Art.
William U. Dorrance, 27th Inf.
Henry J. Danforth, 8th II. Art.
Orson P. Derby, 151st Inf.
Lucian Dean, 8th H. Art.
William Emerson, 151st Inf.
Charles D. Elliott, 17th Bat.
William H. Elliott, 8th H. Art.
Charles W. Few, 151st Inf.
Stephen C. Gifford, 8th H. Art.
Lewis Gallaraugh, 8th Cav.
George S. Gaskill, 27th Inf.
David Hardie, 28th Inf.
Isaac Halleck, lolst Inf.
George Harvey, 17th Bat.
32
Thomas Hales, 17th Bat.
William W. Hunt, 151st Inf.
George J. Holems, 58th Eng.
Henry Harrington, 27th Inf.
Charles B. Howard, 27th Inf.
George S. Hunt, 17th Bat.
William H. June, Sth H. Art.
Marcus M. June, 17th Bat.
Truman M. Jones, 151st Inf.
Samuel B. Joslyn, 33d Inf.
Sylvester King, 151st Inf.
Charles Albert King, 151st Inf.
John Kirby. 8th Cav.
Amasa Kellogg, Sth Cav.
George W. King, 151st Inf.
Stephen Lane, 28th Inf., loth Cav.
Abel C. Lane, 26th Inf.
John J. Larwood, Sth H. Art.
James H. T. Lowry, Sth H. Art.
Henry Myers, Sth H. Art.
John Moye, Sth H. Art.
William C. Moore, Sth H. Art.
John Henry McCarthy, Sth H. Art.
William Henry Nichols, 17th Bat.
Jerry O'Brien, Sth H. Art.
George W. Pier, 28th Inf.
Joel Green Phillips, Sth H. Art.
Charles Phillips, Sth Cav.
William B. Redfield, 33d Inf.
Charles Willard Sickles, 27th Inf.
Charles H. Spencer, 17th Bat.
Robert SafFord, Sth Cav.
Manly Safiford, Sth Cav.
William Safford, 22d Cav.
George H. Stockton. Sth H. Art.
George H. Stone, Sth H. Art.
Warren Stone, 17th Bat.
Cyrus Eli Snyder, Sth Cav.
John Smith, 104th Inf.
Irving M. Thompson, 17th Bat.
Charles Henry Tucker, 27ih Inf.
Henry V. VanDusen, 11th Inf.
A. N. Van Antwerp.
Charles W. Wall, 151st Inf.
250 LANDMARKS OF
James Wilson, Sth Cav. George W. Whitney, 22d Cav.
Martin G. Wood, 27ih Inf. Hobert Williams, 151st Inf.
George W. Wilson, Sth Cav. Charles M. W^riglit. Sth II. Art.
In 1890 the town of Albion, outside of the village, contained a popu-
lation of 1,304. In 1893 it had a total assessed valuation on real estate,
including the village, of $2,682,952 (equalized $3,057,426), and on per-
sonal property of $561,100. The total tax on roll aggregated $24.-
191.72, which was apportioned as follows: State schools, $3,038.68;
State care of insane, $1,033.57 ; general purposes and canals, $3,927.54 ;
county audits and appropriations, $7,379.62 ; town audits, $4,023.68 ;
roads and bridges, $2,231.87; support of poor, $1,000; incidentals^
$1,547.06. The rate per cent, was .00737939. The corporations
owning real estate in the village or town were assessed in 1893 as fol-
lows : Albion Gas Light Company, $6,000 ; Albion Electric Com-
pany, $13,000; Albion Waterworks Company, $22,000; Albion Stone
Company, $12,000; Albion Loan Association, $1,100 ; Blanchard Vine-
gar Company, $8,000 and personal property, $5,000; Bell Telephone
Company, $4,500 ; Curtis Manufacturing Company, $8,000; Mutual
Life Insurance Company, $1,1 00; New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad Company, $335,000 ; Postal Telegraph Company, $3, 500 ;
Rochester Medina Sandstone'Company, $2,700; Western Union Tele-
graph Company, $9,000. The town officers for 1894 are: Coley P.
Wright, supervisor; William G. Taylor, town clerk ; Justus W. Wright,
C. M. Church, W. C. Ramsdale, R. L. Thatcher, justices of the peace;
William E. Frank, collector; George S. Clark, commissioner of high-
ways; Alexander Cary, Spencer N. Tanner, Washington Simmonds,
assessors ; George Edmunds, overseer of the poor.
Eagle Harbor — This village had no existence prior to the con-
struction of the Erie Canal. A Mr. Richardson, the contractor, who
built the culvert and embankment over Otter Creek, established a store
for the convenience of his employees, and that was the nucleus of the
present village. An extended account of Eagle Harbor appears in the
chapter devoted to the town of Gaines.
Eagle Harbor Station is a station on the New York Central railroad,
west of Albion and south of Eagle Harbor village.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 251
Rich's Corners — This place was named from five brothers : Jona-
than, Joseph, Calvin, Arad, and Joshua Rich. Jonathan came in 1815
and the others at different times soon afterward. They remained till
about 1830, when they removed to Cattaraugus county.
The hamlet contains a post- office and a small cluster of houses. Here
was organized the first Methodist Episcopal society in the present town
of Albion. In 18 18 a young clerg) man, Rev. Joseph Sheppard, came
to Rich's Corners and stopped at the house of Joshua Rich, who was at
that time an exhorter. There was no school house there then and
religious services were held in the dwelling of Mr. Rich, and a society
was organized. It has been related that the clergyman's horse was fed,
on the night of his arrival, with straw taken from a bed, and the next
morning on browse. When he departed he crossed the run north
from the corners on a foot-bridge, which was made for him, while his
horse was led through the mud.
The First Christian church of Barre (now Albion) was formed about
1820. Among the constituent members were Jotham Morse, Jonathan
Ferris, Mr. Cook (a deaf mute), Mr. Bonner, Dr. Willard, Eaton, Mr.
Wetherell, and their wives. Rev. Jotham Morse, a very excellent man,
was the first pastor. Services were first held in school houses and barns,
but a church edifice was erected about 1830, where it still stands, a
mile west from Porter's Corners.
The society has always pursued a very liberal policy, and has exerted
a good influence.
ALBION VILLAGE.
The village of Albion, after which the town was named, lies mainly
in the town of Albion and partly in the town of Gaines. It is in latitude
43"^ 41' north and longitude i° 18' west from Washington, By rail it
is distant thirty-one miles west from Rochester and fifty- one miles east
from Buffalo. The village was first named Newport, after Newport, R.
I. There was another post-office of the same name in the State, and the
trouble and confusion in receiving mail induced the inhabitants to change
the name at the time the village was incorporated. By the people in
Gaines it was derisively termed Mudport, because of the condition of its
streets in wet weather.
2;j2 Landmarks of
By reference to the record of sales by the Holland Land Company
in Albion it will be seen that lot 34, a portion of which lies in the
southern part of the corporation, and lot 35, the whole of which the
village includes, were taken up, the former by Joseph Hart on Novem-
ber II and the latter by William McAllister on December 11, 181 1.
Mr. McAllister, it has been stated, articled 100 acres of lot 26, town 15,
range i, December 21, 18 10, but whether he ever settled on that pur-
chase, or ever made any improvements on it, cannot be detei mined. It
is quite certain, however, that he became a permanent settler in Albion
in 181 1, and was the first in the village as well as in the town, clearing
the first land and erecting the first house. His primitive log cabin stood
where the county clerk and surrogate's office now stands, and in it, as
previously mentioned, his wife died in 18 12, which was the first death
of a white person in the village or town. Her funeral was attended by
her sorrowing husband and three men, who then comprised all the in-
habitants for many miles around. Shortly afterward Mr. McAllister sold
his land to William Bradner, who soon cleared that portion on the east
side of Main street north of the canal. Mr. Bradner sold 92 acres
of the south part of his purchase to his brother, Joel, and both received
deeds for their land from the Holland Company. Joel Bradner first
built his log cabin just south from where the railroad now is. William
sold 100 acres of the northwest part of his tract to Nehemiah Ingersoll
and others. That portion of this purchase which bordered Main street
and the canal was laid out in village lots, and Mr. Ingersoll, who had
purchased the interest of his partner, and had employed Orange Risden
to make a survey, opened streets and sold these lots to settlers in the
village.
In 1 81 5 Jesse Bumpus took up the land on the west side of Main
street between Park street and the north bounds of the town, and in the
same year built his cabin and commenced clearing his land. He after-
ward sold a large portion of his tract to Roswell Burrows, the father of
Roswell S. and Lorenzo Burrows. He laid off and sold lots to meet
the wants of purchasers and not according to any general plan. In
1812 Elijah Darrow took up 200 acres on the west side of Main street,
south from the tract purchased by Mr. Bumpus. The north half of
this Mr. Darrow sold to John Holtzbarger, and the south half to Hor-
ace Bishop.
^^^^^^n'"'^^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 253
During the construction of the Erie Canal a small village (then New-
port) sprung up here, but it was insignificant compared to the village
of Gaines, near the junction of the two great thoroughfares — the Ridge
and the Oak Orchard roads. This latter place, as has been stated, was
the first village of importance in Orleans county, and until the comple-
tion of the canal it continued to attract the principal business of this
whole section. In the days of teaming and stage coaches it was espe-
cially favored, but as soon as these began to disappear it rapidly lost its
piestige. Albion was nearer the geographical center of the county,
and from all appearances, it promised greater facilities in the way of
transportation and communication with the outside world. The rail-
road was not then thought of, but a canal in those days was even more
coveted than is the steam locomotive now. The people of Gaines did
their best to retain their commercial importance, and when the county
was organized they put forth every effort to secure the county seat.
The canal, however, may be said to have decided the questions then agi-
tated. Enterprising men saw the advantages offered by their village
over those of the older town, and they eagerly availed themselves of
valuable opportunities by selecting locations here. When the great
ditch was completed the future of Albion was assured. It gave the
embryo village a new and permanent impetus, and developed it steadily
into one of the principal points between Rochester and Niagara Falls.
It opened an immense trade in lumber, which consisted largely of white-
wood, and the canal warehouse and store soon became im[)ortant fac-
tors in the business community.
The land on which the village stands was originally very swampy.
Over what is now M-ain street from Canal street north to the corpora-
tion limits a causeway of logs was laid at an early day for the conven-
ience of travel, and even in later times large portions of the present
Main street (then the Oak Orchard road) were made passable with cor-
duroy. Subsequently stone was used to fill in the wet places. This
condition early gave the place the derisive name of Mudport.
The first court in the county was held at Gaines in June, 1825, but in
that year the county seat was located in Albion, and this, together with
the completion of the canal, gave the village an assured importance it
has ever since maintained. They brought hither a large influx of set-
254 LANDMARKS OF
tiers and opened up new avenues of industry. Warehouses sprang up
along the south bank of the canal, and stores soon became numerous.
The village then was largely confined to Main street, and the buildings
were mostly wooden structures. The only brick building was the north
end of the Burrows block, which was two stories high exclusive of the
basement. The first warehouse stood about twenty rods east of Main
street, and was built by Jeremiah Ingersoll. The next was erected by
Carey & Tilden west of Main street. In 1826, according to the pub-
ished recollections of an early resident, south of the Barrows block
"was a row of wooden tenements several feet below the sidewalk. One
of the occupants in this row was a shoemaker nam.ed John Green. The
west side consisted of a warehouse on the dock, which was afterward
burned, and one or two brick stores, extending as far as Beaver alley,
on the corner of which Harvey Goodrich kept a hat store. The Albion
Hotel stood on the lot where now is the store of Sickels, Day & Col-
lins, and a frame store was on the side of Swan's block. Opposite
stood a large frame dwelling and next to it the harness shop of Hugh
McCurdy. Robert Shadders had a cabinet shop, in which McCurdy,
who was postmaster, attended to the duties of his office. Across the
street was Butts' tavern, and on the hill stood the old Eagle tavern."
Judge Thomas says:
The first hotel was kept on the northwest corner of Alain and Canal streets, by
Churchill. The next hotel, called the Albion Hotel, was built by Philetus Bum-
pus, about twenty rods south of the canal, on the west side of Main street, and kept
several years by Bumpus & Howard, succeeded by Hiram Sickels. Mr. Bumpus then
built the Mansion House, a hotel standinjj on the north side of the canal, on Main
street, which he kept several years. Philetus Bumpus and his father, Jesse Bumpus
built the first frame dwelling house in Albion, on the west side of Main street, between
Bank and State streets.
The Mansion House was subsequently kept by Calvin Church. The
old Eagle tavern was erected on what is now the site of the County
Clerk and Surrogate's office, and afterward moved further south by
H. S. Goff and changed into a dwelling. Among the earliest mer-
chants were Goodrich & Standart, O. H. Gardner, John Tucker, and
Roswell S. & Lorenzo Burrows. The first saw- mill was built by Wil-
liam Bradner in 1819. He also erected the first grist-mill, the "mill-
stones for which he cut in person from a rock in Palmyra." These
ORLEANS COUNTY. 255
mills were taken down after a few years. The first tan-yard was estab-
lished by Jacob IngersoU about 1825, and was located on the lot now
occupied by the gas works, which superseded it in 1858. In September,
1825, John Henderson started the first carriage and wagon shop; in
1834 he opened the first livery stable, and in 1837 he brought out the
first horse and cart for public accommodation. Besides these, being a
mechanic, he erected a dozen or more dwellings, barns, business shops,
etc. The first blacksmiths were John Moe, Phineas Phillips and Rodney
A. Torrey. Theophilus Capen was the first lawyer and Dr. Orson Nicho-
son the first physician in Albion. The latter came to the township in
1 8 19, but removed to the village in 1822. About two years later Dr.
William White, who had been in practice at Oak Orchard in Ridgeway,
came here and opened a drug store and went into a professional and
business partnership with Dr. Nichoson. The first school was taught
by Mrs. Silas Benton, who is said to have " kept boarders, kept house,
and kept school in the same building." In 1824 Franklin Cowdry com-
menced the publication of the Newport Patriot, which in February,
1825, passed into the possession of Timothy C. Strong, who changed
its name to the Orleans Advocate. In February, 1828. he again
changed it to the Orleans Advocate and Anti Masonic Telegraph.
The village of Albion was first incorporated by the Legislature April
2 1, 1828, and the boundaries designated in that act were: " Beginning
three-fourths of a mile west of the Batavia road on the south line of
the town of Gaines, running thence south to and including a road run-
ning cast and west to the southwest corner of Horace Bishop's lot of
laud ; thence east, including said road, one and a half miles ; thence
north to the south line of Gaines ; thence west on said line to the place
of beginning." The first officers elected were: Franklin Fenton, Free-
man Clark, William Bradner, Orson Nichoson and Alexis Ward, trustees ;
Hugh McCurdy, Lewis P. Buckley and Sheldon Hopkins, assessors ;
Philetus Bumpus, Benjamin Henshaw and John Henderson, fire war-
dens ; Isaac F. Benedict, treasurer; Abraham B. Mills, clerk; Alvin T.
Grossman, collector ; Borden Wilcox, Jr., constable ; William G. Sickels,
pound keeper; Truxton Burrell, overseer of the highway. Alexis
Ward was chosen president of the board of trustees for 1829.
256 LANDMARKS OF
In 1827 the first court house was built, of brick, on the site of the
present structure, and on land donated for the purpose by Nehemiah
IngersoU. The building committee consisted of Gilbert Howell, Elihu
Mather and Calvin Smith. This building was superseded by the pres-
ent court house in 1856, which cost $20,000, the building committee
being Lyman Bates, Charles Baker and Henry A. King. The archi-
tect was W. V. N. Barlow. The first county clerk's office was built in
1836 and the jail in 1838. The first fire company was organized in
1831. In 1833 Ward & Clark erected a flouring mill on the canal.
About the same time the old Orleans House was built on the corner
of Canal and Main streets, and for those days it was regarded as an im-
posing structure.
The following description of Albion village was given in 1836:
IL contains one Presbyterian and one Methodist Church, a high scliool, a seminary for
females, a court house of brick, a neat edifice, in which are the county ofKces, erected
upon the pub'ic square; a prison of hewn logs, a bank, incorporated in 1834, with a
capital of $300,000 ; fou- forwarding and commission houses, thirteen dry goods stores,
one wholesale hardware store, two druggists stores, two shoe and leather stores, one
book store, two tanneries, one ashery, two gristmills, three saw mills, one carding and
cloth dressing mill, one furnace for ca.^ting iron, four taverns, one wholesale and se\-
eral retail groceries, various mechanics, nine lawyers, and five physicians, two printing
offices, two hundred and twenty-one dwellings of brick and wood, many of which are
large, neat and commodious.
The population then was about 1,100.
Among the more important items recorded in the proceedings of the
Boards of Trustees, as published in the Orleans Republican from year
to year, the following are gleaned: 1842 — Clerk, S. G. Barr ; $130
contingent expenses ; $70 appropriated for engine house bell ; $100 to
improve and beautify academy grounds. 1843 — John B. Lee, clerk ;
land for original Mt. Albion Cemetery purchased and $125 voted to
improve same. 1845 — $90 voted to pay old village debt ; $60 appro-
priated for reservoir; $100 contingent fund ; clerk, Jehiel Clark. 1846
— West end of State street opened; $150 contingent fund; $i,ooo
voted to buy lot and premises of H. W. Lee on State street for fire de-
partment. 1847 — West Academy street opened. i848--New bridge
built over canal ; resolution passed authorizing an application to the
Legislature for permission to raise $1,000 to buy an engine and equip
a second fire company. 1849 — W. G. Swan, clerk.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 257
1850 — W. G. Swan, clerk; $500 contingent fund to pay debts;
Board of Health organized. Among the industries recorded in the
Orleans Republican, J. O. Willsea editor and proprietor, were G. H.
Sickels & Co., merchants; Munger & Dorrance, jewelers ; Nichoson
& Paine, drugs; Boston City Store ; C. S. Potter, 10 Burrows Block ;
W, Emerson, pine lumber; C. R. Berry, dry goods ; William Haywood,
wool carding and cloth dressing at Eagle Harbor; Agricultural Soci-
ety, P. Dyer secretary; Beebe & Remington, books (sold out in 185 i
to G. M. Harvey) ; Ezra T. Coann & Co , merchants ; Dr. H. Gumold,
botanical medicines for the blood ; A. Gilmore, Orleans book and drug
store ; Dr. J. Randall, " attended four courses of lectures," Prentice
Block ; Piatt House, corner Canal and Market streets, Harry Gould,
proprietor; M. L. Warner, boots and shoes; Mrs. L. Hall, milliner,
Main street ; A. D. Armstrong, paint shop ; Millville Academy, Mat-
thew Gregory secretary; Dr. S. Gates, at home after absence; G. M.
Harvey, daguerreotypes ; Yates Academy, G Daniels president ; Royce
& Morehouse, hardware in vessel (and other goods),
With haste and speed, o'er dale and mead,
Come quick to Albion.
When you draw near there will appear
A sign with " Hardware " on ;
Swan & Cornell, paints, etc. ; M. A. & S. A. Harrington, lumber ; Be-
noni Bennett, jr., harness, saddles, etc., over Joslyn's dry goods store ;
J, H. Hollenbake had recently associated with him Ambrose Wood,
hardware and groceries ; C. H. Smith & Co., clothing ; C. A. Har-
rington & Co., dry goods and groceries ; George Sipes, general stock
and real estate ; A. R. Torry, Torry Hall, hats ; B. E. Van Buren,
bookbinder, successor to A. C. Beebe ; Phelps & Harvey, books and
paper ; H. P. Cooley, watchmaker; G. W. Bedell & Co., hats and caps,
removed from " Goodrich Block to Hopkins' attractive block " (became
Miller & Bedell and sold in 1851 to G. H. Sickels) ; E. R. Benson, sash
and blind manufacturer; Peak Family Concert ; E. Piatt & Co., stages
to Rochester ; Alexis Ward, money to loan ; M. L. Fuller, Fairless
saloon; markets — wheat, 94 cents; corn, 40; barley, 56; oats, 34;
potatoes, 25 ; butter, 15 ; cheese, 6 ; lard, 8 ; eggs, 12 ; wool, 24 to 34 ;
notice in December of meeting at court house to consider method of
258 LANDMARKS OF
enlarging canal in village ; " we have now two fire companies — Cham
pion and Albion — and a hook and ladder company. The engines are
of the best manufacture, and the men are of the best kind to manage
them. No 2's men, we may say, are a gallant set of fellows, while at
the same time we think No. i can compete with the rest;" town audits.
$241 71.
1851. — Applied to Legislature to raise additional $1,000 to make
reservoir and improve fire department ; large reservoir placed in front
of the Episcopal Church ; contingent fund indebtedness, $669 49 ; con-
tingent and cemetery expenses, $353.38; gross receipts, $1,258.47.
January 8, " Our village presents indeed a businesslike aspect. The
streets are literally choked with sleighs, of which at least 100 can be
counted from our office window. Smiling faces, prancing horses, and
noisy urchins pass in rapid and continuous procession before us.
Everything bears the appearance of prosperity, and we may safely
challenge any county of nine towns in the State to show a more thriv-
ing village than Albion. Vive la petite Orleans !" February 3, book's
for subscribers to plank road opened (to be built under act of 1847
from Batavia to brick school house in Barre), signed by R. E. Mix ;
October, Beebe & Hooker purchased the American ; November, '• Ed-
itor visited furnace and plow factory of Hiram Curtiss ;" three furnaces
were in operation — King & Root's on Canal street, makmg chiefly
stoves, over 4,000 yearly, car wheels, etc., employing thirty- three men ;
Bedell & Berry's on Canal street, making twelve stoves daily, employ-
ing twenty men ; and the Curtis foundry on Batavia street, Albion,
making plows, employing fourteen men ; three school districts, each
having a substantial school house of two departments, average attend-
ance 400 ; poplation of village about 3,000.
1852. — W. G. Swan, clerk ; June 30, first train on the Rochester and
Niagara Falls Railroad.
1853. — W. G. Swan, clerk; $875 contingent fund; Hook and Ladder
Company reorganized and made a permanent feature of the fire depart-
ment ; H. J. Sickels, postmaster.
1854. — Hard times commenced and extended to 1857 ; wheat, $2.25 ;
W. G. Swan, clerk ; $150 for fire department; $250 contingent fund;
$25 for charge of clock; $15 to fire wardens; $150 to pay indebted-
ORLEANS COUNTS. 259
ness ; $230 for additional hose ; street signs put up by Mr. Fell ; Alexis
Ward died.
1855 — W. G. Swan, clerk; Peter F. Sickels died January 10; Hon.
Henry R. Curtis died September 20.
1856 — H. S. Goff, clerk ; sewer in State street, cost $176 ; resolved
to purchase lot north of engine house for not more than $1,000, and to
apply to the Legislature to raise money to build engine house and
hall; lighting village by gas proposed by Henry Fuller, of Chicago;
Gas Company formed ; new court house finished in Septemper.
1857. — H- S. Goff, clerk ; $i,ooo contingent fund and to pay officers ;
ordinance enacted to prevent cattle running in the streets ; reservoir
forty feet long, eight feet wide, six feet deep, built in front of Mr. Pull-
man's ; prospects of a run on bank and doors closed September 11 and
12 as a precaution ; thousands of bills offered for redemption. A few
days later it suspended. " Since the suspension of the Bank of Or-
leans there has been a perfect stagnation in business; nobody is buying
goods; nobody paying debts; nobody has work."
1858. — S. A. Andrews, clerk; first horse show August 27; first gas
distributed November 25.
1859. — A R. Patterson, clerk ; $1,000 to be raised by taxation ; A.
R. Harrington bought Piatt house ; first flagman at railroad crossing in
May ; Packet Company to Rochester organized and first boat, City of
Buffalo, ready in August ; boat launched September 2, captain, William
Waters, of Eagle Harbor; dividend of 35 per cent, from Bank of Or-
leans declared in March, and banking house sold to J. M. Cornell in
November ; O . Bennett, formerly proprietor of the Mansion House,
took the Kingsland House, near depot, in October ; bridge over canal
on Main street fell September 28, killing fifteen people ; new bridge
erected ; Pierpont Dyer killed in his grocery December 24.
i860. — George BuUard, clerk; bell for clock and fire alarm at
$360; new Baptist Church dedicated in January; sewer in Clinton
street and reservoir north of canal constructed ; another dividend of 35
per cent, from the Bank of Orleans declared January 26 ; Orleans
County Bank opened in February; "not three vacant houses inside
corporation ; " everything is prospering ; theater at Kingsland Hall ;
Gen. John B. Lee died September 10 ; apple crop enormous.
•iGO LAi^DMARKS 0'&
1 86 1. — A.F. R. Braley, clerk; $ 1,000 raised by tax; sewer con-
structed in south side of Water street ; in July resolved to raise $1,600
for roads.
1862. — A. G. Bessac, clerk ; charter amended; Fire Company No. 2
reorganized ; June 7 fire started in Piatt House stables, burned Piatt
House and barn, went south on Market street, thence on Canal street,
also west from hotel, burning J. Bordwell's large house, a wagon shop
and paint shop ; engines came from Medina, Gaines and Brockport ;
loss over $20,000; insurance about $10,000.
1863. — A. G. Bessac, clerk; Bordwell block erected; public meeting
June 12 to provide for police protection, and resolution passed asking
tiustees to organize night police, which was done, and Aaron L. Van-
dekar was made the first chief; O Tousley died June 5 ; fall of Vicks-
burg celebrated July 7; 87,462 barrels of apples were shipped from
Albion this year ; First National Bank organized in December 23, as
the successor of the old Bank of Albion, which passed safely through
the crisis of 1857.
1864. — S. C. Bessac, clerk; sewer on south side of park constructed ;
public meeting to consider a revision of the charter February 2 ; Man-
sion House burned March 29; post-office made a money order office;
Albion Petroleum Company organized December 27.
1865. — Jerome Porter, clerk ; last remains removed to new cemetery ;
William Gere died July 22 ; meeting and celebration on close of Civil
War; owners of "Albion Peat Bed" began operations; Masonic Hall
dedicated, June i, by P. P. Murphy; apples high ; J. A. Lattin sold his
orchard of 100 acres for $12,000 ; Linus J. Peck sold apples for $5 25
per barrel.
1866 — Jerome E.Porter, clerk; $1,200 contingent expenses ; $3,000
for roads; act of Legislature enlarged village limits by taking in the
Rogers farm ; Mechanics' Fire Company No 3 organized in May with
Thomas Beebe foreman ; June 3 fire broke out in rear of Field's block ;
burned twenty stores ; loss nearly $75,000.
1867. — Jerome E. Porter, clerk, at $50 per year.
1868. — J. E. Porter, clerk ; Albion House bought in January by D.
A.Wilkinson, of Batavia; about $2,000 collected for Monument Asso-
ciation ; Nehemiah Ingersoll, founder of village, died February 21 ; Har-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 261
rington House being kept by R. Pattin ; fire on corner of Canal and
Main streets burned several stores and shops, including American of-
fice; loss about $35,000; Sawyer & Gould's planing mill on Canal
street burned December 31 ; loss $8,000; rebuilt.
1869. — Charles A. King, clerk ; attempt to bore for oil three and one-
half miles from South Barre in August developed mineral spring ; en-
gine house built ; $2,300 turned over in June to the Monument Asso-
ciation, of which H. A. King was made president; E. K. Hart, secre-
tary, and J. M. Cornell, treasurer, and plans for monument secured.
1870. — Charles A. King, clerk; contingent fund, $2,000; $1,500 for
roads ; sewers placed in King, West and Park streets ; business interests
advertised or mentioned in village papers at this time were buildings
erecting or just finished — M. J. English, two story block ; Royce's
block, with hall ; Sickels's " Hemlock store " soon to give place to new
building, and W. D. Perry, Charles Baker, G. H. Sickels, J. Harris; J.
D. Cook and Sawyer & Gould all building residences ; C. F. Curtiss,
successor to Barnett & Curtiss, dry goods, 47 Main ; N. E. Gilbert, con-
fectionery and toys, two doors from post-ofifice ; Landauer & Brother,
dry goods. Main and Canal ; C. T. Foster, third store from Main, on
canal ; O. Royce & Sons, agricultural tools, hardware, etc., ^J Main ;
H, A. King, insurance, 1 1 Canal ; George P. Hopkins, photos, Sickels
block ; E. Bradshaw, hats and caps, 57 Main ; Batles & Millard, liquors,
two doors north of Bank of Albion ; Franklin S. Wood, nurseries ;
Mrs. W. W. Hufif, sewing machines, over G. H. Sickels's new store ;
George A. Porter, money to loan; L. W. Bingham, dry goods, 71
Main ; D. Hardie, books, P. O. newsroom ; Mrs. M. F. Kelsey, Wheeler
& Wilson sewing machines, one door west of Sickels ; J. T. Brown,
watches and jewelry, 6(j Main ; Mason, Barnard & Co. (A. J. Mason,
manager), closing out clothing, i Canal ; Rivenburg & Hopkins, dry
goods, 15 Canal; A. Turner's band; Wilbsr lumber yard ; George S.
Hutchinson & J. Bidleman, grocers ; Thomas Bell, insurance ; N. Z.
Sheldon, hats, 62 Main ; H. W. Preston, watches ; G. W. Ough, furniture
and crockery, " new brick block east side of Main "; P. J. Mathewson,
photos, successor to J. R. Porter, 71^ Granite block ; G. E. Lockwood,
clothing, 53^ Main ; A. H. Goodman, successor to Goodman & Farn-
ham, clothing and tailor, Burrows block ; A. B. Bailey, paints, fruit
262 Landmarks of
jars, etc., 6i Main ; Sickels & Co , "for past twenty years at Main street,
have removed to Bank street till new store can be erected "; C. C. Tan-
ner, Orleans Insurance agency ; J. L. Northrup, dentist, 54 Main ;
Doolittle & Straight, dentists, over Orleans County National Bank ;
Beckwith & Miller, stoves and hardware, 72 Main ; Darrow & Foster,
Densmore's block. Canal ; S. D. Shrouds, coal yard, opposite Harring-
ton House ; J. W. Randall, A. B. Botsford, (A. L. L. Potter homeo.),
physicians ; H D. & H. C. Tucker, Leroy R. Sanford, S. S. Spencer,
Henry Armstrong, lawyers; Charles D. Ross, insurance; M. Duffy,
barber; Warren's flour store, Sickels block ; B. June, shoes, 64 Main ;
Bingham Brothers, carpets, wall paper and dry goods, 71 Granite block;
Glidden & Waterman, hardware. 50 Main ; Littlefield & Fravel, tools,
64 Main. " The village of Albion wants its 6,000 inhabitants. Ever
since it was built it has grown steadily in size and importance, and let
any one now come within its limits on any day, and he cannot fail to
perceive the signs of commercial and social prosperity on every hand.
It is a Democratic stronghold. Main street is a miniature Broadway on
Saturdays." Philetus Bumpus, son of Jesse Bumpus, the pioneer, died
February 13; bill for swing bridge passed Legislature; Dr. Orson
Nichoson died May 7 ; Hiram Curtis, proprietor agricultural works,
died May 17 ; Elizur Hart, banker, died August 16
1 87 1. — John V. Lewis, clerk; Main street improved; arrangements
made to build new engine house on corner of Piatt and Canal streets,
two stories high, with basement and tower, and town hall in second
story ; steps taken to establish public library.
1872. — Isaac S. Signor, clerk; Norman Bedell died in October;
levied by tax $6,500.
1873 — D. N. Frye, clerk ; first cry for a water system ; Lemuel C.
Paine, druggist, died January 2 ; Hiram E. Sickels died at Albany Oc-
tober 3 i ; ground broken for new engine house in September, and corner
stone laid October 18 ; Albion Library Association organized March 24.
L874. — -John Cunneen, clerk ; soldiers' monument commenced ; vil-
lage hall subject discussed, and hall opened November 14 ; extension of
village limits agitated; Presbyterian church building; steps taken to
macadamize West State street from Clinton street to fair grounds, and
East State street from McKinstry street to Hall's Corners ; fire depart-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 263
ment reorganized ; eftbrt made to divide town of Barre ; Hon. Charles
H. Holmes died October i ; apples $1.95 per barrel.
1875. — F. G. Beach, clerk; scenery put into village hall, and build-
ing dedicated by Rochester Opera Company March 21 ; new depot
erected ; $8,000 voted for contingent fund ; resolved to raise $800 for
hook and ladder truck ; meetings in December at Two ]5ridges and
Fairhaven to organize railroad from Batavia to Oak Orchard Harbor.
1876. — J. J. Larwood, clerk ; hook and ladder truck purchased in
March ; George A. Porter died May 9 ; Union School building erected ;
$6,000 voted to improve streets ; $2,000 contingent fund.
1877. — J.J. Larwood, clerk ; $6,000 road fund; $500 divided be-
tween fire companies; $2,500 contingent fund.
1878. — J. J. Larwood, clerk; Central steam flouring mill erected on
Main street by John H. Denio and the Messrs. Collins ; Dr. William Noble
died April 18; Waldo Joslyn, merchant, and Nelson W Butts, teacher,
died February i ; new high school building finished and dedicated No-
vember 9; John N. Proctor, president Board of Education; Charles A,
Danolds & Son built new flouring mill at Eagle Harbor.
1879. — New village charter passed in March; H. C. Tucker, police
justice; Sylvester King, chief of police, two officers and two night
watchmen; March 26, voted to raise $3,000 for steamer and $2,000 for
hose, and same bought and tested August 23 ; Albion Steam Fire com
pany No. 2 organized; Dr. William McKennan died August 21 ; total
village receipts, $19,25391; road fund paid out, $4,01 i. 71 ; contin-
gent expenses, $2,470.73; school fund, $11,09440; fire, $340.28; R.
S. Burrows, banker, died March 30. By the act of incorporation passed
this year the corporate limits were made to include
All that district of country in the towns of Albion and Gaines in the county of Orleans,
and being lot number 35 and parts of lots numbered 26, 27. 28, 34 and 36 in township
15 and range 1, and lot numbered 3 and parts of lots numbered 2 and 4 in township
number 15 and range 2 of the Holland company's land. Also that part of the town of
Albion aforesaid, being part of lot number 18. township number 15 and first range of
the Holland Land company's land and now owned by the village of Albion and used
by said village for the burial of the dead and known as Mount Albion cemetery. The
act also provided that "whenever any additional land shall be purchased by the village
of Albion contiguous to said cemetery for the uses and purposes of a cemetery, the land
so purchased shall thereupon become and form a portion of the corporate limits of the
village of Albion."
2G4 LANDMARKS OF
1884. — S. C. Bessac, clerk: Stone sewer in Albion street con-
structed, cost $1,600; one night policeman; contingent fund, $9,000;
$7,000 for schools.
1885. — Reservoir built for $800; contingent and road fund, $9,000,
1886. — Resolved to enter into contract with some company for the
construction of water works; April 22 resolved to entertain application
from Bassett Brothers and others to organize a water works company,
pursuant to law and to agreement between said proposed company and
the village of Albion ; company must give bond for $15,000; accepted
and agreement executed July 25 ; later the Lattin spring was approved.
1887. — Appropriations, gas for streets, $1,275 ; police, $800 ; streets,
$500; salaries, $825; contingent fund, $3,000; schools, general,
$2,500 ; building, $2,000.
1888. — Electric light company organized; October ii, resolution
adopted accepting the water works, first contract dated August i ; ac-
cepted for fire protection at $3,000 annually, beginning October i ;
company required to maintain signal bell between fire department and
pump house ; October 29, George B. Bassett complimented by resolu-
tion; Charles Diem died in November; annual estimates: making and
improving streets, $2,000; water rents, $3,000; police justice, $600;
contingent, $3,000.
1889 — East Bank street extended ; November 11, Edwin L. Wage
appointed sewer commissioner for five years, J. E. Barrett for four
years, J. H. White for three years, Peter Gallarnau for two years and
Franklin Clarke for one year ; Wage and White did not qualify and
W. G. Swan and George VV. Barrett were appointed in their places,
1890. — George L. Baker, clerk; Clark D. Knapp, village attorney;
estimated tax to be raised, gross, $18,625 ; Edwin Van Stone ap-
pointed chief of police and poundmaster ; Sandstone Hose Company
admitted a member of fire department; water mains extended ; Park
street sewer laid.
1 891 — Estimated budget, $19950; schools, $7,200; May 4 com
mittee wanted permission to extend water mains ; pound lot sold; elec-
tric fire alarm instituted ; Hart Protectives housed in Maloney building
in January; W. C. Ramsdale, village clerk. 1892 — Estimated budget,
$19,500; steamer advertised for sale in April. 1893 — Bailey street
ORLEANS COUNTY. 265
water main extended; stone crusher purchased. 1893 — Estimated
budget. $2,300.
The boards of trustees of Albion village, and the presidents of the
same, have been as follows :
1829 — Alexis Ward, president; Orson Nichoson, William Bradner, Freeman Clarke,
Franklin Fenton.
1830— Alexis Ward, president ; William Bradner, Franklin Fenton, Hugh McCurd}',
Harry Gilmore.
1831 — Henry R. Curtis, president; Hugh McCurdy, Lewis Warner, Franklin Fenton,
Philip Nichols.
1832 — Henry R. Curtis, president; Hugh McCurdy, Lewis Warner, Isaac F. Bene-
dict, Roswell Clark.
1833 — Harvey Goodrich, president; John Hubbard, Freeman Clarke, Hugh Mc-
Curdy, Abraham B. Mills.
1884 — Harvey Goodrich, president; John Hubbard, Hugh McCurdy, Rodney A.
Torry, Alderman Butts.
1835 — Harvey Goodrich, president ; Hugh McCurdy, John Chamberlain, Hiram
Cowles, John B. Lee.
1836 — Harvey Goodrich, president; John B. Lee, Benjamin L. Bessac, Franklin Fen-
ton, Coddington W. Swan.
1837 — Benjamin L. Bessac, president ; John B. Lee, Abraham Cautine, Henry R.
Curtis, Orson Nichoson.
1838 — Jonathan Elkins, president; Benjamin L. Bessac, John Boardman, Gideon
Hard, Truxton Burrell.
1839 — Benjamin L, Bessac, president ; Abraham Cantine, Jonathan Ivingsley, Calvin
Church, Alderman Butts.
1840 — Arad Thomas, president; Jonathan Kingsley, Coddington W. Swan, David
Holt, jr., Elijah Dana.
1841 — Arad Thomas, president; Elijah Dana, Roswell Clark, Aruna Smith, Hiram
Baker.
1842 — Arad Thomas, president ; Roswell Clark, Jonathan Kingsley, Asher Flint, jr.,
Abner Sheldon.
1843 — Henry A. King, president ; Charles Baker, John B. Lee, Lorenzo Burrows,
John Boardman.
1844 — Henry A. King, president ; Lorenzo Burrows, Henry J. Van Deusen, Abra-
ham B. Mills, William V. N. Barlow.
1845 — Henry A. King, president; Zephaniah Clark, Abraham B. Mills, Jonathan
Edgcomb, Asher Flint, Jr.
1846 — Henry A. King, president ; George H. Stone, Lewis Warner, Robert Lewis
Lorenzo Burrows.
1847 — George H. Stone, president; Seth L. King, Roswell Clark, William G. Gard-
ner, Aruna Smith.
34
266 LANDMARKS OF
1848 — George H. Stone, president ; Benjamin L. Bessac, Aruna Smith, William But-
ler, Seth L. King.
1849 — Joseph M. Cornell, president ; Lewis Pullman, Roswell Clark, Charles H.
Moore, Ze^-ah Webb.
1850 — Charles H. Moore, president ; William K. McAllister, Erastus Root, A. R
Quimby, Horace Washburn.
1851— Henry J. Sickels, president ; Roswell Clark, David Bettis, John B. Lee,
Charles Baker.
1852 — Joseph M. Cornell, president ; Charles Baker, Henry A. King, Roswell Clark,
Lewis Pullman.
1853 — Joseph M. Cornell, president ; Henry A. King, Aruna Smith, Roswell Clark,
Charles Baker.
1854 — John H. White, president ; Aruna Smith, Henry A. King, Charles Baker,
Roswell Clark.
1855— John H. White, president ; Henry Sears, Harvey Cxoodrich, Harlow W. Lee,
David Smith.
1856 — Henry L. Achilles, president; Henry Sears, Nelson W. Butts, Waldo Joslyn,
Andrew J. Chester.
1857 — Henry Sears, president ; N. W. Butts, Jerome Lee, Waldo Joslyn. F. A. Day.
1858— Arad Thomas, president ; P. W. Collins, Robert P. Bordwell, Willard F. War.
ren, Jerome Lee.
1859 — Henry J. Sickels, president ; R. P. Bordwell, Howard Abeel, Hiram W. Lewis,
Calvin G. Beach.
I860— Walker Mattinson, president ; A. F. R. Braley, Dan H. Cole, H. J. Sickels.
R. P. Bordwell.
1861 — Roswell Clark, president ; John Smith, Isaac Lee, George L. Burrows, Jona-
than Blott.
1862 — Henry A. King, president; Nelson W. Butts, Howard Abeel, Simon Adler,
John N. Proctor.
1863 — Henry A. King, president; Andrew J. Chester, Alexander Stewart, Jeremiah
Smith, Cornelius Ward.
1864 — John N. Proctor, president; Walker Mattinson, Simon Adler, Seth L. King,
Jerome Lee.
1865— H.J. Van Deusen, president; H. A. King, George S. Hutchinson, A. B. Bailey
Merritt Brooks.
1866 — H.J. Van Deusen, president; H. A. King, G. S. Hutchinson, A. B. Bailey,
Henry J. Danforth.
1867— Charles H. Moore, president; Ferdinand A. Day, A. J. Chester, Jesse P. Bum-
pus, Patrick Glenn.
1868— Edwin Porter, president ; Simon Adler, Thomas S. Porter, Jesse P. Bumpus,
G. W. Ough.
1869 — Seth L. King, president; G. S. Hutchiuson, George W. Wilcox, Martin E.
Rawson, Edwin R. Tanner.
1870— H. A. King, president; Howard Abeel, J. N. Proctor, Owen McCarthy, Isaac
Gould.
ORLEANS C0UNT7. 267
1871 — J. N. Proctor, president ; H. A. King, Howard Abeel, Horatio A. Ball, E.
Kirke Hart.
1872— John Bidleman, president; G. W. Ough, Isaac Gould, John A. Higgerson,
Charles Vandekar.
1873 — John H. White, president ; Simon Adler, Lewis M. Loss, Georee L.Baker,
H. J. Reynolds.
1874— John H. White, president ; Simon Adler, L. M. Loss, G. W. Ough, G. M.
Waterman.
1875 — George S. Hutchinson, president; Nelson Warner, H. W. Preston, E. R. Tan-
ner, Thomas Hales.
1876 — George M. Waterman, president; William S. Pierson, William B. Dye, John
Bidleman, Thomas Hales.
1877 — H. J. Danforth, president ; John Bidleman, G. M. Waterman, David Hardie,
L. D. Mitchell.
1878 — David Young, president; Simon Adler, Ashley Blake, G. M. Waterman, Mor-
ris Landauer.
1879 — (Under the new charter the president is elected for three years and the trust-
ees for four years each) J. N. Proctor, president; E, K. Hart, four years; J. E. Bar-
rett, three years ; P. Gallarneau, two years; Hiram W. Preston, one year.
1880— J. N. Proctor, president; E. K. Hart, J. E. Barrett, P. Gallarneau, Edward C.
Cole.
1881— J.N. Proctor, president; E. K Hart, J. E. Barrett, George W. Barrell, Edward
C. Cole.
1882— William B. Dye, elected president ; E. K. Hart, George W. Barrell, George B.
Church, Edward C. Cole.
1883— W. B. Dye, president; George W. Barrell, George B. Church, E. K. Hart.
Edward C. Cole.
1884— William B. Dye, president; George W. Barrell, W. S. Danolds, George B.
Church, E. K. Hart.
1885— William B. Dye, re-elected president ; Charles Diem, E. K. Hart, W. S,
Danolds, George B. Church.
1886— William B Dye, president ; George B. Church, E. K. Hart, W. S. Danolds,
Charles Diem.
1887 — William B. Dye, president; W. S. Danolds, Charles Diem, H.Eugene English,
George B. Church.
1888 — William B. Dye, re-elected president; H. Eugene English, George B. Church,
Robert W. Van Stone, Charles Diem.
1889 — William B. Dye, president; H. Eugene English, Robert W. Van Stone, Lorenzo
D. Leonard, George B. Church.
1890 — William B. Dye, president; R. W. Van Stone, L. D. Leonard, H. Eugene
English, G. L. Merrill.
1891— H. Eugene English, elected president ; R. W. Van Stone, G. L. Merrill, Patrick
Maloney, L. D. Leonard.
1892— H. Eugene English, president ; John W. Hart, G. L. Merrill. Charles C. Downs,
Patrick Maloney.
268 LANDMARKS OF
1893— H. Eugene English, president; John W. Hart, C. C. Downs, George H. Wil-
son, appointed in place of L. D. Leonard, deceased ; Patrick Maloney.
1894 — H Eugene English, re-elected president; John Beyhan, C. C. Downs, John
W. Hart, Patrick Maloney.
The other village officers for 1894 are :
Thomas A. Kirby, police justice ; James E. Barrett, Ozro H. Bates, Ashley Blake,
assessors; G-eorge S. Hutchinson, treasurer ; W. C. Ramsdale, clerk ; Richard Dumphy,
street commissioner ; Henry Brmk, collector ; Adam Shoemaker, James A. Kennedy,
John Cain, fire wardens ; Sylvester King, Arthur Harris, Dwight M. Brush, Board of
Health; Dr. Daniel H. Brennan, health physician.
Budget for 1894: For improvement of streets, $3,500; water rent-
als, $3,550 ; police justice's salary, $480 ; contingent expenses, $5,470;
fire department, $1,000; schools, $9,000; total tax. $23,000. Assessed
valuation of real and personal estate $2,214,965 ; population about
5,000.
In 1829 the Board of Trustees of Albion village adopted an ordinance
defining the powers and duties of the fire wardens, and prescribing regu-
lations to be observed by the inhabitants. The only means for extin-
guishing fires then were the leather fire buckets, which each householder
was required to keep in case of fire. In 1831 Champion Engine Com-
pany, was organized. The first engine with which this body was pro-
vided was what was called, from the shape of the spout or pipe on the
top of it, a goose neck engine. Subsequently an engine of more modern
construction was purchased from Button & Co., of Waterford, N. Y.
With this machine the first hose cart was procured. In 1838 the trust-
ees voted $2,000 to build an engine house. Spartan Hook and Ladder
Company was organized in 1843. Subsequently several of what were
known as Babcock fire extinguishers were purchased for the use of the
hook and ladder companies. A chemical engine was afterward procured
and it is still in use. In 1879 a steam fire engine was bought and
remained in use till the water works were completed, since which time
suitable hose has been sufficient. The hose and hook and ladder com-
panies were then made more efficient and now constitute one of the best
volunteer fire departments in western New York. These companies
are : Young America Hook and Ladder Company No. i, George
Whelan, foreman ; C. D. Knapp Hose Company No, 2, Lewis Gallar-
neau, foreman ; Hose Company No. 3, Hart Protectives, Conrad Rem-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 269
inger, foreman ; Warner Chemical Company No. 4, Philip Stock, cap
tain ; Dye Hose Company No. 5, George Lee. foreman ; Sandstone
Hose Company No. 6, John Cuddy, foreman. The chief engineers of
the department since 1881 have been: Albert Achilles, 1882; George
Waterman, 1883-84; George N. Taylor, 1885; Harry Hendricks,
1886-87; James Bailey, 1888-89; Frank O'Brien, 1890-91 ; Ward S.
Buell, 1892-93 ; Frank P. Maloney, 1894.
In 1873 a lot was purchased on the northwest corner of Bank and
Piatt streets, and a tasteful and capacious brick building erected upon
it for a village hall, which opened November 14, 1874. In the second
story is a large auditorium for meetings and entertainments. The
ground floor is used for village offices, a public reading room, and for
the storage of the fire apparutus.
The Albion Water Works Company was organized in 1887. A con-
tract was made with the corporation for a supply of water fire pro-
tection and street and sewer flushing, and the company bound itself to
supply pure water for domestic and sanitary purposes. These works
were completed in the autumn of 1888. The supply of water is ob-
tained from a gang of twelve wells north from the canal, and a mile
west from the village. Here is a pumping station with two engines,
each having a daily capacity of one million gallons. A street water
tower, seventy five feet in height, and having a capacity of 250,000
gallons, was built near the south bounds of the corporation and a few
rods west from Main street The top of this tower is 160 feet above
the level of Bank street, giving a pressure of sixty- five pounds to the
square inch. Ten miles of cast iron water mains have been laid, lead-
ing from this tower to all parts of the village, and loi hydrants have
been set, each with two outlets capable of throwing inch streams to a
height of 100 feet. There are now 540 private consumers. The stock
of the company is $100,000, and tlie value of the plant is $105,000. It
was placed in operation by Messrs. Bassett Brothers, of Buffalo. The
treasurer is George B. Bassett, of Buffalo, and the local superintendent
is Oscar D. Eddy.
In 1856 the Albion Gas Light Company was incorporated with a
capital of $30 000, which was subsequently increased to $40,000, Ros-
well Clark was president and V. V. Bullock superintendent. A plant
270 LANDMARKS OF
was established in an old tannery building, near the foot of Ingersoll
street, and mains were laid so that gas was first distributed November
25, 1858. At first the length of the mains aggregated no more than a
mile and a half, and gas was furnished at $5.00 per 1,000 meters. From
a few street lamps the number increased to about sixty when electric
lights were introduced, and the annual consumption aggregated 2,000,-
000 feet. The original building occupied by the plant was replaced by
the present brick structure in 1 870. In June, 1894, a majority of the
stock passed into the control of New York parties. The new president
is Andrew L. Fennessy, of New York city, and the local superinten-
dent is William R. Curry. The works have a capacity of about 16,000
cubic feet of gas every 24 hours. There are about five miles of mains
and some 200 consumers.
August 37, 1888, Philip K. Stern proposed to put into operation five
arc and eiglity-two incandescent electric lamps, with sufficient power
to run them, the former twenty nights each month, and the latter every
night, for $2,000 per year, but his proposition was not accepted. It
opened an animated agitation of the question, however, and in the sum-
mer of 1889 active steps were taken to organize a company. Early in
the year 1890 the Albion Electric Light Company was incorporated
with the following officers and stockholders: William G. Swan, presi-
dent ; E. K. Hart, treasurer ; and G. W. Barrell, secretary. The
works were immediately erected on the south side of the canal, and are
equipped with two Westinghouse compound condensing engines of
forty- five horse power each, two boilers of 210 horse power, one 750
and one 500 light incandescent dynamos, one si.xty arc lamp, 2,000
candle power alternating current dynamo, and other apparatus. There
are now fifty arc street lamps and 2,346 incandescent lamps in opera-
tion, supplying 120 patrons. There are twelve miles of incandescent,
and thirteen and one-half of arc wire. The capital is about $45,000,
owned by William G. Swan, president; G. T. S Focte, secretary, and
Charles E. Hart, treasurer. The superintendent is J. Herbert Rollins.
In the summer of 1890 the authorities ordered a survey of the village
for a system of sewers. This was made and the maps and plans were
approved by the State Board of Health, but so far the system has not
been put in operation.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 271
It is not known when the first school district in the village of Albion
was organized. A record now in existence shows that in 1826 school
district No. i of the town of Barre had within its limits 105 children of
school age. The public schools of the village continued under the
common school system without special registration or change"till 1876.
A more complete sketch of the educational institutions of Albion ap-
pears in a previous chapter.
Initiatory steps were taken November 27, 1871, towards establishing
a public library, and in December it was suggested that the school
hbrary be added. During the year 1872 entertainments were given for
the purpose of raising funds and on March 24, 1873, the Albion Library
Association was incorporated, the first trustees being E. K. Hart, John
A. Straight, F. D Ingersoll, A. B. Bailey, C. A. King, J. V. Lewis,
and G. F. Sawyer. Five hundred shares of stock of $10 each were
issued and taken, and by July of that year the association had over
1,000 volumes. The library was opened to the public in rooms in the
Hemlock Sickels block on Main street on August 6, 1873. This library
was afterward burned with the block. A village library now occupies
quarters in the Union Free School building in connection with the
regular school library, which contains 4,000 volumes. The public
hbrary comprises 2,500 volumes, and both are under the supervision ot
the Board of Education. A portion of this library was purchased with
insurance money from the old library. In 1892 a charter was granted
under the laws of the State to J. H. White, George W. Ough, Charles
H. Moore, I. M. Thompson, John Cunneen, E. T. Coann, E. K. Hart,
O. H. Taylor, and Isaac S. Signor, members of the Board of Educa-
tion, and their successors in office, and the library is now a village
library under the State law, subject to the rules and regulations of the
Regents of the University.
The Albion Historical Society was instituted in 1871 chiefly through
the active instrumentality of Rev. Dr. Walsworth, then pastor of the
Presbyterian church. At the meetings of this society papers and
essays were presented and oral discussions were had on historical and
literary topics, and these exercises were so fruitful in good results that
the society soon came to number more than a hundred members, too
many for the greatest mutual profit that might be derived from such an
272 LANDMARKS OF
association. It was therefore deemed proper to divide the society, and
to hmit the membership to fifty. Accordingly, in 1876,
The Albion Historical Conversation Club was formed, and both
societies have since been highly prosperous, and they are exceedingly
popular among the most highly cultivated gentlemen and ladies of the
place. The last named limits its exercises, as indicated, by its name, to
conversations on and oral discussions of such topics as are deemed of
historical, literary, or scientific interest The first president of the
original society was Rev. Dr. Walsworth, followed by George H. Sickels,
Irving M. Thompson, and Freeman A. Greene, who now occupies the
position at present. E. T. Coann has been president of the Conversa-
tion Club from its organization.
Mount Albion Cemetery. — During more than thirty years after
the first settlement in Albion interments were made in the dififerent
burial places that were established in the vicinity, in accordance with
the custom of those times. The people of this village buried their dead
in the old graveyard near the stone mill ; but as time went on the un-
suitableness as well as the narrow limits of this burial place became evi-
dent. At that time, too, people were coming more than ever before
awake to the propriety of selecting for places of sepulture localities, the
natural beauty of which rendered them desirable for this purpose, and
of establishing cemetery associations on a financial basis that would
render certain the proper care of these cemeteries in future time. The
project of starting such a cemetery here was for some time talked of,
but no definite action was taken till early in 1842, when a meeting was
held and a committee consisting of Arad Thomas and Lorenzo Burrows
was appointed to formulate such amendments to the village charter as
would authorize the trustees to purchase land without the limits of the
corporation for cemetery purposes. Instead of proposing amendments
the committee drew up an entire new charter, which was passed by
the Legislature April i, 1842. Soon afterward, at another meeting of
the citizens, Alexis Ward and Lorenzo Burrows w ere appointed a com-
mittee to select a locality for the proposed cemetery. After the lapse
of nearly a year they decided to recommend the ground since occu-
pied, some two miles east and south from the village. They learned
the terms on which the property could be purchased, and at a meeting
ORLEANS COUNTY. 273
called for the purpose made their report^ and recommended an im-
mediate purchase. The meeting ahiiost unanimously adopted the re-
port and passed a resolution authorizing the trustees to make the pur-
chase, which they did in May, 1843. The ground included twenty-five
acres, and was purchased of Jacob Annis and Lyman O. Patterson at
forty dollars per acre. It consisted of sand hills and glens, and a por-
tion of it had never been improved. A more beautiful locality for a
cemetery could not be found in this region. The cemetery was laid
out and was dedicated on the 7th of September, 1843. Lots were
at once sold, and the sales aggregated an amount nearly equal to the
cost of the tract. The first lot graded and occupied was prepared for
the burial of Coddington VV. Swan, esq., in October, 1843. During the
first nineteen years the cemetery was in charge of the trustees of the
village. The grounds were enclosed, but the improvements in the way
of grading and ornamentation of lots was done by the owners of such
lots, without supervision, and what little was done was not in accord-
ance with any regular plan. A receiving vault was built, and also a
keeper's house.
The necessity for a reform in the administration of the affairs of the
cemetery became apparent, and in 1862 an amendment to the charter
was procured authorizing the appointment by the trustees of three
commissioners to manage these affairs, and defining their powers and
duties. These commissioners are appointed one each year, and each
holds office during three years. The first commissioners were : Lem-
uel C. Paine, for one year; Lorenzo Burrows, two years; and Henry J.
Sickels, three years. These have been succeeded as vacancies have
occurred by death or otherwise, by Charles H. Moore, Hon. E. Kirke
Hart, William Hallock and others. The present commissioners are :
William Hallock, president; William G. Swan, treasurer ; and C. M. C.
Reynolds. The secretary is W. C. Ramsdale.
The first act of the commissioners was the appointment of Michael
Hanley as superintendent of the grounds. Under an arrangement with
the trustees he had previously occupied this position, and was recently
succeeded in it by John Bidelman. In 1874 fifteen acres were added
on the west side of the original purchase, and in 1884 thirty acres lying
west from that were purchased, making a total of seventy acres. The
274 LANDMARKS OF
grounds are beautifully laid put and ornamented, and are traversed in
all directions by walks and drives. A chapel has been built for burial
services, and in the rear of this, and opening into it, is a capacious re-
ceiving vault. An acre of land on the opposite side of the road from
the cemetery has been purchased, and on it a house and barn have been
erected, and the house on the cemetery lancj, which the sexton previ-
ously occupied, has been removed. This cemetery is the place of burial,
not only for the people of Albion, but for those of a large region adja-
cent. Many costly and imposing monuments have been erected by
surviving friends in honor of those interred here, and on the highest
ground in the cemetery stands a turreted monument eighty- five feet in
height, erected in honor of the soldiers and sailors of the county who
were killed or died in service. " This was erected in 1874-76. An
association was formed for the purpose in 1864 and an attempt was
made to raise the necessary funds for its erection. It was slow work,
and the amount raised was small. Finally an organization, which in
1868 was incorporated as the ' Orleans County Monument Association,'
was formed. The corporators were : E. T. Coann, H. J. Vandusen, E.
K. Hart, J. M. Cornell, C. G. Beach, J. N. Proctor, C. A. Harrington,
J. H. White, Walker Mattison, S. S. Spencer, H. A. King, H. E.
Sickels. The work was commenced in 1874, the association then hav-
ing on hand about $3,000, which amount was supplemented by $2,000
from the Cemetery Association. The monument was dedicated in the
spring of 1876. From its top, which is reached by spiral stairs inside,
and at an altitude of 400 feet above the waters of Lake Ontario,
may be seen the shores of Canada on the north, the villages of Le Roy
and Batavia on the south, Holley and Brockport on the east, and the
mists of Niagara on the west. On tablets on the inner walls of the
monument are inscribed the names of the soldier dead of Orleans
county."
The Ladies' Union Charitable Society was organized September 9,
1864, to aid in contributing relief to soldiers' families in the village and
vicinity. The first officers were Mrs. Julia A. Smith, president; Mrs.
Spencer, first vice-president; Mrs. Charles Harrington, second vice-
president; Mrs William G. Swan, treasurer, and Miss Lena Graves,
secretary. The first Board of Managers consisted of Mrs. Lorenzo
^.^.jI^^
ORLEANS C0UNT7. 275
Burrows, Mrs. Roswell S. Burrows, Mrs. J. Roraback, Mrs. Graves, Mrs.
A. J. Grover, Mrs. William Beckwith and Mrs. H. W. Preston. Dur-
ing the first year it aided thirty-five families, and so important a factor
did it become as a charitable institution that it continued its operations
after the war closed, and on April 19, 1883, was incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York. Since then the society has received
two legacies — one of $50 from Abram H. Goodman and another of
$100 from Mrs. Julia Smith. The present membership is about forty,
and from twenty- five to forty families are aided each year Mrs. Will-
iam G. Swan served as treasurer from the organization till 1887, since
which time she has been the secretary. Mrs. G. H. Sickels, sr , the
present president, succeeded Mrs. S. P. Morehouse in that position in
1883. The other officers are Mrs. H. W. Preston, first vice president ;
Mrs. Charles E. Millspaugh, second vice president.
The Bank of Orleans was incorporated April 30, 1834, with a capital
stock of $300,000. It was the first banking institution in Orleans
county, and was established by Roswell S. and Lorenzo Burrows under
the so-called safety fund system. Its place of business was in a build-
ing on the present site of the Orleans County National bank, and it con-
tinued in operation until it suspended in 1857.
The Bank of Albion, organized and incorporated under the general
banking law, commenced business July 15, 1839, and, according to its
charter, was to continue operations until January i, 2039. December
23, 1863, however, it was reorganized and incorporated as the First Na-
tional Bank of Albion, with a capital of $100,000, which was the first
national bank formed in Orleans county. Of both these banks Roswell
S. Burrows owned a majority of the stock, and of the latter he was
president until his death in 1879, when Alexander Stewart succeeded to
the position. He died in 1884, and Albert S. Warner became presi-
dent. The bank failed in 1884.
The Orleans County National Bank was incorporated August 9, 1865,
with a capital of $ioo,000, and with the following officers : Elizur Hart,
president; J. M. Cornell, cashier. Upon the death of Mr. Hart Mr.
Cornell became president, and was succeeded at his death in 1890 by
Hon. E. Kirke Hart. He died in February, 1893, when his son, Charles
E. Hart, became the executive officer and still holds the position. J.
276 LANDMARKS OF
W. Cornell is cashier and George T. S. Foote is teller. This bank has
now a capital stock of $100,000 and a surplus of $80,000, and is re-
garded as one of the most substantial financial institutions in Western
New York. Its place of business is on the southwest corner of Main
and West Rank streets.
Coann's Bank. — October 11, 1870, E. T. Coann commenced business
as a private banker. His first place of business was on the north side
of Bank street, a few doors east from Main. Thence, in 1875, he re-
moved to the Granite block and subsequently to Swan's block. In 1884
the increase of his business had come to require more ample accommo-
dations, and he removed to the place that had been occupied by the
First National Bank of Albion in the Burrows block, on the east side
of Main street, where he has since been located. E. T. Coann is presi-
dent and R. T. Coann is cashier, and C. R. Sawyer is teller.
In 1833 Ward, Clark & Rathbun built the stone grist mill where the
canal crosses Sandy Creek. They operated it for a time and were suc-
ceeded by Alexis Ward. It then became the property of Ward & Wil-
son, who were succeeded by Orson Tousley and John B. Lee. James
Lee succeeded Mr. Tousley in this firm, and afterward Jerome Lee, son
of James, became the sole owner. The property then passed to Hannah
Smith, who, in 1885, sold it to its present owner, George Sprague, who
refitted it in 1886.
In 1877 John H. Denio built the Central flouring mill. It was a
stone structure three stories in height, and it had four runs of stones.
It was conducted for a time by Collins & Collins, but it has ceased to
be used as a mill, and the building is utilized for a shoe manufactory
and for mercantile purposes. It stands on the east side of Main street,
between State and Bank streets. R. W. Van Stone has a small frame
grist mill on Sandy Creek, in the east part of the village.
About 1845 Hiram Curtis built a foundry on the southeast corner of
Main and Orchard streets, north from the canal. In addition to a gen-
eral foundry business he engaged in the manufacture of plows, which
were long in general use among the farmers of Orleans county. Dur-
ing the latter years of his life he also manufactured mowing machines.
He died in 1870, and for the period of a year the business was con-
ducted by the administrator of his estate. In the spring of 1871 the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 277
Curtis Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $50,000,
and they purchased the Curtis property. They engaged in the manu-
facture of agricultural implements, including mowers and reapers, and
to some extent of general machinery. The works have been twice de-
stroyed by fire, but were each time promptly rebuilt. The company
failed a year or two ago, and the property has been purchased by Clark
& Willyoung, who have since conducted the establishment.
In 1 88 1 H. F. Cady built a dry dock near where the canal crosses
the west branch of Sandy Creek. This consists of two slips, each capa-
ble of receiving boats of the largest size drawing seven feet of water.
At this dock Mr. Cady follows the business of building and repairing
boats. He has built eleven here, and has made repairs on an average
of 500 each year. From ten to twenty hands are employed. Mr. Cady
has built two other hydraulic docks on the Rochester level — one at
Lockport and another at Middleport. He is the oldest boat builder on
the canal, and since 1846 has constructed a total of 290 canal boats.
Sears Brothers' wagon and carriage manufactory was established in a
part of their present building by their father, Henry Sears, in the fall
of 1840. The present proprietors assumed sole charge upon the death
of the father in February, 1893.
The Rogers evaporator and cider-mill was built in 1886 by L. R.
Rogers, on McKinstry street, in the eastern part of the village. It was
at first an evaporator only, but machinery for making cider was added
in 1889, and a large business is done in both branches.
The Blanchard Vinegar Company was organized in the autumn of 1 889
by seven citizens of Albion, with a paid-up capital of $16,000, which
has since been increased to $25,000, all paid up. The company pur-
chased a plant which Kirk S. Blanchard had established in the preced-
ing summer. The business of this company is the manufacture of cider
and pure cider vinegar, and the evaporation of fruit. The works have
a capacity for producing daily 300 barrels of cider and three tons of
evaporated fruit. Eighty hands are employed during the working sea-
son. The officers of the company are William Hallock, president; Kirk
D. Sheldon, vice-president; Webster D. Hatch, secretary, and E. L.
Wage, treasurer.
278 LANDMARKS OF
September i, 1888, the Albion Shoe Manufacturing Company was
organized with a capital of $10,000. William G. Swan was president
until December, 1890, when D. W. Blood and George W. Potter pur-
chased the business. December 7, 1892, Mr. Blood became sole owner,
and has since conducted it. Children's and infants' shoes are made ex-
clusively.
In 1 88 1 E. D. Skinner erected a warehouse opposite the depot.
This was burned in 1885, and the present structure was built on the
same site, and to it a feed-mill was added in 1890. Mr. Skinner carries
on business as a wholesale dealer in produce and as a retail dealer in
coal, wood and feed.
The Albion Mineral King Spring was opened on the old Bailey farm
by its present owner, John H. Denio, in 1889. The water from this
spring compares favorably with the celebrated " steel water " and " iron
springs" of Pyrmont and Wiesbaden in Germany, and is not dissimilar
as a drink to the Apollinaris water of that country. A confirmed anal-
ysis of this water presents the following medicinal character : Water
Alkaline and Chalybeate. One gallon of the same contains the min-
eral substances named and the quantity of each and all as specified :
Sulphate of Iron 7.75
Sulphate of Magnesia 2.50
Carbonate of Calcium 2
Sulphate of Sodium 5.25
Phosphate of Allumina 2
Chloride of Stanus 1.25
Organic Matter 2.55
Potassium Arseniate traces
Carbonic Acid G-as ; , fair quantity
Grains : 23.00
The water is bottled and used for medicinal and table purposes.
C. M. Mallory started a factory for the manufacture of the "Victor"
carpet stretcher in January, 1889. He also makes cabinets and tables,
and occupies a building 36 by lOO feet, an engine house 22x25, and a
storage 20x50, and when in full operation employs fifteen to twenty
men. Mr. Mallory is also lessee of the Albion Mineral King Spring.
In 1887 B. Frank Morgan succeeded Warner & Sheldon as proprie-
tor of a warehouse near the depot, and in 1891 he admitted Lyman S.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 279
Linson under the firm name of Morgan & Linson. Mr. Morgan built
their present elevator in 1888. The firm are extensive dealers in coal,
mason's supplies, and produce, and handle large quantities of beans
each season.
The First Presbyterian Church of Albion. — The First Congregational
Society, of Barre was organized at the house of Joseph Hart on the 5th
of November, 18 16. Some of the members of this church preferred
Presbyterian form of government, and the village of Newport had begun
to give promise of future importance. It was therefore resolved to
form a Presbyterian Church here, which was done on the 22d of July,
1824, and the place of worship of the Congregational Society was
changed to "Benton's Corners," two miles south. The constituent
members of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion were : Jedediah
Phelps and Deborah, his wife ; Joseph Hart and Lucy, his wife ; Ebe-
nezer Rogers and Elizabeth, his wife ; Harvey Goodrich and Lucy, his
wife; Franklin Cowdry and Amanda, his wife ; James Smith and wife,
Artemas Thayer, Fay Clark, Lavina Bassett, and Miss Betsey Phelps
In 1849 ^^''- Phelps, in whose house the church was organized, died at
the age of ninety years. One week after the organization of this
church Jedediah Phelps, Joseph Hart, and Harvey Goodrich were
chosen elders, and Joseph Hart deacon. On that occasion Alpheus
Barrett, the first person received into the church on profession of faith,
was admitted. Mr. and Mrs. Milton W. Hopkins were received by let-
ter, and their infant daughter (Flora Ann) was baptized — the first in-
fant baptism. At the close of 1824, or six months after the organiza-
tion of the church, the number of members was twenty- two. The
place of worship was then a school house standing on the west side of
Main street, a few rods north of the railroad. Subsequently it was at times
held in a barn till 1827, when an arrangement was made for the use of
the court house. In 1826 the society connected with this church was
first organized. Sixty- six persons subscribed their names, agreeing to
become supporters of public worship in connection with this church.
Of these none are living. In 1830 the first move was made in the
direction of building a house of worship. In February of that year,
at a meeting held for the purpose, it was resolved to erect a brick
church edifice, the cost of which should be within $4,000. The corner
280 LANDMARKS OF
stone was laid in August of that year ; the basement was used for serv-
ice in October; and the house was dedicated in the autumn of 1831.
It stood on the west side of Main, between State and Park streets, and
in 1845 it was sold to the Episcopalians, who still occupy it. In 1845-
46 the society erected their second church building. It stands on the
north side of State street, opposite the court house, and has been con-
verted into a chapel, a large Sunday-school room, and a suite of parlors.
The expense of erecting this building was $9,160, and among its fur-
nishings were an organ and bell costing $1,950. East from this, on
the corner of State and Piatt streets, stands the parsonage ; west, and
adjoining the brick church building, stands the large stone church on
the corner of State and Main streets. It was built in 1872, at a total
cost of $80,000. B. C. Deane, of Buffalo, was the contractor, and A.
J. Warner, of Rochester, the architect. The erection of this magnifi-
cent edifice was largely due to the munificence of Elizur Hart, who, in
his will, bequeathed to the society the sum of $50,000 for this purpose,
and an additional $5,000 as a permanent fund for tlie Sunday-school.
The church edifice is of Medina sandstone quarried from the immediate
vicinity, and is surmounted by a symmetrical spire. It is of the but-
tressed Gothic style of architecture, and stands on a lot purchased by
the society for $10,000. The interior is tastefully decorated and fur-
nished and supplied with a powerful pipe organ. The old brick par-
sonage was replaced by the present structure in 1893 at a cost of $20,-
000, a large part of which was subscribed by E. Kirk Hart and John
W, Hart. It is one of the finest parsonages in Western New York. E.
Kirk Hart, John W. Hart, and Jane E. Luther comprised the building
committee.
The pastors of this church have been •
Revs. William Johnson, Lewis Cheeseman, B. J. Lane, Luke Lyon, Gilbert Crawford,
F. D. Ward, E. R. Beadle, John Keep, John Buckridge, D. D.; W. H. McHarg, A. L.
Brooks, J. T. Coit, B. R. Welch, H. E. Niles, Lyell T. Adams, Samuel F. Bacon, Anson
Gr. Chester, E. B. Walsworth, D. D., and George F. Cain. Mr. Cain died in the pulpit
September 21, 1890. Rev. Edward Huntting Rudd has been pastor since April, 1891.
The ruling elders are G. H. Sickels, William H. Pendry, C. J. Day, Alexander Cary,
Henry Bingham, D. S. Beckwith, and Veder Cole. The constituent members of this
church at its formation numbered sixteen ; the present membership is about 400.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 281
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Albion, — The first Methodist
preaching in the district embracing Albion was in i8i6, by Revs. D,
Sheppardson and W. Locke; and in 1818 a class of twenty members
was formed in what was known as the Brown district. In 1826 Rev.
John Copeland preached in the village school house, and three years
later, through the efforts of Hon. Gideon Hard, the court house was
secured as a place of worship. The first class and society, consisting
of eleven members, was soon afterward organized, and the result
of a revival at about that time was the conversion of about lOO
persons. The first quarterly meeting in the village was held by Rev.
Asa Abell P. E., of Buffalo, in 1830. Measures were soon afterward
adopted for the erection of a church building, and a sufficient sum was
subscribed to warrant the undertaking. Nehemiah Ingersoll donated
for the purpose a lot on the corner of State and Market (now Piatt)
streets, and the house was completed and dedicated in 1832. In
1833 Albion became a station under the pastorate of Rev. Philo Wood-
worth, and in 1844 it was part of the Niagara district. In 1845 ^
parsonage on State street was purchased. The membership was 192 in
1852, but in 1854 discord entered the society, and in 1859 a large num-
ber seceded. In i860 61 the church was rebuilt at an expense of
$6,000, and in the latter year the Genesee Conference held its session
in Albion. In 1865 the old parsonage was exchanged for a lot on State
street, adjoining the church, and on this a parsonage was erected at a
cost of $3,500. In 1873 the Western New York Conference held its
session here. In 1876 there was a large addition to the membership,
which then came to number more than 300. This increase necessitated
larger accommodations, and in 1877 78 the church building was en-
larged and refurnished at an expense of $8,ooo. It was dedicated as
enlarged April iith of the latter year. The present membership is
about 350. The following pastors have served this society since 1832 :
Revs. P. Woodworth, S. P. Keyes, W. J. Kent, E. B. Fuller, D. P, Parsons, C. S.
Davis, A. M. Fillmore, D. Nutting, J. F. Arnold, H. N. Seaver, P. E. Brown, A. D.
Wilbur, J. M. Fuller, C. D. Burlingame, P. Woodworth, W. C. Kendall, B. T. Roberts,
Loren Stiles, G. De La Matyr, Schuyler Seager, S. Hunt, G. G. Lyon, Allen Steele, H.
R. Smith, E. C. Rice, A. D. Wilbur, R. E. Brownlee, S. McGerald, E. E. Chambers, E.
H. Latimer, J. W. Sanborn, Thomas Cardus, and Charles E. Millspaugh, the present in-
cumbent. L. H. Beach is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
282 LANDMARKS OF
The Baptist Church of Albion. — The first church of any denomina-
tion organized in Orleans county was a Baptist Church, organized in
Gaines in 1820. From this grew the Baptist Church of Albion, and by
the church at Albion it was finally absorbed. In 1824 the Baptists and
Congregationalists of the county united in building a house of worship
in Gaines. Gaines, at that time located on the Ridge road, the main
thoroughfare then between the east and west, was the chief center of
population and influence in the county. After the opening of the Erie
Canal in 1825, the center of population and influence began to change,
and Albion soon became the more important point. A few Baptists
were living there. Rev. Arab Irons, pastor at Gaines, came occasion-
ally to Albion and conducted worship in the school house, that then
stood on the west side of Main street (then Batavia street), a little north
of where the railroad now crosses.
Desiring more regular services the Baptists living in Albion proposed
to the church at Gaines to join with them in the support of a pastor,
whose time and labor should be divided between the two points. The
spirit of rivalry then prevailing between the two villages, and the de-
sire of the Gaines church to have the undivided services of a pastor,
caused them to decline the proposition. Measures were then taken to
organize a separate church in Albion. The first meeting toward such
organization was a conference of resident Baptists held on April 2, 1830,
at the residence of Alderman Butts, on Main street near the school
house. After the appointment of a committee to request letters of dis-
mission from the Gaines church, the meeting adjourned to meet in
the court house on April 17. The church at Gaines acceded to the re-
quest, and in the Orleans county court house, on April 17, 1830, the
organization of the First Baptist Church at Albion was effected. Eddy
B. Paine was elected clerk and Phinehas Briggs and Barnuel Farr were
elected deacons, and a formal call was extended to Rev. Arab Irons to
become pastor of the new organization, he having at that time been
succeeded in the pastorate at Gaines by the Rev. Hervey Blood. At
the same meeting an ecclesiastical council was called for the formal
recognition of the newly organized church. The council met in the
court house May 6. Rev. Zenas Case, jr., was moderator; Rev. Calvin
Bateman, clerk. Rev. Jirah D. Cole preached from Ps. 20, 5 : "In
ORLEANS COUNTY. 283
the name of our Lord we will set up our banners." The First Baptist
Church of Albion was duly recognized. The following twenty-six
persons were the constituent members :
Rev. A.rah Irons, pastor ; Phinehas Briggs and Barnuel Farr, deacons ; Eddy B. Paine,
church clerk ; Alderman Butts, Lydia Butts, Hannah Farr, Sally Paine, Isaac F. Leland,
Rachael Leland, Veluria Leland, William Irons, Jesse Mason, Hannah B. Mason, Unice
L. Mason, Jesse Bumpus, Sarah Bumpus, Alphens French, Nancy French, David Dun-
ham, Sarah Dunham, Robert Beaver, Eleazer Risley, Lydia Loomis, Matilda Loveland,
Phoebe Loveland,
The church was legally incorporated as a religious society on De-
cember 22, 1830, with Alderman Butts, Lewis Warner, Barnuel Farr,
Roswell S Burrows and Sydney Barrell as the first Board of Trustees.
The first Sunday school was held in January, 1831, with Barnuel Farr
as superintendent. For several months after the organization all ser-
vices were held in the school house. After that the court house was
used until the first house of worship was dedicated in 1832. The first
Baptist meeting house of Albion stood on the west side of Main street,
on the lot next north of the Burrows mansion. The church worshiped
in this edifice twenty-eight years, until i860, when under the pastorate
of Rev. A. C. Barrell the present fine edifice was dedicated.
The following tabulated statement shows the purchases by the church
of real estate and chief improvements :
First church lot, bought of Sidney Barrell March 80, 1831 $ 400
First church edifice on said lot, 1832 ; first cost 7,000
First parsoaage, State Street, bought of M. L. Warner October 8, 1850 2,625
Present church lot, Park street, bought of Presbyterian Churcli August 4, 1858 3,000
Present church edifice, built 1860 ; first cost 22,107
Present parsonage, Park street, bought of 0. Nichoson, 1865 4,500
Organ built by House, 1883 4,200
Chapel, Sunday school room, parlors, etc. , built 1887 9,800
The present church edifice with chapel, organ and furniture, cost
about $40,000. Since the organization of the church to July, 1894,
there have been received into its membership as communicants 2,239
persons. The present number of communicants is 537. The church
has been greatly favored with a succession of able devoted and success-
ful pastors. The following have filled the pastoral office during the
time and for the terms given ,
2g4 LANDMARKS OF
Arab Irons, May 1, 1830, to May 1, 1833 ; Whitman Metcalf, May 1, 1833, to January
1, 1838; John E. Maxwell, August 1, 1838, to May 1, 1839 ; Eleazar Savage, May 1,
1839, to May 1, 1840; Aaron Jackson, May 1, 1840, to May 1, 1844; John Smitzer,
January 1, 1845, to January 1, 1846; John N. Murdock, January 1, 1846, to September
1, 1848; Silas Ilsley, July 1, 1849, to January 1, 1854; Almond C. Barrel, January 1,
1855, to January 1, 1863; John B. Jackson, May 1, 1863, to January 1, 1867; Everett
R. Sav?yer, June 1, 1867, to December 1, 1869 ; J. W. B. Clark, April 27, 1870, to
April 28, 1879; William H. Sloan, October 1, 1879, to October 1, 1884; Abraham C.
Osborne, January 1, 1885, present incumbent.
Those who have served the church as deacons are the following with
the date of their election to the ofifice :
Phinehas Brigg, April 17, 1830; Barnuel Farr, April 17, 1830; Rufus Reed, April
15, 1840; Archibald L. Daniels, October 26, 1842; Samuel Williams, October 26, 1842;
Lemuel 0. Paine, October 26 1842; Justus Barber, October 26, 1842; Ambrose Wood,
April 5, 1848; Paul Pratt, February 2, 1856; William P. Morgan, February 2, 1856;
James H. Oetty, March 5, 1864; Nelson W. Butts, March 5, 1864; Solmon L. Farr,
February 1, 1873; W. H. Dorrance, February 9, 1873; J. Madison Barker, February 1,
1873 ; Nelson J. Hale, April 30, 1881 ; Andrew J. Robinson, April 30, 1881 ; Eldredge
S. Chester, March 3, 1883 ; Franklin Goodnow, March 3, 1883 ; Vinton Walworth,
March 3, 1883; George R. Williams, July 3, 1886; George W. Barrel!, June 3, 1891 ;
B. Franklin Morgan, January 3, 1894.
Of the above the following are at present time (July, 1894) in ofifice:
James H. Getty, Solmon L. Farr, Nelson J. Hale, Eldredge S. Chester, George R.
Williams, George W. Barrell, B. Franklin Morgan.
The Sunday school superintendents have been :
Barnuel Farr, Sidney Burrell, Ambrose Wood, William D. West, Hiram S. Golf,
Joseph M. Cornell, Henry L. Achilles, Oliver Morehouse, Franklin S. Lyon, John G.
Sawyer, George W. Barrell, Edwin L. Wage, B. Franklin Morgan, Lyman S. Linson,
Gurdon W. Fitch.
The present Board of Trustees (July, 1894) are William G. Swan,
chairman, E. L. Wage, W. E. Barker, A. Loveland, B. F. Morgan. The
clerk of the board and also clerk of the church is George W. Barrell.
Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal) of Albion. — In June, 1844,
Rev. Orrin Miller and Rev. Samuel Bowles, the latter rector of
St. James's Church, Batavia, visited Albion with a view of estab-
lishing an Episcopal church. They at first found but two church
people and the outlook was not encouraging. Nevertheless, they
resolved to make the effort. Mr. Miller removed his family to Al-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 285
bion and engaged earnestly in the work of seeking out church fami-
h'es and others who favored the organization of a church. On the i6th
of June service was held in the assembly room of the gentlemen's
academy, but for some reason now difficult to appreciate an opposition
to the formation of a society was developed among other denominations,
and the trustees of the academy "unceremoniously shut the building
against the service of the church without giving previous notice of their
intention." The congregation met on the common and retired to a pri-
vate house (the residence of the late Charles A. Harrington, then resid-
ing on Bank street), where services were held. This act aroused public
sympathy, and the friends of the church rallied, rented a room, filled it
with seats, railing, altar, pulpit, etc. At the meeting held to organize
the parish July 29, 1844, the following named gentlemen were elected
wardens and vestrymen :
Senior warden, Marsena Ballard; junior warden, William Walker; vestrymen,
Thomas S. Clark, Joshua Rathbone, John Mattinson, Edwin Wilbur, Charles A. Har-
rington, George W. Bedell, Hercules Reed and Charles Thurston.
At this meeting there were present, beside those elected officers,
Henry C. Woolford, Andrew Wall, Miles Sill, W. D. Gale, Thomas Lar-
wood and Zephaniah Clark, Charles A. Harrington being appointed sec-
retary. At the diocesan convention which met that year on the 31st
of August, the parish was admitted into union with the diocese. So
efficiently did the vestrymen and friends of the parish work that within
four months a lot was purchased and preparations were made to build a
church. At that time the Presbyterian society had grown too large for
its house of worship and they proposed to exchange their "meeting
house" for the lot and materials which Christ Church had procured.
The exchange was made, the building on Main street was remodeled to
accord with the requirements and tastes of its purchasers, and it is still
the place of worship of Christ Church.
"August 18. Baptism was administered to three infants." A list
of thirty-three communicants "admitted and received at this time,
most of whom were present," as given by the Rev. Mr. Miller, is as fol-
lows :
Males : Marsena Ballard, Ebenezer Lockwood, Thomas S. Duning, William Walker,
John Mattinson, Hercules Reed, Romuel Rawdon. Females: Mrs. Lavinia Ballard
286 LANDMARKS OF
Mrs. Mary Louisa Wilbur, Mrs. Sophia E. Wall, Mrs. Nancy A. Benjamin, Mrs. Caroline
Hardin, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, Miss Margaret Walker, Mrs. Hannah Harrington, Miss
Angeline St. Clair, Mrs. Joanna Larwood, Mrs. Lucinda Reed, Mrs. Hardin, Mrs. Sarah
Sill, Mrs. Margaret Walker, Mrs. Ann Mary Woolford, Mrs. Eunice Lockwood, Mrs.
Matilda Bingham, Mrs. Mary Mattmson. Miss Hannah Mattmson, Mrs. Mary Jane
Benton, Mrs. Patience St. Clair, Mrs. Sarah Rathbone, Mrs. Ann Miller, Mrs. Mary
Rawdon, Mrs. Elizabeth Dochery, Miss Jane Bird.
The congregation has gradually increased, and now (1894) numbers
208 cotnmunicants. To the church there is attached a guild house, and
the parish possesses a rectory. It has an endowment of $1 i,ooo- The
church property is valued at $15,000, and the parish has a Sunday-
school of over 100 scholars. The present wardens are Franklin Clarke
and W. Crawford Ramsdale. The rectors of the parish have been Revs.
Oren Miller, Pascall Pembroke Kidder, Malcolm Douglass, William
M. Carmichael, Andrew Mackey, Robert N. Park, Levi Ward Smith,
George W. Southwell, Edwin Coann, Michael Scofield, Reynold M.
Kirby, Francis Gelbart, Elihu T. Sanford, James H. Barnard and
Francis S. Dunham.
The Rev. Francis S. Dunham became rector of this parish Septem-
ber 15, 1883. The following summer the spire was remodeled and
other improvements made both to the exterior and interior of the
church. 1885, a chapel was erected, the late Mrs. Abby Lord Bruen
having left a request that $500 from her estate be devoted to that pur-
pose. At the laying of the corner stone there were present of the
reverend clergy, besides the rector, the Rev. Dr. Doty, Dr. Seibt, W.
W. Walsh, S. H. Cook, G. W. Southwell, Noble Palmer and Sidney
Wilbur. 1888, the ceiling of the church, which was of plaster, was re-
moved, and replaced by one of wood, at a cost of over $1,000, and a
surpliced choir was introduced.
" Very mindful have been the families and friends of those dear de-
parted ones who for years were laborers in our spiritual vineyard, and
who now are at rest. We here give a list of the memorials which
loving hearts have given to the parish in their honor :
1. The font — an unusually beautiful one — was given by the parish in memory of
Thomas S. Clark, who was for many years a warden of this church.
2. A white marble altar is the gift of Dr. Samuel R. Cochrane in loving remem-
brance of his father, William Cochrane.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 287
3. The altar shelf or gradine is from Mr. and Mrs. William W. Alray, commemorat-
ing a daughter, Eliza Almy, who early "fell on sleep."
4. The beautiful altar cross, the loving tribute of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Moore to
their daughter, Alice Kidder Moore.
5. The first pair of vases, tbe gif t of a bereaved mother, and which at both Christ-
mas and Easter are filled with rarest flowers, is in memoriam Frank Green, aged six
years.
6. The alms basin, given by the Sunday school in memory of the faithful Sunday
school teacher, Mrs. Vienna Howard Stiles, who left a legacy of $1,000 to the parish.
7. An altar book-rest, a memorial presented by Mrs. Lydia Green Warner.
8. The artistic and costly altar rail, given by the late Charles H. Moore, to com-
memorate the devotion and love for the church of his wife, Marcia Harrington Moore.
9. The lectern, in memory of Nehemiah IngersoU and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ingersoll.
10. A pulpit lectern in memory of the rectors of Christ Church parish who " rest
from their labors."
11. The font cover, a memorial of Mrs. Bel'a Wilson, presented by her husband,
F rank Adelbert Wilson.
12. A brass ewer for the font, in memory of two lambs of the fold, Louis and Edna
Brown, from their parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown.
13. A solid silver communion service, the loving memorial gift to the parish of Mrs.
Samuel R. Cochrane of her parents, the Hon. Sanford E. Church and Ann, his wife. |;^
14. A stained glass window erected to the memory of Zephaniah Clark by his
children.
15. A stained glass window, the gift of Mrs. Hiram W. Preston, in remembrance of
her husband and daughter.
16. An organ for the chapel and Sunday school, in memory of Emma Blott, the
loved and cherished daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Blott, the donors.
17. The church organ, in memory of Jonathan Blott.
18. The service books, given by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Abeel, memorials of their
deceased children.
19. Edward H. Clark, M. D., of New York, the eldest son of the late Mr. Zephaniah
Clark, a number of years ago gave to the parish a valuable silver communion service —
paten, chalice and flagon — to be used in administering the blessed sacrament to the sick.
Accompanying it was a complete set of linen, corporal, pall and chalice veil.
20. Two mural tablets perpetuate the memory of three of the first members of the
church, who were identified with its best interests until from the church mihtant they
found rest in the Church in Paradise. The first was erected to the memory of Charles
A. Harrington and Harriet J. Harrington his wife, the other to Jonathan Blott.
21. A copy of the Holy Scriptures — the Oxford edition, "appointed to be read
in churches," given by Mrs. W. Crawford Ramsdale — in memory of her parents, Mr.
Andrew and Mrs. Sophia Elizabeth Wall.
22. The beautifnl hymn tablet is in memory of the late Miss Lizzie Wall, a
greatly loved teacher in the village schools. It was erected by her fellow pupils in
Miss Foster's Bible class.
288 LANDMARKS OF
The first marriage was solemnized by the Rev. Orrin Miller, October 27, 1844, and
was that of Eunice Edmund to Cyrus Hull. The second marriage recorded, dated
April 14, 1846, was that of Mary Jane Ballard to Freeman Butts, solemnized by
the Rev. Pascal P. Kidder. During the past fifty years three hundred and fifty-
eight burials are recorded in the parish register. The first was a child — Joseph A.
Latin Lount, died August 2, 1844." '
St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic). — Two Cathohc families, those
of John Welch and John Creen, were residents of Albion in 1829, and
soon afterward Felix McCann and Samuel McCafifery with their families
came. In 1833 the first mass was celebrated here, in a private house,
by Rev. Father Weingan, of Lockport. A mission was established,
here in that year, and it was attended at first from Lockport and after-
ward from Medina. Mass was celebrated at first once a month in a
private house, but as the congregation increased a room over one of the
stores was hired. In June, 1849, ^t. Rev. Bishop Timon paid his first
visit and selected the site for the church, which Rev. Father O'Connor
completed in 1852, and the first mass was celebrated in it on Palm Sun-
day, March 20, in that year. The first resident pastor was Rev. Father
Byrne, who came in February, 1858 ; succeeded in November follow-
ing by Rev. Father Bradley : followed in April, i860, by Father Barker
and he in December, 1861, by Father Stevens. The latter remained
till the appointment of the present pastor, Rev. John Castaldi, in Jan-
uary, 1862. In the same year the present house was built, and was
used as a pastoral residence till 1870, when it was occupied as a convent
by the Sisters of Mercy, who came to Albion in that year, and Father
Castaldi occupied a small office in the rear of the church. In 1876 the
residence of Mrs. M J. English, with eight acres of land, on the west
side of Main street, was purchased at a cost of $10,000, and the house
is occupied as a convent by the Sisters. The Sisters took charge
of the parochial school in 1870, and it still continues in their care. The
Sister Superior, Sister Mary Alacogne, died in July, 1876, and Sister
Mary Austin has ever since been at the head of the convent.
The first religious reception and profession of a Sister of Mercy in
St. Joseph's church took place in February, 1871. In March, 1876,
two others were received here and two were also received in May, 1878.
1 From memorial sermon by Rev. Francis S. Dunham.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 289
The original cost of the school house and furniture, in 1870, was $3,000.
An addition was made to it in 1872 at a cost of $1,500. In 1862 the
church was repaired, in 1864 an addition to it was built, in 1867 the
interior was tastefully decorated, and in 1884 it was again thoroughly
repaired. Father Castaldi visited Europe in 1868, Rev. P. Moynihan
officiating in his absence. He went again in 1881, Rev. Michael Cun-
ningham acting as pastor, and again, in 1887, he, in company with
Bishop Ryan, went to Europe and the Holy Land, Rev. A. R. Barlow
taking charge in his absence. On the 26th of March, 1888, Father
Castaldi and Bishop Ryan were made Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
at Jerusalem. In 1887 the pastor of St. Joseph's church was made
irremovable except with his own consent. The church now numbers
about 1,000 members, or 800 communicants. April i, 1874, a tract
of land covering 26 acres was purchased for burial purposes, and was
consecrated the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
The Free Methodist Church of Albion.— In the fall of 1859
Rev. Loren Stiles, jr., pastor of the Methodist church in Albion, and a
member of the Genesee Conference of the M. E. church, was expelled
from the conference and church during what were known as the
'• Genesee Conference troubles." He soon after organized a new church,
and 185 members of the church from which he was expelled became
members of the new organization. It was at first called the " Congre-
gational Free Methodist church," but about a year after its formation
it joined the Free Methodist Conference and dropped the word " Con-
gregational " from its title. The first place of worship was the old
academy, but the society at once proceeded to erect a church edi-
fice, and in the spring of i860 they occupied the basement. The house
was soon completed and was dedicated on May 18 in that year. It
stands on the southeast corner of State and Piatt streets. Its cost in-
cluding lot and sheds, was $I0,000. In 1875 a parsonage was pur-
chased at a cost of $1,800. It stands on the west side of Piatt street,
south from the jail. The pastors of this church have been : Revs.
Loren Stiles, jr., Cornelius D. Brooks, John D. Reddy, A. O. Curry,
James Matthews, George W, Coleman, George W. Marcellus, William
Jackson, Anthony N, Moore, Joseph Travis, Samuel K. J. Chesbrough,
Wilson T. Hogg, M. D. McDonald, J. G. Terrill, A. H. Bennett, C. C.
290 LANDMARKS OF
Eggleston, and John O'Regan. The society now has about 120 mem-
bers and a Sunday-school with an average attendance of seventy-five,
and with W. H. Grinnell as superintendent. Rev. A. K. Bacon, a
charter member of this church, has been its local preacher most of
the time since the organization.
The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church of Albion was legally in-
corporated under the laws of the State of New York on August 18,
1891, with about lOO members, and with the following Board of Trus-
tees : Three years, Charles A. Danolds, John Lattin, Mrs. Joseph S.
Hart; two years, Sheldon E. Warner, Mrs. S. S. Spencer, William A. Tan-
ner ; one year, J. D. Billings, AdelbertP. Chapman, Mrs. F. E. Kittredge.
George Reed was treasurer and F. E. Kittredge clerk. This incorpor-
ation was the result of a Universalist conference held in the court
house on the 15th and i6th of July of the same year, when a tempo-
rary organization was effected. Since then the society has had oc-
casional preaching, but has never had a settled pastor. Shortly before
the conference convened in Albion, Charles A. Danolds was a guest of
Mrs. E. C. Pullman, at her summer home on the St Lawrence River.
Her son, George M. Pullman, was visiting her at the time, and the sub-
ject of Universalism in Orleans county, and the prominent part taken in
it by his father, came up for discussion. The result was an offer by Mr.
Pullman to build a church here as a memorial to his parents, on con-
dition the Universalists would raise a fund adequate to provide for its
care and maintenance. The requisite sum of $5,000 being subscribed
by December, 1892, Mr. Pullman was formally advised to that effect,
and 4n July, 1893, be bought as a site the residence lot of Mrs. Charles
Burrows, on the corner of Main and Madison streets, at a cost of $7,500.
This is one of the best locations in Albion. The house was removed,
and early in the year 1894 the construction of the edifice was com-
menced after plans drawn by S. S. Beman, the well-known architect of
Chicago. On May 19, 1894, the corner stone was laid with Masonic
ceremonies, the ritualistic exercises being performed by Grand Master
Frederick A. Burnham, Grand Marshal E. A. Miller and Grand Treas-
urer John J. Gorham, all of New York city ; Acting D. G. Master E. J.
Taylor, of Lockport ; S. G. Warden William A. Sutherland, of Roches-
ter ; Acting Grand Secretary George A. Newell, of Medina ; and Act-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 291
ing Grand Deacon G. W. Fitch and Grand Chaplain F. S. Dunham, of
Albion. The ceremonies were concluded at the court house, where the
Rev. Dr. Royal H. Pullman, of Baltimore, delivered the address of the
day, taking as his theme, " Character Building." In closing he said :
" The desire of my brother in the erection of this church is to estabHsh
a memorial of the father and mother who believed in the doctrines of
the Universalist Church, and who lived their religion among the people
of this community."
The building is of rock- faced sandstone, and the style is old English
Gothic. It will seat 400 persons. In the west transept is a memorial
window. The structure represents an expenditure of some $6o,000,
and when finished will be deeded to the society organized to receive it.
St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church (N. A. C.) of Albion. — In
October, 1886, Rev. A. T. Hanser, of Lockport, held the first Luth-
eran service in Albion in the Sunday school chapel of the Presbyterian
church, and a society was afterward organized. In 1887 Rev. G.
Bartling took pastoral charge. In 1889 the people of Albion presented
to this society the so-called Quarry chapel for a place of worship, and it
was dedicated in December of that year. The parish is connected with
the Medina charge of this denomination.
The African A. M. E. church of Albion had its nucleus in a mission
started in 1873 for the benefit of the colored population of the village
and vicinity. The prime mover was Judge Arad Thomas and the first
trustees were Stephen Dickus, William Mclntyre, and Jacob Carter.
In the fall of 1888 it was recognized and attached to the Bethel A. M. E.
Conference, to which it has ever since belonged. The first settled pastor
was Rev. Peter Stewart, his successor (in January, 1894,) and the
present incumbent being Rev. William J. Johnson. The society now
has about sixty members. Services have been held in a school house.
In 1893 the society purchased a frame parsonage on the north side of
the canal. In the spring of 1894 this building was moved a few feet
south and the erection of a frame church edifice commenced, which
will cost about $i,8oo.
St. Mary's Assumption Church (Polish Roman Catholic) was started
as a mission about 1890, and on July 21, 1891, was regularly organ-
ized by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo. The first and present resi-
292 LANDMARKS OF
dent priest, Rev. Bart. Svvinko, was appointed in December, 1892.
Services were held in school houses until the present brick edifice was
erected in 1892, and dedicated February 8, 1893. The lot cost $3,500
and the church building $14,000. At the organization the parish had
150 families, which number has since decreased to 100. Connected
with the church is a parochial school for Polish children, taught by
the priest and one assistant.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TOWN OF RIDGE WAY AND VILLAGE OF MEDINA.
Ridgeway derives its name from the Ridge, which traverses it in an
easterly and westerly direction. The town was erected from Batavia,
Genesee county, June 8, 181 2, and included the present towns of Shelby,
Ridgeway, Yates, Barry, Albion, Gaines and Carlton, or all of Orleans
county within the limits of the Holland purchase. It now includes
ranges 3 and 4 of the 15th township and the west tier of lots in the
2d range, which last were added in 183G in order that the village of
Knovvlesville might be altogether in one town. Its area is about forty-
six and one half square miles. Population in 1892, 5,882. The sur-
face is generally level, and the soil is a sandy loam. The town is crossed
by Oak Orchard Creek, which affords excellent mill privileges, and in
the northwest corner by Johnson's Creek.
The first town meeting in Ridgeway was held at the house of John G.
Brown, at Oak Orchard, April 6, 18 13, at which the following officers
were chosen :
Oliver Booth, supervisor ; Israel Douglass, town clerk ; Lansing Bailey, James Car-
penter, Henry Lovewell, assessors; John Proctor, collector; John Anderson, Otis Tur-
ner, overseers of the poor ; Samuel Clark, Gideon Freeman, William White, overseers of
highways; John Proctor, Minoris Day, Otis Turner, Robert Garber, constables; James
Mather and Eli Moore, pound keepers.
Three weeks later, at a special town meeting held at the house of
William Sibley, Eli Moore was elected assessor to fill the vacancy occa-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 293
sioned by the death of Henry Lovewell. Israel Douglass was a justice
of the peace for the town of Batavia prior to the organization of
Ridgeway. There were then sixteen road districts in the town and
seven school districts in 1814. When it is remembered that the town
then included all of Orleans county west of the east transit line, now
divided in seven towns, an idea of the size of these districts can be
formed.
The supervisors of Ridgeway, have been as follows :
Oliver Booth, 1813 ; Samuel Clarke, 1814-15 ; Israel Douglass, 1816-17 ; Elijah Hawley,
1818; Jeremiah Brown, 1819; Israel Douglass, 1820-21; Jeremiah Brown, 1822-24;
Lyman Bates, 1825 ; Jeremiah Brown, 1826 ; Lyman Bates, 1827-31 ; William C. Tanner,
1832-34; Seymour B. Murdock, 1835; Lyman Bates, 1836; WiUiam V.Wilson, 1837;
Nathan S. Wood, 1838-39; Josias Tanner, 1840-41 ; Job Fish, 1842 ; William V. Wilson,
1843; Dexter Kingman, 1844-45; Roswell Starr, 1846 ; Allen Bacon, 1847 ; William C.
Tanner, 1848 ; John F. Sawyer, 1849-50 ; Christopher Whaley, 1851 ; Allen Bacon, 1852 ;
Mason Weld, 1853 ; Borden H. Mills, 1854 ; John R. Weld, 1855 ; Lyman Bates, 1856 ;
Alexander H. Jamison, 1857 ; Luther Barrett, 1858-59; Dyer B. Abell, 1860-61; Hezekiah
Bowen, jr., Stephen Barrett, 1862; Henry A. Grlidden, 1863-64; Samuel C. Bowen,
1865; WiUiam W. Potter, 1866-67; Allen T. Scott, 1868-69; Henry A. Glidden,
Daniel D. Tompkins, 1870 ; E. S. Whalen, 1871-72 ; Allen P. Scott, 1873-74; E. S.
Whalen, William H. Watson, 1875; Allen P. Scott, 1876; E. J. Potter, 1877; Julius
Harris, 1878-81 ; Henry Webster, 1882; Adelbert J. McCormick, 1884-86; Henry
S. Ostrander ; 1887-88; Joseph Stork, 1889-90; Adelbert J. McCormick, 1891 ; Henry
S. Ostrander, 1892-94.
From the records of the Holland Land Company it appears that
the land lying in this town was conveyed to purchasers as follows :
Lot 57, 408 acres, in the second range was taken up by Darius Comstock, June 24,
1815. This lot was divided, subdivided, and transferred many times; and was ulti-
mately deeded as follows : 79 acres to Charles Wickham, January 1, 1836 ; 30 acres to
Thaddens Kirkham, December 26, 1835 ; 49 acres to Morehouse B. Thorp, December
26, 1835 ; 30 acres to Azel H. Shepard, October 26, 1833 : 50 acres to Stephen Welsh,
November 14, 1833; 20 acres to A. H. Shepard, February 11, 1832; 20 acres to Jane
Welsh and others, June 31, 1837; 25 acres to Joseph Willetts, November 17, 1832 ; 30
acres to Robert M. Burns, January 3, 1837, and 25 acres to Eli Farr, November 27,
18.32.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 58 was taken up by John Canniff, March 21, 1815
May 11, 1824, 6| acres were deeded to Peter Clark and on the same day, 93^ acres were
articled to CannifF & Cook. This last tract was deeded to John Aldrich, May 11, 1830.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 58, was taken up by John Canniff, March 21, 1815, and
articled to William Nash June 14, 1827. Sixty-nine acres of this were deeded to Hiel
294 LANDMARKS OF
Brockway, November 11, 1833, and 5 acres to William Ilnowles on the same day.
Twenty-six acres were on the same day articled to Truman Shaw, and were deeded to
Roswell Burton April 16, 1839. Andrew Stevens took up the south part, 153 acres, of
lot 58, and it was deeded to him November 5, 1831.
Lot 59, 101 acres, was taken up by John Severs October 7, 1815. June 30, 1828, it
was articled to William Knowles. November 23, 1833, 50 acres were deeded to Charles
Ryan ; and on the same day 51 acres were deeded to Harvey Elwell.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 60 was taken up by Andrew Jacobs February 24,
1810. The south part, 147 acres, of lot 60, was taken up by John Hood Septembers,
1810. The lot was deeded as follows : The west part, 90 acres, to Josiah Hood January
31, 1834, and the east and middle part, 207 acres, to Nancy Hood and others January
30, 1837.
Lot 61, 149 acres, was taken up by William Sibley February 24, 1810. January 27,
1823, 49 acres of this lot were articled to Giles Slater, and were deeded to Samuel
Stanley October 25, 1828. January 27, 1825, 100 acres were articled to Giles Slater,
and January 15, 1829, to Eleazer T. Slater, jr., to whom this land was deeded Novem-
ber 15. 1831.
The west part, 50 acres, of lot 62 was articled to Dyer Sprague October 20, 1810. to
Ichabod Perry October 21, 1820, to Samuel Grant November 24, 1829, to Josiah Wat-
kins December 25, 1833, and was deeded to Azor Rowley May 15, 1835. The 57
acres of lot 62 next east from the above was articled to Newbury Chaffee March 18,
1811, to Dyer Sprague March 19, 1819, to Joshua Church November 9, 1830, and was
deeded to the latter November 10, 1836. The west middle part, 51 acres, of lot 62,
was taken up by Cornelius M. Vanderhoef September 10, 1811. It was articled to
Robert Anderson July 11, 1822, to Smith Stevens December 6, 1830, and was deeded
to him Novembers, 1833. The middle part, 106 acres, of lot 62, was taken up by Elijah
Daniels May 30, 1814, and was articled to Abishai Gleason July 3, 1823. De-
cember 26, 1829, 40 acres of this were transferred to John McAllister, and were
deeded to Zelotes Sheldon October 25, 1832. December 26, 1829, 66 acres of the
same were transferred to Zelotes Sheldon, and with 49 acres of the northeast part of
the lot were deeded to him October 5, 1831. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 62, was
articled to Elijah Daniels June 5, 1813, and transferred to Zelotes Sheldon September
29, 1823. The southwest part, 51 acres, of the lot was deeded to Samuel Stanley Oc-
tober 3, 1831.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 63, was taken up by James Barber October 21, 1813.
It was articled to Ray Marsh June 17, 1823. December 31, 1829, 50 acres of this part
were transferred to Zelotes Sheldon, and December 31, 1833, to Lewis Soper, to whom
they were deeded Octobers, 1834. December 30, 1831, 50 acres of the same part
were transferred to John Simpson, and were deeded to him May 15, 1835.] [,The mid-
dle part, 100 acres, of lot 63, was taken up by Levi Wilson March 15, 1815. After be-
ing divided and transferred it was deeded as follows : 50 acres to Samuel Grant, Novem-
ber 5, 1834; and the balance to Reuben L. Gunn December 7, 1835. The east part, 70
acres, of lot 63, was taken up by Ira Webb June 27, 1815, and was articled to Victor
Briggs January 18, 1833. It was deeded to Reuben L. Gunn December 7, 1835. The
ORLEANS COUNTY. 295
west middle part, 70 acres, of lot 63, was articled to Orange F. Fargo December 9,
1815, and to William NcAllister October 29, 1830. It was deeded to him May 15, 1835.
Lot 64, 105 acres, was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The east part of lot 65, 120 acres, was articled to Eobert Power June 5, 1815. The
west part, 22 acres, of the same lot was articled to Elliot and William Bassett Septem-
ber 18, 1815. The lot was deeded as follows: The east part, 120 acres, to Reuben L.
Gunn January 19, 1836; the south portion of the middle part, 54 acres, to Samuel
Danolds October 29, 1833 ; the north portion of the middle part, 66 acres, to Simeon
Cummings and Amasa Jackson, June 16, 1835; the south portion, 44 acres, of the west
part to Robinson S. Lockwood August 22, 1834 ; and the north portion, 56 acres, of the
west part to John Rose September 12, 1835.
In the second range of the fifteenth township: The south part of lot 1, 120 acres,
was articled to Benjamin Boots April 12. 1815. March 9, 1825, 70 acres of this were
articled to Gideon Hawley, and of this 50 acres were deeded to Samuel A. Anderson
December 3, 1833. The balance, of 20 acres, was deeded to Reuben Haines December
3, 1833. The east part, 119 acres, of lot 1 was articled to David Hood March 9, 1825,
and deeded to him January 30, 1837. The north part of lot 1, 119 acres, was taken up
by Jacob Dinturf April 11, 1815. March 9, 1825, the west 50 acres of this were
transferred to Dennis Kiagsley, and, with 30 acres of lot 2, were deeded to him May
28, 1832.
The east part of lot 2, 111 acres, was articled to Thomson Rideout May 10, 1815.
May 5, 1825, 71 acres of this were articled to Chauncey Brinsmaid, and were deeded
to him December 20, 1833. The south portion, 40 acres, of this part was articled to
William Braman May 5, 1825. December 20, 1830, 19 acres of this portion were
articled to Charles Harback, and were deeded to him October 31, 1831. December 30,
1830, 21 acres of the same portion were articled to Theodore Wickman, and were
deeded to William Parker December, 1836. The middle part, 160 acres, of lot 2 was
taken up by Joseph Pennock March 5, 1816. February 19, 1827, 80 acres of this part
were articled to Dennis Kingsley, and were deeded to him May 28, 1832. February 19
1827, 80 acres of the same were articled to Edward Raymour, and were deeded to him
November 22, 1833. The west part, 100 acres, of lot 2 was taken up by Joseph Pen-
nock March 26, 1816. It was articled to John G. Dane June 18, 1827, and 70 acres
were deeded to him December 3, 1833. Thirty acres were deeded to Dennis Kingsley,
with 80 acres of the middle part. May 28, 1832.
The north part, 200 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by William Knowles January 26
1815. Sixty acres of this were deeded to Amos Breed May 6, 1829. The south part,
141 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by Newbury Chaffee July 13, 1815. May 11, 1824, 41
acres of this were transferred to Eli Gates, and were deeded to Benoni Grover October
5, 1832. The balance of lot 3 was deeded to William Knowles as follows: 140 acres
May 10, 1824; 40 acres August 27, 1830; and 60 acres October 21, 1835.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 4, was taken up by Philip Matoon December 20,
1814. It was articled to Jonathan Stevens February 26, 1828, and, with 50 acres ad-
ditional, was deeded to Charles Edwards and Nathan S. Wood September 29, 1835.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Thomas Bennett April 22, 1815, and
296 LANDMARKS OF
transferred to John Stevens July 19, 1823. It was deeded to Eufus Humphrey De-
cember 31, 1832. The middle part, 150 acres, of lot 2 was taken up by Ezekiel Brown
October 30, 1815. February 27, 1828, 50 acres of this were articled to David Stevens,
and were deeded to William N. Gage October 15, 1835. February 27, 1828, 58 acres
of the same were transferred to William Parker, and ware deeded to him December
3, 1833.
The middle of the north part, 100 acres, of lot 5 was articled to Thomas Hawley,
October 25, 1810, and deeded to Lyman Turner, October 26, 1820. The northwest
part, 100 acres, of lot 5, was taken up by Joseph Kellogg, October 25, 1810. It was
articled to Orrin White, November 21, 1822; to Zerah Webb, February 24, 1830, and
was deeded to him, December 26, 1833. The southeast part, 100 acres, of lot 5, was
taken up by Cyrus Daniels, August 3, 1811, and articled to Amasi L. McConnel, August
4, 1819 ; September 8, 1828, 50 acres were transferred to Simeon Jewett, and were
deeded to Jesse Wandell, May 20, 1829; November 12, 1828, 50 acres were transferred
to Daniel Thurston, jr., and were deeded to Franklin Frost, November 12, 1834. The
northeast part, 113 acres, of lot 5, was taken up by Zelotes Sheldon, August 18, 1813 ;
November 21, 1821, it was articled to Abraham Perry, and December 14, 1829, 63
acres were transferred to Abel Perry, to whom they were deeded December 29, 1836.
December 24, 1833, 50 acres were transferred to James Wilkins, and were deeded to
Marvin Burton, November 4, 1834. The southwest part, 76 acres, of lot 5 was taken up
by Joseph Vickery, July 14, 1815. September 8, 1829, 38 acres were articled to Sarah
Ward, and December 12, 1829; 38 acres were articled to Elijah Fitch, jr. The whole
was deeded to Israel Salter, March 12, 1833.
The west part, 200 acres, of lot 6, was articled to Horace Church, July 3, 1813, and
deeded to Richard Talcott June 28, 1821. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 6 was
articled to Ira Webb June 15, 1815, and transferred to JosephJudson January 7, 1826.
It was deeded to him December 28, 1830. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 6
was articled to Ira Webb June 15, 1815, and transferred to Joseph Judson December
28, 1830. October 3, 1834, it was transferred in parcels of 50 acres each to Daniel
Fellows and David Crippen, and the whole was deeded to D. Burnett, jr., September
18, 1835. The east part, 127 acres, of lot 6 was taken up by George Anderson January
15, 1815. December 8, 1829, 63| acres of this w^ere articled to Daniel Thurston, jr.,
and January 9, 1834, to Asa Rowe, who received a deed May 15, 1835. April 7, 1831,
63^ acres were articled to Samuel Leming, and were deeded to Abraham M. Schermer-
horn Dec 7, 1835.
Lot 7, 146 acres, was articled to Stephen Gleason October 4, 1828, and deeded to
John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The south part, 195 acres, of lot 8 was articled to George Oman June 20, 1815. The
north part, 101 acres, of the same lot was articled to Joseph Parker August 1, 1815.
The whole lot was deeded to Samuel Danolds October 29, 1833.
The south part, 220 acres, of lot 9 was taken up by Reuben Haines July 14, 1815.
The east portion, 120 acres, of this part, with 20 acres of lot 1, was deeded to Mr.
Haines December 3, 1833; The west porlion, 100 acres, of the same part was articled
to Peter Hoag December 27, 1824, and was deeded to him December 4, 1835. The
ORLEANS COUNTY. 297
north part, 142 acres, of lot 9 was articled to William Tanner March 30, 1816. It was
transferred to Josias Tanner March 24, 1826, and was deeded to him November 14,
1833.
The east part, 105 acres, of lot 10 was articled to Oliver Wolcott April 30, 1816. It
was transferred to Parley Gillett May 30, 1828, and was deeded to him November 25,
1835. The middle part, 118 acres, of lot 10 was taken up by Oliver Wolcott April 12,
1816; five acres of this were deeded to Thomas Bayne May 30, 1828. Eighty-three
acres were articled to David Bayne May 30, 1828 ; to Cynthia Bayne January 1, 1834,
and were deeded to Sidney S. Starkweather December 14, 1835. Twenty-nine acres,
the north portion of this part, were deeded to John Howe March 12, 1833. The west
part, 128 acres of lot 10 was taken up by William and Stephen Simonds April 23, 1816.
It was articled to Joseph Vickery January 5, 1830, and deeded to Archibald Mclntyre
December 17, 1833.
The east part of lot 11, 1331 acres, was taken up by Andrew Jacobs March 14, 1816.
January 31, 1828, 83| acres were articled to William C. Tanner, and November 25, 1833,
to John Howe, to whom they were deeded May 15, 1825. January 31, 1838, 5 acres
of this were articled lo Moses Cole, and were deeded to Russell Doane, February 14,
1834.
The middle part, 123 acres, of lot 11, was taken up by Flint T. Keith, May 18, 1816.
It was articled, February 6, 1827, to John Howe, to whom 61^ acres were deeded,
March 12, 1833. September 27, 1833, 61| acres were articled to Richard Fancher, and
were deeded to Catherine Fancher September 25, 1837. The west part, 112 acres, of
lot 11, was taken up by Henry Wilcox, April 16, 1316. June 23, 1825, 62 acres of this
were articled to Avowry V. Andrews, and were deeded to him October 19, 1830. June
23, 1825, 50 acres of the same were articled to Felix Guild. Thirteen acres of this
were deeded to Avowry V. Andrews December 1, 1830. On the same day 37 acres
were transferred to Samuel Stanley, and were deeded to Luther Parker December 2,
1836.
November 8, 1827, William Ellsworth took up the east part, 105 acres, of lot 12. He
received his deed July 2, 1829. The west part, 80 acres, of lot 12, was articled to
Martin Hiesrodt June 21, 1827, and was deeded to him December 1, 1837. The middle
part. 52 acres, of lot 12, was articled to him February 11, 1833.
The west part, 711 acres of lot 13, was articled to Artemas Houghton December 27,
1811. It was transferred to Milo Bennett December 29, 1819, to Warren Thompson
June 14, 1831, and to De Witt C. Warner November 28, 1833. It was deeded to Mr.
Warner March 16,1836. The east part, 380 acres, of lot 13, was articled to Aaron
Adams June 25, 1812. It was deeded to Isaac Bennett June 26, 1820.
Lot 14, 422 acres, was taken up by John 0. Brown December 25, 1811. It was di-
vided and transferred, and was deeded as follows : Sixty-two acres in the south part
of the lot to Gilbert Howell, November 6, 1815 ; the north 100 acres and 110 acres of
the southern part to Samuel Danolds, October 29, 1833 ; and the middle part, 140 acres,
to Alfred Achilles, December 22, 1837.
The south part, 56^ acres, of lot 15, was taken up by George Mills, jr., April 4, 1815.
September 20, 1831, it was articled to John Aldrich, and October 29, 1833, to Samuel
298 LANDMARKS OF
Danolds. The north part, .318^ acres, of lot 15, was articled to Levi Davis April 4, 1815,
and the middle part, 100 acres, vi^as transferred to William Vanhousea November 25,
1829. It was deeded to him February 14, 1834. February 7, 1833, the balance of the
lot was transferred to David Danolds, and October 29, 1833, the south 106i acres and
the north 164 acres of lot 15 were deeded to Samuel Danolds.
The east part of lot 16, 100 acres, was taken up by Richard Stoddard May 21, 1816.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 16, was articled to George Mills, jr., October 7, 1816.
Both parts were deeded to Samuel Danolds October 29, 1833. The west part, 99 acres,
of lot 16, was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833. The middle part, 130 acres, of lot
16, was taken up by William Tanner June 15, 1815. August 31. 1826, 80 acres of tliis
were articled to Ephraim Martin and were deeded to him October 29, 1836. August
31, 1826, 50 acres of this middle part were articled to Jonah Hoyt, and October 19,
1830, to Ephraim Masten, to whom they were deeded October 10, 1836.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 17 was articled to John Peterson June 15, 1815,
December 31,1825, it was transferred to John Keith, to whom it was deeded November 18
1833. The east part, 133 acres, of lot 17 was taken up by William Tanner June 15, 1815.
It was articled to William C. Tanner January 4, 1825, and was deeded to him Decem-
ber 29, 1828.
The west part, 167 acres, of lot 18 was taken up by James Himes May 1, 1815.
December 2, 1829 the west half of this was articled to Sylvester Himes, and was deeded
to him January 6, 1834. The south half of this part was articled to Nathan B. Peter-
son December 2, 1829, and was deeded to him January 6, 1834. The east part, 139
acres, of lot 18 was articled to Josias Tanner April 11, 1816, and was deeded to him
June 8, 1826. The middle part, 151 acres, of lot 18 was taken up by William and
Stephen Simonds April 23, 1816. It was deeded to Jonah Hoyt March 17, 1824.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Calvin C. Phelps June 8, 1816.
It was transferred to WiUiam Hicks, jr., April 7, 1826, and after several divisions and
transfers was deeded: 65 acres to WilHam Hicks; 30 acres to Nathan Peterson; and
10 acres to Avowry V. Andrews, all on the 23d of December, 1833 ; and 25 acres to
Avowry V. Andrews December 5, 1836. June 1, 1816, Isaac Craw took up the south
middle part, 50 acres, of lot 19. June 7, 1826, it was articled to Geo. W. Wright, and
December 28, 1830 to William C. Tanner. It was deeded to Avowry V. Andrews
October 7, 1833. Danforth Bugbee took up the middle part, 100 acres, of lot 19 June
I, 1818. It was articled to Calvin Chapman June 2, 1824, to Gordon Case February
II, 1833, and was deeded to him January 7, 1834. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 19
was articled to John F. Taylor January 1, 1816, was transferred to John H. Tildeii
February 8, 1827, and was deeded to Delazon Tomlinson January 7, 1834.
The south part of lot 20, 120 acres, was articled to Anson Jackson April 22, 1816_
It was deeded to Levi Blackman March 19, 1824. The south and middle part of lot 20
and middle part of lot 21, 100 acres, were deeded to the trustees of the first Presby-
terian Church of Ridgeway September 6, 1822.
The east part of lots 20 and 21, 197 acres, was articled to Reuben Rowley August 28,
1813. The east part of lot 21, 32 acres, was articled to David Pratt June 14, 1833. and
was deeded to Charles Butler January 26, 1837. The east part of lot 20 was conveyed
ORLEANS C0UNT7. 299
to Keyes Wilder by two deeds: January 13, 1832, 100 acres, and January 3, 1834, 65
acres. The west part of lot 20 and 21, was articled to 'ienjamin Severns September 6,
1822. It was deeded to Parley Gillett November 3, 1835.
The west part of lot 22 and south part of lot 23 were deeded to Jesse Smith March 1,
1833. The east part of lot 22, 60 acres, was articled to Zephaniah H. Judson July 5,
1815. The 60 acres next west from this were articled to John McMillan October 13,
1815. Both parcels were transferred to Dorus Curtis May 9, 1833. They were deeded
to Edward A. Nicoll May 1, 1841. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 22, was
taken up by Gilbert Howell November 6, 1815. January 20, 1833 it was articled to
John Gr. Brown, and June 16, 1835. it was deeded to Simeon Oummings and Amasa
Jackson. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 22 was taken up by James Brown
December 15, 1815. September 30, 1830, 49 acres of this were articled to Friend
Curtis, and June 16. 1835, were deeded to Simeon Cummings and Amasa Jackson. Jan-
uary 26, 1833, 55 acres of this west middle part were articled to Solomon Jordan, and
were deeded to Charles Butler and Bowen Whiting March 15, 1841.
The north part, 50 acres, of lot 23 was articled to William McCollister January 2,
1828, and was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The east part, 126 acres, of lot 24 was taken up by Hugh Alexander January 28,
1828. November 15, 1833, it was articled to Joseph Aixson, and was deeded to John
McKay, jr., December 29, 1837. The west part, 150 acres, of lot 24 was taken up by
John Frisbee May 23, 1819. It was articled to Michael Norton March 3, 1831, and was
deeded to Jesse M. Schofield July 16, 1832.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was taken up by George Bayne June 29, 1815.
December 5, 1825, the east portion, 60 acres, of this was articled to Thomas Bayne, and
was deeded to him October 7, 1833. December 5, 1825, the west portion, 40 acres,
of the same part was articled to Samuel L. Hastings. November 27, 1829, it was
transferred to Ephraim Masten and was deeded to him November 17, 1835. The
south middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was taken up by Ezra Whitney September 29,
1815. March 7, 1829, 75 acres of this part was articled to Arnold G. Lewis, and April
16, 1832, were deeded to Elisha Boardman. March 7, 1829, 25 acres of the same were
articled to Amasa Fitch, and December 24, 1833, transferred to John Bayne, to whom
they were deeded January 1, 1836. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25, was taken
up '^y Nahum Loring September 27, 1815. November 14, 1827, 50 acres of this were
articled to Orrin Carpenter, and were deeded to him January 6, 1834. November 14,
1827, 50 acres of the same were articled to Thomas Penn, and were deeded to Isaac
Barnes December 6, 1831. The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was taken up
by Nathaniel Loomis April 27, 1815. April 25, 1828, 30 acres of this part were arti-
cled to Thomas Bayne, and were deeded to him September 20, 1831. April 25, 1828,
70 acres of this part were articled to Sylvester Loomis, and were deeded to John Kirby
November 13, 1833. The south part, 88 acres, of lot 25, was taken up by Joseph Hoag
February 24, 1819. December 7, 1829, the east portion, 50 acres, of this was arti-
cled to Horace Perkins, and November 1, 1834, to Norman Herrick, to whom it was
deeded October 6, 1837. December 7, 1829, the west portion, 38 acres, of this same
part, was articled to Samuel Bostwick, and was deeded to Hannah Bennett December
13, 1833.
300 LANDMARKS OF
The east part, 123 acres, of lot 26 was taken up by Jessie B. Brand April 10, 1815.
January 6, 1825, it was deeded to EUery Hicks. The west and middle part, 261
acres, of lot 26 was taken up by Charles Palmer March 20, 1816. November 20, 1827,
80i acres of this were articled to Dudley Watson, and were deeded to Hiland Hibbard
April 6, 1832. June 4, 1828, 50 acres of this part were articled to Elisha Boardman,
and were deeded to him June 2, 1834. December 4, 1829, 131 acres of this east and
middle part were articled to Charles Palmer and were deeded to Horace Hubbard Sep-
tember 7, 1831.
The west part, 147 acres, of lot 27 was articled to Joseph Willett March 27, 1815,
and was deeded to Lyman Bates March 28, 1833. The east and middle part, 294^
acres, of lot 27 was articled to Harry Boardman March 17, 1815. March 28, 1823, the
article was renewed to Elisha Boardman, who received his deed June 4, 1828.
The west parts of lots 28 and 29, and the east parts of lots 36 and 37, 140 acres, were
articled to Elijah Brown June 5, 1811, and were deeded to Otis Turner. The west
middle part of lots 28 and 29, 118 acres, was taken up by Hezekiah Coon July 1, 1811.
December 31, 1828, that portion lying in lot 28 was articled to Milo Coon, and was
def'ded, with the part in 29, to Otis Turner April 16, 1836. The middle part of lots 28
and 29 was taken up by William White January 11, 1812. March 13, 1824, it was
articled to Orlando Bates. December 1, 1835, the portion lying in lot 28, 40 acres, was
deeded to William V. Wilson, and on the same day the part lying in lot 29, 10 acres,
was deeded to Obed Hubbard. The west middle part of lots 28 and 29, 126 acres, was
taken up by Hezekiah Coon July 1, 1811. December 31, 1828, that portion in lot 28,
71 acres, was articled to Milo Coon, and December 20, 1823, was deeded to Samuel
Whittaker. May 7, 1837, the portion in lot 29, 55 acres, was deeded to Obed
Hubbard.
The east part of lot 28, 192 acres, was taken up by Orlando Bates April 18, 1822
May 20, 1824, the west portion, 100 acres, of this was deeded to Irene Bates. June 24,
1830, 92 acres of this was articled to Lyman Bates, and was deeded to Harry Scott
February 19, 1832,
The west part of lot 30, 160 acfes, was taken up by Stephen Titus June 27, 1819,
November 9, 1832, 100 acres of this were articled to Burrage Bulkley, and deeded to
Friend Curtis January 20, 1834. The middle part, 160 acres, of lot 30 was taken up
by Amos Satterlee June 27, 1814. May 24, 1823, it was articled to Lanson Watkins,
and March 12, 1833, it was with 60 acres of the west part, deeded to Mr. Watkins.
The east middle part, 61 acres, of lot 30 was taken up by Eli Moore November 25,
1814. It was articled to Betsey Sprout March 13, 1833, and, with 31 acres of lot 29,
was deeded to John Wilson January 13, 1836. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 30 was
taken up by Solomon Gould June 15, 1815. It was articled to Justus Welch April 13,
1830, to Richard Wilkins May 12, 1835, and was deeded to John N. Fish November
3, 1837.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 31 was taken up by Farley Coon October 8, 1833.
It was articled to Friend Curtis October 8, 1833, and was deeded to Walter Durkee
October 27, 1838. November 22, 1821, Nathaniel Fisher took up the north part, 50
acres, of lot 31. December 28, 1830, it was articled to Curtis W. Stockwell. It was
ORLEANS COUNTY. 301
deeded, with the south part of lot 32, to Mr. Stockwell December 9, 1835. The north
middle part, 60 acres, of lot 31 was articled to Eliphalet Lewis March 29, 1823. It was
transferred to Philo Elmer October 14, 1831, and to Curtis B. Stockwell December 6,
1833. It was deeded to Philo Elmer November 17, 1836. The middle part, 96+ acres,
of lot 31 was taken up by Nathaniel Fisher April 2, 1823. April 5, 1832, it was articled
to Daniel H. Seeley, and December 6, 1834, to Daniel Tolford, to whom it was deeded
December 6, 1837.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 32 was articled to William Parker April 22, 1816.
The article was renewed June 29, 1824, to Asel Parker, who received his deed May 20,
1833. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 32 was articled to HoUis Maynard September
13, 1816. It was transferred to Electa Maynard January 16, 1834 and was deeded to
her March 15, 1839.
The south part, 52 acres, of lot 32 was taken up by Hollis Maynard January 4, 1817.
November 6, 1829, it was articled to Curtis W. Stockwell, and was deeded to him
December 1, 1835.
Lot 33 and the south part of lot 34, 425 acres, was articled to Otis Turner January
22, 1822. This land was deeded as follows: 222 acres to Isaac Bennett and Hannah,
his wife, January 28, 1830 ; and 148 acres to Jacob B. Bennett June 4, 1835.
Joseph Hoag took up the middle part, 125 acres, of lot 34 January 21, 1822. Decem-
ber 28, 1830, it was articled to Isaac Hoag, and December 14, 1833, to William Wilson,
March 9, 1835, it was, with 100 acres of lot 42, deeded to Philander Corset. The north
part, 85 acres, of lot 34 was articled to Elisha Sheldon January 30, 1822. It was trans-
ferred to Elisha Boardman January 18, 183], and was deeded to Adam Kingman No-
vember 27, 1833.
The south part of lot 35, 158 acres, was taken up by Joseph Willitt March 27, 1815.
March 28, 1823, it was articled to Lyman Bates, and September 7, 1831, 58 acres were
deeded to Adam Kingman. September 7, 1831, 100 acres of this part were deeded to
Charles Palmer. The south part, 150 acres, of lot 35 was taken up by Thomas Bills
March 11, 1815. It was articled to Otis Turner June 10, 1823, and to Bennett Bates , jr.
December 3, 1830. Fifty acres were deeded to Adam Kingman February 12, 1833, and
100 acres to Job Fish December 1, 1837.
The middle part of lots 36 and 37, 105 acres, was taken up by Israel Douglass March
13, 1811. It was deeded : 66 acres to David Hooker April 10, 1816, and 39 acres to
Gideon Hard July 20, 1830. The west part, 01 acres, of lots 36 and 37 was taken up
by Ezra Barns June 26, 1810. It was articled to Israel Douglass September 5, 1823,
and to Harry Boardman December 28, 1830. The portion, 25 acres, in lot 37 was trans-
ferred to Samuel Perry October 23, 1834, and deeded to Perley H. Hooker September
15, 1837. The portion, 36 acres, in lot 36 was transferred to Samuel Perry January 10,
1835. and deeded to him April 24. 1835.
The east part of lots 36 and 37, and west part of lots 28 and 29 were articled to Elijah
Brown June 5, 1811, and deeded to Otis Turner April 16, 1816.
The west part of lot 38, 100 acres, was taken up by John Jinks. It was articled to
William Campbell June 7, 1819, and was deeded to WilHam Murdock December 22,
1833. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 38 was articled to Jonathan Cobb July 24,
302 LANDMARKS OF
1811, and was deeded to David Hooker July 26, 1810. The east part, 78 acres, of lot
38 was taken up by Roswell Kelsey July 20, 1812. It was articled to Koxana Kelsey
July 20, 1822, and to Jonathan Swett November 22, 1830. It was deeded to Mr. Swett
October 13, 1832.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 39 was articled to Orange Walker May 16, 1816.
January 20, 1827, the article was renewed to David Talford, who received a deed Octo-
ber 13, 1830.
James Briggs purchased by article 42^ acres of lot 39 November 25, 1822. On the
same day George Dodge took up the south part, 42 acres, of the same lot. Both par-
cels were deeded to James Briggs January 24, 1833.
June 27, 1815, the south part, 120 acres, of lot 40 was articled to Enoch Richardson.
On the same day the north part, 119 acres, of the aame lot was articled to Jeremiah
Wilson. The lot was deeded as follows: 159 acres to Philo Elmer October 13, 1830,
and 80 acres to William Cobb November 11, 1830.
The south and west part of lot 41, with a small part of lot 42, 230 acres, was taken
up by Benjamin ElJicott June 26, 1821. It was deeded to Joseph Ellicott October 14,
1824. The northeast part, 130^ acres, of lot 41 was taken up by William Cook January
18, 1823. It was articled to Joanna Cook December 28, 1830, and to Jacob Bennett
November 29, 1833. It was deeded to Mr. Bennett November 12, 1834.
The north part, 153 acres, of lot 42 was taken up by William Cook January 18, 1823.
January 2, 1831, 50 acres of this were articled to Remington Whitney; December 14,
1833, to John Kirby, and were deeded December 29, 1836, to James 0. Stokes. June
11, 1832, 103 acres of this north part were articled to Salmon Rutherford. June 19,
1833, this portion was articled in equal halves to Mordecai Leighton and Enoch Leigh-
ton. It was deeded: 51i acres to Joseph Nixon January 9, 1837, and 51+ acres to
Joseph Ross November 1, 1838.
The south part of lot 42, 100 acres, was articled to William Cook January 2, 1823.
It was deeded, with 125 acres of lot 34, to Philander Corset March 9, 1835.
The north part of lot 43 was taken up, 75 acres, by Henry Boardman January 29,
1822, and 26 acres by Otis Turner June 10, 1823. Of this the east portion, 50^ acres,
was articled to Mordecai Leighton December 14, 1830, and deeded to Smith W. Nelson
May 11, 1833. The west portion, 50| acres, was articled to Enoch Leighton October
18, 1831, to Daniel Ostrom December 18, 1833, and was deeded to James H. Knapp
December 12, 1836. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 43, was taken up by John Conant
November 18, 1822. December 17, 1833, the east portion of this, 50 acres, was arti-
cled to William Clark, and was deeded to Abner Bixbe October 31, 1835. The west
portion, 50 acres, of this south part was articled to Farley F. Coon November 17, 1831,
and was deeded to him December 2;!, 1833. The middle part, llOi acres, of lot 43, was
taken up by Ephraim Darling and William Pixley March 20, 1823. May 6, 1831, 55f
acres of this were articled to Elisha Sheldon, and were deeded to Silas Winchester De-
cember 26, 1835. July 11, 1831, 55f acres of the same were articled to Solomon Gere,
and were deeded to John Alcorn March 16, 1836.
Lots 44 and 45, 173 acres, were articled to Ebenezer Mix July 10, 1811.
The west part, 175 acres, of lot 40 was articled to Eli Moor April 5, 1810, and was
deeded to Peter Covert March 17, 1818. The east part, 171 acres, of lot 46 was sold
ORLEANS COUNTY. 303
by article to Isaac Slieldon August 5, 1811. It was transferred to Elijah Hawley
August 6, 1819, to William Campbell November 26, 1832. and was deeded, 150 acres
to John Morse, April 29, 18;>4, and 20 acres to William Campbell, May 3, 1834.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 47, was articled to Robert Simpson June 16, 1815.
The article was renewed to Samuel Church June 27, 1823, and the land was deeded to
him December 19, 1833. June 16, 1815, Grosvenor Daniels took up the north part, 14"
acres, of lot 47. March 10, 1824,50 acres of this were articled to Betsey Toal, and
were deeded to her December 19, 1833. March 10, 1824, 92 acres of the same were
articled to Orange Walker, and 70 acres .were deeded to him November 16, 1835.
Twenty-two acres of this north part were deeded to Grosvenor Daniels November 18,
1830.
The north part, 97 acres, of lot 48, was articled to David D. Owen May 1, 1815, and
to Jacob L. Wild October 30, 1828. It was deeded to him May 20, 1833.
The south part, 150 acres, of lot 48, was taken up by Eliphalet Lewis April 21, 1815.
Seventy-five acres of this were deeded to him September 29, 1831. March 22,1825,
75 acres of the same were articled to Damer Lewis and were deeded to him February
26, 1829.
Lots 1 and 2, 500 acres, range 4, township 15, were articled to William Peacock
September 14, 1821, and were deeded to Joseph Ellicott October 14, 1824.
The east part, 160 acres, of lot 3, was articled to Ebenezer Mix April 30, 1821, and
was deeded to Joseph Ellicott October 14, 1824. The northwest part, 100 acres, of lot
3, was taken up by Carter Wright November 23, 1821. July 15, 1830, it was deeded to
Chauncey Mears. The southwest part, 90 acres, of lot 3, was taken up by Edward
Wright November 23, 1821. August 3, 1832, 50 acres of this were articled to Oren
Britt, and were deeded to him December 29, 1832. December 24, 1833, 40 acres of the
same were articled to Horace Hubbard, and were deeded to Ebenezer Daniels Sep-
tember 30, 1836.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 4, was articled to Arunah Lewis November 10, 1821,
and transferred to Jarvis Hurd December 30, 1829. It was deeded to him December
28, 1835. The north part, 88i^ acres, of lot 4, was articled to Richard Combs May 6.
1822. The west portion, 53A acres, was deeded to Frederick McCord January 12, 1837,
The east portion, 35 acres, of this north part, was articled to Henry Hammond De-
cember 23, 1833, and was deeded to J oseph Nixon January 9, 1837.
Jonathan Brown took up lot 5, April 2, 1814. After several divisions and transfers
it was deeded : 44 acres to Julia Ann Perry October 15, 1832 ; 100 acres to Joseph L.
Perry June 27, 1833 ; 36 acres to Jasper Murdock November 14, 1833 ; 87 acres to
Ezra Pennell January 6, 1834; and 100 acres to Samuel Bachelder March 4, 1834.
The east part, 189 acres of lot 6 was articled to Eli Moore June 11, 1810. One hun-
dred and seventeen acres of this were deeded to him January 3, 1818. November 26,
1824, 72 acres of the same were articled to Mr. Moore, and October 18, 1828, to Joseph
L. Perry. They were deeded to Julia Ann Perry July 6, 1882. The west part, 184
acres of lot 6 Avas taken up by Abel P. Sheldon May 27, 1810. May 25, 1819 it was
deeded to Elijah Hawley.
Lot 7 and the south part of lot 8, 150 acres, were articled to Hiram Doolittle June
8, 1812. The land was deeded to David Talmadge June 10, 1820. The north part, 133
304 LANDMARKS OF
acres, of lot 8, was articled to Peter Ryther June 18, 1812 The article was renewed
to William A. Preston November 1, 1821, and December 30, 1833, to Willston Pres-
ton, to whom 52 acres were deeded November 11, 1836. Sixty-one acres of the same
were deeded to Grosvenor Daniels November 11,1836. The south middle part, 200
acres, of lot 8 was articled to Peter Ryther June 18, 1812, and 50 acres were deeded
to Benedict Alford, jr., June 19, 1820. Oh the same day 50 acres were deeded to
Daniel F. Hunt, and 100 to Grosvenor Daniels.
The south part, 75 acres, of lot 9 was articled to Eli Moore June 24, 1812, and the
article was renewed to Hiram Nichols June 26, 1820. August 15, 1828, it was articled
to Grosvenor Daniels, to whom it was deeded August 12, 1834. The south middle
part, 100 acres, of lot 9 was articled to James T. Hill April 20, 1815, The article was
renewed June 27, 1823, to William Cochran, who received his deed November, 16, 1833.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 9 was taken up by Luther Hill April 20, 1815.
Aprir25, 1829, it was articled to Luther and James Hill. Fifty acres were deeded to
John Lewis November 14, 1853; and 50 to Eliphalet Lewis on the same day.
The north part, 106 acres, of lot 9 was articled to Thomas Weld March 20, 1816.
November 26, 1833, it was articled to Elias Weld, to whom it was deeded September
14, 1835.
Lot 10, with lot 20, was taken up by Justus Ingersoll April 2, 1821. November 21,
1829, 53 acres of this were articled to Nathan Bancroft, and were deeded to him
October 25, 1832. November 21, 1829, 75 acres were deeded to Anthony Mason, and
were deeded to him January 7, 1832. December 28, 1829, 25 acres were articled to
Orin Butt. December 21, 1830, 69 acres were articled to John Knapp, and, with the
last mentioned 25 acres, were deeded to him November 28, 1831. December 25, 1830,
50 acres were articled to Nathaniel Tupper, and were deeded to John C. Osborn
March 23, 1836. December 24, 1833, 50 acres were sold to James Jackson, and were
deeded, with 100 acres of lot 20, to William Jackson, December 24, 1833.
Lots 11 and 12 were articled to David E. Evans August 2, 1821. December 22,
1829, 200 acres of lot 11 were articled to Thomas Dunlap, and deeded to him Decem-
ber 22, 1829. December 22, 1829, 100 acres of lot 11 were articled to Daniel Brown
and were deeded to John C. Osborn December 17, 1835. January 12, 1831, 126 acres
were articled to John J. Snell a.^d were deeded to Hezekiah and Ambrose Bowen Janu-
ary 31, 1834. Lot 12, 135 acres was articled to Artemus Allen December 22, 1829,
and was deeded to Otis Turner December 25, 1832.
The south middle part, 93 acres, of lot 13 was taken up by Amadou Holden Novem-
ber 2, 1821. November 12, 1830, 47 acres of this part were articled to George Jared,
and were deeded to Lewis Marshall June 6, 1832. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 13
was taken up by Amadon Holden November 2, 1821. December 21, 1830, it was
articled to John Gambel, and was deeded to Isaac L. Ostrom November 27 1833. The
west part, 75 acres, of lot 13 was taken up by Amos Barrett November 15, 1821,
November 12, 1830, 45 acres were articled to George Dodge, to whom they were deeded
January 6, 1834. September 3, 1832, 30 acres were ai-ticled to John Willets, jr., and
were deeded to him December 15, 1835. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 13
was taken up by Amos Barrett November 15, 1821. This part, and a portion of the
south middle part were deeded to Nathaniel Fisher January 6, 1834.
ORLEANS COUNTY. :;"-,
The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 14 was taken up by Thomas Bayne Augusi 20, 1829^
September 3, 1832, it was articled to William Willits, and was deeded to Luther Barrett
March 21, 1834. The west part, 100 acres, of lot 14 was articled'to Amos Barrett July
31, 1821, and was deeded to Lucius Barrett November 25, 1833. The east middle part,
44 acres, of lot 14 was articled to George Jarred November 16, 1821. It was again
articled Septembers, 1832, to Jeremiah Hill to whom 25 acres were deeded July 2, 1836.
On the same day 19 acres were deeded to Milo Coon. The east part, 50 acres, of lot 14
was taken up by Joseph Asherd November 22, 1821. February 2, 1831, it was articled
to Joseph Willets, and January 10, 1835, to George Dodge, to whom it was deeded
December 10, 1835.
Jonathan Cobb took up lot 15, 378 acres, September 6, 1810. After many divisions
and transfers it was deeded: 50 acres to Amos Barrett November 25, 1833; 61 acres
to Zimri Murdock November 25, 1833 ; 90 acres to Luther Barrett December 25, 1833 ;
100 acres to Calvin Barrett February 25, 1834 ; and 80 acres to Betsey Breed December
23. 1835.
Jonathan Cobb also took up lot 16, 363^ acres October 2, 1810. It was articled to
Bastion Weatherwax October 3, 1820. It was divided and subdivided, and finally was
deeded as follows: 100 acres to Amos Barrett November 25. 1833; 100 acres to
Stephen E. Angevine December 12, 1833 ; 100 acres to Amos Angevine January 18,
1834 ; and 63 acres to Amos Barrett December 1, 1838.
George Shephard took up lot 17, 139 acres, June 20, 1817. October 10, 1833, 89
acres of this were articled to Daniel F. Hunt, and were deeded to him November 30,1835.
The balance, of 50 acres,was articled to Daniel F. Hunt May 26, 1834, and was deeded to
Ezra Pennell August 28, 1837.
Lot 18, 332 acres, was sold by two articles to Bastion Weatherwax October 25, 1816.
After being divided and transferred it was deeded: 132 acres to Joseph L. Perry July
6, 1832; 100 acres to Grosvenor Daniels September 20, 1832; 50 acres to Asa Hill
June 20, 1834; and the balance with a part of lot 19, to William Foster August
1, 1834.
The east part, 127 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Charles Dufoe June 16, 1815-
September 22, 1829, 100 acres of this were articled to Daniel F. Hunt, to whom they
were deeded December 2, 1833. November 19, 1830, 27 acres of the same part were
articled, with 50 acres of lot 18, to William Foster, and were deeded to him August
1, 1834. The middle part, 127 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Ransom Prentice June 16,
1815. June 29, 1824, it was articled to Elisha Weld, and was deeded to him May 20,
1833. The west part, 127 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Thomas Lowden August 4,
1816. January 1, 1831, 63+ acres of this were articled to William Lowden, and Novem-
ber 30, 1832, the other half, 63^ acres was articled to him. The whole was deeded to
Allen J. Culver November 25, 1833.
Lot 20, with lot 10, was taken up by Justus Ingersoll August 2, 1821. February 10,
1830, 100 acres were articled to James Jackson, and with 50 acres of lot 10 were deed-
ed to him December 24, 1835. August 26, 1830, 235 acres of lot 20 were articled to
Christopher Servoss and were deeded to him December 24, 1833.
39
30G LANDMA-RKS OF
July 27, 1821, John H. Stone took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 21. January
12, 1831, it was articled to Christopher Servoss, and December 24, 1833, 60 acres were
deeded to Archibald Servoss, December 24, 1833 ; 40 acres of the same part were
deeded to Montraville A. Harrington. Christopher Timmerman took up the south middle
part, 50 acres, of lot 21, November 14, 1821. November 1, 1830, it was articled to
Samuel Price, and March 21, 1884, was deeded to Daniel Flagler. The north part, 100
acres, of lot 21 was articled to Joseph Brmk November 10, 1821, and transferred to
William Jackson September 10, 1830. It was deeded to Mr. Jackson October 25, 1832.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 21 was articled to Cornelius Ashton July 5,
1822. October 12, 1830, it was transferred lo William Jackson, to whom it, with the
north part of the lot was deeded October 25, 1832.
The nofth part, 90 acres, of lot 22 was taken up by Ira Brown August 23, 1821,
It was articled to Osgood Kittredge December 28, 1830, and was deeded to Francis
M. Davis May 7, 1834. The south middle part of lot 22, 100 acres, and the north mid-
dle part, 50 acres, were articled to Ziba Needham August 11 and 13, 1821, and the
south 100 acres were articled to Levi B. Pratt July 31, 1821. The tract thus articled
was deeded as follows: 150 acres to Isaac Kittridge September 19, 1833 ; 50 acres to
Thomas De Mott September 19, 1833 ; 25 acres to Alvah Flagler November 26, 1835 ;
and 25 acres to Lewis Marshall December 14, 1835.
July 5, 1820, Jeremiah Brown took up lot 28, 127i acres, and it was articled to
Joseph Davis May 28, 1829. It was deeded to him May 25, 1835.
The west part, 134 acres, of lot 24 was sold by article to Boaz Lambson May 22,
1810. November 10, 1821, it was articled to Henry Reynolds, and March 6, 1828, to
Seymour B. Murdock, to whom it was deeded November 14, 1833. The middle part,
134 acres, of lot 24 was articled to Seymour Murdock October 24, 1809, and was
deeded to John Huggins June 27, 1827. The east part, 130 acres, of lot 24 was taken
up by Seymour Murdock May 21, 1810, and was deeded to him May 22, 1820.
Stephen Lombard took up the west part, 133 acres, of lot 25 November 16, 1810. It
Avas deeded to John Weld July 29, 1818. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was arti-
cled to Amos Barrett June 5, 1815. It was deeded to Roswell Reed November 24,
1827. The west middle part, 61 acres, of lot 25 was articled to Isaac Penoyer Decem-
ber 4, 1815. It was again articled to John Weld February 14, 1833, and with 10
acres next west from it that were taken up July 29, 1318, by Mr. Weld, was deeded to
him October 15, 1835. Charles De Witt took up the east middle part, 98 acres, of lot
25 November 26, 1818. April 4, 1833, it was articled to Amos Barrett, and 49 acres
were^deeded to Seymour B. Murdock December 28, 1837. The balance of 49 acres
was deeded to Sidney Barrett December 28, 1837.
Lot 26. 130 acres, was articled to Nathaniel M. Lombard March 6, 1819. November
12, 1832, it was again articled to Calvin Barrett, and was deeded to Amos Barrett De-
cember 6, 1838.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 27, was articled to Samuel Smith, May 25, 1816.
December 3, 1832, it was transferred to Alsop Palmer, to whom 273i acres of the lot
were deeded January 7, 1834. George Robinson purchased by article the west part,
100 acres, of lot 27, July 15, 1818. January 19, 1833, 50 acres were articled to Alsop
ORLEANS COUNTY. 307
Palmer. The other parcel of 50 acres were articled to Henry Fox January 10, 1834,
and was deeded to Harvey G. Fox December 1, 1835. George Robinson also took up
the middle part, 123i acres, of lot 27, July 15, 1818. October 17, 1832, it was articled
to Alsop Palmer, and, with other tracts amounting to 273-^ acres was deeded to him as
before stated.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 28, was articled to Stephen Lowden, November 11,
1815. September 12, 1832, it was transferred to Darius Hill, and was deeded to him
December 19, 1833. Thomas Lowden took up the east part of lot 28, 274 acres Novem-
ber 11, 1815. It was deeded to him September 27, 1822.
October 13, 1821, David E. Evans and Joseph Ellicott, jr., took up lots 29, 30 and 31.
These lots were deeded as follows: 148 acres of lot 29 to Jacob L. Taylor, October 17,
1833 ; 150 acres of the same and a part of lot 30. to John Drew, January 20, 1835 ; 91^
acres of lots 29 and 30 to John Le Valley, May 25, 1836 ; 100 acres of lot 30 to Calvin
Russell, October 23, 1832; 80 acres of lot 30 to Gardner Salisbury, October 25, 1832 ;
50 acres of the same to Hiram Barrett, January 14, 1836; 50 acres to David Balch,
September 19, 1833 ; 100 acres of lots 30 and 31 to Osgood Kitteridge, October 25,
1832; 169 acres of lot 31 to Orin Arnold, June 8, 1833; and 131 acres of lot 31 to
Joseph B. Arnold, June 8, 1833.
William Davis purchased by article the east part 134^ acres, of lot 32, November
19, 1809. It was deeded to Israel Murdock, April 16, 1816. The middle part, 100
acres, of lot 32, was articled to Israel Murdock, July 31, 1821, and was deeded to Sally
Murdock, June 4, 1835. April 4, 1822, Milton Warner took up the west part, 107 acres,
of lot 32. November 16, 1830, it was articled to Edward Miller, and it was deeded to
Samuel Hoag July 1, 1834.
The east two-thirds, 256 acres, of lot 33 was taken up by John Murdock June 25,
1810. It was articled to Israel Murdock June 26, 1820, to Jessie M. Scofield, Decem-
ber 3, 1832, and was deeded : To Sally Murdook 54 acres, June 4, 1835; 122 acres to
Abraham M. Schemerhorn, December 11, 1837; and 80 acres to Jonathan E. Robinson
February 1, 1840. The west one-third, 129 acres of lot 33 was articled to Goodwin &
Mix November 27, 1811, and deeded to Jeremiah Brown April 16, 1816.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 34, was taken up by Joseph Davis, July 27, 1822. The
north middle part, 66 acres, of the same lot was taken up by Aaron Parker, November 20,
1822. Both were articled to Daniel Morris, September 30, 1833, and were deeded as
follows: 60 acres to Cyrus Clark, November 19, 1835; 40 acres to Elizur Coann,
December 2, 1837, and 63 acres to William Mudge, November 5, 1839. Aaron Parker
took up the south middle part, 100 acres of lot 34, November 20, 1822. It was articled
to Joseph Perry, January 29, 1834, and deeded to Gideon Hard, October 19, 1835.
Aaron Parker took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 34, November 20, 1822. October
3, 1832, 50 acres of this were articled to Daniel Dodge ; and on the same day 50 acres
to Seth Churchill. October 11, 1834, the whole tract, 100 acres, was articled to Sey-
mour B. Murdock, and was deeded to Daniel Burnett, jr., September 17, 1835.
February 21, 1823, George Robison purchased by article the south middle part, 5"0
acres, of lot 35. December 12, 1833, it was transferred to Seth Warren. November
13, 1822, the .south part, 100 acres, of lot 35 was articled to John Moore. It was
articled to Major Churchill September 28, 1832, and, with the preceding 50 acres, was
308 LANDMARKS OF
deeded to Daniel Burnett September 17, 1835. William Robinson purchased by article
the north part, 50 acres, of lot 35 May 10, 1825. May 9, 1833, it was articled to
Furman Case, and December 28, 1827, to William Murdock. It was deeded to John
S. Barry December 28, 1837. December 26, 1837, Emery W. Dennison took up a part,
50 acres, of lot 35. It was articled to Addison Grow February 26, 1834, and De-
cember 1, 1835, was deeded to him. The north middle part, 42 acres, of lot 35 was
articled to Henry Williams November 27, 1832. It was deeded to John Lowber May
1, 1835. The middle part of lot 35 was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The west part, 50 acres, of lot 36 was taken up by John Grow September 23, 1834.
tSeptember 12, 1832, it was articled to Addison Grow, and September 9, 1835, to
Newell A. Hubbard. It was deeded to Andrew Weld August 24, 1838. W^illiam
Annett took up the east part, 100 acres, of lot 36 August 5, 1816. June 25, 1832, it
was articled to William Dodge, and November 10, 1834, to Silas Wood, to whom it
was deeded November 9, 1837. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 36 was articled
to Jacob Houseman April 25, 1825. April 3, 1833, it was articled to Simeon Case, and
December 20, 1837, it was deeded to Allen F. Culver.
John H. Stone took up the east part, 129 acres of lot 37 July 24, 1821. May 19,
1832, the north portion, 95^ acres, of this was articled to Alden Baker, and December
14, 1833, it was deeded to Jeremiah Porter. December 29, 1830, 24 acres of the south
portion of this east part v ere articled to Orrin Abbot, and December 30, 1830 9^ acres
were articled to Reuben Wright. This portion, which lay south from the canal, was
deeded to Jerome Phillips December 14, 1833. The west part, 129 acres, of lot 37
was taken up by John H. Stone July 24, 1821. December 22,1830, it was articled to
Francis B. Lane, and 115^ acres were deeded to him December 28, 1833.
The south part of lot 38 was taken up by John H. Stone July 27, 1821. September
15, 1828, it was articled to Lemuel H. Ames, and December 3, 1833 was deeded to
John Levally. The north part of lot 38, 182 acres, and south part, 98 acres, of lot 39
were taken up by William J. Shippen October 4, 1821. The part of lot 38 was articled
to Joseph Shippen December 27, 1830, and was deeded to him February 8, 1834.
December 27, 1830, the part of lot 39 was articled to Jacob Shippen, and was deeded
to him January 30, 1834.
The north part, 109 acres, of lot 39 was articled to James Sheldon August 4, 1821.
November 1, 1830, it was transferred to Jeremiah Brown, and was deeded to him
January 8, 1834.
September 14, 1821, the east part, 190 acres, of lot 40 was articled to Seymour Mur-
dock. It was deeded to Jeremiah Brown November 1, 1830. James Sheldon purchased
by article, August 4, 1821, the west part, 100 acres, of lot 40. November 22, 1830, it
was articled to Joseph Wheeler, and was deeded to him January 28, 1834. February
20, 1822, Samuel P. Judson took up the middle part, 106 acres, of lot 40. December
29, 1830, it was articled to Grosvenor Daniels and was deeded to James Edwards, jr.
October 2, 1835.
The east part, 200 acres, of lot 41 was articled to Zephaniah Judson September 26,
1811. It was deeded : 100 acres to Charles Webb, jr., September 7, 1821; and 100
acres to Jeremiah Brown September 14, 1821. The west middle part, 80 acres, of lot
ORLEANS COUNTY. 309
4] was articled to Amos Spencer February 8, 1812. February 9, 1820, the article was
renewed to Martin Lambert, and the land was deeded to Daniel Miller November 5,
1825. The west part, 66 acres, of lot 41 was sold by article to William McCormick
July 28, 1821, and was transferred to Hiram Dolittle November 26, 1830. January 15,'
1834, 23 acres of this were articled to Otis Heartwell, and were deeded to William
Johnson April 28, 1836. September 21, 1835, 43 acres of the same were deeded to
James Salisbury.
The south part, 60 acres, of lot 42 was taken up by John Cool June 17, 1822. Feb-
ruary 21, 1831, it was articled to Benjamin J. Cornwall, and Nov. 7, 1835, to John
Levally. The north part, 61 acres, of lot 42 was articled to John Cool September 9,
1822. It was again articled to Amelia Sheldon October 14, 1833. Both parts were
deeded to John Drew December 27, 1837.
Samuel Bullen, jr., took up the north part, 100 acres, of lot 43 June 8, 1816. It was
articled to Peter Warner, December 1, 1829, and was deeded to him May 15, 1835.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 43 was sold by article to Grassal Robinson July
22, 1822. Twenty-five acres of this were articled to Joseph Bullen December 23, 1830,
and to Levi Woodford January 7, 1835. This parcel was deeded to Robert L. Benson
October 22, 1835. The balance of the lot, 250 acres, was deeded to John B. Lee, Sep-
tember 1, 1834.
Samuel Bullen, jr., took up the west part, 200 acres, of lot 44 April 20, 1815. De-
cember 1, 1S29, the south portion of this was articled to Ambrose G. Morehouse, and
was deeded to him July 7, 1837. December 1, 1829, the north portion of the same was
articled to Samuel Hawkins, who received his deed January 8, 1834. The west middle
part, 100 acres, of lot 44 was articled to Chester Perry September 17, 1818. It was
again articled to James Seamans September 14, 1832, and was deeded to Samuel B.
Kittridge May 15, 1835. The east part, 74 acres, of lot 44 was articled to John Grow,
jr., December 14, 1825, and was deeded to Dewitt Clark December 27, 1833.
July 5, 1817, Simeon Spencer took up the west part, 100 acres, of lot 45. December
3, 1834, the south portion, 50 acres, of this was articled to Samuel Pierce, and was
deeded to William A. Pierce November 15, 1836. May 15, 1835, the north portion, 30
acres, of the same part was articled to William Jackson, and was deeded to him May
15, 1835. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 45 was articled to Thomas Wheeler
May 15, 1820. December 22, 1829, it was transferred to Thomas Dunlap, and was,
with 60 acres more, deeded to him November 12, 1833. The east part, 100 acres, of
lot 45 was taken up by Henry Shaver August 9, 1820. September 12, 1832, 70 acres,
of this part were articled to John Grow, jr., who received his deed November 1, 1836.
November 22, 1830, the west middle part, 60 acres, of lot 45 was articled to Samuel
Wheeler, and was with the east middle part deeded to him November 12, 1833. Sixty-
six acres of lot 45 were deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
In 1 8 14 there were in Ridgeway 681 inhabitants, of whom 130 were
electors, and five were freeholders or owners of property to the value of
$250. A bounty of $5.00 per head for wolves taken in the town was
voted in 1816; in 1817 this was increased to $15.00. In 1813 there
310
LANDMARKS OF
were 178 taxable inhabitants in Ridgeway, and according to the as-
sessment roll of the "real and personal estates" completed on July 1st
of that year, by Eli Moore and Lansing Bailey, assessors, these were as
follows :
Description o
E Real Estate
Description of Real Estate.
Names of
ii
Names of
d
0
¥
persons or re-
puted owners.
0
0
bJD
a!
i
persons or re-
puted owners.
0
M
§
t
hJ
a;
<
hJ H
»i
<
Arnold, David,
wp3
14
4
100
3 -70
Chamberlin, Fitch,
5 6, Sec. 6
16
2
175
5.65
ep4o
14
100
3 40
Delevergene, Theodorus R.,
Adains, Joseph.
m p 14
15
2
116
3-5°
Sec. 8
14
4
50
3-45
Anderson, Robert,
m p 22
5
2
100
3 90
Demara David,
nP34
14
4
150
4-90
Adams, Aaron,
w p 23
5
2
100
3.48
Davis, Sumner,
wp 14
15
2
40
Alcorn, John,
SP35
5
I
58 j^
3.65
Daniels, Elijah,
e p 62
15
2
3.00
Abbott, Stephen,
SP36
15
2
150
495
Devereaux, Elijah,
m p 36
15
2
TOO
4.05
Atwell, Levi,
W p 44
15
2
4-15
Darrow, Elijah,
m p 2
2
3.20
Anderson, John,
w p 22
15
2
TOO
3-3°
Darrow, Reuben,
m p I
15
2
100
2.50
Ashton, Cornelius,
w p 19
14
4
100
4-05
Downer, Elijah,
m p 38
15
2
166
7.40
Barrett, Amos,
wp 15
15
4
50
2 10
Drake, Henry,
28
15
2
996
34-15
Barnes, Ezra D.,
m p 16
4
50
1-5°
Sp27
Belding, Nathaniel,
e p t6
15
4
3- 50
" "
wp 24
Bullock, Hezekiah,
28 2q
15
3
50
1.50
" "
m p 23
Brown, John G.,
Brown, Elijah,
14
15
3
470
15.66
" "
s w p 38
13579"
16
206
7.40
" "
n wp37
Brown, James,
I 3 5 79 II
16
2
329
14-50
11 11
m p 22
Brown, Paul,
13579"
16
2
103
405
Durkee, Ebenezer,
ep46
15
2
175
5.60
Brown, Robert, n p
1 3 5 7 9 II
6
2
206
7- 05
Davis, William,
ep32
15
4
1.34
7.00
Brown, Widow T.,
15
16
2
2H
Delevergene Egbert
WP24
15
4
136
4.10
Birdsley, Siba,
Bent, Elijah,
16
2
116
3-85
Douglass, Israel,
WP36
14
3
36
2.00
m p8
14
4
g8
Dunham, Matthew,
16
2
480
21.50
s p 18
14
4
100
3-95
Day, Minor,
Sec. 16
16
2
92
5-00
Benet, Frankling,
sp 9
4
4
100
3-9°
Eaton, John,
m p I
16
3
iqi
4.80
Belinger, Adam,
m p 35
14
4
200
6.50
Ellicott, Andrew A.,
38
14
3
800
35.60
Bentley, Caleb,
SP37
14
4
336
15.00
Far, Chester W.,
sps
15
118
3 75
Bradner, William,
w p 33
15
2
310
12.60
Fairfield, Walter,
mp5
15
2
59
1-75
Burgess, Noah,
ep6
IS
2
190
7.30
Fairfield, Ezra,
np 5
15
2
59
1-75
Booth, Oliver,
wp 15
15
2
200
8.40
Freeman Gideon,
52
15
2
377
18.65
Bullard, William,
W p 22
15
2
100
3-25
Foot, William,
SP45
15
2
6.55
Blak, David,
m p 29
15
2
100
7-55
Frary, Eleazer,
np29
14
4
185
6.8s
w P30
15
100
Freeman, Samuel,
mp38
14
4
2.95
Brundage, Jason,
Bricon, Moses,
w p 39
100
5'75
Freeman, Jacob,
sp.39
14
4
210
6.05
SP37
15
200
6.75
Fuller, Reuben,
1 2, Sec. 3
16
2
238
8.95
Benton, Sii.ts,
n p2
15
210
6.15
Fuller, John, 2
4 6, Sec. 8
16
2
259
16.65
Boothe, Oliver Gee,
e p 23
15
100
5.26
Fuller, Thomas, 2
4 6, Sec. 8
16
2
3.20
Benton, Oliver,
m p 40
14
no
3.00
Foster, Adam,
2
16
2
123
2.95
Benton, Elijah,
n P40
14
2.80
Poster, Chris John,
4, Sec. 12
16
2
128
4.00
Bailey, Lansing,
s w p 12
15
125
5-25
Foster, Jacob,
6, Sec. 12
16
2
126
3.65
Braley, Joel C.
s e p 12-
15
125
3-55
Poster, George,
8, Sec. 12
16
2
n8
2.9s
Brooks, Clarkson P.,
ep39
15
117
2.90
Foster, Coonrod,
ep8
16
2
240
10.50
Blane, Joseph,
e p 24
75
4.80
Griffing, John W..
wp3o
14
4
100
3-7°
Burlingham, Wm.,
m P53
15
120
8.00
Gates, Daniel,
np3o
15
2
100
3-90
Brigga, John,
sp 14
14
99
2.90
Garter, Henry,
n p 16
14
4
200
6.80
Brigs, James,
Coon, Alexander,
m p 14
14
75
2.65
Gleason, Grin,
WP64
15
2
60
2.80
sp 17
14
200
9.00
Gleason, Thomas P.,
m p 64
15
2
40
1.20
sp 18
4
184
Gorham, Herman,
m p 22
15
2
50
1.50
Carpenter, James,
s p 28
4
150
5-30
Hart, Joseph,
34
15
I
358
10.77
Carpenter, Samuel,
n P36
14
250
7 45
Holsenburgh, Frede
■ick, s p 3
15
2
200
5-60
" "
s P37
14
100
Huff, John,
mp7
15
I
100
5-25
Chaffee, Noah,
SP36
15
200
5-45
Hawley, M.,
mp5
15
3
300
10.05
Cass, Ephraim,
wp 53
15
50
2
70
Hagerman, Joseph,
n wpi4
14
4
130
4-75
Clark, Jane,
w p 23
15
100
4
05
Houghton, Artemas
wpi4
16
3
4S
Clark, Reuben,
n w p 43
15
75
3
50
Hooker, David,
37-36
16
3
66
2.88
Curtis, James,
m p 6
15
200
6
90
Hunt, John,
2
16
2
225
4-05
Crippen, Darius,
tn P37
IS
59
2
80
Hunt, Elijah,
12, Sec 9
16
2
130
s-ss
11 11
m P30
15
100
3
30
Hausman, John,
ii
16
2
120
3.00
Chaffy, Newberg,
m PS3
15
75
45
Jacops, Andrew,
Judson, Zephaniah,
ep53
IS
2
100
3-7S
Cobb, Jonathan,
15 16
IS
541
19
25
41
15
4
200
7.80
Coon, Hezekiah,
28 29
15
118
3
70
Jenks, John.
Kelsey, Roswell,
WP38
'5
3
100
3.85
Coon, Farley F.,
np8
14
166
95
ep38
15
3
17s
6.60
Clark, Samuel, 468
lo, Seen
16
481
14
25
Lambert, Stephen,
WP25
IS
4
'34
4.15
ORLEANS COUNTY.
311
Description o
f Real Estate
Description of Real Estate
Names of
6
Names of
6
persons or re-
■/
5
be
i
persons or re-
•
be
S
puted owners.
0
0
a
0
puted owners.
0
0
^
^J
b*
OS
<
J
^
<
Lowell, Henry,
S, Sec. 9
16
150
12.30
Stodard, Joseph,
53
15
248
8.45
Leopard, Samuel,
npi3
14
50
Sibley, Samuel,
e p 6i
15
00
Losey, James,
6
15
344
33
05
Sheldon, Petolomy,
e P30
15
'87
3
25
Lovewell, Zacheus,
eP33
15
50
I
95
Simmons, Isaac,
m p 29
10 J
50
Luse, Henry.
ep7
'5
8
40
Simmons, Isaac, jr..
SP29
14
100
2
McAHster, William,
np35
15
400
13
00
Scoot, Jacob,
ni p 36
14
100
2
75
Mather, James,
CD 14
15
537
17
80
Smith, Nicholas,
S P3i
100
3
70
Matoon, Phillip,
wp6i
15
49
50
Turner, Otis,
2628
15
70
70
Maxwell, Crosby,
WP53
'5
40
2
Thomas, John. 11 9 7, Sec. 13
16
336
9
30
McCarte, Eleazer,
»1 P 37
15
120
4
80
Tobey, Elnathan,
sp9
spi6
15
75
4
85
Murdock, John,
ep33
15
256
9
20
Timmerman, John,
14
185
90
Murdock Seymour,
e p 24-7
15
414
16
45
Moore, Eli,
e p 6
15
189
16
15
Wads worth, James,
37
15
444
24
85
Mix, Ebenezer,
44 45
15
180
6
15
Walker, Levi,
m P 37
14
166
4
15
Mansfield, Joseph,
ep8
16
124
3
85
Whitherwax, Peter,
n P25
14
150
5
50
Miles, Anthony,
m p 8
16
124
3
85
Whitherwax, David,
n 26
14
8
70
Nelson, John,
n P25
14
2
25
Wing, Thomas,
\v p 53
15
50
65
O'Ber, William,
n ep 14
14
100
3
55
Witherel. John,
e p IS
15
79
70
3
35
Pichsley, Ebenezer,
Perry, Joseph,
Prockter, John,
sp38
14
5
75
White, William,
3736
15
2
70
m p 40
14
100
2
50
Woodard, Joshua,
np 31
14
lOO
50
ep23
15
200
White, Turman, Hooker & Co.
Rowley, Reuben,
ep45
15
4 55
3636
15
63
J
90
Reynolds, Simon,
np37
14
200
5 75
Wilcox, Harry,
w P M7
IS
100
4
35
Read, William,
up 17
14
203
6.05
s P 34
14
50
25
Rosure, Samuel,
ep29
15
Nickerbocker, Denni
14
230
6
20
Root, Moses,
8 Sec. 12
16
123
10.00
" "
Wt
16
50
Spensor. Amos,
Shelding Abel,
m P4I
wp6
15
15
70
189
2.40
6.65
NON-RESIDENT LANDS
Sheers, James,
46
15
175
6.15
Bennet. Isaac,
ep6 14 15
15
I
907
27.21
Shelding, Isaac,
ep46
15
178
Its
" "
epi3
15
3
38
I-
Shipman, Job, lo
12, Sec. 2
16
2
173
Bassett, John, w p 30, p 31
15
210
7
50
Sliehter, Kbenezer,
2, Sec. 12
16
2
123
3-03
m p 62
15
2
50
40
Slighter, Giles,
13, Sec. 6
16
2
114
3-75
n p4
15
5
Sheldon. Zelotes,
m p 45
15
2
100
5-75
np 36
15
2
100
2
i
Sibley, William,
ni P45
•5
2
147
6.60
np3o
15
2
50
Sprague, Dyer,
w p 62
15
2
50
2.50
e P7
15
50
I
95
Shilley, Aaron.
ep83
15
2
5-45
WP39
15
I
67
2
StiUwell, Elijah,
ni P 53
15
2
70
30J
e P33
15
I
50
Shaw, Elijah,
ep44
15
2
268
6
70
e m p 30
15
I
TOO
3
The first permanent settler in Ridgeway was Seymour Murdock, who
was born in Dutchess county, N, Y., in 1764. His wife was Miss Cath-
erine Brick, of the same county, born in 1768. It is stated in Thomas's
Pioneer History that Mr. Murdock first came to Ridgeway in the spring
of 1 8 10, and purchased from two brothers named Sampson their rights
to a portion of lot 24, fourth range, which they had taken up. In this
statement there is evidently a confusion of dates. Mr. Murdock first
purchased by article a part of that lot in October, 1809. May 21, 18 10,
he took an article for another portion adjoining this, and the next day,
May 22d, Boaz Sampson took an article for another portion of the same
lot. In the spring of 18 lO Mr. Murdock's family, consisting of twelve
persons, come to Ridgeway with an ox- team and a Pennsylvania
wagon. Their journey lasted more than a month. From the Genesee
River west the forest was almost unbroken. Only at long intervals had
clearings been commenced and settlers' cabins erected. No bridges
312 LANDMARKS OF
spanned the streams, and fording was sometimes quite difficult. After
their arrival they hved nearly six weeks in their wagons till they could
build a log house.
The entire region was then a dense forest. East on the Ridge the
nearest clearing was two miles east from Oak Orchard Creek; west, at
Johnson's Creek. Five miles distant, was a log house and a small
clearing ; south the families of Mr. Coon and Mr. Walsworth, near
Tonawanda swamp, were their nearest neighbors; and north there was
no one till the lake shore was reached. The nearest store and post-
office was at Batavia, the nearest gristmill at Niagara Falls, and the
nearest school house was near Lockport. Such were the surroundings
into the midst of which Mr. Murdock brought his family. They had
eight sons and four daughters. The sons were Israel, John, Seymour
B., Henry, Zimri, Jasper, Hiram, and William. In 1813 Mr. Murdock
erected the first frame barn in the town, a portion of which is still stand-
ing. It was a heavy frame and there were not settlers enough to raise
it. Mr. Murdock asked General Izard, who was in command of troops
on their way to the Niagara frontier, to furnish men to assist in the
raising, which he did. In the summer of the same year Betsey Mur-
dock, a daughter of Seymour, taught the first school in Ridgeway, in
this barn. Mrs. Murdock died in 1823. His death occurred ten years
later.
Seymour B. Murdock was born in Dutchess county in 1796, and
came with his father to Ridgeway in 18 10. At the taking of Fort
Niagara he, with others of the family and neighbors who were capable
of bearing arms, went to the defence of the country. June i, 1825,
just fifteen years after his arrival in Ridgeway, he was married to Miss
Eliza Reed, of Cayuga county, N. Y., and they took up their residence
near where his father built his first cabin. There they passed the bal-
ance of their lives.
William Davis took up land on the lot next west from Mr. Murdock
in the autumn of 1809, and began the erection of a log house on it in
the spring of 18 10, but did not bring his family to the place till the
the autumn of the same year.
Soon after the advent of Murdock and Davis two men came and
occupied a log house that had been erected at the salt springs on the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 313
bank of the Oak Orchard Creek, south from the Ridge road. In the
same summer Ezra D. Barnes came and boarded with Mr. Murdock
while he built his house, some two miles farther east, on lot 37 ; for his
board he worked two days each week. There were at that time in the
town of Ridgeway only five horses, two yoke of oxen and three cows,
all brought by Mr. Murdock.
Eli Moore purchased a portion of lot 5, at Ridgeway Corners, in the
summer of 1810. On this, in 181 1, he erected a block house, or house
of hewed logs, which he opened as a tavern. This stood upon the site
of the present hotel at that place. In the same year he started a store,
the first in Ridgeway, and probably the first in the county. Another
store was soon afterward opened at Oak Orchard. In 18 12 Colonel
Howell kept a tavern in a log house at Oak Orchard. In the same
year a tavern was kept at Jeddo, then Batesville, in a small log house.
The first death in the town was that of a daughter of William Davis,
in 1 8 10. She died of hydrophobia and was buried in the cemetery
west of Ridgeway Corners. The first birth was a daughter of John
Murdock. The first tanner and currier was Isaac A. Bullard, who was
also the first shoemaker. His tannery was erected in 1812, a short
distance west of the Corners. A tannery was built at Oak Orchard in
181 3, by Zera Webb. There is now no tannery in town. A distillery
was built in 181 1, a short distance west of Ridgeway Corners, and soon
afterward one at Knowlesville. Several others have been carried on,
but all have long since ceased operation. Sholes and Cheny were the
first blacksmiths, followed by Blanchard Douglass, and others.
Otis Turner came from Wayne county, N. Y., and settled on the
Ridge road, east from Ridgeway Corners, in 181 1. He was an intelli-
gent and able man, and was often placed in official positions. He was
a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Genesee county before the
formation of Orleans and was a member of Assembly for that county in
1823. He was one of the constituent members of the Baptist church
of Medina. Soon after coming to Ridgeway he, in company with his
brother-in-law. Dr. William White, and David Hooker, built a saw-
mill between the Ridge and Medina. This was the second mill in the
town. He died in Rochester in 1865. Dr. William White, who came
to Ridgeway soon after Mr. Turner, was distinguished as the first resi-
314 LANDMARKS OF
dent physician in Orleans county. A sketch of him appears elsewhere
in this volume.
It has been said that a saw mill was built in 1805 by the Holland
Land Company near Medina. In view of the fact that there was not a
white settler in Ridgeway or Shelby till four or five years later, there is
reason to suspect an error in the date. In 1812 Colonel Howell erected
a saw mill at Oak Orchard, and during the same or the next year
Turner, White and Hooker built another further up the stream, near
where one was afterward established by Dunbar & Clark. In 1827
Orlando Bates built one at what is now Jeddo. In 1838 S. M.
Spencer erected one at Oak Orchard. This was burned in 185 1,
and at once rebuilt. In 18 13 a clothiery was built by Lyman Turner
on a small stream crossing the Knowlesville road east of Oak Orchard
Creek. Like all old clothieries, it has gone to decay.
The town was divided into school districts in 18 14. One of these
districts extended on the Ridge from the west line of the town, a dis-
tance of about seven miles, and indefinitely on the north an.d south,
and in this district, in 18 15, the first school house, a log building, was
erected.
Israel Douglass, a native of New Milford, Conn., was born in 1777,
and removed to Scottsville, Monroe county, N. Y., in 1806. In 18 10
or 181 1 he came to Ridgeway, which was then Batavia. He was ap-
pointed a justice of the peace for the last named town prior to 18 12,
and held the of^ce three terms. At the first town meeting in Ridge-
way he was chosen town clerk, the first town ofificer elected in the
county, and was several times elected supervisor of Ridgeway. He
was regarded as honest and candid, and was one of the best business
men in the county. He resided on the Ridge road, near Oak Orchard
Creek, till his death in 1844.
Amos Barrett was born in New Hampshire in 1778. In 1802 he
married Lucy Thayer. His first wife died, and in 1807 he married
Huldah Winegar. In 181 1 he purchased 50 acres of lot 15, a mile west
from Ridgeway Corners. For this he paid $3 per acre. Foreseeing
the appreciation in the price of land he bought other parcels and after-
ward sold them at an advance. He brought his family here early in
the spring of 18 12. They were the guests of his neighbor, Jonathan
ORLEANS COUNTY. 315
Cobb, till he built a log house on his own lot. Mr. Cobb's house was
18x24 feet in size, and at this time had twenty- six inmates. On
their journey hither with horse and OK-teams, one of his oxen broke his
leg. He made a single yoke for the other ox and drove him by the
side of a horse through the balance of the journey. The yoke is still
preserved as a relic Mr. Barrett was one of the party that went with
Captain McCarthy to the defense of the frontier in the war of 1812.
He reared to adult age seven sons and one daughter, and lived to see
twenty- two grand-children. He died in i860.
Sidney S. Barrett, eldest son of Amos, was born in Fabius, N. Y., in
1804, and came with his father's family to Ridgeway in 1812. In 1828
he and two younger brothers purchased a portion of lot 24, west from
Ridgeway Corners. After a few years this land was divided among
them, and Sydney ever afterward resided on his portion. In 1832 he
married Miss Lydii H. Fox.
Lucius Barrett, a son of Amos, was born in Fabius, N. Y., in 1807.
At the age of five years he came with his father to Ridgeway. In 1831
he purchased the farm on which he ever afterward resided. In 1833 he
married Electa B. Chase, of Clarkson, N. Y.
Nathan Barrett, a brother of Amos, born in New Hampshire in 1777,
married Sally Bennett, of the same State, in 1805. In 1815 they re-
moved to Tioga county, N. Y., where she died in 1820 In 1828 he
removed to Ridgeway, where he died the same year.
Luther Barrett, son of Nathan, was born in Windham county, Vt.,
in 1806. He went with his father's family to Tioga county, in 181 5,
and in 1825 came to Ridgeway, where he labored by the month till
1831. In that year he purchased the farm on which he afterward re-
sided, three-fourths of a mile west from Ridgeway Corners. In 1835
he married Miss Almira Flood, a native of Vermont, born in 1807.
Their children were : Sylvester J., Elsie A. (Mrs. Henry Tanner),
Medora P., and Lodema A. (Mrs. Andrew Weld). In 1857-58 he was
the supervisor of Ridgeway.
Hezekiah Coon, a native of Rhode Island, removed to De Ruyter,
N. Y. In 1811 he came to Ridgeway and took an article for 100
acres of lots 28 and 29, a mile east from Ridgeway Corners. His son,
Milo Coon, who was born in De Ruyter in 1799, came with him.
316 LANDMARKS OF
He married Edith Willetts in 1823, and purchased a portion of his
father's farm.
David Hooker, a native of Connecticut, was born in 1771, and was
married to Betsey Sanders in 1795. She died in 18 13, and in 18 14 he
married Polly Pixten. He came to Ridgeway in 18 12 and settled on
lot 37, east from Oak Orchard. He served in the war of 18 12,
and was at the battle of Fort Erie. Soon after he settled in Ridgeway,
he, in company with Dr. William White and Otis Turner, built
the mills on Oak Orchard Creek that were afterward known as the
Morris Mills. He died in 1847. Perley H. Hooker, a son of David,
was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 1804, and came to Ridgeway
with his father in 1812. He married in 1835 Lydia J. Craine, of Cay-
uga county, and succeeded his father in the ownership of the place.
George Bayne came from Scipio, N. Y., in 18 12, and located near
Middleport, Niagara county. The war which then came on rendered
residence here undesirable, and after a year he went back. Subse-
quently he returned and purcl\ased a farm on lot 25, a mile east from
Medina, where he died about 1825. His wife, Mehittebel (Davis)
Bayne, died here in 1864. John Bayne came to Ridgeway with his
father and died here in 1843. ^'s brothers, David, Thomas, George
and Jonas, came soon afterward, and all settled in the vicinity. The
wife of Jonas Bayne was Mary Runciman, to whom he was married in
1836. Of their six children two were killed in the army daring the
civil war.
William Knowles was born in Sanderfield, Mass , July 19, 1790. In
1 8 14 he came to the residence of his brother in Riga, Monroe county,
N. Y., and a year later, or early in 181 5, to Ridgeway. He took an
article for 200 acres of lot 3 where is now Knowlesville, which was
named from him. He afterwards received deeds for 240 acres of this
lot and built a rude log house more than a mile from any other house
or highway, or even foot path. His first summer was one of severe
labor. His housekeeper, the wife of a hired man, died, and his hired
help left him. Late in the autumn of 18 15 he returned to Massachu-
setts, and early in 18 16 was married to Miss Mary Baldwin. They re-
moved to the house he had built, and brought with them what was
then regarded as a great luxury — a set of splint-bottomed chairs ; but
ORLEANS COUNTY. 317
their first sleeping place was a " Genesee bedstead," and their first table
a board laid on the end of a barrel. In the summer of 1816 the. sur-
veyors of the route for the canal made their camp for a time on his
farm, and the line was finally established through the center of it. He
was a contractor on the canal east of Holley. The first framed house
in Knowlesville, south of the canal, was built by him in 1825, and was
several years kept by him as a hotel. In the same year he built the
first warehouse in Knowlesville, and from this he shipped the first boat
load of wheat that was sent from Orleans county. He helped to erect
the first log school house in Knowlesville, and this house was also used
as a place of worship. When the brick church in that place was erect-
ed, in 1830, he furnished fully one-half of the funds for building it.
Mr. Knowles never had any children, but he adopted and educated
several, among them Rev. T. O. Fillmore, on whom he bestowed a lib-
eral education. In 1820 Mr. and Mrs. Knowles became members of
the Presbyterian Church at Knowlesville, and for forty years he was a
ruling elder in that society. In 1861 his first wife died, and he after-
ward married Mrs. Sarah Crippen. He died some years since.
William C. Tanner was born in Rutland county, Vt., in 1793. In
the spring of 181 5 he came west to " look land," and in June took an
article for a part of lot 17, two miles southwest from Knowlesville.
Early in 18 16 he and his brother, Josias, came and took possession of
the land he had purchased, and kept bachelor's hall there two years.
In the autumn of 18 17 he returned to Vermont, and brought back with
him, the next spring, a younger sister for a housekeeper. She after-
ward became the wife of Avery V. Andrews, and the mother of a large
family. Mr. Tanner was commissioned a lieutenant in the militia in
1 8 17, and was promoted in regular gradation till in 1826, he was made
a brigadier- general. In 1821 he married Esther, a daughter of Judge
John Lee, of Barre. She died in 1835, and he afterward married Julia
A., daughter of Rev. J. S. Flagler, of Genesee county. Mr. Tanner
died in 1869. Josias Tanner was born in Rutland county, Vt., in 1795.
He came to Ridgeway in 18 16, with his brother, William C, and ever
afterward resided there. In 1825 he married Miss Lucy Baldwin, and
they had four children. Their youngest son, Lieut. B. B. Tanner, of
the 151st N. Y. Volunteers, in the civil war, died in the service.
318 LANDMARKS OF
Grosvenor Daniels was a native of Pembroke, N. H., born in 1793.
His first wife, to whom he was married in 1813, was a native of Ver-
mont. She died in 1854, and in 1855 he married Florinda Hicks. In
the spring of 1815, in company with Robert Simpson, he came to
Ridgeway and took up a part of lot 47, a mile and a half north from
Ridgeway Corners, and Mr. Simpson took up a parcel adjoining his.
They built a camp and commenced clearing their land, but hard times
and fever and ague compelled Mr. Daniels to return to Vermont in the
fall. The next winter he brought his family to his new home, arriving
after a tedious journey without money and in debt. The famous cold
season of 18 16 was a hard time for all settlers on the Holland Purchase,
and Mr. Daniels found it difficult to provide food for his family. He
was a prominent man, and was chosen to various town offices. He had
a taste for military exercises, and soon rose to the rank of brigadier-
general in the militia. James Daniels, a brother of Grosvenor, settled
in North Ridgeway, and after many years remove.d to Michigan.
Eleazer T. Slater was a native of Massachusetts, whence he removed
to Geneseo, Livingston county, at an early day. In 18 15 he came to
Orleans county and settled on lot sixty-one, north from Knowlesville,
where he remained till his death, some forty years since. His wife was
Polly Taft, a native of Connecticut. Their children were: Levira (Mrs.
Wilder), Eleazer T., jr., and Melissa Ostrander.
Peter Hoag, a native of New Jersey, was born in 1822. When quite
young he removed with his father's family to Ontario county, where he
received a good education for those times, and taught district school
several terms. In 18 15 he came to Ridgeway and took up a part of
lot 17, two miles east from Medina, and built thereon a log house. In
the following winter he married Hannah Vanduzer, of Ontario county,
and in the spring of 18 16 they removed to the home which he had pre-
pared. They came with a yoke of oxen and a sled, bringing a few
necessary articles of furniture. Mr Hoag died in 1876. His first wife
died in 1 83 1. In the same year he married Maria Palmatur. She died
in 1866.
Elijah Hawley, born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1782, was married to
Rhoda Spencer in 1805, and in 18 15 settled on lot 46, near Ridgeway
Corners. He was one of the earliest land surveyors in the county. He
ORLEANS COUNTY. 319
was appointed a justice of the peace in 1816, and in i8i8ajudgeof
the Court of Common Pleas in Genesee county, which position he held
at the time of his death. He was also supervisor of Ridgeway in 18 18.
October 22, 18 16, the post-office of Oak Orchard (the second in the
county) was established at Ridgeway Corners and Mr. Hawley was
appointed postmaster. This was the first post-office in what is now
the town of Ridgeway, Mr. Hawley died in 1820, leaving a widow
and six children.
Grindal Davis was a son of Rev. Paul Davis, who was a Revolution-
ary soldier. He was born in Massachusetts in 1786. He was a soldier
in the war of 1 812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg as well
as in other engagements. His wife was Suviah Corbin, a native of
Vermont. In 18 16 they came with their three children and a few
household goods in a lumber wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen to
Ridgeway Corners. A year later he removed to Yates and remained
there till 1869, when he came to Medina and died in that village the
same year. He was an efficient member of the Baptist church of Yates,
was an active temperance worker, and a man of sterling integrity. His
daughter, Mrs. Clorinda Harper, became a resident of Medina.
Joseph Davis, born in Massachusetts in 1782, was also the son of
Rev. Paul Davis. In 1809 he was married to Dolly Maynard, also a
native of Massachusetts. The same year they went to Vermont,
whence, in 1820, they removed to Ridgeway. They came in a wagon
drawn by two yoke of oxen and a horse, and loaded with a few house-
hold goods, necessary farming utensils, and the family, which consisted
of five children. They brought with them also a cow and were twenty
days on the road. They located two miles north from Shelby Basin,
on lot 23, where they erected their log cabin covered with bark, in
which they resided two years. On this place they remained till the
death of Mr. Davis, in 1869.
Their children were Francis M , Almira (Brown), Paul H., Dolly A.,
(Arnold), Joseph C. (drowned in 1887), Henry G., Sarah V. (Reuben),
Seraphine M. (Le Valley), and Simeon C. The youngest of these was
born in 1831.
Levi Davis, the son of a Revolutinary soldier, was born in Wards-
borough, Vt., in 1793. With his father's family he went to New Salem,
320 LANDMARKS OF
Mass., and in 1 8 14 served a short time as a soldier in the war with
England. In 18 16 he was married to Miss Lorana Hunt, and soon
afterward started, with an ox team, for Chautauqua county, N. Y.,
where they arrived after a journey of thirty-five days. He cleared and
improved a farm there, and reared a family of eight children. Business
reverses overtook him, and in 1833 he removed to Ridgeway, where
for several years he worked at the trade of a mason.
Jeremiah Brown, the son of a Revolutionary officer, was born in Che-
shire, Mass., in 1780. In 1799 he made a journey on foot to Farming-
ton, Ontario county, and again in 1807. In 1809 he married Abigail,
daughter of Rev. Paul Davis, of New Salem, Mass., and in 181 1 they
removed to Farmington. He was an officer in the militia, and in the
war of 1812 he was called into service and went to Buffalo. In 18 15
he removed to Massachusetts, and the next year came to Ridgeway.
During the first few years they suffered much from sickness, and en-
countered many privations. They sometimes subsisted on unripe
grain, boiled, and on the flesh and fat of raccoons. Mr. Brown related
that in the sickly summer of 1828 he did not undress at night during
eight consecutive weeks, being constantly engaged in the care of the
sick. In 1 8 16 he was chosen commissioner of highways, and assisted
in laying out five roads from the ridge to the lake. At different times
he was elected to all the offices in the town except clerk, constable and
collector. In 1822 he erected a furnace in which he cast the first
iron plough ever made in the State west of Rochester. He was a man
of large stature, with a firm and vigorous constitution. He was the
father of Albert F. Brown, once mayor of Lockport, and of Colonel
Edwin F. Brown, of the 28th Regiment New York Volunteers. He
died in 1863.
Daniel F. Hunt was a native of Vermont, born in 1790. His wife
was Abigail Batcheller, a native of New Hampshire. They came to
Ridgeway in 18 16, and located three and one half miles north from
Ridgeway Corners, where they remained till their deaths. She died in
i85i,andhein 1878. Of their nine children who hved to adult age
Daniel F. settled near his father, Aaron B. in Medina, and Hannah
(Mrs. John H. Mean) on the Ridge road west of Ridgeway Corners.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 321
Andrew Stevens was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1789. In
1 8 10 he removed to Riga, Monroe county, N. Y.,and in 18 16 to Ridge-
way, where he took up a part of lot 58, at Knowlesville. His father,
Jesse, and his mother, Martha (Seaton), came with him and remained
till their deaths. He died in 1826, and she in 1837. In 1819 Andrew
Stevens married Sally, daughter of Judge John Lee, of Barre. Their
children were : Charles L., Sarah W. and Clarissa O. Charles L. be-
came the owner of a portion of the old homestead. He was born in
1820 and was the first white male child born in the village of Knowles-
ville, and was during all his life a prominent citizen of that village, and
for many years a justice of the peace. Mrs. Stevens died in 1828, and
in 1829 he married Sophronia Harding, of Barre. They had five
children, of whom the youngest, John, settled on a part of the home-
stead. Mr. Stevens died about 1870. His wife had died ten years
previously
David Hood, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1794. When he
was three years of age his parents removed to Romulus, N. Y. In 18 13
he was drafted and served three months. In 18 16 he came to Ridge-
way, and in 18 17 purchased an article for 119 acres of land. In 181 8
he built a log house, and in 18 19 was married to Miss Elizabeth Bur-
roughs, of Shelby.
Samuel Church settled in North Ridgeway in 18 16. His wife was
Ann Daniels, and they reared four sons.
William Cobb and his wife, who was Hannah Heminway, were natives
of Massachusetts, and settled on lot 40, north from Ridgeway Corners,
in 1817. In 1855 Mr. Cobb died at the age of sixty- six years. His
family consisted of four sons and one daughter.
William M. Alcorn was born in Northumberland county. Pa., in 1808.
In 1817 he came to Ridgeway with the family of Judge Turner, to
whom he had been bound. They settled on the Ridge, about a mile
east from Ridgeway Corners, and he remained there till the age of
twenty- six, when he removed to Palmyra, N. Y., where he married
Electa B. Howland of that place. They at once came to Medina. Tney
reared three daughters: Frances (Mrs. David Parks), Mary A. (Mrs.
Charles E. Clark), and Helen A. (Mrs. Edward O. Draper).
322 LANDMARKS OF
Edward Raymour, a native of Vermont, was born in 1801. At the
age of thirteen he removed to Ontario county, N. Y., and in 1818 to
Ridgeway. In 1825 he married Almira, daughter of George Bayne.
She died in 1835, and in the same year he married Abigail Davis, a
native of Connecticut, who came to Ridgeway in 18 17.
William N. Preston, born in Lyme, N. H., in 1781, married Sarah
Daniels, who was born in Pembroke, N. H., in 1785. They came to
Ridgeway and settled a mile and a half north from the Ridge in 1819.
Their sons were Isaac, Samuel and Williston. Mrs. Preston died in
1 83 1, and he died ten years later.
Ephraim G. Masten and his wife, Nancy G., were married in 1815,
and settled in Bethlehem, Albany county, N. Y. In 1819 Mr. Masten
came to Ridgew^ and purchased an article for land on lot 17, two
miles east from Medina. He made some improvements, and in the
same year moved his family there. They lived in a log house till 1831,
when they built a stone residence on the same site. Mr. Masten died
in i860.
William Cochrane, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1781.
He married Rhoda Wright, of the same State, and they settled in Ridge-
way in 1819. Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters.
The eldest son, William, became a resident of Waterport in Carlton.
Lyman Bates, or Judge Bates, as he was commonly called, was born
in Palmyra, N. Y., in 1798. In 18 19 he came to Ridgeway and began
the career of a farmer, which he afterward followed when not discharg-
ing official duties, He was a justice of the peace several terms, nine
years swpervisor of Ridgeway, five years a judge of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas, was a member of the Assembly in 1828, and president of
the Farmers' Bank of Orleans. His wife, to whom he was married in
1821, was Abinerva Kingman, who was born in Palmyra in 1796.
Avery V. Andrews was born in New Hampshire in 1798. In 1802
his father removed with his family to Vermont, and in 18 17 to Gaines,
where they arrived after a journey of thirty days with two yoke of
oxen. In 1 8 19 Avery V. purchased an article for 50 acres of land in
Ridgeway, and in 1821 another for 62 acres, the last parcel having on
it a small log house. Seventeen years later he built a stone residence,
in which he passed the balance of his days. His wife was the sister of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 323
Gen. William C. and Josias Tanner. She came to Ridgeway with her
brothers in 1818.
Parley Gillette was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 1805. He
removed with his parents to Dansville, N Y., in 18 16, and to Ridgeway
in 1820. He afterward purchased a farm on lot 20, one and a half
miles northwest from Knowlesville. He was first married in 1835 to
Miss Emeline H. Bottom, of Vermont. She died in 1853, and in 1854
he married Miss Sarah Whittaker. She died in 1855 and in 1856 he
married Mrs. P. Dow,who died in 1881. He had four children: Willis,
Dyer, Mrs. Mary Brace, and Emma. Nelson and Joab Gillette, brothers
of Parley, came to Ridgeway with him, and all first settled on lot 10,
one and one- half miles southwest from Knowlesville. Joab died more
than twenty years since, and his widow and three children moved to
Kansas. Nelson died in 1882, leaving a widow (second wife) and five
children.
Richard Fancher was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1793.
He came early to Ridgeway and took an article for a pert of lot 12, a
mile and a half northwest from Knowlesville, and resided on that farm till
his death in 187 1. His son, William, removed to Knowlesville. and a
daughter, Mrs. Jennie Ough settled at Eagle Harbor. Mr. Fancher
was twice married. His last wife died in 1875.
Solomon Newell was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1778. His
wife was Sarah Stedman, a native of Rhode Island. They went to
Chenango county, N. Y., then came to Gaines in 1820, whence they
removed to Middleport, Niagara county, and in 1845 settled in Medina.
He died in 1846, she in 1875. A grandson, George A. Newell, was
nine years county clerk, is cashier of the Union Bank of Medina, and
eminent in the Masonic fraternity and now county treasurer.
Joseph L. Perry was a native of Huntington, Conn., born in 1794.
With his father's family he removed to near Auburn, Cayuga county,
N. Y., in 1804, and in 18 19 was married to Julia Ann Reed. In 1820
they removed to Ridgeway and located on lot 24, half a mile west from
Ridgeway Corners. He held offices in the town prior to the organiza-
tion of the county of Orleans, and was a deputy sheriff in this and
Genesee counties In 1825 he became a merchant and hotel-keeper at
" the Corners " and continued to keep a tavern many jears. He was
324 LANDMARKS OF
also a manufacturer of potash, a partner in the old stage line on the
Ridge road, postmaster, mail contractor, and produce dealer. He
owned, ran, and sometimes commanded boats on the Erie Canal, and
was noted for shrewdness, wit, and joviality. He died in Ridgeway in
1S45.
James Jackson was born in Duanesburg, N. Y., in 1798. He re-
moved with his mother's family to Onondaga county, and in 18 19 mar-
ried Maria Marlette. In 1823 they came to Ridgeway and settled on
lot 20, west from Medina, where their six sons and four daughters were
born. His wife died in 1870. Of their ten children two sons and three
daughters settled in and near Medina. Mr. Jackson was a man of
energy and industry, and achieved success as a farmer.
William Jackson was born in Duanesburg, N. Y , in 1799, and was
married to Martha Comstock in 1822. They had eleven children. In
1826 he came to Ridgeway and bought an article for a part of lot 2 1,
north from Shelby Basin. He built a log house, returned to Onondaga
county for his family, and brought them to their new home the next
year. He remained on this place till about 1880, when he removed to
Holley.
Richard Gordineer, son of a colored woman, Jacob Gordineer's slave,
was born in 1794. He and his mother were sold when he was two
months old to Joseph Grant, the father of L. A. G. B. Grant, of Shelby,
and both were made free by law in 1825. In 1823 he came to Medina
and was a cook in the family of Walter Grant, on a farm south of that
place. He remained with the Grants till 1824, after which he worked
on the canal till 1 839, when he settled in Medina. He was a good cook,
and his services in that capacity were often required on important occa-
sions. He was a cartman and whitewasher many years, and by indus-
try and frugality accumulated a comfortable property, but in 1862 he
lost everything. He lived to be over ninety-two years of age.
Benjamin Jackson was born in Duanesburg in 1803, and removed to
Onondaga county, N. Y., with his mother's family in 1805. At the age
of twenty-two, or in 1825, he came to Ridgeway, returned to Onon-
daga county, and in 1828 came again to Ridgeway, and resided on dif-
ferent farms west from Medina till 1842, when he removed to the vil-
lage. He first married Wealthy Ann Terry, of Onondaga county, in
ORLEANS COUNTr. 325
1823. She died in 1842, and in the same year he married Clarissa
McCormick. They had five daugliters.
Simeon Bathgate was born in Scotland in 1788. In his native country
he learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed there till 18 18,
when he came to America. He first lived at Caledonia, afterward in
Batavia, and early in 1825 he came to Medina. In that year he built
the machiner)' for D. E. Evans's mill, and afterward established a foundry
and machine shop near the canal for the manufacture of mill machinery.
In this business he continued till his retirement in 1850. He died in
1865. He was married in Scotland to Euphemia Atchinson. They
had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Allison, the oldest
daughter, born in Scotland, married C. R. Ganson, and died in Buffalo
in 1890. George succeeded his father in the foundry, and died in
Medina in 1854. William, a partner with George in the foundry, sailed
for California in 1852, and died at sea of yellow fever. Sarah Atchin-
son, who married Reuben Castle, was born in Medina in 1826, and was
the first white child born in that village. Margaret married George
Shattuck and resided on the Bathgate homestead. Jane Ann married
Waldo Stebbins, and died in Medina in 1858. Cornelia Euphemia
settled in Medina. Mrs. Bathgate died in 1869.
Simeon Downs was born in Vermont in 1800. In 1825 he removed
to Medina, where he engaged in general blacksmithing. He afterward
became a manufacturer of edged tools, and subsequently a daguerrean
artist, and finally an insurance agent, in which business he continued till
his death in 1876. His wife, to whom he was married in 1826, was
Sophronia Bailey, born in Essex county, N. Y., in 1808. She came to
Medina in 1826. Of their four children three lived to adult age : Les-
ter C. married Susan Garter, and died in 1861, leaving two sons, Frank
and Fred; Henrietta married M. W. Ryan, of Medina, and Pleuma
P, married Edwin H, Sanborn.
Chauncey Brinsmaid was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1799.
In 1823 he married Rachel Cannon and in 1825 they came to Ridge-
way and located on lot 2, near Knowlesville, where he remained till
his death in 1883. His first wife died in 1840, and in 1842 he married
Eunice Stevens. She died in 1858, and in 1859 he married Susan A.
Taylor, who after his death removed to Salt Lake City. He had eight
326 LANDMARKS OF
children. Samuel Brinsniaid, a younger brother, came here in 1836.
He was born in 181 1.
John Ryan was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1801. In 18 10 he went
to Lycoming county, where he learned the trade of a mason, at which
he worked there till 1825, when he removed to Batavia, N. Y., and in
the same year to Medina, He followed his trade and was a contractor
from time to time. He built all the bridge abutments on the enlarged
canal between Lockport and Albion, and had many other large jobs.
He was for five years superintendent of repairs on the canal. His wife
was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 181 1. They were married in
1837. Ten children lived to adult age.
Moses S. Hicks was born in Rhode Island in 1804. With his father's
family he removed in succession to Oneida county, N. Y., to Onondaga
county, to Wayne county, and in 1825 to Ridgeway, and followed the
trade of a carpenter and joiner. He was first married in 1833 to Mary
Adams. She died in 1847, and in 1850 he married Ellen Barlow. He
resided in Knowlesville.
Stephen Welch was a native of New England. In his childhood he
was adopted by a Quaker in Pennsylvania and remained with him till
he reached his majority. In 1823, with his wife and one son, he re-
moved to Western New York and located within what is now the city
of Lockport. In 1825 they removed to Ridgeway, near Knowlesville,
and in 1833 he purchased a part of lot 57, a mile south from that vil-
lage. He died there in 1835. His wife was Jane Jacobs, a native of
New England. She continued to reside on this place till her death in
1866. Their children were John and Benjamin, who settled on the old
homestead, and Elizabeth, who died in 1866,
Botsford Fairman, born in Massachusetts in 1806, was educated in
the common schools of his native State, and early in life became a clerk.
In 1823, he removed to Cooperstown, N. Y., and in 1826 to Medina.
He at once engaged in mercantile business, which he followed about
thirty- five years, and in that time, in company with T. R. Austin, he
built the Medina Falls mill. He was then a banker and produce dealer
till 1870, when he removed to New York city and was again engaged
in mercantile business till 1885. He then retired from business, removed
to Albany and resided with his daughter, Mrs. H. E. Sickels, till his
ORLEANS COUNTY. 327
death, in 1889. His wife, to whom he was married in 1828, was Delia
A. Austin, Otego, N. Y. Their children were : Carrie (Mrs. H. E.
Sickels), of Albany ; George, of Chicago ; Henry, of Medina ; Delia,
(Mrs. L. J. Ives) ; Charles, Elizabeth, Richard, and Susan.
Joseph Nixon was born in England in 1796. He received a liberal
education and graduated at Cambridge. He then studied theology for
a time, but abandoned the idea of becoming a clergyman and studied
medicine. He came to America in 18 19, landing at Baltimore, where
for a time he practiced as a physician. He there became acquainted
with the Seneca chief Red Jacket, and was by him adopted, in the
presence of a large concourse of people, into the Seneca tribe. The
name given him was " Wy-nish-e-u, signifying "a fair day," the name
by which he was ever afterward known by the Senecas, who visited him
in Medina. He removed to Brownsville, Pa., and thence, in 1824, to
Batavia, where he engaged in teaching. In 1826 he came to Medina
and erected a brewery and distillery and also the stone tenement house
long known as the nunnery. He continued in business till 1848, and
died in 1850. In 18 19 he was married, in England, to Mary Anderson
who died in 1848. Of their seven children who lived to adult age,
Elizabeth married George H. Thatcher; Mary married Benjamin Thorn,
and died in Albion ; Sarah married Louis Isbel, and died in Albany;
Joseph Carr Nixon died in Medina; Alice married Daniel Clark;
Alderson Nixon settled in Medina; and William H. died in Nebraska.
Isaac Caswell was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1800. In 1825
he married Betsey Sternberg, and in 1827 they came to Murray, in this
county. During the first few years of their residence here they suffered
much from sickness and endured many privations. In 1849 he removed
to Ridgeway, where his wife died in 1852. In 1854 he married Adaline
Tuttle, a native of New London county, Conn. Mr. Caswell died in
the autumn of 1872.
Henry A. Hess was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1791. His
great-grandfather, John Hess, a relative of John Hess, Landgrave of
Hesse-Cassel, came from his native country to Dutchess county, N. Y.,
in 1709. where the grandfather of Henry, Augustin Hess, was born in
1719; his father was also born in that county. .They removed to Herki-
mer county and during the Revolution his father was engaged in the de-
328 LANDMARKS OF
fense of Fort Stanwix, and at the battle of Oriskany received a wound
which caused his death in 1805. His grandfather was killed in the
defense of Fort Herkimer, their buildings were burned, and their stock
killed or driven away. In 1798 they moved to Onondaga county, N.
Y., where his father died in 1805. On the breaking out of the war with
England in i8i2,he enlisted in the army and became a first lieutenant.
He was honorably discharged in 18 14. In 181 5 he married Prudy Har-
vey, of Herkimer county. His mother died in 1821, and in 1822 he
removed to Clarendon. In 1847 he came to Ridgeway and located about
midway between Medina and Knowlesville. The farm which he pur-
chased there he sold to his son, James Hess, in 1865.
Mrs. Ann McKean was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1799,
and was married to Pierce N. McKean in 1828. She settled in Medina
and lived on Orient street, in a log house where the nunnery now
stands. Joseph Nixon lived in the house north. All woods around
there then. On the other side of the race was a slaughter house and
a brewery built of logs, also a saw mill belonging to Joseph Ellicott.
Mr. McKean removed to Middleport, then to Ridgeway, and in 1839
returned to Medina, where he died in 1854. Their youngest daughter
married J. N. Card, of Medina village.
Nathan Bancroft was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1803. His father's
family removed to Avon, N. Y., in 1806. In 1823 he removed to
Elba, N. Y., and thence, in 1828, he came to Ridgeway and purchased
land just west of Medina. He engaged, during several years, in the
manufacture of brick, and was afterward a farmer. In 1867 he removed
to a place within the present limits of the village of Medina, where he
died in 1886. In 1826 he married Hulda E. Turner, of Elba. They
reared five sons and two daughters to manhood and womanhood. Of
these the daughters settled on the place where he died. Mrs. Bancroft
died in 1888.
James Kearney was a native of Tipperary, Ireland, born in 1810, and
in his youth he learned the trade of a stonemason. He removed to
to Canada in 1828, and to Medina in 1830. He worked at his trade
there for some years, then became the proprietor of a quarry, which he
operated till within a few years of his death. He died in 1866. His
wife was Ann Kelly, also a native of Tipperary, born in 18 15. She
ORLEANS COUNTY. 329
came to Canada in 1824, and to Medina in 1825. Of their eleven chil-
dren nine lived to adult age. John D. married Jennie Mead and died
in 1882; Ellen married, hrst, Michael Shanley, then Patrick Horan, and
died in 1876; James A. married Kate Lahey, and removed to Cali-
fornia; Anna E, married Daniel Barret, of Niagara Falls; Michael is
deceased ; William E. married Mary E. Smith and moved to Pennsyl-
vania ; Richard married Evangeline Gardner and settled in Boston ;
Sara M. became a resident of Medina with her mother ; and Margaret
A. (now deceased) married Charles A. Gorman.
John Parsons was born in the city of New York in 1809. His father
was an Englishman and a sea captain, and his mother was a native of
Scotland. They became residents of New York in 1804. The son
learned the trade of a coppersmith in his youth, and in 1832 he re-
moved to Medina, where he followed the trade of a copper, tin, and
sheet iron worker. In 1832 he married Elizabeth Cogswell, a native of
Monroe, county, N. Y. They reared two children : Mary and John C.
The latter died at the age of twenty. Mrs. Parsons died in 1888.
Lewis Marshall was a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., born in 1806.
In 1826 he married Sarah Angevine, also a native of Dutchess county,
born the same year. In 1831 they removed to Palmyra, N. Y., and in
1832 to Ridgeway, two miles north from Medina. Thence he removed
to Jeddo, where he was many years the owner of the mills at that
place, and where he died in 1888. His wife died there also in 1879,
Five of their children were : Susan (Smith), John L., Edward, William
H., and Angevine.
David Danolds came to Avon in 18 16 and was engaged for two years
in making brick. He then removed to Stafford, Genesee county, where
he became a hotel keeper, a merchant, a miller, a distiller, and a manu-
facturer of potash. He removed thence to Batavia, where he remained
two years, then went to Elba, where he became a merchant and a
manufacturer of potash, having four asheries in different towns, and
also carried on a flouring mill, clothiery, saw mill, distillery, and ashery
at Rushville. At his distillery he did a large business buying, fattening
and selling cattle and swine. In 1832 and 1833 he purchased 2,600
acres of land near Oak Orchard, in Orleans county, and engaged on a
large scale in clearing land, farming and getting out timber, lumber, and
42
330 LANDMARKS OF
staves. He built two single mills and a double one, built and carried
on a large ashery, where he made potash from the ashes of the timber
which he burned the first year, and cleared and sowed to wheat about
200 acres in one year. He employed many men ; and built a school
house and employed a lady teacher for their children. He furnished
most of the timber for the Medina and Akron horse railroad. He con-
tinued his large business here till 1835, when, by reason of circumstances
which he could not control, he was compelled to make an assignment,
and his extensive property was sold at a sacrifice. He then went to
Black Rock, where he engaged in brick making, but lost heavily by the
failure of Rathbone, the great contractor and builder. He returned to
Oak Orchard for a time, then went to Galena, 111., prospected for lead,
and struck the best claim ever found there, but became involved in liti-
gation with those to whom he sold his claim, and pending this he died.
His son, Charles A. Danolds, cared for his father's family, and during
ten years kept a hotel at Oak Orchard, while the Ridge road was still a
thoroughfare for stage coaches and emigrants. In 1848 he removed to
Eagle Harbor, where he sold goods and run four canal boats. In
1850 he became a contractor, and continued in that business for thirty-
five years. He had large contracts on the Welland Canal, and he has
probably constructed more miles of canal than any other man in the
State of New York. He was for a time engaged in the milling business
at Eagle Harbor, but is now living comfortably on a farm at that place.
Allen Breed was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1793. In 1817 he
married Betsey Lincoln, also a native of Connecticut, and in the same
year they removed to Chenango county, N. Y. In 1827 they came to
Parma, Monroe county, and thence, in 1834, to Ridgeway. He pur-
chased an article for a portion of lot 15, on the Ridge, a mile west from
Ridgeway Corners. In 1834 he died, and the land was deeded to his
widow. They had six children, whom she reared to maturity, and two
of those are David A. Breed, the eldest, and Mrs. Marietta French.
Levi L. Childs, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 18 12, and
there learned the trade of a blacksmith, removed to Wyoming county,
N. Y., thence, about 1834, to Carlton, in Orleans county. He died in
Gaines in 1857. ^is wife was Ann M. Wright, a native of Vermont,
born in 1803. She died in Buffalo in 1887. Their children were:
ORLEANS COUNTY. 321
Louisa F.,who married Calvin P. Hazard, of Bufifalo ; Hon. Henry A.,
of Medina, now a judge of the Supreme Court ; and Mary, now de-
ceased, who married Edwin Wilson.
Moses M. Nash, a descendant of Thomas Nash, who settled in New
Haven in 1640, was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 181 5 ; was mar-
ried in 1836 to Esther E. Porter, and in the same year settled in Yates.
In 1847 ^^ removed to Ridgeway. He filled various town offices, and
was for some time postmaster at Ridgeway Corners.
George Kennan, the celebrated Siberian traveler, lecturer and writer,
spent a number of his earlier years in Medina, where he held the posi-
tion of cashier of the Union Bank at a period when his brother, John
M., was president of that institution. Mr. Kennan was born in Nor-
walk, O,, February 16, 1845. His father was a lawyer ; his mother was
the daughter of a Connecticut clergyman and a relative of Prof. Samuel
F. B. Morse. In 1879 he married here Miss Emeline Rathbone Weld,
a daughter of an eminent citizen of Medina.
Numerous other biographical sketches of early settlers and promi-
nent citizens of Ridgeway and Medina appear on other pages of this
volume, and among these will be found the names of Hon. Henry A.
Childs, Edmund Fuller and Edmund Fuller, jr., Arthur W. Newell and
his son, George A., Dr. Christopher Whaley, Thomas and Andrew
Weld, the Parker family, John Levalley, and many others.
The town of Ridgeway, according to the census of 1890, contained a
population, exclusive of Medina village, of 2,902. The total assessed
valuation of real estate in 1893 was $2,997,468 (equalized $3,127,312),
and of personal property $406,025. The total tax on roll aggregated
$20,902.14, which was distributed as follows: State: Schools, $2, -
907,16 ; State care of insane, $1,009 24; general purposes and canals,
$3i835- 10 ; county audits and appropriations, $7,205.94 ; town audits,
$4,097.67; roads and bridges, $1,132.74; other purposes, $684.29.
The corporations doing business in the town are assessed on real estate
as follows: Postal Telegraph Company, $6,370 ; Bell Telephone Com-
pany, $10,458 ; Western Union Telegraph Company, $4,940; Union
Bank of Medina, $2,000, and personal property, $48,000 ; New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, $20,500 ; Niagara Grape
Company, $5,700; Bignall Manufacturing Company, $15,000, and per-
332 LANDMARKS OF
sonal property, $15,000; Medina Gas and Electric Light Company,
$17,000; Medina Water Works Company, $25,000.
As early as 1805 the salt springs on lot 3, north from Medina, were
operated by the Holland Land Company, but without great success.
It is elsewhere noted that roads, called salt spring roads, were opened
by the company to these springs from different directions. From 1818
to 1823 Isaac Bennett conducted these works and furnished most of
the salt used in the northern part of the Holland Purchase. He sunk
a well 150 feet, and obtained brine of greater strength than had ap-
peared at the surface. He contracted with Israel and Seymour B.
Murdock to furnish him sixty- four kettles by a certain date. They pur-
chased the kettles at Utica, and sent them by lake to the mouth of Oak
Orchard Creek, where they arrived only the day before the time stipu-
lated for delivery. The Messrs. Murdock hired a sufficient number of
teams to bring the kettles to the works at one trip, and thus fulfilled
their contract and received their pay in gold. In 1823 Mr. Bennett
sold the works to Henry Boardman, but they were abandoned on the
completion of the Erie Canal, by which salt from Salina (now Syracuse)
could be more cheaply brought here. A salt spring was early dis-
covered near where Oak Orchard Creek crosses the Ridge, and salt was
manufactured there by Mr. Bennett in 18 13, but the enterprise was not
successful.
The first highway through the town was the famous Ridge road,
from which the Holland Land Company cut a thoroughfare south to
their salt works in 1805. In 18 13 $250 were voted for roads and
bridges. The first public conveyance run through this locality was
owned and operated by a Mr. Hildreth, who also carried the mail be-
tween Lewiston and Rochester. In 18 16 he had four four-horse
coaches in daily use. In 1873 the town constructed an arched stone
bridge across the Oak Orchard Creek at Medina at a cost of $4,000,
and in 1876 an iron bridge was erected at Oak Orchard on the Ridge
road at an expense of $i,ooo. Since then a large number of substan-
tial iron bridges have been built in various parts of the town. The
Ridgeway, Medina and Alabama plank road was chartered in 1850.
For a few years this road proved a failure, but that portion (three miles)
between Medina and Ridgeway Corners was purchased by William
ORLEANS COUNTY.
333
Pells, who covered it with stone, earth and gravel, and continued its
operation as a toll road until the expiration of its charter in 1880. He
made it one of the best roads in town.
In the great War of the Rebellion the town of Ridgeway contributed
a large number of brave volunteers to fight the nation's battles, and to
each call for troops nobly and promptly responded with a full quota.
The amount of money expended by the town for war purposes aggre-
gated $95,125 The following is the list of soldiers from Ridgeway
and Medina :
Elon L. Andrews, lolst Inf.
Oliver M. Allen, 151st Inf.
Alfred Achilles, 151st Inf.
Sylvester T. Axtell, 151st Inf.
Arnold Axtell, 151st Inf.
Frank R. Axtell, 17th Bat.
Reuben Andrews, 17th Bat
Wallace Aldridge, 8th H. Art.
George R. Achilles, 8th Cav.
Williano Andrews, 17th Bat.
Peter Allen, 3d Cav.
Robert A. Allen, 14th Art.
James Arnold, 14th Art.
Nicholas Albro, 14th Art,
Peter Arnold, 14th Art.
Edward S. Aiken, 17th Bat.
George E. Allen, 17th Bat.
John P. Andrews, 2d Bat.
Charles Andrews, U. S. Navy.
John F. Andrews, U. S. Navy.
Anson Ackley, U. S. Navy.
Samuel Ames, 17th Bat.
Miles B. Araeden, 149th Inf.
Albert Angevine, 28th Inf.
George T. Anthony, 17th Bat.
Lineus T. Alford, 19th Inf.
Thaddeus Antis, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Alexander Antis, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Hurlbert Bowen, 8th H. Art.
Martin Bookner.
IraBreighton, 8th H. Art.
Almon Breighton, 8th H. Art.
Braddock, 8th H. Art.
John Baker, 14th Art.
A. Erwin Bowen, 151st Inf.
Dennis Bowden, 28th Inf.
Frederick Boyne, 14th Art.
Robert Boyne. 14th Art.
James Burns, 14th Art.
Michael Burns, 14th Art.
Nathaniel Briggs, 17th Bat.
George H. Boyne, 8th H. Art.
Frank Bennett, 17th Bat,
William Becks, 8th Cav.
Warren Bent, 31st Inf,
James Baker, 8th H. Art.
John Bucknell, 164th Inf.
William Barton, 164th Inf.
Philo Buroh, 8th Cav.
Hezekiah Bowen, ISlst Inf.
H. C. Boyne, 8th H. Art.
Edwin T. Brown, 8th H. Art.
Lucas William Berry, 8th H. Art.
Charles Beales, 3d Cav.
John Bolster, 17th Bat.
Charles Bogardus 151st Inf.
Albert Benjamin, 151st Inf.
Tabor Benjamin, 151st Inf.
Roman Barnes, 151st Inf.
Eugene Barnes, 151st Inf.
James Ballyman, 151st Inf.
John Brown, 8th Cav.
James Burrill, 8th H. Art.
John Boothraid, 25th Cav.
Lewis Burch, 8th Cav.
John Bolt, 3d Cav.
334
LANDMARKS OF
Peter Bradt.
Seth Beman. 151st Inf.
Henry R. Bliss.
Arba Bridgeman, 90th Inf.
Travatt Bayne, 9th Inf.
Franklin Bowen, 90th Inf.
James Balla.d. 90th Inf.
Josiah Brown.
Seymour Burton, 90th Inf.
James S. Bayn, 157th Inf.
WiUiam 0. Barrett, 65th Inf.
Abbott Bent, 3d Cav.
George Bacon, 17th Bat.
James C. Brown.
Leander Bacon, 49th Inf.
Henry Bennett, 26th Inf.
Edward A. Bowen, 28th Inf.
Rich Bark, 8th Pa. Col. Inf.
Ovid Barry.
Alle H. Braddock, 8th Cav.
Peter Brackett.
Ezedor Bass.
William H. Brown.
Byron G. Bartlett.
Thomas H. Brickford.
Peter Brice.
William Breen.
John Bates.
Richard Butler.
Robert Barclay
Aseph Brown.
Edwin F. Brown, 18th Art.
Philo N. Barnes, 17th Bat.
Franklin Bennett, I7th Bat.
Owen Boyland, 4th Art.
Charles E. Bentley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles V. Brown, 8th H. Art.
Charles Bland, 17th Bat.
Edwin F. Brown, 28th Inf.
William L. Bathgate, 25th Inf.
Linn Barker, 3d Cav.
Charles W. Boyce, 28th Inf.
Thomas Collins, 14th Art.
Charles E. Clark, 17th Bat.
Lewis J. Chase, 17th Bat.
Michael Collins, 17th Bat.
Thomas Collins, 14th Art.
Charles E. Clark, 17th Bat.
Henry G. Chamberlain, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Thomas Carroll, 90th Inf.
Henry G. Clemmons, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Lyman A. Cook, 151st Inf.
Milo M. Conklin, 151st Inf.
Job Croos, 129th Inf.
Cornelius Collins, 17th Bat.
James Clark, 151st Inf.
George C. Cook, 17 th Bat.
Samuel Coleman, 17th Bat.
John Conham. 9th Art.
Elijah Cooper.
John F. Cole, 151st Inf.
Patrick Connor, 14th Art.
Erwin J. Cook, i4th Art.
John Connell, 14th Art.
Charles Clark, 8th H. Art.
James Collins, 14th H. Art.
Henry B. Cleveland, 17th Bat.
Truman J. Cook, 17th Bat.
Patrick Carey, 14th H. Art.
James B. Coleman, 3d Cav.
Amasa Cops, 151st Inf.
Edson Clark.
Albert Chichester, 20th Inf.
John Cox.
John Co'eman.
Henry Cox.
Cornelius R. Case, 90th Inf.
Marcus Caswell, 05th Inf.
William J. Cooper, 90th Inf.
Robert Canham, 90th Inf.
Henry Culver, 90th Inf.
John Crout, 90th Inf.
Felix Caten.
Charles Church.
John Cleary.
John Copeland.
William Carr.
John Craft.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
335
William Cobb.
Edgar Demary. I51st Inf.
Edwin B. Dewey, 14th H. Art.
Edwin 0. Draper, 17th Bat.
John Davis, 8th H. Art.
Faber Davis. 8th H. Art.
George Dykeman, 151st Inf.
William H. Davis, 151st Inf.
William E. Donaldson, 151st Inf.
Proctor Davis. 2d Mounted Rifles.
William F. Deline, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William Davis. 8th H. Art.
Mark Downing. Sth H. Art.
Abram Dorrey.
John W. Deitz. 90lh Inf.
George Douglass, £'Oth Inf.
Morris Davis, 160th Inf.
Albert Demary.
George W. Davis.
Denison Dolly, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James Duffy.
Rev. George De La Matyr, 8th H. Art.
Byron A. Davey, 17th Bat.
Jacob William Delong.
Samuel Demming.
George DavH, .^8th Inf.
George S. Douglass.
Michael Dockery.
John Doyle.
Patrick Donohue.
William Emperor, 124th Inf.
Thomas Elliott, 94th Inf.
Thomas Englesby. 2!)th Inf.
James W. Elwood, 29th Inf.
Elon M. Elmer, 151st Inf.
Charles Eaton, 23d Cav.
Joseph Enhorn.
Thomas F. Enterta, 25tb Bat.
George G. Ellicott, 17th Bat.
John Fifer, 14th Bat.
John Fifer, jr., 11th Inf.
Francis H. Finch, 1st Art.
Henry C. Fuller, 17th Bat.
Thomas Ferguson, 17th Bat.
Henry J. Fuller, 17th Bat.
John C. Flanders, 25th Inf.
Thomas Flaherty, 151st Inf.
Patrick Flaherty, Sth H. Art.
Otis Fuller. Sth H. Art.
John Ferrule, 25th Bat.
H. J. Fox, 25th Bat.
James Fitzgerald, 151st Inf.
Johnson Flattery, 94th Inf.
David M. Frazier, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Judson P. Fret, 21st Cav.
John Furnace, Sth H. Art.
James Furnace, 12th Inf.
Welcome Fish, 7th Cav.
Winifield Fuller, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William Fuller.
Brian Finney, 17th Bat
William Felsted, 14th H. Art.
Eugene French, 3d Cav.
George H. Fox.
James Fanning.
George W. Fish.
James Ford, 17th Bat.
John Flattery, 94th Inf.
John W. Foot, Sth H. Art.
George Forbes, 151st Inf.
John Fifer, 90th Inf.
James Fitzpatrick.
Patrick Fallen.
John Ferarkie.
Elinore Gage, i51st Inf.
Nathaniel Gillott, 22d Cav.
Egbert B. Goodwin, Sth H. Art.
Walter Gray, 127th Inf.
Edwin G. Gillen, 3d Cav.
Edward M. Gillott, 3d Cav.
John W. Grow, 25th Bat.
Benjamin Grimes.
William H. Graham.
Simon Graliam.
Jacob Gallus.
Oliver M. Goold, 17th Bat.
Daniel Goos, Sth H. Art.
Delos A. Graves, 17th Bat.
336
LANDMARKS OF
George Goold, 151st Inf.
Eugene A. Gulham, 13th In*'.
Dyer Gillott. 103d Ohio Inf.
Jerome Gorra.
George Gage, 14th H. Art.
Patrick Gulbra.
Lewis Grampner.
James Graham.
John Geary, 17th Bat.
Patrick Geary.
Robert Geary, 90th Inf.
George Genan, 8th H. Art.
Jesse Genan, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Monroe R. Grammon, 19th Inf.
Samuel Gott, 17th Bat.
Wilham T. Healy, 21st Cav.
Allen D. Hevenor. 17th Bat.
Thomas Hart, 21st Cav.
Daniel C. Haines, 17th Bat.
Henry C. Hill, 8th H. Art.
Harron P. Hurst, 17th Bat.
Levi Hurst.
Edwin A. Hewes, 3d Cav.
Charles C. Holden, 90th Inf.
Charles K. Hawkins, 3d Cav.
Isaac S. Hawkins, 54th Inf.
Edward Hartford.
Patrick Hamilton.
Mortimer Hanson.
Charles Harkneth.
Horace Harrington, 8th H. Art.
Franklin H. Hunt, 8th H. Art.
Ruel Hawley, 151st Inf.
Robert Haywood, 8th H. Art.
James Hart, 164th Inf.
Edward Horan, 17th Bat.
James Hanlon, 17th Bat.
Samuel Hood, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Silas M. Hood, 3d Cav.
George M. House, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles H. Hulbert, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Sabina Hun, 8th H. Art.
Willis Herman, 8tb Cav.
George W. Hinds, 14th H. Art.
Thomas Hart, 21st Cav.
William Heath.
Ezra Howell, 1st Bat.
Silas S. Hill, 8tn Cav.
Thomas Heath, 90Lh Inf.
James Hastings, 90th Inf.
Thomas Hudson, 9th Art.
William Heth, 9th Art.
Minot Hill, 192d Inf.
Andrew Harper, Mich. Regt.
Frank S. Haddin, 29th Inf.
William G. Hunt.
James Ireland, 2d Mounted Rifles.
H. M. Johnson, Bat. M.
Peter Johnson.
William Johnson.
Thomas Jackson,
George Jackson, 8th H. Art.
Edwin W. Johnson, 151st Inf.
Daniel Johnson, 3d Cav.
Peter Johnson, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William Johnson, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Thomas P. James, 2d Inf.
John C. James, 155th Inf.
William J. JefFers, 3d Cav.
Henry Johnson, 17th Bat.
James A. Johnson, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Quintow Jeckson, 8th H. Art.
John Kennedy, 17th Bat.
Henry Ketchum.
Charles Kate, 17th Bat.
Morris B. Kenyon, 8th H. Art.
Dewitt C. Keeier, 28th Inf.
James Kelley, 8th H. Art.
Peter Kelly, Sth Cav.
J. B. Keeier. 21st Rat.
Patrick Kirby, 14th Art.
William Kinney.
Edward Kinna.
Robert Kirby.
John Kelley.
Peter Kelley, Sth Cav.
Charles Koykendall, 8th H. Art.
Henry J. Knapp, 151st Inf.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
337
Martin Kerwin, 17th Bat.
John Keeler. 28th Inf.
William Lewis, jr., 17th Bat.
John Lake, 151st Inf.
George Laphlen, 102d Inf.
William Lewis. 2Sth Inf.
James Lewis, 17th Bat.
Daniel Lyon, 90th Inf.
Hugh Lyon, 90th Inf.
Patrick Laneton, 8th H. Art.
Napoleon Lockhart, 90th Inf.
William Lott, 90th Inf.
Frank Laywut, 5th Inf.
James Lyou, 6th Inf.
John Lettes, 164th Inf.
Patrick Lavin, 28th Inf.
William Lozier, 17th Bat.
Harmon H. Lozier, 17th Bat.
Michael Leahy, 17th Bat.
John McGurn, 8th H. Art.
James McGurn, 14th Art.
Edwin B. Miles, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Phihp McGrath, 164th Inf.
James Maloney, 17th Bat.
Henry J. Merwin, 17th Bat.
Robert Montgomery, 17th Bat.
Wesley Mclntyre.
William Mclntyre.
John McDonald, 17th Bat.
Patrick Murphy, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Horatio H. McGowen, 17th Bat.
Edwin Morton, 17th Bat.
Angervine Marshall, 15th Inf.
John Murphy, 14th H. Art.
Milton H. Merrill, 151st Inf.
John McCarty, 17th Bat.
James McQueny, 14th H. Art.
Martin Maloney, 28th Inf.
Patrick McCarin, 17th Bat.
Michael McBride, 14th H. Art.
James McBride, 3d Cav.
Henry H. Martin, 90th Inf.
Daniel 0. Sullivan, 17th Bat.
Thomas Oderkirk, 3d Cav.
43
James O'Maley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William O'Brien, 16th Cav.
James Oaks, 90th Inf.
William Onderdonk.
Edwin A. Olds, 17th Bat.
Charles Oecobock, 3d Cav.
Patrick O'Maley, 66th Inf.
Silas W. Pitts, 17th Bat.
Charles Pine,' 2d Mounted Rifles.
Winslow W. Paddock, 8th H. Art.
John Paul, 17th Bat.
David Parks, 25th Art.
Eugene Perkins, 9th Inf.
William M. Park, 8th H. Art.
Alexander Parnell, 17th Bat.
Charles Pitts.
Henry Palmer.
Matthew H. Paupen.
Henry Peckham, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Orrin Parker, 8th H. Art.
James Pepper, 17th Bat.
Thomas Purcell, 28th Inf.
Archibald 0. Paul, 17th Bat.
John Pettengill, 3d Cav.
Lyman R. Patterson, 17th Bat.
Patrick Pendergast, 90th Inf.
Elisha W. Pratt, 19th Inf.
Henry Perry, 8th H. Art.
Burns Parkhurst, 14th Inf.
Charles Peas, 1st Bat.
Charles Pentany.
John Rose.
WiUiam J. Rubedaux, 17th Bat.
Mason Raymond, 8th H. Art.
James Roach 164th Inf.
Jerry Reed, 31st Inf.
Samuel Root, 94th Inf.
William H. Reily, 151st Inf.
David Rose, 151st Inf.
Guy C. Rix, 8th H. Art.
David W. Reno, 17th Bat.
Peter Russell, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles Reghnaldt, 8th H. Ar .
Godfrey Reghnaldt, 8th H. Art.
338
LANDMARKS OF
William Rowley, 151st Inf.
Albert Rukraan, 24tli Cav.
Michael Ryan, 14th H. Art.
Joseph J. Rogers, 2d Mounted Ritles.
Josiah A. Roght, 8th H. Art.
George Reed.
James P. Robinson.
Preston Ryan, 151st Inf.
Charles W. Riley, 114th Inf.
Charles Starks, 8th H. Art.
John W. Shelly, 8th H. Art.
William A. Shepard, 17th Bat.
Morris Sullivan, 164th Inf.
Henry D. Smith, 17 th Bat.
John Steele, 151st Inf.
John Simnons, 17th Bat.
Matthew Stillwell, 151st Inf.
Christopher Spaulding, 151st Inf.
Solomon S. Story, 151st Inf.
James Small, 151st Inf.
John Stevens, 151st Inf.
James Spaulding, 8th H. Art.
Frank Seywick, 14th H. Art
Thomas Shorton, 28th Inf.
Daniel Stockwell, 28th Inf.
Eugene Sheppard 28th Inf.
Whiton Southworth, 8th Cav.
Zachariah Smith, 8th Cav.
Alexander Swenson, 8th Cav.
Charles Smith.
Charles Stone.
Charles Scraggs.
George W. Smith.
John Stuart, 90th Inf.
George Swan, 90th Inf.
George Stratton, 90th Inf.
Thomas Simons, 90th Inf.
Mortimer Spaulding, 8th Cav.
John Smith, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James Swartout, 14 h H. Art.
Joseph Spoor, 90th Inf.
Moses Strickland, 90th Inf.
William Shaver, 90th Inf.
Jonathan Salisbury, 14tli II. Ar .
David Spaulding, 90th Inf.
John A. Soper 90th Inf.
Albert Saber.
Henry Shelton.
Joseph Smith.
John B. Stren.
Martin Stanley, 36th Inf.
John J. Serviss, 90th Inf.
Cyrenus Snell, 97th Inf.
WiUiam H. Salisbury, 151st Inf.
William Simpson, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Henry M. Starr, 8th H. Art.
Michael Slack, 17th Bat.
Linns G. Sutler, 17th Bat.
David Shanley, 17th Bat.
Charles Stratton, I7th Bat.
Hiram E. Sickles, 17th Bat.
William Sterry.
Charles H. Stocking, 17th Bat.
Hiram D. Smith, 17th Bat.
Henry Smith, 151st Inf.
Orin Smith, 8th Cav.
John 0. Swan, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Lorenzo Smith, 17th Bat.
Michael Smith, 94th Inf.
Bartley Salmond, 28th Inf.
George A. Smith, 3d Cav.
John Slade, 79th Inf.
Hiram Slack, 14th Art.
Erwin Starr, 3d Cav.
Jonathan Storks, 14th Art.
Charles H. Temple, 50th Cav.
William Taylor, 8th H. Art.
Benjamin B. Tanner, 151st Inf.
John C. Temple, 8th H. Art.
Frank Ticknor, 17th Bat.
James Ticknor, 90th Inf.
Samuel S. Thorn, 151st Inf.
Andrew H. Todd.
Henry Turner, 93d Inf.
William Trow, 151st Inf.
James E. Tompkins,
James P. Thorn, 8th Cav.
Jacob Tilliidi.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
339
Abraham Thomas.
Richard Taylor.
Peter Vandyke, 8th H. Art.
James Valentine, 75th Inf.
Robert Vorhess. 14th H. Art.
James Vaugn, 154th Inf.
John S. Vosburgh, 17th Bat.
Richard Vedder, 3d Cav.
Willard Waldron, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Alden H. Warren, 151st Inf.
Napo'eon Webber, 2d Mounted Rifles.
George N. Wilkinson, 90th Inf.
George Warner, 17th Bat.
Luke Waldron, 17th Bat.
Calvin Warner, 8th H. Art.
Reuben F. Wickham, 90th Inf.
Gilbert Woodhall, 151st Inf.
Henry Whipple, 17th Bat.
George Ward, 100th Inf.
Asahel P. Weld.
Mortimer Wilson, 3d Cav.
Joseph Welch, 90th Inf.
James Westbrook.
Charles West, 8th H. Art.
Ralph Wood, 90th Inf.
Henry A. Williams, 90th Inf.
William Ward, 90th Inf.
Knowlesville took its name from the pioneer settler and founder of
the place, William Knowles, of whose life a full sketch is given in the
preceding pages. In 1825 he built the first warehouse in the place, and
in it the first store was kept by William Van Dorn. In the same year
Nathan S. Wood and O. H. Gardner opened other stores there. In
1825 Moses Huxley kept a small grocery store on the bank of the
canal, and in 1840 he opened another of the same kind. In 1830
Andrew Betts was engaged in tanning and shoemaking here. Black-
smithing was carried on by Daniel Batty, and the carpenter and joiner
trade by Henry Ryan. Mr. Knowles built an ashery in 18 16, and for
about four years manufactured potash solely for black salts. In 1827
he shipped the first boat load of wheat from Orleans county. The first
school house at this place was built in 18 17. It was a log building and
stood a short distance north from where the brick school house was
Charles S. Williams. 90th Inf.
Charles Ward, 90th Inf.
John Wells, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James Walworth, 14tli H. Art.
V. Wilson, 151st Inf.
Henry Walters, jr., 151st Inf.
William E. Wilson, 151st Inf.
Jeremiah Wait, 17th Inf.
George A. Weldon, 31st Inf.
John Wilson, Sth H. Art.
Christopher Waterbury, r25th Inf.
Christopher Wireman, 129th Inf.
James Wiggins, 120th Inf.
H. H. Whiting, 25th Bat.
Joseph Woodroe, 151st Inf.
John Welsh, 28th Inf.
Henry Warland, 9th Inf.
F. M. Walworth, 17th Inf.
George Weldcn, 116th Inf.
Robert Watkins, Sth Cav.
George Warland, 9th Cav.
Wallace Weld.
William Wanorke, 151st Inf.
David L. Waring.
William Walsh.
Alonzo P. Wilson.
340 LANDMARKS OF
built, on the west side of the street, north of the canal. The post-
office was established in 1826, and was called Portville, but the name
was soon changed to Knowlesville. The village now .contains three
stores, three churches, one blacksmith shop, a cooperage, an evaporator
and feed mill, a steam saw and planing mill, two warehouses, one hotel,
and other business establishments usually carried on in villages of its size.
It has a union school, and three teachers are employed during each
term.
Jeddo is a small village located on the Ridge road, where that high-
way passes between lots 40 and 41, in the west part of Ridgeway.
The original grantees of lot 40 were Seymour Murdock, James Sheldon,
and Samuel P. Judson. Zephaniah Judson in 181 1, Amos Spencer in
18 1 2, and William McCormick in 1821 were original purchasers of
land on lot 41. Jeremiah Brown, Daniel Miller, Joseph Wheeler, James
Salisbury, and James Edwards afterward received deeds for the land on
these lots. In 1827 Orlando Bates built a grist mill at this place, with
two runs of stones. The building was of stone, and is still standing,
having been several times repaired. It has now two runs of stone for
grinding feed and rollers for the manufacture of flour. It is considered
one of the best mills in the county. A saw mill was built here at about
the same time, and there is now one on the same site. An evaporator
has recently been established near this saw mill. The water which
runs these mills was obtained by cutting a ditch across the Ridge at
this place and draining the large swamp that lay on the south side of it,
thus utilizing the water and at the same time reclaiming hundreds of
acres that has since become some of the best farming land in the county.
Formerly a portion of the water of this swamp ran through Oak
Orchard Creek. The fall here is a little more than ten feet, furnishing
ample power for the mills. This village was first known as Batesville.
When a post-office was talked of a meeting of the citizens was held to
decide on a name for the office. Several names were proposed, but
none were unanimously agreed on until a school boy named Warren
proposed that of Jeddo. As a joke the name was adopted by the
crowd and the meeting dispersed, no one thinking that this would be
the name ; but soon afterward Zechariah Haskins received a commission
as postmaster at Jeddo, which settled the question.
ORLEANS COUNTf. 341
Ridgevvay (locally known as Ridgeway Corners). — The first pur-
chaser of land at Ridgeway Corners was Eli Moor, who received an
article for 189 acres on the north side of the Ridge in 181 1. Subse-
quently Joseph L. Perry became the owner of 22 acres of this. A
year later Abel P. Sheldon took up 184 acres lying next west from
Mr. Moore's tract, and in 18 19 it was deeded to Elijah Hawley. The
land on the south side of the Ridge, lot 5, was taken up by Jonathan
Brown in the spring of 1814. Of this 144 acres were afterward deeded
to Julia Ann Perry and to Joseph L. Perry. The first house was built
by Eli Moore, where the east wing of the hotel now stands, and was
used for a tavern and store. Previous to 1820 the village contained a
tavern, currier, blacksmith, and boot and shoe shops, doctor's and
lawyer's ofifices, and a few other buildings. At present there is a
church, a school house, a store, two blacksmith shops, a post-office, and
about thirty other buildings. The first post-office in the town of
Ridgeway was established here October 22, 18 16, under the name of
Oak Orchard, with Elijah Hawley as postmaster. William J. Babbitt
had been appointed postmaster at Gaines the July previous. These
two were the first post-offices in what is now Orleans county. Previous
to this the settlers went to Batavia for their mail.
Oak Orchard. — By reference to the account of original sales of land
in Ridgeway it will be seen that the land on the south side of the Ridge
at Oak Orchard was taken up by Artemas Houghton in 181 1, and by
Aaron Adams in 1812 ; and that on the north side by John G. Brown
iniSii. The latter became the property of Gilbert Howell in 1815.
The east part of that on the south side was deeded to Isaac Bennett
in 1820, and the west part was transferred successively to Milo Bennett,
Warren Thompson and De Witt C. Warner. For more than a decade
after its first settlement this was the business place of the town. Here
were a tannery, a distillery, a grist mill, a saw mill, an ashery, three
taverns and three stores ; and here, in 18 13, was held the first town
meeting for Ridgeway, which at that time included all of Orleans
county west of the east Transit line. At Colonel Howell's tavern in
this place Capt. Wilber Stewart quartered his men over night while on
his way to the Niagara frontier in 1812. Here the Presbyterian So-
ciety of Knowlesville was organized and its " gospel lot " was located
342 ' LANDMARKS OF
about a mile up the creek from the village. When the Erie Canal was
opened and Knowlesville came into existence, business left the flourish-
ing village ot Oak Orchard, and it now contains only a church, two
stores and a few scattered dwellings. A post-office was established here
August 24, 1 81 7, with James G. Brown as postmaster.
The Presbyterian Church of Knowlesville was organized August 27,
1817, with eleven members, mostly New Englanders. It was first a
Congregational Church, but on June 10, 1820, it adopted the Presby-
terian form of church government, and it now belongs to the Presbytery
of Niagara. The first ruling elders were John Hood, Zelotes Sheldon
and Archie B. Lawrence, and the last named was the first clerk. The
society was organized July 22, 1 821, with Gilbert Howell, Amzi L. Mc-
Connell, John Hood, Abel Perry, Lyman Turner and Daniel Hooker as
trustees. It was the first religious society organized in the town, and
as such received the donation of 100 acres of land (the gospel lot) from
the Holland Land Company. For several years meetings were held
alternately at Knowlesville and Oak Orchard in school houses ; but in
1832 a brick church edifice was erected at Knowlesville. The original
building committee consisted of William Knowles, A. H. West and
Dennis Kingsley. The structure ha*s since been remodeled and much
improved. The society also owns a good parsonage in the village.
The pastors of this church have been :
Revs. Eleazer Fairbanks, David Pratt, Kendrick, David Page, E. Mead, John
Thalimer, John Partington, S. Payne, David Ames, J. J. Ward, R. S. Eggleston, I.
0. Fillmore, A. A. G-raley, A. L. Greene, T. M. Hodgeman, S. A. Whitcomb, William Mc-
Beth, E. T. Salmon and Seth Cook.
The Baptist Church of Knowlesville. — As early as the decade be-
tween 1820 and 1830 several Baptists resided in Knowlesville and its
vicinity, and preaching was occasionally had. In 1832 the number had
so increased that it was thought a church here should have public
recognition, which was done in that year. Of the constituent members
at that time Mrs. Clarissa Hicks was the last survivor.
The first pastor was Rev. William Sawyer, followed in succession by Revs. E. P.
Griswold, S. Marshall, A. H. Stowell, William Sawyer again, W. F. Parrish, E. P. Gris-
wold again, H. Fish, J. Withall. C. A. Skinner, William Darker, P. Goo, William Elgin,
J. H. Langville, J. M. Jones, C. B. Parsons, H. H. Thomas and Spencer Fisher.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 343
Since the organization of the church there have been periods when
it has been destitute of a pastor and was served by supplies. Since
1832 about 800 have been received into the church, very largely by
baptism. The present membership is about 200. The church edifice
was erected within two years after the organization of the society. It
had only ordinary repairs till 1872, when it was remodeled and enlarged
by the addition of a session room, and a baptistery was placed in it.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Knowlesville was legally organ-
ized in 1833, and Dennis Kingsley, Sidney Starkweather, George An-
drews, Edward Reymour and John Page were elected trustees. The
society at Eagle Harbor, which has always been a part of this charge,
was organized several years previously. The first Board of Trustees
was made a building committee, and in 1835 ^ church edifice was com-
pleted. It was a wooden structure and stood on the site of the present
brick edifice. In 1863 it was burned and the present church building
was erected. Since the organization of this society the Knowlesville
and Eagle Harbor charges have been served by the following pastors,
in the order named :
Hiram May, Josiah Towler, Josiah Brakeman, John B. Lankton, S. Salsbury, E. C.
Sanborn, P. Powers. J. W. Vaughn. D. Nichols, Amos Worcester, W. D. Buck, J. B.
Hoyt, A. W. Luce, D.. B. Lawton, Allen P. Ptipley, D. F. Parsons, B. F. McNeal, K. D.
Nettleton, R. E. Thomas, E. S. Furnham, J. McClelland, Philip House Kinecht, L.
Packard, C. D. Burlingham, Zenas Hurd, Gr. W. Terry, J. 0. Willsea, J. Timmerman,
Philo E.Brown, C. B. Sparrow, William Barrett. William Wolgemuth, A. Staples, E.
S. Furman, J. D. Requa, L B. Hudnut. E. Cook and L. T. Hawkins.
The Universalist Church of Ridgeway. — It is remembered that Revs.
Glezen Fillmore and Z. Paddock, itinerant Methodist clergymen, labored
in this region prior to the organization of the Universalist Church at
Ridgeway, and that this was one of their preaching stations. After the
formation of the Universalist Church most of those who had constituted
the Methodist society here became attendants at that church. It was
organized December 14, 1833, at the house of Jasper Murdock. Philo
Elmer, Daniel F. Hunt, Samuel Bidleman, Nathan Sawyer, and Sey-
mour B. Murdock were the trustees chosen at the organization. The
pastors, in the order of their pastorates, have been :
Revs. Charles Hammond, Russell Tomlinson, M. B. Smith. L. L. Spaulding, Thomas
J. Smith, William B. Cook, D. C. Tomlinson, Joseph Hemphill, Alanson Kelsey, Nelson
344 LANDMARKS OF
Snell, James Amies, Henry B. Howell, J. P. Maclean, W. B. Randolph, William Knott,
O. F. Alvord.
The church edifice was erected in 1834 at Ridgeway Corners on a
site donated by Mrs. Julia A. Perry. In 1854 it was repaired, and in
1 87 1 it was again remodeled and improved.
The Seventh day Adventist Church of Jeddo was organized in 1871
with twenty-eight members. Worship was held in the houses of mem-
bers of the society till 1887, when a church edifice was erected. Al-
though this belonged to the Adventists, it is free to all other denomina-
tions, when not used by them. The society has occasional preaching,
but no regular pastor is employed.
The Baptist Chapel at Jeddo. — Prior to 1887 the Baptists in Jeddo,
who were somewhat numerous, were members of the Baptist Church
at Johnson's Creek, Niagara county, but held services in the school
house at Jeddo. in that year they erected a chapel there, a tasteful
wooden edifice, with a seating capacity of 150. Services are held
weekly in this house by the pastor of the Baptist Church at Johnson's
Creek.
The Baptist Chapel at Oak Orchard. — Previous to 1876 there was no
house of worship in the village of Oak Orchard, but the people attended
church at Knowlesville, and had occasional preaching in the school
house here. In that year a revival occurred, and the result was the
erection soon afterward of a chapel by the Baptists. It is a brick struc-
ture, with a seating capacity of about 300. The society here is a por-
tion of the church at Knowlesville.
Within a few years a Methodist class has been formed at Oak
Orchard, with William Kenyon as leader. Their place of worship is a
hall, built by the Good Templars in 1880.
VILLAGE OF MEDINA.
Medina is centrally located at the point where the lines between
townships 14 and 15, and ranges 3 and 4 cross each other. No village
existed here prior to the construction of the Erie Canal. At the time
when the Holland Land Company's land was surveyed it was believed
that the falls of the Oak Orchard Creek at Shelby Center gave promise
of becoming an important village, and Joseph Ellicott secured for him-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 345
self and his relatives a large portion of the land in that vicinity. When
the canal was located two miles north from that point, it became evident
that this was the place where a village must spring up, and Mr. EUicott
and other agents of the company, at once took articles for the land
here. The west part of lots 39 and 40, 14th township and 3d range, was
articled to Joseph Ellicott, jr., in 1820, and was deeded to Joseph EUi-
cott in 1822. The west part of lot 41, 15th township and 3d range was
articled to Benjamin Ellicott in 1821, and was deeded to Joseph Ellicott
in 1824. These purchases included the course of Oak Orchard Creek
through the present corporation and through the next lot south from
it. Lots I and 2, 15th township and 4th range, which include the north-
west quarter of the village and the land through which Oak Orchard
Creek runs north from it, were articled to William Peacock in 1821,
and were deeded to Joseph Ellicott in 1824. Seventy-seven acres west
from Gwinn street and south from West Center street were articled to
Cornelius Ashton in 18 16, to D. E. Evans and J. B. Ellicott in 1825,
and were deeded to David E. Evans in 1833. The dates of these pur-
chases show that it was the project of a village here that^prompted
them.
It has been said that a saw mill was built here in 1805 by Samuel F.
Gear. That such a mill was built here is certain ; for many now living
remember having seen its ruins. There was not, however, a settler in
the present towns of Ridgeway or Shelby till four or five years after
that date, and there is little probability that a mill was built four years
before a white man lived within twenty miles of it. The date was
probably some years later. It was a rude structure, and it soon went
to decay. The salt works north from the village have been elsewhere
spoken of.
The houses in Medina were at first unsubstantial structures, built for
the laborers on the canal. These remained after settlement commenced,
and some of them were temporary residences of permanent settlers.
Trade began here before the opening of the canal. In 1824 Sylva-
nus Coan opened a small store, and others soon followed ; but of course
only a limited business could be done before navigation commenced.
The village began on the bank of the canal east from Shelby street and
north from Center street. This was the point where passengers disem-
346 LANDMARKS OF
barked from boats and landed their goods, where merchandise was re-
ceived and where the surplus produce of this region was shipped.
In i824Ebenezer Mix was employed by Mr. EUicott to survey and
lay out a village here. He commenced this survey in that year and
completed it later. Some of the principal streets were laid out and
named as early as 1826. It is said that he gave the place the name,
probably because of its euphony ; but the story was told that the name
was suggested by his saying to a colored woman who was frightened at
his sudden appearance in the hotel : " It's me, Dinah !"
Of the beginnings in Medina Judge Thomas says :
Mr. Sylvanus Coan opened the first store in 1824, before the canal was finished, and
some small establishments for selling goods to those working on the canal soon fol-
lowed; but the opening of navigation was the signal for improving the water power on
the creek and building up the town. Uri D. Moore kept the first hotel on Shelby
street in 1824. Asahel Woodruff and brother were merchants here in 1826. Artemas
Allen came to Medina in 1822, and was the first mason who settled in the village. He
had charge as master mason in building the aqueduct for the Erie Canal over Oak Or-
chard Creek. The stone for this work were mainly obtained from the bank of the
creek, north of the canal. The remaining stone were from Shelby Center or from
Clarendon, and a few from Lockport. Mr. Allen built a large brick tannery and dwell-
ing for Justus Ingersoll, and a large stone building called the Eagle Hotel, which was
burned some years since.
John Ryan, mason, came here in 1825 ; Simeon Downs, blacksmith, in 1825; Dr. Rum-
sey, the first regular physician, in 1827 ; Dr. Lathrop soon afterward. The first attorney
was Nathan Sawyer ; the first carpenter was Samuel F. Gear ; the first iron founder was
Simeon Bathgate. The post-office was established in Medina in 1829, and Justus In-
gersoll was the first postmaster. The present official is J. D. Brennan.
David Ford and John Parsons were tinsmiths ; Otis Turner and Chase Britt were
grocers ; Clark & Fairman were early merchants. The first fire company was organ-
ized August 16, 1832. The first bell in a steeple was raised on the Presbyterian Church
in 1836. This was the first bell in the village and the only church bell between Albion
and Lockport for several years. It was rung several times every day to regulate the
hours of labor and rest of the inhabitants. A town clock was afterward procured and
placed in the steeple of the Methodist Church to serve in place of so much bell ringing.
The clock proving a poor machine was soon given up.
Justus Ingerioll moved to Medina in 1826 and built a large brick building for a tan-
nery west of the creek, on the north side of East Center 'street. This was afterward
converted into a flouring mill, and was burned in 1858. Mr. Ingersoll was justice of the
peace, postmaster, Indian agent, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county
and an active man in village afi'airs.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 347
In 1832 the village had between forty and fifty dwellings, stores,
sliops, etc., and of these twenty- six were on Shelby street north from
the railroad. Since that time the village has had a healthy, though not
a steadily uniform growth. It has been visited by many destructive
fires and in periods of financial depression that have prevailed in the
country, it has suffered as well as other places. With the return of
better times it has promptly recovered from temporary business depres-
sion, burned buildings have been replaced by better structures, others
have been torn away to make room for the spacious and elegant blocks
which increasing business demanded, and good taste dictated, and now
Medina, in all things, compares quite favorably with any place of its size
in Western New York.
In 1849 William Hedley purchased 78 acres of unoccupied land in
in the southwest part of the village, laid out streets, surveyed lots, and
erected dwellings thereon. These have been sold as well as other lots
on which the purchasers have erected houses, and the area is covered
with tasteful and pleasant residences. In 1871 Henry Bancroft made a
similar addition in the northwest part of the village, and others in differ-
ent quarters have disposed of village lots as the increasing population
has required, and the expansion of the place is now as rapid as at any
period in its history. Its principal business streets are bordered by
blocks of buildings most of them erected on sites that have been burned
over once or more, which are a credit to the enterprise of the citizens.
Among the more conspicuous of these are French's block. Bent's block,
the Fuller block, J. D. Kearney's building.
Medina was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed March
3, 1832. Its limits were defined as :
All that district of country in the town of Ridgeway and county of Orleans contained
within the following buundaries, that is to say : Commencing at the point where the
Erie Canal crosses Oak Orchard Creek ; thence south along the west margin of said
creek to the south line of Oak Orchard street ; running thence west to the mill race ;
thence north along said race to the south line of Mill street; thence west to the west
line of Prospect street, thence north to the canal, thence westwardly along the south
margin of said canal to the place of beginning.
This charter was from time to time amended to meet exigencies
arising by reason of changing circumstances and to keep pace with im-
proved methods in municipal government. In 1874 a commission was
348 LANDMARKS OF
appointed to revise the charter and the several acts amendatory thereof,
to recommend such changes as they might deem expedient, and to con-
dense the whole into a single charter. The result was the present
charter, which was enacted by the Legislature on the 28th day of Feb-
ruary, 1874. This charter with some amendments and supplementary
provisions, is still in force.
OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE OF MEDINA FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PREEENT TIME.
1832. — Trustees, Justus Ingersoll, Nathan Sawyer, Asahel Woodruff, James C.
Evans, Halsted H. Parker; clerk, H. Yerrington (part of the term), Henry Phelps
(vacancy).
1833. — Trustees, Botsford Fairraan, Roswell Starr, Justus Ingersoll, Uri D. Moore,
John Bagley, jr.; clerk, Henry Phelps; treasurer, Henry Phelps,
1834. — Trustees, Artemus Allen, Otis Turner, Orin Britt, Botsford Fairman, Simeon
Balhgate ; clerk, Henry Phelps ; treasurer, Nathan Sawyer.
1835. — Trustees, Justus Ingersoll, Uri D. Moore, Artemus Allen, Orin Britt, John A.
Ross; clerk, Silas M. Burroughs; treasurer, Nathan Sawyer.
1836. — Trustees, Joseph Nixson, Silas M. Burroughs, John A. Ross, Charles Warner,
Roswell Starr; clerk, Charles J. Rum.«!ey ; treasurer, Nathan Sawyer.
1837. — Trustees, Orin Britt, Halsted H. Parker, John A. Ross (resigned), Charles
Warner, Joseph Nixson, Justus Ingersoll (appointed); clerk, R. C. Baker; treasurer,
Cornelius M. Van Doren ; attorney, Charles J. Rumsey.
1838. — Trustees, Samuel F. Geer, Horace Chase, William R. Gwinn, Botsford Fair-
man, Myron P. Hopkins; clerk, A. Hogeland (resigned), George H. Thatcher (ap-
pointed); treasurer, Christopher Whaley ; attorney, Henry Angevine.
1839. — Trustees, John A. Ross (died), John Patterson (died). Joseph Craig (resigned).
Green R. Lewis (appointed to fill vacancy), William Walsh (appointed), Silas M.
Burroughs (appointed), Orin Britt (appointed), Charles Warner; clerk, Nathan Sawyer
(resigned), R. C. Baker (appomted) ; treasurer, Christopher Whaley; attoi-ney, Charles
J. Rumsey.
1840. — Trustees Joseph Craig, John Parsons, Simeon Bathgate, Caleb Hill, James
Hamilton ; clerk, J. H. Denio ; treasurer, Christopher Whaley ; Attorney, Henry
Angevine.
1841. — Trustees, William R. Gwinn, Roswell Starr, Simeon Bathgate, Green R. Lewis
William Bidleman ; clerk, Elisha S. Whalen ; treasurer, Christopher Whaley; attorney,
Charles J. Rumsey.
1842. — Trustees, Char-les J. Rumsey, Orin Britt, Charles Warner, Roswell Starr,
William Walsh ; clerk, T. C. Smith, L F. Taft (last half of term) ; treasurer, Elisha S
Whalen ; attorney, Ephriam Garter.
1843.— Trustees, Simeon Bathgate, William Bidleman, Charles Warner, Silas M
Burroughs, John Ferguson ; clerk, Elisha S. Whalen ; treasurer, Ephraim Garter ; at
torney, Ephraim Garter.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 349
1844. — Trustees, William Baker, William Walsh, Roswell Starr, James Hamilton,
Levan W. Merritt ; clerk, Alexander Pike ; treasurer, Christopher Whaley ; attorney.
George C. Northrop.
1845.— Trustees, William Baker, M. W. Clark, Silas M. Burroughs, Roswell Starr,
Chandler Farnham ; clerk, Alexander Pike; treasurer, George C. Northrop; attorney,
Silas M. Burroughs.
1846.— Trustees, Silas M. Burroughs, John Ryan, Charles Warner, Roswell Starr,
George Bathgate; clerk, Edwin Masten (resigned); William M. Gibson (appointed) ;
treasurer. Smith Vibbard ; attorney, Silas M. Burroughs.
1847. — Trustees, John Ryan, Roswell Starr. George Bathgate, Silas M. Burroughs,
George C. Northrop ; clerk, William L. Gibson ; treasurer. Smith Vibbard ; attorney,
Silas M. Burroughs.
1848. — Trustees, Archibald Servoss, Cabel Hill, Isaac W. Swan, William Baker,
Charles Warner ; clerk, I. F. Taft ; treasurer, Hiram M. Beers ; attorney, Archibald
Servoss.
1849.— Trustees, Levan W. Merritt, Elisha S. Whalen, Isaac W. Swan, Oliver E.
Watson, George Bathgate; clerk, Horatio Stewart; treasurer, Edmund Fuller, jr.;
attorney, George C. Northrop.
1850.— Trustees, George Bathgate, P. V. Fox, Elisha S. Whalen, William Brown,
William P. Foster; clerk, L. Timmerman (removed), William L. Bathgate (appointed) ;
treasurer, John S. Jennings; attorney, George C. Northrop.
1851. — Trustees, Asa P. Stanford, Charles Warner, Abram Stratton, Solomon G.
Purdy, William Van Keuren ; clerk, James Depuy ; treasurer, John S. Jennings ; at-
torney, James Depuy.
1852. — Trustees, Charles Warner, Solomon G. Purdy, Abram Stratton, Darius W. Cole,
William A. Bent; clerk, Daniel D. White; treasurer, John S. Jennings; attorney,
James De Puy.
1853.— Trustees, Robert L. Hill, Edward Hedley, Chandler Farnham, William A.
Bent, Benedict H. Alford ; clerk, Lafayette Carver ; treasurer, John S. Jennings ; at-
torney, Lafayette Carver.
1854.~Trustees, Benedict H. Alford, Elisha S. Whalen, John W. Graves, William
Brown, Mortimer W. Ryan; clerk, Curtis Barnes; treasurer, Absalom F. Bush ; at-
torney, John W. Graves.
1855.— Trustees. Robert L. Hill, Solomon G. Purdy, John R. Weld, William S.
Tamblin, Jonah Allen ; clerk, Curtis Barnes ; treasurer, Absalom F. Bush ; attorneys,
Sickels & Graves.
1856. — Trustees, John Ryan, Henry Flagler, John Firth, Sylvester S. Sherman,
Benjamin M. Anthony ; clerk, Prentiss D. Knight ; treasurer, Alexander Pike ; attorney,
Archibald Servoss.
1857. — Trustees, Samuel C. Bowen, Benedict H. Alford, Edward Davey, Joseph
Clyde, Hiram E. Sickels ; clerk, Solomon G. Purdy; treasurer, Alexander Pike; at-
torneys, Sickels & Graves.
1858. — Trustees, John Ryan, Erastus B.'Knapp, Edwin F. Brown, William W. Pot-
ter, Arthur Newell ; clerk, Erastus B. Knapp ; treasurer, Marcus Chase ; attorneys,
Sickels & Graves.
350 LANDMARKS OF
1859.— Trustees, John Ryan, John Parks, William W. Potter, Eugene Smith, Thur-
man S. Shaw ; clerk, Simeon Downs ; treasurer, Marcus Chase ; attorneys, Sickels &
Graves.
I860.— Trustees, John Ryan. John Parks. William W. Potter, Eugene Smith, Daniel
Starr; clerk, Simeon Downs; treasurer, Alexander Pike; attorneys, Sickels & Graves.
1861.— Trustees John Ryan, x\.ugustus M. Ives, John Parks, Eugene Smith, William
W. Potter; clerk, Simeon Downs; treasurer, James C. Sheppard ; attorney, Hiram E.
Sickels.
1862.— Trustees, John Ryan, Augustus M. Ives, John Parks, Elisha S. Whalen,
Henry A. Childs ; clerk, Simeon Downs; tieasurer, John M. Kennan ; attorney, John
W. Graves.
1863. — Trustees, Richard Becker, Benjamin M. Anthony, John D. Kearney. Soloman
G. Purdy, Elisha S. Whalen ; clerk, Simeon Downs; treasurer, Henry A. Fairman ;
attorneys, Bowen & Pitts.
1864.— Trustees, Marcus Chase, Spencer Jackson, Edwin F. Brown, Benjamin M.
Anthony, Samuel C. Bowen; clerk, Simeon Downs; treasurer, John M. Kennan;
attorney, Henry A. Childs.
1865.— Trustees, Darius W. Cole, B. C. Blake, John M. Pitts, John D. Kearney.
Soloman. G Purdy; clerk, John W. Card; treasurer, John M. Kennan ; attorney, Adna
Bowen.
1866. — Trustees, Mortimer W. Ryan, Hiram E. Sickels, Edwin P. Healy, Soloman
G. Purdy, B. C. Blake ; clerk, Simeon Downs ; treasurer, Henry A. Fairman ; attor-
ney, Henry A. Childs.
1867.— Trustees, Henry A. Childs, Edwin M. Card, Absalom F. Bush, Edward Davey,
James Kearney ; clerk, Simeon Downs ; treasurer, John M. Kennan ; attorney. Hiram E.
Sickels.
1868.— Trustees, Elisha S. Whalen, Edward Davey. Oscar Whedon. Henry A. Childs,
John Kearney ; clerk, Simeon Downs ; treasurer, Jacob Gorton ; attorney. Stanley E.
Filkins.
1869.— Trustees, John R. Weld, George W. Frary, Henry A. Childs, Hiram Deuel,
John Bacon ; clerk, Simeon Downs, treasurer, Jacob Gorton ; attorney, Henry A.
Childs.
1870. — Trustees, George W. Frary, James S. McCormick, Alfred Dawson, John D.
Kearney, Henry A. Childs; clerk, Simeon Downs; treasurer, Jacob Gorton: attorney,
Henry A. Childs.
1871. — Trustees, John Filer, John Bacon, William Lozier, James A, Hanlon, Fred M
Ives (failed to qualify) ; clerk, Burrie Swift ; treasurer, Jacob Gorton ; attorney, Henry
A. Childs.
1872. — Trustees, John Bacon, John R. Weld (failed to qualify), Jacob Gorton, Samuel
C. Brownell, John W. Graves (appointed), Patrick Horan ; clerk, Burrie Swift (part of
term), George A. Newell (appointed) ; treasurer. Smith Tucker ; attorney, Henry A.
Childs.
1873. — Trustees, Lewis J. Ives, John Bacon, Lafayette Robinson, Isaac M. Knapp,
John Kearney; clerk, Thomas A. Burke; treasurer. Smith Tucker ; attorney, Henry A.
Childs.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 351
1874, village officers elected and appointed under the new charter. — President, Henry
A. Childs ; trustees, Timothy O'Brien, Michael Cooper, Jacob Gorton, Lyman F. Zim-
merman, George W. Frary, James Chapman; clerk, George A. Newell; treasurer,
Smith Tucker; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts; chief of police, Edmund Fuller.
1875. — President, Joseph Clyde (failed to qualify), Henry A. Childs (appointed) ;
trustees, Michael Slack, Michael Cooper, Jacob Gorton, Erwin A. Bowen, George W.
Frary, James Chapman ; clerk, George A. Newell ; treasurer. Smith Tucker ; attorney,
Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of police, Edmund Fuller.
1876. — President, Edward Posson ; trustees, Graham H. Hill, Erwin A. Bowen,
Jacob Gorton, Michael Cooper, Michael Slack, James Chapman ; clerk, George A.
Newell ; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of police,
Edmund Fuller.
1877. — President, George W. Frary; trustees, Graham "H. Hill, Edward Davey,
Jacob Gorton, Michael Cooper, Michael Slack, Alfred Dawson ; clerk, George A.
Newell; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of police,
Edmund Fuller.
1878. — President, George W. Frary ; trustees, Michael Cooper, Graham H. Hill,
Alfred Dawson, Edward Davey, Oscar K. Johnson, Jacob Gorton ; clerk, John Allen ;
treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts; chief of police, Edmund
Fuller.
1879. — President, George W. Frary ; trustees, Graham H. Hill, Edward Davey,
Alfred Dawson, Michael Cooper, Oscar K. Johnson. Jacab Gorton ; clerk, Myron S.
Newell ; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of police,
Edmund Fuller.
1880. —President, Edward Posson ; trustees, Alfred Dawson, Graham H. Hill, Edward
Davey, Charles H. Hedley, Michael Cooper, Oscar K. Johnson ; clerk, Myron S. Newell ;
treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Henry A. Childs ; chief of police, Edmund
Fuller.
1881. — President, Edward Posson ; trustees, Alfred Dawson, Graham H. Hill, James,
Chapman, Charles H. Hedley, Michael Cooper, Oscar K. Johnson ; clerk, Myron S.
Newell ; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Henry A. Childs ; chief of police,
Edmund Fuller.
1882. — President, Edward Posson ; trustees, James Chapman, Alfred Dawson,
Graham H. Hill, Oscar K. Johnson, Charles H. Hedley, Isaac Landauer ; clerk, Myron
S. Newell ; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Henry A. Childs ; chief of policee
Edmund Fuller.
1883. — President, George W. Frary ; trustees, Graham H. Hill, James Chapman,
Michael Griffin, Isaac Landauer, Oscar K. Johnson, John R. Weld; clerk, Myron S.
Newell ; treasurer, E. Chapin Bennett ; attorney, Henry A. Childs ; chief of police,
Edmund Fuller.
1884. — President, George W. Frary; trustees, Michael Griffin, Graham H. Hill, James
Chapman, John R. Weld, Isaac Landauer, William Comerford ; clerk, Myron S. Newell ;
treasurer, Homer J. Luther ; attorney. Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of police, Edmund
Fuller.
352 LANDMARKS OF
1885. — President, Nelson McCormick ; Trustees, Soloman H. Goodman, David Mc-
Donald, James Chapman, Fred L. Downs, Michael Griffin. William Comerford ; clerk,
Myron S. Newell; treasurer. Homer J. Luther; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts; chief of
police, Edmund Fuller.
1886. — Prei-ident, Oscar K. Johnson; trustees, George A. Beach, Fred L. Downs,
James Chapman, William Callaghan, Soloman H. Goodman, William Comerford ; clerk,
Frank J. Kearney ; treasurer. Homer J. Luther ; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts ; chief of
police, Edmund Fuller.
1887. — President, Oscar K. Johnson ; trustees, Lawrence Brennan, George A. Beach,
Fred L. Downs, William Comerford, William Callaghan, Soloman H. Goodman ; clerk,
Frank J. Kearney; treasurer. Earl VV. Card; attorney, Edmund L. Pitts; chief of
police, Edmund Fuller.
1888. — President, 0. K. Johnson ; trustees, Robert Nichol, Joseph Stork, William
Comerford, William Callaghan, George A. Beach, Lawrence Brennan ; treasurer,
George A. Newell ; clerk, F, J. Kearney ; attorney, E. L. Pitts ; chief of police, Ed-
mund Fuller.
1889.— President, Albert J. Hill ; trustees, William Callaghan, James M, Frary,
Robert Nichol, Joseph Stork, Lawrence Brennan, William Comerford; clerk, F. J.
Kearney ; treasurer, George A. Newell ; attorney, E. L. Pitts ; chief of police, E. Fuller.
1890. — President, Albert J. Hill ; trustees, William Comerford, Charles A. Gorman,
James M. Frary, Robert Nichol, William Callaghan, Joseph Stork ; clerk, F. J. Kearney ;
treasurer, George A. Newell ; attorney, E. L. Pitts ; chief of police, E. Fuller.
1891.— President, Albert J. Hill ; trustees, William Comerford, Robert W. Nichol,
James M. Frary, J. D. Brennan, Charles A. Gorman, William Callaghan ; clerk, F. J.
Kearney ; treasurer, George A. Newell ; attorney, E. L. Pitts ; chief of police, E. Fuller.
1892. — President, Fred L. Downs; trustees, William Comerford, Charles A. Gorman,
R. W. Nichol, John D. Brennan, Edward Maloney, Fred C. Wilson ; clerk, F. J.
Kearney ; treasurer, George A. Newell ; attorney, E. L. Pitts ; chief of police, E. Fuller.
1893. — President, Fred L. Downs ; trustees, William Comerford, Charles A. Gorman.
R. W. Nichol, John D. Brennan, Edward Maloi.ey, Fred C. Wilson ; clerk, J. W.
Cooper; treasurer, George A. Newell; artorney, E.L.Pitts; chief of police, E. Fuller.
1894. — President. Fred L. Downs; trustees, William Rands, Joe Brook, William
Comerford, Charles A. Gorman, Fred 0. Wilson, Edward Maloney; clerk, J. W. Cooper ;
attorney, Irving L'Hommedieu; treasurer, George A. Newell; collector, Edmund Ful-
ler ; street commissioner, George E. Allen ; assessors, Reuben S, Castle, Michael Walsh,
Roswell W. Post ; police justice. Morgan L. Brainard ; chief of police, Peter Arnold,;
board of health, I. H. Geballe, president; F. E, Colborn, secretary; D. F. Butts, treas-
urer ; health officer. Dr. F. W. Scott.
There was not even an informal fire organization in Medina till after
the incorporation of the village in 1832. The canal and the race af-
forded an abundant supply of water for the extinguishment of fires, but
buckets constituted the only means for utilizing this water. On August
16, 1832, some six months after the village was incorporated, a fire
(]^!>u^ Xi ooiy<^o-iUJ
ORLEANS COUNTY. 353
company was organized with the following members : Rufus Ingersoll,
Simeon Downs, Frederick Comstock, M. S. Harrington, Eleazer
Thomas, John Parsons, Leander Woodruff, Marcena W. Clark, William
Hotchkiss, jr., Richard Martin, Simeon Bathgate, Alexander Clum,
James E. Evans, A. W. Eddy, M. P. Hopkins, Henry Phelps, Sylvanus
Coan, Uri D. Moore, David Dudley and George Willoughby. Of this
company John Parsons was chosen foreman, Simeon Bathgate, assistant
foreman, and James E. Evans, secretary. This company was equipped
with one of the primitive crank engines which was necessary to supply
with water by buckets passed from hand to hand along lines of men.
It was called the Mercury, and were it now in existence it would be an
interesting relic of olden times. In 1835 a larger and better engine,
called the Neptune, was purchased. The next engine procured was
the Cataract, afterward known as the Frary engine. At times for want
of systematic organization, the leadership fell on a few, among whom
were John Parsons, S. G. Purdy and E. M. Card. The foremen of the
original company, after Mr. Parsons, were Andrew Ellicott, M. W. Clark,
George Bathgate and others. For a long time engines were supplied
with water directly from the canal or race, but after some years a water
main with hydrants was placed in Shelby street through the business
part of the village. This main was supplied with water when neces-
sary by pumps driven by the power in Becker's flouring mill, near the
railroad. In 1874 the pumps were changed to the Bignall works, and
the mains were extended on Center street to Orient street on the east
and Catherine street on the west. By the use of these pumps and
mains water could be thrown directly from hydrants on fires in their
immediate vicinity, or supplied to engines at some distance through
hose.
In 1880 the fire department of Medina was incorporated by an act
of the Legislature, and the control of it was vested in a Board of Trus-
tees, for which the act made provision. As at present constituted the
department consists of the following companies:
Alert Hose Company, first organized in 1859, and reorganized in
1875. Officers: President, I. L'Hommedieu ; vice-president, F. T.
Gates; secretary, M. L. Brainard ; treasurer, M. L. Brainard ; fore-
man, C. F. Hurd ; ist assistant, Fred H. Meade.
45
354 LANDMARKS OF
Citizens' Hook and Ladder Company (successor to the Dawson Hook
and Ladder Company, which was organized in 1877 ^"^ disbanded).
Officers: President, George L. Owens; vice-president, J. W. Cooper;
secretary, M. B. Sutter; treasurer, Thomas O'Malley; foreman, J. D.
Brennan ; 1st assistant, Thomas Owens; 2d assistant, John B. Gri-
fith.
Gorman Hose Company. — Officers : President, Michael Kearney ;
vice-president, Myron Chase; secretary, Thomas F. Owens; treas-
urer, Thomas F. Owens; foreman, Owen Boyland ; ist assistant, H.
Nurenberg ; 2d assistant, Fred Ryan.
Protective Hose Company. — Officers: President, John Keebler ;
vice-president, B. L. Servoss ; secretary, Charles Fletcher ; treasurer,
Arthur Cheney; foreman, William Dewey; ist assistant, H. M. See-
ley. This company is the successor of the Protective Company which
had charge of a chemical engine, organized in 1877 and disbanded
when the new water works were established. The Frary Engine
Company, successor of the old Cataract Company, was also disband-
ed when the water works were completed.
The chief engineers of the department have been, as nearly as can be
determined, prior to 1880, Simeon Bathgate, John Parsons, S. G. Pur-
dy, E. M. Card, E. A. Bowen, and probably others. Since 1880 they
have been Myron S. Newell, Thomas Hale, Edward Hanlon, Fred M.
Ives, Fred C. Ryan, Michael Kearney, The present assistant chief is
T. O'Malley ; fire wardens, R. W. Nichol, F. R. Downs, C. N. Hood.
Many years since a small gas plant was constructed by William Bent
near the canal, a short distance south from the foot of Pearl street.
Mains were laid for the supply of gas along Shelby street, but not else-
where at first. Some years later a stock company was formed, the
works were purchased and enlarged, and the mains were extended so as
to supply gas to most of the principal streets of the village. Gas was
supplied from these works during more than fifteen years, in which
time changes occurred in the company and a serious explosion took
place at the works. In 1890 the plant was sold to the Medina Gas
Light Company. The same year works were erected by the Medina
Electric Light Company for the purpose of supplying the village with
electric light. In April, 1891, the two companies were consolidated
ORLEANS COUNTY. 355
under the name of the Medina Gas and Electric Light Company, the
control of which, by a transfer of a majority of the stock, passed into
the hands of New York parties in April, 1894, the new officers being
A. L. Fennessy, president; J. F. Mofifett, vice-president ; C. E. Fen-
nessy, secretary. William R. Curry is local manager. The electric
plant is equipped with one incandescent and two arc light dynamos and
two engines and two boilers of lOO horsepower each. There are about
sixteen miles of wire used in the arc direct system, supplying fifty-eight
lamps, and ten miles in the incandescent alternating system, using some
800 lights. The plant occupies a modern fire-proof building just north
of the railroad, between Shelby and Church streets. The gas plant has
a capacity of about 40,000 cubic feet of gas every twenty-four hours,
though it is not necessary to reach that amount. There are some four
miles of mains and nearly 150 consumers. The electrical plant has
over 100 patrons.
Water Works. — The lack of an ample supply of pure water for domes-
tic and fire extinguishing purposes was felt in Medina many years before
the present works were established. The village had suffered from
several disastrous fires, one on September 19, 1869, causing a loss of
about $100,000; another December 26, 1870, destroying the Presby-
terian church and other property, besides numerous others, and public-
spirited citizens finally determined to inaugurate a better condition of
affairs in this respect. A public meeting was called July 15, 1889, to
consider the subject and decide upon the most feasible plans. On
October 14 of that year a meeting was held at which authority was
voted to the trustees to contract with parties for water works, and on
the 17th of the same month John J. Neagle, of Washington, D. C, and
Frederick Collin, James H. Costello, P. H. Dempsey, Lewis M. Smith,
John B. Stanchfield, and P. J. Neagle, of Elmira, submitted a proposal
to organize a company with a capital of $70,000, and establish water
works for the village, to be supplied from wells or springs in the south-
west part of the village. This application was granted, but the action
was rescinded on November 25. Resolutions were afterwards adopted
to publish in the local newspapers proposals for bids to establish a water
system, bids to be delivered to E. L. Pitts on December 17, the works
to be built according to contract and specifications on file in his office.
356 LANDMARKS OF
Several bids were offered, among them that of Bassett Brothers, of
Buffalo, who proposed to build the works, put in eighty hydrants, and
supply the village for $3,000 annually. Their bid was accepted, and
work was begun by driving wells and experimenting, continuing through
the summer of 1890, without satisfactory results. They then proposed
taking water from Fish Creek and were granted an extension of time to
complete the works. After further abortive experiments, their time was
again extended to the spring of 1891 ; but the unsatisfactory outlook
for the whole enterprise led to its transfer to the Medina Water Works
Company, as it is at present organized, and on February 3, 1892, the
Board of Trustees resolved to contract with this company, cancelling the
former action. The company were to take the water supply from the
Ross farm near Knowlesville, and this source of supply was approved
March 18, 1892. The plant was promptly established, including a large
standpipe on the high ground in the southwest part of the village, the
streets laid with pipe, hydrants set and every facility provided to give
the people a splendid supply of pure water and the authorities an ample
supply under sufficient pressure to extinguish fires at any point in the
village. The officers of the company are : William F. Ross, president ;
Thomas A. Smyth, vice-president ; James L. Bruff, secretary ; Charles
F. Pond, treasurer.
Drainage. — It may be safely said that no village in the State similar
in size to Medina is better drained. This desirable result has been
accomplished quite recently ; indeed, the work is still in progress. The
first Sewer Commission was selected at a meeting held August 16, 1889,
to act under provisions of the general law. This commission was com-
posed of Graham H. Hill, one year; Roswell W. Post, two years;
William U. Lee, three years; Morton A. Bowen, four years; A. L.
Swett, five years. The commission employed Olin C. Gillette to map
the village, showing the lines of the old sewers and all the proposed
new ones. This map was approved December 14, 1889, and sent to the
State Board of Health, by which it was approved April 9, 1890. After
the adoption of resolutions locating sewers on all the principal streets
of the village, work was begun on their construction, and is not yet
wholly finished. The drainage is into Oak Orchard Creek and under
such conditions as to make it a perfect system. The Board of Sewer
ORLEANS COUNTY. 357
Commissioners in 1894 is as follows : M. A. Bovven, president ; Thomas
Cleary, C. S. Hoag, Roswell W. Post, Darwin Fuller ; Edward Posson,
clerk.
Public Houses. — One of the earliest taverns in Medina was the Me-
dina House, which was built by Otis Turner, who kept it many years.
It stood about on the site of the present Union Bank. Another promi-
nent early hostelry was the Eagle Hotel, built in 1838, on the corner
of Canal and Main streets, south of the present White's Hotel. It was
burned in the winter of 1841-42. At a very early date, probably in
1828, a wooden hotel was built where Ives' produce warehouse now
stands. It was begun by the father of Grant Decker, and was kept by
various persons before it was finally burned.
The building that is now White's Hotel was originally without the
tower and was occupied by three stores. H. N. Bancroft erected the
tower and changed it into a hotel, naming it the Bancroft House. H.
N. Hopkins kept the house some years and in 1886 it was purchased
by A. H. White, the present proprietor.
The present Hart House was built by Jacob Gorton, who kept it sev-
eral years, and upon his failure the property passed to E. Kirk Hart.
H. N. Hopkins became its manager and continued to February, 1892,
when W. Babcock & Son took it. Under their management it has been
refitted and is kept as a first-class hotel. There are several other pub-
lic houses in the village besides these.
The Medina Driving Park Association was organized in 1871. The
first officers were M. Harmon, president; N. T. Healy, secretary; S.
Tucker, treasurer. Grounds were laid out about one mile west of the
village, and for some years the association flourished, but it finally dis-
banded. The property is now owned by James McCargo.
Banks in Medina. — John M. Kennan, who had been a banker in
Lockport, came to Medina in 1854 and organized the Medina Bank,
which was chartered under the laws of the State of New York. This
was conducted, with varying success, till 1 861, when it failed. Soon
after the establishment of the national banking system the First Na-
tional Bank of Medina was organized, but after an existence of a few
years it also failed, and its depositors lost heavily. Prior to the failure
of the Medina Bank Mr. Kennan had withdrawn from it, and before the
358 LANDMARKS OF
incorporation of the National Bank he organized the Union Bank of
Medina, with an authorized capital of $100,000. William W.Potter
was the first president of this bank. He died in 1871 and was suc-
ceeded by John M. Kennan who, some five years later was succeeded
by William H. Watson. After the death of Mr. Watson, in 1888, Hon.
E. L. Pitts became the president. The career of the bank to the pres-
ent time has been successful. The present officers of the bank are:
George A. Newell, president; Homer Luther, cashier; Harry F. Wel-
ton, assistant cashier. The capital is now $50,000 and the surplus the
same amount. It is a State bank.
In 1880 Earl W. Card & Co established a private bank in Medina.
Its business was conducted in the second story of a building on the
east side of Shelby street till the summer of 1890, when the firm re-
mo.ved to their present quarters in the first story of the McKnight
block. This institution is, in the present year (1894), being changed to
a national bank, under the name of the Medina National Bank, with
the following officers : E. W. Card, president ; Watson F. Barry, first
vice-president ; J. W. Card, second vice-president ; B. D. Timmerman,
cashier. The capital is $50,000.
Mercantile. — From its first inception Medina has contained mercantile
establishments conducted by men of enterprise and progress. One of
the first of these, if not the first merchant in the place, was Sylvanus
Coann, who accumulated wealth in his business. Agur Clark and
Botsford Fairman were long associated in successful trade, and Richard
Yarrington also. On the corner now occupied by Landauer & Co.,
where has always been located a leading store, Asel Woodruff carried
on business in 1829. William Baker was a merchant there a longtime,
as was also A W. Newell, father of George A. Newell ; he began busi-
ness where the Eagle Hotel burned. Heath, Gillette & Bennett suc-
ceeded at that location, and were followed by Landauer & Marshall, and
that firm by Mr. Landauer. Fairman & Wiswell were early merchants
in hardware ; and Wiswell & Hulburd were traders in that line early ;
James Otto, also, who came here from Batavia, and was located where
the Boston store is now. At the present time the village of Medina
has among her business men a number of firms and individuals whose
establishments are conducted upon modern lines and whose success is
commensurate with their efTorts.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 359
Water power, mills, and manufactories. — At the time of the construc-
tion of the canal the State authorized the building of a dam across Oak
Orchard Creek and a race from it to the canal for a feeder. It was
afterward found that the elevation of this was not sufficient, the banks
of the canal having been raised, and it was abandoned. Some relics
of this dam are still to be seen. In 1825 David E. Evans entered into
a contract with the State for the construction of a dam farther up the
creek. This was built and it is still standing. A race conveys the
water from this pond to the canal ; and it is utilized for driving the
machinery of many mills and manufactories.
At about the same time the State built a dam across Tonawanda
Creek, below Indian Falls in Genesee county, and excavated a race
from this dam to Oak Orchard Creek, about four miles distant. This
was for the purpose of diverting so much of the water from Tonawanda
Creek as should be necessary to furnish a sufficient supply for the canal
at all times. It was found that this dam was some three feet higher
than was necessary, and that consequently a large area was, in times of
high water, overflowed. It was therefore contemplated to destroy this
dam altogether. It was found, however, that at the time this dam was
constructed the State had entered into a contract with the Holland
Land Company, by the terms of which the latter conveyed to the
former a large tract of land in consideration of the improvement which
the turning of this water into Oak Orchard Creek would make in the
water power of that creek as it passed through Orleans county. A
legal controversy followed, and the State abandoned the project of re-
moving this dam. It was, however, made three feet lower to prevent
the overflow of lands which had been complained of, and thus it has
continued till the present time.
The first mill for which the water from the race which Evans ex-
cavated was utilized was a stone flouring mill built by Mr. Evans. The
foundations were laid in 1825, and it was completed in 1826. John
Ryan was the master mason, Simeon Bathgate the millwright, and
Captain Samuel F. Gear the carpenter. From this mill a raceway
was excavated to the canal. This raceway had a sufficient breadth and
depth to float boats to the mill, which had an elevator for taking grain
from the boats. This mill became the property of William R. Gwinn,
360 LANDMARKS OF
and was operated by him many years. It was finally purchased by T.
W. Swan, A. M. Ives, and Elisha S. Whalen, and soon afterward, in
1859, was burned.
Just south from the site of this mill, and close to the railroad, on the
east side of Shelby street, an oil mill was built in 1862, and was con-
ducted for some years by Richard Becker, who converted it into a grist-
mill, and it was burned in 1873.
The stone mill near Race alley, north from East Center street, was
built by Mr. Gwinn in 1830. The contractor was John Ryan. It was
afterwards owned by Levan Merritt, Simeon Bathgate, Robert Hill,
Wilcox & Alcorn, John Alcorn alone, and by him was sold to B. A.
Gilbert about 1863. He operated it until 1887, when he sold'to O. K.
Johnson, who now operates it.
A wool carding and cloth-dressing mill was built at an early date on
the east side of Orient street, just north from the railroad, and it was
afterward, during some years, conducted by Daniel Starr. With the
decline of domestic manufactures in the country, this establishment
went out of use ; was changed to a custom flouring mill, and was
operated by Mr. Starr. It was purchased by A. A. Lowber, who ad-
ded to it a kiln for drying corn. Mr. Lowber sold it to A. S. De Lane,
who enlarged it and converted it into a merchant and custom flouring
mill. It was burned some years since. William A. Wetmore built a
pail factory on the site of it, and this was also burned. The site is now
occupied by one of the departments of Maher Brothers' lounge factory.
In an early day a saw mill was built on the south bank of the canal
near the aqueduct. It was for many years supplied with logs from the
canal, as well as from the surrounding country. It was owned and
used by William Hedley. It was burned about 1877, and in place of
it was erected a stone planing mill. Adjoining this Mr. Hedley built a
custom flour mill. This was burned in 1884, but was repaired and used
as a machine shop.
About 1826 Justus IngersoU built a large brick tannery on the
south side of East Center street, just west from Oak Orchard Creek. It
was afterward converted into a flouring mill by T. S. Wilcox & Co.,
and was burned in 1858. In 1880 William A. Wetmore built a custom
flouring mill on the same site. This was burned in 1883, and in the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 361
same year C. S, Hoag built another on the same site and conducted it,
both as a stone and a roller mill.
The Medina Falls Mill was built in 1840 by Botsford Fairman and
T. R. Austin, They conducted it till 1846, when it became the prop-
erty of Mr. Fairman, alone. In 1848 John R. Weld came to Medina,
and in 1 85 3, in company with Asa P. Stanford, purchased the mill. L.
A. G. B. Granr became a partner in 1854, R. L. Hill in 1867, and the
style of the firm was changed to Weld & Hill in 1868. Mr. Hill died
in 1 87 1, leaving his interest in the business to his sons, A. J. and G. H.
Hill. In the summer of 1872 the mill was burned, and in the winter of
1872-73 was rebuilt with seven runs of stones. G. H. Hill withdrew
from the firm some years since, but the firm name continued the same.
In 1882 the roller process was adopted. The firm received the award
for farina at the centennial exhibition in 1 876. From fifty to seventy
thousand barrels of flour have been annually manufactured at this mill,
the firm making their own barrels.
Nixon's brewery and distillery was built in 1826 by Joseph Nixon,
It stood east of Orient street and near the foot of Starr street. It was
a substantial stone building, and the brewery and distillery were in
different parts of it. It was twice burned and rebuilt. Distilling was
finally abandoned and the distillery part was converted into a wood
turning shop. In connection with this was at one time a large wooden
building, in the lower part of which Mr. Nixon kept a store, and the
upper stories were used for storage. Just south from this brewery,
fronting on Orient street, Mr. Nixon built a long stone structure di-
vided into eight tenements, each with a basement opening to the east.
This was for the residence of his employees and others. It was known
as " The Nunnery," though many of the dwellers there were anything
but religious recluses. But little of this quaint old structure remains,
Remde's brewery was built in 1868 by Frederick Remde on the cor-
ner of Orient and Oak Orchard streets. He operated this brewery till
1 672, when he was succeeded by his cousin, William Remde, the pres-
ent proprietor. In place of the original wooden structure Mr. Remde
has erected a substantial brick building, and his machinery is driven by
a steam engine. He manufactures some sixteen hundred barrels of
beer annually.
3G2 LANDMARKS OF
Bathgate's Foundry. — At a very early date Simeon Bathgate built
and operated a foundry on what was then known as Center alley (now
Race alley). It was conducted by Mr. Bathgate and his sons many
years. Shaw & Oliver succeeded the Bathgates in 1855 ; William Ben-
nett succeeded them in 1859, and John W. Mount became proprietor
in 1861. After the death of Mr. Mount, in 1873, Oscar K. Johnson
conducted the works till 1886. The establishment was burned, and
rebuilt by the Mount estate in 1886. In 1887 the property was pur-
chased by Hanlon Brothers. It is not now operated.
The Bignall Manufacturing Company was begun in 1850, when Ben-
jamin M. and George T. Anthony established a foundry east of the
junction of Orient and Starr streets. Their business at first was mainly
the manufacture of stoves and agricultural implements. In 1861 the
Messrs. Anthony sold their foundry to M. C. & L. C. Bignall, who
changed it to a manufactory of iron pumps, sinks, barn door hangings
and wagon trimmings. Their machinery was propelled by water from
the canal feeder. In 1865 Lewis J, Ives became a partner in the com-
pany, which was known as Bignall & Co. In 1869 a joint stock com-
pany was organized under the name of Bignall Manufacturing Com-
pany. This company at once commenced the erection of a factory a
short distance below Medina Falls, and that has been their place of
business since 1871. At the organization of the company W. H. Wat-
son was chosen president and L. J. Ives secretary and treasurer.
John M. Kennan succeeded Mr. Watson as president, and soon after-
ward Mr. Watson was again chosen. W. J. Chatham became president,
treasurer and general manager in 1876, and Mr. Watson again became
president in 1876. He was succeeded by F. A. Burke in 1881, and he
by James Jackson, jr., in 1890. The present officers of the company
are: E. L. Pitts, president; L. C. Bignall, vice-president; W. B. Rob-
bins, secretary and treasurer. The company now manufactures princi-
pally pumps, sinks, soil pipes and fittings, and wagon skeins and boxes.
Seventy hands are employed, and the goods manufactured are sold in
all parts of the country.
Staves and Heading. — In 1859 Charles M. Simmonds established in
Medina the first manufactory of staves and heading in the the county.
His first manufactory was on Church street in a building that had been
C^^^/:' ^. ^^Wt^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 363
a saw mill. In that he placed machinery for sawing and turning head-
ing. He made several changes in the location of his manufactory, and
finally, in 1867, purchased land and established his manufactory on
Church street just north from the railroad. There he introduced ma-
chinery for cutting staves and soon afterward established his present
heading factory on East Center street.
Ide's planing mill was established by Warren Ide on the site of the
old Gwinn mill at the race near the railroad. He continued business
there till his mill was burned in 1873. He then erected a stone build-
ing just south from the railroad, on Shelby street, where he still con-
tinues business. In the spring of 1890 he established a foundry in the
rear of his mill, and there plumber's ware is manufactured.
Medina Manufacturing Company. — In 1873 Albert L. Swett and
William H. Samson, who had been employees of the Bignall Manufac-
turing Company, established in the old works of that company, east of
Court street and north of the railroad, a manufactory of light hard-
ware. They started with a capital of $2,500 and employed one hand
besides themselves. Their business increased steadily and in 1879 they
found it necessary to build a factory with greater capacity, and they
purchased the next water privilege north from the present Bignall man-
ufactory. They at once erected their works there and commenced op-
erations in the spring of 1880. In January, 1890, Mr. Swett pur-
chased the interest of his partner, and he conducts the business under
the style of the A. L. Swett Iron Works. From the modest beginning
in 1873 the business has increased till now more than 100 hands are
employed. Some of the specialties made are steel door hangers, door
rails, chain pumps, tire benders, tuyere irons, bolster plates, etc.
The Ives Paper Pail Company. — In 1875 the Ives and Hubbard Pail
Company was organized with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars.
A. M. Ives, L. J. Ives, F. M. Ives and E. Hubbard were the owners of
this stock. A manufactory was erected on the east side of Shelby
street, a short distance north from Pearl street, and operations were
commenced in the same year. The power for running the machinery
was transmitted by cable from the Bignall works. Straw pulp was at
first used, but in 1887 wood fiber was added. The daily capacity of
the factory is eighty dozen pails, and about forty hands are required
364 LANDMARKS OP
to operate it. A. M. Ives was the president of this company. In 1877
it was changed to a private firm, known as the Ives Paper Pail Com-
pany. In 1889 A. M. Ives died, and afterward L J. and F. M. Ives
purchased the interest of Mr. Hubbard. Since then it has been operated
by a company, but at present is not in operation.
Johnson-Nichols Paper Pail Factory. — In 1880 Herbert A. Johnson
and John S. Higley commenced the manufacture of paper pails in an
old plaster mill on the north side of East Center street, near Oak
Orchard Creek. A year later the manufactory was removed to the op-
posite side of the street, in a part of the flouring mill. In 1882 R. W.
Nichols purchased the interest of Mr. Higley, the firm becoming John-
son & Nichol. On November i, 1891, the Johnson Pail Company was
organized, which continued to April i, 1892, and was succeeded by
Cottrell & Culbane. November i, 1892, S. R. D. Cottrell bought out
his partner. May i, 1893, he removed the works to what was the
Simmonds heading factory. About twenty hands are employed, and
the capacity of the factory has been greatly extended. Straw pulp,
rag stock and wood fibre are used in the manufacture of pails for all
purposes.
Bowen & Beach manufactory of plumbers' ware was established in
1880 by Erwin A. Bowen, La Fayette Robinson and George A. Beach,
on the north side of East Center street, and on the west bank of Oak
Orchard Creek. Mr. Robinson withdrew from the firm in 1885. Mr.
Bowen died in January, 1889, but his estate maintains its interest in
the business. The products of this factory are plumber's iron goods ;
forty hands are employed.
Maher Brothers' Manufactory of Upholstered Furniture. — In 1882
John, Francis, Joseph and Robert Maher removed from Middleport to
Medina and opened a furniture store on Main street. In 1886 they
commenced the manufacture of lounges in the same building where
their store was kept. This business so increased as to necessitate
greater facilities, and in 1887 they commenced business on Orient street,
just south from the railroad. A building one hundred by forty feet,
two stories in height, was erected, and this is used for the upholstering
department. The old Bignall factory was used as a manufactory of
woodwork. In 1888 a building was erected just north of the rail-
c>^
'G^^yVCA-^
^Ah^'t^^L^ M^o^j(L-^
J /kjaAfyr-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 365
road on the east side of Orient street, and in this machinery was placed
for manufacturing, the old Bignall mill being used for storage and pack-
ing. In 1889 the Messrs. Maher erected still another building in the
rear of the one first built. It is 100 by 40 feet, three stories in height,
and it is used for manufacturing parlor furniture. On an average 100
hands are employed in this establishment, which is only exceeded in
the amount of work produced by one similar manufactory in the State
of New York. The work is sold in about twenty States of the Union.
The works of this firm were all burned in the spring of 1894, but are be-
ing rebuilt on a still larger plan It is one of the most prosperous and
important industries in Western New York.
Empire Manufacturing Company. — In 1882 Edward Maloney, Thomas
Maloney, Lewis Wood and Frederick Wilson formed a copartnership
for the manufacture of plumbers' supplies. They first established their
works at the old Bignall factory, at the foot of Starr street. Within the
first year Messrs. Wood and Wilson retired, and the firm has ever since
been E. & T. Maloney. In the spring of 1887 they removed to their
present works, on the east side of Shelby street, north from the railroad,
where a prosperous business is carried on
In 1888 L. F. Zimmerman built an evaporator on the north side of
the railroad, a short distance east from Oak Orchard Creek. The ma-
chinery in this evaporator is driven by an engine of four horse-power,
and steam is passed through about 9,000 feet of gas pipe to furnish heat
for evaporating. The daily capacity of the evaporator is 500 bushels of
apples, and twenty hands are employed in the busy season.
Bidwell Bean Thresher. — In 1885 Charles H. Bidwell commenced the
manufacture of bean threshers in Albion. In 1889 he established a
manufactory in Medina, on the north side of East Center street, near
Oak Orchard Creek, where J. L. Spencer had manufactured separators.
The industry has been successful from the start and sales of the machine
have greatly increased. Various other agricultural implements are also
manufactured.
The Swett & Card Manufacturing Company was started in the
autumn of 1889, with a capital of five thousand dollars. The business
is the manufacture of condensed mince meat. They commenced in the
Hanlon Brothers' foundry building, between the canal and Shelby street
366 LANDMARKS OF
on Race alley, but in the fall of 1890 they removed to a building which
joins the Medina Manufacturing Company's works on the north. Owing
to sharp competition and other causes this industry was abandoned.
Carriages. — On the 4th of March, 1849, Edward Davey began making
wagons about on the site of the Medina House, East Center street.
From the beginning has grown one of the important industries of the
village. A handsome three story brick block, sixty by ninety feet, is
occupied as a repository, offices, finishing rooms, etc., and several other
large buildings are in use for other parts of the business. The work
turned out is generally of a light grade and is sold largely to livery men
and actual consumers. A large share of the present responsibility of
the business rests upon the shoulders of Mr. Davey's son, Edward H.
Davey.
Produce buyers. — The Ives Produce Company was organized in
1892 for the purchase of all kinds of produce. The company consisted
of Fred M. and Lewis J. Ives, sons of the late A. M. Ives, who was
identified with the leading business interests of Medina nearly a half a
century. Among these were the foundry business, begun in 1875 by
Ives & Son ; the succeeding firm of Ives & Hubbard, which manufac-
tured pails, and the buying of produce of all kinds. In the latter busi-
ness Mr. Ives was a member of the firm of Swan, Ives & Whalen ; later
Ives & Whalen, and still later Ives & Sons. The foundry business
mentioned was closed out about 1875.
Samuel C. Bowen, who had previously kept a store in Lyndonville,
came to Medina, where he carried on business a few years, and in 1857
began produce buying, and in 1S90 erected his handsome and com-
modious structure at a cost of $16,000. Mr. Bowen is a son of Dr.
Elisha Bowen, one of the prominent early physicians of the county, and
a native of the town of Yates.
Cemeteries. — The first place of burial in Medina was near the
southeast corner of Center and West streets, nearly opposite the Bap-
tist church. This was never set apart or dedicated as a place of inter-
ment, but was used informally by the early inhabitants. In 1830 David
E. Evans, by his agent, W. R. Gvvinn, donated an acre of ground on
the east side of Gwinn street, south from the railroad, for burial pur-
poses. The first interment here was of Mrs. Edmund Fuller, mother
""^/Pf^W^^z^^^ ^2y<^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 367
of Edmund Fuller, jr., now of Medina. The forest was then unbroken
there, and the lady was carried over a footpath that passed near the
place. The ground has been used only as a burial place since that
time, though but few bodies have been buried there for many years.
Many memorial stones stand there, some of them mossy with age, and
bearing the names of those who sought their homes here when the
wilderness was almost unbroken. The area is partly surrounded by a
stone wall. The surface is thickly carpeted with laurel, and a dense
growth of young trees shades it. An appropriation of $500 has
recently been made to pay for removal of remains from the grounds.
A short distance north from Medina, on the east side of the road
leading to Ridgeway, is Boxwood Cemetery. The land was purchased
in 1848, while yet a forest, for cemetery purposes by Messrs. S. M.
Burroughs, George Northrup, Caleb Hill, and others. It was sold to
the village for $600, and was laid out and opened for burials in 1850.
The first person buried in it was David Card, in 1849. It is the prin-
cipal burial place for the village and vicinity, and many bodies have
been removed to it from other cemeteries. The revised village charter
of 1874 named a board of commissioners for the government of the
cemetery, and provided for the appointment of their successors by the
Board of Trustees. The commissioners named were Elisha S. Whalen,
Edward Davey, George A. Newell, Albert L. Swett, and Joseph C.
Davis. The presidents of this commission have been : Elisha S.
Whalen, Albert L. Swett, and George A. Newell.
The cemetery commissioners for 1894 are as follows : A. L. Swett,
president; E. H. Hill, treasurer; G. A. Newell, secretary; J. R. Weld,
G. H. Shattuck.
St. John's Episcopal church was incorporated November 12, 1827,
under the name of St. Luke's Episcopal church, but the name was
afterward changed to St. John's. The first Episcopal service by a
bishop in Orleans county was held in this church by Bishop Hobart
September 7, 1828, and the first confirmation in the county was of
seventeen persons by Bishop Onderdonk August 19, 1831. The first
officers of the church were : Justus IngersoU and Richard Van Dyke,
wardens ; Christopher Whaley, Elijah Beach, John B. Ellicott, Joseph
Nixon, Henry Yerrington, Benjamin W. Van Dyke, Jonas S. Billings,
368 LANDMARKS OF
and Hezekiah Warner, vestrymen. During the first five years of its
existence the church had several places of worship. One of these was
in a house opposite the present site of the church, another in an un-
finished room of a dwelling on Church street, and another in an upper
room of a house on Shelby street, near the Presbyterian church. In
1828, when the number of communicants was only fifteen, steps were
taken for the erection of a house of worship, and a site was donated by
David E. Evans. In 1832 more active measures were adopted, and in
the autumn of 1833 the present stone church had been enclosed and
the basement was fitted up for service. The contractor who built this
church was Joseph Nixon. The building was completed in 1836, and
on the 13th of September, in that year. Bishop Onderdonk baptized
five persons, confirmed eleven and consecrated the church. A costly
communion service had been presented to the church by Mrs. David E.
Evans in 1828. The period of greatest depression in this church was
from 1848 to 1 85 1, when the parish was embarrassed by a heavy debt
and the church was closed. The rectors of this church have been :
Revs. Richard Salmon, B. Northrup, J. M. Rogers, James O. Stokes,
William Allenson, Stephen Douglass, Philemon E, Coe, R. D. Stearns,
Warren W. Walsh, Edward Dolloway, John J. Andrew, and George W.
West. At the present time the church is without a rector. Of these
Rev. Mr. Stearns was rector during seventeen and one half years. At
the close of his rectorship the number of communicants was ninety-
three. In the latter part of Mr. Stearns' rectorship a memorial font of
Caen stone was donated by Mrs. J. R. Weld, and a bishop's chair by
George H. Shattuck. Memorial windows were also placed in the
church: One by Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Weld, in memory of their daugh-
ter; one by the ladies of the church, in memory of Rt. Rev. W. H.
De Lancey, D. D.; one by Mrs. Edwin L. Blake, in memory of her
husband. Major Blake, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion ; one in
memory of Mrs. Elizabeth B. Stokes, by her children ; one in memory
of Andrew B. Cook, by his widow, Mrs Sarah Cook ; one in memory of
William R. Stearns, infant son of the rector, Rev. Mr. Stearns; one in
memory of Dr. Christopher Whaley, by his widow ; and one in memory
of Dr. C. Whaley and Sophronia, his wife, by their children. In 1869
a bell weighing 2,100 pounds and costing $900 was placed in the tower.
ORLEANS COUNTY. ?,G3
In 1890 Mrs. J. R. Weld donated a new and elegant altar, and in the
same year a new organ was purchased at a cost of $1,800. For some
years the church has had a surpliced choir. The present number of
communicants is 120.,
The First Baptist Church of Medina was organized in 1829 There
had been, for some years, a Baptist church in Ridgeway, about two
two miles east of Ridgdway Corners, but this had become too weak to
support a pastor. There were then a few Baptists in Medina, and after
consulting together it was resolved to call a meeting of the church at
Ridgeway and of other Baptists in the vicinity. The meeting was held
at the house of Cook Hotchkiss, and it was resolved that the meetings
of the church at Ridgeway should be held in Medina, and that it should
thereafter be known as the First Baptist Church of Medina. The con-
stituent members were Charles Warner, John Knapp, Rufus Reed,
Lorin Hotchkiss, Lewis Warner, Faren Wilson, Mamri Knapp, Hannah
Knapp, Polly Reed, Louisa Reed, Hannah Gamble, Sally Farnham,
Sally Bullard, E, Pees and wife, Bennett Baker and wife, and R. Nick-
erson and wife. The first deacons were Charles Warner and Cook
Hotchkiss. Social worship was held in the houses of members, and
public worship in a building that had been erected for a barn near the
southwest corner of Center and Shelby streets. This served them till
their first church building was completed, which was in 1832. The
present elegant church edifice was erected between 1870 and 1873, at a
total cost, including site and furniture, of more than forty-five thousand
dollars. Members have been dismissed from this church to form three
others : One at Knowlesville, in 1831 ; and two in Michigan, in 1835.
Several members have become clergymen. The pastors and supplies
of this church have been Revs. E. Savage, E. Weaver, J. Chadwick,
S. Wilkins, Rev. Mr. Otis, Rev. Mr. Irons, R. K. Bellamy, C. T. John-
son, S. Gilbert. C. B. Smith, P. C. Dayfoot, Rev. Mr. Murphy, Daniel
Reed, P. B. Haughwout, D. Van Alstyne, E. W. Lounsbury, C. E.
Becker, Wm. F. Taylor, Seth F. Farnham, F. G. McKeever, and Frank
T. Latham. The membership is 400. A new bell and interior re-
pairs have recently been added at a cost of $1,200.
The First Presbyterian Church of Medina was organized March 19,
1829, with Theophilus Cook and wife, Thomas Fenn and wife, Colton
47
370 LANDMARKS OF
Denio and wife, Ephraim Scovell and wife, Orin ScoveU, Vina Scovell,
John Burden, Titus Coann, Mrs. E. A. Bathgate, Miss Adeline Warner,
Miss Sally Hotchkiss, Miss Anna Jewell, and Miss Huldah M. Moore
constituent members. It became a part of the Niagara Presbytery in
1830. The first church edifice was built in 1832. It was a frame
building, and stood on the north side of Cross street, near the corner of
West, and it was the first building erected for public worship in Medina.
After the erection of its successor it was occupied as a school house for
several years, and was finally sold to the Roman Catholics who removed
it to their church lot, enlarged it, used it as a place of worship, and
finally converted it into a school. We quote from a former historical
sketch of this church :
The story of the erection of this church is an interesting one. It is related that
Deacon Theophilus Cook commenced alone and unaided getting out the timber for this
house, and that seeing his zeal showing itself in both faith and works Mr. Ephraim
Scovell joined him in his labors. Others followed with aid and contributions till a
building about thirty by forty-five feet was erected in which the Presbyterians wor-
shiped until 1836, when it gave place to a stone edifice which was dedicated February
17th of that year. The first bell in the village was raised in the steeple of this church
in the year last mentioned. For several years it was the only one between Lockport
and Albion, and it was rung several times each day to regulate the hours of labor and
rest. The stone church was destroyed by fire December 26. 1871, and the pre.'^ent
church building was erected the same year ; the congregation meeting for the first time
in the audience room March 13, 1872.
The pastors of this church have been : Revs. George Coan, Maltby
Gaston, H. A. Read, Milton Buttolph, Rev. Mr. Danforth, C. E. Furman,
Edgar Clark, L. I. Root, C. R. Wilkins, Alfred A. Graley, George P.
Merrill, Henry T. Miller, William K. Tully, George Harkness, J. D.
Countermain. E. P. Gardner, Charles H. Lester. The society is without
a regular pastor at the present time.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Medina was organized on Septem-
ber 27, 1830. An informal organization had existed several years, but
on that day a legal legal organization was eftected, and Halstead H.
Parker, Ephraim Masten, Cyrus Rumsey, Elijah Bent, and Seth Morris
and H. Morris were chosen trustees. A stone church building was erected
in 1833, by Messrs. Ryan and Schuyler, contracting masons The build-
ing covered an area of forty-five by sixty feet. Of the eighty- one sub-
scribers for funds to buiki this church the following gave $50 or more,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 371
and the first two subscribed three hundred dollars each : James Jack-
son, Elijah Bent, H. H. Parker, Cyrus Rumsey, Jonah Hoyt, Daniel
Tiinmerman, Ephraim Masten, Thomas Payne, George Codd, James
Hamilton, Mercy Day, Joseph Zimmerman, David Zimmerman, Cor-
nelius Ashton, John Ryan, J. V. Schuyler, John Zimmerman, David E.
Evans, Phebe Drew, Philo Gregory, and S. Gregory. In 1850, this
church was taken down and the stones of which the walls were composed
were used for the basement of a wooden structure which was built in its
place. It was fifty by eighty feet and its cost was $7,000. In 1868
the same sum was expended in reconstructing it. It was burned in
1874. It stood on the west side of Shelby street, in the heart of the
business part of the village. The lot was sold, another on West Center
street was purchased, and the present brick edifice, sixty-five by one
hundred and twelve feet and two stories in height was erected, at a cost
of $32,000. It was dedicated December 8, 1876. In 1888 it was re-
paired, renovated and refurnished, at an expense of $3,000. In 1894 a
new bell was presented by Mrs. William Underhill. The pastors of this
church have been : Revs. Thomas Harker, Rev. Mr. Durham, A. N.
Fillmore, John Gulie, J. B. Lancton, D. F, Parsons, Jonathan Benson,
H. R. Smith, S. C. Church, E. E. Chambers, A. P. Ripley, P. E. Brown
John Bowman, J. McEwen, J. G. Miller, G. De Lamatyr, A. Steele, E.
M. Buck, J. B. Wentworth, K. D. Nettleton, P. R. Stover, S. McGerald,
James E. Bills, G. W. Paddock, J. E. Williams, G. E. Jones, G. W.
Peck, G. H. Dryer, C. E. Winchester, L. E. Rockwell. The member-
ship is 300.
St. Mary's Church, Medina, N. Y. — About sixty-three years ago
Rev. P'r. McNamara, on his way to Lockport, stopped here and
celebrated mass for the first time at the home of William Wel.sh, father
of Mrs. James Kearney, now the residence of Mrs. Colonel Bowen,
Main street. He baptized the first Catholic child, Margaret Welsh, sis-
ter of Mrs. James Kearney. Rev. Bernard O'Reilly visited here and
said mass at the residence of William Welsh on Center street, now the
home of Dr. Everett Baker, and also officiated at the first Catholic
marriage. The parties were Miss Anna Kelly and James Kearney.
Father O'Reilly afterward became bishop of Hartford, Conn. On a
voyage to Europe he was lost at sea.
372 LANDMARKS OF
Over fifty years ago Rev. Fr. Mannion celebrated mass at the home
of James CuUen on Laurel Hill. In 1848 and 1849 Fr. McMuUen, of
Lockport, occasionally attended to the spiritual wants of the people.
He was succeeded by Rev. John Boyle, of Youngstown, N, Y. Rev.
Edward Dillon came from Batavia about 1847, ^"<^ services were held
every two months for two years. Fr. Fitzgerald was here a short time.
In 1837 there were about ten or twelve Catholic families We will
mention those of James Cullen, Cornelius A. Hern, William Welsh,
Dennis Bradley and James Kearney. Hon Silas M. Burroughs do-
nated a lot on Orient street to the Catholics, which was afterward sold,
and a committee composed of the following gentlemen, viz. : Dennis
Bradley, James Cullen, John Rodgers, Michael Roche, John Clark and
William Welsh, bought a small Presbyterian Church located on Pearl
street, between Main and West streets, and it was moved on to a lot
bought by Fr. Dilon on West street, or where E. S. Sutphen's house
now stands. Services were held in it about two years, when it was
again moved to the church property bought of James Skinner, on
Eagle street. About the year 1849 Rt. Rev. John Timon visited this
parish for the first time and celebrated mass, assisted by Fr Boyle, in
the church located where Herbert Johnson's residence now is. At a
later period the bishop confirmed a class of children in the Beecher
house, corner of Park avenue and West street. Rev. Richard Har-
mon, a strong temperance advocate, came in 1850. He was the first
resident priest. He died of fever at the Vandemark Hotel, on the cor-
ner where now stands the Union Bank. Rev. Martin O'Connor, a very
charitable and zealous clergyman, came in April, 1851, and remained
until January, 1855. During his pastorate the present stone edifice
was commenced. He was assisted by Rev. William Hughes for a few
months in 1856, and in 1857 by Rev. George McMahan, and also by
Rev. Fr. Clark, formerly of Wellsville. Fr. O'Connor was given charge
of St. Bridget's parish, Buffalo, for several years, and while on a visit
to the Seminary of Angels, Suspension Bridge, he died suddenl3^ In
the summer of 1854 the corner stone of the church was laid by Bishop
Timon, and it was finished and dedicated in November of the same
year. In the sancctuary beside Bishop Timon, were Rev. Martin
O'Connor, Rev. Edward O'Connor, and Mr. Thomas Hynes, now pas-
ORLEANS COUNTS. 373
tor of St. Raphael's Church, Suspension Bridge. The choir for the
occasion came from Bufilalo. The first child baptized in the church was
Adelia Shanley, by Rev. Edward O'Connor. The stone used in build-
ing the church was taken from the Kearney quarry and Matthew Welsh
was principal mason. Rev. Fr. O'Connor purchased six acres of land
at $50 per acre, on the gravel road, from Austin O'Malley, for a cem-
etery. About $100 was paid for right of way in the burying ground,
and Dennis Bradley donated $37.50 to pay a mortgage on the same.
It has been enlarged and beautified by the present pastor. Fr. O'Con-
nor attended to the spiritual wants of the people at Middleport, Gas-
port, Somerset, Holley and Albion, and built the church at the latter
place. He organized the first Catholic school and the first teacher was
Mr. Quinn. Thomas Hynes, John Ryan, and from 1855 to 1857 Miss
Kate Maloney also taught. In 1855 a melodeon was bought. Professor
Werner, of Buffalo, was first organist. His brother Anthony was or-
ganist of the cathedral at Boston and also compiled a music book called
the Memorare. In 1857 he was succeeded by Miss Maria Cooper un-
til 1864, when Miss Helen Pike, now Mrs. Seneca Baker, took charge
of the choir. Miss Margaret Mehan, from Seneca Falls, played the
organ a short time. January, 1855, to June, 1859, Rev. Nicholas
Byrnes, the dignified and warm hearted pastor, took charge. He was
followed by Rev. Thomas McGuire, who remained about six months.
Rev. Thomas Brady was pastor from 1859 to i860. He went to
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and afterward became chaplain in the
army. His nephew, John Brady, was a physician here. In the win-
ter of 1858 Sisters Angela McKay and Bridget, of the Bridgetine
order, and a young lady, Miss Magin, came to teach school under the
supervision of Fr. Byrne. The gentlemen who acted as trustees at
different periods from 1851 to 1S60 were Thomas Owens, Dennis Brad-
ley, Peter Shanley, John Rodgers and James O'Brien.
In i860 Rev. John O'Mara came here and left for Lockport in 1867.
He remained there about two years and then took charge of the Im-
maculate Conception Church, Buffalo. From there he went to Owego,
where he died in 1884. Fr. O'Mara was very generous. The poor
and helpless found a friend in him, and the words of scripture, " And
if a man take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him," were car-
374 LANDMARKS OF
ried out to the letter by him. The first trustees were appointed by
Bishop Timon, and they were: Dennis Bradley, Patrick Horan and
John Rodgers. They served three years and were re-elected by the
people for another year. In 1863 the transept of the church was built
by Fr. O'Mara, and Patrick O'Grady was the architect. Among the
workmen were Martin Hickey, James Casey, Cornelius Hoy, Michael
Kearney and Joseph Doyle, of Albion. The altar was consecrated by
Bishop Timon the first Sunday in Advent, 1864.
About the year 1866 a pipe organ was purchased at a cost of $750.
The organists at this time and to 1873 were Misses Anna Summers and
Kate Hays, of Lockport, and Mr. Walters, a fine musician, of Buffalo.
The teachers were Mrs. Smith and Miss Anastasia Finegan, of BufTalo.
Miss Margaret Hanlon taught school and also had charge of the Sun-
day-school for eleven years.
Joseph O'Connor, a graduate of Rochester University, now the ed-
itor of the Post Express, taught for a few months in 1863. Thomas
J. Neville, of Rochester, who for eight years did reportorial and ed-
itorial work on the Democrat and is now clerk of the Executive Board,
taught from 1863 to 1866. Rev. Martin McDonnell became pastor
July 12, 1867, and left tor Buffalo August 29, 1873. In 1872 he
bought the property of Mark Chase, corner of West and Eagle streets.
The price was $3,500. It became the convent of a branch of the
Grey Nuns of Buffalo. They established an academy for young ladies,
and also had charge of the parochial school for some years. In the
academy the advanced English course was taught, beside French, mu-
sic, painting, crayon work and needlework, The superiors were Sis-
ters Shanley, Theresa and Mary St. Patrick. The sisters were here
until 1884. The Misses Ellen Sullivan and Cecilia Dwyer, of Roches-
ter, Miss Cummings, of Elmira, Miss Anna Kelly, Mr. Manning, Mr.
Condon and Mr. Case were teachers during Fr. McDonnell's time pre-
vious to the coming of the Sisters. Miss Cecelia Dwyer and Mr. Smith,
of Lockport, were organists for a short time. From January, 1872 to
1873, John Slack and Owen Boyland were trustees. In 1872 two fine
sanctuary windows were given by Patrick Horan. In the same year
two beautiful statutes one of the Blessed Virgin and the other of St.
Joseph, were bought in Munich, Germany, and placed in the church by
ORLEANS COUNTY. 375
Fr. McDonnell. He also organized a temperance society which lasted
three years. The good effects of this work were very soon seen. Fr.
McDonnell resides in lona, Minn. He has established the Home of
the Sacred Heart for boys, and has compiled two volumes called "The
Echo," published forthe home. Rev. William J. McNab took charge of
the parish August 29, 1873. In 1875 he was assisted by Rev. Thomas
Carragher for a few months. Rev. Patrick O'Meara was assistant
about one year. Rev. John Fitzpatrick was here from September,
1876, to April, 1877. Rev. John O'Reilly came April, 1877, and re-
mained until December of the same year. Rev. Dennis Daly came
September, 1884, and left for Buffalo in 1885.
In 1873 and for a few years after, at different times, the Misses Mar-
garet Sennett, Mary O'Brien and Alice O'Hara, William Kirby and
Frank Gallagher were teachers in the parochial school. From Decem-
ber 7, 1873 to 1883 Catherine Hanlon was organist. She also held the
same position a year and nine months in Fr. Donnell's time. She was
succeeded by Miss Margaret Ryan until 1886, when Miss Margaret
O'Brien, the present organist, took charge of the choir. Among the
many singers of St. Mary's choir, who have very excellent voices, are
the Misses Mary Hanlon, Ellen Murphy, Anna Slaclc, Josephine Sut-
ter, Carrie Sutter, Catherine Gallagher, Kate Sutter, Sarah Smith,
Joseph Maher, Thomas Smith, William Cooper, Joseph Kearney, Ed-
ward Hanlon and James Hourigan. From the fall of 1885 to 1892 the
Misses Elizabeth Conley, Ellen Gribben, Margaret Leahey, Emma
Griffin and Hannah Toughey, also Edward O'Malley, were the teachers.
An Altar Society was formed January, 1874. A society of the Chil-
dren of Mary organized January 25 of the same year. It was composed
of a large number of young ladies. From 1873 to 1877 Fr. McNab
attended Middleport. He purchased the Presbyterian Church at Mid-
dleport March, 1875, at a cost of $1,750, and it was dedicated in the
summer of the same year by Rt. Rev, Bp. Ryan. Rev. W. J. McNab
celebrated mass at the dedication. In the sanctuary were Rev. Patrick
Cannon, Rev. Matthew Darcy, Rev. Thomas Brougham and Rev. J. A.
Lanigan. Middleport was made a separate parish December, 1877, ^"^
Rev. John C. O'Riley appointed pastor in the same year. The
sanctuary was frescoed in 1878 at a cost of $300, which was paid by
376 LANDMARKS OF
Rev. W. J. McNab, Mrs. James Hanlon, James Kennedy and Patrick
Dockery, and $50 given by the congregation.
The Catholic Mutual Benefit Association was organized here in Feb-
ruary, 1878, with thirteen members. There are now one hundred and
twenty. Rev. W. J. NcNab spiritual adviser. The Ladies' Catholic
Benefit Association was organized March, 1891, also the Sacred Heart
Society on June 13 of the same year. The Catholic Benevolent Legion
was formed August 21, 1887. New stations of the cross were bought
in 1886. A new main altar was donated by James Kennedy in 1889,
and Miss Bridget Kelly, of Buffalo, gave beautiful statues of the Sacred
Heart, St. Patrick and Adoring Angels. A handsome residence was
built by Rev. W. J. McNab in the spring of 1887. It is surrounded by
a spacious lawn and well laid walks, while pretty white birch and moun-
tain ash trees gave the home a picturesque appearance. Rt. Rev, Bp.
Ryan visited Medina for the first time in 1869. He was accompanied
by Fr. McNabb, then his secretary. He was met at the station by a
large concourse of people. The following day he confirmed a class of
children.
During Rev. Fr. McNab's pastorate a great many of the clergy have
assisted him on several occasions. We will mention Rev. Fr. Conway
and Rev. Fr. Osterrath of Canisius College, Buffalo; Rev. Fr. Rice, one
of the founders of the Mutual Benefit Association (who died in Europe
and was buried at the Seminary of Angels on the bank of Niagara
River); Rev. Francis Sullivan, of Perry; Rev. James Roche, of Mid-
dleport ; Rev. Jeremiah McGrath, of Portageville ; Rev. Richard Story,
of Brockport ; Rev. Fr. Sullivan, of Williamstown, Mass.; Rev. John
Stewart, of Rochester ; Rev. F'r. Hennelly, Rev. Fr. Grace and Rev.
Fr. Miller of the Seminary of Angels; Rev. Dr. Quigley, of Buffalo;
Rev. Fr. Hendricks, of Livonia ; Rev. M. Kean, of Bergen ; Rev.
Michael Pyne, of Elmira ; and Rev. John Castaldi, the zealous pastor
of Albion. Rt. Rev. Bp. Ryan gave a fine lecture on " Christian Edu-
cation" in 1876. Rev. Patrick Cronan, the brilliant editor of the Catho-
lic Union and Times, also gave a lecture on the Blessed Virgin in 1878.
Rev. Fr. Koop also assisted us. He was an eloquent speaker, a fine
theologian, and one of the best critics on mental philosophy. He went
West where he afterward died. We have had several excellent and fruitful
ORLEANS COUNTY. 377
missions given by Rev. Fr. Shaw in 1874, Rev. Frs. Turner and O'Neil
in 1886, Rev. Fr. Dunphy in August, 1878, Rev. Fr. Riordan in No-
vember, 1 88 1, and Rev. Frs. Kreidt and Best, of Falls View, Septem-
ber 20, 1 89 1.
Rev. Fr. McNab, the beloved and very charitable pastor of St. Mary's,
who had labored faithfully for nineteen years, celebrated the twenty -
fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on January 20^
1892. The occasion was welcomed by clergy and people. Fr. McNab
was born in New York city, and graduated at the college of St. Francis
Xavier. He studied theology at the Seminary in Montreal, Can., and
also at the college of Our Lady of Angels at Niagara Falls. He was
ordained by Bishop Wood, of Philadelphia. He was one of the first
members of the C. M. B. A., and is now one of the five members of the
State Board of Grand Trustees.
The congregation of St. Mary's numbers about 1,400, and the Sun-
day school 300. The tie which has bound pastor and people for these
many years has been strong. We only hope that it may not be broken
until we all meet in that beautiful city not made with hands.
During Fr. McNab's administration the following young men of
parish have been ordained to the priesthood : Rev. James McNally,
now of Elkton, S. Dak. ; Rev. Jeremiah McGrath, now at Buffalo, N.
Y. ; Rev. James Hennelly, now at Chicago, 111. ; Rev. Michael J. Pyne,
now of Elmira, N. Y. ; Rev. David J. Ryan, now at Niagara Falls, and
Rev. Edwin Morgan, at Erie, Pa.
The following young ladies of the parish have become members of
the following religious bodies : Miss Elizabeth Flannigan, of the Sisters
of St. Joseph ; Miss Mary O'Brien, of the Grey Nuns ; and Miss Anna
Peel, of the Dominican Sisters. ^
Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church (U. A. C.) of Medina. — In
May, 1885, the first German Lutheran service was held in Loke's Hall,
on Shelby street, Medina, by Rev. A, T. Hanser of Lockport, and a
society of Evangelical Lutherans was formed. The constituent members
were F. Boots, C. Lindke, H. Lindke. H. Ewald, H. Rahn, E. Koch,
K. Greier, H. Pronalth, J. Kams, H. Vieritz, J. Stube, and Aug.
' The foregoing article is kindly furnished by Catherine Hanlon, of Medina.
48
378 LANDMARKS OF
Ewald. In 1887 Rev. G. Bartling was called from Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, Mo., to the pastorate of this church. The corner stone of
the church building was laid in April, 1889, and the edifice was dedi-
cated in July of the same year. It is a neat Gothic structure, with a
seating capacity of 350. The society numbers forty- two active mem-
bers, and 450 souls. The church property has a value of $4,500.
Rev. Paul Graupner assumed the pastorate in 1892.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE TOWN OF MURRAY.
In 1802 the town of Northampton was erected. It included the
three eastern towns of Orleans county and a large portion of the western
part of the county of Monroe. April 8, 1808, the town of Murray was
formed from Northampton, and when organized included the towns of
Murray, Kendall, Clarendon, Sweden, Clarkson, and Hamlin. Sweden,
including Clarendon, was setoff in April, 18 13; Clarkson, including
Hamlin, in April, 18 19; and Kendall in April, 1837, leaving Murray
with its present area of 18,033 acres. It was named in the honor of
John Murray, who was a merchant of New York city, and who was
large land owner in the town when it was erected. It lies wholly within
the Connecticut or Hundred Thousand acre tract, and is bounded on the
east by Monroe county and a small part of Kendall, on the south by
Clarendon, on the west by Albion and Gaines, and on the north by
Kendall. Thus it is seen that Murray is the senior town in Orleans
county.
The surface is generally level, and drainage is afforded by Sandy
Creek, the two branches of which unite at the village of the same name,
in the north part of the town. In some places this stream has worn a
deep channel. At Holley the gulf is crossed by an embankment over
seventy-five feet high. The soil is a clayey and sandy loam, underlaid
with Medina sandstone, which in many instances approaches near the
surface.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
379
The land in Murray was owned jointly by the State of Connecticut
and the Pultney estate, and that belonging to the latter was not sur-
veyed and put in market until 182 1. The Connecticut lands were sold
earlier. No records of articles or contracts with the early settlers on
the Hundred Thousand acre tract are accessible, hence it is possible to
give only a list of the first deeds. The lots in the town north from the
Ridge road, and one tier of lots south of the same, are numbered from
west to east and from north to south. South from that road, except the
one tier, they are numbered from south to north and from east to west;
and the same order in each case is followed here regardless of chrono-
logical arrangement. These lots were deeded as follows :
Lot 184, Oliver Van Kirk, 74, 14 acres, L. 225, Franklin Hines and others, exrs,,
Sept. 1835. 98, 53 a., Oct. 1, 1853.
L. 185, Joseph Fellows, 120, 47 a., Apr-
10, 1835.
L. 189, Barnard Sewyer, 19, 23 a., Jan.
1, 1862.
L. 190, William H. Ward, 95, 57 a.
L. 199, Daniel Young, 100, 12 a., July
9, 1850.
L. 201, Elizabeth Nichols, 65, 36 a.,
Oct. 1, 1840; Bank of Orleans, 65, 31 a.,
June 1, 1839.
L. 202, Hooker Sawyer, 98, 86 a.
L. 210, Hooker Sawyer, 49, 73 a., May
21, 1817; Wm. Weyburn, 49, 73 a., Aug.
22, 1823.
L. 211. Wm. Weyburn, 57, 32 a.; Ansel
Frost, 57, 82 a., June 20, 1836.
L. 219. Paris Eddy, 5 a., Nov. 1, 1848;
David C. Foster, 46, 41 a., May 1, 1850.
L. 220, Eri Wood, 114, 68 a., Feb. 1,
1836.
L. 221, Isaac Clark, 108, 18 a., Oct. 24,
1851; Robert S. Perry, 4, 39 a., Oct. 8,
1828; Alpha 0. Rose, 10 a., Dec. 25, 1841.
L. 222, Abraham M. Schermerhorn, 107,
28 a., Apr. 2, 1839; WiUiam H. Ward,
50 a., Dec. 8, 1821.
L. 223, Ebenezer K. Webster, one-half
of 98. 47 a.; July 1, 1829; David Arnold,
one-half of 96, 47 a., Jan. 1, 1835.
L. 226, John Hartshorn, 25 a., Dec, 10,
1853.
L. 227, Ebenezer K. Webster, 98, 98 a.,
July 1, 1848.
L. 228, David Arnold, 4, 41 a., Jan. 1,
1835; Calvin Churcn, 29, 99 a., June 1,
1860; Calvin Church, 3, 9 a., June 1, 1860.
L. 229, Arthur Harris, 100 a.. May 1,
1852.
L. 230, Thomas Turner, 25 a , Jan. 9,
1828; John Dusett, 25 a., Aug. 12, 1835.
■ L. 232, Asa and Stephen Jennings, 49,
67 a., Sept. 2, 1854.
L. 234. AUyn Boardman, 48, 36 a.,
June 23, 1826; Napoleon B. Reed, 11, 36
a., Nov. 23, 1858.
L. 235, John Clapp, 100 a., Nov. 8,
1842.
L. 236, Harley N. Bushnell, 51. 05 a.,
Apr. 1, 1845; Giles B. Cropsey, 19, 37 a.,
Nov. 1, 1853; T. J. Jewett, 6 a., March 1,
1853; Nathan Birdsey, 25, 08 a., Nov. 1,
1850.
L. 237, William H. Ward, 24, 47 a.;
Ezra Brainard, 75 a.
L. 238, John Dikeman,jr., 105, 02 a.,
Feb. 9, 1826.
L. 239, Giles B. Cropsey, 42, 25 a., Nov.
380
LANDMARKS OF
1, 1858; Zimri Perrigo, 7, 75 a., Nov. 1,
1853.
L. 240, Guy Gibson, 6G, 19 a., Dec. 1.
1851.
L. 241, Enoch Eastman, 50, 96 a , Sept.
26, 1826; Jonathan Wilcox, 50, 96 a.,
March 4, 1841.
L. 242, John Dikeman, 105, 02 a., July 4.
1825.
L. 243, Theophilus Tayler, 22, 63 a..
May 12, 1827; Jonathan H. Taylor, 32,
63 a., Apr. 15, 1828.
L. 244, Peleg Sisson, 113, 02 a., Apr.
. 27, 1812.
L. 245, Harrison Hatch. 141, 44 a., Jan.
1, 1835.
L. 246, Harry J. Hollister, 157 a., Apr.
1, 1836.
L. 273, Oliver Van Kirk, 50 a.. May 15,
1824; Oliver Van Kirk, 42, 79 a., Jan. 16,
1838.
L. 274, Joseph Fellows, 80, 62 a., Apr.
10, 1835; Heirs of John Barker, 83, 63 a.,
Aug. 18, 1838.
L. 275, James F. Penniman and Lewis
K. Bridge, 125, 48 a., Aug. 1, 1845.
L. 276, Richard B. Rhodes, 75, 39 a.,
Oct. 1, 1856; Percy Eddy, 9, 35 a.. May
5, 1851; Percy Eddy, 32, 04 a., May 1,
1859; Nathaniel P. Rhodes, 32 a,. May 1,
1852.
L. 277, Richard B. Rhodes, 60, 38 a., Oct.
10, 1850; Lewis D. Ferry, 60, 37 a., Nov.
2, 1854.
L. 278, Ontario Bank, 60, 32 a. ; Levi A.
Ward, 60, 33 a., Apr. 12, 1856.
L. 281, Phena Phelps, 30 a., Apr. 12,
1837; Charles Kelley, 20. 23 a., Apr. 16.
1834; Lyman Colt, 50, 73 a., Oct. 28,
1839.
L. 282, Henry Van Wornier, 85, 01 a..
May 29, 1818.
L. 283, Lyman Purdy, 48, 51 a., Jan. 2,
1833 ; R. S. Perry, 13 a. ; K. Adams, 32,
9 a., June 1. 1855; Robert S. Perry. 17,
50 a., Jan. 1, 1835.
L. 284, Eri Wood, one-half of 97, 70 a.,
March 1, 1849 : Daniel Smith, one-half of
97, 70 a.
L. 285, Daniel Smith, 19, 27 a , Apr. 11,
1839; John Dussett, 19. 97 a,, Aug. 12,
1835 ; Richard S. Jewell, 19, 97, Aug. 1,
1846.
L. 286, Aaron Baldwin, 35 a., Sept. 22,
1826; A. & M. Hard, 19, 24 a., March 10,
1853.
L. 287, John Ducett, sr., 86, 17 a.. May
2, 1833.
L. 288. Hiram Densmore, 40, 05 a., May
31, 1828 ; Epaphras Pennell, 40, 24 a.. May
31, 1828.
L. 289, John Dalton, 2, 20 a., Oct. 1818;
Samuel Clark, 25, 43 a., Dec. 1. 1841.
L. 290, Nathan Birdseye, 17 a., Oct. 3,
1846; Daniel Reed, 33 a., Oct. 16, 1827.
L. 291, William James, 58, 78 a., Jan.
30, 1829.
L. 292, William James, 68, 52 a., June
30, 1829.
L. 293, Ozro T. Hill, 23, 03 a.. Dee. 6,
1833 ; Theophilus Taylor, 23, 33 a., Aug.
9, 1831 ; William and Eri Jennings and
Jacob Coursen, 43, 33 a., Sept. 28, 1832 ;
J. H. Taylor, 10 a., June 12, 1832.
L. 294, Russell Farwell, 2 a., June 12.
1833 ; Enoch McComber, 9 a. ; Roland
Farnsworth, 31, 75 a., Oct. 13, 1835 ; Chas.
Farnsworth, 2, 25 a., June 12, 1832; Sally
and Roland Farnsworth, 50, 06 a., Apr. 16,
1834.
L. 295, Harrison Hatch, 74, 80 a., Nov.
1, 1824.
L. 296, Susannah Perry and others, 62
16 a., Dec. 20, 1820.
Commencing now in the southeast corner
of the town and proceeding northward and
westward :
ORLEANS COUNTY.
381
L. 13, Thos. G. Carpenter, 51, 27 a., May
3, 1822; Spencer C. Higgins, 51, 27 a.
L. 14, Thomas O. Carpenter, 97, 49 a.,
Feb. 22. 1825.
L. 15, Selee Potter, 53, 33 a., June 12,
1832; Chester Brace, 7 a., Thomas K.
Roby and Ralph W. Gould, 42, 32 a., June
20, 1836.
L. 16, William James, 93, 29 a , Feb.
23, 1830.
L. 17, Levi Beardsley, 6, 20 a., Aug. 21,
1837; Libeus Austin, 1 a., Nov. 15, 1855 ;
Thomas W. Avery, 17, 70 a., Sept. 20,
182G.
L. 18, Thomas W. Avery, 51, 20 a.,
Sept. 20, 1836 ; Jeremiah Acker, 51, 21 a.,
Nov. 1, 1849.
L. 19, Asahel Whited, 39 a., Oct. 11,
1832; Robert S. Perry, 20 a., Sept. 29,
1834; David Northrup, 56, 62 a., Feb. 12,
1828.
L. 32, Carpenter, 104, 16 a.
L. 33, Harley N. Bushnell, 20 a., Jan.
21, 1839; Levi Ward, jr., 80, 16 a., Dec.
19, 1814.
L. 34, Roswell H. Woodbridge, 34, 18 a.,
Oct. 15, 1832 ; James Orr, 50 a., June 16,
1831; D. W. Read, 10, 84 a., Apr. 22,
1848; James Orr, 12 a., Feb. 11, 1824.
L. 35, Roswell H. Woodbridge, 47, 19 a.,
Oct. 15, 1832 ; John Lake, 47, 19 a., June
12, 1832.
L. 36, John Lake, 96, 65 a., June 12,
1832.
L. 37, Knoch Eastman, 101, 80 a., March
28, 1814.
L. 38, Joanna Hill, 59, 78 a., Apr. 10,
1835; Gustavus Clark, 50 a., Sept. 3,
1828.
L. 51, Levi Ward, jr., 101, 83 a., Dec
19, 1814.
L. 52, Levi Ward, jr., 99, 63 a., Dec. 19,
1814.
L. 53, Harley N. Bushnell, 24, 07 a., Aug.
21, 1833; Samuel Clark, 27, 76 a., Apr.
16, 1834; J. H. Taylor, 26, 16 a., Feb. 22,
1825 ; Charles T. Whippo, 26, 27 a., Apr.
1, 1829.
L. 54, Joseph Baker, 70, 51 a., June 12,
1832; Jesse Evarts, 25 a., March 3, 1823.
L. 55, Henry Ketchum, 50 a., June 20,
1836 ; Enoch Eastman. 49, 21 a.
L. 56, Nancy Starr, 92, 88 a., July 4,
1842; Asa Sprague, 10 a., Oct. 8, 1831.
L. 57, Paul king. 57, 59 a , Oct. 8, 1831 ;
Samuel Clark, 50 a., Sept. 8, 1831.
L. 58, Alvinzo L. James, 48 a., May 1,
1837.
L. 71, William Hatch, 50, 75 a., Sept. 21,
1843 ; Luby Eldridge, 52, 49 a., Apr. 10,
1828
L. 72, Lyman N. Warren, 10 a. ; Law-
rence Brainard, 88, 71 a., March 22, 1834;
Hiram Frisbie, 1, 28 a., Dec. 29, 1828.
L. 73, David Hume, 61, 75 a., Aug. 14,
1847; Charles T. Whippo, 45 a., Apr. 1,
1829.
L. 74, Charles T. Whippo, 73, 75 a., Feb.
22, 1825.
L. 75, Henry Ketchum, 49, 41 a., Aug.
31. 1837; George W. Tift, 49, 56 a., March
15, 1836.
L. 76, Morris Sprague, 104 a., Sept. 7,
1815.
L. 77, Theodore Ellis, 55, 14 a., June 12,
1832 ; William Burnham, 50 a., Aug. 3,
1823.
L. 78, Daniel Reed, 32, 46 a., Jan. 20,
1846; Daniel Reed, 69 a., Apr. 17, 1834.
L. 79, Eli Wait, 96, 63 a., July 8, 1845.
L. 80, John B. Fuller, 53, 69 a., Jan. 5,
1847.
L. 93, Geo. McCrilhs, 54, 11 a., June 12,
1832 ; William Hatch, 50 a., Apr. 13, 1832.
L. 94, Moses N. Stoddard, 100, 84 a.,
Sept. 14, 1841.
L. 95, Silas Sanborn, 52, 38 a., Feb. 13,
1840 ; Austin Day, 52, 37 a.. May 4, 1847.
L. 96, Austin Day, 93, 36 a., Apr. 5,
1831.
382
LANDMARKS OF
L. 97, Paphyrus Beebe, 97, 96 a., Apr.
5, 1831.
L. 98, Morris Sprague, 52, 25 a., June
12, 1832; Darius Sprague, 32, 25 a., June
12^ 1832.
L. 99, Morris Sprague, 25 a., June 12,
1832; Davis Ingals, 79, 63 a., Oct. 8,
1831.
L. 100, Medad Ferry, 60, 32 a.. Nov. 1 ,
1845 ; William James, 40 a., June 15,
1827.
L. 101, Cornelius Cole, 50 a., Sept. 1,
1838; Cornelius Cole, 23, 82 a., Sept. 1,
1838; Cornelius Cole, 23, 81 a., Nov. 1,
1850.
L. 102, John B. Fuller, 50 a., Jan. 1841 ;
James D. Coolidge, 57, 08 a., Apr. 1, 1841.
L. 115, Cyrus Hood, 51, 15 a., June 20,
1836; Alexander Milliken, 51, 15 a., Aug.
21, 1833.
L. 116, James Masten, 50, 18 a., Sept. 2,
1853 ; Amos Ludden and others, 50, 18 a.,
Sept. 24, 1852.
L. 117, Horatio N. Perry, 52, 09 a„
Samuel Rundle, 52, 07 a.. May 12, 1827.
L. 118, Austin Day, 46, 88 a., Apr. 25,
1825.
L. 119, Oliver Day, 49, 76 a., June 12,
1832 ; Austin Day, 20 a., June 12, 1832 ;
Austin Day, 30 a., Apr. 6, 1826.
L. 120, Darius Sprague, 105, 17 a.
L. 121, Jonathan Sprague, 109, 19 a.,
Nov. 12, 1814.
L. 122, William Burnham, 42, 85 a., Apr.
20, 1833; Eli Wait, 58 a., Dec. 22, 1854.
L. 123, Cornelius Cole, 79, 40 a., Jan.
29, 146 ; George Squire, 18 a.
L. 124, Justin Day, 106, 59 a.. May 15,
1824.
L. 125, Cornelius Cole, 12, 33 a., Apr.
13, 1839; Horace Stiles, 26, 76 a.. May 24,
1847; Horace Stiles, 49, 09 a., June 12,
1832.
L. 138, Abraham -Cantme, 101, 62 a.,
June 1, 1839.
L. 139, Abraham Cantine, 100, 70 a.,
July 18, 1822.
L. 140, Abraham Cantine, 102, 10 a.,
Jan. 14, 1824.
L. 141 John B. Mills, 93, 50 a., Feb
23, 1826.
L. 142, Austin Day, 50 a., Feb. 23, 1828;
James Budd, 49, 40 a.. May 1. 1857.
L. 143, William Alderson, 50 a., July 1,
1852.
L. 144. Robinson T. Garrison, 105, 30
a.. Sept. 1, 1845.
L. 145, Joseph Budd, 105, 05 a., June 12
1833.
L. 146, George Squire, 84, 71 a., Apr. 1,
1836; George Squh-e, 9, 30 a., July 1,
1835: Joseph Napoleon Bonapart Graham,
1 a., May 1, 1830.
L. 147, C. Gascoin, 8 a., Jan. 1, 1861.
L. 148, Horace Stiles, 50,29 a., March 1,
1838; Abner Trumbull, 50, 29 a., Nov. 1,
1845.
L. 161, Isaac Smith, 101, 06 a., July 1,
1841.
L. 162, Aretas Pierce, jr., 49. 84 a., Feb.
1, 1836; Daniel Pierce, 50, 44 a., Feb. 1,
1836.
L. 163, Sarah J. Daggett and others, 50,
80 a., Aug. 10, 1830; Sarah J. Daggett,
50, 80 a., Dec. 20, 1830.
L. 164, Catherine Rundell and others,
47, 27 a., Dec. 20, 1830 ; Joseph Hard, 47,
27 a., Nov. 1, 1847.
L. 165, James B. Wood, 98, 63 a., July
20, 1831.
L. 166, Wm. Alderson, 13, 04 a., Oct. 1.
1851 ; Wm. Alderson, 24, 06 a., Oct. 1,
1837 ; Ezra H. Keys, 26, 07 a., July 1.
1851 ; Jos. Hard, 15 a., June 1, 1853.
L. 167, Amos Hard, 39, 19 a., July 1,
1847; Edward Mulford, 60 a., Jan. 1,
1844.
L. 168, Noah Newman. 78, 50 a., July 8,
1847 ; Noah Newman, 25 a., Nov. 15, 1836 ;
Isaac M. S. Hurlburt, 3 a., June 12. 1832.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
383
L. 169, Joseph Budd, 24, 50 a. Aug. 28,
1844; Garrett Barry, 20 a., Oct. 11, 1852.
L. 170, William Densmore, 103, 53 a.
L. 171, Isaac Underbill, 50, 44 a., Jan. 2,
1851 ; Abijah Reed, 50, 44 a., May 9,
1845.
L. 172, Charles Kelly, 83, 81 a., Apr. 5,
1831.
L. 186, Joshua Garrison, 101, 44 a., Sept.
1, 1838.
L. 187, Joshua Garrison, 50, 37 a., Oct.
1, 1853;David Carpenter, 50, 37 a., Oct. 1,
1853.
L. 188, D. Carpenter, 20 a., Nov. 1,
1855.
L. 189, Warren Webster, 106, 26 a.,
Nov. 1, 1836.
L, 190, Warren Webster, 25 a., Jan. 1,
1839; Horace Balcomb, 20, 34 a., May 1,
1851 ; Jeffrey A. Harwood, 60 a., May 1,
1851.
L. 191, James Budd, 10 a., Sept. 1, 1845.
L. 191 and 192, Skilman D. Dickinson,
89, 75 a., Sept. 1, 1845 ; CorneHus Thomas,
108, 07 a., Dec. 1, 1853.
L. 193, David Moore, 4 a., July 1, 1853 ;
David Moore, 30 a., Dec. 1, 1851 ; Polly
Mansfield, 11, 91 a., Sept. 1, 1858.
L. 194, Samuel M. Harwood, 4 6, 50 a.,
July 1, 1853; Chauncey Harwood, 58, 54
a., Nov. 1, 1849.
L. 195, Samuel M. Harwood, 57, 43 a.,
July 1, 1863; Chauncey Harwood, 45, 19
a., Nov. 1, 1849.
L. 196, Thomas E. Hooker, 103, 28 a.,
Dec. 2, 1861.
L. 197, Daniel Young, 78, 94 a., March
1, 1849.
L. 210, Fortunatus Hubbard, 50, 04 a,
Nov. 1, 1880; Caleb Hallock, 50, 04 a.,
Aug. 1, 1850.
L. 211, Wm. W. Woodworth, 50, 34 a.,
Oct. 1, 1853.
L. 212, Isaac Smith, 50, 85 a.. May 1,
1840; Aretus Pierce, 25, 41 a., May 1,
1847; Joshua Garrison, 25, 43 a., Nov. 1,
1849.
L. 213, John Caswell, 96, 74 a., Aug. 1,
1833.
L. 214, Elijah Root, 102, 80 a., Feb. 1.
1836.
L. 215, Martin Loomis, 111, 34 a., Aug.
1, 1839.
L. 216, Joseph F. Lee, 101, 35 a., Dec.
1, 1834.
L. 217, Horace Balcom, 50 a.. May 21,
1817; Horace Balcom, 50 a., Sept. 22,
1826.
L. 218, Gurdon Balcom, 97, 40 a,, Sept.
9, 1815.
L. 219, Alanson Mansfield, 117, 17 a.,
June 12, 1832.
L. 220, Aaron Warren, 26, 04 a., Sept.
1, 1840; Hiel Brockway, 25 a., Sept. 13,
1835 ; Oliver VanKirk and Andrew Weld,
executors, 51, 05 a., June 30, 1836.
L. 221, Daniel Young, 51, 14 a., Sept.
29, 1841 ; Abner Balcom, 29, 09 a., Jan. 7,
1859; Jonathan Church, 25, 05 a., April
23, 1853.
L. 222, H. D. Williams, 25 a. ; Justus
W. Williams, 53, 30 a., May 3, 1822.
L. 235, Amos W. Rowley, 49, 81 a.,
Aug. 1, 1850.
L. 236, Abraham Cantine, 100, 70 a.,
Feb. 1, 1826.
L. 240, Esther Brockway, and others, 25
a., Dec. 1, 1837; Levi Smith, 78, 31 a.,
Nov. 1, 1837.
L. 241, Ira Ducett, 49, 37 a., July 1,
1835 ; Warham Whitney, 49, 37 a., Apr.
1, 1836.
L. 242, Francis Love, 107, 70 a., Nov.
7, 1825.
L. 243, Jonathan Church, 46, 29 a., Nov.
1, 1845; Jacob Hinds, 45, 54 a., Jan. 1,
1861.
L. 244, Jonathan. Church, 47, 31 a., Nov.
1, 1845; ZivaMartin, 51, 31, Nov. 1.1837.
384 LANDMARKS OF
L. 246, Franklin Hinds and others, ex- L. 266, Samuel Clark. 70, 56 a., Jan. 1,
ecutors, 95, 31 a., Oct. 1, 1853. 1845; Dan. Stockdale, 25 a., Aug. 23,
L. 247. Nathanial P. Rhodei=, 72, 80 a., 1821.
Oct. 1, 1840. L. 267, Joel Hirids, 58 a., Sept. 11,
L. 260, Oree Crittenden, 49, 43 a., Nov. 1832 ; P. G. Child«, 34, 41 a., Ransom
1, 1853 ; Daniel P. Baldwin, 49, 44 a., Rowley, 15, 17 a., May 12, 1827.
Nov. 1, 1849. L. 268, Samuel N. Othout & Richard
L. 261, James L. Prouty, 71, 01 a, Thorp, +, and Wm. Mansfield, ^ of 91, 51
Sept 1, 1854; Warham Whitney, 30 a., a., Jan. 16, 1838.
Dec. 1, 1838. L. 269, Samuel Mansfield, 108, 07 a.,
L. 262, Sylvester Brown, 79, 29 a., Nov. March 23, 1815.
1, 1849. L. 270, Dan. Stockdale, 103, 57 a., Aug.
L. 2G3, Ira M. Randal, 42 a., June 1, 19, 1831.
1861. L. 271, E. Harris, 50, 86 a,. Sherman
L. 265, John Lyon, 50 a., March 22, Dibble, 50, 88 a., Aug. 8, 1844.
1832 ; Caleb Thayer, 54, 70 a., March 1, L. 272, Dan. Stockdale, 50 a., July 13,
1841. 1832; Ohver VanKirk, 29, 71 a., June 12,
1832.
The first town meeting in the old town of Murray was held in the
barn of Johnson Bedell, about four miles south from Brockport. The
names of the officers chosen cannot be learned, for the records prior to
i88o are lost. The supervisors since the formation of Orleans county
have been :
Asahel Balcom, 1826; William Allis, 1827; Amos Randall, 1828; Hiram Frisbie,
1829; William James, 1830; Asa Clark, 1831, '32, '33, '34; Robert Nicholson, 1835,
'36; George Squires, 1837, '38; Joshua Garrison, 1839. '40; Cornelius Thomas, 1841,
'42; John Berry, 1843; George Squires, 1844; Alijah Reed, 1845; Hercules Reed,
1846 ; Abner Balcom, 1847, '48; Harrison Hatch, 1849; Benjamin F. Van Dake, 1850;
Jabez Allison, 1851, '52; Ezra N. Hill, 1853 ; Danly D. Sprague, 1854, '55; Benjamin
F. Van Dake, 1856; Jabez Allison, 1857, '58, '59; Ezra N. Hill, 1860 ; Jabez Allison,
1861 ; Linus J. Peck, 1862 , Roland Farnsworth, 1863, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70,
'71; Danly D. Sprague, 1872, '73; Edwin Bliss, 1875, '76; Danly D. Sprague, 1877;
Burton Keys, 1878, '79, '80 ; Robert McCargo, 1881; Ira Edwards, 1882; George N.
Bowman, 1883, '84; Hoflfman Ruger, 1 885, '86 ; John Alderson, 1887, '88; Lott Farns-
worth, 1889,'90; Nathaniel Rhodes, 1891, '92 ; Harry O. Jones, 1893 ; Nervill E. Cole,
1894.
The first settlements in the town were made on the great natural
thoroughfare, the ridge. Sandy Creek, where it crosses the ridge, af-
fords eligible mill sites, and mills were erected there soon after settle-
ment commenced. The establishment of these mills attracted mechanics
and business men to the place, an*d a village sprang up there called
ORLEANS COUNTY. 385
Murray. It was the chief business center of the town till the construc-
tion of the Erie Canal brought Holley into existence.
The first permanent settler in the town was Epaphras Mattison, who
came in 1809 with his family. He located on the ridge near the town's
east line, where he built the first log house and afterward opened it as
a tavern.
In 18 10 Peleg Sisson, Daniel Wait, Joshua Rockwood, Samuel Dag-
gett and Channcey Woodworth were settlers. Mr. Sisson located on
lot 244, Mr. Daggett near Sandy Creek, and Mr. Woodworth on lot
286.
John Johnson and John Stivers were settlers in 181 1. The former
came from Vermont and located on lot 38 ; he left ten years later. The
latter settled on lot 57. He remained about two years and then re-
turned to Cayuga county, whence he came. In the same year Ira Car-
ter came and built a house on lot 74, near Holley. He remained only
two years. William Rice and Stephen Lewis, brothers-in-law from
Onondaga county, came and took up lots 72 and 73. The latter passed
the winter of 18 1 2-1 3 in the house with Mr. Carter.
William Rice came from Pompey, Onondaga county, in 18 12, and
settled on a lot near Holley. There he remained till about 1830, when
he went to Ohio and afterward died there. Mr. Rice was a native of
Massachusetts, where his wife, Polly Anger, was born. Hubbard Rice,
their son, was born in Onondaga county in 1795, and came with his
father to Murray in 18 12. In 1 813 he was a volunteer in the party that
went to Lewiston to repel the British forces, but the village had been
burned before their arrival. He married Irena Day, of Murray, in 1819.
She died in 1831, and in 1833 he married Mrs. Mary Van Winter. In
1825 he removed to Clarendon, where he had purchased a farm of 100
acres. In 1863 he returned to Holley. He was known as Colonel Rice, a
title which he acquired in the militia.
Artemus Daggett located on lot 163 in 1813. Ebenezer Fox came
in 181 5 and settled east from Murray Station. In the celebrated cold
season of 18 16 his family suffered greatly for want of food. Charles
Kelly, from Delaware, and Aaron Warren, from Vermont, settled near
Balcom's mills in 181 5 and 18 16, and David Tryon, William Alexan-
der and Holden Eldred were early settlers at or near Hulberton.
386 LANDMARKS OF
Horace Styles was born in Massachusetts in 1791. In 1816 he came
with his father and brother from Vermont, and all settled near Sandy
Creek. Horace purchased 100 acres of land on which they lived till,
late in life, he retired from active business and resided in the village of
Sandy Creek. In 181 7 he married Hannah Shaffer, of Murray. She
died about 1820, and he afterward married Hannah Stedman.
Horace Balcom was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1791. In 18 12
he came to Murray and purchased land a mile and a quarter west from
Hulberton. The dangers of the war induced him to go back, but he
returned the next year and remained till his death, in 1861. He was
one of a party of volunteers to start for Fort Niagara. He was mar-
ried in 18 13, and reared to maturity seven children, of whom Darwin
resides on the farm which his father originally took up, and Julia, wife
of Hon. Marcus H. Phillips, resides in Hulberton.
Abner Balcom was born in 1796, and was reared in Ontario county,
N. Y. In 18 1 2 he came to Orleans county and settled first in Ridge-
way, but removed to Murray prior to the construction of the Erie
Canal. In company with Hill Brockway he built the saw mill and
grist mill on the west branch of Sandy Creek, since known as Balcom's
Mills. He was a prominent citizen of the town and, it is said, held
every town office except that of clerk. He was supervisor in 1847-48,
and was a member and a deacon of the Transit Baptist Church. He
was three times married; to Ruth Williams, in 18 16; to Philotheta
Baker, in 1822 ; and late in life to Mrs. Philina Waring. His son, Fran-
cis, was a volunteer in the Civil War, and was killed in battle.
Solomon Carpenter, born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1787, came
early to Murray, and took up land joining Holley on the east. In 1823
he moved to Wisconsin, where he died in 1846. Of his eight children
only David is living.
Elijah W. Wood, born in Pelham, Mass., in 1782, removed to Murray
at an early day, and for many years served as constable and justice of
the peace, and during a term of five years he was a judge in the old
Court of Common Pleas of Orleans county. " He was a shrewd and
successful pettifogger in justices' courts, where he made up in wit and
natural sagacity any lack he may have suffered in legal attainments."
He died in Murray at the age of eighty years.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 387
Abijah Dean, a son of Luther Dean, was born at Danbury, Mass., in
1800, and removed with his father's family to New Hampshire. Dur-
ing his residence in that State he worked by the month eight years.
On the breaking out of the war with England he volunteered in the
United States service, and at Portsmouth was a waiter to Capt. Kimball.
In 1813 he came to Murray. In 1818 he married Susan Clough, of
Brattleboro, Vt., and they had one child.
John Lake came to Murray from Hoosac, N. Y., at an early day, and
purchased a farm of 140 acres on lots 35 and 36, where he remained
till his death, in 1871, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife died
in 1876, aged eighty-six. Mr. Lake was a soldier in the War of 18 12.
His character through life was that of a good man.
Abram Bradley was a native of Vermont. In 18 14 he came to Mur
ray and located on the Ridge, near Sandy Creek. He was a millwright
and worked on many of the mills in this region. He died in Michigan
about 1840. His eldest daughter became the wife of Epaphrias Pennel,
and another daughter, Elvira, is the wife of Clinton Sheldon, of Holley.
Joshua Vincent, a native of Rensselaer county, N. Y., settled in
Holley in 18 16, when the site of the village was mostly covered by the
forest, which he aided in subduing. He was a carpenter and in 18 19
he built a saw mill on Sandy Creek, near where the pumping station
now is. He was a public spirited citizen. He organized the first mili-
tary company in town, and at a later day he became a brigadier general
of militia. He had charge of the cannon here when the completion of
the Erie Canal was celebrated.
Linus Jones Peck was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1816, and
in 1817 his father's family removed to Clarendon. In his childhood he
was subjected to all the privations incident to pioneer life. He was
educated in the common schools of his town, and in the Middlebury
Academy at Wyoming, N. Y. He read law in the office of his brother,
Luther Peck, of Nunda, N. Y, In 1848 he first became a canal con-
tractor, and he followed the business of jobbing till 1861. In 1856 he
became a resident of Holley.
George W. Peck was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 181 1, and
came with his parents to Clarendon in 18 17. In 1834 he married
Anna A. Peck, of Clarendon, a native of Connecticut. In 1844 he be-
388 LANDMARKS OF
came a hotel keeper in Clarendon village, and in 1853 a contractor on
public works. When the canal was enlarged the construction of the
embankment over Sandy Creek at Holley was awarded to him. He
removed to Holley in 1855, and twenty years later to a farm some dis-
tance west from that village.
Aaron Baldwin was born in Connecticut in 1790. In 1806 he came
alone to Churchville, Monroe county, and apprenticed himself to a
tanner and shoemaker. He continuel till the breaking out of the war
of 1 8 12, when he became a government express messenger between
Clarkson and Fort Niagara. In 18x7 he purchased and located on a
farm a short distance southwest from Sandy Creek, where he remained
till his death, and where his son, D. C. Baldwin, succeeded him. Soon
after he came here he built a tannery and for many years carried on
tanning and making shoes for the Canadian and western markets.
David Arnold was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1803. At an
early age he was left an orphan and was reared by an elder brother.
At about eighteen years of age he came to Murray and settled about a
mile north from Sandy Creek, where he died in 1877. His wife was
Sally Webster, a native of Saratoga county. She died at the age of
eighty-two. Three of their sons are now living : William resides in
Sandy Creek, and John and George W. Hve in Holley.
Judson Downs was born in Scipio, N. Y., in 1797. With his father's
family, he removed to Clarkson, Monroe county, in 1809, and to
Sandy Creek in 18 19. He learned the trades of tanner and shoe-
maker and carried on both till his health failed, after which he was for
several years a constable. In 18 14 he enlisted in a company of cavalry
and served in the U. S. army on the Niagara frontier till the close of
the war of 18 12. He afterward became an active officer in the militia
and was for a time a brigade inspector of cavalry, with the rank of
major, from which he was called Major Downs. On the breaking out
of the Rebellion, notwithstanding his sixty -four years, he raised a com-
pany of cavalry at the head of which, as captain, he served some time
in Maryland and the vicinity of Washington, shrinking from no hard-
ship or danger. Failure of his health compelled him to resign and re-
turn home, where he died in 1864.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 389
Major Downs was of a proud, ardent spirit, always ready to do what duty required.
He was thorough and energetic as a constable, and was always entrusted with all the
business he eould do. Asa mihtary officer he was beloved by his men. Though a
strict disciplinarian, resolute and wideawake when anything was to be done, he would
never require his men to go where he would not lead. As a citizen he was affable,
courteous, and obliging, and he gained and kept many friends.
Austin Day was born in Vermont in 1789. He married Polly Chap-
man in 1 8 10, and moved to Murray in 1815.- He was made a constable
and prior to the advent of professional lawyers he did quite a business
pettifogging in justice's courts. For some years after the completion
of the Erie Canal he was engaged in buying and shipping wheat. He
held the office of judge of the Court of Common Pleas five years, and
was elected sheriff of Orleans county in 1847. He removed to Albion
in 1848, and was supervisor of Barre in 1852. His wife died in 1858.
He died in 1874. His son, Ferdinand Austin Day, served one term as
sheriff and nine years asunder sheriff of Orleans county.
Oliver Day came from Bennington, Vt., in 1815, when he was
twenty-one years of age. He came with his brother-in-law, Paphyrus
Beebe, and at first lived with him. In 18 17 he purchased lot 1 19, ad-
joining that on which Mr. Beebe settled, and resided there during the
remainder of his life. In 18 18 he married Lydia, daughter of Thomas
Stedman, who came in the spring of that year.
Ambrose Ferguson was a native of New Jersey, and the son of Eph-
raim Ferguson, who was killed and scalped by the Indians while
scouting. When about fifteen years of age Ambrose became the ser-
vant of an officer in the Revolutionary army, and drifted into Vermont,
where he was followed by the rest of the family after the close of the
war. In Vermont he married Hannah Perry, a native of Massachusetts,
and they removed to Murray in 18 15. They settled a mile and a half
east from Sandy Creek, on the Ridge, and there he died in 1823. Mrs.
David Hatch is a granddaughter of Ambrose Ferguson.
Capt. Paphyrus Beebe and his family removed from Bennington, Vt.,
to Murray in the spring of 181 5. His brother-in-law, Oliver Day, came
with them. They came with two yoke of oxen and a horse, drawing a
wagon which bore the family and their goods. They were thirty days
making the journey. They left the Ridge road about a mile east from
Sandy Creek, and cut their road through the woods to where Mr,
390 LANDMARKS OF
Beebe had purchased a lot, No. 97, a mile northwest from Holley. On
this there had been partly built a log house, into which they all moved.
This was the permanent residence of Mr. Beebe.
Reuben Bryant was born in Massachusetts in 1792, and graduated
from Brown University, R. I., about 1815. He removed to Livingston
county, N. Y., studied law in Caledonia and became the pioneer lawyer
in Holley in 1823. He was appointed a master in chancery and held
that position when the Court of Chancery was abolished in 1846. He
removed to Albion in 1849, and in 1855 to Buffalo, where he died in
1863. He was a thorough classical scholar. Judge Thomas says of
him : " As a lawyer he had a clear perception of the law and the facts,
and their bearing on his cases ; but he was too exact, cautious and dif-
fident of himself to be an advocate. All his life he suffered from a mal-
ady which was a perpetual burden and cross to him, and annoyed him
in his business."
Augustus Southworth, born in Massachusetts in 1801, came from
Palmyra to Holley in 1822, as an assistant engineer on the canal under
Myron Holley, who was commissioner of the western division. In 1823
he engaged in mercantile business here and continued about fifteen
years. He was an active and useful citizen of Holley, and died here
in 1879. His first wife, also a native of Massachusetts, was Marilia
Bull. They were married in 1823, and she died in 1867 at the age of
sixty-nine. Of their seven children William Southworth died in Holley
in 1889. In 1868 Mr. Southworth married Margaret Lothrop, of
Rochester. She died in 1874.
Harley A. Bushnell was born at Starksborough, Vt., in 1796. At the
age of fifteen he was apprenticed to his brother, a clothier, in Connect-
icut, and served five years. In 1817 he came to Batavia, Genesee
county, worked at his trade, and did business as a constable and justice
of the peace till 1823, when he removed to Holley and located just
north of where the canal now runs. He at once built a house, and by
the first of May, 1824, he completed a saw mill. In company with
Samuel Clark he built a clothiery, and in 1828 purchased the interest
of his partner. He conducted the business till 1833, when he sold the
clothiery and purchased a farm. After a few years he sold his farm
and removed to Holley, where he followed the business of an insurance
ORLEANS COUNTY. 391
agent. He was one of the founders and for many years the president
of the Orleans County Pioneer Association. He was genial, kind-
hearted, benevolent and philanthropic. He died in 1868.
Isaac H. S. Hulbert was born at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1804. In 1824
he removed to Murray and located at Sandy Creek, whence he went to
Hulberton in 1825. At the latter place he was a dealer in produce,
etc., in which business he was prosperous. His wife, to whom he was
married in 1825, was Margaret Plumb, of Albany. Mr. Hulbert was
a prominent citizen and was for many years a justice of the peace.
From him the post-office at Hulberton received its name, which has
also been applied to the settlement there.
Bishop Cramer was a native of Connecticut, born in 1776. He mar-
ried, in 1805, Charlotte Raymond. They removed to Granville, N. Y.,
where they had ten children, all born in the same house and the same
room. In 1826 he came to Holley, where he followed his trade as a
cabinetmaker. He died in Holley in 1857. His wife died in 1848.
James Miller was born in Cooperstovvn, N. Y., in 1797. He removed
to St. Lawrence county, where he kept a hotel; and in 1826 to Holley
where he was a grocer and farmer. He died in Holley in 1871. In
1826 he married Caroline Cramer. They had three sons, of whom
James H. Miller resides in Holley. His first wife died in 1837, and in
1838 he married Adeline Cramer, a native of Washington county, N.Y.
Chauncey Robinson, a native of Durham, Conn., was born in 1792.
In 1794 his father's family removed to Oneida county, N. Y., and in
1 8 13 he came to Clarendon. In 185 i he removed to Holley and re-
sided there till his death in 1866. In 18 14 he was in the military ser-
vice and was in the battle and sortie of Fort Erie. He was active in
public matters, was an advanced thinker, and was zealous in the pro-
mulgation of his views. He was industrious, frugal, and temperate.
In his old age he said : " I have never used one pound of tea, coffee, or
tobacco, and but little liquor; none for the last thirty years. My con-
stant drink at home and abroad is cold water."
Levi Smith was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1801. In 1826 he
married Laura Chase, a native of Oneida county and the same year
they removed to Murray and settled three-fourths of a mile west from
Murray Station. There Mr. Smith died in 1872. Seven of their
children lived to adult age.
392 LANDMARKS OF
Hannibal Hitchcock was born in Herkimer county in 1799. He
removed to Ontario county and thence in 1827, to Murray. He pur-
chased a farm on lot 143, where he remained till his death in 1838, which
was caused by the falling of a tree. He married, in 1825, Margaret
Newman. His son, Hannibal N. Hitchcock, succeeded him on the
farm where he settled.
H N. Keys was born in 1805 in Windham county, Conn. He went
thence to Waterville. Oneida county, N. Y., and in 1827 came to Holley.
He was a tailor, and carried on his business there till 1870, when he
retired to a farm a mile northwest from that village. His first wife, to
whom he was married in 1832, was Marietta Beebe. She died in 1836,
and in 1837 he married Althea Beebe. His son, Ezra, was killed in the
battle of Fredericksburg ; and another son, Paphyrus, was captain of a
company of Illinois volunteers.
Thomas E. Hooker was born in Oneida county, N. Y, , in 18 13. In
1 8 18 he removed with his father's family to Tioga county, thence in
1823, to Ontario county. In 1827 they came to Murray and settled
six miles northwest from Holley. On this place his father and mother
died in 1856. In 1839 he married Lucy Hyde, a native of Wayne
county. She died in 1861 at the age of forty two, leaving eight
children. In 1863 he married Susan Brown of Rochester. She died in
1886, leaving three children.
John B. Fuller, of English descent, was born in Connecticut, and was
a soldier in the war of 18 12, in which he was wounded and made a
prisoner. About 1828 he came to Murray and settled on lots 80 and
102, where he remained till his death, in 1848. His son. Nelson Fuller,
became the owner of the paternal farm and died on it in 1862. His
son, John B. Fuller, is now the owner of this place.
Sherman Dibble was born in Connecticut in 1807. In 1830 he was
married to Caroline Holcomb of the same State, and on the day of their
marriage they started for Orleans county. After their arrival he pur-
chased a farm in Murray on the Transit line, one and a fourth miles
south of the Ridge, where he died in 1867. Their children were John
A., Thomas T., James L , and Judson.
Sylvester Brown was born in Broome county, N. Y., in 1807. His
wife was Betsey Maxson, a native of Vermont. Soon after their mar-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 393
riage they came to Murray and settled on the Transit road in the south-
west part of the town. There they made their home in the woods,
cleared their farm, and remained till their deaths. She died in 1869,
he in 1873. They had nine children.
James Dalton, a native of Ireland, was born in 1789. In 1830 he
came to America and settled at once in Murray, three-fourths of a mile
east from Sandy Creek, where he remained till his death, in 1867. He
was married in Ireland to Margaret McNamara, who died in 1877.
They reared six children : One son, James, was a soldier in the civil
war and lost a leg at the battle of Cedar Creek.
William Alderman was born in Westmoreland, England, in 18 10.
In 1835 he came to America, and in the same year located half a mile
south from Hulburton. His father, Jonathan Alderman, came a year
later and settled on the same lot, where he remained till his death, in
1878. Some eight years after he came here Mr. Alderman married
Mary Kerr, a native of Scotland. They reared seven children.
Amos M. Rowley was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1805. At the
age of seven he was left an orphan, and when quite a young man came
to Sweden and lived with an uncle. In 1826 he was married to
Clarissa Preston, of Clarendon. In 1835 they removed to Murray and
settled near the southwest corner of the town, where they remained till
their death. He died in 1871, she in 18 14. Their only daughter,
Mrs. Lucinda Whitbeck, afterwards resided on their old homestead.
Daniel B. Baldwin was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1796. When
a young man he married Susannah Hall, a native of that county, born
in 1803. They removed to Wayne county, thence to Monroe county,
and in 1840 to Murray, locating in the southwest corner of the town,
where he died in 1855 and she in 1884. They had three sons.
Nathan Birdsey was a native of Connecticut. At early day he re-
moved to Oneida, county, N. Y., thence in 1840 to Oswego county
and in 1844 to Murray, and located on the Ridge, three- fourths of a
mile east from Sandy Creek. He died there in 1872 at the age of
seventy-six. His wife, Irene Parmelee, was born in Oneida county in
1800. She died in 1882. They had four children, of whom the only
only survivor is Noah P. Birdsey who owns the farm which his father
purchased in 1844.
394 LANDMARKS OF
Biographical notices of many other early settlers and prominent
citizens of the town appear on succeeding pages of this volume, and
among those may be mentioned here Alanson Mansfield, Daniel and
Daniel W. Reed, Harrison Hatch, Aretas Pierce, Aaron and Aaron
Warren, jr., Medard Ferry, Hiram Frisbie, George Squire, Jacob
Hinds, Daniel Young, Nathaniel Rhodes, Col. John Berry, the Potter
family, Samuel Copeland and many others. A Dr, Hill came from
Vermont in 1817 and settled on lot 245, where he erected a distillery,
which was the first one built in town. The first house was Epaphras
Mattison's log cabin, which he opened as a tavern. Solomon C.
Wright and Tryphena Farnsworth were the first couple married ; the
second was Zimri Perrigo and Lucetta Spofibrd, whose wedding oc-
curred January 17, 1815. Mrs. Daniel Reed died in 18 14, which was
the first death in town. The first birth was that of Betsey Mattison.
Aaron Baldwin erected the first tannery in 1817.
Thr advent of the Erie Canal, the actual development of the town's
valuable resources, and the beginning of the present village of Holley
may be considered as cotemporaneous. Transportation, until then con-
ducted by slow moving wagons, was quickened, and settlers seeking
homes were not slow in taking advantage of the many opportunities
this beautiful section afforded. The pioneers, like those of other towns,
were a hardy, resolute class of men and women, many of them of New
England birth or parentage, who imparted to their children and grand-
children sterling traits of character and habits of thrift and industry.
The fruits of their labors are seen on every hand — in the well-tilled
fields, the luxurious homes and the pretty villages of the present gen-
eration. About a quarter of a century after the canal came the rail-
road, and the two have ever since afforded the inhabitants of Murray
fine transportation privileges.
All through the dark years of the Rebellion large numbers of brave
volunteers from this town fought and bled on Southern battlefields.
Some were starved to death in Confederate prisons, some were killed
or maimed for life in the fierce conflict, and others have died since the
closing scenes of 1865, but a few still remain, honored and respected, to
tell the story. Murray sent her quota to the front, a list of which is
as follows :
ORLEANS COUNTY
395
Robert Aggas, 8th H. Art.
Micliael Anderson, 8th H. Art.
John Anderson.
Robert Alongton.
Samuel Anderson.
James A. Austin, 8th II. Art.
Christian Burger. 8th H. Art.
Henry Briggs.
Lewis N. Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
Orrin L. Blanchard, 8th H. Art.
George Bradley, lolstlnf.
Gary Brace, 105th Inf.
William S. Ball, 4th F. Art.
James H. Bushnell, 105th Inf.
Daniel M. Burnett, 151st Inf.
Francis Balcom, 151st Inf.
Henry Bidwell, 97th Inf.
Henry B. Bacon, 8th H. Art.
Elisha D. Bronson, 151st Inf.
George Blym, 151,st Inf.
George Blyth, 1st Mounted Rifles.
Michael Calligan.
John Corbett.
Edward Coleman.
Henry Carter.
Joye H. Clark.
Charles D. Cornell. 8th H. Art.
George F. Clark, 14th Inf
Daniel Caton, 8th H. Art.
William H. Chapman, 151st Inf.
Orrin B. Coville, 4th H. Art.
George F. Copeland, 8th H. Art.
Michael Collins, 105th Inf.
Hiram J. Cady, 105th Inf.
Nathaniel Conner, 105th Inf.
William Davis.
Charles Deleman.
William Dailey.
James Droyer.
William Dreary.
Joseph Doyen.
James Dalton, 151st Inf.
Ira G. Davis, Ind. Sharpshooters.
William Dewolf, 151st Inf.
Joseph Dows, 105th Inf.
Judson Downs, 3d Cav.
Charles Delow, 8th H. Art.
Jeremiah Enright.
Thomas Enright, 151st Inf.
William Ely, 94th Inf.
Alexander Falkner, 22d Cav.
O'Neil Flandens, 22d Cav.
Samuel C. Francis. 151st Inf.
Bruce Fortinance, 151st Inf.
Lyman J. Glazyer, 105th Inf.
John Gwynne, 151st Inf.
Patrick Glancy.
John Gibson.
Myron S. Hooker, 8th H. Art.
W^illiam Harden.
J. B. Hutchinson.
William Holmes.
George House.
Leonard Henry, 8th H. Art.
Reuben Harrington, 105th Inf.
Wallace B. Hard, 8th H. Art.
John W. Hulbert, 22d Cav.
Alexander Hosbury, 28th Inf.
Edwin S. Housington, 105th Inf.
George E. Harwood, 151st Inf.
George Haggard, 151st Inf.
Lyman Howe, 8th H. Art.
Joseph Jerol, 105th Inf.
Martin Knight, 8th H. Art.
John Kelly, 112th Inf.
Patrick Kelly.
Patrick Kmney.
Ezra Keyoy, 105th Inf.
John Kelly, 151st Inf.
Cyrus M. Knight, 17th Bat.
Darwin S. Littlefield, 151st Inf.
Nelson Lee.
Albert Lanfield, 7th Inf.
John Longhney, 151st Inf.
Levi M. Lawrence, 151st Inf.
Hosea Lawrence, 151st Inf.
Orrin Mansfield, 8th H.Art.
James McNinney, 3d Art.
396
LANDMARKS OF
Francis Murphy.
James Morrison.
Peter Meyer.
John Mahon.
John Murphy.
William E. McGuire, 1st Art.
William Mil'er, 105th Inf.
William H. Mason, 151st Inf.
Benjamin F. Miller, 151st Inf.
John Niston.
Thomas Nolan.
Benjamin F. Nichols, 8th H. Art.
Michael O'Brien.
George E. Ostrander, 14lh H. Art.
James B. Pratt, 8ih H. Art.
Reed A. Pierce, 8th H. Art.
Charles E. Roake.
Daniel Ram.
James Rodney.
Samuel Reed, 105th Inf.
Lyman A. Reed, 105th Inf.
Lewis Rice, 105th Inf.
John H. Reigar, 151st Inf.
William Ryan, 22d Cav.
Michael Ryan, 22d Cav.
Edward Reed, 8th Art.
John A. Ross, 151st Inf.
Walter B. Rhode.s, 151st Inf.
William Smith.
Samuel Smith.
The town of Murray, including the village of HoUey, had a popula-
tion in 1890 of 3,465, an increase since 1880 of 653. Its real estate in
1893 was assessed at $1,868,337 (equalized to $1,592,562) and its per-
sonal property at $159,025. The taxes aggregated ^11,601.72; the
rate per cent, that year was .0054216. ' The following incorporated
companies doing business in town were assessed on real estate : Bell
Telephone Company, $1,770; N. Y. Life Insurance Company, $3,-
725 • N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co., $226,000 ; Postal Telegraph' Com-
pany, $3,120 ; Western Union Telegraph Company, $2,280 ; Brock-
port Loan Association, $750; Holley Electric Company, $3,500; Hol-
ley Water Works Company, $4,000 ; Rochester Milling Company,
Sabastain Stearns. 105th Inf.
Robert Sjiamsburg, 8th Cav.
Thomas Strogan, 8th H. Art.
Lowell Snyder, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Elijah Smith, 105th Inf.
Henry E. Snyder, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Arrill H. Snyder. 8th H. Art.
Henry Smith, 105th Inf.
Peter Shipp, 97th Inf.
Henry Shipp, 2d Mounted Rifles.
George H. Snow, 1st Bat.
Henry E. Smith, 105th Inf.
Franklin M. Stone, 8th H. Art.
Alonzo Stedman, 105th Inf.
James F. Trumble. 22d Cav.
Daniel K. Trumble, 22d Cav.
William Thompson.
Wellington Tibbitts, 151st Inf.
Edward T. Vallance, 151st Inf.
Charles S. Wood, 8th H. Art.
John Welch.
Joshua Wood.
Michael Welch.
William Warren.
Andrew Willson.
Edgar J. Wiat, 105th Inf.
Mark Ward, 14th Inf.
William Wood, 8th H. Art.
Joseph White, 8th H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTV. 397
$6,000; Genesee Fruit Company, $12,000. The town audit for 1893
amounted to $2,067.29, of which $2,009.14 was allowed.
The town officers for 1894 are : Nervill E. Cole, supervisor ; Jay D.
Burns, town clerk ; Danly S. Webster, George W. Arnold, L. G. Burns,
James H. Rowe, justices of the peace ; L. J. Whitney, collector; Frank
D. Petrie, commissioner of highways ; Charles A. Tillman, overseer of
the poor ; Delos Smith, Huffman Ruger, Lott Farnsworth, assessors.
Sandy Creek. — This village is located at the confluence of the east
and west branches of Sandy Creek, from which streams the place re-
ceived its designation. The name of the post-office here is Murray,
but the original name of the village still clings to it. As early as 18 15,
prior to any other hamlet in the town, it began to assume the appear-
ance of a village, and it was for a time the principal business place in
this region. In 1815 Isaac Leach erected and opened a store here,
which was the first in the town, and soon afterward Orlando Keys en-
gaged in mercantile business. In 1816 Robert Perry and Henry Mc-
Call built a grist mill, but it was soon afterward abandoned. Ephraim
Rose erected another in 1828, and it was in use till about 1850. In
1836 Southworth, Frisbie & Adams erected the present mill, which is
now conducted by S. B Pike. McCall & Perry, at an early day, built
a saw mill and a distillery and operated both for a time. The first saw
mill in the town was built here by Simeon Daggett in 181 1. A cloth-
iery was erected here about 18 19 by Wyman & Clark, which was the
first of the kind in town, but with the decline of domestic manufactures
it ceased operations. The first hotel was built and kept by Elijah and
Eli Root. It stood on the site of the present one. In 18 18 Dr. Wood-
worth built another. Hotel keeping was then a brisk business. A
plank school house was built here about 18 17, and among the first
teachers in it was Benjamin Allen.
Sandy Creek was at first a very unhealthy place. Judge Thomas says:
" Mr. Andrew H. Green, of Byron, Genesee county, relates that several
families were settled at Sandy Creek in 1 8 1 1 . In the fall of that year set-
tlers in Byron heard that these people in Sandy Creek were nearly all sick
and in great suffering, and they made up a company of six or eight and
went over to help them, carrying a load of necessaries. They found
them the most helpless company they ever saw." Again he says :
398 LANDMARKS OF
"In 1817 some fifteen or twenty families had located at Sandy Creek,
and in that year Henry McCall and Robert Ferry built mills on the
creek, raising the water so as to overflow eighteen or twenty acres,
then covered with heavy trees which were left standing. The water
killed the timber, and as a result a terrible sickness followed among the
inhabitants, about one quarter of whom died in one season. The well
persons were not numerous enough to take care of the sick and bury
the dead, and settlers from other neighborhoods came and helped the
needy ones. The mill dam was taken down and the sickness disap-
peared." But for several years it was regarded as a very unhealthy
locality. The first physician in town was Dr. Eri Wood, who came to
Sandy Creek in the fall of 18 16, and the first post-office was established
here under the name of Murray, which designation it has always re-
tained. The present postmaster is A. H. Dusett, who has held the
office since 1864. The village now has a Baptist church, a store, one
hotel, two blacksmith shops, a grist mill, and some thirty houses. The
store kept by George Arnold was burned in 1880. It was a stone
building, and was replaced by a wooden structure, which was also
burned in 1888. The present frame store was erected on the same site.
HOLLEY. — The village of Holley is conveniently located on the Erie
Canal and on the Niagara Falls branch of the New York Central Rail-
road, nine miles east from Albion and four miles west from Brockport,
Monroe county. It stands mostly on lots 52, 53, 72 and 73. The east
branch of Sandy Creek runs through a portion of the village and its
water power was utilized at a very early date. Judge Thomas says
that the site of the village was originally covered with a heavy growth
of hemlock timber, most of which was standing when the route for the
canal was surveyed. The first settlers here were Stephen Lewis on lot
72, and William Rice on lot 73, born in the spring of 181 2.
Prior to the commencement of work on the canal settlement here had
not been rapid, for in the spring 1822 there were only two framed resi-
dences and four log houses. The salt springs, which existed on lot 52,
near where the railroad crosses the creek, were thought to be valuable,
and the land was for a time withheld from market by the State of Con-
necticut, and when it was sold all minerals, mines and salt springs were
reserved. By an arrangement with that State, under which he was to
CO^zt^ (-O^cL^c^^i^^
ORLEANS rOUNTY. 390
share half the avails, John Reed, in 1814, commenced the manu-
facture of salt here, and at one time he had sixteen kettles in use. The
works were continued till the opening of canal navigation, when they
were abandoned. Though much salt was made from the comparatively-
weak brine which this spring afforded, the business was never profitable.
Erastus Cone, several years later, bored for stronger brine to a depth of
about 100 feet, but his effort proved futile. The sulphur springs were
never developed. In 1827 Areovester Hamlin purchased this lot con-
taining 100 acres, and in the same year built a framed house and an
ashery and opened a store. In 1822 he employed Elisha Johnson, a
surveyor of Rochester, to lay out a village. He erected a warehouse
on the canal, and procured the establishment of a post-office, in which
he was the first postmaster. "He was an enterprising, active business
man, but he attempted to do more business than his means would per-
mit and failed."
In 1828 Hiram Frisbie and James Seymour purchased what then
remained unsold of Mr. Hamlin's real estate, and Mr. Frisbie afterward
purchased the interest of Mr. Seymour, and continued to sell village
lots during many years. He commenced the mercantile business here
on his removal to this place from Clarendon in 1828, and continued in
trade most of the time till his death. John VV. Strong became a mer-
chant here soon after Mr. Hamlin, and failed at about the same time.
Major William AUis was a clerk in the store of Mr. Strong. After the
failure of the latter Mr. Allis became a produce dealer, and was after-
ward sheriff of Orleans county. Mower & Wardwell, and Selby &
Newell were also early merchants here. Samuel Cone and his brother
erected a brick building which they opened as a tavern in 1823 ; then
a Mr. Barr built and kept another at about the same time. Both these
hotels were established prior to the opening of canal navigation. Al-
vah Hamlin, George A. Porter, S. Stedman and E. Taylor were among
the first carpenters and joiners. John Avery and his brother were the
first blacksmiths, and John Onderdonk was the first tailor. Reuben
Bryant was the first lawyer, and Dr. McCIough was the first physician.
In the spring of 1824 Harley N. Bushnell built a saw mill, and in
1825 he and Samuel Clark erected a carding and cloth-dressing mill.
The first grist mill was built about 1836 by Jonathan Waddams, who
400 LANDMARKS OF
carried on distilling in the same building. A few years later David
Morris succeeded Mr. Waddams and used the mill as a distillery exclu-
sively. About 1846 it became the property of Thomas Rutherford,
who converted it into a tannery and used it as such till about 1 853. Like
other tanneries in this region it ceased operations when the supply of
bark failed.
Prior to the commencement of work on the canal there was no ap-
pearance of a village here. A great embankment, the highest on the
line of the canal, was required over Sandy Creek, and Col. Ezra Brain-
ard was the contractor. Many men were required to do this work, and
while it was in progress many settlers established themselves here.
The nucleus which was then formed has expanded till the present beau-
tiful and thriving village occupies the site where seventy five years since
the wind sighed through the branches of the giant hemlocks that
shaded the soil. The first warehouse was built by Areovister Hamlin
at an early date. It was owned by various parties and was burned in
1866. The second was built by Darwin Hill soon after the erection of
the first. This was burned in the great fire that destroyed the south
part of the village. In 1836 another was built which was also burned
in the same fire. A warehouse was erected early on the point between
the slip and the old canal. After a few years it was converted into a
canal grocery and was burned in the great fire. After the conflagra-
tion of 1866 Simon and Jeff"rey A. Harwood built what is known as
the stone warehouse at the junction of the old and new canals. Two
warehouses were erected about 1850, one by H. H. Goff and the other
by Augustus Southworth. About 1862 John Berry and D. H. Part-
ridge erected a fruit warehouse and excavated a basin with about 250
feet of dockage. In 1890 it was converted into a cheese factory.
In 1834 Hiram Frisbie and Augustus Southworth built a flouring mill
on the east side of Sandy Creek, just north from the present line of the
railroad. At first it had three runs of stone, to which another was
soon added. Messrs. Frisbie and Southworth conducted this mill
about ten years. Mr. Frisbie then purchased the interest of Mr. South-
worth and carried on the mill till 1853, when it was purchased by
Edward Farrell, Colonel John Berry and others under the firm name
of Farwell, Berry & Co. Four years later Mr. Farwell purchased the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 401
interest of his partners, and a few years afterward he sold the property
to Charles Pratt and Byron Gilbert. Mr. Pratt afterward became sole
proprietor, and in 1869 he sold to Elijah Drake, W. H. Bull, and VV.
K. Moore. In 1870 Mr. Moore sold his interest to Drake & Bull, who
conducted it till 1885, when the Rochester Milling Company purchased
the property, and they still own it.
In 1867 Luther Gordon, of Brockport, established a lumber and coal
yard in Holley, and in 1879 erected a planing mill and grist mill. He
died in 1 881, and his son, George C. Gordon, succeeded him as pro-
prietor. Edwin Bliss has been the manager of these mills since their
establishment.
Holley has suftered much from the ravages of fire. October 25,
1866, nearly all the business places on the southeast corner of the pub-
lic square, together with a warehouse in the rear of these buildings,
were burned. These places were speedily rebuilt. In 1871 all the
business buildings at the south end of the square were destroyed.
July 23, 1874, nearly the same territory was burned over, and again in
1885 the buildings on the same ground were a third time destroyed. In
1888 a block at the south end of the east side of the square was
burned.
At an early day a very rude fire engine was purchased, and this was
the only apparatus here for protection against fire during many years.
A second hand engine, with a hose cart and a quantity of partially worn
hose were purchased in Rochester, and this, with the old machine, was
the only apparatus till 1887, when a Remington horse-power engine
and 100 feet of hose were purchased by subscription and the use of
these was tendered to the village. In 1888 a fire organization was
completed and the corporation purchased two hose carts and the neces-
sary apparatus for a hook and ladder company, which, as well as two
hose companies, was then formed. These have since been superseded
by the present system of water works, which require only suitable hose,
and which have sufficient pressure to throw a stream of water above
any building in the village.
The Exchange bank of Holley was established as a private banking
institution by C. W. Gibson and George N. Bowman in January, 1868.
A year later G. VV. Stoddard took the place in the bank of Mr. Gib-
51
402 LANDMARKS OF
son, and in 1873 L. W. Hurd succeeded Mr. Stoddard. In 1882 John
Downs and O. A. Eddy purchased the interest of Mr. Hurd, and on
the death of Mr. Eddy, in May, 1884, Mr. Downs purchased from his
estate his interest, and the firm has since been Downs & Bowman.
They transact a general banking and insurance business. The capital
aggregates $150,000. The bank has occupied its present quarters
since 1868.
In 1889 the corporation entered into a contract with the Holley
Water Works Company, which was organized for the purpose of sup-
plying the village with water. This company made an arrangement
with the Brockport Water Works Company whereby the villages were
to be supplied from the same source. A supply of water was found in
the town of Clarendon, about a mile south from Holley, where two
wells were sunk. In 1890 the company converted an old mill on the
bank of Sandy Creek into a pumping station, and erected a wrought
steel water tower on a height of 1 00 feet above the village. This
tower has a capacity of 190,000 gallons, and at a height of seventy-five
feet a similar tower was erected near Brockport. Connected with the
pumping station and water tower a system of cast iron mains and pipes
was laid in 1890, and thirty hydrants were set in various parts of the
village, each capable of throwing two one- inch streams to a height of
100 feet. In March, 1894, the entire plant of Holley became the prop-
erty of the Rochester Consolidated Water Supply Company, of which
William F. Ross is president and general manager. The local superin-
tendent is J. F. Bradt. Two new wells were sunk in the fall of 1893.
There are now about five miles of mains and some 250 patrons. The
station equipment consists of two pumps aggregating 150 horse-power
which are driven by steam from two boilers having the same capacity.
The Holley Electric Company was incorporated April 27, 1889, with
a capital stock of $7,500, and with Harry O. Jones, John Downs,
George N. Bowman, Edwin Bliss, John H. Taylor, Charles W. Blod-
gett, E. R. Armstrong, John D. Arnold and Burton Keys as directors.
The executive officers were H. O. Jones, president ; John Downs, vice-
president ; C. W. Blodgett, secretary, and G. N. Bowman, treasurer.
The plant was placed in operation that year at a cost of $8,500. The
Western electric direct current was used until the spring of 1893, when
li%
f >-
0
c££^^^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 403
a VVestinghouse alternating system was substituted at a cost of over
$5,000. Only the incandescent series is employed with eight miles of
wire and more than 700 lamps. The equipment consists of one 850
light dynamo, a seventy-five horse power engine, and a 100 horse
power boiler. The present general manager, Henry J. Buell, was ap-
pointed in November, 1892. The directors are: Edwin Bliss, John
Downs, Walter T. Pettengill, Ely H. Cook, Henry H. Sawyer, James
P. O'Brien, Harry O. Jones, Henry J. Buell, and George N. Bowman.
The officers are : Edwin Bliss, president ; E. H. Cook, vice-president ;
H. J. Buell, secretary, and G. N. Bowman, treasurer.
The cider and vinegar factory and evaporator of Miller & Pettengill
was first started at Clarendon in 1874. In 1886 a branch of this was
established in Holley, on the railroad, a short distance west from the
station. The business here was increased till the branch has become
larger than the parent trunk. The latest improved machinery has been in-
troduced in all the departments, the annual output aggregates several
hundred thousand gallons of cider and vinegar and in the neighborhood
of 300 tons of dried fruit, furnishing employment to a large force of
operatives In the fall of 1890 the plant became the property of the
Genesee Fruit Company.
About 181 5 a log school house was erected near where is now the
railroad station. It had neither chimney nor fire place, and during
several years school was kept in it only in the summer. Miss Lydia
Thomas, afterward Mrs. Henry Hill, was the first teacher in the build-
ing. A stone school house was built on the corner of Albion and
North streets in 1840, and during ten years it was used for school
purposes. In the autumn of 1846 Worden Reynolds opened a select
school in a building that had been used as a hotel, near the northwest
corner of the public square. He and his cousin, Hascall Reynolds,
continued this school about two years. The facilities thus afforded for
a higher grade of education brought about the establishment of the
Holley Academy in 1847. This institution flourished until 1868, when
it was combined with the public school under the name Holley Union
School and Academy. A more detailed account of the educational in-
terests of the village appears in a previous chapter.
404 LANDMARKS OF
At an early date there was a burial place on a knoll twelve or fifteen
feet in height, a short distance northeast from the railroad station in
HoUey. There were but few graves here, and when the railroad was
constructed the knoll was removed to make a part of the embankment
through the valley of Sandy Creek. A second burial ground was
located on the east side of the Clarendon road on the line between
Clarendon and Murray, Though burials commenced here at an early
day the ground was not formally set apart for cemetery purposes till
1844, when William Hatch and wife for an expressed consideration of
$100, deeded one acre and seven hundredths of land to Silas Day,
Lewis K. Churchill, Alva Morgan, Moses N. Stoddard, George W.
Dutcher and Justin Day, trustees, of the first Presbyterian Society of
Murray for burial purposes. It was used as a cemetery for many years,
but no interments have been made there since 1S67. December 11,
1866, the Holley Cemetery Association was incorporated. The first
Board of Trustees consisted of John Berry, S. Ensign, S. Harwood, E.
H Cook, N. E. Darrow, N. Hatch, H. Ruggles, S. Spurr, and O. A.
Eddy. In 1867 eight acres of land adjoining the corporation on the
south were purchased and about one- half of this tract was at once laid
out, graded and prepared for use as a cemetery. On the i6th of Au-
gust in that year the grounds were formally dedicated and the place was
named "Hillside Cemetery." The balance of the tract was afterward
laid out and tastefully terraced and ornamented. Many rich, stately
and beautiful monuments have been erected. A fountain, which is fed
from pure springs, has been placed near the main entrance, and the
grounds present a neat and tasty appearance. In 1885 six acres on the
west side of the road which passes southward on the west side of the
cemetery, was purchased. A portion of this has been graded and the
whole is held in reserve for future needs. In 1888 an additional tract
of eleven acres was purchased. The total cost of these grounds and
the improvements amounts to more than $10,000. Col. John Berry
was president of the association from its organization until his death in
1892 and had the immediate supervision of the grounds. He was suc-
ceeded by Edwin Bliss. The. present officers are : Edwin Bliss, Isaac S.
Bennett, Ely H. Cook, Francis D. Cogswell, Harrison E. Kibling, Ber-
ton Keys, Alfred Millard, David H. Partridge, and James B. Pratt,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 405
trustees ; Edwin Bliss, president ; H. E. Kibling, vice-president ; I. S.
Bennett, treasurer ; Berton Keys, secretary.
Holley village was first incorporated in 1850, and included within its
limits lots fifty-two, fifty-three, seventy-two and seventy- three. The
first president was Harrison Hatch. In its central business part is a
public square from which streets radiate in different directions. Just
east from this was the canal as originally constructed. When it was
enlarged a new route was adopted, but the old canal is still in use for
local purposes. A number of destructive fires have occurred here. In
one of which, that of 1866, the village records were destroyed. Since
that year the following have been chairman of the board of trustees .
1867, O. A. Eddy; 1868, J. C. Esmond; 1869, Edwin Bliss; 1870,
E. S. Curry; 1871, John Berry; 1872, G. N. Bowman; 1873, Alfred
Millard; 1874, L. D. Hurd ; 1875, Alvah S. Morgan; 1876, John
Berry; 1877, S. E. Howard; 1878, G. W. Pierce; 1879, D. H. Part-
ridge; 1880, F. D.Cogswell; 18S1, H. M. Latimer; 1882, T. Carr ;
1883, A. Millard ; 1884, T. Carr; 1885, Timothy O'Brien; 1886, Will-
iam Wescott. In 1887 the village adopted a new charter, and the presi-
dents have since been : 1887, Burton Keys; 1888-89, O. S. Miller;
1890-91, Ira Edwards ; 1892-93, N. L. Cole ; 1894, E. C. Crego. The
other village officers for 1894 are: E. R. Jackson, T. H. Fowler, John
Nelligan, trustees ; George N. Bowman, treasurer ; A. G. Southworth,
clerk.
The Press, the fraternal societies, the academic schools, the quarry
interests, the legal and medical practitioners, and other subjects con-
cerning the village of Holley and the town of Murray are noticed at
length in previous chapters. From Major Holley, one of the canal
commissioners when the Erie Canal was constructed, the village re-
ceived its name. In early days it was sometimes called "Salt Port."
The place has always been an important market for the rich farming
country surrounding it. It now contains a bank, a union school, five
churches, a weekly newspaper, a first-class hotel, two dry goods stores,
three hardware stores, six groceries, a clothing store, a merchant tailor,
two drug stores, two milliners, two furniture and undertaking establish-
ments, three shoe stores, three feed stores, two shoe shops, three pro-
duce dealers, three blacksmiths, a wagon shop, electric light and water
406 LANDMARKS OF
supply systems, a broom factory, a cheese factory, three harness shops,
two Hveries, two bakeries, three meat markets, four lumber yards, four
coal yards, four warehouses, a monumental works, two flouring mills,
two planing mills, a vinegar factory and fruit evaporator, three barber
shops, three lawyers, three physicians, a dentist, the usual complement
of mechanics, and about 1,400 inhabitants. The Downs Hotel was
erected by its owner, John Downs, in 1892, and cost, including the lot
on which it stands, about $30,000. It is probably the finest hotel
building in Orleans county.
HULBERTON. — The commencement of the village of Hulberton was in
1828. In May, 1826, Joseph Budd,who came from Rensselaer county, N.
Y., purchased from a previous settler named Degollier, 130 acres of land,
lying on both sides of the canal. His first residence was a log house
which Degollier had built, but he subsequently erected and resided in
the stone residence since owned by Hon. Marcus H. Phillips. In 1828
he excavated in the south bank of the canal a basin of sufficient capacity
for boats to turn around and also commenced the sale of village lots.
In the same year, Isaac H. S. Hulbert, who had settled here in the
spring of 1825, built and opened the first grocery on the canal. The
same year, Orsemus Squires erected, near the tow path, a building in
which he opened the first general store. In 1832 this building was re-
modeled and converted into a hotel, and was first kept by Timothy
Tuttle. The first framed building in Hulberton was located on the north
bank of the canal east from the bridge. It has been replaced by a large
store and warehouse. The original building was erected by George
Squire, who settled here 1825. Dr. Frisbie built the first warehouse
on the basin in 1830. In 1833 Mr. Budd employed A. Cantine, a sur-
veyor, to lay out the land along the road near the canal into village
lots, and George Squire gave to the young village the name of Scio.
Prior to 1835 there was no post-office nearer than Sandy Creek.
Through the efTorts of I. H. S. Hulburt, a post office was established
here in that year. There was then an office called Scio in the Stale
and this was named Hulberton in honor of Mr. Hulbert, who was the
first postmaster, and the citizens adopted that name for the village.
Mr. Hulbert was an active, enterprising, shrewd business man. In ad-
dition to his mercantile business, he was a dealer in farm produce,
f}pj(f0wU^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 407
staves, lumber, etc. The first school house in this vicinity was a log
building erected in 1822. Alfreda Smith and Ryan Barber were
among the first teachers. This house was burned in the winter of 1827-
28. A barn on Main street south from the canal, was utilized for a
school house the next summer, and the next winter the school was
taught in a log house north from the village. In 1828 a framed school
house was built on the opposite side of the street from the present one,
which was erected in 1840. The village now contains three general
stores, a hotel, a shoe shop, two blacksmiths, a wagon shop, a milliner,
two churches, a public hall, and a post-office with Martin L. Kerwin,
postmaster, who succeeded Frank Moore, July 5, 1893. The impor-
tance of Hulberton as a business place is largely due to the extensive
quarry interests in the immediate vicinity.
HiNDSBURG. — This hamlet was founded by Jacob Hinds, who in
1829 purchased of Jacob Luttenton the land on which the village
stands, and on which Mr. Luttenton had built the first house there. In
1830 Mr. Hinds built the first warehouse at the place and commenced
dealing in produce. In 1832 this had become quite an important point
for the marketing of produce, and in that year it was, at a meeting of
the settlers, named Hindsburg. In 1835 Mr. Hinds built and opened a
large frame hotel, and the same year he and his brother Joel built the
first store, and opened it for business in the year following. In 1836
W. Whitney, of Rochester, built the second warehouse here and en-
gaged in the produce business. Jabez Allison also became a produce
dealer here at an early day. He was a justice of the peace for more
than twenty years, and was five times elected supervisor of Murray.
Samuel N. Othout, of Rochester, was a merchant and a hotel keeper
here at an early day. Hindsburg was an active business place and an
important produce market till the completion of the Rochester and
Suspension Bridge railroad, but since that time it has not increased in
population and its trade has diminished. It now contains one store,
two warehouses, a blacksmith shop, a post-office, and about fifteen
dwellings. The present postmaster, Ernest D. Burns, succeeded
Charles Scharping in that position in July, 1893.
Balcom's Mills. — In 1834 Hiel Brockway, assisted by Abner
Balcom^ erected a stone grist mill on the west branch of Sandy Creek on
408 LANDMARKS OF
lot 2 20. Ill 1836 this had become the property of John Caswell, and
in that year he erected near it a saw mill, which has gone to decay. In
1839 the grist mill was purchased by Peter Bush. In the winter of
that year he died, and Abner Balconi leased the mill from the estate
during ten years. Jabez Allison purchased it and in 1853 sold it
to G. W. Cook, and in 1854 A. Balcom & Sons became the owners.
Abner Balcom died in 1873, and the mill became the property of A.
J. Balcom, his son, In 1875 it was purchased by Lapp & Salisbury,
and by John W. Young in 1880. In 1889 Fred Ruggles became a
partner, and in that year and 1890 a new mill was erected near the site
of the original one. A pleasant rural hamlet, known as Balcom's
Mills, has sprung into existence here.
Brockville. — A small settlement of this name lies about three
quarters of a mile east of Hindsburg, and owes it existence mainly to
the extensive stone quarries in the neighborhood. It was named from
Hiel Brockway.
Murray Station. — This is a rural hamlet on the N. Y. C. & H. R.
R. R., a few miles west of HoUey, containing one store, a coal yard,
and a few dwellings. It has become quite an important shipping,
point, especially for the several quarries lying along the canal a short
distance north.
The First Presbyterian Church of Holley. — The " First Congrega-
tional Church of Murray " was organized in March, 1816, in what is
now Clarkson (then Murray). Clarkson was set off from Murray in
18 19, and the name of this church was changed to Clarkson. On the
5th of January of that year the " Congregational Church of Sandy
Creek" was organized, a portion of the members of the Clarkson
Church having withdrawn for the purpose. The names of the constit-
uent members of the new organization were ; Theophilus Taylor,
Theodore Ellis, Samuel Reed, Harrison Hatch, Joseph Farnsworth,
Timothy Smith, Isaac Cady, Mary Perry, Ruth Densmore, Patience
Ellis, Polly Rice, Sally Reed, Azerbah Taylor, Phila Barker, Jerusha
Sprague, Thankful Smith, Electa Stiles, Eunice Whitcomb, and Polly
Day. Theophilus Taylor and Samuel Reed were chosen deacons, and
Harrison Hatch clerk. In October of the same year George Wood,
Betsey Cady, Susanna Broughton and Rebecca Rice were added to the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 409
number, making a total of twenty-three. At that time there was a
small settlement at Sandy Creek, but none at Holley ; and the whole
region was missionary ground. In 1820 a number of the members of
this society withdrew and formed a church in Clarendon. In 1828 the
Sandy Creek Church was reduced to five members. In 1830 Rev.
William T. Torrey, Mrs. Betsey Torrey, and Chauncey Harwood were
received by letter. In the spring of 1 83 1 what was known as the
"great barn revival" occurred, and added seventy four to this church
and about the same number to the Baptist Church of Holley. July 13,
1 83 1, the church of Sandy Creek and the church of Clarendon were, by
an act of the Presbytery of Rochester, to which they both belonged,
united in one, to be called the church of Murray. Prior to 1831 the
society held its meetings in the school house at Holley. In that year
measures were taken for the erection of a meeting house, and it was
commenced on a lot purchased from Hiram Frisbie, in the north part
of the village. In 1832 it was completed at a cost of about $2,500.
The first trustees of the society were Reuben Bryant, William Allis,
Harley N. Bushnell, Austin Day, Joseph Parker, Morris Sprague, and
Abram Cantine. About 1856 the edifice was repaired and refurnished
at an expense of $750. In 1869 it was raised, a basement was built
under it, and the auditorium was rearranged, all at an expense of
$5,000. In 1878 an alcove was added to the east end, at a cost of $400,
and an organ placed in it at an expense of $i,ioo. In 1821 this church
connected itself with the Presbytery of Rochester on the " plan of
union." In 1836 it voted almost unanimously to change from the
" plan " to the Presbyterian form of government. The carrying out of
this resolution was delayed, and finally postponed indefinitely; so that
although the church has been Presbyterian in name it has been Congre-
gational in fact. A Sunday school was organized in 1827, with S. B.
Ayers as superintendent. Harley N. Bushnell served in that capacity
many years. The present attendance averages about lOO and Charles
W. Chough is superintendent. The church has 190 members and these
deacons : J. H. Ruggles, C. W. Clough, Isaac Allen, and E. H. Cook.
In 1888 a frame parsonage was erected on a lot adjoining the church at
a cost of $3,000. The pastors have been as follows ; Rev. John F.
Bliss till 1821 ; Rev. Stephen Williams in 1827; followed by Revs. —
410 LANDMAEKS OF
Child, William T. Torrey, Hiland Hubbard, Robert H. Conklin, O. S.
Powell, Richard Kay, R. S. Compton, John Copeland (whose pastorate
continued nearly sixteen years), E. M. Toof, F. Drake, Nathan Boswell,
C. C. Johnson, F. A. Bacon, J. W. Marcusson, J. R. Rankin, H. C.
Hazen, E. Allen, G. G. Galbraith, and James W. Fenner (since June,
1891).
The First Baptist Church of Holley.— November 12, 1825, a meeting
of Baptists was held in the school house of district number four, about
a mile north from Holley, and the few present resolved to form a church.
Another meeting was held two weeks later at the same place, and a
society was formed with Arah Irons, Daniel Reed, Davis Ingles, John
Sprague, Silas Everts, Abel Belding, Ezra Hall, Joseph Reed, and ten
women as constituent members. Three days afterward, or November
29, a council duly recognized the church. In June, 1 826, it was received
into the Niagara Baptist Association, and on January 20, 1830, it was in-
corporated as the " First Baptist church and society of Holley." Hiram
Frisbie, Harley N. Bushnell, C. D. Bivins, Daniel Reed, James Benja-
min, and John Sprague, were chosen trustees. On February 24, 1832,
some thirty members withdrew to form the Gaines and Murray Baptist
church. During the first eight years of its existence the church wor-
shiped mostly in the school house of district number four, or the
Sprague school house as it was called, though for a year meetings were
held alternately at that place and at Sandy Creek January 7, 1831, a
building committee consisting of Hiram Frisbie, Daniel Reed, and John
Sprague was appointed, and a wooden church building was erected in
the northeast part of the village of Holley, at a cost of $3,000. It was
completed in the spring of 1834 and dedicated May 29th A parsonage
costing $950 was purchased in 1858, and in 1866-67 the church edifice
was enlarged, remodeled, refurnished, and a baptistery put in at a total
expense of $3,200. In 1844, at the organization of the Orleans Baptist
Association, this church was included in that body, to which it has ever
since belonged. In 1890 a new church building was erected on Geddes
street at a cost, including the lot, of $13,000, and was dedicated January
21, 1 89 1. It is a tasteful structure of Medina sandstone. The old edi-
fice was converted into flats for dwellings. Dr. J. G. Willson, in his
will, generously bequeathed the society a house and lot for a parsonage.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 411
subject to the life use of his widow, who died in January, 1894. The
building was repaired at a cost of $350 and is now occupied by the resi-
dent pastor. The society has about 225 members and a flourishing
Sunday school under the superintendency of F. M. Bishop. At inter-
vals the church has been without a pastor. Arah Irons, a licentiate,
was ordained November 30, 1826. and was installed the first preacher
in charge. The pastors who followed in their respective order have
been : Revs. Zenas Case, James E. Eldridge, Martin Coleman, Alfred
Handy, Hobart Leavenworth, S. A. Estee, Franklin Woodard, Charles
Clutz, Mr. Bailey, W. S. Clark, Alfred Handy, again ; E. Savage, S.
Hill, Samuel Gilbert, R. C. Palmer, Ira Bennett, G. W. Divoll, B. W.
Rogers, M. P. Forbes, W. Dunbar, Louis Agassiz Gould, D. D. Brown,
and A. D. Abrams since November, 1887.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Holley was organized on
the iith of May, 1869, and Mortimer Taylor, Augustus South-
worth, Richard Hufif, James Gibson, Isaac Garrison, Richard P. True,
and Frank A. Marsh were chosen trustees. It had already been re-
solved by a few Methodists in that vicinity to build a church, and
$3,200 had been pledged for the purpose. A building committee con-
sisting of Mortimer Taylor, Richard Huff, and Isaac Garrison was ap-
pointed, a site was purchased of Hiram Frisbie, a brick edifice north of
and fronting the public square was at once commenced, the corner
stone was laid July 20, and the structure was completed and dedicated
April 27, 1870. Its cost was $12,000, and on the completion of the
building the society owed $7,000. It is a remarkable fact that that
amount was subscribed on the day of dedication. In the spring of
1870 a class was formally organized at Holley, consisting of Nelson
Coe, leader, R. P. True, Richard Huff, J. C. Allis, and twelve ladies,
and was- a branch of the Clarendon and Hulberton circuit. This soci-
ety continued to be a part of that circuit till the fall of 1875, when the
membership had increased to lOO, and it then became and has since
continued an independent charge. A Sunday-school, with seventy
scholars, was organized on the Sunday following the dedication of the
church, and Ira Edwards was the first superintendent, the present one
being L. D. Bartlett. It now has an average attendance of 120 schol-
ars. In 1883 a parsonage was purchased ata cost of $1,600. In 1889
412 LANDMARKS OF
the roof of the church building was recovered with slate, and the in-
terior was repainted, frescoed and refurnished at a total expense of $800.
The society has about 120 members, and the entire church property,
exclusive of the endowment fund, is valued at $15,250. Nelson Coe,
at his death, left an endownent of $4,000, the income of which was
available for twenty years ; after that it was to become the property of
the society. This sum, having been invested in western mortgages,
has decreased about one-half. The church also has a fund of $800 to
be used in placing a bell and clock in the tower. The pastors of the
society have been Revs. E. M. Buck, William Barrett, C. B Spencer,
G. W. Terry, Henry C. Woods, W. O. Peat. H. F. Osborne, L. S. At-
kins, William Armstrong, F. A. Tripett, N. R. Hamer, R. W. Cope-
land, W. B. Pickard, W. B. Wagoner, F. W. Hemingway, and E. M.
Snodgrass (since October, 1893.)
St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Church of Holley. — Prior to 1855 the
Roman Catholics in Holley and vicinity were occasionally visited by
priests whom Bishop Timon sent from Buffalo. In that year a mission
was organized and was attended by Rev. F"ather McGowan, the resi-
dent priest at Brockport. He soon purchased the site on which the
present church stands, and converted a dwelling house that stood there-
on into a place of worship. From 1858 to 1862 Rev. Dr. Barker, pas-
tor at Albion, supplied this mission. In the latter year he was suc-
ceeded by Rev. John Castaldi, who supplied the mission till 1875. In
1863 Father Casteldi erected a church building, and in 1875 the num-
ber of Catholics here having increased to forty- five, he enlarged it. In
1875 Rev. David F. Lasher was appointed resident pastor, but within
a year his failing health compelled him to resign, and he was succeeded
by Rev. James T. Lasher. During the first year of his pastorate he
erected a parochial residence and made other improvements at a total
cost of $4,000. In 1 879 the number of souls in this congregation had
increased to 500. The pastorate of Rev. P'ather Lasher closed in 1880,
and he was succeeded in 1881 by Rev. P. A. Maloy, who made an ad-
dition to the church at a cost of about $2,500. In November, 1887,
he was succeeded by Rev. James H. Leddy, the present pastor. The
parish has about 400 members, comprising some sixty families. It is
the only Roman Catholic Church in Orleans county east of the Transit.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 413
Connected with it is a neatly-fenced cemetery located near Holley vil-
lage in the edge of Clarendon, in which about 170 interments have
been made since March, 1881.
St. Paul's (Protestant Episcopal) Church of Holley was started as a
mission in September, 1890, by Rev. James A. Skinner, rector of St.
Luke's Church, Brockport, and until the spring of 1894 remained un-
organized. Early in tlie year 189 1 a class of twenty-six persons was
confirmed, and soon afterward two lots on the corner of Main and
Jackson streets were purchased at a cost of $2,500. On these was a
frame dwelling, which was converted into a house of worship, and
which is intended for a rectory as soon as the contemplated church
edifice is completed. In August, 1893, Rev. Mr. Skinner was suc-
ceeded by Rev. G. Sherman Burrows, the first and present resident
rector. The society, consisting of thirty-six communicants, was legally
incorporated May 7, 1894, with Edwin Bliss and Charles C. Hayden
as wardens, and John Downs, Charles A. Chace, William P. Ouacken-
bush, George N. Bowman, Byard Clough, Dr. Frank B. Storer, and
James Robb as vestrymen. Plans have been drawn and donated to the
parish (May, 1894), by Architect Addison Forbes, of Rochester, for a
church edifice which will cost about $3,000, and which is expected that
it will be erected during the present year.
The Gaines and Murray Baptist Church, sometimes known as the
Transit Church (from its location on the Transit in the northwest part,
of the town), is an offshoot from the first Baptist Church of Holley. On
the 24th of January, 1832, that society dismissed thirty-one of its
members, who met on the 31st of the same month at a school house
near Balcom's Mills and organized a conference. By a council held at
the same place on February 29th, this conference was recognized
as a church under the title of Gaines and Murray Baptist Church. Three
days later the organization was completed by the choice of Alanson
Mansfield and Salmon Dibble as deacons, and Abner Balcom as clerk.
The society was incorporated December 31, 1834, and Sherman Dibble,
Salmon Dibble, Oliver Vankirk, Josiah Lamont, and Abner^Balcom were
chosen trustees. Until 1835 meetings were held in school houses. In
that year a framed church building was erected on the east side of the
" Transit," on lot 273 in the town of Murray, at a cost of $1,500. In
414 LANDMARKS OF
1859 it was repaired and remodeled at an expense of $1,000; again
in 1868 to the amount of $180; and in 1876 at a cost of $600. A
parsonage was purchased in the town of Gaines in 1838 at a cost of
about $600. A session room was added to the church in 1885 at an
expense of about $600, and the entire property of the society is now
vahied at $6,000. In June, 1832, it was received under the care of the
Niagara Baptist Association, but upon the formation of the Orleans
Baptist Association in 1844 it became a member of that body. The
present membership, including non-residents, aggregate about 140. It
has maintained a Sunday school for more than half a century, the
present attendance being. 80 The pastors of this church in the order
of their pastorates have been Revs. Charles S. Randall, S. Stillwell, R.
Kimball, J. W. McDonald, Franklin Woodward, E. T. Manning, Mr,
Stoughton, Jacob Blair, I. Fargo, S. Marshall, J. M. Burt, Charles
Clute, William B. Downer, A. Woodhams, David Moore, jr., E. C
Brown, J. Chesbrough, O. F. A. Spinning, E. Holroyd, B. H. Damon,
G. C. Walker, F. A. Vanderburg, H. H. Emmet, E. B. Cornell, W. P.
Decker, and W. T. Hughes (since April, 1893).
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Hulberton. — Through the efforts
of Elder Ferry a class was formed at his house, one mile east from
Hulberton, in 1823. In 1827, at the solicitation of Joseph Budd, El-
ders Hemingway and Wooster, he established a preaching station at
Hulberton, and the result was the formation at that place during the
same year of a class which soon absorbed the others. The church was
incorporated under the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
Society of Scio on the 8th of February, 1830, at which time Joseph
Budd, George Squire, I. H. S. Hulburt, Ezekiel Root, and Joseph
Doolittle were chosen trustees and Hannibal Hitchcock clerk. A site
for a meeting house was donated by Joseph Budd, and in 1830 a
church building was erected. A loose, rough floor was laid and the
auditorium was furnished with rude benches ; and thus it was used for
several years. It was completed in 1836 at a cost of about $2,000. It
has since been repaired, and in 1890 a session room and parlors were
added to the rear at an expense of $600. The society formed a part
of Clarendon and Hulberton circuit till 1870, when it became an inde-
pendent station. In 1875 it was made a part of the circuit. The
ORLEANS COUNTY. 415
clergymen who served the class in its early years were Revs. Heming-
way, Wooster, Merritt Preston, Hiram May, Israel Chamberlain, John
Copeland, Josiah Breakman, George Wilkinson, John H. Wallace,
Medad Ferry, Glezen Fillmore, Micah Seager, and others. The present
pastor is Rev. W. H. Robinson. The society here has a frame parson-
age, which they rent.
The Free Methodist Society of Hulberton was organized in 1874,
with about twenty constituent members, prominent among whom were
Henry Roraback, Hannibal Hitchcock, Henry Allen, and Theodore
Johnson. During the first ten years the society worshiped in the
school house at Hulberton, and in private dwellings. In 1885 the
society was legally organized, with those already named as trustees, and
in that year a house of worship was erected on the main street, south
from the canal. The pastors of this church have been : Revs. Henry
Hornsby, C. D. Brook, G. W. Marcellus, William E. Brown, S. K. W.
Chesbrough. William H. Manning, C. W. Bacon. A. A. Burgess, R. S.
Phillips, O. C. Blowers, C. L. Wright, and T. L. Slocum. It forms a
part of the Hulberton and Brockport charge, the pastor residing in the
latter place. It now has about twenty members. Lewis Goff is super-
intendent of the Sunday-school.
The Free Will Baptist Church and Society of Sandy Creek was or-
ganized by Rev. William Taylor, of Rochester, at a meeting held in the
school house in that village March 21, 1875. Meetings were held in
the school house till May 2, 1877, when a framed church edifice that
had been commenced in 1876 was dedicated. The Rochester Free
Will Baptist Conference received this church under its care in June,
1877, and met with it the following September in its house of worship.
In 1878 Milton L Soper and Norman Pier were chosen deacons, and
Milton L. Soper was elected clerk and treasurer. Among the pastors
have been Revs. William Taylor, Orrin Wildy, Joseph Kettle, Isaac
Hyatt, Chester K. Akeley, E. C. Pimlott, Hiram Whitcher, E. W.
Hellaby, and Mr. Tanner. It is connected with the East Kendall
charge. A Sunday school, with Samuel Pike as superintendent, was
established soon after the formation of the church.
416 FLANDMARKS OF
CHAPTER XIX.
THE TOWN OF GAINES.
•
Gaines and Albion are the only interior towns in Orleans county. By
an act of the Legislature the town of Gaines was erected from Ridgeway
on the 14th of February, 18 16, and comprised within its limits the
present towns of Gaines, Albion, and Barre, and a large part of Carlton.
Barre — including Albion — was set off in 18 18 and a portion of Carlton
in 1822, leaving this town with its present area of 21,138 acres. Upon
the original organization of Gaines William J. Babbitt, who was promi-
nently identified in creating the new town, suggested the name in honor
of Gen. E. P. Gaines, who, in the war of 1812, distinguished himself by
holding Fort Erie nine days against siege of General Drummond's
British troops. The town is bounded on the east by Kendall and
Murray, on the south by Albion, on the west by Ridgeway, and on the
north by Carlton. The surface is comparatively level. Excellent
drainage is afforded by Otter Creek, which flows north through the
west part of the town ; by the two branches of Marsh Creek, both of
which flow northwardly, one near Fairhaven, the other near East
Gaines ; and by the west branch of Sandy Creek, which flows easterly
through the southeast corner of the town. In the extreme northwest
corner is Oak Orchard Creek, of which Otter and Marsh Creeks are
tributaries. The soil is a sandy loam, well adapted to farming pur-
poses. Indeed, this is one of the richest agricuural towns in the county.
Fruit, grain, hay, garden stuff, potatoes, beans, etc., are produced in
large quantities and extensively shipped to distant markets.
The first town meeting was held at-Booth's tavern, at what was then
Gaines Corners, now Gaines Village, on the 2d of April, 18 16. At
that meeting the following officers were elected : Samuel Clark, super-
visor ; Daniel Pratt, town clerk; Eilas Joy, John Proctor, Oliver Ben-
ton, assessors ; Nathan Whitney, John Proctor, overseers of the poor ;
ORLEANS COUNTY. 417
Nathan Whitney, Gideon Freeman, commissioners of highways ; Eleazer
T. Slater, collector ; Eleazer T. Slater, Henry Luce, John Proctor, con-
stables; Samuel Clark, Lemuel Daniels, Gideon Freeman, school com-
missioners ; Jesse Beech, f estus Giddings, Oliver Booth, inspectors of
common schools. The supervisors have been as follows :
Samuel Clark, 1816, '17 : Robert Anderson, 1818, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26;
Daniel Pratt, 1827; Arba Chubb, 1828, '29: William J. Babbitt, 1830; John S, Wall-
bridge, 1831, '32; Russell Gillett, 1833; William J. Babbitt, 1834; Arba Chubb, 1835;
William W. Ruggles, 1836; Joseph Billings, 1837, '38, '39, '40; Palmer Cady, 1841;
Samuel Bidleman, 1842 ; William W. Ruggles, 1843; Daniel Brown, 1844; Samuel
Bidleman, 1845, '46 ; Arba Chubb, 1847; Henry Miller, 1848; Benjamin Chester, 1849 ;
Aram Beebe, 1850, '51, '52; Samuel Bidleman, 1853, '54 ; Gersham R. Cady, 1855;
Jonas Sawens, 1856; Samuel Bidleman, 1857; Nahum Anderson, 1858, '59, '60;
Almanzor Hutchinson, 1861 ; Nahum Anderson, 1862 ; Charles T. Richards, 1863, '64 ;
Nahum Anderson, 1865 ; Matthew T. Anderson, 1866, '67 ; Samuel W. Smith, 1868,
'69; Elijah B. Lattin, 1870, '71; Gates Sherwood, 1872, '73,'74; Jonas Sawens, 1875,
'76; Gates Sherwood, 1877, '78; Charles A. Danolds, 1879; Charles Bidleman, 1880,
'81, '82; John A. Dibble, 1883 ; B. Frank Morgan, 1884, '85, '86; John H. Pratt, 1887,
'88, '89; John B. Crandall, 1890, 91, '92; John H. Pratt, 1893, '94.
Gaines includes the north five tiers of lots in ranges i and 2 of the
fifteenth township, except lots 6o, 6i, 62, 6^, and 64, in the second
range, which are in Ridgeway. The land in this town was sold by the
Holland Land Company as follows :
The east half, 300 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Samuel Mansfield June 20, 1814,
and was deeded to Thomas Plues January 30, 1828. John Spalding took up the west
part, 159^ acres, of lot 4 September 8, 1815. It was deeded to Ozias B. Culver June
1, 1822.
The west part, 245 acres, of lot 5 was taken up by Asa Standish June 29, 1815.
November 20, 1827, 50 acres were articled to Orlando Kelly, who received a deed for
the same November 5, 1831. The rest of the west part of lot 5 was several times trans-
ferred in parcels and was deeded as follows : 50 acres to Aaron Beebe, June 26, 1832 ;
50 acres to Isaac Allen, June 1, 1834 ; 94 acres to WiUiam Kims, December 12, 1855 ;
and 31 acres to Daniel Rhodes December 13, 1837. The east part, 242 acres, of lot 5
was sold by article to Joseph Randall, jr., March 22, 1815. March 22, 1823, 8^ acres
were articled to Albert Randall, and were deeded to him March 26, 1829. March 22,
1823, 80^ acres were articled to John S. Randall, and were deeded to him October 26,
1833. March 22, 1823, 81 acres were articled to Joseph Randall, and were deeded to
him February 24, 1829.
Isaac Bennett, took up the west part of lot 6, the north part of lot 14, and lot 15, June
24, 1809. He received a deed for these tracts June 9, 1819. The east part, 244 acres, of
53
418 LANDMARKS OF
lot 6, was sold by two articles, April 18, 1810, to John Proctor. It was deeded to James
Lacey, November 4, 1811.
The east one-third of lot 7, 172 acres, was articled April 18, 1810, to John Proctor-
It was deeded to John HufF April 15, 1820. The east middle part, 130 acres, of lot 7,
was taken up March 15, 1811, by William Bradner. It was deeded to Henry D. Luce.
June 11, 1818. The west part, 50 acres, of lot 7, was articled to Clarkson F. Brooks,
November 30, 1815, and was deeded to him June 20, 1854. November 30, 1815, Clark-
son F. Brooks also took up the part, 50 acres, of lot 7 lying next east from the above
and received a deed for it June 4, 1833. David G. Crawford, purchased by article the
west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 7, November 30, 1815. It was articled to Jason
Kent and Charles Barret, May 5, 1828, and to Clarkson F, Brooks, June 20, 1834.
The northwest part, 100 acres, of lot 8, was taken up by Jere Wilson, June 24, 1823,
and was deeded to him November 15, 1833. Chauncey Woodworth took up the east
part, 60 acres, of lot 8, May 20, 1829, and received a deed for it February 15, 1837.
Horace Wilson purchased by article 50 acres of lot 8, November 28, 1825. The article
was renewed to William Barrett November 28, 1831, and the land was deeded to War-
ren Sweet December 26, 1833. The southwest part, 43 acres, of lot 8, was taken up by
Ransom Rowley July 3, 1826. It was deeded to Clarkson F. Brooks June 20, 1834.
The east part of lot 12, 160 acres, was articled to Darrell E. Evans, March 10, 1817.
Sixty acres were transferred to Eri Green, November 10, 1829. Fifty acres of this east
part were transferred to Stephen Crawford, November 10, 1829, and deeded to Roswell
Crawford June 1, 1834. Fifty acres of this east part were transferred to David Strick-
land and William C. Jones November 10, 1829, and deeded as follows : 25 acres to
Cyrus Jaquith October 1, 1836; and 25 acres, with 100 acres of the north part of the
lot, to Eri Green June 1, 1834. The west part, 163 acres, of lot 12, was articled to
David E. Evans March 10, 1817. It was several times transferred by parcels, and was
deeded as follows: 30 acres to Nathaniel Braley November 25, 1833; 93 acres to
George A. Love November 27, 1833 ; and the balance to Eri Green, as before stated.
The middle part of lot 13, 100 acres, was sold by article to Stephen Parkell Novem-
ber 23, 1815. June 2, 1828, 50 acres of this were transferred to John Maxfield, and
deeded to Aaron Beebe December 5, 1833. April 11, 1829, 50 acres of this middle part
were articled to Peter Taylor, and were deeded to him November 9, 1829. The south
part, 150 acres, of lot 13, was taken up by William Standish November 23, 1815,
March 21, 1828, 70 acres of the east part of this were transferred to Henry Packard,
and were deeded to Aaron Beebe June 20, 1834. November 23, 1829, 70 acres of the
same north part were articled to Russell Stacy, and were deeded to him January 22,
1834. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 13, was taken up by William Stacey November
1. 1815. The east portion, 50 acres of this, was transferred to Josias Lamont March 31,
1828. It was deeded to Daniel Rhodes, October 2, 1833. The west portion, 50 acres,
was articled to Piatt T. Lamont March 25, 1827, and deeded to Josias Lamont Decem-
ber 6, 1833.
Josias Lamont took up the south part 140 acres of lot 14, August 31, 1815. It was
deeded to him December 7, 1831. The balance of lot 14 and the whole of lot 15 were
deeded to Isaac Bennett, June 9, 1819.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 419
Lot 16, 169 acres, was articled to William P. Esquet June 10, 1817. It was trans-
ferred to Henry Nesbitt December 29, 1830; to James Grear October 27, 1835, and
was deeded to James and Levi Grear, December 1, 1838, by the F. L. & T. Co.
The west part, 85 acres, of lot 20, was taken up by Jonathan Brown December 15,
1815, and was deeded to him December 29, 1834. The west middle part, 100 acres, of
lot 20, was taken up by Jonathan Brown September 29, 1815, and was deeded to John
Wickham March 29, 1823. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 20, was sold by arti-
cle to James Enos September 14, 1815. The article was renewed to Dyer F. Wickham
July 20, 1824, and the land was deeded to him November 4, 1833. The east part, 100
acres, of lot 20, was taken up by Nehemiah Cone September 12, 1815. March 15, 1825,
$230.25 "increase " was charged, and the land was deeded to him January 28, 1833.
The north part, 125 acres, of lot 21, was articled to Jeremiah Cummings October 16,
1816. March 5, 1824, the article was renewed to Orrin Osborn, to whom the east 69
acres were deeded November 25, 1833. Fifty acres of the same portion were deeded
to Sylvester H. Webster October 30, 1833. The east 100 acres of the middle of lot 21
were articled to John Proctor February 6, 1816; were transferred to William Stacy
January 9, 1830, and deeded to him October 27, 1831. The west 75 acres of the mid-
dle part of lot 21 were taken up by John Proctor February 6, 1816; transferred to Jar-
vis Kimball July 11, 1825, and deeded to Floyd Hobby November 27, 1833. Seth
Jaques took up the south part of lot 21 June 20, 1816. It was deeded to Nathaniel
Braley June 14, 1824.
Lot 22, 169 acres, was articled to Nehemiah Newton September 16, 1815. October
6, 1825, the west 69 acres were articled to Wilham Howard. The same .parcel was
articled to Michael Sheldon November 23, 1831, and was deeded to him November 15,
1833. October 6, 1825, the northeast 50 acres of the lot were articled to Alfred G.
Burch, and were deeded to Joshua Rockwood November 23, 1833. The southeast 50
acres were transferred to Asa Thomas October 6, 1825, and deeded to Orrin Osborn
November 5, 1827.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 23, was taken up by Jabez Deming July 28, 1804.
The east 50 acres of this were articled to James Clark July 29, 1819, and deeded to him
July 19, 1825. The west 50 acres of the same were articled to John Clark July 29,
1819 ; to Philip Thompson December 26, 1827, and were deeded to John A. Rowley
October 24, 1833, Henry Drake took up the middle part, 196 acres, of lot 23, July 28,
1809. He received his deed for the same September 25, 1829. The east part. 100
acres, of lot 23, was taken up by Levi Leach July 28, 1809, and on the i9th of Febru-
ary, 1828, it was articled to Henry Drake, who received a deed for it December 21,
1831.
The east half, 175 acres, of lot 24, was articled to Gideon Elliott December 14, 1809.
The east 75 acres of this were transferred to Joseph Blair, who received his deed No-
vember 17, 1817. The west 100 acres were transferred to Henry Drake, to whom they
were deeded November 11, 1833. The west half, 175 acres, of lot 24, was articled to
Clarkson Brooks January 2, 1811. January 5, 1821, the east 75 acres of this were
deeded to Daniel Williams. The west 100 acres were articled to Daniel Gorton Janu-
ary 3, 1821 ; to John Hutchinson March 13, 1828, and were deeded to him December
420 LANDMARKS OF
5, 1833. Of the north part of lot 24, between lots 16 and 32, 105 acres were deeded to
Rodney A. and Abel R. Dorrey October 8, 1833 ; and 75 acres to Joseph Blair October
31, 1835.
Lot 28, 293-J acres, was taken up by William McAllister July 23, 1810. It was
deeded, the east half to Jonathan Brown and the west half to Daniel Brown, both on
the 20th of March, 1819.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 29, was taken up by Francis B. Tanner November 7,
1815. It was deeded to John L. Crandall, in equal parts, August 31, 1833, and Sep-
tember 3, 1835. The middle part, 94^ acres, of lot 29, was articled to James Pearce
November 13, 1815. It was transferred in equal parts to Pulasky Pearce and Benja-
min Pearce September 13, 1826, and the whole to Jarvis Kimball August 25, 1828. It
was deeded to him November 11, 1833. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 29, was arti-
cled to Joseph Noble October 21, 1815, and was deeded to Joseph Noble, jr., October
21, 1823.
The west middle part of lot 30 was articled to Abigal Sager May 10, 1809, and deeded
to Phinehas Rowley July 3, 1815. The east middle part of lot 30, 100 acres, was taken
up by William J. Babbitt March 16, 1813. He received his deed February 4, 1819.
The east part of lot 30, 66 acres, was articled to John Anderson March 22. 1815. It
was transferred to Stephen N. Chubb September 10, 1824, and to William J. Babbitt
October 8, 1831. It was deeded to Mr. Babbitt, in two parcels, October 8, 1831, and
November 25, 1833.
The west part of lot 31, 175 acres, was sold by article to Lemuel Daniels November
26, 1813. One hundred acres of this was deeded to Amasa Whitmarsh October 11,
1833. Seventy-five acres were transferred to Archibald L. Daniels November 27,
1821. The east part, 135 acres, of lot 31 was articled to Levi Hale March 30, 1815,
and 95 acres were deeded to him June 4, 1834. The balance, and 75 acres of the
middle part were conveyed by deed to Philip Thompson, February 11, 1834.
The west part, 38i acres, of lot 32 was taken up by Daniel R. Daniels January 31,
1832. The middle part of the same lot was articled to Phinehas Rowley February 3,
1830. Both were deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835. The east part, 50 acres, of
lot 32, was articled to Andrew Durkee October 19, 1822. November 9, 1833, it was
articled to Asa Thomas, and was deeded to him May 15, 1835.
The north part, 200 acres, of lot 36, was articled to Noah Chaflfee, June 23, 1810.
This part was subdivided and transferred and was deeded as follows : 99^- acres to
Silas Benton February 10, 1822; 39 acres to Freelove Chafi'ee May 15, 1824 ; and 59^
acres to Amos Kelsey March 16, 1836. The middle part, 80 acres, of lot 36 was
articled to Sylvester W. Starr May 30, 1815. It was transferred to John Boardman
August 18, 1823. The east half of it was articled to Oliver Brown December 17, 1827,
and was deeded to him November 11, 1833. The west half was deeded to Ephraim
Leonard December 7, 1833. The south part, 73 acres, of lot 36 was sold by article to
James Leonard August 28, 1815, and was deeded to him August 20, 1832. The south
part of lot 37, 200 acres, was articled to Moses Bacon May 21, 1810, and deeded to
him May 22, 1820.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 421
The north part, 163 acres, of lot 37 was taken up by Philip Bonsteel May 24, 1815.
After some divisions and transfers it was deeded : 96 acres to Joel Finch October 31,
1833; and 58 acres to James Moore, Octobers, 1834.
The north'part of lots 30 and 38, was taken up by Isaac Bennett June 24, 1809, and was
deeded to Hannah Bennett March 17, 1818. The west part of lot 30 and east part of
lot 38, 210 acres, were articled to Elliott and John Barrett April 5, 1808, and deeded to
Ebenezer Barrett February 20, 1815.
The west part of lot 38, 172 acres, was taken up by Elijah Downer, June 28, 1809
It was transferred in equal parcels to Oliver Tibbits, Orange Butler, and Moses Bacon,
and finally 'deeded entire to George E. Everett May 10, 1834.
The east part of lot 39, 123i acres, was articled to Ehzabeth Gilbert, March 3, 1807.
It was transferred to Francis Farwell March 4, 1817, and to John Boynton June 10,
1828. It was deeded to Mr. Boynton November 27, 1833. The west part of lot 39,
67 acres, was articled to Samuel Crippin June 28, 1809, and deeded to John Proctor
April 13, 1819. Jason Brundage took up the middle part, 100 acres, of lot 39 February
10, 1812. He secured a deed for the same February 11, 1820. He also took up the 48
acres next west from the middle part May 3, 1814, and the parcel was deeded to him
May 5, 1831, Fifty acres of lot 39 were articled to Oliver Hamblin June 23, 1809.
This land was deeded to Henry Van Liew May 24, 1812.
Lot 40 was taken up in two equal parcels, of 100 acres each, by Orrin Osburn March
12, 1817, and Bradley T. Stearns July 4, 1821. The lot was deeded to Vernon Stearns
November 16, 1833.
The middle part, 120 acres, of lot 4, town 15, range 2, was taken up by Benjamin
Enos June 7, 1810. June 1, 1820, it was articled to Ovid Pinney, and November 19,
1827, in two parcels to Silas Benton and Samuel Hill. It was deeded to Mr. Hill June
3, 1834. The south part, 120 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Seth Leonard August
28, 1815. Sixty acres of this were transferred to Ephraim Leonard November 17,
1823, and deeded to him January 22, 1828. The other 60 acres were deeded to Seth
Leonard August 31, 1837. The north part, 119 acres, of lot 4 was taken up by Abel
F. Andrews June 7, 1810. June 8, 1820, it was articled to Frederick Holsenburg, to
whom it was deeded November 9, 1830.
The north part of lot 5 and northeast part of lot 13, 237 acres, were articled to
James Mather August 20, 1810, and 93 acres were deeded to him October 2, 1835.
The south part, 118^ acres, of lot 5 was articled to Chester W. Farr September 5,
1810, and the middle part, 118 acres, to Ezra Fairfield August 23, 1810. After various
subdivisions and transfers the lot was deeded as follows : 15^ acres to Sylvester W.
Farr August 12, 1829 ; 68 acres, to Eli Farr October 24, 1829 ; 29^ acres to Cyrus
Lawrence October 11, 1830; 64 acres to Lewis W. Gates August 13, 1833; 10 acres to
Walter Fairfield August 13, 1833 ; 20 acres to Walter Fairfield August 13, 1833 ; 32
acres to Cyrus Lawrence November 10, 1834, and 29^ acres to the heirs of Joseph
Winch November 10, 1835.
The east part of lot 6, 100 acres, was sold by article to Whitfield Rathbun May 10,
1809. It was deeded to John Proctor February 6, 1816. Noah Burgess purchased by
article the east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 6 April 2, 1810, and received a deed for
422 LANDMARKS OF
the same April 4, 1820. Samuel Smith took up a tract, 206 acres, of lot 6 October 10,
18i0. One hundred acres of this were transferred to Seth Smith October 11, 1820,
and were deeded to him November 28, 1821. One hundred acres of the same were
transferred to Betsey Hutchinson October 11, 1820, and deeded to her November 17,
1826. The west part, 83 acres, of lot 6 was taken up by Henry Luse January 3,
1810, and was deeded to James Mather November 4, 1820.
The east part, 50 acres, of lot 7 was deeded to John Proctor April 15, 1819. The
east middle part, 90 acres, of lot 7 was articled to Noah Burgess April 3, 1810, and
deeded to John Proctor, April 5, 1820. The west middle part, 120 acres, of lot 7
was articled to Henry Luse November 11, 1811, and was deeded to Kussell Gillett
February 17, 1834. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 7 was taken up by Jacob Burgess
November 21, 1810, and deeded to Vincent Tomhnson April 29, 1820.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 8 was taken up by Alexander Nickerson October
30, 1816, and deeded to Noah Burgess September 12, 1843. The south part, 100 acres,
of lot 8 was articled to Elijah Grilbert August 7, 1816, and deeded to Jarvis Kimball
June 1, 1835, The north part, 81 acres, of lot 8 was sold by article to Jacob Moore
October 1, 1822, was transferred to John Stevens January 29, 1834, and was deeded to
him February 13, 1835.
The south part, 250 acres, of lot 12 was taken up by Lansing Bailey November 18,
1811, and the east half of this part was deeded to him January 4, 1819. The north
portion, 70 acres, of the west half was deeded to Roswell Lewis November 19, 1819.
The south portion, 55 acres, was transferred to Oliver Booth August 1, 1826, and
deeded to him December 19, 1827,
The northeast part of lot 13 was deeded to James Mather October 2, 1835. Of the
southwest part 45 acres were deeded to Jeremiah V. K. Morefoort May 5, 1835, and 15
acres to Cornelius Cornell on the same day. The middle pan 100 acres, of lot 13 was
articled to John Loveland, April 28, 1815, was again articled to Ray &Walbridge June
24, 1827, and to Zelotes Sheldon May 10, 1830. It was deeded to Cornelius Cornell
May 31, 1832, The south part, 128 acres, of lot 13 was taken up by Arba Chubb
October 7, 1815. November 28, 1833, 98 acres were transferred to John C. Ostrom,
and were deeded to him November 26, 1836. Thirty acres were deeded to Jacob Iden
June 4, 1835.
The east part, 200 acres, of lot 14 was taken up by James Mather Aug. 7, 1810, and
was deeded to him Jan. 6. 1823. The west part, 97 acres, of lot 14 was articled to
Joseph Adams March 3, 1815, It was transferred to Jonathan Brunt March 5, 1821,
and was deeded to Elijah Brunt Apr. 5, 1827.
The west part, 177 acres, of lot 15 was articled to Oliver Booth March 15, 1811, and
deeded to him Jan. 14, 1817. The east part, 200 acres, was deeded to Oliver Booth
March 17, 1825.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 16 was taken up by Elijah Devereaux Oct.
31, 1811. The south middle part of lot 16, 150 acres was articled to Clarendon Rath-
bone Apr. 27, 1813. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 16 was taken up by Gayfield
Phelps Apr. 8, 1816. Sixty acres near the north part were articled to Ezekiel Hale
Dec. 22, 1824. The north part, 60 acres, was taken up by Heman Logan March 14, 1825,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 423
After various divisions and transfers the lot was deeded as follows : 75 acres to John
J. Walbridge Nov. 1, 1831; 30 acres to Jabez Hibbard Nov. 19, 1833; 75 acres to John
H. Nichols July 1, 1835; 75 acres to Charles B. and John Taylor Sept. 30, 1835; 100
acres to John J. Walbridge Oct. 10, 1837 ; and 30 acres to John H. Nichols Dec. 27, 1837.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 20 was taken up by David Bullard July 10, 1815,
and was deeded to Brigadier Bullard and to Elizabeth Bullard and others Dec. 1. 1834.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Elias Clift Oct. 7, 1815. It was
transferred to Amos Clift Nov. 16, 1829, and was deeded to him Sept. 11, 1834. The
southeast part, 79 acres, of lot 20 was sold by article to Benjamin Johnson, May 18,
1816. It was transferred successively to Oliver Booth 2d, V. R. Hawkins, and to
James Mather, and was deeded to Obadiah Luce Nov. 11, 1833. The southeast part,.
100 acres, of lot 20 was taken up by Lansing Buck Apr. 17, 1816. Nov. 28, 1827, 50 acres
of this was articled to Jeremiah Buck, and were deeded to Lucius S. Cobb Sept. 8, 1834
Nov. 28, 1827, 50 acres of this southeast part were articled to Gideon Lewis, and were
deeded to him Dec. 28, 1833.
Lot 21, 164 acres, was taken up by John Anderson March 30, 1815. Apr. 22, 1823,
50 acres each of this were articled to Lansing Bailey and Lodema Geddings. They were
deeded to Lodema Geddings March 8, 1825, and to David Bullard Sept. 3, 1835. April
22, 1823, 64 acres of lot 21 Avere articled to John Anderson, jr., and December 28,
1830, to William Bullard, to whom they were deeded November 5, 1834.
Lot 22, 402 acres, was taken up by Cotton Leach June 28, 1809. June 28, 1819, 302
acres of this were deeded to Robert Anderson, and on the same day 100 acres were
articled to John Anderson. They were deeded to him October 13, 1836,
The west part, 246 acres, of lot 23, was articled to Noah Burgess July 17, 1809. July
19, 1819, 100 acres, were articled to Hull Tomlinson and were deeded to him July 14,
1825. On the same day, 100 acres were articled to John Anderson and were deeded
to him October 13, 1836. The balance of 146 acres was articled to Jonathan Lay July
19, 1819, and was deeded to Roswell Hart March 6, 1824. The east part, 117 acres,
of lot 23 was articled to Oliver Booth October 9, 1811, and was deeded to him January
14, 1817. Sixty-seven acres of the eastern part of lot 23 were articled to Jesse Beach
April 26, 1815. The tract was again articled August 8, 1826, to William Hayden, to
whom it was deeded October 2, 1835.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 24 was articled to Amos Wooster April 29, 1816,
and rearticled to David Hale May 30, 1832. It was deeded to John J. Walbridge De-
cember 29, 1836. The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 24 was taken up by John E.
Smith October 15, 1816. December 1, 1829, it was articled to Lewis Grover, and 90
acres were deeded to Israel Gregory April 8, 1837. The north middle part, 90 acres,
of lot 24 was articled to Nathaniel Squires December 2, 1817, and to Jabez Hubbard
December 1, 1829. Forty-four acres were transferred to Lewis Glover August 2,
1834, and was deeded to Jabez Hibbard November 19, 1833. The balance of 46 acres
with a part of lot 16, was deeded to Jabez Hibbard June 1, 1834. The north part, 50
acres, of lot 24 was taken up by Elijah Blount May 14, 1818. It was articled to Will-
iam Ruggles January 8, 1831, and deeded to Perry Davis March 21, 1836.
424 LANDMARKS OF
The south part, 200 acres, of lot 27 was sold by article to David Smith July 24, 1815.
It was deeded to James Mather November 27, 1829. The north part, 176 acres, of lot
27 was articled to Matthew Anderson April 9, 1816, and deeded to Robert Hunter Jan-
uary 31, 1828.
Lot 28, 167 acres, was taken up by Daniel Gates June 20, 1815. The east part of
this lot, 50 acres, wa- articled to Daniel Hunter December 25, 182!), and deeded to him
February 12, 1833. The west part of the same lot, 117 acres, was transferred to Jona-
than Delano February 18, 1832, and to Lucas A. Merrill, January 2, 1834. It was deeded
to Willis S. Collins December 29, 1836.
The east part, 200 acres, of lot 29 was articled to Samuel Rosier September 22, 1809,
and the east half of It was deeded to Jonathan Gates September 25, 1819. The west
half of this part was deeded to Daniel Pratt March 5, 1814. The west part, 94 acres,
of lot 2!) was articled to Daniel Gates July 12, 1809, and was deeded to hira October 13,
1814.
The east part of lot 30, 137 acres, was taken up July 14. 1809, by Darius Crippen.
The article was renewed July 15, 1819 to Ptolemy Sheldon, to whom it was deeded
January 29, 1823. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 30 was sold by article to
Daniel Pratt December 22, 1809. It was deeded to Judah Colt September 20, 1819.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 30 was taken up by Jonathan Gates February 6, 1816,
It was articled to Ashbel Kellogg June 11, 1828, and was deeded to John Hyde No-
vember 11, 1833. The west middle part, 81 acres, of lot 30 was deeded to Elisha
Mather July 1, 1835.
The southwest part, 494 acres, of lot 31 was deeded to John B. Lee September 1,
1834. The north part, 75 acres, of lot 31 was taken up by Brigadier Bullard November
5, 1821, and was deeded to him January 8, 1827. The southeast part, 50 acres, of lot
31 was articled to Arba Chubb September 5, 1822. It was transferred to Darius Rosier
December 28, 1830, and to Robert Anderson February 5, 1835. It was deeded to James
Mather November 3, 1837.
The south part of lot 32, 84 acres, was deeded to Isaac Murwm October 8, 1822.
Fifty acres of lot 32 were articled to Alonzo Barns May 24, 1824. This lot was trans-
rerred to John W. Anderson, and on the 30th of July, 1834, was deeded to Montgomery
Crofoot. The middle part, 70 acres, of lot 32 was articled to Calvin Bllenwood Decem-
ber 15, 1823. Twenty-four acres were deeded to Brigadier Bullard January 6, 1832.
Forty-six acres were transferred to Holman Jackson, and of this 30 acres were deeded
to Brigadier Bullard, Nov. 17, 1834, and 16 acres December 20, 1833. The south mid-
dle part, 50 acres, of lot 32 was taken up by Rowland Merwin December 4, 1823. De-
cember 22, 1830, it was articled to Chandler Farnham, and was deeded to him January
26 1837. The north part, 109 acres, of lot 32 was deeded to John B. Lee September 1,
1834.
The south part, 150 acres, of lot 36 was taken up by Stephen Abbott October 31,
1811. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 36 was taken up by Elijah Deveraux October
31. 1811. The north part, 118 acres, of lot 36 was articled to Benoni Bennett Novem-
ber 11, 1811. The lot was deeded as follows : The southeast part, 80 acres, to Harvey
Smith November 1, 1819; the southwest part, 116^ acres, to Burden Hix November 1,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 425
1819; the north part, 118 acres, to Macey Piatt November 29, 1819, and 53^^ acres to
Stephen Chubb September 6, 1834.
The northwest part of lot 37, 120 acres, was articled to Henry Wilcox April 24,
1809, and to Aaron Shelley April 26, 1819. Seventy acres were deeded to Aaron Shel-
ley April 22, 18'25; and 50 acres to Nathan Shelley on the same day. The middle part,
113 acres, of lot 37 was taken up by Orin Gleason November 2, 1809. Sixty acres of
this part were deeded to Elijah Babbitt November 5, 1819. Fifty-three acres were
articled to Aaron Shelley November 3, 1819, and were subsequently deeded to him.
Reuben Rowley took up the south part, 103 acres, of lot 37. Fifty-one and one-half
acres of this were deeded to Nehemiah Pratt August 19, 1826, The balance, 51^ acres,
was articled to Alexander Forsyth September 9, 1820, and was deeded to Nehemiah
Pratt November 8, 1833. The east part, 119 acres, of lot 37 was sold by article to
Joseph Adams March 31, 1810. April 11, 1820, 59| acres were articled to Abigail Sa-
gor, June 26, 1826, to Stephen Marks, and January 4, 1828, to Matthew Anderson, to
whom they were deeded September 24, 1830. November 9, 1S29, 59i acres were
articled to Stephen Chubb. March 6, 1834, one-half acre was deeded to Jonathan De-
lano, and on the same day 59 acres were articled to Silas Wilcox. This parcel was
deeded to Mr. Wilcox September 24. 1836.
The west part of lot 38, 100 acres, was articled to Henry Drake November 4, 1811,
and transferred November 5, 1819, to Aaron Shelley. It was deeded to John Proctor
November 9, 1825. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 38 was taken up by Da-
rius Crippen, jr., March 10, 1814. It was articled to John Nichols April 26, 1834,
and was deeded to John H. Nichols July 1, 1835. The east middle part, 50
acres, of lot 38 was articled to Isaac Connell March 2, 1815. It was articled
to Betsey Rosier March 3, 1826, to Winslow Pratt April 12, 1832, and was
deeded to Ariel Wilcox January 19, 1836. The east and next to the last parts of lot
38 were taken up, the latter 90 acres by Adam Sanderson March 22, 1815, and the
former, 68 acres, by Jonathan Gates October 7, 1815, They were deeded, the east 98
acres to William Lewis February 1^, 1834, and the west 60 acres to John Dolly January
29, 1838.
The south part of lot 39, 60 acres, was taken up by Walker Fairfield November 13,
1816. The middle part, 56 acres, was articled to Ira Atwell October 20, 1823, and the
north part, 56 acres, to Ambrose Shelley November 17, 1823, The lot was deeded, the
southeast part, 70 acres, to Amos S. Samson January 1, 1835, and the balance, 102
acres, to James Seaton May 9, 1837.
The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 40, vpas articled to John Farnham November
12, 1823. The north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 40 was articled to John Farnham
November 12, 1823. It was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The south
part, 50 acres, of lot 40 was articled to Salmon Kingsley November 12, 1823, and
deeded to John Young July 1, 1835, Fifty acres in the southern part of lot 40 were
articled Samuel Kingsley November 12, 1823, They were deeded to John B. Lee Sep-
tember 1, 1834. Fifty acres in the southern part of lot 40 were articled to Oliver
Chapel April 6, 1823, and transferred to Samuel Anderson June 7, 1834. The land
was deeded to John Farnham November 18, 1835. Fifty acres in the northern part of
54
426 ^LANDMARKS OF
lot 40 were articled Lo Hiram Burch April 6. 1825. transferred to Johnson Brown Jan-
uary 3, 1831, and deeded to John A. Rowley May 15, 1835. The north part, 57 acres,
of lot 40 was articled to John W, Van Vranken October 4, 1826, and transferred to
Winter Jackson March 11, 1835. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
LeviAtwell took up the southwest part, 50 acres, of lot 44 April 8, 1811, and re-
ceived his deed May 31, 1832. Levi Atwell also took up the northwest part, 50 acres,
of lot 44 April 8, 1811. It was deeded to him December 3, 1833. The east part, 268
acres, of lot 44 was taken up by Elijah Shaw September 6, 1811, and was articled to
John Freeman September 8, 1819. It was deeded to him June 2, 1825.
The north part of lot 45, 327 acres, was taken up by William Sibley April 24, 1809.
It was deeded to William B. Sterling and Alphonse Sterling April 23, 1819. The south
part, 139 acres, of lot 45 was articled to Joseph Crofoot July 30, 1810. It was again
articled July 31, 1820, to Constant Woodworth, and January 14, 1828, the west
portion, 80 acres, was transferred to David Calkins, to whom it was deeded November
16, 1835. The east portion, 59 acres, of the same was transferred to David Earl
August 21, 1828, and to Nathan Shelley January 10, 1834. It was deeded to him
December 31, 1835.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 46 was sold by article to Cotton M. Leach April 3,
1810. April 4, 1820, it was articled to Ebenezer Durkee, to whom it was deeded,
January 17, 1834. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 46 was taken up by Ebenezer
Durkee July 13, 1815. Sixty acres were articled to John Dolley July 13, 1823, and
were deeded to him January 29, 1828. Forty acres of this east part were articled to
Zebulon Whipple July 12, 1823, and were deeded to John Dolley February 19, 1835.
The middle part, 76 acres, of lot 46 was articled to Spencer Whipple October 25, 1822,
and was deeded to him December 5, 1835. The west middle part, 89 acres, of lot 46
was sold by article to Reuben Gunn October 30, 1822. October 23, 1832, 42 acres of
this were articled to Harry Noble and were deeded to him May 13, 1835. Forty-seven
acres of this part were articled to Zelotes Sheldon October 8, 1835; to Abraham Mont-
rose December 28, 1837, and were deeded to the latter December 28, 1837.. The west
part, 50 acres, of lot 46, was articled to Joseph Griffith October 25, 1852, and trans-
ferred to Griffith Williams July 28, 1834. It was deeded to John B. Lee September
1, 1834.
The south part, 75 acres, of lot 47 was articled to Joseph Sawdey Oct. 11, 1823, and
deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 47 was
articled to Jeremiah Woodmancer December 26, 1825. December 24. 1834, it was
again articled to Stephen N. Chubb to whom it was deeded December 1, 1835. The
north part, 68 acres, of lot 47, and the north middle part, 62^ acres of lot 48 were
deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The south part, 50 acres, of lot 48 was taken up by Daniel Darrow May 5, 1826, and
articled to Mary Darrow October 28, 1834. It was deeded to Elisha Hiscock Novem-
ber 23, 1841. The north part, 50 acres, of lot 48 was articled to Charles Gillam Feb-
ruary 6, 1828.' It was transferred to George Graves April 22, 1834, and was deeded to
Ambrose Shelley September 1, 1838. Fifty acres in the southern part of lot 48 were
articled to David Ackerson, February 11, 1828, and were deeded to John Lowber May
ORLEANS^COUNTY. 427
1, 1835. The south part, 50 acres, of lot 48 was articled to Thomas Acquerfon Novem-
ber 3, 1828, and was deeded to him June 18, 1835. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 48
was articled to George Acquerson August 19, 1830, and was deeded to John Lowber
May 1, 1835. Fifty acres in the northern part of lot 48 were articled to Spencer
Whipple September 29, 1831, and deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
Lot ,".2, 377 acres, were taken up by Truman Shaw April 9, 1811. April 10, 1819,
100 acres of this were articled to Eobert Tompkins, and August 19, 1826, transferred
to Stephen Warner, to whom the land was deeded October 20, 1831. April 10, 1819,
177 acres were articled to Robert Tompkins and February 27, 1828, transferred to
Stephen Warner. February 1, 1834, the east portion, 117 acres, of this was deeded
to Daniel Shaw, and January 3, 1834 the west portion, 60 acres, to Samuel Main.
April 10, 1819, 100 acres, of lot 52 were articled to Robert Tompkins, and July 13,
1826, transferred to Isaac Stoddard. Half of this was deeded to Caty Stoddard and
heirs, July 12, 1826, and half to Christopher Crandall May 23, 1837.
The middle of the north part of lot 53, 120 acres, was articled to Whitfield Rathbun
April 28, 1809, and was deeded to William Burlingame April 9, 1819. The north part,
120 acres, of lot 53, with a large part of lot 45, was articled to William Sibley April 24,
1809. This northeast part was deeded to Zelotes Sheldon April 23, 1819. The north-
west part, 125 acres, of lot 53, was taken up by Benjamin Deming March 19, 1810.
March 20, 1820, it was articled to William Sherwood, and December 30, 1831, 78^
acres were transferred to Milo Coon, to whom they were deeded November 16, 1835.
August 12, 1833, 50 acres of the same were transferred to Israel Douglas, and were
deeded to him May 15, 1835. The south part, 181 acres, of lot 53, was taken up by
Cass & McCarthy November 2, 1809. November 3, 1819, 50 acres of this were trans-
ferred to Andrew Stanley, to whom they were deeded December 24, 1824. November
3, 1819, 71 acres of this were articled to Silas A. Wade, and November 2, 1826, trans-
ferred to Ambrose Shelley, to whom they were deeded November 4, 1830. November
18, 1819, 60 acres of this south part were articled to Keyes Wilder and were deeded to
him June 11, 1823.
October 20, 1809, Andrew Jacobs took up the west part of lot 54. October 21, 1819,
it was articled to Moses Hubbard, jr., and October 28, 1833, 50 acres were transferred
to John Ackerson, and were deeded to him May 15, 1836. February 19, 1835, 49 acres
of the same were transferred to John Ackerson, and were deeded to him May 15, 1836.
February 19, 1835, 49 acres of the same were transferred to Israel Douglas, and were
deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835. October 28, 1833, 40 acres of the same were
transferred to Wright Douglas, and were deeded to him September 20, 1835. April 26,
1833, 60 acres of this same land were transferred to John H. Nichols, who received his
deed July 1, 1835. The east middle part, 110 acres, of lot 54, was taker, up by Jona-
than Stout September 18, 1810. It was articled to Zelotes Sheldon November 13,
1822, transferred to Seth Tucker October 10, 1831, and was deeded to Zelotes Sheldon
October 5, 1835. The east part, 112 acres, of lot 54, was taken up by John W. Perry
October 23, 1822. November 4, 1830, 50 acres of this were deeded to Zelotes Sheldon
and on the same day 62 acres of the same land were articled to Samuel Stanley. They
were deeded to Zelotes Sheldon November 15, 1831.
428 LANDMARKS OF
The south part, 50 acres, of lot 55, was articled to Amasa Wright December 31, 1823,
and transferred to Keyes Wilder December 27, 1830. It was deeded to him December
24, 1824. The north part, 67 acres, of lot 55, was articled to Keyes Wilder June 6,
1825. It was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834.
The north and middle part of lot 56, was deeded : 200 acres to Reuben L. Gunn De-
cember 21, 1833, and 50 acres to him January 19, 1836. The south part, 52 acres, of
lot 56, was articled to Joseph Sandy, jr., July 27, 1825. It was deeded to John B. Lee
September 1, 1834. The south middle part, 56 acres, of lot 56, was articled to Enos
Curtis July 27, 1825, and transferred to Jesse Rose August 15, 1833. It was deeded to
Abner Carpenter October 1, 1838.
The Ridge, which at the beginning of this century was the avenue of
travel between the eastern and western country, passes through this
town from east to west, and an examination of the foregoing account of
sales of land shows that the first purchases and settlements were made
along this great highway. It appears that on the 3d of March, 1807,
Elizabeth Gilbert received an article for 123^ acres of lot 39, half a
mile east from Fairhaven on the north side of the road. In this case
tradition agrees with the record that Mr. Gilbert was the first settler in
the town. Probably he came at or near the time when their purchase
was made. In the early winter of 1809 his dead body was found in the
road, and it was supposed he died in a fit, as he was known to be
subject to epileptic seizures. His family, consisting of his wife and
Amy Scott, a niece, cut browse during the winter of 1809-10 for their
stock, which consisted of a yoke of oxen and some cows and young cat-
tle. Mrs. Gilbert sold the place in 181 1 or 1812 and removed to Can-
andaigua. On the 5th of April, 1808, Elliot and John Bassett received
an article for 210 acres, the west part of lot 38, on the south side of the
road, and immediately opposite to Mr. Gilbert's purchase. It is to be
presumed that they settled there then or soon afterward. Seven years
later the land was deeded to Ebenezer Bassett.
In 1809 articles were taken for land in the town by Isaac Bennett,
Jabez Deming, Henry Drake, Levi Leach, Gideon Elliott, Abigal,
Sager, Elijah Downer, Samuel Crippen, Oliver Hamblin, Whitfield
Rathbun, Cotton Leach, Noah Burgess, Samuel Rosier, Daniel Gates
Darius Crippen, Daniel Pratt, Henry Wilcox, Orrin Gleason, William
Sibley, Earl H. McCarty. Turner's History of the Holland Purchase
says : " Whitfield Rathbun was the pioneer upon all that part of the
Ridge road in Orleans county embraced in the Holland Purchase." It
ORLEANS COUNTY. 429
has been shown that actual settlers were there two years prior to the
time when Mr. Rathbun took an article for land. He was one of the
earliest who came in 1809. Of the twenty who received articles in
1809 probably nearly all became actual settlers. Elijah Downer came
in that year and located on lot 38, opposite Gilbert's. Samuel Crippen
came at the same time and took up land on lot 39, at the present vil-
lage of Fairhaven, Mr. Crippen sold to John Proctor, who cleared three
acres and planted it with corn in the spring of 181 1. In the fall of the
same year he sewed five acres with wheat. Gideon Elliott came in
1809 and took up land on lot 74, about two miles east from Fairhaven.
Mr. Elliott and a man named Sweet lived in a log house on this place.
In 1809 Noah Burgess came from Canada. He coasted along the shore
of the lake to the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, which he ascended to
the head of still water. Thence the widow Gilbert with her oxen re-
moved his effects to his place, on lot 23, second range, on the Ridge.
Mr. Burgess was sick, but his wife, who was a stalwart woman, cut
logs for a cabin and Mrs. Gilbert drew them together with her oxen,
and they were notched and rolled up by some men who were passing
and volunteered their assistance. Mr. Burgess soon sold this place
and removed to wliere he had taken up land on lot 6, between Gaines
village and Fairhaven. There he kept a tavern for several years, and
there he died some forty years since.
In 1 8 10 John Proctor, William McAllister, Noah ChafTee, Moses
Bacon, Abel F. Andrews, James Mather, Chester W. Farr, Samuel
Smith, Henry Luse Jacob Burgess, Joseph Adams, Joseph Crofoot,
Cotton M. Leach, Benjamin Deming and Jonathan Stout received
articles for land in Gaines.
In 181 1 the grantees were William Bradner, Clarkson Brooks, Lansing
Barley, Oliver Booth, Elijah Devereaux, Stephen Abbott, Benoni
Bennett, Henry Drake, Levi Atwell, Elijah Shaw and Freeman Shaw.
John Anderson, the ancestor of most of the families of this name in
Gaines, was ot Scotch- Irish descent, and was born in Londonderry, N.
H., in 1757. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was in the battle of
Bunker Hill and at the taking of Ticonderoga. In 1782 he married
Jane Archibald, and then settled in Ira, Vt., which town he represented
in the Legislature of that State eight or ten years. He was a man of
430 LANDMARKS OF
good intellect, of energy and perseverance, of great phj'sical strength,
and of cool and determined courage. In 1821 he removed with his
family to Gaines and located on the Ridge, a mile and a half west from
Gaines village, where he died in 1827. His children were Ann, Jane,
John, Robert, Matthew, Betsey, Thomas A., Margaret, Nancy, Eli B.
and Samuel F. Betsey died in Malone, N. Y., in 1813. All the others
were early settlers in Gaines. Ann married Daniel Gates, of Rutland,
Vt. In 181 1 they came to Gaines and settled on lot 29, west of Gaines
village. A few years later they removed to Carlton, where he died in
1858 and she in 1866. They were the parents of John, N. F., and
Matthew A. Gates. The latter resides in Yates. Jane married Phineas
Rowley, of Rutland. Vt. They removed to Gaines in 18 15 and set-
tled on lot 30, east from Fairhaven. John Anderson, jr., born in Ver-
mont in 1785, came to Gaines in 1810 and settled on lot 22, west from
the village. He was a man of positive character.
Hon. Robert Anderson was born in Ira, Vt., in 1787. He was a
magistrate in his native town, and was a volunteer in the war of 181 2.
He came with his family to Gaines, where he had purchased 150 acres
of lot 22, west from Gaines, with his brothers, Matthew and Dr. Thomas
A. and their families, the latter driving a two horse lumber wagon with
the women and children of the party, the other brothers driving each a
team of four oxen, drawing each a wagon loaded with their goods and
leading a cow behind. Robert moved into the house, the logs for
which were cut by Mrs. Noah Burgess in 1809. The next }'ear he
built a small frame house. In 18 17 he was appointed a justice of the
peace and held the office till 1822, when he was appointed a judge of
the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee county. He was supervisor of
Gaines from 18 18 to 1826 inclusive. He was a member of Assembly
from Genesee county in 1822. Judge Anderson was not an office
seeker.
Matthew Anderson was born in Ira, Vt., and represented that town
in the Legislature of that State in 18 14 or 181 5. He was captain of a
militia company which volunteered with him to go to Plattsburg in
18 1 2. He removed to Gaines in 1816, and settled on lot 27 near Eagle
Harbor. He died in September of that year.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 43I
Dr. Thomas A. Anderson was born in Vermont in 1792. He prac-
ticed medicine in Rutland, Vt., several years He married Sarah
Whipple, of Malone, N. Y., and in 18 16 came, with his two brothers,
to Gaines and located at Fairhaven, where he practiced his profession
for some years. He never had robust health. He died in 1829.
Samuel F. Anderson was born in 1802, and came with his father to
Gaines. In 1836 he was married to Miss Mahala Phipps of Albion and
they removed to Cassopolis, Mich. He was a representative in the Leg-
islature of that State several years, and was a county judge.
Moses Bacon was born in Burlington, Conn., in 1787. In 1810 he
came to Gaines and took up 200 acres of the south part of lot 37 at
five corners. In part payment for his land he worked for the company
on the Oak Orchard road. He was one of Capt. McCarty's company
in the expedition against the British and Indians at Molyneaux tavern
in December, 1813. In 1814 he went out again, and was in the battle
of Fort Erie, where he was wounded in the neck, taken prisoner, and
carried to Halifax. At the close of the war he returned home with
his constitution impaired. He never fully recovered. He drew a pen-
sion from the U. S. government. He married Miss Sarah Downer in
1 8 14. He sold to his brothers, Hosea and Elias, a part of his farm and
resided on the balance till his death in 1848.
John Proctor was born in Dunstable, Mass., in 1787. In 1810 he
came to Gaines and purchased land near the Transit line. There he
built a cabin and kept bachelor's hall. His nearest neighbors were
seven miles distant east, two miles west, and at Batavia on the south.
He returned to Dunstable on foot in December 1811. February 11,
18 1 2, he married Polly Cummings of that place, and the next day they
started in a sleigh for their new home. In the winter of 1813-14 he
went, with others, on an expedition against the British and Indians
near Lewiston, and in September, 18 14, with several others, he volun-
teered to go to Fort Erie. They made several attacks on the enemy,
and were engaged in the sortie. In these actions several bullets passed
through his clothes, and one grazed his finger. Mr. Proctor was a
prominent man at an early day in this region. He died in 1868.
Daniel Pratt, born in Oneida county in 1788, married Polly
Bailey in 1809, came to Gaines in 18 10 and settled on lot 30, west
432 . [LANDMARKS OF
from the village. His wife died in 1812. Like many others he went
east during the war of 18 12, but returned after two years. In 18 15 he
was again married to Caroline Smith, who died in 1831. He died in
1845, o" the farm which he first took up. During many years he was
the town clerk.
Walter Fairfield was born in Pittsford, Vt., in 1788. In 1809 he
married Polly Harwood, a native of the same place. In 18 10 he bought
a part of lot 5, on the Oak Orchard road, south from the Ridge, and
early in the spring of 181 1 brought his wife to Gaines, and occupied
the house in which James Mather was then keeping bachelor's hall.
By midsummer he had built a log house on his farm, covered it with
bark, and floored with basswood puncheons a sufiicient space to set a
bed on, and into this they moved. Their nearest neighbors south on
the Oak Orchard road were south of Tonawanda swamp. In the
spring of i8i2 several located at Albion, and he entertained at his
house at one time, while they were building their cabins, Joseph Hart,
William McAllister, Silas Benton, Elijah Darrow, and Frederick and
John Holsenburg, and some of their families. He died in 1865, on
the farm where he settled.
To no one was the town of Gaines, and, indeed, the people of the
entire county of Orleans, more indebted at a very early period than to
James Mather, who became an actual settler in 181 1. Mr. Mather
had been a manufacturer of potash in Herkimer county, and had found
his market in Canada. On coming here he engaged in the same busi-
ness. He purchased from the early settlers the " black salts " which
were made from their ashes and paid for them in money, iron, salt,
leather, chains, and other things that the people required. The only
means by which these settlers procured the money with which to pay
their taxes and to pay for many articles with which they could not dis-
pense was the sale of these salts, and their only market was with Mr.
Mather. These salts he converted into potash, which he took to the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek and shipped to Montreal. After non-
intercourse with Great Britain was established he managed, by the use
of money among government officials, to secure the transmission of
his goods from shore to shore, and his profits were larger than in or-
dinary times. Mr. Mather had purchased some 400 acres of land at
ORLEANS COUNTY. 433
what was afterward Gaines village, and on his arrival in 1811, with his
younger brother, Rufus. they at once commenced making improve-
ments. They built a house in which they kept bachelor's hall for more
than a year. Mr. Mather was said to be a descendant of Rev. Increase
Mather, one of the presidents of Harvard College, In the winter of
1810 II he came to Gaines with his brother, Rufus, driving two yoke
of oxen with a sled on which, among other things, were three potash
kettles. These were the kettles afterward used for converting black
salts into potash. Although he never kept a tavern, his house was
always open to wayfarers, and was often full of immigrants who were
waiting for the erection of their own cabins. Oliver Booth, afterward
the tavern keeper at Gaines, was one of these. About 1824 Mr.
Mather built at Gaines a. large brick tannery, the same afterward con-
ducted by Mr. Bidleman. He never worked at the business, but was
interested in it with his brothers. He was also a dealer in real estate,
and became quite wealthy.
Elihu Mather, a brother of James, was a tanner, was born in Marl-
boro, Vt, in 1782, and in 1825 removed to Gaines, where he became a
partner with James in his tannery. He was a Free Mason, and in the
time of the anti-Masonic excitement he was indicted as an accessory to
the crime of kidnapping William Morgan. He was tried at Albion and
acquitted. His trial occupied ten days. In 1851 he removed to Cold-
water, Mich., and died there in 1866.
Oliver Booth came to Gaines from Wayne county in the spring of
181 1 and settled on the farm north from the Ridge in Gaines village,
where he built a double log house and opened a tavern, which he kept
for many years. The region was being rapidly settled, and this was
the stopping place for emigrants on their way farther west, as well as
those that located in the vicinity. Whisky was a common beverage in
those days, and he dispensed it in large quantities; and the food that
was placed before his hungry guests was relished by those who did not
look into the kitchen. He was illiterate, but he kept his accounts in
chalk, and the walls were his account books. He had hieroglyphics of
his own for different items, such as meals, lodging, horse feed, drinks,
etc. The village grew, another and better hotel wes opened, and after
434 LANDMARKS OF
a time Booth sold his property and left. He finally removed to Mich-
igan, where he died.
Judge Thomas says :
ISlo description of Booth or his tavern would be complete without including Sam
Wooster. Sam's father lived in the neighborhood, and he (Sam), then a great lazy boy,
strayed up to Booth's tavern, where by hanging about he occasionally got a taste of
Booth's whisky in consideration of bringing in wood for the fire and doing a few other
chores. For these services and the pleasure of his company Booth gave him what he
ate and drank, with a place to sleep on the bar room floor. His clothes did not cost
much. He never wore a hat of any sort, and seldom had on stockings or shoes. No
body can remember that he wore a shirt, and his coats and pants were such as came to
him, nobody could tell how or from whence. Sam never washed his face and hands or
combed his head ; and his general appearance, shirtless and shoeless, with his great
black, frowsy head bare, his pants ragged and torn, and his coat, if he had any, minus
one sleeve or half the skirt, to one who did not know him might befit a crazy prisoner,
just escaped from bedlam. Yet Sam. was not a fool or crazy. His wit was keen and
ready, and his jokes timely and sharp. He would not work, or do anything which re-
quired much effort anyway. He was a good fisherman, however, and, with his old
friend Booth, he would sit patiently by the hour and angle in the Oak Orchard or any
other stream that had fish, perfectly content if he had an occasional nibble at his hook.
Although Sam loved whisky and drank it whenever it was given to him, for he never
had money to buy anything, he never got drunk. He never quarreled or stole, or did
any other mischief. Bad as he looked, and lazy and dirty as he was, he was harmless.
Oliver Booth, 2d, better known as 'Squire Booth, though not related
to the tavern keeper, located in i8iO on the north side of the Ridge
west of the Oak Orchard road, at Gaines village, and was elected the
first supervisor in Orleans county, representing Ridgeway in 1813.
During several years he was a justice of the peace, and was regarded as
an upright and honest man. He died in Michigan in 1833, aged fifty-
four.
Henry Drake was the builder of the pioneer saw mill in Gaines in
1 812. It stood a few rods north from the Ridge, on Otter Creek. Mr.
Drake was a clothier by trade, but a farmer by occupation. He was
born in New Jersey in 1770 and settled in Gaines in 181 1. He mar-
ried Betsey Parks, of New Jersey, who died in 1843. Hedied in 1863.
Levi Atwell was a native of Columbia county, N. Y. He came
to Gaines in April, 181 1, and took an article for a part of lot 44, west
from Eagle Harbor. His brothers-in-law, Gideon Freeman and Joseph
Stoddard, came with him and took up land. He cut the timber on a
ORLEANS COUNTY. 435
few acres and built a log house in the summer of i8i i. In February,
1812, he brought his wife (whose maiden name was Mabel Stoddard)
and their children, Ira, Abbey, Roxy, Joseph, and Martin. They
brought a yoke of oxen and some other cattle, and took possession of
their house, which was roofed with " shakes " held by transverse poles,
and had no windows. A large hole in the roof let out the smoke and
admitted the light. They filled the crevices between the logs with
chips and hung a blanket for a door. It was a shelf taken from this
house that was used to make a coffin for Mr. Crofoot, who died in the
fall of 18 12. Mr. Atwell remained on the farm where he settled till
his death in 1847.
Aaron Shelley came from Washington county, N. Y., to Wayne
county, and thence, in 18 12, to Gaines, where he kept a tavern in a log
house with three rooms. Mr. Shelley and his family retired eastward
after the battle of Queenston, but returned two months later. He
soon removed to near Fairhaven, where he erected a house without
boards or nails. Here the family lived at first on corn meal ground in
a primitive Genesee mill (z. e., a stump mortar), and fish from Oak
Orchard Creek. Afterward he removed to a place on the Ridge road
near Otter Creek, where he built a saw mill and where he died.
Zaccheus Lovewell, a native of New Hampshire, was a Revolutionary
soldier. After the close of the war he went to Canada and thence to
Wayne county, N. Y. From there he came to the mouth of Oak
Orchard Creek, but after a short stay returned to Wayne county. In
18 1 2 he came to Gaines and located on the Ridge, a mile west from
Gaines village. Thence after several removals, he went to Cattaraugus
county, where he died 1834. His son, Samuel Lovewell, settled on the
homestead on the Ridge where his father located in 18 12, and died
there March 16, 1891.
Gideon Freeman, born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, January ii,
1787, removed with his father to Ledyard, Cayuga county, in 1799,
whence he came to Gaines in March, 18 12, settling in the southwest
corner of the town. He was the first settler in that locality, which was
long known as Freeman settlement. During the winter of 1816-17 he
chopped fifty acres of woods to browse his cattle but having nothing to
feed his large stock of hogs many of them died of starvation. He owned
436 LANDMARKS OF
at one time considerable land, but finally became involved in business
reverses, removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., and died there in 1832.
John L. Crandall, son of Christopher Crandall, was born in New
Berlin, N. Y., in 1803. He came with his father to Albion and resided
in that town a few years. He then purchased a farm on lot 29, in
Gaines, northeast from Albion village, where he remained till his death,
in 1851. In 1829 he married Hannah Brown, a native of Canada, born
in 1808 They reared nine children.
Hon. Willam J. Babbitt learned from his father the trade of a black-
smith. He came to Gaines in 18 13 and took up the farm where he
resided till his death, — a part of lot 30, on the Ridge, east from Fair-
haven. He was not a professional lawyer, but he possessed a latge
endowment of native shrewdness, and at an early day was frequently
employed to try cases in justices' courts, and he became one of the
most skillful pettifoggers in this part of the county. He was active
in procuring the act of organization of the town of Gaines, and was
the first postmaster in the town ; he was appointed a justice of the
peace in 18 15, and was chosen by the people after the office became
elective, holding it in all twenty- three years. He was twice elected
supervisor of Gaines, and was a member of assembly for Orleans county
in 1832. He acquired a large property. He was born in Providence,
R. I., in 1786, and was married to Eunice Losey in 18 10. He died in
1863, she in 1867.
David Bullard, the progenitor of the numerous family by that name
in Gaines, was born in Dedham, Mass., whence he removed to Vermont.
He entered the Revolutionary army when fourteen, in the capacity of an
officer's servant. On reaching the proper age he shouldered a musket
and served till the close of the war as a regular soldier. In 18 14 he
came to Gaines with as many of his children as had not preceded him,
and settled west from Gaines village, where his son William had taken
up a farm. A year or two later he removed to a place on the Gaines
Basin road, where he died. William Bullard, his son, was born in
Vermont in 1789. In January, 18 12, he came with two yoke of oxen
and a sled to Gaines and located north from Gaines Basin. His brothers
Brigadier, David, and Ransom came soon afterward and settled in the
vicinity. William served in the service during the War of 1812. After
ORLEANS COUNTY. 437
a few years he removed to a farm a mile west from Gaines village, on
the Ridge road, and died there in 1861. He was distinguished for his
benevolence and kindness to the poor. David Bullard, jr., another son,
born in 1805, came to Gaines in 18 15 and located on the Gaines Basin
road, where he remained till his death, in 1886. His wife died in 1888.
Ransom Bullard, also a son of David, sr., became a physician. He
practiced a short time at Gaines Basin, then removed to Michigan
where he died.
Phinehas Rowley was a native of New Hampshire, and in his youth
removed to Vermont. In 1815 he came to Gaines and purchased a farm
on lot 30, near East Gaines. In 1817 he brought his family to this
place and was a resident here till his death in 1851. His wife, Jane
Anderson, was a native of Vermont, and five of their children were
born in that State. The eldest son, John A. Rowley, was also a pur-
chaser from the Holland Land Company.
Josias Lamont was born in Columbia county, N. Y. When a young
man he removed to Schoharie county, and in 181 5 to Gaines. He lo-
cated on lot 14 in the east part of the town, where he remained till his
death in 1856. His children, who came here with him, were Piatt,
Archibald, Smith, Fanny and Major T. Four children were born after
he settled in Gaines. His wife was Anna Tyler, a native of Columbia
county; she died in 1864.
Sylvester W. Farr was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1797. In
18 1 5 he removed to Gaines and settled at Five Corners. In 1847 he
removed to Michigan, where he died in 1872. His wife was Anna
Parshall, a native of Palmyra, N. Y.
Samuel C. Lewis was born in Poultney, Vt., in 1796. When seven-
teen years of age he enlisted in the war of 1812, and served in the
company of Captain Miller, afterward the founder of the sect called
Millerites. He served about two years and fought at Plattsburg and
French Mills. In February, 18 16, with his brothers, Gideon and Ros-
well, Amos and Elias Clift and their sister, Esther, afterward Mrs. Guy
C. Merrill, he came from Poultney to Gaines in a lumber wagon,
drawn by two yoke of oxen. They were twenty-five days on the road.
The first night after their arrival the Messrs. Lewis slept in a house that
Samuel's brother-in-law, Arba Chubb, who arrived the day before, had
438 LANDMARKS OF
moved into. It was built by Mrs. Burgess, and it had not been occu-
pied for some time. They cleared away the snow, built a roaring fire
against the stoned- up end of the house, and lay down with their feet
toward it. The fire thawed out the chimney back, which fell forward
into the room. Samuel and Gideon purchased an article for 175 acres
that had been taken up by Lansing Bailey at Gaines Basin. During
the summer they worked for Mr. Bailey every seventh day to pay for
their cooking and washing. Samuel resided on this farm during the
rest of his life. He married Anna Frisbie in 1819. She died in 1820,
and in 1824 he married Anna Warner, of Cornwall, Vt. She died in
1841. He died in 1877. It is said that he made the journey between
Gaines and Poultney, Vt., twelve times on foot.
George A. Love was born in Preston, Conn., in 1792. His parents
removed to Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., in 1793. At the age
of twenty he entered the army, and served through the war of 1812.
In 1 8 16 with his brother, Maj. William Love, he came to Orleans
county and located in the southeast part of the town of Barre. In 1830
he removed to Gaines and settled on lot 12. He he remained till his
death in 1885. His first wife was Louisa Ferguson, of Barre. She
died in 1828, and in 1829 he married Mary Button, a native of Wash-
ington county, N. Y. He had eight children.
Ebenezer Hutchinson, a native of Connecticut, removed with his
father's family to Oneida county, N. Y., about 1800, and 18 16 came to
Gaines and purchased a farm on lot 6 near Gaines village, where his
son, Almanzor Hutchinson, succeeded him. He died in 1820 and the
care of his family devolved on his widow. Her maiden name was Bet-
sey Phelps, who was a native of Connecticut. Their children were :
Almanzor and Seymour. Mrs. Hutchinson was the administratrix of
her husband's estate, and took a deed of the farm in her own name.
She married again in 1834, and in 1864 her husband died, after which
she returned to the farm where she first settled, and died there in 1873.
Almanzor Hutchinson from early life took a lively interest in politi-
cal questions. He assisted in the organization of the Whig party, was
one of the earUest anti-slavery men in Western New York, and was
active in supporting all the great reforms of his day. From the first of
its organization he was an active member of the Republican party. He
ORLEANS COUNTY. ' 439
was a member of the Assembly during three sessions and of the State
Senate one term. He died June 12, 1893.
Arba Chubb, a native of Poultney, Vt, was born in 1791. In 18 16
with his wife and child, he came to Gaines and purchased a farm be-
tween the Ridge and Gaines Basin. In 1832 he removed to Gaines
Basin and became a merchant and produce dealer. In 1840 he re-
moved to Gaines village, and in 1856 to Michigan. In 1813 he mar-
ried Emily Frisbie. She died in 1829, and he married Sally Bullard.
He represented Gaines on the Board of Supervisors five years, was a
justice of the peace in the town thirty-three years and held the same
office in Michigan till his total service amounted to about half a cen-
tury. He held every other town office in Gaines except that of consta-
ble. In 1848 he was elected member of Assembly.
Daniel Brown was a resident of Canada West from 1800 till 18 16,
In the War of 18 12 he refused to bear arms against his native country,
and was tried for treason, but was acquitted. He was born in Columbia
county, N. Y., in 1787, and went with his father's family to Canada in
1800. He married there, Mary Willsea, in 1807, and they removed to
Gaines in 18 16, locating a mile northeast from Albion. Mr. Brown was
regarded as a man of strict integrity, and was much honored and re-
spected. He was the supervisor of his town in 1844. His brothers,
who resided near him, were Oliver and Jonathan. Their father was
Benjamin Brown.
Samuel Bidleman, son of Henry Bidleman, was born in Manheim,
Herkimer county, in 1806, and came with his father's family to Shelby
in 1 8 18. In 1820 he went, alone bare- footed, wearing an old straw hat,
tow-cloth pantaloons and a second hand coat, to Ridgeway Corners
for the purpose of learning the trade of tanner and currier and shoe-
maker with Isaac Bullard. He remained there till after Mr, BuUard's
death in 1827, when he purchased the establishment and conducted the
business on his own account, In 1835 he sold out and purchased from
James Mather a tannery in Gaines village, where he employed four or
five men in his tannery and five or six in his shoe shop. In 1841 Mr.
Bidleman admitted Robert Ranney as a partner, and they enlarged the
business. The partnership was neither profitable nor pleasant, and it
ceased at the end of five years. The business was afterward conducted
440 LANDMARKS OF
by Mr. Bidlenian and his sons. Ready-made shoes took the place of
those manufactured in country shops, and with the failure of the sup-
ply of tan bark the business of tanning here became impracticable.
Mr. Bidleman took a lively interest in the " Patriot " war for the aid of
Canadian rebels in 1838. A hunters' lodge held its meetings in the
old Free Masons' lodge room in his tannery, and he contributed liber-
ally in support of the movement. He gave an old cast-iron bark mill
to be cast into cannon balls, and fitted out a soldier with the last gttn
he ever owned and a pair of boots and sent him to Canada to join the
insurgents. Mr. Bidleman had been a lieutenant of an artillery com-
pany in Yates, which owned a cannon which was sent to the Patriots.
During this excitement Gen. Winfield Scott passed through herewith a
detachment of United States troops to maintain peace,
Joseph Billings, sr., the ancestor of this family, Judge Thomas says,
was born in Somers, Conn., and settled in Chenango county, N. Y.,
where he resided till his death. He purchased of Isaac Bennett a large
quantity of land in Gaines, which Mr. Bennett had taken up, which he
divided among his sons, Joseph, Timothy and Lauren. Joseph and
Timothy settled on this land in 1817, and Lauren in 1822. Joseph,
Timothy and Lauren lived on adjoining farms, which they cleared and
improved. Joseph and Lauren each held the office of justice of the
peace for a number of years ; Joseph was supervisor of Gaines from
1837 t^ 1841, inclusive, and Lauren was a colonel in the State militia.
Rev. Simeon Butcher, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., was born
in 1772. Aniving at the age of manhood, he worked during fifteen
years at the trade of a millwright, although he never served an ap-
prenticeship. He then became a Baptist preacher, and in 18 17 came to
Carlton. In 1820 he removed to Gaines, where he resided till his death
in i860. When he came to the Holland Purchase the Baptists had no
church organization in Orleans county, and he served as a missionary
among the poor and scattered people, preaching in the cabins of the
settlers or in school houses after such were built. He received but lit-
tle compensation for his clerical work, but maintained his family by
labor on a farm. He officiated at nearly all the weddings and funerals
in this region for many years. A Baptist church was organized in
Gaines at a very early day, and Elder Dutcher was its pastor. He
ORLEANS COUNTY. 441
continued in that relation till the breaking out of the anti-Masonic ex-
citement. He was a Free Mason, and was required to renounce Ma-
sonry. He declined to do so, and the church excommunicated him.
He afterward became a Universalist in sentiment. He was always
considered a good man, and was highly esteemed by the early settlers.
Hull and Zerah Tomlinson were born in Connecticut, the latter in
1792. They came to Gaines in 18 17, and located on the Ridge half a
mile west from Gaines village, where they remained the rest of their
lives. Zerah died in 1871, and Hull some years previously. The three
children of Hull removed to Michigan. The wife of Zerah was Sarah
Stone, a native of Connecticut. Of their five children four lived to
maturity. David died on the old homestead.
Rev. Samuel Salsbury was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1804,
and came to the Holland Purchase, with his father, Stephen, in 18 17.
He was educated in the common schools, and in his early manhood
was a farmer and school teacher. He became a preacher in the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, and in 1843 joined in the organi-
zation of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, in which con-
nection he remained during the rest of his life. He married Miss Electa
Beal in 1829.
John Wickham was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1774.
When a young man he removed to Canada, where he married Lucy
Brown, who died in 18 14. In 1818 he came to Gaines and settled on
lot 20, east from Albion, where his grandson, Lewis Wickham, now
resides. His second wife was Mrs. Polly Rice, who was born in Massa-
chusetts. He reared seven children, of whom Dyer Wickham, who
also purchased a part of lot 20, was the eldest. The youngest son was
Case Wickham who resided on the farm which his father purchased till
his death, in 1883. His wife was Marietta Butts, of Albion. They
reared six children.
Anthony Sterling was born in Lima, N. Y., in 1795. About 1818
he came to Gaines and purchased a farm on lot 45, three miles west
from Gaines village, on the Ridge. His brother, William B. Sterling,
came at the same time, but removed west after a few years. Mr.
Sterling remained on this farm till his death, in 1885. His wife, Mary
Horton, was a native of Wayne county, N. Y., born in 1808. She
442 LANDMARKS OF
died in Gaines in 1880. They reared ten children, of whom three live
in Gaines.
Ke3^es Wilder, a native of Vermont, was born in 1790. His wife, to
whom he was married in 1820, was Levira Slater, born in Massachusetts
in 1802. They came to Gaines in 1820 and purchased the farm on
which they ever afterward resided — a part of lot 53 in the southwest
part of the town. Here Mr. Wilder died in 1844, They reared six
children, none of whom resides in Gaines. Their eldest son, H. H.
Wilder, died here in 1890.
Zebulon and Spencer Whipple came to Gaines about 1820 and
located on lot 46, west from Gaines village. A granddaughter of
Spencer Whipple, Mrs. Fred Stanley, still resides on the Ridge in the
west part of the town.
Perry Davis, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1773, removed to
Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., then to Palmyra, and in 1823 to
Gaines. He first took up land near the mouth of Otter Creek, but in
1825 purchased a farm at Gaines village, north from the Ridge and
west from the Oak Orchard road. " He was an active business man,
being engaged at different times as a merchant, farmer, school teacher,
and manufacturer ; and while residing in Gaines superintending at
the same time three farms, a saw mill, a grist mill, and a small iron
foundry, all in operation." He married Rebecca Potter, who died
in 1825, and in 1827 he married Sarah Toby, of Stockton, N. Y. He
had eight daughters, seven of whom lived to adult age.
Samuel Hill, a native of Barrington, N. H., was born in 1793, and
was married to Miss Olive Knight in 181 5. They came to Gaines in
the winter of 1823, and settled on the farm where they ever afterward
resided. In the spring of that year they built a log house without
chimney or window, the crevices between the logs admitting light and
a hole in the roof permitting the escape of smoke. In this house they
passed their first summer here, but made it comfortable for the winter
by " chinking and mudding" the spaces between the logs. They pros-
pered and acquired a competence.
John Hyde, a native of Worcestershire, England, born in 1779,
came to America in 1832, and in 1833 purchased a farm on lot 30, two
miles west from Gaines village, where he resided till his death in 1864.
ORLEANS COUNTY. I i;>
His wife was Harriet Muckro, also a native of England. His son, Alfred
Hyde, and his daughter, Mrs. Fanny Breeze, are residents of Gaines.
Orrin Osborn, who came to Gaines and located on lot 21 about 1823,
was a native of New Hampshire. He remained on the farm which he.
first purchased till his death, in 1879. His wife was Naomi Wolcott.
She died in 1883 at the age of eighty -seven. Of their eight children
who lived to maturity, Norman resides on the old homestead and
Lorenzo lives in Albion.
Jere Wilson was born in 1799. In 1823 he came from Penfield, N.
Y., to Gaines and took up lOO acres of lot ^8, in the northeast part of
the town. He married, in Penfield, Laura Crippen, a native of Herki-
mer county, N. Y. Their children were William, Jane (Mrs. D. A.
Porter), and Betsey (Mrs. S. E. Williams). Mr. Wilson died in 1884;
Mrs. Wilson in 1875.
Amos Kelsey, a native of Onondaga county, N. Y., born in 1800,
came to Gaines in 1825, and ten years later purchased a portion of lot
36, near Albion, where he died in 1884 His son, Addison Kelsey, was
born in Onondaga county in 1824 and came here with his father's
family.
Stephen Crawford was born in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1769. His wife
was Anna Olmstead, of Pittsfield. They removed to Vermont, and
thence, in 1826, to Gaines, settling on lot 12, in the eastern part of the
town, where he died in 1854, and she in 1857. They had three
daughters, all of whom are dead ; and one son, Roswell. The latter,
who was born in Vermont in 18 10 and came with his father to Gaines,
In 1834 he married Asenath, a sister of Eri Green. They had two
sons: Robert Bruce, who died at the age of twenty; and Walter. Mrs.
Asenath Crawford died in 1859, and in i860 he married Mrs. Eunice
Stewart. He died September 20, 1890.
William Hayden was born in 1793. His wife was Rowena, daughter
of Perry Davis, born in 1791. They lived in Farmington till 1826,
when they removed to Gaines and located on lot 23, half a mile west from
Gaines village on the Ridge. After many years he removed to Rochester
and thence to Albion, where he died in 187 1. Of his nine children
Perry Davis Hayden became the owner of the west part of the farm
which his father originally purchased, and resided on it till his death in
1872.
■iU LANDMARKS OP
Benjamin Stacy, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1774, removed to
Vermont, and thence in 1826 to Gaines, where his son WiUiam had
already settled. His wife, also a native of Massachusetts, was Lydia
Cooley. Both died in Gaines; she in 1827 and he in 1856. Their
nine children, all of whom were born in New England, came to West-
ern New York. Of these William came to Orleans county about 181 5
and remained on the place which he first purchased till his death in
1880. Benjamin was the well-known court crier during forty years, a
constable fifteen years and a justice of the peace twelve years. He
was a deputy sheriff, a notary public and a collector in Gaines.
Richard Treadwell, born in Connecticut in 1783, married in 1809
Miss Temperance Smith, of Palmyra, who lived but a few months, and
in 1809 he married Frances Bennett. In 1827 he went to Shelby and
a few years later removed to Gaines, where he died in 1866.
Wright Lattin, son of Benjamin and Freelove (Wright) Latin, natives
of Long Island, was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, N. Y.,
in 1790. With his mother he came to Gaines in 1828. His wife was
Maria Flagler. Their children were Horace, Mary, Cordelia, Eunice
and Dorcas. William Lattin, also a son of Nathaniel, was born in
Pleasant Valley in 1808 and removed to Gaines in 1834.
Albert Bennett removed from Sandlake, Rensselaer county, N. Y.,
to Ohio in 1 8 16. He soon afterward went to Virginia, and in 1828
came to Monroe county, N. Y. In 1829 he removed to Orleans county
and settled a mile south from Gaines village. Albert L. Bennett, his
son, was born at Sandlake in 181 5, and with his father's family became a
resident of Gaines in 1829. At first he engaged in distributing news-
papers through the county, then he became a clerk in a grocery store,
then a farmer, and afterward, during thirty- five years, a banker in Albion
and Buffalo. In 1874 he retired from business and he has resided at
Eagle Harbor. He died August 12, 1894. He married in 1835. Ada-
line Farr, who was born at Five Corners, in Gaines, in 18 18. They had
four children
James Grear was born in New Hampshire in 1799. In 1830 he came
to Murray in Orleans county, and five years later removed to Gaines
and purchased lot 16 in the northeast part of the town. There he re-
sided till his death in 1863. His wife was Sophia Clark, a native of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 44-,
Vermont. They reared to maturity one daughter and six sons. His
wife died in 1875.
Floyd Hobby and his brother, Ebenezer, were natives of Connecti-
cut. Floyd was born in 1800 and Ebenezer in 181 1. In 1830 they
came to Gaines and purchased a farm in the east part of lot 21, where
they resided many years, and where Ebenezer died in 1885. His wife
was a native of Canada, born in 1809. Floyd went to Ohio, where he
died in 1875.
It lias been stated that the first death in the town was that of the
pioneer, Gilbert, in 1809. In the fall of 18 12 a man named Crofoot,
died. Lumber could not be found with which to make his coffin. In
the cabin of Levi Atwell was a shelf made of a board that had been a
side-board to his shed when he came here This and a shelf from the
cabin of another settler were utilized for the purpose, and the man was
entombed in this rude casket thus manufactured. The first birth
in Gaines was that of Samuel Crippen, jr., whose father had, in 1809,
located on lot 39, at Fairhaven. In 1810 or 181 1 Andrew Jacobs and
Sally Wing were married. July 4, 1812, the marriage of Cyrus
Daniels and Elizabeth Freeman was celebrated. These were the first
marriages in town.
There have been in the town four grist mills and nine saw mills.
Henry Drake built the first saw mill on Otter Creek, in 18 12, and Justus
Welch erected a saw and shingle mill in the same vicinity soon after-
ward. At later dates saw mills were built by David Smith, Pratt,
Dealne & Northrup, James Mather, Brown & Farnham, Matthew An-
derson, and Elias & Bacon, the last on a small stream that crosses the
Albion road near Five Corners. These mills have gone to decay. The
changes which changed circumstances have effected in the customs
of the people have rendered the small grist mills no longer necessary,
and they too have ceased to exist.
In 1809 Daniel Gates to'ok up the west part of lot 29, about two
miles west from the village of Gaines. On this a log cabin, twelve feet
square, was built, with a single roof In this building Orrin Gleason
taught the first school in town, in the winter of 1813. Miss Rebecca
Adams taught the first summer school. A log school house was erected
in East Gaines, south from the Ridge, in 1 8 1 5, and Hannah Strickland and
446 LANDMARKS OF
Ira H. Beach were the first teachers there. A log house, built in i8i6,
was the first school house in the Bullard district, and the first teacher
there was Miss Anna Frisbie. In 1817 a school was taught at Five
Corners in Frederick Holsenburg's corn house by Miss Ruth Haywood.
In the same year a school house was built at Fairhaven, and John Mc-
Omber was one of the first teachers. About 1818a board school house
was built on the Ridge near the crossing of Otter Creek. It was 18x22
feet, with windows in the sides, a door in one end, and a fire place and
chimney at the other. This was a stylish school house for those times.
Among the early teachers in Gaines the names are remembered of Hull,
Culver, Joseph and Orson Tomlinson, John Pratt, Lewis Gates, Almon
Backus, Ziba Ruggles, Lauren K. Hewitt, Lyman Lovewell, Scott
Bacon, Nancy Bullard, Betsey Gillett, Laura Terrell, Caroline Chubb,
Nancy Holland, Cynthia Daniels, Phebe Bennett, Emily Hale and
Helen Hoyt. The town was organized into school districts in 18 19.
On a thoroughfare like the Ridge, inns for the entertainment of the
incoming settlers were necessary at an early period, though the cabin
doors of the earliest immigrants were always open to those who came
after them. As early as 1809 William Sibley opened a tavern in the
western part of the town, on lot 45. Tradition says that it was first a
thatched booth of hemlock boughs, and that a log house was soon
erected. It is believed that this was the first tavern in Orleans county.
Another hotel was built in 1825 by Robert C. Green, on the same lot,
at the present crossing of the roads. Another, at about the same time,
was established on the opposite corner by Zelotes Sheldon. Four years
later a larger hotel was erected by Harvey Noble, a few rods farther
east. All these have ceased to be used as hotels. At East Gaines
what was known as the Five Mile House was built by John Huff in
1816. It was subsequently kept by William Huff, Jerry Dunn, and
Horatio N. Ball. During many years Hon. A, Hyde Cole was the
owner of this house. It was closed in 1873.* The Perry House at East
Gaines, so named from one of its landlords Silas Perry, was built by
Peter Runion in 1826. In its day it was a popular house, but it was
long since abandoned. As already stated, Noah Burgess established a
tavern at Fairhaven in an early day. In 1824 Samuel Percival built a
hotel there, and hospitalities have since been dispensed by many land-
lords.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
447
Mention is made of many other early settlers and representative
citizens and families of the town in subsequent pages of this volume,
all of whom, as well as the previously noticed, have materially con-
tributed to the steady growth and development of one of the richest
rural sections of the State. Thickly dotted with beautiful homes, which
present a striking contrast to their archetypal cabins, rude and humble,
of three-quarters of a centur}^ ago, the Gaines of to day is a veritable
garden blessed by generous nature Surrounded by substantial build-
ings, fertile farms, productive orchards, and unexcelled means of com-
munication with the outside world, the present generation enjoy a life
not even dreamed of by those who braved the hardships and privations
incident to pioneer times.
During the War of the Rebellion the town of Gaines sent forward to
fight the nation's battles a large number of her brave sons, many of
whom gave their life's blood to the cause. Of those who returned,
crowned with honor and decorated with scars, a few still remain to tell
the story of that sanguinary struggle. The following is a list of those
who volunteered from this town :
Charles Ashby, 27th Inf., 14th H. Art.
Jacob Anderson, 8th H. Art.
John Bannister, 27th Inf.
Albert L. Bean, 28th Inf.
Benjamin Barker, 28th Inf.
Victor M. Ball, 105th Inf.
William Bowman, 27th Inf.
Orrin D. Beach, 27th Inf., 3d Cav.
William Barber, 3d Cav.
Merrett Brackett, 28th Inf.
Joseph Burrill, 28th Inf.
Joseph Ball, 27th Inf.
Burbanks, 11th Inf.
Albert Brown, 151st Inf.
George A. Burnett, Isl Inf.
Martin H. Burnett, 4th H. Art.
Henry J. Babbitt, 151st Inf.
John W. Bradley, 4th H. Art.
Gairahan Ball, 17th Bat.
Edwin Broorafield, 157th Inf.
Levi Bentley, 4th Art.
Charles Bassinett.
Philip Brown, 188th Inf.
Henry Baker, 188th Inf.
Charles Blakely. 161st Inf.
Alfred Bailey.
William J. Buchanan.
George Buzzing.
William Blunt.
William Brown.
George Barry.
Henry Burbanks, 188th Penn.
Orrin E. Babcock, 129th Inf.
Frank Ball, 105th Inf.
Graham Ball, 19th Bat.
Galusha Chapman, 27th Inf.
Amos Cliff, 27th Inf.
William Collins, 28th Inf.
Jefferson Chapipan, 28th Inf.
Dwight Cook, 27th Inf.
Warren H. Crego, 28th Inf.
William H. Chapin, 28th Inf.
William Canhan, 28th Inf.
Thomas Coleman, 12th Inf.
448
LANDMARKS OF
Charles Churchill, 8th H. Art.
Lewis Clukey, 8th H. Art.
George Cunningham, 1st Inf.
Charles Cole, 151st Inf.
Patrick Crane, 8th H. Art,
Oliver C. Clark, Sth H. Art.
Amassa Cupps, 151st Inf.
Robert Canhan, 3d H. Art.
Orland Clark, 8th H. Art.
Charles Cupps, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Arnold Cole, 19th Inf.
William Connolly.
David Cowan.
Thomas Connors.
Robert Crombie.
Charles Dwinell, 27th Inf.
Dempster Doane, 31st Inf.
Oscar L. Doane, 27th Inf.
George Day, Sth H. Art.
Thomas Donohue, Sth H. Art.
Daniel Deveraux, Sth H. Art.
John H. Dunn, 151st Inf.
Albert Dinehart, 114th Inf.
Hugh Doyle, 114th Inf.
Daniel Doyle, Sth Cav., Sth H. Art.
Thomas Doyle, Sth H. Art., 4th H. Art.
William Dickerson, 19th Inf.
Frederick Decker, ISSth Inf.
John Dayley, 22d Cav.
Barnard Doughland.
William Dailey.
William Davies.
Charles 0. Dotta.
George Everett, 151st Inf.
John Everett, 17th Bat.
Edmond Furdon, 2Sth Inf.
Charles G. Furdon, 27th Inf.
John C. Fowler, 27th Inf.
William Fields, 151st Inf.
Daniel D. Frisby, 17th Bat.
Jarvis Ford, 17th Bat.
Cass Fuller, Sth H. Art.
Michael Fields, 151st Inf.
Patrick Flaherty, 151st Inf.
Thomas Flansburg, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Patrick Flanda, 151st Inf.
Nicholas Flansburg, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William Fisher.
Richard H. Forman.
Robert Goaring, Sth H. Art.
Jerome Gummer, Sth H. Art.
John Graham, 4th H. Art.
Peter Goodrich, 14th H. Art.
Thomas Gilmore.
Job Gibson.
Horace J. Harding, 27th Inf., Sth H. Art.
Frank Hayden, 27th Inf.
John Hemietta, 2Sth Inf.
Wifliam Harrington, 106th Inf.
John Hurburger, Sth H. Art.
George S. Hutchinson, 151st Inf.
George A. Hoyt, Sth H. Art.
Chester Harding, Sth H. Art.
Horace Hayden, 151st Inf.
Horace House, 1st N. Y.
James Hammon, 4th H. Art.
Charles Hills, Sth H. Art.
George W. Hewitt, 4th H. Art.
William Hubbard, 151st Inf.
Harving Harding, Sth H. Art.
William Hayman, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Martin Henry.
George Halphinte.
James Healey.
Thomas Kyne.
George S. Iden, Sth H. Art.
Edwin Johnson, 151st Inf.
Henry G. Jackson, 151st Inf.
Edwin D. C. Jones, 27th Inf., 14th H. A.
John June.
Levi S. Johnston.
James Kensella, 47th Inf.
William Kemp, 24th Inf.
Frederick Kruse, 2Sth Inf.
Norman Kneeland, 151st Inf.
Albert Kingman, 27th Inf.
Daniel Kimball, Sth H. Art.
Alanson Kimball, 18th Bat.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
449
William Kelly.
Joseph Kehoe.
John Kesler.
George Lawrence, 47th Inf.
Milton Ludwig, 151st Inf.
Thorne Lapham, 17th Bat.
Henry Levins, 151st Inf.
Elnathan Lynden, 4th H. Art.
Nathaniel Lattin, 8th H. Art.
Orrin V. Loomis, 17th Bat.
Major Leraont, 8th H. Art.
Ora B. Mitchell, 48th Inf.
Orra H. Moore, 47th Inf., 8th Cav.
Jay Mudge, 77th Inf.
Yolney Mudge, 27th Inf.
Benjamin Marsh, 11th Inf.
Clinton Murphy, 77th Inf.
Henry Maxwell, 49th Inf.
Ernest Mansfield, 28th Inf.
Jacob Myers, 105th Inf.
Samuel Merritt, 28th Inf.
Shepard R Malone, 28th Inf.
Darius Maxwell, jr., 8th H. Art.
Alexander McClandish, 151st Inf.
Jared W. Martin, 4th H. Art.
Ichabod Mansfield, 26th Bat.
Patrick McSweeney, 8th H. Art.
James T. Maxwell, 14th H. Art.
Dick F. McComber, 8th H. Art.
George Moore, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Frederick McOmber, 8th H. Art.
Edward Murray, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Galveis Martin.
Thomas Morrissey, 8th H. A.
James Maloney.
Charles A. Miller.
Alexander McGuire.
John Mongowins.
James Maloney.
Thomas McDonough.
Charles Nash, 27th Inf.
John Normile, 17th Bat.
John R. Neyn.
David W. Onderdonk, 18th Maryland
57
Michael Omal.
William Patterson, 28th Inf.
Arthur Presant, 28th Inf.
Daniel E. Pratt, 15 1st Inf.
Harrison Pangburn, 151st Inf.
Charles Pangburn, 8th H. Art.
George M. Pangburn, 151st Inf.
Edward Pangburn, 151st Inf.
Nelson Pierce, 151st Inf.,
Orlando Pride, 8th H. Art.
Frank Packard, 8th Cav.
William Phillips, 8th H. Art.
Smith Pratt, 151st Inf.
Joshua Payne, 151st Inf.
James Paul, 27ih Inf.
Andrew A. Patnode.
Albert Rykeman, 24th Cav.
Jacob Radner, 1st Cav.
Reuben Reed, 4th H. Art.
Frank Ruggles, 8th H. Art.
Edward Rookey, 17th Bat.
Henry Robinson.
Wallace M. Sterling, 28th Inf.
Selam Squires, 27th Inf.
Alfred Sargeant, 79th Inf.
Hiram Shingler, 27th Inf.
Aaron W. Shelly, 151st Inf.
Andrew S. Shelley, 151st Inf.
Jacob Stephens, 14th H. Art.
Sampson Samuel.
Appleton Starkweather, 1st Sharpshooters.
William Scotney, 8th H. Art.
Terril H. Clair, 151st Inf.
Selam G. Squires, 161st Inf.
Samuel W. Smith, 4th H. Art.
Judah M. Smith, 151st Inf.
William H. Smith, 151st Inf.
Hiram Starkweather, 12th Bat.
John H. Soper, 90th Inf.
George Starkweather, 40th Inf.
Charles Stilson.
George W. Kelly, 120th Inf.
Charles H. Tibbitts, 27th Inf.
Wiliiam H. Terry, 8th H. Art.
450
LANDMARKS OF
Peter R. Williams, 108th Inf., 2d Mounted
Rifles.
Datus Wright, 15 1st Inf.
G-eorge Weaver, 151st Inf.
Leonard Wells, 8th H. Art.
John C. Wood, 8th H. Art.
Anthony J. Weaver, 17th Bat.
Albert Waters, 151st Inf.
Gilman Warner, 4th H. Art.
Luther D. Williams, lG2d Inf.
Edmund N. Wood, 49th Inf.
Chandler Welton, 15th Eng. Corps.
Edmund G. Weller, 17th Bat.
William Willis.
Welhngton Wiltsey, 76th Inf.
William Wilson.
Thomas Whalen.
William Willicks.
George Washington.
John White.
Charles S. Whipple, 11th U. S. Inf.
Orville H. Taylor, 8th H. Art.
Aretins Terril, 4th H. Art.
Laphan Thorne, 7th Bat.
Daniel W. Ticknor, 8th H. Art.
Benjamin P. Ticknor, 8th H. Art.
William Taylor, 8th H. Art.
Henry D. Taft, 12th U. S. Inf.
Rathbun Tonsley, 27th Inf.
Patrick Tunney.
John Velie, 104th Inf.
Henrie Velie, 27th Inf.
Abram Van Arman, 151st Inf.
Henry L.Vandresser, 27th Inf., 8th H. Art.
Mark Woolston, 28th Inf.
John Welch, 28th Inf.
Charles Washburn, 105th Inf.
Asa Williams, 105th Inf.
William A. Waters, 151st Inf.
George W. White, 4th H. Art.
John G. D. Whipple, 151st Inf.
Nelson Wickham, 17th Bat.
John A. Wheeler, 151st Inf.
In 1890 the town had a population, exclusive of the portion of Al-
bion village included within its limits, of 1,953. Its assessed real estate in
1893 aggregated $1,112,820 (equalized $1,349,746), personal property,
$158,100; total tax on rolls $10,219.36; rate per cent. .0077557;
town audits, $2,745.14 claimed, $2,661.92 allowed. The town officers
for 1894 are as follows : John H. Pratt, supervisor; Alvah A. Fuller,
town clerk; Daniel D. Frisbie, R. S. Eggleston, Benjamin F. Baldwin
George W. Bennett, justices of the peace; John E. Morton, collector;
Richard Andrews, commissioner of highways; William J. Prussia,
Arthur T. Starkweather, Walter Crawford, assessors ; William Briar,
overseer of the poor.
Gaines Village. — At the organization of Orleans county Gaines
village was a place of more trade and business than any other within its
limits, and up to the time of the completion of the canal it had given
promise of maintaining its position as the principal village in this sec-
tion. The first court in the county sat here at the house of Selah Bron-
son, the Mansion House. The first newspaper in Orleans county, the
Gazette, was established here in 1822 by Seymour Tracy, but was dis-
ORLEANS COUNTr. 451
continued about four years later. The Orleans Whig was started in
Gaines by John Fisk in July, 1827. A steam grist mill, with a foundry
attached, was operated several years, and about 1850 a steam saw
mill was built by Anseimo Tenney, on what was called the " old flat-
iron lot." The first school here was taught by Ira H. Beach in a log
house. A new school house was erected about 1820 in the west part
of the village, and in this Miss Lucretia Downer was the first teacher.
Select schools were taught at an early day, and Hon. Almanzor Hutch-
inson is remembered as one of the teachers. Through the exertions
of several of the enterprising citizens an academy was establish-
ed in the village. It was incorporated April 14, 1827, and placed
under the care of the Board of Regents of the State of New York Janu-
ary 26, 1830. William J. Babitt was largely instrumental in securing
its incorporation. It had a prosperous existence during several years,
and among its efficient preceptors Professors Bates and Gazley are re-
membered. The first teacher in the present village school house was
Paris Dolley, whose assistant was Miss Mary Short. The first phy-
sician was Dr. Jesse Beach. The first attorney was Orange Butler, who
was followed by Elijah Foote and W. W. Ruggles.
In 181 1 Oliver Booth built the first tavern in the village, near where
the present hotel stands. It was a large log structure with one story
and an attic. This was the stopping place for the early immigrants
especially those who left the Ridge road here to settle in the country,
north and south. It was soon replaced by a frame building. Booth
was followed by Woodworth, Pemberton, Martin, Starr, and others.
Sanford's History says : "The Mansion House, which stood on the
northwest corner of the Ridge and the Oak Orchard roads, was erected
by William Perry in 18 16. It is described as a large three-story wooden
building, with high Grecian columns, and one of the oldest and most
imposing structures of the kind between the Niagara and Genesee
Rivens. This hotel was, during the most prosperous days of the village,
the leading place of entertainment It was the stage house and the
principal place of resort for the leading citizens of the village, and at
different times its roof sheltered many distinguished visitors from abroad,
among others General Scott and Henry Clay, the latter of whom gave
an informal reception in its parlors to many of the leading men of the
452 LANDMARKS OF
county. Among those who did the honors of the Mansion House in
the days gone by may be mentioned, William Perry (its builder and
owner), Selah ' Bronson, P. McOmber, E. Curtis, Bronson & Colhns,
Samuel Scoville, ex-Sheriff E. S. Butler, H. E. White and S. D. Wal-
bridge, formerly proprietor of the Eagle Hotel of Rochester. This
house was kept open until 1842. In the following year it was burned."
The Pioneer House, built about 1825, on the south side of the Ridge, was
kept for a time by Mrs. Agrippa M. Furman, and a brick dwelling on
the same side of the road was occupied as a hotel by Dr. Edwin Bab-
cock.
On the 26th of April, 1832, the village of Gaines was incorporated
by an act of the Legislature. It embraced an area of a mile square,
through the center of which the Ridge road passed. The first village
election was held on the 28th of May, 1832, and the following officers
were chosen : James Mather, Orange Butler, John J. Walbridge, Perry
Davis and Alfred Babcock, trustees; Chauncey Woodworth and Levi
Gray, assessors; W. W. Ruggles, clerk ; William Hayden, constable and
collector; Eldad S. Butler, treasurer; Elijah Foot and Jacob D. Chand-
ler, overseers of highways ; Eldad S. Butler, pound keeper ; Elijah Foot,
justice of the peace. At a meeting held subsequent to the election,
Orange Butler was chosen president of the board. In the exercise of
their corporate powers the village authorities provided for proper drain-
age, for the purchase of fire apparatus and for the construction of a
reservoir. This latter was located north from the Ridge and east from
the crossing of the Oak Orchard road. It was supplied with water con-
veyed in pump logs from a spring on James Mather's land. No traces
of it now remain. Prior to the incorporation the " Great Ditch " had
been dug along the south line of the village to drain a depression in the
land on that side of the Ridge.
Dr. John H. Beach says : " At the organization of Orleans county
[1824] the village of Gaines contained three stores, three asheries, three
tanneries, two taverns, one chair factory, one carriage factory, one cabi-
net shop, three blacksmith shops, one distillery, one cloth dressing and
wool carding establishment, two brick yards, one printing office where
a newspaper was published, one hat factory, and one saddle and harness
shop. Works requiring motive power were driven by horses." In
ORLEANS COUNTY. 453
1835 there were some seventy houses and more tlian 400 inhabitants.
There were four lawyers, two physicians, one saddler, two tailors, one
painter, four blacksmiths, one cabinet maker, three tanneries, three
wagon shops, three scythe snath factories, an ashery, four dry goods
stores, two groceries, four shoe shops, two hotels and an academy.
That same year, through the efforts of Judge Thomas and Dr. Mason,
the main street was ornamented by locust trees, some of which still re-
main.
The Farmers' Bank of Orleans was incorported at Gaines village
October 29, 1838, but after a career of some years it failed. The first
chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Orleans county was organized here
in 1826 by Dr. Jesse Beach in the brick tannery on the south side of
the street. It was closed during the anti Masonic excitement, and was
never reorganized. In 1824 the first circus in the county pitched its
tent here. About 1820 a puppet show, Sickels's Wax Figures, repre-
senting the" Babes in the Woods," was exhibited in the ball room of
the Mansion House. The first school entertainment was managed by
Professor Gazley in 1829. when the " Lady of the Lake " was produced
with Hon. Alfred Baccock, Richard McOmber, Miss Laura Davis
(afterward Mrs. Babcock) and others as the principal characters.
Of Gaines village Judge Thomas says: "The hotels were well
patronized, stage coaches were plenty on the famous Ridge road, and
everything considered, the good people of Gaines, and in most of the
county in fact, excepting Newport, since named Albion, thought the
court house would be built in Gaines village surely, and they put up
the price of village lots accordingly, while the people of Newport, or
Mudport, as Gaines men called it when contrasting places as sites for a
court house, offered to give away lots and do many other generous acts
if the court house was located there. But the court house went to
Albion, and the stream of travel which once went on the Ridge took
to the boats on the canal, and the post coaches hauled off; villages
grew up along the canal and trade went there. The resolute business
men of Gaines tried hard to retain their high position ; they got their
academy and their village and a bank incorporated by the Legislature,
and lowered the price of building lots. But their glory had departed,
their academy stopped, village franchises were lost by non-user, and
454 LANDMARKS OF
their bank went to the bad, but their fine farms, choice garden spots,
and unrivaled Ridge road remain as good as ever."
Gaines Village now contains two churches, a hotel and livery, a
public hall, three general stores, one harness shop, a jewelry store, a
meat market, one blacksmith, two cooperages, a shoe shop, one 'dry
house, a physician, a dentist, and about 300 inhabitants. The first
post-office in town was established here July i, 18 16, upon an applica-
tion from William J. Babbitt, who was appointed the first postmaster
and held the office five years. A later incumbent was Arba Chubb.
The present postmaster is B. Frank David, who was appointed in the
fall of 1893.
Eagle Harbor. — This village is said to have been so named be-
cause a large nest of a bird, supposed to be that of an eagle, was found
in a tree there when the canal was surveyed. The original grantees of
land where the village now is may be learned by reference to the
account given of sales by the Holland Land Company in lots 27 and
36, second range, in Gaines, and 26 and 35 in Barre. A clearing was
made here by Stephen Abbott in the winter of 181 1-12. The locality
gave no indication of becoming a village till after the construction of
the Erie Canal was commenced. A Mr. Richardson built the large
embankment over Otter Creek, and for the accommodation of his work-
men he opened a store. This was the pioneer mercantile establishmant
of the village. It was sold to Hicks & Sherman, and by them the
business was conducted for a time. Mr. Hicks, who was an active busi-
ness man here at an early period, built the first warehouse in the vil-
lage, on the south side of the canal. It afterward became the property
of A. S. Samson. In 1832 W. P. Collins purchased it, and occupied it
as a store about six years, but afterward built and occupied a ware-
house and store on the east side of the street. Col. Jonathan Delano
was the first carpenter and joiner, a Mr. Hurd the first blacksmith,
Samuel Robinson the first shoemaker, David Smith the first hotel
keeper, Samuel Robinson and Jonathan Delano the first grocers. Dr.
James Brown the first physician, and Willis T. Collins the first post-
master. A school house was erected in 1822 on the west side of the
street. Another was built in 1841, and the present one was erected in
1846. James Smith built the first saw mill here, on Otter Creek, north
ORLEANS COUNTY. 455
from the canal. In 1825, Pratt, Delano & Northrup built the lower
dam and saw mill, and in 1826 James Mather built a saw mill on the
north side of the canal.
Collins & Leighton built the first grist mill at Eagle Harbor, and
conducted it many years. It was sold by them to Gen. E. S. Beach.
It was burned and rebuilt by him, and after his death it became the
property of Collins & O'Hara and subsequently of O'Hara alone.
Albert Collins and A. M. Backus purchased it from O'Hara, and after
about seven years sold it to Rackham Brothers, of Waterport. Two
years later, or in the winter of 1879, it was burned. In 1880 it was
rebuilt by Charles A. Danolds, and was conducted by him as a custom
and flouring mill till 1889, when it was purchased by Powell Brothers,
the former proprietors of a mill at Waterport that was burned, who still
own and operate it. In 1845 Collins & Beach built a flouring mill on
on the bank of the canal, one-fourth of a mile east of the village. It
was carried on by different firms till 1867, when it was burned. An-
other was built on the same site, but this was destroyed by fire two
years later. In 1890 Frank Ellicott erected on the site a churn and
washing machine factory. September 6, 1893, a fire destroyed a por-
tion of the village, on which stood the stores of A. S. Reed and William
Putt, a blacksmith shop, a warehouse, and William Walter's dwelling
house. On the site of Reed's store Bennett Brothers have built a large
frame building which they use as a general store and dwelling. In
1 86 1 Charles Bennett bought a barn and converted it into a cooperage,
and about five years later took in as partners William H. Bennett, Wil-
liam Lee, and Nathaniel Cole, who have since conducted a large barrel
manufactory. It was originally started to manufacture flour barrels
for the Collins mills. Eagle Harbor village now contains three general
stores, a hotel and livery, a large barrel factory, two blacksmiths, a
wagon shop, a churn and washing machine factory, a meat market, one
grist mill, a warehouse, two churches, two school houses, and about 350
inhabitants. The post-oflice was established here about 1837 with
Willis P. Collins as postmaster. The present incumbent, William Putt,
was appointed November i, 1893, succeeding William H. Bennett.
East Gaines. — This is a small hamlet on the Ridge road in the
northeast part of the town containing a post-office and store, a black-
456 LANDMARKS OF
smith shop, a Baptist church, and twelve or fifteen dwelh'ngs. The first
school house here was built of logs in 1815 ; the first term of school
was taught by Hannah Strickland and the next by Ira H. Beach.
Peter Runion in 1826 erected the East Gaines Hotel, better known as
the Perry House from Silas Perry, one of its early landlords. This
hostelry made the place quite an important point for immigrants The
present postmaster is Harry Lattin.
West Gaines. — Situated on the Ridge road in the western part of
the town, West Gaines formerly contained a hotel and some business
interests, but these have long since ceased to exist. A little west of
here was started the first public house in Orleans county. It is now a
quiet rural hamlet comprising a few dwellings.
Fairhaven. — This is a small hamlet a little northeast from the
center of the town, on the Ridge road, containing a store, hotel, church,
school, and about a dozen dwellings.
Five Corners. — The intersection of three roads gives the name of
Five Corners to a pretty rural hamlet in the south part of the town a
little north from the limits of Albion village. It contains several fine
residences, a number of which are of brick, and formerly ranked as a
manufacturing point by the erection of a large stone building, in which
Scott Bacon conducted a steam saw mill and a foundry and machine
shop. These industries have been partially abandoned and the structure
shows signs of decay.
The Baptist and Congregational Churches of Gaines. — Probably the
first religious society in town was the Baptist. The date of its organi-
zation is not known, but it is believed to have been prior to 1821.
Deacon Lemuel Daniels, Archibald and Ebenezer Daniels, his sons,
Rufus Reed, a Mr. Durkee and his wife, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Levi Hale,
and Hull Tomlinson are remembered as ver}' early members, and
Elders Dutcher, Davis, Irons, Blood and Beckwith were some of the
ministers. Services were held in private houses and afterward in the
old Union church building erected in Gaines village in 1824. This
edifice, in a slightly remodeled form, is still in use and is one of the
most interesting landmarks in Orleans county. Deaths, removals, and
withdrawals weakened the Baptist society, and it ceased to exist some
thirty- five years since.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 457
During the first ten years after the active settlement of Gaines com-
menced the CongregationaHsts and Baptists here were supplied with
preaching by missionaries and local elders, and the Methodists by cir-
cuit preachers. Prior to 1824 services were held in such places as
were temporarily available. In August, 1821, the first Congregational
society of Gaines was organized by Rev. Mr. Fairbanks with Samuel
Percival, Moses Bacon, Daniel Gates, Oliver Booth 2d, Zelotes Sheldon
and Jacob Moore as trustees. It united with the Presbytery of
Rochester, April 16, 1822, and when the Presbytery of Niagara was
organized it was transferred to that body. October 13, 1840, it was
dismissed from the Presbytery to unite with the Genesee convocation.
In 1824 an association was formed consisting of Elisha Nichols, Elijah
D, Nichols, James Mather, Van Rensselaer Hawkins, Elijah Blount,
Jonathan Blount, Olivor Booth 2d, Zelotes Sheldon, John J. Wal-
bridge, Romeyn Ostrander and Asahel Lee for the purpose of building
a house of worship. The last two named were the contractors. 'Squire
Booth donated the site, and the building was erected and finished at a
cost of $1,200. By a sale at auction of the pews and slips this sum was
realized, leaving six slips for free use. The Congregational and Baptist
denominations were given the use of the house for worship on alternate
Sundays, and other denominations when not used by them. In 1834,
after the Congregational society had erected their church edifice in the
east part of the village, they transferred their interest in the old church
building to John Stevens and John Hinckley in trust for the Methodist
Episcopal society. This society failed to pay these gentlemen the money
they had advanced, and in 1840 they deeded their interest to John
Proctor for $250. During some years Mr. Proctor granted the use of
the church to the Universalists and to others who desired to use it.
Robert Anderson and Almanzor Hutchinson purchased the house from
Mr. Proctor about 1848 for $150, and held it in trust for the Free Con-
gregational society of Gaines, which was formed in 1847. The building
was thoroughly repaired, and in 1853 Messrs. Anderson and Hutchinson
quit-claimed it to the society. This was the first house built for relig-
ious worship north of Batavia and the first one on the Ridge road be-
tween Rochester and Lewiston. It was used for the semi-centennial
celebration of the Declaration of Independence in 1828, for the closing
58
458 LANDMARKS OF
exercises of the academy in its early years, for the meetings of six
different rehgious societies at various times, and for its own semi-cen-
tennial celebration August 26, 1874, when Alamanzor Hutchinson
read a paper he had prepared upon its history. On this occasion the
sole survivor of its building committee, Romeyn Ostrander, was present.
Miss Charlotte Cummings, a sister of John Proctor's first wife and
afterward the wife of 'Squire Booth, and one of the first members of
this church, organized in 1817, in the school house near there, the first
Sabbath school in town and probably the first in Orleans county. Her
class book was the New England Primer.
The first Congregational Church Society of Gaines, which was or-
ganized August 9, 1 82 1, resolved at a meeting held F'ebruary 4, 1834,
to build a new house of worship, and one was accordingly erected that
year at a cost of $2,500. In 1869 $3,884 were raised, and $2,400 were
expended in repairs on the church building. The residue was laid out
in refitting and refurnishing the parsonage. Both are still in use. In
1822 the Gospel lot {i. e., 100 acres of land given to the first religious
society in town) was deeded by the Holland Land Company to the
Board of Trustees of this society previously named. Tradition says that
although the Baptist Society was presumably the first religious organiz-
ation in Gaines, while the Baptists were talking'about getting the Gospel
lot, the Congregationalists organized and secured it. In 1825 this
church had thirty-one members ; in 1836 they numbered 187. January,
26th of the latter year the society in Kenyonville was united with the
Congregational church of Gaines, but it has long since ceased to be
an active organization, though the present Congregational society in
Gaines still owns an interest in the Union church property there. The
pastors of this church were Revs. Fairbanks, Cook, Winchester, Raw-
son, Evans, Joel Byington, Hiland Hulbert, J. P. Hovey, Milton But-
torph, Horatio N. Short, Buttorph again, J. S. Barrs, Rev. Mr. Judson,
D. J. B. Hoyt, E. A. Keeler, Rev. Mr. Erdman and M. H. Wilder.
The First Free Congregational church of Gaines was organized in
December, 1847. In the spring of that year some members withdrew
from the First Congregational church, and others followed in the
autumn. These withdrawals were the result of differences of opinion
which had arisen among the members on the subjects of slavery, tem-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 459
perance, etc , and the seceders organized the above named society.
The constituent members were: Robert Anderson, Anson Backus,
Flavel Loomis, Mrs Margaret Loomis, Rev. A. S. Shafer, Mrs. Almira
Shafer, Miss Amaretta Ketchum, Miss Clarissa Burbank, Mrs. Abigail
Willard, Daniel D. Sherman, Samuel Scovil, and Mrs. Betsey Lovevvell.
The church adopted articles of faith in accordance with views held at
Oberlin, Ohio, and also very strong resolutions in opposition to slavery
and intemperance. The society occupied the old Union church edifice
during its existence, a title to which it acquired by a quit- claim deed
given by Messrs. Anderson and Hutchinson in 1853. On February 3,
1864, the following resolution was adopted :
Whereas, The providence of God has prepared a way for a harmonious union with
the members of the Pi-esbyterian church in Gaines in a new Congregational church ;
and,
Whereas, Fifty-one of the members of this church have asked letters of dismission
and recommendation that they may unite in a new church to be called the Congrega-
tional church of Gaines, therefore,
Resolved, That the First Free Congregational church approve of the proposed
organization.
This resolution was carried out. the First Free Congregational Society
ceased to exist, and their interest in the old Union church property
was formally conveyed by deed to the trustees of the Free Methodist
Society. The pastors of this church were : Revs. A. S. Shafer, William
Dewey, and William Richardson.
From the foregoing paragraphs it would seem that the First Congre-
gational Society of Gaines worshiped under a Presbyterian form of
government, but when or how long can not be determined. The
present Congregational church, however, sustains in reality a direct and
continuous succession of the original organization of 1 82 1 , but nominally
it is the result of the consolidation proposed in the above resolution,
at which time Rev. M. H. Wilder was pastor. His successors have
been: Revs. H. M. Higley, R. S. Eggleston, Mr. Burrit, George Ander-
son, H. B. F'rye, and G. S. Merrick (since May, 1886). The society
now has about 130 members and a Sunday-school with an average at-
tendance of 100 scholars. It is free from debt and owns a neat frame
parsonage.
•160 LANDMARKS OF
The Free Methodist church of Gaines was organized about 1868 by
Rev. George P. Marcellus. In 1869 the trustees purchased the old
Union church building from the Free Congregational Society, and at
once made some needed repairs and improvements on it. As the re-
sult of a revival in 1870 the membership was doubled. The pastors
have been: Revs. George W. Marcellus, William Jackson, N. A. More,
Joseph Travis, Samuel Chesbrough, R. S. Phillips, G. W. Marcellus
again, C. B. Essex, G. W. Worthington, J. K. Chesbrough, J. J. Thomp-
son, W. T. Hoag, J. G. Terrill, W. Manning, Frank Chamberlain, and
A. G. Matthewson. The society has about forty members and a well-
attended Sunday-school. The society in Kenyonville, which owns a
parsonage there, is connected with this charge.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Eagle Harbor. — In 1827, at a
meeting held for the purpose, a society was incorporated under the
name of the " First Union Society of Episcopal Methodists, Baptists,
and Presbyterians of Gaines." Durfy Delano, Jonathan Clark, Stephen
N. Chubb, George C. Davis, and Ezra B. Delano, constituted the first
Board of Trustees. It was resolved at once to build a house of worship,
and within a year a brick church building was erected. This was'used
by the union society about twenty years, when it was taken down and
the present edifice was erected. Worship was held by the different
denominations separately, at different stated times or hours, and there
was no record of discord or lack of harmony. Gradually, by reason of
deaths and removals, the Baptists and Presbyterians became fewer and
fewer in number until they ceased to hold services. The Methodists
continued to occupy the house and they still do so, though they have
acquired no separate title to the property. The name and style of the
organization has not been changed. This society has long been a part
of the Knowlesville charge. Harvey L. Shook is superintendent of its
Sunday-school.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Eagle Harbor was organized in
July, 1843, with H. J. Wirt. Aaron Phipps, and Nathan Shelley as
trustees. In 1845 ^nd 1846 a framed church building was erected south
of the canal. The following have been pastors of this society : Revs.
Asa Warren, Samuel Salisbury, Mr. Masten, Jonathan Sibley, Joseph
A. Swallow, Benjamin Rider, D. B. Douglas, P. Glanson, C. W. Swift,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 461
D. B. Baker, L. W. Krahl, John Randolph, A F. Dempsey, H. S. Besse,
E. J. Pope, J. B. Fleming, R. F. Butcher, O. Wight, F. S. Lee, and H.
VV. McDowell (since April, 1891). The society has about fifty members
'and owns a frame parsonage in the village The Sunday-school has
some sixty scholars with Charles Bennett superintendent. The Wes-
leyan Methodist church in the southeast corner of the town of Yates is
connected with this charge.
The Church of the Good Shepherd (Universalist) at Fairhaven was
organized July I, 1877, with about 125 members, and with Rev. T. D.
Cook as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Borden. This de-
nomination had an organization here nearly fifty years prior to this. John
Proctor, at his personal expense, built the present stone house of wor-
ship and donated it to the society. Over the entrance is a tablet bear-
ing this inscription: "Erected by First Universalist Society A. D.
1834. God is Love." For a time the organization increased in num-
bers, but deaths, removals, etc., caused it to cease holding regular
services for several years, and many of its members have recently united
with the new church in Albion.
The Freewill Baptist Church of East Gaines has a neat frame house
of worship and sustains regular services. Rev. C. H. Hoag, the present
pastor, assumed the charge in the spring of 1891. David Nesbitt is
superintendent of the Sunday-school.
CHAPTER XX.
THE TOWN OF BARRE.
This town was erected from Gaines by an act of the Legislature dated
March 6, 18 18, and formed a part of Genesee county until the county
of Orleans was organized in 1824. It was named by Hon. John Lee
from Barre, Mass., where he was born. Judge Lee came here in 1816
and located in that part of the town since called Lee's Settlement. Dr.
Thomas Gushing says:
462 LANDMARKS OF
There was a time when surnames, or family designations, were not used. Then it
often happened that several persons in the same neighborhood had the same name, and
it became necessary to distinguish one from another by adding to the name something
expressive of some peculiarity concerning him ; such as his complexion, his form, occu-
pation, parentage or residence. These designations came afterward to be family names ;
thus, in Normandy, a man named Jean or Pierre, to distinguish him from some other
of the same name, was called Pierre De La Barre, or Peter of the Bar, from certain
heraldic marks in the coat of arms of his family. This was adopted as his surname.
In time the De ( of ) was dropped, and the name was La Barre. Some of the family
emigrated to England and after a time dropped the prefix La (the) and left the name
simply Barre, which is the exact equivalent of the English bar. There was at the time
of the American Revolution a Colonel Barre, who was a member of the English Par-
liament and a firm friend of the colonies. In honor of him the town of Barre, Mass.,
received its name.
The town of Barre, at the time of its organization, was bounded on
the north by Gaines, on the east by Murray and Sweden (a part of
which is now Clarendon), on the south by the present Genesee county,
and on the west by Ridgeway (a portion of which became the town of
Shelby on March 6, 1818). In 1830 three lots on what is now the
western boundary of Albion were annexed to Ridgeway, and in 1875 the
town of Albion was set off, leaving Barre with its present area of 33,-
764 acres and bounded as follows : On the north by Albion, on the
east by Clarendon, on the south by Genesee county, and on the west
by Shelby. The line between this town and Albion extends east and
west near to where the Niagara limestone stratum crops out. This rock
underlies nearly the whole of Barre.
The surface is gently undulating, and the soil is generally a clay loam
on the uplands and muck in the swamps. Being very fertile it produces
abundant crops of grass, beans, grain, fruit, etc., large quantities of
which are annually shipped to distant markets. In the west part of
Barre is a locality called Pine Hill, from the fact that it is the hilliest
portion of the town. The soil there is largely sand, yet it contains a
number of fine farms. In the south part is the Tonawanda swamp,
which is generally covered with timber, which furnishes large quanti-
ties of elm, oak and soft maple for heading and black ash and cedar
for fencing. The portions that have been cleared produce coarse grass
and other marsh vegetation. Much of the timber has been consumed
by fires, which continue to sweep over parts of the swamp each year.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 463
In several places the land rises to moderate elevations, and some of
these, which are known as islands, have been converted into excellent
farms. The swamp is gradually being drained by natural and artificial
methods, and its area is becoming more and more available for agricul-
tural purposes. There are no streams of any importance in the town,
but lying as it does in the middle of what was formerly the famous
Genesee country, it early became an extensive wheat growing section,
and has always maintained a front rank as a profitable farming locality.
Of late years it has become noted for its large apple orchards, which
produce fruit of unexcelled quality, and from which thousands of gal-
lons of cider and vinegar are annually manufactured. These industries,
and the growing of peas, beans, onions and potatoes for market, have
instituted extensive cooperage interests, which have developed since
about i860.
The first town meeting in Barre, which then included Albion, was
held at the dwelling of Abram Mattison on the Oak Orchard road, a
mile and a half south from Albion village, in the spring of 18 18. Judge
Lee presided. The old records were burned in 1866 and hence a list of
the first town ofificers cannot be obtained. Later town meetings con-
vened at Benton's Corners and still later at Barre Center. The super-
visors of Barre have been as follows :
Nathan Whitney, 1818, '20; Calvin Smith, 1821; Nathan Wliitney, 1822 ; Ithamar
Rebard, 1823; Nathan Whitney, 1824; 0. H.Gardner, 1825; Nathan Whitney, 1826;
Lansing Bailey, 1827, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32; A. Hyde Core, 1833; Alvah Mattison,
1834, '35 ; Lansing Bailey, 1836, '37, '38, '39 ; Alvah Mattison, 1840, '41 ; Avery M.
Starkweather, 1842, '43 ; Elisha Wright, 1844; Lorenzo Burrows, 1845; Warren Par-
ker, 1846 ; William Love, 1847, '48; Anthony Brown, 1849, '50, '51 ; Austin Day, 1852 ;
Henry M. Gibson, 1853. '54, '55; John D. Buckland, 1856, '57 ; Luther Porter, 1858,
'59, 60. '61, '62; John D. Buckland, 1863. '64; Norman S. Field, 1865; Orpheus A.
Root. 1866, '67, '68,' Charles H. Mattison, 1869, '70, '71; A. Gregory, 1872; Ozro
Love, 1873, '74; H. D. Waldo, 1S75, '76, '77, '78; E. B. Allis, 1879, '80, '81; Sylves-
ter Bragg, 1882, '83, '84; Asahel D. Bannister, 1885; John A. Raymond, 1886, '87, '88;
Oman Everts, 1889; John Giinell, 1890; George W. Posson, 1891, '92, '93; William
Luttenton, 1894.
The town includes ranges one and two of township 14 of the Holland
Purchase, except the north three-fourths of the northern tier of lots in
these ranges, which are included in the town of Albion. The first range
in this township was divided into forty lots, which were articled and
464 LANDMARKS OF
deeded according to the books of the Holland Land Company, as fol-
lows :
Lots 1, 2 and east part of 3 were purchased by Charles E. Dudley, esq., on the 26th
of January, 1828. These were assigned to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company July
3, 1854.
The west part of lot 3, containing 100 acres, was articled September 6, 1825, to Will-
iam Snyder, who held it till 1833. November 28, of that year, it was articled to Lewis
Burgess. The part of the same lot, 100 acres, lying next east from this was articled to
Lyman Fletcher September 6, 1825. October 9, 1833, it was transferred to Thomas
Burgess, and $65 in cattle was paid. December 27. 1837, the west 200 acres of lot 3
were deeded to Channcey Woodworth and Levi Gray.
February 28, 1817, the north part of lot 4, 100 acres, was articled to Samuel Bidwell,
jr., August 7, 1830, the east half of this part was articled to Lyman Fletcher, and Octo-
ber 31, 1833, was deeded by the company to Eli E. White. November 20, 1833, the
west half was deeded to Clark Fuller. October 13, 1817, the part of lot 4, next south
from the above, 100 acres, was articled to Amos Dodge, jr., and in 1829 it reverted_
A portion of this was articled to Walter Bradley September 25, 1830, but it reverted in
1834. A portion was articled to Orson Tousley. but it subsequently reverted. The
next tract south from this, on the same lot, was sold by article to Amos Palmer March
19, 1818. He was followed, in succession, by Walter Bradley, Jacob B. Hill, Abner
Bishop and George Mills. The east part of these, 32 acres, was deeded to Volen-
tine Tousley December 3, 1833. The middle part, with the middle part of the south
tract, 100 acres, was deeded by the F. L. & T. Co. to Trumbull Gary Jany 1, 1839. The
west part, 82 acres, was deeded to Jacob B. Hill December 4, 1835. The southwest
part of lot 4 was sold by article to John R. Sturdevant November 2, 1818. Forty acres
of this were transferred to James Barber November 27, 1827, and to Jonathan Perry
December 2, 1833. December 4, 1835, this, with 40 acres more, was deeded to Jacob
B. Hill. The southeast part of lot 4, 126 acres, was articled to Nathaniel W. Cole Oc-
tober 8, 1818, and 50 acres of this were transferred to John Cesler October 19, 1829.
Payments were made in cattle, wheat and cash; but it reverted July 1, 1839. Seventy-
six acres of this part were transferred to Abner Bishop, jr., and Bradley Bishop Octo-
ber 19, 1829, and to Lyman and Ephraim Fletcher October 7, 1834, and were deeded to
Aaron Orr November 21, 1837.
August 1, 1819, the north part of lot 5, 125 acres, was articled to Richard Hogan.
November 9, 1829, it was transferred in two parts to Caleb White and Horace Peck.
Nathan McCumber purchased the north part of lot 5 and the east part of lot 13, 181^
acres, and received a deed February 14, 1834. One hundred acres next south of the
above were articled to Cornelius Claflin March 1, 1820, transferred to Clark Fuller
March 18, 1829, and deeded to Jonas Buxton December 25, 1833. The south part of
lot 5 was articled to Nicholas Snyder October 6, 1820. April 15, 1831, 50 acres (west
part) of this were transferred to Clark Fuller, and December 12, 1833, were deeded to
Robert Staines. January 8, 1834, 75 acres (east part) were transferred to John Reamer,
and were deeded to Nicholas Snyder August 8, 1836. One hundred and ten acres next
south from the last named tract were deeded to Alphonso Parker December 5, 1835.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 465
The northwest part, 150 acres, of lot 6, was articled to William Love October 7, 1816.
Payments were made in cattle and cash, and he received a .deed May 8, 1828. The
northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 6, was articled October 7, 1816, to William Morgan.
The article was renewed to Avery Brown April 2, 1825, and the land was deeded to
him March 12, 1833. A tract of 100 acres lying next south of the two before named
was articled October 21, 1818, to Hiram Sherman. November 21, 1827, it reverted and
62^ acres were articled to George L. Chaplin. Thirty -two acres were articled January
5, 1828, to Increase Claflin and transferred January 5, 1833, to Clark Fuller. A tract
of 116 acres, next south of the last mentioned, was articled March 30,1819, to Cor-
nelius Claflin. November 21, 1827, 40 acres of this were transferred to Hiram Sher-
man. These were deeded, in parcels, to Nathaniel Stimson, Sally Stimson and Clark
Fuller in 1832-3. The south part of lot 6, 121 acres, was articled to Gideon Van
Nocker August 24, 1822. April 15,1831, it was transferred to Silas W. Huflfent, and
was deeded to Avery Dolbear December 1, 1838.
March 3, 1817, the west part, 100 acres, of lot 7, was articled to William Love. The
north half of this was transferred to Erastus Day November 17, 1829, and was deeded
to Thomas Grant December 4, 1833. The south half was transferred to Silas Loomis
April 23, 1830, and was deeded to Jonathan French January 28, 1833. A tract of 100
acres in lot 7, next east from that taken up by William Love, was articled to Joseph
Perry March 10, 1817. March 10, 1829, 75 acres of this were transferred to Andrew
Harwick, to whom 50 acres were deeded January 16, 1834. March 10, 1829, 50 acres
were transferred to William Love, who received a deed September 8, 1835. March 21,
1817, a tract of 100 acres in the middle, between east and west, of lot 7, was articled
to Philip Green. March 7, 1827, the article was renewed to Simeon Howard, and Oc-
tober 31, 1828, it was transferred to Benjamin Whipple. It was deeded to Samuel G.
Oaks June 24, 1833. October 28, 1817, the 100 acres next east of the middle, in lot 7,
were articled to Spencer Green, and were transferred to Daniel Carpenter on the 31st
of October, 1828. He received a deed November 5, 1833. The east part of lot 7, 90
acres, was articled to Frederick Foot November 12, 1817. It was again articled to
Samuel G. Oaks November 23, 1829, and was deeded to Dennis Evarts November 19,
1833.
Three-fourths of lot 8 are included in the town of Albion and the early purchasers
of the whole lot are recorded in the account of the settlement of that town.
The west part of lot 9 was articled to Nathan Andrews November 22, 1825. It was
transferred to Washington Wright November 30, 1831, and deeded to him November
8, 1837. The southwest part of lot 9, 50 acres, was articled to Samuel Bailey December
29, 1826. January 25, 1834, it was transferred to Hiram Fargo, who received a deed
February 10, 1838. The southeast part of lot 9, 103 acres, was sold to Charles E.
Dudley January 26, 1828.
The north part of lot 10 was articled to William Vandebogart July 22, 1822, and
transferred to Pliny Hitchcock (executor) February 14, 1828. It was deeded to
Almyra Randall and others June 19, 1839. Next south in lot 10 a tract of 100 acres
was articled to Joel Palmer October 1, 1823, and transferred to Nathan Andrews
December 12, 1831. It was deeded to Mr. Andrews December 1, 1835. On the 11th
59
4GG LANDMARKS OF
of March, 1824, Jacob Rosecrans purchased by article 104 acres next south of the pre-
ceding. This was transferredjto Lanson Cole December 2, 1833. Mr. Cole made pay-
ments in wheat and cash, and received a deed November 18, 1835. March 11, 1824,
Henry Haines purchased by article the south part of lot 10. It was deeded to Roswell
Goff November 19. 1883.
March 2, 1819, Elias McNary purchased by article the north 100 acres of lot 11.
November 27, 1827, this tract was transferred to Stephen Angevine, who made pay-
ments in cattle and cash, and received a deed November 11, 1833, The next tract
south in lot 11, 130 acres, was articled to Cornelius Claflin August 31, 1820. It was
transferred to Lewis G-enung January 23, 1830. Next south was a tract of 50 acres
that was articled September 8, 1821, to Lewis Genung who received a deed for 180
acres April 26, 1833. The south part of lot 11 (79^ acres) was articled to Henry
Hainer February 21, 1822, transferred to Jonathan Berry (administrator) December 12,
1833, and deeded to Dorus Hinkston October 6, 1836.
The north 100 acres of lot 12 were articled to Solomon Hopkins June 20, 1817. On
the same day the next trad of 120 acres south of that was articled to Dyer Heath.
Both tracts, 220 acres, were transferred to Orange Culver March 7, 1828. February
18, 1822, a tract of 84 acres in lot 12, lying next south from the last two named, was
articled to Thomas Hayes. November 23, 1830, 40 acres of this were transferred to
Orange Culver, and 44 acres to Lyman E. Young. The last was transferred to Samuel
S. Young. The south 50 acres of lot 12 were articled to Miller Mills December 1,
1821, and transferred to Orlando Bradley January 6, 1831. The tract reverted and
January 8, 1834, it was articled to George Pike to whom it was deeded September 9,
1835. The balance of lot 12 was deeded to Orange Culver November 17, 1833, and
December 13, 1837.
January 6, 1817, 100 acres of the west part of lot 13 were conveyed by article to
Joseph Noble. January 6, 1827. 50 acres were transferred to Daniel D. Delano, and
November 21, 1829, a hke amount to Samuel Eddy, who made a payment on that day
of fifty dollars in cattle. He received deeds for both parcels February 21, 1831, and
July 18, 1833. January 6, 1827, the northwest part of lot 13, 100 acres, was articled
to James M. Fone. April 28, 1828, it was transferrred to Grove Benjamin, and Novem-
ber 1, 1833, was deeded to Daniel Olney, jr. May 3, 1817, 100 acres of lot 13 were
articled to Seth Miller, and transferred, February 1, 1828, to William Miller. Novem-
ber 15, 1833, 50 acres of this tract were transferred to Seth Miller and to Abijah
Miller ; both of whom received deeds December 22, 1835. The east part of lot 13,
62^ acres, were articled to James Henry August 13, 1817, and transferred to Caleb
White April 14, 1828. It was deeded to Nathan McCumber February 14, 1834.
The east part of lot 14, 100 acres, was articled to Jesse Bates March 14, 1817. Fifty
acres of this were transferred to George A. Love July 5, 1825, and were deeded to
Abijah Miller December 22, 1835. Mr. Bates received a deed for 50 acres November
15. 1833. The middle 100 acres of lot 14 were taken up by Briant White April 12,
1817, and were deeded to him June 25, 1832. The west part of lot 14, 158 acres, was
articled to Sylvester HufFent April 2, 1818, and again to David Patchen January 31,
1828. It was deeded to Harvey Swift October 21, 1833.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 467
The south part of lot 15, 100 acres, was conveyed by article to Boothe Perry Novem-
ber 9, 1818; and was transferred to Andrew Harwick November 26. 1827. The east
50 acres of this were deeded to Thomas Grant October 30, 1833, and the west to Harris
Smith Dec. 2, 1834. Erastus Day took up 100 acres of lot 15 May 20. 1819 ; Nov. 14, 1829,
50 acres of this were transferred to Jesse Bates ; and November 26, 1829, 50 acres to
Horace Cutter. Mr. Cutter received a deed January 12, 1833, and Mr. Bates Novem-
ber 15, 1833. Samuel Ferguson purchased by article 63 acres of lot 15 March 2, 1819 ;
and November 16, 1829, the land was articled to William Love, to whom it was deeded
February 20,'.1836. February 25, 1819, Oliver Korah purchased the north 100 acres of
lot 15. August 27 the west 50 acres of this were transferred to Harris Smith, and
November 17, 1829, the east 50 acres were articled to Erastus Day. The whole was
deeded to Peter Nelson April 1, 1836.
For so much of lot 16 as lies in Barre, see Albion.
Lot 17 and south part of lot 18 were sold January 26, 1828, to Charles E.
Dudley. Thirty-two and one half acres of lot 17 were deeded by the F. L. & T. Com-
pany to Asher Rosseter October 22, 1844.
The northwest part (100 acres) of lot 18 was taken 'up by John Doak March 3, 1819,
and articled to Roswell Groff September 25, 1829. It was deeded to Ogden Sears
October 15, 1834 Fifty-one acres of lot 18 were articled to Cyril Wilson February
12, 1819, and transferred to William G. Collins December 19, 1827. This land was
deeded to Ambrose Alexander June 10, 1828. The northeast part (100 acres) of lot 18,
was taken up February 12, 1819, by Enoch Sears. It was deeded to L. C. Harding and
Thomas Clark September 1, 1835.
November 28, 1816, Salmon Pattison took up the west 100 acres of lot 19. May 14,
1827, the south 51 acres of this tract was transferredj to Seymour B. Treadwell and
November 30, 1829, to John A. Buckland, who made payments in wheat and cash. This,
with 11 acres of lot 20, was deeded to Mr. Buckland November 26, 1830, and Novem-
ber 4, 1836. March 27, 1817, 100 acres of lot 19 were articled to Adam Foster. It
was deeded in parcels to Ogden Sears, Samuel Eddy and James Reed in 1832-33 and 36.
November 16, 1818, the northeast part (100 acres) of lot 19 was articled to Peter
Hazelton, and May 14, 1827, was transferred to Jonathan Berry, to whom it was deeded
(with the south part of lot 20) December 5, 1832. January 12, 1819, the southeast
part (50 acres) of lot 19 was taken up by Cyril Wilson. It was articled to Elijah Gt.
Doak September 25, 1829, and to James Reed December 9, 1833. It was deeded to Mr.
Reed November 30, 1836.
October 23, 1817, Isaac Deraond took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 20, and
May 14, 1827, 60 acres of this were transferred to John A. Buckland. All except 11
acres of this was deeded to Jonathan Berry December 5, 1832. A part, 60 acres, of
lot 20 was taken up by Peter Hazelton November 25, 1817, and apart, 75 acres, of the
same lot by Zelotes Moffit November 28, 1817. These were transferred to Pliny
Hitchcock February 9, 1827, and deeded to him December 24, 1832. The north part,
118 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Mr. Garret March 24, 1819, and transferred to
Jacob Flint June 4, 1832. It was deeded to Hiram Fargo December 14, 1832.
The west part of lot 21, 125 acres, was purchased by article November 11, 1816, by
Samuel GriflSth; and 50 acres were transferred to Loring Fuller June 28, 1827. May
468 LANDMARKS OF
31, 1833, 100 acres were articled to Erastus Truesdell. The west 50 acres of this were
deeded to Mr. Truesdell May 31, 1833, and the east 75 acres to Hosea Allen November
13, 1833. Lacky Morrow purchased 125 acres of lot 21, No-vember 11, 1816. The
article was renewed to Martha Barker January 23, 1827, and June 5, 1833, 50 acres
were deeded to Henry Pelton. The east part of lot 21, 153 acres, was articled to
Hoshea Moffit and Reuben Pierce December 16, 1816. Fifty acres of this were trans-
ferred to Hoshea Moffit January 9, 1827, and deeded to Moses B. Swift November 12,
1834. One hundred and one acres were articled to Samuel Eddy November 22, 1827.
The north 52 acres of this were deeded to Ebenezer P. Allen November 8, 1832 ; and
the south 51 acres to Samuel Eddy July 18, 1833.
Alanson S. Newton took up the east part of lot 22, 100 acres, April 27, 1818; and it
was t'-ansferred to Moses B. Swift January 29, 1828. Mr. Swift made his payments in
wheat and cash, and received a deed November 20, 1835. Alexander Newton pur-
chased 50 acres of lot 22 June 19, 1818 ; and the tract was transferred to Edmund
Harris November 23, 1829. The east 35 acres of this were deeded to Isaac Harris
December 2, 1833. October 28, 1818, Philip Green purchased 66 acres of lot 22 ; and
on the 23d of November, 1829, they were transferred to Isaac and Edmund Harris.
Payments were made in cattle and cash, and Edmund Harris received a deed for 81
acres (66 and 15) December 2, 1833. Gideon F. Smith took up 95 acres of lot 22 No-
vember 9, 1818. October 1, 1829, 45 acres were transferred to Ebenezer Eggleston,
and 50 acres to Trueworthy Avery. These parcels were deeded to Isaac Pope June 1,
1834, and David Sager February 1, 1837. The next 50 acres of lot 22 were taken up
by Daniel Morse January 12, 1819. January 12, '1829, the article was renewed to
Martha Barker, and January 6, 1833, the land was deeded to Levi Barnard.
Potter Shaw took up the north part, 100 acres, of lot 23 November 6, 1818. Octo-
ber 2, 1829, 50 acres of this were transferred to Samuel Tanner, and November 27,
1833, to Abraham Pierson. November 28, 1829,50 acres were articled to Booth Perry,
and transferred to Abijah Miller November 15, 1833. These were deeded to Roswell
Burrows September 12, 1837; and to Abraham Pierson December 19, 1837. Fifty
acres of lot 23 were articled to Joseph B. Carr January 13, 1821, and transferred to
Laurin Martin November 6, 1829. This land was deeded to Elizur Hart June 18, 1833.
Joseph B. Carr purchased 50 acres of lot 23 February 22, 1822. The land was trans-
ferred to Justus H. Cole February 11, 1833, and was deeded to Orville Thompson
March 16, 1836. Fifty acres of lot 23 were taken up by Jesse Powell May 15, 1823,
and deeded to Elizur Hart June 18, 1833. John Smith took up a tract of 50 acres of
lot 23 June 2, 1825. December 20, 1833, it was transferred to Alpheus Foster, and
deeded to him November 12, 1836. The south part of lot 23, 58 acres, was purchased
January 26, 1828, by Charles E. Dudley.
For lot 24 see Albion.
Lot 25 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. Twenty-five acres of this
were articled by the F. L. & T. Co. to Asher Rossiter January 16, 1841.
William Gates took up the west part of lot 26, 100 acres, April 22. 1819. March 7,
1828, it was transferred to Orange Culver, and deeded to him November 18, 1833. The
middle part, 122 acres, of lot 20 was taken up by Coeleus E. Crosby April 22, 1819.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 469
June 13, 1827, the article was renewed to Amos Wells, to whom it was deeded Janu-
ary 7, 1834. Henry Bigelow purchased the east part, 100 acres, of lot 26 June 13,
1821. It reverted, and was articled to William Marsh December 27, 1830. The land
was deeded to Mr. Marsh November 19, 1833.
Joshua Raymond took up the west part, 100 acres, of lot 27 October 5, 1816. It was
deeded to Joseph Griffith, jr., September 15, 1835. One hundred acres of lot 27 were
articled to Joshua Crosby October 5, 1816, and rearticled to Seymour B. Treadwell
October 24, 1827. Seventy-five acres of this tract were articled to John D. and
William A. Buckland November 16, 1833, and were deeded to them February 27, 1834.
The east part of lot 27, 76 acres, was taken up by Amasa Austin November 20, 1816.
The article was renewed to James Cole July 12, 1825. Payments were made in wheat,
cattle, and cash, and it was deeded to Mr. Cole December 20, 1833. Twenty- five acres
lying next west of Mr. Cole's land were deeded to Henry Buel March 15, 1831.
The west part, 130 acres, of lot 28 was taken up by Darius Peck October 5, 1816,
Sixty-five acres of this were articled to Dyer Ramsdell October 6, 1824, and the whole
to Azor Forsyth March 6, 1828. It was deeded to Joshua Raymond (with a small part
of lot 27) December 16, 1833. The middle portion, 100 acres, of lot 28 was articled to
Orange Starr October 12, 1816, and, with a small portion of lot 27, was deeded to him
December 15, 1826. The east part of lot 28, and the northeast part of lot 27, 138
acres, were articled to Daniel Stoll March 12, 1817. They were again articled to Ben-
jamin Bliss March 21, 1828, and transferred to John C. Young December 12, 1833.
They were deeded to Mr. Young October 8, 1835.
Caleb Northrup took up the north part, 150 acres, of lot 29 October 7, 1816 ; and it
was articled to Pliny Hitchcock February 11, 1828. The east 50 acres of this were
deeded to Levi Barnard January 6, 1834. The west 100 acres were deeded to Abra-
ham Fowler December 1, 1835. May 9, 1818, 100 acres of lot 29 were articled to
Walter Palmer and Benjamin Church. Of this tract 50 acres were articled to William
Gibson January 26, 1828. Fifty acres were deeded to Alonzo Gibson, January 6,
1834, and 50 to Lewis Gibson December 1, 1835. Benjamin W. Martin took up the
south part, 80 acres, of lot 29 October 13, 1821. It was deeded to him March 6, 1836.
Fifty acres of lot 30 were articled to Abel Austin November 28, 1822. The land re-
verted, and was deeded to Isaac Pope June 1, 1834. The south part, 50 acres, of lot
30 was articled to Chester Knapp October 17, 1821, and transferred ^to Alden Darling
December 23, 1830. May 31, 1833, it was deeded to Erastus Truesdell. July 7, 1825,
the north part, 50 acres, of lot 30 was articled to Ebenezer Eggleston. It reverted.
Arad Knapp too;< up 50 acres of lot 30 July 13, 1825; and July 17, 1833, this tract,
with the 50 acres taken up by Eggleston, was articled to Alderman Butts. September
19, 1855, the tract was conveyed by deed to Freeman Clark. Fifty acres of lot 30
were taken up by Voman Felt July 13, 1825. It reverted and was articled to Amos
Cope December 17, 1833 ; and was deeded to Trumbull Cary January 1, 1839, by the
F. L. & T. Co. Eighty acres of lot 30 were articled to Chester Knapp January 23,
1827. The tract was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The east part, 50 acres, of lot 31 was purchased by Jesse Powell August 13, 1822. It
reverted ; and with the adjoining 50 acres was deeded to Albert Jaques July 1, 1833.
470 LANDMARKS OF
Fifty acres were articled to Thomas Saxton, October 7, 1822. The tract reverted.
Isaac Slocura took up 100 acres of lot 31 November 14, 1822. This land was again
articled December 28, 1830, to Stephen Skinner, and it was deeded to Joseph Luce
May 15, 1835. April 22, 1823, Alanson Newton purchased 72 acres of lot 31 ; and
December 12, 1833, the land was again articled to Alvah Lewis. It was deeded to
Freeman Clark September 19, 1835. The west part, -50 acres, of lot 31 was articled to
Booth Ferry April 1, 1823; to Stephen Skinner December 28, 1830; and was deeded
to Jonas Holland May 15, 1835.
See Albion for lot 32.
Lot 33 was conveyed to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
John Brown purchased the west part, 100 acres, of lot 34 April 25, 1822. September
20, 1833, it was deeded to Abraham Schermerhorn. The east part, 50 acres, of lot 34 was
articled to Walter Gates November 30, 1822 ; and transferred to David Storm April 6,
1831. ItAvas deeded to John A. Buckland August 26, 1835. One hundred acres of lot
34 were purchased by John A. Buckland November 4, 1823, and deeded to John D.
and William A. Buckland February 14, 1834. Fifty acres of lot 34 were articled to
John Child December 16, 1823 ; transferred to Samuel Child December 20, 1833, and
to Nahum Collins September 24, 1838. This land was deeded by the F. L. & T. Co. to
Luther Bilhngs April 30, 1852, Warren Joy purchased 63 acres of lot 34, September
20, 1824, and the tract was deeded to Nahum Collins November 15, 1832. John
Lowber purchased by deed, 26 acres of lot 32 May 1, 1835.
The east part of lof35 was articled to Ebenezer Pattison November 28, 1816. The
south 50 acres of this were transferred to James H. Hanford March 14, 1829. Amos
Cope purchased 150 acres (east part) August 21, 1833. Amasa Spring purchased 50
acres of lot 35 June 20, 1817. November 15, 1828, this parcel was transferred to
Thomas Clark. July 2, 1817, Henry Edgerton took up 100 acres of lot 35. This land
was articled in parcels to Luther Porter November 23, 1833 ; and conveyed by deed to
Charles M. Hoyt June 11, 1835. Joshua Raymond purchased 50 acres of lot 35 Sep-
tember 29, 1817. The west part of lot 35 (60 acres) was articled to Amasa Cox March
29, 1819. and transferred to Lucms and Chapin Street June 2, 1828. It was deeded, in
equal parcels, to these parties September 12, 1833. Warren Joy purchased, in three
parcels, 109 acres of lot 35 in 1825-26, and 1828.
John Orcott purchased, by deed, the southwest part of lot 36 (50 acres) November
29 1827. Cyril Wilson purchased two parcels ; one of 44^ acres, and another of 52
acres, in the west part of lot 36. His deeds were dated November 24, 1830, and Feb-
ruary 25, 1831. Henry Clark purchased 53 acres in the southeast part of lot 36. His
deed bore date: December 14, 1832. Simeon Bigelow purchased 51 acres next west
from H. Clark on lot 36. His deed was dated June 1, 1834. Hiram Fargo purchased
46i acres of lot 36 March 12, 1827 ; and received a deed November 15, 1852. Nathan-
iel Crosby took up the north part (00 acres) of lot 36 October 5, 1810. April 25, 1825,
it was articled to Daniel P. Bigelow, and was deeded to him October 9, 1830.
March 18, 1816, Nathan Angell purchased, by article, the north part (120 acres) of
lot 37. October 28, 1825, it was articled to Robert L. Conklin, to whom it was deeded
January 23, 1827. Asa Phillips took up the middle part (114 acres) of lot 37 May 13,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 47I
1816, and it was transferred to Alvah Matison November 24, 1827. Mr. Matison and
his brother Benjamin, received a deed November 5, 1836. The south part (120 acres)
of lot 37 was articled to Eli Pain May 13, 1816, and transferred to Aden Foster August
3, 1826. Payments were made by Mr. Foster in cash, wheat and cattle, and he received
a deed for the west 80 acres October 9, 1830. The east 40 acres was deeded to Daniel
T. Bigelow August 20. 1831.
Elijah Cheney purchased, by article, 100 acres of lot 38 January 12, 1820. December
14, 1827, it was conveyed by deed to Jason Richards. April 9, 1821, the north part
(60 acres) of lot 38 was articled to William Rawson. The article was renewed to Trenck
Mason March 31, 1831. The first payment by Mr. Mason was in "sundries, say cash."
It was deeded to him May 20, 1834. Charles Jackson took up the south part, 100 acres,
of lot 38, November 1, 1821. It was articled to Isaac Hathaway April 26, 1828, and
deeded to Richard Rood June 25, 1831. One hundred acres of lot 38 were articled to
Daniel Chapel September 24, 1822. Seventy acres of this tract were transferred to
Ransom S. Smith December 21, 1830, and to Richard Rood September 8, 1834. Mr.
Rood received a deed for 70 acres September 8, 1834. Thirty acres of the tract were
articled to Ransom S. Smith November 9, 1831, and deeded to him December 31, 1835.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 39 was articled to Stephen Pain October 18, 1815.
It was deeded to John Bradner September 5, 1823. Avery Downer took up 80 acres
of lot 39 October 10, 1820 ; and this tract was transferred to Oliver Wolcott November
24, 1829. Mr. Wolcott received his deed June 14, 1834. Alfred Bullard purchased, by
article, 100 acres of lot 39 October 9, 1820, and thisiand was deeded to Oliver Benton
November 28, 1829. The south part, 78 acres, of lot 39 was articled to Jameson Henry
October 10, 1820; and transferred to Hiram Sturgis September 24, 1828, and deeded
to him August 1, 1833.
For lot 40, see Albion.
Range 2 of the 14th township was divided into sixty-four lots which were sold as
follows :
Lot 1 and the east part of lot 9 were sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1824.
The west part of lot 2, 100 acres, was articled to Clark Mansfield April 11, 1822,
Fifty acres of this were deeded to Calvin (xillett,October 2, 1829, and on the same day
60 acres were deeded to Jehiel Hughes. The east middle part, 83 acres, of lot 2 was
taken up by Uriah Fox and Asahel Lusk April 13, 1822. It was transferred to Sidney
Sawins February 4, 1830, and was deeded, with 50 acres of the east part, to Bela and
Harry Shearer February 23, 1833. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 2 was taken up by
Joseph Boies February 28, 1827. Fifty acres of this part were transferred to John
Gibson March 29, 1829, and deeded to Ananson Schermerhorn September 20, 1833.
The balance of this part was transferred to Alanson Demmick September 17, 1829,
and deeded to Bela and Harry Shearer, as before stated. The west middle part, 75
acres, of lot 2 was taken up by Chester Wood November 20, 1821. June 19, 1819, 62
acres of this were articled to Morris E. Powell, and were deeded to John Wire Novem-
ber 9, 1829. Thirteen acres of the east middle part were deeded to Jehiel Hughes
August 5, 1829.
472 LANDMARKS OF
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by Lucius Street May 2S, 1818. It
was articled to Lucius and Chapin Street May 29, 1826. On the 8th of April, 1830, 60
acres of this part were deeded to Lucius Street, and 40 acres were transferred to Cha-
pin Street, who received his deed December 29, 1837. The east middle part of lot 3,
100 acres, was articled to Lyman Hill April 3, 1819. January 14, 1828, 50 acres of this
were transferred to Lucius Street, and were deeded to him November 4, 1833. January
14, 1828, 50 acres of this east middle part were articled to Horace Street, and were
deeded: 30 acres to Lucius Street November 10, 1833, and 20 acres to Chapin Street
November 4, 1833. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 3 was articled to SyWanus
Lumb April 25, 1820. Fifty acres of this were transferred to Abraham Filkins October
30, 1828. The other 50 acres were transferred to Morris Hubbard May 5, 1833. These
tracts were respectively deeded to Hiram Fargo June 24. 1833, and to Jason Fellows
November 19, 1833. The west part, 69 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by Erastus Bard-
well Octobers, 1821, and, with 50 acres of lot 11, was deeded to him July 2, 1833,
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Nathan Cole March 25, 1817. Fifty
acres of this were transferred to Luke Grover March 13, 1827, and to Lucius Street Oc-
tober 9, 1828, and were deeded to Aden Foster January 6, 1834. Fifty acres of this
east part were transferred to Aden Foster March 13, 1827, and of this 10 acres were
transferred to Asa Fellows November 4, 1827, and 40 acres on the same day to Roder-
ick Hill, who received his deed June 1, 1834. Mr. Fellows received his November 24,
1835. The east middle part, 50 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Amasa Fox June 4, 1817,
and transferred to Cyril Wilson, administrator of the estate of Lyman Hill, November
16, 1829, and deeded to the heirs March 28, 1832. The west part, 97 acres, of lot 4
was sold by article to Asa Newton March 3, 1819. March 28, 1831, 48^ acres of this
were transferred to William Eaton, jr., and June 1, 1834, were deeded to Alvin Cross-
man. The other part, 41^ acres, was transferred to Orris Eaton July 1, 1835, and
deeded to Joel Benedict March 16, 1836. The west middle part of lot 4, 98 acres, was
articled to Eliakim Frissell March 3, 1819, and 50 acres of it were transferred to the
estate of Lyman Hill November 16, 1819. Forty-nine acres were deeded to James Rol-
lins March 14, 1833, and 50 acres to Jason Gibbs July 24,1834.
The north part of lot 5, 64 acres, was taken up by Ezeriah Parmely November 26,
1810. It was transferred to John Raymond September 10, 1828. The north middle
part of lot 5 was articled to Caleb Tooley November 26, 1810. It was transferred to
John Raymond, who received a deed for 128 acres December 13, 1833. The middle
part, 100 acres, of lot 5 was taken up by William Kelley October 23, 1816. It was
transferred to Jacob S. Flint December 31, 1827, and deeded to Orrin and Alfred Ray-
mond April 1, 1834. Montgomery Crofoot took up the south part, 134 acres, of lot 5
December 29, 1817. After several transfers this land was deeded as follows: 10 acres
to Aden Foster January 20, 1831; 60 acres to Jeremiah Wood April 2, 1833; and 64
acres to Aden Foster May 31, 1833.
The south part, 150 acres, of lot 6, was taken up by John Smith and Giles Grover
December 12, 1815. February 28, 1827. 100 acres of this were transferred to Josiah
Mason, and August 23, 1832, 93J acres were articled to Itliamar Hebard. They were
deeded to Ithamar and Royal B. Hebard June 1, 1834. February 28, 1827, 50 acres of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 473
lot 6 were transferred to Stephen Skinner, and, with six acres more, deeded to him
August 23, 1832. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 6, was articled to Joseph Pelow
February 17, 1816. It was transferred to Jared Goodrich January 30, 1828, and deeded
to Zenas T. Hebard November 23, 1833. The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 6, was
taken up by Willia,m Bradley February 28, 1820. It was deeded to Ira Clark May 11,
1835. The north part, 65 acres, of lot 6, was articled to Alpheus White October" 7,
1820, and was deeded to him December 20, 1833.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 7, was sold by article to Aretas Willis October 23,
1815. January 25, 1827, 60 acres of this were transferred to EUas L. Conklin, and
October 3, 1829, "to David Sturges. This parcel was deeded to Robert L. Conklin Jan-
uary 6, 1834. Forty acres of this north part were transferred to Alvah Lewis De-
cember 3, 1828, and with 60 acres of lot 8 deeded to Luman Wells November 12, 1836.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 7, was articled to John Lewis August 29, 1823.
January 20, 1831, 40 acres of this were transferred to Oliver Wolcott, and January 20.
1835, to Edward Rowlandson, to whom they were deeded December 16, 1837. Janu-
ary 20, 1831, 60 acres of this middle part were transferred to John B. Fredenburgh, and
were deeded to Austin Love December 31, 1834. The south middle part, 100 acres, of
lot 7, was taken up by Abraham Wait March 5, 1821. Fifty acres of this were trans-
ferred to Oliver Wolcott November 24, 1829 ; to Franklin Doty December 23, 1833, and
deeded to Harvey Goodrich September 7,1835. The balance, 50 acres, was deeded to
Austin Love December 31,1834. The south part, 55 acres, of lot 7, was articled to
WiUiam Moore July 18, 1821, and transferred to Jameson Henry January 15, 1830. It
was deeded to him September 1, 1834.
For lot 8 see Albion.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 9, was taken up by Joshua Eaton November 25, 1821,
and transferred to John Bailey December 30, 1830. It was deeded to him May 31,
1833. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 9, was articled to Abel S. Bailey De-
cember 3, 1821, and was deeded to him June 13, 1833. The east middle part, 75 acres,
of lot 9, was articled to Welcome Salisbury November 30, 1827, and deeded, with the
rest of the lot, to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The southwest part, 70 acres, of lot 10, was taken up by James Rollins August 21,
1820, and articled to Lewis Gillett December 8, 1830. January 14, 1834, 50 acres of
this were articled to Elizur Hart, to whom they were deeded February 9, 1837. Twenty
acres of this southwest part were transferred to Levi Bragg November 16, 1829, and to
Elizur Hart January 14 1831. They were deeded to William Kelly August 23, 1836.
The northwest part, 70 acres, of lot 10, was articled to William Blount August 21, 1820.
Fifty acres were transferred to Clark Mansfield November 16, 1829, and the whole was
deeded to Asa Fello^vs November 19, 1833. The east part, 203 acres, of lot 10, was
taken up by Elijah Gillett December 13, 1820. It was deeded to Abraham M. Scher-
merhorn December 23, 1833.
The west part, 54 acres, of lot 11, was articled to Roswell Shipman April 10, 1825,
and 44 acres were deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1833. Ten acres were deeded to Asa
Fellows November 7, 1834. The east middle part, 50 acres, of lot 11, was sold by arti-
cle to Chester Wood March 29, 1819, and transferred to Lucius Street November 9,
60
474 LANDMARKS OF
1829. The west part, 100 acres, of lot 11, was articled to George W. Gates November
30, 1818, and 50 acres were deeded to Amos Root February 2, 1827. The balance, 50
acres, was transferred to Jason Fellows October 31, 1827, and deeded to Erastus Bard-
well July 2,1833. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 11, was taken up by Silvanus
Bradway July 6, 1820. It was transferred to Archibald Gary December 30, 1830, and
to Ransom S.Smith March 14, 1833. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 11, was
articled to Silvanus Bradway July 6, 1820. Of this 81 acres were transferred to
Nathan Bragg November 7, 1834 The whole of the middle part of the lot was
deeded : 50 acres to James Rollins March 14, 1833 ; 100 acres to Ransom S. Smith No-
vember 1, 1834, and 81 acres to Nathan Bragg November 7, 1834.
The west middle part, 50 acres, of lot 12 was deeded to Levi Bragg October 6, 1827.
The middle part, 108 acres, of lot 12 was taken up by Rice Eaton October 31, 1818, and
was transferred to Joel Eaton December 8, 1828. It was deeded to him February 3,
1834. The east part, 116 acres, of lot 12 was taken up by Hasadiah Ross October 31,
1818. It was deeded to Asa Spencer November 10, 1833.
The west part of lot 13 was articled to John Mead February 9, 1819, and the south
portion, 45 acres, was deeded to Luther N. Sanford August 20, 1832. The north por-
tion, 60 acres, was transferred to Newcomb Mead October 12, 1829, and deeded to Asa
Sanford November 23, 1833. The middle part, 120 acres, of lot 13 was taken up by
William Phips January 27, 1819. Tt was deeded to Daniel Benton January 25, 1827.
The east part, 120 acres, of lot 13 was articled to Daniel Benton January 27, 1819, and
was deeded to him July 24, 1826.
The west part of lot 14, 234 acres, and east part of lot 15, 157 acres, were deeded to
Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. The south portion, 70 acres, of the middle part
of lot 14 was articled to Seth Sanford June 30, 1825, and transferred to Stephen Skin-
ner December 28, 1830. It was deeded to him June 21, 1833. The east part, 60 acres,
of lot 14 was sold by article to Levi Edson March 15, 1821, and again articled to Philip
Goodrich October 10, 1829. It was deeded to Hazadiah Ross February 20, 1833.
The middle part, 140 acres, of lot 15 was articled to William Burlingame May 31,
1815. It was transferred to Harvey Goodrich and Franklin Doty, and was deeded to
the latter September 7, 1835. The west part, 60 acres, of lot 15 was taken up by Arte-
mas Houghton May 31, 1815, and transferred to Elijah P. Sill April 30, 1828. With the
east part of lot 23 it was deeded to Mr. Sill December 19, 1832.
For lot 16 see Albion.
The east middle part, 84 acres of lot 17 was taken up by Daniel Squire September 6,
1822. It was articled to Elijah Gillett, jr., December 8, 1830, and was deeded to him
January 1, 1838. December 1, 1818, Oren Luckey took up the west part, 100 acres, of
lot 17. Fifty acres of this were transferred to Josiah Pierson June 14, 1828, and deeded
to James Purdy May 1, 1833. Fifty acres of this west part were transferred to Jesse
Smith June 14, 1828, and to Isaac Purdy July 20, 1834. This portion was deeded to
James Purdy October 24, 1835. Elisha Blount took up the east part, 85 acres, of lot
17 February 28, 1825. It was deeded to Almon Rice September 7, 1833. The west
middle part, 100 acres, of lot 17 was articled to Daniel Tyler December 19, 1819, and
transferred to Joshua Eaton December 5, 1829. It was deeded to him January 12,
1833.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 475
The south part, 60 acres, of lot 18 was sold by article to James Rollins February 11.
1823, and April 24, 1823, was articled to Joshua Eaton. It was deeded to John E. L,
Wooster May 3) , 1833. The middle part, 96 acres, of lot 18 was articled to James Rol-
lins November 16, 1824. It was several times transferred in parcels, and 24 acres were
deeded to John Gibson November 10, 1836. The rest was attached to other parts.
The northwest part, 50 acres, of lot 18 was sold by article to Lemuel Blount October 31,
1818. December 10, 1828, 12-J acres of this were deeded to Sylvester Patterson, and
on the same day th 5 balance 37^ acres was articled to Prince Benedict. It was deeded
to John Gibson December 3, 1833. The northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 18 was articled
to Elisha Blount October 31, 1818. December 19, 1827, 52 acres were transferred to
Sylvester Patterson, who received a deed for the same. November 19, 1827, 75 acres
of the northeast part of lot 18 were articled to Winthrop Corbin, and with 50 acres
more deeded to Richard Herrick. The south middle part, 60 acres, of lot 18 was
articled to Alexander Orr April 11, 1825, and was deeded to Aimer Rice September 7,
1833.
The south middle part of lot 1 9, 75 acres, was articled to Asa Spencer February 5,
1820, and 50 acres of this were deeded to him January 9, 1833. The south part, 75
acres, of lot 19 was articled to John Maxfield October 31, 1818. The west portion, 26^
acres, of this was transferred to Asa Spencer February 1, 1828, and was deeded to Ezra
Grinnell, With a portion of the middle part. The east portion, 48^ acres, was trans-
ferred to Allen Ward and Orman Fitch February 6, 1828, and was deeded to Allen
Ward December 16, 1833. The middle part, 63 acres, of lot 19 was articled to John
Smith June 14, 1824, and transferred to Ezra Grinell December 31, 1830, It was deeded
to him October 8, 1834. The north middle part, 80 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Benja-
min Babcock February 28, 1825. November 6, 1830, it was articled to Amos Grinell,
to whom it was deeded July 9, 1835. The north part, 145 acres, of lot 19 was articled
to Asaph Babcock and Elisha Blount March 17, 1825. After being divided and sub-
divided and transferred in parcels, this part was deeded as follows: 55^ acres to Ezra
Grinell November 3, 1837 ; 46^ acres to Amos Grinell November 12, 1838, and the bal-
ance to Luther Herrick October 29, 1836.
The northwest part, 94 acres, of lot 20 was taken up by Adolphus Coburn October
12, 1829. Fifty acres of this were articled to Hanford Phillips July 10, 1828, and
were deeded to him November 21, 1832. Fifty-four acres of this northwest part were
articled to Joshua Hudson July 10, 1828, and deeded to him November 23, 1833. The
southwest part, 120 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Hanford Phillips October 12, 1819.
October 12, 1829, 60 acres of this were transferred to Alvah Phillips and were deeded
to him February 8, 1834. The balance with other land was deeded to Hanford Phillips
January 23, 1834.
The west portion, 70 acres, of the south middle part of lot 21 was articled to Latimer
B. Gates May 14, 1823, and transferred to Jared Rock ?vood November 30, 1833. It was
deeded to Mary Parsons December 28, 1837. The east portion, 50 acres, of the south
middle part of lot 21, was articled to Asa Sanford May 14, 1823, and transferred to
Luther N. Sanford December 30. 1830, and was deeded to him August 20, 1832. The
north part, 50 acres, of lot 21 was taken up by George Hancock April 6, 1824. It was
476 LANDMARKS OF,
articled to Oliver Benton November 7, 1834, and deeded to Zenas Hebard, September
1, 1838. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 21 was, sold by article to Asa Sanford Octo-
ber, 12, 1819, and was deeded to him November 23, 1833. The north middle part. 92
acres, of lot 21 was articled to Nathaniel Peck November 26, 1824. October 13, 1831,
it was again articled to Joseph Rockwood. to whom it was deeded October 24, 1834.
The south part, 120 acres, of lot 22 was taken up by Bela Benton May 29. 1815. Sixty
acres of this were deeded to Eliza Billings September 15, 1837. Fifty acres of the
south middle part of lot 22 were articled to William Merrit December 7, 1822. This
land was transferred to Elizur Hart September 14, 1832, and Barzillai Holt September
25, 1835, and was deeded to him with other laud February 1, 1838. The south middle
part, 70 acres, of lot 22 was sold by article to Losson Hix December 7, 1822, and
articled to Elizur Hart November 2, 1832. It was deeded to Henry Hawley June 20,
1833. The north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 22 was articled to John Merritt October
23, 823. It was transferred to Isaac Sanderson October 9, 1832, to Oliver Benton
November 7, 1834, and was deeded to Roger Benton. The part, 51 acres, next to the
south middle part of lot 22 was articled to Robert Humphrey, November 13, 1823, and
transferred to Samuel Humphrey December 28, 1830. It was deeded to Liberty Walker
February 21, 1833. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 22 was sold by article to John
Billings March 29, 1816. It was transferred to Leverett Peck December 23, 1829, and
deeded to Jotham Holt March 1, 1833.
The east part, TS^ acres, of lot 23 was taken up by Peter Powers April 19, 1825. It
was articled to Elijah Sill December 31, 1830, and was deeded to him December 13,
1832. The west part, 120 acres, of lot 23 was articled to Barney Gilbert November 18,
1816. December 8, 1829, 70 acres of this were articled to Barney Gilbert and Charles
Pribler. This land was deeded to Potter Paine August 14, 1832. The balance was
deeded to Hugh McCarthy November 10, 1833. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot
23 was sold by article to James Storms April 11, 1817. It was transferred to Nathan
Robinson December 8, 1827, and deeded to Gould G. Norton September 19, 1832. The
east middle part, 90 acres, of lot 23 was sold by article to Erastus Hinckley April 19,
1825, and deeded to Lester Harrington December 14, 1832.
For lot 24, see Albion.
The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was taken up by Archibald Dunham Janu-
ary 14, 1822. It was articled to Almon Rice December 13, 1830 ; and was deeded to
him September 1, 1833. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 25 was articled to William,
and James Rollins November 10, 1818. Fifty acres of this were transferred to Lucius
Wait December 1828; and were deeded to him February 25, 1834. Fifty acres were
transferred to Henry Vannooker December 18, 1828, and deeded to Ethan Pier June
1, 1834. The west middle part, 75 acres, of lot 25 was taken up by Almond Dunham
July 19,1825. It was articled to Henry Vannocker November 14, 1833, and deeded
to Horace Hopkins Janaary 1, 1836. The west part, 103 acres, of lot 25 was articled to
John J. Pomeroy November 5, 1825. It was again articled April 4, 1833, to Bostwick
Hurd. Sixty-three acres of this were deeded to Alpheus Nash May 15, 1835; and 40
acres to Ethan Pier on the same day.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 477
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 26 was purchased by Elisha Wright, and was
articled to him early in 1827. It was deeded to him June 28, 1830 ; and the middle
and west 150 acres were deeded to him February 3, 1834. The northeast part, 50
acres, of lot 26 was taken up by Walter Blount November 15, 1824, and was transfer-
red to Benson Manchester December 31, 1834. It was deeded to William Danforth
May 15, 1837. The middle of the north part, 42 acres, of lot 26 was articled to Richard
D. Sprink November 6, 1827, and sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The south middle part, 75 acres, of lot 27 was articled to Ralph Jackson January 22,
1822, and transferred to Ezra Brainard December 9, 1830. It was deeded to Ralph H.
Jackson, July 16, 1833. John Strow purchased by article the south part, 80 acres, of
lot 27 November 11, 1818. It was articled to Sylvester Noble December 25, 1830,
and was deeded to him June 29, 1837. The north middle part, 75 acres, of lot 27 was
articled to Bence & Swartwout January 7, 1825. It was transferred to Abraham B.
Mills, February 1, 1834, and was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The north
part, 50 acres, of lot 27 and was articled to Caleb Pierce March 23. 1826, and was
deeded to Richard D. Sprink June 1, 1834. Seventy-one and one half acres of lot 27
were sold to Charles B. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 28 was taken up by Lucius Allis November 12, 1821,
and was deeded to him December 16, 1833. The west part 50 acres, of lot 28 was
articled to Oliver Benton December 11, 1821, and was deeded to John B. Lee Septem-
ber 1, 1834. The part, 50 acres, next east from the foregoing was articled to Philetus
Bumpus December 20, 1851. It was transferred to Ebenezer Eaton October 17, 1833,
and was dedeed to Henry Buel July 6, 1835. The east middle part, 50 acres of lot
28 was articled to Isaac Austin January 8, 1827, and with the west middle part, 105
acres, of the same lot was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 29 was taken up by Isaac Sanderson April 28
1833. It was transferred to Cynthia Sanderson October 30, 1832, and was deeded to
her June 11, 1837. The east part, 95 acres, of lot 29 was articled to Ephraim Amsden
November 5, 1823. Fifty acres were transferred to John Holloway, and deeded to
Alvah B. Rowland Sep*^ember 7, 1835. Forty-five acres were transferred to Elizur
Hart November 5, 1831, and to Oliver Benton November 7, 1835. This land was
deeded to Nathaniel Foot September 7, 1835. The west middle part, 80 acres, of lot
29 was taken up by Silas Benton November 30, 1821. Fifty acres of this were trans-
ferred to Isaac Filkins December 15, 1830; to William Austin December 20, 1833 ; to
Alvah Wood December 24, 1836; and to Jonathan B. Robinson February 1, 1840,
Forty-two acres of this west middle part were transferred to Allen Robinson February
28, 1833, and the whole was deeded to Jonathan E. Robinson February 1, 1840. The
west part, 60 acres, of lot 29 was articled to Reuben Darrow November 26, 1821.
Forty-seven acres of this were transferred to Jonathan Whitney December 23, 1830,
and were deeded to him January 14, 1834.
Lot 30, 374 acres, was sold to Charles B. Dudley, January 26, 1828.
The middle part, 150 acres, of lot 31 was taken up by Elijah Billingfs June 8, 1816.
February 8, 1828, 70^ acres of this were articled to Jotham Holt, and deeded to him
December 6, 1852. February 8, 1828, 50 acres were articled to James Holt, to whom
478 LANDMARKS OF
they were deeded September 17, 1832. The east part, 150 "acres, of lot 31 was
articled to Elijah Billings June 8, 1816. February 14, 1824, it was transferred to
Levant Peck, and September 10, 1832, 60 acres were deeded to George Smith ; and
February 21, 1833, 90 acres were deeded to Hugh McCurdy. As were also 89| acres
of the middle of the n^rth part June 7, 1831. The west part, 132^ acres of lot 31
was taken up by Silas Williams November 7, 1816. It was divided and transferred m
parcels, and was finally deeded as follows: 42^ acres to Joseph L. Blodgett February
25, 1836; 40 acres to Hugh McCurdy June 1, 1834; and 25 acres to John Bartlet
October, 24, 1838. The southeast middle parf, 60 acres, of lot 31 was articled to
Jotham Holt, jr., October 25, 1816. It was deeded to George W. Smith, September
10, 1832.
See Albion for lot 32.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 33 was taken up by Sylvester Noble October 21,
1818. It was transferred to Thomas Pratt November 18, 1829. It was deeded to
Ethan Pier October 11, 1833. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 33 was articled to
Peleg Brown November 19, 1825, and the article was renewed to Burtis Bird Janu-,
ary 17, 1833. It was deeded to John C. WoodhuU August 26, 1835. The north middle
part, 70 acres, of lot 33 was taken up by Walter Blount July 12, 1826. It was trans-
ferred to Orlean Clark November 4, 1834, and was deeded to John Sutton April 26,
1835. The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 33 was articled to Isaac Taft June 30,
1826. It was transferred to Burtis Bird January 17, 1833, and, with 42 acres next to it,
was deeded to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The north part, 106 acres, of lot 34 was sold by article to Sheldon Pierson November
27, 1822. It was articled to Sylvester Noble December 25, 1830, and deeded to him
November 25, 1833. The north middle part, 75 acres, of lot 34 was taken up by
Orrin Wilcox November 11, 1818. December 7, 1829, it was articled to Richard
Wright, and was deeded to him February 28, 1833. The south part, 100 acres, of lot
34 was articled to Branch Evarts November 11, 1818. March 24, 1829, 371 acres were
transferred to Lemuel Clark. October 1, 1829, 25 acres were transferred to Lemuel
Clark and deeded to Elisha Wright, and both portions were deeded to him March 14,
1834, and February 21, 1837. Ninety-two acres of the south middle part of lot 34
were deeded to Charles E, Dudley January 26, 1828. February 22, 1827, Elisha Wright
took up 84 acres of lot 34 that were sold to Charles E. Dud'ey January 26, 1828, and
received his deed February 28, 1833.
Richard D. Spink took up the middle part, 75 acres, of lot 35 April 19, 1823. It
was articled to Daniel S. Root August 23, 1833 ; to John Chamberlain October 1, 1838,
and deeded to Ralph H. Jackson June 1, 1842. The south middle part, 80 acres, of lot
35 was articled to George Wells April 19, 1823. October 9, 1832, 20 acres of this
were transferred to Ralph H. Jackson. November 8, 1832, 59^ acres of the same were
transferred to Leonard Warner, and October 3, 1833, to Ralph H. Jackson and David
Thurston. The south part of the lot, 50 acres, was taken up by Joseph Wheat Decem-
ber 25, 1818. It was transferred to David Thurston October 3, 1833. The whole of
the south part of the lot Avas deeded : 79^ acres to David ;Thurston October 3, 1833.
12^ acres to Ralph H. Jackson October 3, 1834; and 20 acres to him February 21.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 479
1836. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 35 was articled to John Rose May 1, 1822. It
was transferred to Peter Failing May 2, 1828, and was deeded to him October 11, 1833.
The north middle part, 60 acres, of lot 35 was taken up by Henry YanNocker Novem-
ber 3, 1827, and was deeded to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
Robert McNeal took up 44i acres of the north middle part of lot 36 April 20, 1824.
John Rose took up 50 acres of the south middle part of lot 36 August 27, 1821. These
parcels, with 60 acres more, were deeded to Job a B. Lee September 1, 1834. John
Rose took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 36 July 27, 1821. It was deeded to
Isaiah Green December 26, 1833. Collins Burnham took up the north middle part, 75
acres, of lot 36 September 11, 1821. It was transferred to Louisa Foster May 11, 1831,
and was deeded to Solomon Curtis June 1, 1834. The north part, 50 acres, of lot 36
was articled to Elisha W. Sheldon September 11, 1821. It was transferred to Nathaniel
Brooks December 29, 1831, and with the south 50 acres of lot 37, was deeded to
Timonthy W. Stacy November 20, 1332.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 37 was sold by article to David E. Randall April 11,
1818. April 28 and 29 it was articled in two parcels of 50 acres each to Thomas Wood
and Cyrus Stewart, and the whole was deeded to Jacob Finch January 6, 1834. The
north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 37 was articled to John Lee April 11, 1818, and
deeded to Nathan Stewart March 21, 1821. The south middle part, 60 acres, of lot 37
was sold by article to Charles Lee June 22, 1818, and was transferred to Alpheus
Nash, jr., December 27, 1830. The south part, 150|^ acres, of lot 37 was taken up by
John Rose October 11, 1820. Fifty and one-half acres of this were transferred to
Alpheus Nash December 3, 1830. One hundred acres of this north part were trans-
ferred to Nathaniel Brooks December 29, 1830. The whole was deeded to Allen P.
Robinson November 17, 1832.
Fifty acres of the south middle part of lot 38 were articled to John Lee April 11,
1818, and deeded to Cyrus Holt October 7, 1833. The middle part, 50 acres, was taken
up by Spencer Pebbles April 6, 1824, transferred to Charles Mix January 24, 1834,
and deeded to George Mix January 1, 1839. The north part, 38 acres, of lot 38 was
articled to William Prout September 7, 1818. It was transferred to Stephen Brown
January 4, 1828, and deeded to Elisha Brown February 15, 1833. One hundred acres
of the north part were sold by article to John Lewis May 31, 1819, and again articled
to Ephraim Hicks, jr., December 5, 1829. The tract was deeded to him September 17,
1832. The south part, 50 acres, of lot 38 was taken up by Eber Call December 5, 1818,
and articled to George Tubbs March 5, 1828. It was deeded to Daniel Eldred Febru-
ary 3, 1834. The middle part of lot 38 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26,
1828.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 39 was taken up by Elisha Smith September 17,
1816, and was deeded to him July 14, 1823. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 39 was
taken up by Calvin Smith September 17, 1816, and was deeded to him September 14
1824. The east part, 148 acres, of lot 39 was articled to Harry Blackman October 7,
1816, and was deeded to Chester Harding May 29, 1823.
See Albion for lot 40.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 41 was sold by deed to William Martin April 7, 1826
The north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 41 was articled to Nathan B. Bathrick October
480 LANDMARKS OF
18, 1826, and transferred to William Martin, jr., December 17, 1833. It was deeded to
him October 10, 1837. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 41 was taken up by Almon
Bathwick October 18, 1826. It was articled to Deliverance Morehouse November,
1834, and was deeded to Asa Parker February 1, 1838. The south middle part, 70
acres, of lot 41 was taken up by Nathan Bennett December 18, 1826. It was articled to
Deliverance Morehouse January 6. 1834, and deeded to Joseph Willett December 1,
1837. The south part, 85 acres, of lot 41 was sold to Charles E. Dudley, as was also
the whole of lot 42, January 26, 1828.
The southeast part, 67 acres, of lot 43 was articled to Park White February 22, 1827,
and with the southvs^est part, 50 acres, of the same lot was sold to Charles E. Dudley
January 26, 1828. The north part, 50 acres, of lot 43 was taken up by John Pv,ose
December 6, 1822. It was deeded to Blakeley Burns February 9, 1833. The north
middle part, 50 acres, of lot 43 was sold by article to John Waldron February, 21, 1823,
and was deeded to him June 23, 1824. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 43 was
articled to Joseph Corey February 11, 1824, and was deeded to John B. Lee Septem-
ber 1, 1834. The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 43 was taken up by Aaron Sted-
man February 11, 1825, and deeded to Parke White November 13, 1833.
The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 44 was articled to Charles Howard June 8, 1822, and
transferred to Robert McNeil, jr., February 21, 1833. It was deeded to him October
11, 1833. The north middle part, 60 acres, of lot 44 was sold by article to John Lee
February 9, 1822, and articled to Robert McNeil January 3, 1831, and was deeded to
him November 20, 1832. Seventy acres of the south middle part of lot 44 were taken
up by Loammi Robinson November 28, 1822, and transferred to G-uilford McNeal De-
cember 31, 1830. The tract was deeded to Israel C. Wait November 25, 1833.
Seventy-eight acres of the south middle part of lot 44 were articled to Edmund Waldron
February 21, 1823, and the article was renewed to Chauncey Stacy December 27, 1830.
This land was deeded to Mr. Stacy April 21, 1833. The north part, 60 acres, of lot 44
was articled to John Rose August 27, 1821, and transferred to Solomon Curtis De-
cember 3, 1830. It was deeded to him June 1, 1834. The south part, 50 acres, of lot
44 was sold by article to Asa Spencer May 8, 1822, and deeded to Thomas Green No-
vember 20, 1827.
The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 45 was taken up Amos Porter January 24,
1820. It was articled to Thomas Campbell October 27, 1830, and deeded to Alvin
Munger June 1, 1834. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 45 was articled to Joshua
Rathera January 24, 1820. Fifty acres of this were transferred to Silas McNeal
October 27, 1830, and to Philander Munger January 6, 1834. This portion was deeded
in equal parcels to Hannah Morse and Samuel Benedict February 3, and March 9,
1838. Fifty acres of this south part were transferred to Nathan Stuart November 10,
1830, and deeded to him June 1, 1834. The middle part, 133 acres, of lot 45 was
taken up by John Rose January 24, 1820, and articled to Elisha and Amasa Sheldon
November 10, 1829. They received their deed December 31, 1832. The north part,
50 acres, of lot 45 was articled to Joseph Wheat January 24, 1820. It was again
articled to John Patrick December 27, 1830, and deeded to Alfred J. Ross, June 1,
1834.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 481
Tr.e south part, 100 acres, of lot 46 was sold by article to Daniel Fellows June 1,
1817. and again articled to Whitman Nash March 25, 1829. It was deeded to him
November 20, 1832. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 46 was taken up by Jonathan
Kingsbury April 11, 1818. Twenty-five acres of this were transferred to Sally Fidelia
Walter October 10, 1826. The same was deeded as follows: 88 acres to Chauncey
Fellows February 15, 1833, and 12 acres to Clesson Smith November 13, 1833. The
northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 46 was articled to Caleb Lamb December 1, 1818. It
was deeded as follows: 50 acres to Horace Tripp November 15, 1833, and 25 acres each
to Chauncey and to Harry Fellows on the same day. The northwest part, 79| acres,
of lot 46 was taken up by Eleazer Wood December 1, 1818, and deeded, with 12 acres
more to Clesson Smith November 13, 1833.
The whole of lot 47, 382 acres, was taken up May 18, 1816, by John Lee, and was
deeded : 182 acres to John Lee May 26, 1823, 50 acres to Ora Lee, 48 acres to Dencv
Godard, and 100 acres to Charles Lee May 5, 1824.
For lot 48, see Albion.
Lot 49 and the south part of lot 50 were sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26,
1828.
The north part of lot 50, 100 acres, was articled to Andrew Palmer December 15
1824, and transferred to Samuel Wyman July 24, 1834. It was deeded to John B.
Lee September 1, 1834. The south middle part, 100 acres, of lot 50 sold by article to
Cheney Hutchins, June 5, 1823. It was deeded to Simeon Babcock January 6, 1834.
The north middle part, 60 acres, of lot 50 was taken up by Theodorus Olden May 28,
1823. It was articled to John G-rinell November 9, 1830, to Thomas Wells February
19, 1834, and deeded to Winsor C. Campbell July 13, 1837.
The west middle part of lot 51 was taken up by Peleg Palmer April 13, 1822. De-
cember 3, 1830, 50 acres, of this were articled to Jera Crane, to whom they were deeded
December 2, 1831. On the same day 50 acres were articled to Calvin Campbell, to
whom they were deeded November 12, 1836. June 23, 1832, 50 acres of the same
were articled to Dobson Crane and were deeded to Henry J. Babcock October 31,
1833, The east part, 60 acres, of lot 51 was taken up by Rufus Hancock November
12, 1825. With a part of lot 43 it was deeded to Blakely Burns February 9, 1833. The
east middle part, 74 acres, of lot 51 was articled to Stephen Tucker, November 30,
1827, and, with 50 acres more, sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. The west
part, 30 acres, of lot 51 was sold to Calvin Campbell with a part of lot 59, March 26,
1829.
Fifty acres of lot 52 were taken up by Asabel Buck, jr., June 3, 1822, were trans-
ferred to Leander Wood November 26, 1830, and deeded to Eleazer Ide June 1, 1834.
Ransom Thomas took up 50 acres of lot 52 January 4, 1823. The land was transferred
to Leander Wood May 24, 1828, and deeded to Eleazer Ide June 1, 1834. The west
part of lot 52, 50 acres, was articled to William Cornwall December 31, 1822, and trans-
ferred to John Edwards December 28, 1830. It was deeded to Guy W. Loomis Janu-
ary 18, 1834. Sixty acres of lot 52 were articled to Benjamin Rogers January 4, 1822 ;
were transferred to Squire Burns November 1, 1831, and deeded to Joseph W. and Ed-
ward Ransom September 15, 1837. Fifty acres of lot 52 were articled to William
61
482 LANDMARKS OF
Cornwall December 31, 1822, were transferred to Joshua Palmer January 1. 1831, and
deeded to James Welden December 3, 1833. Fifty acres of lot 52 were taken up by
Blakely Burns February 11, 1824, and deeded to Hiram Brown February 15, 1833.
The east 49 acres of lot 52 were taken up by Blakeley Burns October 11, 1827, and
sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The west part, 109 acres, of lot 53 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
Phineas S. Needham took up 50 acres of lot 55 July 12, 1822. The parcel was trans-
ferred to Azra Parker December 28, 1880. This land was deeded to Dennis Kingsley
November 23, 1833. Timothy Clark purchased by article 60 acres of lot 53 November
19, 1822. This land was deeded to John McAllister January 23, 1833. The east part,
60 acres, of lot 53 was articled to Amaziah Pardee May 8, 1820; was again articled to
Alpheus Bishop December 28, 1830, and was deeded to Clark Hall November 23, 1833.
The east middle part of lot 53, 50 acres, was articled to Daniel Wright December 20,
1821. It was transferred to Briggs Hall December 30, 1830, and deeded to Clark Hall
November 33, 1833.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 54 was taken up by Hiram Kingsbury May 29, 1820,
and was deeded to Cyrus Stewart March 4, 1828. The south part, 50 acres, of lot 54 was
articled to Arza Parker October 30, 1825, to John Cooper January 24, 1834, and was
deeded to him November 21, 1837. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 54 was articled
to Roderick and Jared Stocking November 23, 1819. Fifty acres of this was trans-
ferred to Oliver N. Russell December 8, 1827, and deeded to him October 17, 1835.
Fifty acres of the same were articled to Joseph Barker December 8, 1827, and were
deeded to him December 3, 1833. The south middle part, 75 acres, of lot 54 was taken
up by William Hunt October 25, 1825. It was articled to Cyrus Stewart December 19,
1833, and to William Willits December 19, 1837. It was deeded to Joseph Barker De-
cember 28, 1835. William Hunt took up 50 acres of lot 54 October 26, 1825. This
land was transferred to Joseph Barker October 19, 1833, and was deeded to William
Willitts December 19, 1837.
The middle part, 100 acre.s, of lot 55 was articled to Ansel Dinsmore November
18, 1816. It was divided and transferred in parcels, and was deeded as follows: 19
acres to Joseph Sanderson December 19, 1833 ; 27 acres to Ebenezer M. Bush February
10, 1834; 22 acres to Elbe Sibley May 19, 1834 ; and 3 acres to Azel Shepard Novem-
ber 5, 1837. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 55 was articled to Nathan Sherwood No-
vember 11, 1816. The article was renewed to Calvin E. Phelps April 11, 1825, and the
land was deeded to Blisha Smith November 20, 1827. The west part, 182 acres, of lot
55 was taken up by Samuel Goodrich March 15, 1817. It was divided, transferred and
deeded as follows: 82 acres to Cyrus Stewart March 5, 1828; and 100 acres to Joseph
W. Hopkms September 28, 1832.
See Albion for lot 56.
Lot 57 and the north part of lot 58 were sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
The southeast part, 60 acres, of lot 58 was articled to John Griuell May 28, 1823. It
was transferred to Winsor Campbell December 30, 1830, and deeded to Reuben E. Smith
June 26, 1834. The southwest part, 60 acres, of lot 58, was articled to John Grinell
May 28, 1823. February 24, 1831, it was transferred to Major Grinell, to whom it was
deeded November 11, 1833.
ORLEANS COUNTS. 483
The northwest part, 54 acres, of lot 59 was taken up by Reily M. Tinkham February
22, 1822, it was articled to John R. Foster December 28, 1830; to James Fyfe January
9, 1834, and was deeded with other land, to Jerra Crane June 18, 1885. The south-
west part, 54 acres, of lot 59 was taken up by Alanson Tinkham February 22, 1822, and
was deeded to him February 18, 1829. The southeast part of lot 59, with the west
part of lot 51, 100 acres, was articled to Calvin Campbell February 22, 1822, and was
deeded to him March 26, 1829. The middle portion of the west part, .54 acres of lot
59, was articled to John Grinell February 22, 1822, and was deeded to him March 2,
1827. The northeast part, 50 acres, of lot 59, was articled to Samuel Fassett July 20,
1821, and was deeded to Jerra Crane March 23, 1824.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 60 was taken up by Joseph Cory December 26, 1822.
This part was divided and subdivided and transferred, and was finally deeded as follows
75 acres with 25 acres of lot 61, to Stephen B. Cleveland February 14, 1834, and
25 acres to Jerra Crane June 18, 1835. The west middle part, 60 acres, of lot 60 was
articled to Job S. Comstock July 19, 1821. It was again articled to Jonathan Joslin
December 29, 1830, and was deeded to Francis Nash, October 29, 1833. The east
middle part, 60 acres, of lot 60 was taken up by Lyraaa Peare July 19, 1821, and
articled January 17, 1837, to Samuel Miller, to whom it was deeded December 17, 1833,
The west part of lot 60, 61 acres, was sold by article to Solomon Cole November 15.
1821, and articled to Simeon Kingsbury February 7, 1831. It was deeded to him Feb-
ruary 12, 1834.
The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 61, was articled to Elisha G-reen January 24, 1830,
and was deeded to Jairus Lawrence. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 61 was purchased
by Calvin Weed April 14, 1817. Fifty acres of this part were articled to Nehemiah
Finch December 21, 1817, and, with the south part of lot 62, was deeded to William N.
Gage December 17, 1833. Fifty acres were deeded to Horace Lindsley March 12, 1833.
The south middle part, 55 acres, of lot 61 was articled to Joseph Haight September 11,
1824. It was deeded to Luther Porter December 28, 1837. The south part, 50 acres,
of lot 61 was taken up by Jerra Crane February 1, 182.5. Iiwas deeded in two parcels :
To Peter Palmer 25 acres July 11, 1836, and 25 acres to Stephen B. Cleveland February
14, 1834.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 62 was articled to Cyrus Johnson, April 8, 1816. It
was deeded to Timothy Johnson September 7, 1826. The middle part, 100 acres, of
lot 62 was taken up by Nicholas Wetherbee November 16, 1816, and the article was
renewed February 9, 1825, to Benjamin Smith, who received his deed December 24,
1827. The south part, 91 acres, of lot 62 was siVticled to Isaac P. Wood March 31,
1817, and the article was renewed to William N. Gage November 11, 1826. He
received a deed for this and a part of lot 61 December 17, 1833.
The north part, 140 acres, of lot 63 was articled to Levi Wells May 29, 1816. June
19, 1824, 40 acres were articled to Chester Wells, to whom they were deeded June 26,
1834. June 19, 1824, 50 acres of the same were articled to Reuben Haight, and trans-
ferred to James Robson December 14, 1830. They were deeded to Nicholas Wetherbee
April 1, 1835. July 19, 50 acres of this same north part were articled to Daniel
Battery, and deeded to Horace Hopkins September 28, 1832. Harry Wood took the
484 LANDMARKS OF
south part, 154 acres, of lot 63 March 21, 1817. He received his deed March 21. 1825.
For lot 64 see Albion.
The first actual settlers in Barre came to the town in i8i6. Prior to
that date the Holland Land Company had caused the Oak Orchard
road to be cut tlirough over an old Indian trail, but it had become so
overgrown with underbrush that it was almost impassable. Nevertheless
it was the route by which the early settlers came in to locate their
lands. This thoroughfare was laid out four rods wide. The Lee road
was opened in 1817, and from then till 1820 most of the important
roads in town were rendered what was then termed passable. They
generally pursued serpentine courses, and over wet or swampy places
were improved with corduroy crossings. The early settlers were poor
but industrious, and the lenient policy of the Holland Land Company
enabled them to buy land, clear it, and make for themselves and their
families excellent farms and comfortable homes. Pioneer life and primi-
tive conditions here were not unlike those of neighboring localities. The
rude log cabin, without floor or window or chimney, warmed only by
an improvised fireplace, protected the settler's family until means could
be obtained with which to improve it or to replace it with a frame
dwelling. Sickness, scarcity of food, and other causes only served to
band the early inhabitants more closely together Resolute, persever-
ing, hardy and courageous, the majority of them remained and labored,
reared families and transformed the wilderness into productive fields
and beautiful homes.
From the foregoing account of original and subsequent purchases
from the Holland Land Company, the first actual settlers on the lands
purchased cannot with certainty be determined. In a large majority of
cases the purchasers settled on their lands. In many instances they
soon became discouraged, sold their improvements, assigned their
articles, which assignments were not always recorded, and left or took
other lands with which they were better pleased ; and some purchasers,
who had made only small payments, never occupied their lands or paid
interest, but allowed their articles to lapse. A portion of lot 5, at Barre
Center, was articled to a man named Parmaly, an assistant of the com-
pany's surveyors, in 18 10. What became of Mr. Parmaly was not
known, though it was rumored that he was killed in the war of i8i2-
The land reverted, and was sold to John Raymond.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 485
Tlie first actual settler in Barre was Stephen Paine. He was born in
1776 in Scituate, R. I., and removed thence to Richfield, N. Y., thence
to Ontario county, and from there to Barre in the autumn of 181 5. He
took an article for a part of a lot 39, range i, and February 21, 18 16,
he came with his family, consisting of his wife (whose maiden name
was Sally Auger), and ten children. They arrived atBooth's tavern on the
Ridge on the evening of February 25. The next morning the father and
his son Angell came on foot by way of the Oak Orchard road to Matti-
son's tavern, three fourths of a mile north from Benton's Corners,
arriving at about noon. In the afternoon they cleaned out a rude log
house which had been used by Oliver Benton during the winter as a
shed or stable for cattle. It stood on the east side of Oak Orchard
road a short distance south from the Poorhouse road. The rest of
the family, with their few household goods, arrived late in the after-
noon, and they passed their first night and their first few weeks there,
feeding their small stock of cattle and sheep on browse. In this time
they built a small log house on lot 7, range 2, for Alexander Ward,
who came soon after him and took up land there. This was the first
log house erected in the town. They soon built a house on their own
farm and lived there, making improvements for six years when they
sold out to John Bradner, and removed to another farm on lot 8, range
2, which the father and son had bought together. In 1833 Mr. Paine
sold his interest in this to his son Angell, and died in Cattaraugus county
in 1849.
Angell Paine was born in Richfield, N. Y., in 1802. In 1826 he
married Lucinda Holland, and they had six children. He still resides
on the farm which he and his father purchased in 1823. He is the
oldest pioneer in this part of Orleans county, and one of the oldest in
Western New York. He remembers that once when he was " search-
ing for the cows he came to the house of a Mr. Kelly, who was
familiarly known as ' Noggin ' Kelly, because he sometimes made
wooden dishes or bowls. Noggin had gone to hunt for provisions and
had not yet returned. The family invited Paine to dinner and he found
they had nothing to eat but leeks and salt ! "
John W. Holland came to Orleans county in the fall of 1816 and
chopped ten acres on lot 8, range 2, two and a half miles south from
486 LANDMARKS OF
Albion village. A man named Bonesteel had taken an article for a
part of lot 40, range i, in Barre, and upon it had erected a log house.
These Mr. Holland then purchased, and in the spring of 18 16 George
W. Holland cleared some three acres, which he planted to corn and
potatoes. In February, 18 17, his father and the family took possession
of the farm.
Jotham Holt was born in Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., in 1790.
He was married to Olive Hix of the same county about 181 1, and in
1 8 16 they moved with three children to Benton's Corners, south from
Albion. They came with oxen and sled, bringing such articles of
utility as they could conveniently carry. He cut his way to the land
which he purchased — lot 31, range 2 — and built thereon a pole house,
such as one man alone could construct. The floor was made of split
plank, and the time required for building the house was four weeks.
During this time his wife and her children remained at the house of
Oliver Benton, and kept house for him. While they were there Mr.
Benton went east, married, and returned with his wife. Mr. Holt
cleared land and sowed wheat, for which he paid three dollars per
bushel ; but for the crop which he raised he only received thirty-one
cents per bushel in Rochester. He exchanged twelve bushels at Gaines
for a barrel of salt. Mr. Holt remained on his land till 1831, when he
sold it to his brother James, who occupied it till his death, in 1848.
Jotham Holt finally went to Calhoun county, Mich., where he died.
Orange Starr was born in Vermont in 1767. After the death of his
father he lived with an inn-keeper in Danbury, whose tavern was the
only building saved when the Hessians burned the town. He married
Hannah Northrup, of Vermont, and in 181 5, with their seven children,
they came as far west as Ontario county, N, Y. Here, their provisions
being exhausted, the family for three days subsisted on beech nuts.
Mr. Starr came to South Barre in 18 16 and located 100 acres on lots
27 and 28, and the next summer he brought his family hither. Among
them were his sons Floyd and James, who lived at or near Barre Cen-
ter until their deaths.
Judge John Lee was born in Barre, Mass., June 25, 1763. Emi-
grating early to Madison county, N. Y., he came thence fourteen years
later (in 18 16) to Barre, and at the organization of this town in 181 8 he
ORLEANS COUNTY. 487
gave it the name of his place of nativity. He took up a piece of land
at a point since known as Lee's Settlement and returned home, but his
sons, Charles and Ora, came on, cleared up several acres, and built a
log house, into which the father moved his family in February, 1817.
Judge Lee was always a prominent citizen, being especially conspicuous
in laying out roads, building school houses, and inducing settlers to
come and stay. He was appointed a judge of the old court of Com-
mon Pleas, and died in October, 1832. His daughter Sally (afterward
Mrs. Andrew Stevens), who died in Knowlesville in 1828, taught the
first school in Lee's Settlement in 18 18-19 in a log house in which the
family of a Mr. Pierce then resided. His son Charles was always a
prominent citizen and a long time justice of the peace. Ora Lee is said
to have cut the first tree on the Oak Orchard road in Barre and Mill-
ville. He rose to the rank of brigadier-general in the State militia, and
shortly after coming here he purchased of the Holland Land Company
a large number of outstanding contracts against the settlers and con-
veyed the lands represented by these articles to the grantees as they
were paid for. Subsequently he was a dry goods merchant in Albion,
but soon left this business and engaged in buying and selling flour and
grain and in manufacturing flour.
Ithamar Hibard was of Scotch descent. At the beginning of the
present century he resided in Schroon, Essex county, N. Y., whence he
removed to Brandon, Vt., and thence in 18 16 to the present town of
Albion, one mile west from the village. Sixteen years later he came
to Barre Center, where he died in 1853. He was a prominent and in-
fluential citizen, and was one of the original members of the first Con-
gregational Church in the town. He was the coroner at the inquest of
the only muider in town, which occurred in 1828. His sons were:
Zenas F. and Royal Hebard, both of whom grew old and died in this
town. His daughter was the first wife of J. D. Buckland. Roscoe Z.
Hebard, son of Zenas F., resides a mile west ot Barre Center, and
George, son of Royal, is a successful business man in New York city.
Joshua Raymond, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., came to Barre
with his wife in 18 17, and erected and kept the first tavern in town on
lot 27 between Barre Center and South Barre. This was a log building
and a few years later was superseded by a large house still standing on
488 LANDMARKS OF
the site. His daughter Betsey was married to Darius Peck about 1824,
which was the first marriage celebrated in town. On one occasion Mr.
and Mrs. Peck and another couple walked four miles through the dense
woods to a meeting in a log school house near William Love's. They
arrived after service, but the addition of four to the congregation was
so encouraging that it was decided to hold another meeting.
John Raymond was born in Dutchess county in 1767, where he was
a farmer. In 1791 he married Ruth Jones, who was born in the same
county in 1773. In 18 17 they removed to Seneca county, N. Y., and
in 1821 to Barre, locating at Barre Center, where he died at the age of
ninety-si.x. His wife died at the same place aged ninety-four. Their
children were: Abby P., married Silas Burrhus; Esther, married Eber
Crosby ; Betsey, married Jesse O'Harrow ; Moranda, married Jacob S.
Flint ; Sa'ly, married Hanford Phillips ; Hannah, married Ransom S.
Smith ; Orren, Alfred, and Charles. Orren Raymond was born in
Dutchess county in 1805, and came with the family to Barre. He mar-
ried Chloe Bull in 1833, and resided at Barre Center till his death, in
1848. They reared seven children. Alfred Raymond, born in
Dutchess county in 1807, also came with his father's family to Barre
and located at Barre Center. He married, first, Harriet Baldwin, then
Laura Ann Hobart, and lastly Miranda Bradner. By his second wife
he had children, Harriet and John A., and by his third wife, Frank,
La Rue, and Fred B. Charles Raymond was born in Dutchess county
in 1813, and also came to Barre with the family. He passed seven
years of his life in the study of medicine, and died of a dissection
wound in 1841.
Daniel P. Bigelow was born in Brandon, Vt., in 1792, and in 1817
came to Barre. For a time after his arrival he lived in a cabin on lot
28, near Joshua Raymond's tavern, and probably while living there
made improvements on the place which he purchased on lot 36, three-
fourths of a mile from Barre Center. On this he resided till his death,
in 1853. It is related of him that he trained one of his oxen for a
saddle beast and was accustomed to ride him about the settlement.
On one such occasion they came near a puddle of water, and the ox,
being thirsty, made a rush for it. On reaching the water he stopped
suddenly and his rider pitched over forward into the pool. Mr.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 489
Bigelow's wife was Betsey Knight, a native of Vermont. They reared
five children. Simeon Bigelow, a brother of Daniel P., was born in
Brandon, Vt, in 1803, and in 1828 was married to Charity Childs^
who was born in 1808. In 1831 he came to Barre from Vermont on
horseback (his family coming by canal) and settled on lot 36, about a
mile from Barre Center, on the Oak Orchard road. After a few years
he sold that place, but resided in the vicinity till his death, in 1866.
His wife died in 1865. His children were: Daniel H., Mary E.,
Emma A., and Edwin W.
Henry Edgerton was born at Tyringham, Mass., in 1788, and was
married in 18 16 to Jane West, of Washington county, N. Y. In 1817
they came to Barre and settled on lot 35, range i, where he built a
log house covered with bark, with a hole for the escape of smoke, and
with a rug or blanket for a door. They lived in this house — somewhat
improved afterward — during fifteen years, when they removed to Elba,
Genesee county, where he died in 1873.
Abiathar Mix, a brother of Ebenezer Mix, surveyor and clerk in
the land office at Batavia, came, with his wife, Lydia, from Dutchess
county, N. Y., to Barre in 1817, and located on lot 32, township 14,
range 2. He took up a large tract of land and engaged for a time in
the manufacture of potash, and also in mercantile business at Porter's
Corners, in partnership with his brother, Ebenezer Mix. After a time
he abandoned his store and engaged in work at his trade, that of a
mason. He was also something of a pettifogger. He died in 1856,
Milton Mix, the eldest son of Abiathar, resided during many years at
West Barre, but removed, some thirty- five years since, to Michigan,
where he died. Charles Mix, second son of Abiathar, settled on lot
20, township 14, range 2, where he resided till his death in 1867, and
where his daughter, Mrs. H. A. Rogers, still resides. His son, Charles
N. Mix, resides on Pine Hill, in Barre. Mr. Mix's wife was Philena
Salter, of Ridgeway. David Mix, third son of Abiathar, married Alice
Loomis, and they resided most of their lives just north from Pine Hill.
He died some twenty years since. George E., fourth son of Abiathar
Mix, married Ellen De Bow, of Batavia, N. Y. He also resided a short
distance north from Pine Hill, where he died He was nominated
county clerk by the Liberty party, but was defeated. He was in the
490 LANDMARKS OF
State militia from 1837 to 1844, and rose to the rank of captain. Of
the daughters of Abiathar Mix, Polly married Philetus Bumpus, of
Albion. Eliza became the wife of Gen. John B. Lee ; and Jane mar-
ried John Kerrison. All are dead.
William Kelley, a Revolutionary soldier came to Barre from Ver-
mont in 1 8 17 and settled on lot 5, range 2, on which his son William
also lived. William, sr,, was familiarly known as Cooper Kelly. He
owned the first horse ever brought into Barre, but took it away with
him when he left.
Aden Foster was born in New Braintree, Mass., July 20, 1791, was
married to Sally Hall at Brandon, Vt-, in 1817, and came to Barre the
same year, settling on lot 37, range i, one- half mile south from Barre
Center. For six months he lived alone on this place in a log house
he built, and was then joined by his wife and her brother, Harvey Hall,
who moved from Vermont with an ox team in fourteen days, being
guided a part of the way by blazed trees. In this log house Mr. and
Mrs, Foster lived eighteen years, and in it also their eight children
were born. He erected a large house in 1835 and died February 7,
1838. During the active period of his life he was a leading man among
his fellow citizens. He was a captain in the old State militia and was
for many years a magistrate. His son, Albert J. Foster, a prominent
citizen and a farmer, resides on the old homestead. Another son,
Oscar F. Foster, owns and resides on a portion of the original John
Rayrnond farm at Barre Center.
Bryant White was born in Massachusetts and his wife, Rachel Bates,
in Connecticut. In 18 17 he located land in Barre, and in 18 18 brought
his family hither, bringing among his household goods two or three
spinning wheels and a bake kettle. Mr. White remained on his farm
here until 1864, when he removed to Indiana and died there in 1865.
He was a man highly respected.
Elisha Wright, born in Connecticut in 1791, came with his father, a
Revolutionary soldier, to Ontario county in 1807, where he worked
several years by the month. With his axe and a knapsack he came in
1818 to Barre and settled on lot 26, range 2, where he died June 22,
1875. He married Nancy Phillips, of Bristol, N. Y. From time to
time he added to his farm till he owned 500 acres, 250 of which he
ORLEANS COUNTY. 491
cleared with his own hands. So pleased were the Holland Land Com
pany's agents with his energy and success that they gave him a deed
of his original purchase for $ioo less than the contract price. He
was an active supporter and one of the founders of the M. E. Church,
and in other ways noted as a conscientious, liberal and upright man.
In 1843 he was elected to the assembly. His wife was atypical pioneer
woman, true to the underlying principles of the great brotherhood of
humanity, and distinguished for prudence, industry and foresight.
Washington Wright was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1799.
Early in the present century he became a resident of Byron, Genesee
county, and thence he came to Barre. In 1831 he purchased a part of
lot 9 in the southeastern part of the town, and there he resided till his
death in 1877. His first wife was Mrs Rhoda Miller. After her death
he married Mrs. Laura De Land. His son, Morris Wright, who was
born in 1832, died on the homestead in December, 1890.
Lucius Street, was born in West Springfield, Mass., in 1795. H'e
came to Barre in 1818 and located about two miles south from Barre
Center. In 1823 he married Martha M., daughter of John A. Buck-
land. He lived to a good old age where he first settled. Chapin
Street, a brother of Lucius, came with him and settled on an adjoining
farm. Some years since he went west. Although somewhat eccentric
he was a very worthy man. Horace Street came at about the same
time and remained till his death, about fourteen years ago.
Lyman Hill was a native of Cheshire county. Conn., born in 1769.
About 18 10 he removed to Cayuga county, N. Y., where he remained
till 18 18, when he came to Barre. He settled on lot 4, about a mile
south from Barre Center, where he remained till his death in 1829. His
wife was Hannah Hull, also a native of Cheshire county, born in 1771.
She died in 1852. Roderick Hill, son of Lyman, was born in Con-
necticut in 1804, and came to Barre with his father. He remained on
the place where his father settled till his death in 1875. His wife was
Catherine Booram, born in 1800 at Hardscrabble, N. J., and died in
Barre in 1882. The old homestead is still the property and residence
of his daughters, Elizabeth C. and Sarah C. Hill. Augustus, another
son of Lyman Hill, was born in Connecticut in 1806, and came to
Barre with the rest of the family. He made his residence in Albion,
where he died some thirty years since.
492 LANDMARKS OF
Lonson Cole was born in Albany county, N. Y., in 1797. He re-
mained there till his marriage with Mary Gibbons, of the same place,
in 18 18, when they removed to Greene county, whence they came in
1825 to Barre and settled on lot 10 in the first range. They remained
there till 1849, when they removed to the town of Albion, near Eagle
Harbor. Two years later Mr. Cole sold his place there and they after-
ward resided some fifteen years out of the county. They reared four
children : Electus, who became a physician and died in Middleport,
N. Y. ; John, who became an attorney in Kentucky ; Betsey, wife of
Lewis Knickerbocker, deceased; and Lucy Ann, wife of Homer D.
Waldo, of Barre. Mrs. Cole died in 1869. He in 1887.
John A. Buckland was born in Brandon, Vt. In 18 18 he came to
Barre and located on lot 19, range one, at South Barre, purchasing an
article from Mr. Patterson, who had made some improvements, and dying
on this place in 1848. They were eighteen days making the journey,
coming in a canvas covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Mr.
Buckland was a prominent citizen and for several years was a magis-
trate of that town. J. Douglass Buckland, the son of John A., was a
lifelong resident of Orleans county. He lived in Barre till within a few
years of his death when he removed to Albion. He was justly re-
garded as one of the best citizens of the county. He was twice married,
but left no children. He died some eight years since.
Josiah Mason was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1775. A portion of his
youth was passed in Connecticut, but when about twenty years of age
he removed with his father's family to Otsego county, N. Y. In 1799
he married Abigail Storrs and they resided in various places till 18 19,
when they came to Orleans county and settled on lot 6, near Barre
Center. About 1855 he removed to Michigan. Mr. Mason reared
eight sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to adult age. Trenck
Mason, son of Josiah, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1803. and
came with his father's family to Barre in 18 19. He was married in
1827 to Phebe Gilbert, of Yates. In 1831 he purchased the farm on
which he ever afterward resided on lot 38, three-fourths of a mile north
from Barre Center. Early in life he commenced the study and prac-
tice of veterinary surgery, which he followed actively till the infirmities
of age compelled him to retire. In 1826 he united with the M. E.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 493
Church, and in 1827 was appointed a class leader and exhorter. He
was soon afterward licensed a local preacher, and in 185S was ordained.
He never became an itinerant preacher, but during a long life he labored
where he saw that duty called him, and always without asking com-
pensation. He officiated at more funerals than any other clergyman in
this region, and for fifty years was the chaplain at the county poor
house, without compensation till within the last few years. Mr. Mason
was a preacher of practical Christianity rather than doctrine and his life
was unselfish and blameless. He died in 1893.
Asa Sanford was born in Farmington, Conn., in 1797. At the age
of nine he went, with his father's family, to Tioga county, N. Y,, and
at the age of twenty-two came to Barre and located a mile and a half
west from Barre Center, where he remained till his death in 1872. Mr.
Sanford reared six children to mature age. During the latter part of
his life he manifested a lively interest in the the Orleans County Pioneer
Association, of which he was an active member till his death. He was
a man of strong and firm convictions.
Benson Manchester, a native of Massachusetts, removed to Saratoga
county, N. Y., in 1816, and thence to Barre in 1820, where he died in
1833. He settled on lot 27, range two.
Lewis Genung, born in Morris county, N. ]., October 30, 1793, mar-
ried Margaret D. Strong in 1815, and came to a farm of eighty acres
at South Barre in 1821, soon afterward taking an article for 100 acres more
adjoining, and removing his family hither in the spring of 1822. With
his brother, Charles, he built a blacksmith shop in 1827, the ruins of
which are still visible. They also made in this shop and sold in the
vicinity fourteen stationary threshing machines. In 1828 Lewis Genung
built on his farm what was then the largest barn in Orleans county, and
in it he set up one of their threshers, which he used to thresh his own
grain and also that of his neighbors. They drew their grain to his
barn and gave him every tenth bushel for threshing it. This was the
first threshing done by machinery in the county. Lewis Genung died
November 24, 1833, in New York city, while on a visit. His widow
and her family remained on the homestead. She died March 1, 1872,
being the oldest member of the Presbyterian church at Barre Center.
494 LANDMARKS OP
Hiram Fargo, one of five brothers, was borm in Sherburne, Chenango
county, N. Y., in 1795. When eleven years of age he was sent to
Canada to work on a farm. He was set at plowing among stumps and
roots with a yoke of oxen and became quite disheartened and homesick.
He had heard of " dying in the furrow," and he layed down in his fur-
row and made an unsuccessful effort to die. From Chenango county
the family removed to Henrietta, Monroe county, where he labored on
his father's farm and worked at odd jobs, one of which was chopping on
what is now Main street, Rochester. In 1821 he married Electa,
daughter of Joel Clark. She was born in 1798. When she was an
infant her mother brought her to Western New York on horseback,
and at the same time assisted in driving their cattle. Three years after
their marriage, or in the spring of 1825, they came to Barre $300 in
debt. In 1827 he took up land on lot ^6, adjoining that of his brother-
in-law, Henry Clark, a mile and a half from Barre Center. He erected
thereon a log house, and resided there during many years. He bought
and sold several parcels of land, and finally removed to a farm on lot
20, a mile north from South Barre, where he died in 1869, and where
his daughter, the widow of Hon. C. H. Mattison, now resides. Mr.
Fargo was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and was particu-
larly noted for his ready and caustic wit.
Blakeley Burns was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1779 In
1808 he came to Sweden, Monroe county, where, in 1809 he was mar-
ried to Lucy Moon. In 1821 he removed to Murray, and in 1824 to
Barre, locating two west miles from West Barre In 1839 he went to
Michigan, where he died in 1837. Squire Burns, son of Blakeley,
was born in Sweden, Monroe county, in 1810. With his father's
family he removed to Murray, and thence to this town in 1824. In
1833 he married Betsey Green, of Barre, and soon afterward purchased
a farm adjoining that of his father. He remained on that place till
1 87 1 when he sold it to his son, Charles, and removed to a farm near by.
Jerra Crane was born in Saratoga county, N. Y, in 1797. In 1809
he removed with his father's family to Onondaga county, and in 1821
he came to Barre and settled between West Barre and East Shelby,
where he remained till his death in 1878. In 1822 he married Orissa
Fisher, who was born in 1800. She died in 1883. They had thirteen
children.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 495
William Marsh, a native of Vermont, came to Barre in 1822 and
settled on lot 22, where he remained till his death in 1889. He assisted
the Genung brothers in manufacturing the first threshing machine in
Western New York and had one in his barn that was driven by two
yoke of oxen. He lettered the first sign ever put up in the village of
Newport (now Albion). It read "Wm. Gates, Grocer."
Milton B. De Lano was born in Henrietta, Monroe county, N. Y., in
18 17. About 1823 he came with his father's family to Orleans county,
and in 1833 to South Barre. In 1840 he married Mary Ann, daughter
of WiUiam Marsh In 1842 they removed to Michigan, where they re-
mained till 1853, when they returned and took up their residence on
the farm which Mr. Marsh first purchased, where they remained till the
death of Mr. De Lano in 1889. His wife and three children survive
him.
Israel Root, the father of Amos, was a soldier in the Revolution.
He came to Barre in 1825 and settled on the farm afterward owned by
his son, some three miles southwest from Barre Center. They came
here from Allegany county, the father crossing the country in a wagon
and the son bringing the goods in two large canoes made of pine logs
and lashed together. He came by way of the Genesee River and the
canal, landing at Gaines Basin. The son was born at Sandlake, N. Y.,
in 1803, and they removed to Allegany county in 18 18. Prior to be-
coming a farmer he was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade nearly
thirty years. He lived on his farm in Barre till his death. Dan S.
Root was a native of Connecticut. In 18 18 he removed to Sweden,
Monroe county, N. Y., where he married Eliza Lawrence, and where
his son, Orpheus A. Root, was born. In 1824 he came to Millvilleand
engaged in mercantile business. He died there in 1833. Orpheus A.
Root became a farmer on arriving at the age of manhood. He resided
in several localities in Orleans county, and in 1853 settled on a farm
one mile east from Millville, in this town. Mr. Root served three years
as supervisor of Barre. His wife, to whom he was married in 1844,
was Mary Sawyer.
Joseph Barker came in the spring of 18 16, to America from Lan-
cashire, England, where he was born in 1802. He lived in Ontario
county, N. Y., till 1825, when became to Barre and located on lot 54,
496 LANDMARKS OF
range 2, where he ever afterward resided. In 1822 he married Miss
Submit Cowles, a native of Massachusetts and they had nine children.
She died in 1851 and he afterward married Mrs. Elizabeth Guernsey.
Nathan Andrews was born in Plainfield, N. H., in 1793. He came
to Barre, and in 1825 took up the north part of lot 9, township 14,
range i. This he sold to Washington Wright in the autumn of 1831,
and purchased 100 acres on the same lot from Joel Palmer. On that
place he resided till his death in 1872. While living here he worked
some years at manufacturing water lime, in Williamsville, Erie county,
He married Betsey Packard, and they had six children. He was known
as Capt. Andrews, having acquired the title in the State militia. He
was an honest, upright man, and was highly esteemed.
Amos Grinell, the son of Isaiah Grinell, an early settler of Shelby,
was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1805. He came to Barrepriorto
his majority, but returned to Onondaga county. In 1826 he settled
here on 80 acres of lot 19 southwest from Barre Center. To this he
added from time to time till he owned more than 200 acres, besides
purchasing farms for his sons. In 1827 he married Rosemond Whaley,
a native of Tully, Onondaga county, and their children were: Diana
M., married Joel R. Finch; Frank, married Josephine Palmer; Edwin
married Frances Paine ; Orlando, married Rebecca Jackson ; Anna M.
married A. E. Young ; Harvey, married Libbie Mull ; P'illmore, mar-
ried Alice Warner; and Henry. Mr Grinell died in 1889. His widow
died in 1891.
Jacob Finch was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1797. In 1813
he married Miss Sarah Reynolds, of Otsego county, and about the same
time he removed to that county. In 1826 they came to Barre and
located in the northwestern part of the present town. Six years later
he purchased a farm on Pine Hill, where he resided till his death in
1888. His wife died in 1875. They reared to adult age nine children,
six of whom were born in Otsego county. In early life, on the
different farms which he owned, Mr. Finch cleared some 200 acres of
land.
Oliver Wolcott, a grandson of the one of the same name who signed
the Declaration of Independence, was born at East Windsor, Vermont,
in 1796. His wife, Mary Mumfcrd, a native of Massachusetts, was
ORLEANS COUNTY. 407
born in 1799. They were married in 1826, and in 1827 they removed
to Barre. After working a few years at his trade of a wagon maker, he
located on the Oak Orchard road, about a mile north from Barre Center.
There he passed the remainder of his Hfe, dying in 1872. He had three
daughters, of whom Mrs. C. A. Paine is the only survivor.
Alvah Mattison was born in New Lebanon, N. Y , in 1799. He came
to Barre in 1827, and settled at Barre Center on the farm that he ever
afterward occupied. He died in 1892. He reared two sons and three
daughters. Of the sons, James H. still resides in Barre, and Hon.
Charles H. died in this town in 1884. Benjamin Mattison was born
in New Lebanon in 1796, and came to Barre in 1834. He followed
farming two years, then became a merchant at Barre Center, and
continued in trade there till his death in 1876. He had one daughter
who died some years since. Though somewhat eccentric, Mr. Mat-
tison was an intelligent, worthy man
L. C. Harding was born in Richfield, N. Y., in 1814. He was left
without parents at the age of two years, and was reared by relatives
in Connecticut. In 1828 he came to Barre. In 1840 he married Cor-
nelia, daughter of Solomon Hatch, and settled at South Barre. They
have reared three sons and one daughter.
James Reed was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1806, and was
a "trunk peddler," in early life. About 1829 he came to Orleans
county and settled on lot 19, at South Barre. He sold this place
and lived elsewhere for a few years, but repurchased it and resided
there till his death, in 1885. He was three times married: First to
Miss Maria Hinkston, next to Mrs. Clarinda Goodwin, and lastly to
Mrs. Phebe Clark. He was an active business man, and dealt con-
siderably in real estate. He was esteemed a worthy citizen with
strongly marked peculiarities.
Roswell Goff was born in Connecticut, and came with his father,
Squire Goff, to Rush, Monroe county, N. Y., when very young. He
removed to Barre in 1829 and took an article for a part of lot 18, near
South Barre. After a residence here of some years he removed from
the county, and died elsewhere. He was noted for his vivacity and
wit.
63
498 LANDMARKS OF
Orville Thompson was born in Vermont in i8o8. In 1829 he mar-
ried Sally Livingston, who was born in Vermont in 18 10. In 1833
they came to Barre and settled on lot 23 range i, where they ever
afterward remained. They reared nine children to adult age. His wife
died in 1856, and he afterward married Mrs. Caroline Irish, by whom
he had two sons. He died in 1873.
Joel Clark was a native of Connecticut and a Revolutionary soldier.
At an early age he came to Henrietta, Monroe county, N. Y., where he
passed the remainder of his life. Harry Clark, son of Joel, was born at
Henrietta. Prior to 1830 he came to Barre and located on lot 36, about
one mile southeast from Barre Center, where he died in 1847. ^'s son,
Thomas J. Clark, resided on the same farm till his death in 1864.
Thomas Clark, was born at Henrietta, N. Y., in 1804. He married
Abigail Harding in 1826, and they came to Barre in 1829. In 1835
they located on lot 35, township 14, range i, where he resided till his
death, in 1873, and where his widow recently died, and his daughter
Caroline D., wife of Hon. Abel Stilson, now (1894) lives. The daughters
of Joel Clark were : Electa (Mrs. Hiram Fargo) ; Olive (Mrs Nahum
Collins), and Caroline (Mrs. William Collins).
Ozias S Church was born in 1785 in Windham, Conn. He married,
in 1829, Parmelia Palmer, also a native of Windham. They removed
to Otsego county, N. Y., in 18 12, to Henrietta, N. Y., in 18 17, and to
Barre in 1834. Politically Mr. Church was a Democrat, and an active
politician. He was census marshal in Monroe county in 1830, and in
Orleans county in 1840. During twenty years he was postmaster at
South Barre. Mrs. Church died in 1861, and Mr. Church in 1863.
They were the parents of John P. Church, who died while clerk of
Orleans county, in 1858, and of the late Chief Justice Sanford E. Church.
Jabez Hibbard was born in Connecticut in 1794. When he was three
years of age his father died and he went to Canada to live with an
uncle, who kept a hotel, and who was a confederate of the notorious
counterfeiter, Stephen Burroughs. Mr. Burroughs was a frequent guest
at this hostelry, and at one time they sent out young Jabez with a sum
of counterfeit money to pass. He became alarmed for his safety and
hid the money in a hollow stump to prevent it being found in his pos-
session. Just -before the war of 1812 he was for three months in mili-
ORLEANS COUNTS. 499
tary service in Canada, but on the breaking out of the war he took un-
ceremonious leave and came to the State of New York. In 1821 he
married Evehne A. Glover, of Phelps, Ontario county, N. Y. They
lived for a few years in Cayuga and Wayne counties, and then came to
Gaines, Orleans county. In 1840 they removed to Barre, a mile and a
half west from West Barre, where he died in 1881. They reared to
adult age seven children.
Many other prominent families and early settlers of the town of
Barre are noticed at length in subsequent pages of this volume, and
among these may be mentioned here the names of Lucius Allis, Stephen
Angevine, Nathan Bragg, Orange Culver, Dennis Evarts Squire and
Stillman Goff, Rufus Hallock, Major William Love, Ogden Sears, Relly
M. Tinkham, and Weston Westherbee.
The first physicians in town were Dr. Orson Nichoson and a Dr.
Brown, who resided about two miles north of Barre Center. Dr. Nicho-
son was here as early as 18 19, but in 1822 removed to Albion village.
Dr. Ransom Smith came next, but after a few years' practice he
abandoned medicine and engaged in other business. He finally went
to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he became wealthy and where he died.
Among their successors in town have been Drs. Hughes, Dana Shaw,
Raymond, James Wood, two Clarks, Thomas Cushing, two or three
Smiths, D. H. Brennan, and J. J. Simonds.
The first cemetery in Barre was located about a mile south of Barre
Center. It contained about two acres of land enclosed with a log fence,
and was opened in the winter of 1819-20 by the interment of Isaac
Kelly, who had assisted in putting up the fence the fall before. While
crossing Perry's Island in theTonawanda swamp at night he succumbed
to the cold, and the next morning was carried to the house of Cyril
Wilson, where he died. This was the first death in Barre. Several
other small burial grounds were opened in different parts of the town as
occasion necessitated, but since the organization of Mt. Albion Ceme-
tery at Albion village they have seldom been used, while many re-
movals from them to the larger and more beautiful place of the dead
have been made.
In 1828 the first and only murder committed in Barre occurred at a
place about two miles northeast of Barre Center on a road for many
500
LANDMARKS OF
years known as " Murder Lane." A man named Jones was said to
have killed his brother's wife by strangling her. He was tried and sent
to State's prison for life.
In the great war of the Rebellion the town of Barre sent to the front
a goodly number of her brave and patriotic citizens, many of whom
won honors imperishable, and a number of whom gave their lives to
the country. As this town at that time comprised the present towns
of Barre and Albion it is quite possible that an accurate separation of
the single list, compiled under the authority of the State, into the fol-
lowing list and a similar one in the chapter devoted to Albion has not
been made, but we assure the reader that no efforts have been spared to
make it as authentic as retentive memories will permit.
Francis Gr. Avery, 27th Inf.
John M. Amos, 151st Inf.
John H. Babcock, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles H. Briggs, Sth H. Art.
George R. Brignall, 27th Inf.
Wilhara A. Burroughs, Sth H. Art.
John Bowers, 169th Inf.
John Bannister, jr., 27th Inf., 24th Cav.
Manly Bannister, 14th H. Art.
Jerome B. Billings, 90th Inf.
Andrew Bentley, 4th H. Art.
Hiram H. Bradner, Sth H. Art.
Caleb P. Crowell, 151st Inf.
Judson Crane, 90th Inf.
John F. Cole, 151st Inf.
Allen W. Case, Sth H. Art.
Oliver Clark, Sth H. Art.
Isaac Cornell, 151st Inf.
George R. Clark, 2d Mounted Rifles.
George W. Crane, 19th Inf.
Thomas Gushing, 28th Inf., 20th Col'd. Inf.
Franklin Chatidon, Sth H. Art.
William H. Cornell, 50th Eng. Corps.
Robert Capstick, 11th Inf.
William S. Cole, 151st Inf.
James Drummond, 151st Inf.
John Dean, 151st Inf.
Henry M. Delano, 23d Bat.
Edwin Eddy, 27th Inf.
Delos H. Eddy, 3d Inf.
Almon B. Fargo, 151st Inf.
Samuel Frear, 151st Inf.
John Frost, 33d Inf.
Richard Foreman, 151st Inf.
Charles Eddy, 151st Inf.
Henry C. Edwards, 151st Inf.
William Foreman, 17th Bat.
John Foreman, 17th Bat.
William H. Freeman, 4th H. Art
Jeremiah C. Fargo, 4th H. Art,
William H. Gage, 151st Inf.
Mortimer R. Gibson, 4th H. Art.
Benjamin F. Goodwin. Sth H. Art.
Porter J. Goodwin, Sth H. Art.
Isaac Gibbs, 151st Inf.
Myron Gibbs, 4th H. Art.
Michael Hites, Sth H. Art.
John D. Howard, 27th Inf.
Orrin B. Hibbard, Sth H. Art.
Isaac C. Humphrey, 27th Inf.
Oba W. Hoag, Sth H. Art.
George D. Hollister, Sth H. Art.
Amasa B. Holt, Sth H. Art.
Sidney L. Hitchcock, 151st Inf.
Luther N. Herrick, 9th Cav.
Augustus F. Herdick, ship's clerk.
Alfred T. Johnson, Sth H. Art.
William H. Johnson, Sth H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
501
Charles R. Johnson, 13th H. Art.
Adelbert L. Jackson, 151st Inf.
Frank H. Kregel, 3d Cav.
Charles Austin King, 8th H. Art.
John E. King, 27th Inf.
John Kellog, 8th H. Art.
William D. Lord, 8th H. Art.
Charles E. Lockwood, 151st Inf.
Zephraim La Riviere, 151st Inf.
Samuel B. Leavens, 17th Bat.
Frank M. Loveland, 151st Inf.
Charles C. Loveland, 151st Inf.
Charles B. Luce, 4th H. Art.
Luther Morgan, 8th Cav.
Henry C. Mattoon, 151st Inf.
Gilbert A. Reed, 25th Inf.
George Myers, 8th H. Art.
Charles H Mattison, 151st Inf.
Samuel H. McKay, 8th H. Art.
Jay Martin, 90th Vet. Inf.
Horace P. Mitchel, 14th H. Art.
James Madill, 2d Mounted Ritles.
William Henry Morse, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Chauncey A. Morrison, 151st Inf.
George R. Mason, 27th Inf.
David Fish Morrison, 151st Inf.
James 0. Nickerson, 28th Inf., 8th H. Art.
Lyman R. Patterson, 17th Bat.
William Thomas Piper, 8th H. Art.
James Pnzey, jr., 8th H. Art.
Windsor Paine, 8th H. Art.
George C. Rosenbrook, 14th H. Art.
In i88o Barre had a population of 2,325 and in 1890 of 2,154 In
1893 the town was assessed on real estate $1,167,570 (equaHzed $1,-
176,032) and on personal property $37,850. The total tax on roll ag-
gregated $7,537.26, the rate per cent, being .0060335. The town
audits allowed amounted to $932.74. Two corporations owning prop-
erty in town was assessed on real estate : The Glens Falls Insurance
Company $1,610, and the Bell Telephone Company $450. The pres-
ent (1894) town oflficers are as follows : William Luttenton, supervisor ;
J. E. McKay, town clerk ; Homer D. Waldo, Weston Wetherbee, B.
Talcott Porter, J. L. Batchelor, justices of the peace; Orren Evarts,
James Ogden Reed, 8th H. Art.
James F. Raymond, 8th H. Art.
John A. Raymond, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Orrin S. Stearns, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Oscar Stewart, 4th H. Art.
Joel F. T. St. Clair, 151st Inf. •
John Sullivan, 125th Inf., 94th Vet, Inf.
Hiram Starkweather, 151st Inf.
Alphonso W. Starkweather, 1st Sharp-
shooters.
Relly M. Tinkham, 8th H. Art.
Samuel Tent, jr., 151st Inf.
John H. Tower. 8th Cav.
James William Troley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Orra A. Van Dusen, 11th Inf,
Daniel J. Vermilyea, 23d Bat.
Elijah A. Vredenburgh, 23d Bat.
Wilson White, U. S. Navy.
Ammi Whitney, 26th Inf.
Harlow B. White, 151st Inf.
Benjamin F. Wakefleld, 8th H. Art.
Charles 'SI. Whitney, 8th H. Art.
Edwin L. Wage, 151st Inf.
George W. White, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William P. Wage, 8th H. Art.
Andrew D. Warner, 151st Inf.
Frankhn White, 8th Cav.
Clark M. Wolfram, 151st Inf.
Daniel D. Wolfram, 151st Inf.
George Weaver, 151st Inf.
Bradley S. Webster, 8th Cav.
502 LANDMARKS OF
Charles Cope, L. E. AlHs, assessors ; Sylvester Bragg, highway com-
missioners.
Since a comparatively early date deposits of peat have been known
to exist in different portions of Barre, but they have not been generally
considered of sufficient depth and extent to warrant the expense of
utilizing it as fuel. In 1864 a bed covering about twenty two acres,
and testing a depth of thirty-five feet without finding bottom, was dis-
covered in the west part of the town, and a company consisting of An-
drew Chester, C. J. Beach, H. B. Herrick, and M. H. Beecher was
formed for working it. During that and the following year they dug
and sold about 700 tons of peat, which proved to be of an excellent
quality, and was said by some to be fully as good as coal. But owing
to the distance from market and the lack of convenient shipping facili-
ties the business was abandoned in 1866, and never revived. The moss,
which grows exuberantly and gradually changes to peat beneath the
water, has long been used by nurserymen near Rochester for packing
trees, etc., for shipping to distant points. Within a few years this bed
has been purchased by a company in Buffalo. The moss is gathered,
baled and sent to nurserymen. That substance found next below this is
sent to cities and utilized by livery stable men and others for bedding
animals. The partially decayed matter lying still lower is taken away
and used for fertilizing purposes.
In 1865 in the eastern part of the town indications of petroleum were
discovered and two wells were sunk by a stock company organized for
the purpose, but their expectations of striking oil resulted only in find-
ing a quantity of salt water, from which, as an experiment, a good
quality of salt was made. Even the production of this as well as work
on the wells was finally abandoned. Three years afterward another well
was begun, after securing oil leases of several farms in the vicinity, on a
tract of some 1,600 acres of the Tonawanda swamp owned by a Mrs.
Collins. The work was commenced, about a mile from any hard
ground, at the suggestion of a spiritual medium, who asserted that the
locality contained oil. Reaching a depth of 135 feet he drillers struck
what was supposed to be a vein of valuable mineral water, and work
was suspended. Near the well a large boarding house was built and
preparations were made to utilize the water, which was thought to
ORLEANS COUNTY. 503
possess the best of sanative properties, but the untimely death of the
proprietress put an end to the project. The sanitarium has since only
been utilized as a tenant house and for occasional country dances. At
a place "designated by the spirits," a half mile farther into the swamp,
drilling was also prosecuted two or three seasons to a depth of 1,900
feet. While this work was in progress two boilers exploded, the first
of which killed one man ; the second seriously wounded another and
totally destroying the engine house. In both instances the work was
repaired and drilling resumed. Although some $40,000 were expended
in this enterprise it nevertheless proved, so far as oil was concerned, a
complete failure.
From the opening of the Erie Canal to the completion of the New
York Central Railroad the Oak Orchard road was a thoroughfare of great
activity. It was the favorite route in this vicinity for reaching the near-
est shipping point, and the extensive transportation over it led to the
frequent establishment of taverns to accommodate the large numbers
of teamsters, of whom it is said that sometimes as many as thirty or
forty could be seen at a single point. Joshua Raymond, familiarly
known as " Uncle Josh," was one of the earliest tavern-keepers in
town. His inn stood half a mile north of South Barre. About a mile
southeast from the old Raymond Hotel still stands the house that was
for many years known as the Ketcham tavern — from the name of its
proprietor, David Ketcham. The building was commenced by John
Doak, and completed by James Reed at a very early day. Only a few
are now living who remember the frolics of which this hostelry was
the scene. Choice spirits met here to while away their winter even-
ings, and sociability was heightened by the choice spirits which the bar
of mine host furnished. More than a quarter of a century has
passed since this ceased to be a tavern, but in external appearance the
house has undergone little change. Some fourteen years since a
" grange hall " was erected on the opposite side of the street from this
old tavern. This was used not only for meetings of the Patrons of
Husbandry, but for social gatherings, lectures, etc. Spiritual mediums
often held forth here, and disembodied spirits, it was said, frequently
manifested themselves. The hall went up in smoke a few years since.
These hostelries have been converted into farm houses, leaving few
504 LANDMARKS OF
evidences indicating their former character. In some instances the
place where the bar stood or the room in which dancing was once en-
joyed is still well remembered. Several years ago the hotel at Barre
Center was burned and none has been kept in the town since.
Probably the first highway in Barre was the Oak Orchard road,
previously mentioned. In some places it was made passable with
corduroy, especially over the Tonawanda swamp, where it makes use
of two islands by an easterly deflection half a mile south of Barre Cen-
ter. The land which it includes was not deeded by the Holland Land
Company to settlers who purchased on one or both sides of it, but was
laid out and reserved solely for public highway purposes. In 1852
what was known as the " straight road " was constructed across the
swamp on the line between ranges one and two. This was authorized
by the Legislature and the commissioners were John Dunning, Amos
Root, David E. E. Dix, and Henry Monell. One of the earliest high-
ways was the Lee road, which was opened as early as 18 17, and runs
west from the Oak Orchard road near the north line of the town. At
a time when plank roads were considered best for heavy teaming a
company was formed which planked the Oak Orchard road between
Barre Center and Albion, but a few years later the planks were removed
or covered with gravel. It was kept in repair till 1869, when it was
abandoned as a toll road and once more became a public highway. In
1866 the town records were burned with the town clerk's office at
Barre Center, and since then the highways in Barre have been resur-
veyed under a Legislative act, but the dates of opening the principal
roads are irreparably lost.
Barre Center. — This is the largest village in Barre, and is situated
nearly in the geographical center of the original town. Jesse O'Hara
erected the first log liouse on its site in the spring of 1817 ; in the sum-
mer of that year Joseph Pelow and Asa Phillips put up similar habita-
tions, the former a half mile north and the latter a quarter of a mile
south. Mr. Phillips's cabin stood on the site of the subsequent residence
of Alvah Mattison. The first framed house was erected by Samuel
Hathaway about 1822, and, with some alterations, is still standing.
Many of the houses in the village were built between the years 1830
and 1835, but most of the present dwellings, several of which are fine
^^^/^^^--^-^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 505
specimens of architecture, were erected within the last two decades.
Stephen Skinner opened the first blacksmith shop about 1827, and
was followed soon afterward by Jacob S. Flint as a carpenter and
joiner and by Asa St Clair as a shoemaker. Until 1867 a tavern was
kept here, but in that year it was burned and since then no hotel has
existed either in this village or in the town. About 1833 a steam saw
mill was erected by Skinner, Crosman & Co. on the site of the present
mill, and a few years afterward a grist mill was added, but this proved
an unprofitable investment. In 1849 it was burned, and in 1850 was
rebuilt by Floyd Starr and Stephen Crane, who subsequently sold it to
R. M. Tinkham, who put in machinery for the manufacture of staves
and heading, which soon became a prosperous business. He sold out
in 1866 to Tent, Tice & Co., whose successor was Samuel Flint, who
sold the property to Guy Salisbury in 1886. The capacity of the mill
was increased, and connected with it is a large barrel manufactory.
The present proprietors are Salisbury, Mattison & Salisbury. At this
village also wagons and sleighs were formerly quite extensively manu-
factured, and within the last few years a cider mill has been operated
by William Cooper. Besides the industries named Barre Center now
contains a church, two stores, and a post-ofifice with Henry B. Jackson
as postmaster. The first post-office in the original town was established
about 1 8 19 and was called Barre. Oliver Benton was appointed the
first postmaster and held the oflfice many years. Mr. Benton was also a
noted tavern keeper on the Oak Orchard road north of this village.
South Barre. — This hamlet is located on the Oak Orchard road
some three miles southeast of Barre Center, and in early days boasted
a log hotel, but it never acquired the dignity of a village. About 1836
Christopher Brittain started a small foundry for the manufacture of
plows, etc., but the business ceased at his death some ten years later.
For a half dozen years following 1827 Lewis and Charles Genung built
a number of their stationary threshing machines, which were said to be
the first of the kind manufactured in Western New York. The place
has also had a store or two and a wagon and blacksmith shop. Ozias S.
Church was postmaster twenty years. The present incumbent is John
Andrews.
64
506 LANDMARKS OF
West Barre. — The first settler at what is now West Barre was Ben-
son Manchester, from whom the locahty was originally Called Man-
chester's Corners. Later it became known as Jackson's Corners, from
Ralph Jackson, another pioneer, but since the establishment of the post-
office there it has generally been referred to as West Barre, its official
name. It is situated in the southwest part of the town and for some
years was the residence of Rev. Allen Steele, a distinguished clergy-
man of the M. E. Church. The place contains a church, a store, a
blacksmith, and a post office with Frank Gray as postmaster.
The Lee road, or Lee's Settlement, in early days was a somewhat
active industrial locality. One of the first saw mills in Barre was erect-
ed on lot 24, range 2, about 1817, by Artemas Houghton, and more
recently it was known as Sill's mill. The pioneer tannery, a crude
affair at first, was also located here, and was started by B. J. Gates, who
carried on shoemaking in connection with his tanning business. For
some years his only vat was a hollow log, but in time the industry was
much extended. The tannery was burned several years ago and scarcely
nothing remains to mark its former location. There are no streams in
the town that afford sufficient water to propel machinery, and because
of this lack of natural advantage manufacturing industries, being obliged
to depend entirely upon steam or animal power, have never thrived to
extensive proportions.
The First Presbyterian Church of Barre Center. — The pioneers of
the original town of Barre were largely from New England or the
eastern part of this State, and early in the settlement of this portion of
the Holland Purchase they took measures to institute religious services.
On the 5th of November, 1816, at the house of Joseph Hart on the
hill on the Oak Orchard road just south from the railroad, in what is
now Albion, the First Congregational Society was legally organized by
Revs. Comfort Williams and Eleazer Fairbanks, of Rochester, with
these constituent members : Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hart, Mr. and Mrs.
Ebenezer Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. Ithamar Hebard, Artemas Thayer,
Artemas Houghton, Joel Bradner, and Thankful Thurston. Artemas
Houghton was the first deacon. In March, 1822, the Holland Land
Company deeded the society the gospel lot, i. e., 100 acres, com-
prising the north part of lot 19, town 15, range 2, as the first regu-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 507
lar religious organization in Barre. Services were held in school houses
or dwellings in the vicinity of what is now Albion village (then New-
port) until 1826, when a Presbyterian Church was formed there which
took fifteen members from the parent body, and the meetings of the
society were changed to Benton's Corners, where they continued till
1829, when they were transferred to Barre Center, where they have
ever since been held. About 1873 the Presbyterian form of church
government was adopted. It was not until 1834 that their first house
of worship was erected. It cost $1,600, and in 1848 was enlarged at
an expense of $700. In 1852 a thousand-pound bell, costing $400,
was placed in the belfrey, and in 1875 this was superseded by a new
bell and the interior of the edifice was rearranged at a total cost of
$1,500, and the church was rededicated free from debt. In 1886 it was
again remodeled at an expense of $1,300 and in 1889 the parsonage
was repaired at a cost of $750. Of the pastors who have served this
society the following is beheved to be a nearly correct list : Revs.
Charles Cook, Andrew Rawson, William Johnson, Mr, Clary, Ebenezer
Raymond, Mr. Torrey, Mr. Gilbert, Jonathan Hovey, Robert Laird,
Gilbert Crawford, Mr. Wood, A. H. Gaston, Bela Fancher, E. D. Tay-
lor, Mr. Winship, J. B. Hoyt, Mr. Towry, E. Allen, S. W. Billington,
E. W. Kellogg, W. G. Hubbard, D. K. Millard, J. W. Marcusson, J. D.
English, A. W. Beecher, S. H. Beshgetoor, and N. B, Andrews.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of West Barre. — The class forming
the nucleus of this church was organized about 1821 at Pine Hill, north
of West Barre village. At first' it consisted of five members, who met
for worship in a log school house, and one of its earliest ministers was
Rev. Mifflin Hearker, a circuit preacher. A framed school house was
erected at West Barre in 1827 and this was used as a place of meeting
until 1833 in which year their first house of worship was built. This
structure was superseded in 1850 by the present edifice, which was
enlarged in 1866 at a cost of $1,700, of which amount Col. Elisha
Wright contributed $600. In 1878 it was again" repaired at an ex-
pense of about $3,000. The auditorium was reconstructed with especial
reference to correct acoustic arrangement, and it is now one of the
best audience rooms in the county. These repairs were made without
leaving any debt. Among the pastors who have served this church
508 LANDMARKS OF
the names are remembered of Revs, M. Hearker, J. Brakeman, John
W. Nivins, Gustavus Hines, Salmon Judd, Mr. Jerry, Mr. Bedford
Thomas Castleton, W. D. Buck, J. B. Lanckton, Hiram Sanford, J. B.
Hoyt, D. Luce, Carroll Luther, E. B. Sanford, Philander Powers, H. M.
Riplev, J. W. Vaughn, John Timmerman, Allen Steele, R. N. Leak,
William Magovern, Daniel Clark, E. Wildman, A. H. Maryott, D. D.
Cook, Joseph Morrow, and P. P. Sowers.
The First Baptist Church of Barre was organized about 1823, and
during its existence held services at what has long been known as
Bragg's Corners. At one time it had I03 members. The first pastor was
Rev. Asa Spencer, who ministered to the society until his death. Two
of the other pastors were Rev. Elijah Parsons and Minor Blood. A
house of worship was never built, but religious services were held in the
school house or in private dwellings. The organization became extinct
about 1842.
CHAPTER XXL
THE TOWN OF SHELBY.
Shelby was erected from Ridgeway on the 6th of March, 181 8, and
remained a part of Genesee county until April 5, 1825, when it was
annexed to the county of Orleans. Thus it will be seen that this town
was not included in the original act incorporating Orleans county No-
vember II, 1824. It was named in honor of Col. Isaac Shelby, a
Revolutionary soldier, and for eight years governor of Kentucky.
The surface is undulating, and the soil is a mixture of sand, clay, and
lime, being very fertile and producing excellent crops of grain, fruit,
garden stuff, etc. It is drained by Oak Orchard Creek, which flows
north through the center of the town, and by small tributaries of this
stream and of Johnson's Creek, which have their sources respectively in
the northeast and northwest corners of the township. It is the south-
west corner town in Orleans county and comprises an area of 28,628
acres. The southern portion lies within the great Tonawanda Swamp.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 509
The first seven town meetings were held at Ellicott's mill, in Shelby
Center. At the first of these, which occurred on Tuesday, April 7,
1818, David Burroughs was chosen supervisor; Micah Harrington,
town clerk ; Elijah Foot, Elijah Bent, and Matthew Bennett, assessors ;
Stephen Hill, Joseph Rickey, and William Dunlap, commissioners of
highways ; Samuel Whitney and Jacob Freeman, overseers of
the poor ; Alexander Coon, collector; Oliver R. ]5ennett, Samuel
Whitney and Ebenezer Parsons, commissioners of common schools;
James Mason, Henry Garter, jr., and Martin Cheney, inspectors
of common schools ; and Alexander Coon and Orange Wells,
constables. At that time justices of the peace were not elected,
but were appointed by the governor, and it first appears by the town
records that in 1820 Elijah Foote, John Lee, and Micah Harrington
were magistrates in Shelby. The following have served as supervisors
since the organization of the town :
David Burroughs, 1818, '19; Andrew A. Ellicott, 1820; David Burroughs, 1821, '22;
Andrew A. Ellicott, 1823, '24; Lathrop A. G. B. Grant, 1825, '26 ; Christopher Whaley,
1827. '28; Andrew Ellicott, 1829; Joseph Rickey, 1830, '31 ; William Cunningham,
1832, '33 Adam Garter, 1834; Horatio N. Hewes, 1835 ; Adam Garter, 1836 ; John M.
Culver, 1837; Alexander Coon, 1838, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43. '44; Lathrop A. G. B.
Grant, 1845, '46; Alexander Coon, 1847, '48; Lathrop A. G. B. Grant, 1849, '50;
Jeremiah Freeman, 1851 ; Elisha S. Whalen, 1852 ; John M. Culver, 1853, '54 ; Alexander
Coon, 1855; Philip Winnegar, 1856, '57, '58, '59; Alexander Coon, 1860; John T.
Gillett, 1861, '62, '03, '64, '65; Joseph W. Ross, 1866, '67 ; David G. Deuel, 1868; John
P. Gates, 1869; David .G. Deuel, 1870; Ela C. Bardwell, 1871; Egbert B. Simonds,
1872, '73; James M. Frary, 1874; V. A. Acer, 1875, '76; John G. Berry, 1877, '78;
V. A. Acer, 1879; Cornelius Eckerson, 1880; D. A. Acer, 1881, '82, '83 ; A. W. Snyder,
1884, '85; William Jaques, 1886; Wallace L'Hommedieu, 1887, '88, '89; George Acer,
1890, '91; George J. Wiedrich, 1892; Albert H. Poler, 1893; Ervin Posson, 1894.
The town includes ranges 3 and 4 of the 14th township, and the
grantees of land, within its limits, from the Holland Land Company
were as follows •
The north part, 50 acres, of lot 1, township 14, range 3, was taken up by Nathan Her-
rick, jr., October 30, 1823. The article was renewed to John Hackett February 22,
1834. The land was deeded by theF. L. & T. Co. to Thomas Lawrence November 27,
1838. The south part, 60 acres, of lot 1 was articled to John Bailey, jr., December 18,
1827. January 26, 1828, it and the middle poition of the lot were deeded to Charles
Dudley.
510 LANDMARKS OF
The middle part of lot 2, 50 acres, was taken by Joshua Palmer June 6, 1823. It was
articled to Jonathan Dodge December 31, 1833, and was deeded by theF, L. & T. Co.
to Ziba Roberts October 9, 1838. The north part, 60 acres, of lot 2 was articled to Jera
Crane September 3, 1823. and to Ziba Roberts and Oeorge Johnson January 6, 1834. It,
with 17 acres more, was deeded to Ziba Roberts and George Johnson January 6, 1834.
The part, 100 acres, between the two last named was taken up by Alanson Tinkham May
2, 1825. The east portion, 83 acres, of this part was articled to Winsor 0. Campbell
December 31, 1833, and was deeded to William Tyler October 12, 1836. The south part,
75 acres, of lot 2 was taken up by Calvin Herrick September 30, 1826, and was articled
to Winsor 0. Campbell January 23, 1835. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1,
1835. Luther Herrick took up the part of lot 2, 75 acres, next north from the last
mentioned tract September 30, 1826. January 1, 1836, it was deeded to John Pase.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 3 was taken by William Cunningham June 23, 1821,
and articled to Alanson Tinkham December 13, 1833. It was deeded to him by the F.
L. & T. Co. August 1, 1835. Ashbel Noble took up the part, 50 acres next north from
the south 100 acres February 25, 1822. It was articled to Alanson Tinkham December
3, 1830, and to John Grinell December 17, 1833. John Grinell received a deed for
the east 50 acres of the middle part of lot 3 December 11, 1835. The middle part,
100 acre.«, of lot 3 was articled to Eliphalet Pease July 8, 1822, and to Oliver Cole Janu-
ary 10, 1831. Oliver Cole received a deed for the west portion of the middle part
February 11, 1834. The northwest part, 67 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by Franklin
Frost October 23, 1826, and articled to Phineas Wolcott November 28, 1833. It was
deeded to him by the F. L. & T. Co. September 25, 1838. The northeast part, 50 acres,
of lot 3 was articled to John Grinell April 10, 1824, and was deeded to him December
3, 1830.
Daniel Church took up the north part of lot 4 April 10, 1817, and on the 8th of De.
cember, 1829, 50 acres of that part were articled to Benjamin Williams. On the same
day 50 acres were articled to John Burns, and this December 19, 1833, to Joseph
Willits. Twenty-five acres were deeded to Asa Parker March 2, 1837, and 50 acres to
0. Field by the F. L. & T. Co. May 16, 1838. May 20, 1819, Samuel Bostwick took
up 50 acres in the middle part of lot 4. This tract was articled to John Braley Decem-
ber 9, 1829, and with 50 acres more was deeded to Philip Jackson February 20, 1834.
Mr. Jackson received another deed for 75 acres April 25, 1834. The part, 100 acres,
next south from the foregoing was articled to Eliphalet S. Janes April 24, 1826, and
50 acres were deeded to Norman Gregory February 26, 1834. The south part, 63
acres, of lot 4 was articled to Amos Gregory November 20, 1826, and to Amos and Ira
Gregory November 27, 1833. Each received a deed for 3 li acres November 6, 1835.
The north part of lot 5 and south part of lot 6, 153 acres, was articled to Ralph
Gregory March 13, 1816. November 23, 1824, the north part of lot 5, 100 acres, was
articled to Oliver Wyman, and to Asa Parker July 4, 1828. It was deeded to Mr.
Parker June 28, 1834. The part, 100 acres, of lot 5 next south from the foregoing was
taken up by Chester Fuller June 3, 1816. May 19, 1825, 50 acres of this were articled
to James Ide, who received a deed January 6, 1834. The other tract of 50 acres was
deeded to a Mr. Willetts November 26, 1833. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 5 was
ORLEANS COUNTY. 511
articled to Isaac Flood August 26, 1816. February 21, 1827, 50 acres of this were
articled to Losson Hix, and November 20, 1830, to Elisha Parker. This parcel was
deeded to Mr. Parker April 10, 1834. The other 50 acres were deeded to Nathan Ide
January 6, 1834. The south part, 61 acres, of lot 5 was taken up by Frederick Gorham
December 18, 1822. It was transferred to Gilbert Wade April 8, 1828, and to Levi
Wells December 23, 1833. It was deeded to him February 22, 1837.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 6 was articled to James Ide March 26, 1816. March
] 1, 1824, the east 50 acres of this were deeded to Chester Frost, and the west to Harvey
Elwell. The south part of lot 6, 50 acres, was taken up by Ralph Gregory March 30,
1816. It was deeded to Amos Gregory May 20, 1829. The middle part, 200 acres, of
lot 6 was taken up by Ralph Gregory March 30, 1816. November 1, 1826, 50 acres of
this were articled to Morris Squire, and July 16. 1834, to Ethan Squire. This, the
northeast part of the tract was deeded to Mr. Squire July 16, 1834. The northwest 50
acres were deeded to Newman Curtis November 23, 1833. The southeast 50 acres
were deeded to Ezra Rice April 10, 1834, and the southwest 50 acres to Norman Greg-
ory December 17, 1836.
The west part, 150 acres, of lot 7 was purchased by Samuel Wymau May 3, 1815.
May 31, 1825, 50 acres of the south part of the tract were articled to Amasa Frost and
were deeded to him June 30, 1835. The north portion, 100 acres, was articled to Benja-
min DerlingMay 31, 1825, and was deeded to him December 19, 1833. The northeast
part, 80 acres, of lot 7 was taken up by Cyrus Johnson April 4, 1815. May 3, 1825. it
was articled to David Haight ; November 27, 1827, to John W. Forbes ; and Novem-
ber 25, 1833, to Jairus Lawrence. Fifty-two acres, (north portion of this) were deeded
to William E. Woodford November 20, 1837, and the balance, with 5U acres more, to
Gilbert Sampson November 23, 1833. The southeast part, 129^ acres, of lot 7 was
articled to James Mason April 3, 1817. Sixty acres of this were transferred to Chester
Frost December 9, 1826, and were deeded to him December 21, 1835.
The east part, 150 acres, of lot 8 was taken by Oliver B. Bennet November 17, 1814,
and articled to William Parsons December 7, 1827. It was deeded to Mr. Parsons
October 19, 1832. The west part, 200 acres, of lot 8 was taken up by Abel Sheldon
November 10, 1814. November 29, 1822, the article was renewed to James Mason
and December 11, 1829, 60 acres of the tract were articled to Allen Mason. They were
deeded to him December 14, 1833. The balance, 140 acres, was deeded to Jameg
Mason December 20, 1833.
Lot 9, the south part and the north portion of the middle part of lot 10 were sold Jan-
uary 26, 1828, to Charles E. Dudley. The south portion of the middle part of lot 10, 75
acres, was taken up by Nathan Herrick November 14, 1823, and was articled to Amos
G. Matthews November 28, 1833. It was deeded to him June 27, 1835. William Hall
received a deed for the 50 acres next north from this July 15, 1836. The north part,
86 acres, of lot 10, was articled to Ziba Roberts May 22, 1826, and was deeded to him
November 18, 1837.
James Bacon purchased the south portion of the middle part, 100 acres, of lot 11 De-
cember 8, 1821. It was deeded to Alpheus Bishop February 4, 1834. Isaac Carrier took
up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 11 March 18, 1819. It was articled to Theodorus
512 LANDMARKS OF
Olden December 10, 1827, and was deeded to him October 28, 1833. The north por-
tion of the middle part of lot 11, 100 acres, was articled to Philo Gregory December 24.
1819. It was articled to Phinehas Wolcott and Levi Gilbert April 5, 1828, and to
James Storms December 9, 1833. It was deeded to Levi Gilbert November 28, 1833.
George Stottles purchased by article the north part, 67 acres, of lot 11 March 27,
1820. It was articled to John M. Martin and Salem Vosburg December 20, 1829. It
was deeded to Mr. Vosburg January 21, 1823.
The west part, 117 acres, of lot 12 was articled to Henry Olmstead April 10, 1817.
Forty acres of this land were transferred to Amos Johnson December 10, 1829, and
deeded November 18, 1833. Seth Hubbel took up the northeast part, 120 acres, of lot
12 February 5, 1817. It was articled to John Williams March 16, 1825, and 50 acres of
it were articled to Nathaniel Raymond December 6, 1830. Seventy acres of this part
of lot 12 were deeded to Benjamin Williams November 26, 1823, and the balance, with
the south part of lot 13, to William E. Woodford January 6, 1834. The southeast part,
120 acres, of lot 12 was articled to Henry Olmsted February 5, 1817, and transferred to
Gardner Berry February 2, 1826. This tract, and 77 acres more, were deeded to him
November 19, 1833.
The north part, 120 acres, of lot 13 was articled to Ira Gregory April 8, 1816. August
28, 1832, 60 acres of this were deeded to Mr. Gregory, and December 29, 1834, 60 acres,,
with 10^ acres of lot 24, to Robert Hubbard. Robert Meacham, jr., took up the south
portion of the middle part, 100 acres, of lot 13 January 29, 1817. It was articled to Hora-
tio N. Hews March 22. 1827, and to Jonas Leland November 19 of the same year. It
was deeded to Mr. Leland August 15, 1835. The north portion of the middle part, 90
acres, of lot 13 was articled to Levi Gregory February 13, 1829. November 5, 1829, 45
acres of this portion were transferred to Nathan Ide, and the whole was deeded to him
January 6, 1834. The south part, 50 acres, of lot 13 was taken up by James Gregory
February 5, 1822. It was articled to Samuel Andrews November 20, 1830, and was
deeded to William Woodford January 6, 1834.
Castle Phelps took up the south part, 120 acres, of lot 14 April 8, 1816, and received
a deed for 60 acres September 21, 1827. Sixty acres of the same were articled to
Franklin Frost April 8, 1824, and were deeded to William Nash November 11, 1833.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 14 was articled to Josiah Baker June 4, 1816, and
transferred to Jeremiah Leland November 30, 1826. It was deeded to him November
15, 1833. The north part, 147 acres, of lot 14 was taken up by Enos Baker October 11,
1816. November 9, 1825, 73^ acres were articled to Newman Curtis, who received his
deed November 25, 1833. The north 73^ acres was deeded to John Sherwood February
3, 1834.
Abel P. Sheldon took up the east part, 100 acres, of lot 15, 1814. January 27, 1824,
one acre was deeded to Samuel Bottom, and on the same day 99 acres were articled to
Samuel Wyman, who received a deed for 74 acres November 4, 1833. Twenty-five
acres were deeded to .Oliver Wyman' October 28, 1831. The west part, 120 acres of
lot 15 was articled to Abel P. Sheldon February 4, 1815, and deeded to Ralph Gregory
March 30, 1820. The middle part of lot 15, 154 acres, was taken up by Thomas Hill
July 29, 1815. It was transferred to Stephen Hill February 9, 1825, and December 29,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 513
1835, he received a deed for 104 acres. On the same day 50 acres were deeded to
Oliver Wyman.
July 7, 1814, 100 acres of lot 16 were articled to Orange Wells. This land was
transferred to Enos Rice August 3, 1822, and wsls deeded to him May 14, 1827. The
east part, 200 acres, of lot 16 was taken up by Champion Wells July 7, 1814. July
19, 1822, 100 acres were transferred to Levi Wells, and January 5, 1828, to Russell
Wells. This 100 acres was deeded to Austin S. Foot July 24, 1835. One hundred
acres were articled to Leonard Dresser July 19, 1822, and deeded to him March 18,
1834. The west part of lot 16 was articled to Abel Sheldon February 11, 1815, and
deeded to him February 13, 1823.
Lot 17, the east part of lot 18, and a portion of the west middle part of lot 19 were
sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828.
Thomas Wyman took up the west part, 150 acres, of lot 18 December 15, 1824 ; and
it was deeded to Walter M. Seymour November 7, 1833. October 20, 1838, 50 acres of
this land were articled to Maria Vandekar, who received a deed for the same from the
F. L. & T. Co. October 20, 1838. The other 100 acres were deeded to Horace Linsley
by the F. L. & T. Co. October 20, 1835.
The middle part, 60 acres, of lot 19 was articled to Nathan Bacon July 12, 1824.
It was transferred to Silas Culver September 6, 1833. Fifty acres near the middle of
lot 19 were articled to Joseph Culver June 26, 1826, and transferred to Silas Culver
June 24, 1834. Both the above parcels were deeded to him May 15, 1835. The west
part, 50 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by Salem Vosburg July 12, 1826, and Decem-
ber 16, 1833, was articled to Ebenezer Clark. It was deeded to him January 12, 1837.
John Cory took up 50 acres of the east middle part of lot 19 May 8, 1826. July 21,
1834, this parcel of land was articled to Philip Munger, and September 1, 1834, it was
deeded to John B. Lee. The east part, 50 acres, of lot 19 was articled to John Smith
October 7, 1825. It was transferred to Solomon Russell November 1, 1833, and was
deeded to Gardner Berry November 6, 1837.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Richard Buel, jr., November 20,
1815. It was transferred to Betsey Johnson November 13, 1828, and was deeded to
her January 6, 1834. The middle part, 150 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Daniel and
John Ross June 18, 1817. One hundred acres of this were articled to John
Ross November 20, 1829, and on the same day 50 acres were articled to Joseph
Ross. One hundred acres were deeded to John M. Culver June 20, 1833, and 50 acres
to Daniel Ross June 18, 1835. The northwest part, 51^ acres, of lot 20 was taken up by
Jonathan Ross September 3, 1817. It was deeded to him January 5, 1822. The southwest
part, 50 acres, of lot 20 was articled to Ebenezer Parsons, jr., September 3, 1817. It
was transferred to George Tubbs November 9, 1829, and deeded to him April 2, 1833.
Ebenezer Parsons, jr., purchased by articles the west part, 150 acres, of lot 21 June
10, and July 10, 1816. It was articled to James Carpenter November 28, 1827. One
hundred acres, south portion, of this were deeded to Isaac S. Parsons November 14,
1833 ; and 50 acres, north portion, to Gideon Hawley March 1, 1838. The middle part,
100 acres, of lot 21 was taken up by Cornelius Ashton October 27, 1818. The north
50 acres of this were transferred to Anna Bolt May 17, 1827, to Noble Picket May 26,
65
514 LANDMARKS OF
1828, and were deeded to Gideon Hawley May 15, 1835. The soutn 50 acres were
deeded to Isaac S. Parsons August 26, 1835. The east part of lot 21 was purchased by
Richard Goodwin August 10, 1822, and transferred to Robert Hubbard November 22,
1830. To this Mr. Hubbard added, December 17. 1833, 16+ acres of the northwest
part of lot 13. He received his deed December 29, 1834.
Isaac Flood purchased by article January 20, 1817, the west part, 100 acres, of lot
22. June 12, 1826, the north part, 50 acres, of this was transferred to Joseph Wheat,
and December 3, 1827, to Orange Foote. Twenty-five acres of this were deeded to
William B. Potter December 4, 1833 ; and 25 to James A. Potter November 25, 1836.
June 12, 1826, the south part, 50 acres, of the same was transferred to Aaron Frost,
then, December 29, 1830, to Sylvester Goodrich, and December 18, 1833, to Alexander
Coon, to whom it was deeded December 29, 1837.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 22, was articled March 17, 1817, to James Mc-
Whorter. November 13, 1827, it was articled to Levi Osborne, and January 6, 1834,
to John E. Ellsworth, to whom it was deeded January 6, 1834. The east part, 147
acres, of lot 22 was articled October 9, 1820, to Ahira Stearns. October 13, 1829, 48
acres were transferred to Curtis Hull, September 30, 1834, to Gierson L'Hommedieu,
and March 16, 1836, it was deeded to Daniel Pickett. October 13, 1829, 99 acres of this
east part were articled to Otis Baker, and November 29, 1833, he received an article
for 49^ acres of the northeast part of lot 22. The same was deeded to him December
3, 1836. The southeast 49^ acres of this tract were deeded to Henry L'Hommedieu De-
cember 1, 1835.
The west part, 250 acres, of lot 23 was taken up by Asa Squire July 8, 1815. July
9, and 16, 1823, 130 acres of this were articled to Elijah Foot, and this December 3,
1827, to Arden S. Foot and Orange Foot. The west 50 acres of this land were deeded
to Daniel Pickett October 26, 1833, and the 50 acres next to it to Jaraes A. Potter June
12, 1833. July 9, 1823, Ebenezer and Morrice Squire received an article for 170 acres
of the east part of lot 23. and January 25, 1828, 85 acres of this were articled to Ebe-
nezer Squire, and were deeded to him May 10, 1831. January 25, 1828, 85 acres were
also articled to Morrice Squire, and January 2, 1833, to William Perkins. The land
was deeded to Daniel Pickett October 16, 1834. July 9, 1823, 50 acres of the same
were articled to Ralph K. Gregory, who received his deed June 11, 1854.
March 25, 1815, John Hines purchased by article the west part, 100 acres, of lot 24.
March 16, 1823, this was transferred to George Peters, and December 3, 1827, to Henry
L'Hommedieu, who received his deed June 6, 1833. May 13, 1815, Nathan Sherwood
took up the east part, 190 a^res, of lot 24. June 17, 1823, the article was renewed to
John Sherwood. The land was deeded to Mr. S. May 10, 1824. Asa Squire took up
the middle part, 145 acres, of lot 24 December 16, 1815. October 19, 1824, 60 acres of
the land were articled to Joseph Wyman. This parcel was transferred to Thomas
Johnson December 10, 1827, and to James Lathrop January 2, 1833. It was deeded to
John Sherwood December 28, 1835. Eighty-five acres of the same parcel were articled
to John Hoyt February 14, 1828, and were deeded to him June 11, 1833.
The south part of lot 25 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. Peter
W. Posson purchased by article the north part, 100 acres, of lot 25 July 10, 1823. Sev-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 515
enty-five acres of this were articled to Philip Best December 23, 1833, and deeded to
him Maj'' 15, 1835. The remaining 25 acres, with 50 acres of lot 33, were deeded to
Samuel K. Gordenier September 11, 1835.
The northeast part of lot 26 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. The
west part, 100 acres, of lot 26 was first articled April 30, 1819, to Ira Edwards. April 2
1828, it was transferred to Phoebe Edwards, and was deeded to her Januafy 8, 1834.
James Walworth purchased by article the southeast part, 150 acres, of lot 20 August,
28, 1822. It was articled to Walter M. Seymour November 7, 1833, and was deeded to
him September 21, 1835.
The middle part of lot 27 was sold to Charles E. Dudley Januury 26, 1828. The
west part, 50 acres, of lot 27 was articled to Oren Lonnen November 17, 1818. It was
transferred to Abner Hunt February 19, 1828, and was deeded to Noah Post January
1, 1836. Peter Smith took up the part, 100 acres, of lot 27, next east from the last
named, January 21, 1819. It was deeded to him October 3, 1833. The east part, 50
acres, of lot 27 was taken up December 9, 1826, by Silas Culver. December 23, 1833,
it was deeded to Henry W. Harris.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 28 was articled to John A. Ross November 1, 1816.
The south portion, 50 acres of this was articled to Lucius Cobb November 20, 1827, and
and was deeded to Peter Smith, November 20, 1833. The north portion was deeded to
Daniel Ross January 6, 1834. The west part, 100 acres, of lot 28 was taken up by
George Worthing November 6, 1818. Seventy-five acres of this part were articled to
William Worthing December 7, 1829, and were deeded to him November 20, 1833.
December 23, 1819, Potter Sullivan purchased by article the part, 66 acres, of lot 28
next east from the last mentioned. This, with 25 acres of the said west part, was
articled to William H. Clum December 7, 1829, and was deeded to him February 11,
1834. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 28 was taken up by Jacob Baker November
10, 1826, and deeded to John D. Baker January 6, 1834.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 29 was taken up by James Carpenter August 2,
1815. It was deeded to him November 28, 1827. The part of lot 29, 50 acres, lying
next south of the north part was articled to Lyman Reynolds August 2, 1815. August
23, 1823, it was transferred to Joseph Decker, and November 30, 1829, to Silas Wilcox.
It was deeded to Isaac Leland October 25, 1836. The part, 74 acres, next north from
the south parcel was articled to WilHam Stryker August 10, 1815. August 16,
1824 it was articled to Lathrop A. G. B. Grant, and January 6, 1834, it was
transferred to Douw Vandekar. William Martin took up the south part, 100 acres, of
lot 29, October 4, 1815. December 27, 1831, it was articled to Douw Vandekar. Octo-
ber 1, 1836, 50 acres were deeded to John and Seymour Cooley. Forty acres (south-
east part of the lot), and 10 acres (southwest part), were deeded to Peter V. Vandekar
October 1, 1836.
The south part, 150 acres of lot 30, was taken up by Robert Gouldsbery June 20,
1816, and was deeded to him December 22, 1823. The middle part, 82 acres, of lot 30
was articled to Samuel Fassett March 6, 1822. April 10, 1834, it was conveyed to
Herman B. Potter. The northwest part, 50 acres, of lot 30 was articled to Andrew A.
Ellicott February 16. 1822. May 2, 1828, it was transferred to Christopher Whaley
516 LANDMARKS OF
and April 10, 1834, with the north middle part, was deeded to Herman B. Potter,
Aaron Frost purchased by article the northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 30. January 22,
1828, 90 acres cf this were articled to Charles B. Potter, and 83 acres were deeded to
him October 7, 1833. Seven acres were deeded to Almon Gregory October 7, 1835.
Isaac Carrier took up the west part, 180 acres of lot 31, May 31, 1815. June 9, 1823,
50 acres of this were articled to Samuel Meacham, and transferred to Elisha Sanderson
November 27, 1837. One hundred and thirty acres of Carrier's purchase were articled
to William Hill July 28, 1828, and were deeded to him February 4, 1832. Fifty acres
were deeded to John Barker, November 12, 1831. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot
31 was articled to Theodore Dunham June 19, 1815. It was deeded to Stephen Gregory
June 11, 1832. Samuel Meachum, jr., took up the east part, 100 acres, of lot 31, March
27, 1816. February 10, 1827, John Sherwood acquired by article 79^ acres of this, and
Stephen Gregory, by deed, 20.^ acres. Mr. Sherwood received a deed for his portion
October 11. 1833.
March 27, 1816, Samuel Bostwick purchased by article the east part, 200 acres, of
lot 32. The west portion of this (120 acres) was deeded to Laura Bostwick and others
September 30, 1834. July 10, 1824, 80 acres of the east part of lot 24 were articled to
Otis Barker, and were deeded to him February 15, 1833. Philo Gregory took up the
west part, 174 acres, of lot 32, March 29, 1816. The west portion of this (50 acres)
was articled to EH Johnson May 15, 1827, and to Orrin Gregory November 13, 1829.
Twenty-four acres of the west part of the lot were articled to Elisha Sanderson May
15, 1827, and to William Barker December 19, 1833, and were deeded to Mr. B. De-
cember 19, 1835. Fifty acres (northwest part of lot 32) were deeded to Austin S.
Foot June 1, 1834. One hundred acres (southwest part of lot 32) were deeded to
John Barker May 15, 1827.
The southeast part of lot 33 was sold to Charles E. Dudley January 26, 1828. The
west part, 100 acres, on lot 33 was articled to Andrew Crary June 28, 1822. It was
deeded to Benjamin Tucker December 23, 1833. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 33,
was taken up by John Child, jr., September 22, 1824. It was articled to Daniel
Defendorf August 6, 1833, and to Jacob Moyer February 12, 1835. The south half of
this was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835 ; and the north 50 acres to Samuel Crago
May 15, 1835. The west middle part of lot 33, 100 acres, was articled to Samuel
Crago September 22, 1824. It was deeded to Jacob Moyer December 23, 1837. The
northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 33, was taken by Lothrop Briggs and Henry Shares
March 29, 1825. January 1, 1834, 25 acres were articled to Stephen Webb. On the
same day 25 acres were articled to Reuben Leets ; also on the same day 25 acres to
Benjamin Tucker, and this last to Lawrence Gardner'September 1, 1835. The south 50
acres of this were deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835, and the north 50 acres to
Samuel K. Gardner September 1, 1835.
The east part of lot 34, 100 acres, was taken up by Elijah Rose April 30, 1819. Feb-
ruary 3, 1831, it was articled to Nicholas Mattice, and May 15, 1835, the northeast
part (40 acres) was transferred to Thomas J. Edwards, to whom it was deeded May 15,
1835. The south 60 acres were deeded to Nicholas Mattice May 15, 1835. October
24, 1820, the east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 34, was articled to Obadiah Whitmore.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 517
October 6, 1829, it was transferred to Lathrop A. B. G. Grant. December 21, 1835, 50
acres were articled to Mercy Hanford, and were deeded to Nicholas Mattice January
1, 1838. January 21, 1835, 50 acres were articled to Orrin Britt, and were deeded to
Horace Bailey March 1, 1839, by the F. L. & T. Co. The northwest part, 75 acres, of
lot 34, was taken up by Nirum Eldridge August 20, 1825. June 8, 1833, it was trans-
ferred in three parcels to Andrew Fries, Joseph M. Hood, and Abraham Letts. It was
deeded in two parcels, with parts of lot 35 to Cornelius Van Dorn December 12, 1833,
and Joseph M. Hood May 15, 1835. Seventy-five acres of the west and middle part of
lot 34 were articled to Joseph M. Hood December 2, 1825. This land was transferred
to Aaron Cornish December 31, 1833, and was deeded to him January 1, 1838. May
9, 1826, Abraham Letts purchased by deed the southwest part, 136+ acres of lot 34.
The middle part, 150 acres of lot 35, was articled to George Alexander November 21,
1816. January 11, 1827, a portion of this was transferred to Joseph M. and William
Hood, and December 12, 1833, to Joseph M. Hood. It was deeded to him December
12, 1833. January 11, 1827, 75 acres were transferred to Jacob Moyer and Matthias
Ham, and December 29, 1828, to Jacob Moyer, to whom, with 50 acres more, it was
deeded November 23, 1833. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 35 was articled to Joel
Briggs, October 22, 1816. November 11, 1828, the west portion, 50 acres of this was
transferred to Benjamin Tucker; August 5, 1832, to Rebecca Van Allen; and Decem-
ber 20, 1833, the whole to Samuel Gilbert, to whom it was deeded January 20, 1835.
The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 35, was articled to Isaac Brown January 6,
1817. April 15, 1828, 50 acres of this were tranferred to Henry Dunlap, and Novem-
ber 6, 1833, to John Miner and were deeded to Cyrus Allen November 7, 1836. Will-
iam Hanson took up a part, 100 acres, of lot 35, February 22, 1819. March 21, 1828,
50 acres of this were transferred to John Burt, and May 15, 1835, to Abram Bouck, to
whom the parcel was deeded May 15, 1833. March 21, 1828, 30 acres of the same part
were transferred to Abraham Letts, and December 12, 1833, to Cornelius Van Dorn,
to whom it was deeded with a part of lot 34, December 12, 1833.
Joel Briggs took up the northeast part, 100 acres, of lot 36 June 9, 1815. It was
deeded to William Hanson May 23, 1823. The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 36
was articled to Russell Frisbie September 4, 1815: was transferred to Lathrop A. G. B,
Grant October 6, 1829, and was deeded to Samuel Beal December 5, 1833. The south
part, 118 acres, of lot 36 was articled to Uzal Dickinson June 19, 1816. November 3,
1829, the west portion, 68 acres, of this was transferred to Joel Handy, and was deeded
to him December 5, 1833. February 23, 1833. the east portion, 50 acres of the south
part of lot 36 was transferred to William Wolfzinger to whom it was deeded November
29, 1836. The northwest part, 33^ acres, of lot 36 was deeded to Ezekiel Bentley
November 1, 1821, The south middle part, 117 acres, of lot 36 was taken up by Wil-
liam Vreeland December 14, 1816. It was transferred to William Holtzinger August
5, 1826, and was deeded to him December 16, 1833.
The southwest part, 64 acres, of lot 37 was articled to Whitfield Rathbun November
10, 1810; transferred to Silas Frazer August 13, 1823, and Jacob A. Timmerman, Janu-
ary 5, 1830. It was deeded to these last named June 30, 1832. The southeast part
of lot 37, 100 acres, was articled to John Briggs June 9, 1815. March'5, 1824, 50 acres
518 LANDMARKS OF
were articled to Norman Dolittle. December 28, 1830, the same 50 acres were articled
to Stephen Tucker, and were deeded to him June 18, 1835. March 5, 1824, 50 acres
of this southeast part were transferred to James Briggs ; February 22, 1831, to Benja-
min Tucker, and December 16, 1833, to Ebenezer M. Morehouse to whom the tract
was deeded December 16, 1835. September 14, 1815, Henry Shaw took up 100 acres
of lot 37 lying in the middle and eastern part. This was deeded to Abraham Vreeland
October 7, 1823. Eighty- seven acres of lot 37 were articled to Jonas Smith May 27,
1815, and transferred to Jacob A. Timmerman June 24, 1823. This parcel was deeded
to Mr. Timmerman November 14, 1826. The portion, 51 acres of lot 37 lying near
the northeast part was articled to Micah Harrington July 9, 1816, and transferred to
Andrew A. Ellicott May 11, 1827. It was deeded to Daniel Harrington November
24, 1830. The north part of lot 37 and the whole of 38 were taken up by Andrew A.
Ellicott November 9, 1810.
The west part of lots 39 and 40, 530 acres, was taken up by Joseph Ellicott jr.,
April 30, 1821, and deeded to Joseph Ellicott August 2, 1822. The east part of lot 39,
100 acres, was articled to Micah Harrington March 12, 1817. It was transferred to
Charles F. Potter March 15, 1826, and to William 0. Potter November 13, 1828. It
was deeded to the latter June 12, 1833. The east middle part, 100 acres, of lot 39 was
taken up by Micah Harrington February 16, 1822. January 5, 1829, it was transferred to
William Sowle. It was deeded to Mr. Sowle December 14,1833. The middle part,
109 acres, of lot 39 was articled to Daniel Ford February 18, 1822. It was transferred
to Elisha Sanderson April 7, 1832, and was deeded to him November 1, 1836.
The southeast part of lot 40, 50 acres, was deeded to the trustees of the first Presby-
terian Society of the town of Shelby, Genesee county, April 9, 1822. The northeast
part, 50 acres, of lot 40 was deeded to the members of the first Baptist Society of the
town of Shelby, Genesee county, April 9, 1822. Seventy acres of lot 40 were articled
to Cornelius Knickerbucker April 11, 1822.
Lots 1, 2 and south part of 3, range 4, township 14 were sold to Charles E.
Dudley January 26, 1828.
The north part, 150 acres, of lot 3 was taken by Norman Sharp June 19, 1822. Feb-
uary 22, 1831, 75 acres of this were transferred to William Dunlap to whom the land
was deeded November 18, 1833. February 22, 1831, 74 acres (northwest portion) was
transferred to Abraham Letts, and were deeded to Simon Leets January 1, 1836. No-
vember 3, 1823, a part of lot 3, 50 acres, was articled to James J. Sharp. February 22,
1831, the northeast part of the lot, 51 acres, was transferred to John Burt, and Decem-
ber 12, 1833, it was deeded to Richard Treadwcll. The middle part, 50 acres, of lot 3
was articled to William Letts May 9, 1826, and transferred to Abraham Letts July 15,
1834. It was deeded by the F. L. & T. Co. to Isaac Allen November 30, 1838.
The northwest part of lot 4 and south part of lot 5, 180 acres, was taken up by David
Burroughs July 6, 1815, and was deeded to him July 6, 1817. The northwest middle
part, 50 acres, of lot 4 was articled to Cornelius Van Dorn December 9, 1815. He re-
ceived his deed February 23, 1830. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 4 was taken up by
John Burt October 31, 1815. June 8, 1833, the south portion, 53 acres, of this was
deeded to Mr. Burt. The north portion, 47 acres, was deeded to Isaac Allen June 5,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 519
1837. October 31, 1815, Thomas L. Nichols took up the southeast middle part, 100
acres, of lot 4. November 1, 1823, it was transferred to William Dunlap, and was deeded
to him November 18, 1833. April 22, 1816, the southwest part, 68 acres, of lot 4 was
articled to Joseph Bugbee. It was deeded to Ezekiel Bentley September 28, 1827.
Ezekiel Bentley took up the north part, 76 acres, of lot 5 and the northwest part of
lot 36, range 3, 24 acres November 22, 1810. He also took up the middle part, 218
acres, of lot 5 and a part of lot 36, 18 acres, December 1, 1810. The middle part of lot
5, 100 acres, was deeded to John Letts January I, 1821. The north part, 202i acres,
was deeded to Ezekiel Bentley November 1, 1821. David Burroughs took up the south
part of lot 5 and the northwest part of lot 4, 180 acres, July 6, 1815. They were deeded
to him July 6, 1817.
•November 10, 1810, the south part of lot 6, 136 acres, was articled to Whitfield
Rathbun. It was deeded to Reuben Tooker November 11, 1820. Isaac Parker took
up the north part, 26 acres, of lot 6, August 24, 1815. September 11, 1823, 120 acres
of the north part of lot 6 were transferred to Cornelius Stillwell, and, December 10,
1830, 60 acres of this were transferred to Caleb Stillwell, jr., and 60 acres to Ebenezer
Story January 3, 1834, and to Elijah Bent January 2, 1837. This parcel, north part of
the lot 6, was deeded to Mr. Bent January 29, 1837. Sixty acres next south from that
were deeded to Caleb Stillwell March 25, 1836, and the middle part, 143 acres, was deeded
to him November 11, 1820.
Micah Harrington took up the west part, 146 acres, of lot 7 March 16, 1815. This was
articled to Noah Owen March 8, 1825. Fifty acres of this were articled to James Gibson
December 31, 1833. and were deeded to Jonas Smith December 21, 1837. December 31,
1833, 96 acres were articled to Amnon Blair, and were deeded to him November 24. 1836.
The east part, 246 acres, of lot 7 was articled to Andrew A. Ellicott March 16, 1815.
October 14, 1823, 100 acres were transferred to Harry Bostwick, and were deeded to him
November 19, 1833. One hundred acres were deeded to Mr. Ellicott June 21, 1821, and
40 acres November 24, 1830.
November 19, 1810, the southwest part, 50 acres, of lot 8 was articled to Salmon Pres-
ton. The article was renewed to Elijah Bent November 2, 1821, and the land was deeded
to him November 5, 1827. Lewis Wright took up the southeast part, 50 acres, of lot 8
March 28, 1811. It was deeded to Theodorus B. Delavergni May 7,1813. The north
part of lot 8, 166 acres, was taken up by Hezekiah Coon April 13, 1811. April 14,
1819, 83 acres were articled to Jacob J. Snell. This parcel was deeded to Jacob Thum
July 19, 1824. April 14, 1819, 83 acres of lot 8, this part, were transferred to Joseph
J. Snell June 20, 1829, 20 acres of this were articled to William Snell, and were deeded
to him ^arch 2, 1831. June 11, 1829, 50 acres were articled to Joseph Timmerman,
and were deeded to him January 21, 1836. June 11, 1829, 13 acres of this part were
articled to Jacob Thumb, and were deeded to Maturin Thum May 28, 1835. The mid-
dle part of lot 8 was taken up by William Williams June 1, 1811, and, with 48 acres
more, was deeded to Charles Smith August 12, 1815.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 9 was articled to Franklin Bennett November 9,
1811, and was deeded to him November 29, 1833.
520 LANDMARKS OF
The north part, 77 acres, of lot 9 was articled to Cornelius Ashton July 12, 1816. It
was articled to D. E. Evans and J. B. EUicot August 20, 1825, and was deeded to David
E. Evans, November 20, 1833.
Lots 10, 11, and the west part of lot 12, Avere sold to Charles E. Dudley January
26, 1828.
The east part of lot 12, 75 acres, was taken by James Sharp February 25, 1823, and
articled to Almon Coon January 8, 1834. It was deeded to Mr. C. January 1, 1836.
The east middle part, 50 acres, of lot 12 was taken up by Wilham McAllister June 28,
1825, and articled to Ethan B. Allen September 11, 1834. It was deeded to Isaac A.
Verplanck January 1, 1839, by the F. L. & T. Co,
Aaron Cooley purchased by article the north part, lOOacres, of lot 13 May 11, 1811.
It was deeded to James Whitney May 22, 1816. The middle part, 120 acres, of lot 13,
was taken up by Jacob G. Moyer September 20, 1811, and articled to Simeon Letts
September 21, 1819. Septetnber 6, 1825, 100 acres of this were deeded to Simon Letts,
and 20 acres to John Letts. The south part, 171 acres, of lot 13 was articled to John
Williams May 22, 1816. Eighty-seven and one half acres of this were articled to Jabez
Van Allen March 19, 1828, and were deeded to Jacob Edwards January 27, 1834.
Eighty-one acres were articled to Henry Weatherwax March 19, 1828, and were deeded
to him January 4, 1834.
Joseph Hagaman took up the northwest part, 100 acres, of lot 14 November 15, 1810,
and it was deeded to him November 6, 1820. The northeast part, 100 acres, of lot
14 was articled to William Olden November 15, 1810, and it was deeded to him April
12, 1821. James Briggs purchased by article the east middle part, 75 acres, of lot 14
June 14, 1811. It was deeded to David Burroughs February 2, 1819. The west middle
part, 30 acres, of lot 14 was taken up by Joseph Hagaman June 4, 1811, and was deeded
to him August 28, 1820. John Briggs took up the south part, 99 acres, of lot 14 August
26, 1814. It was deeded to James Whiting August 28, 1820.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 15 was articled to Nathan Davis September 4, 1815.
It was again articled to Thomas Hagaman June 19, 1829, and was deeded to John W.
Labar December 3, 1833. Samuel Todd purchased by article the east middle part, 100
acres, of lot 15 July 15, 1816. November 19, 1824, the land was transferred to Curtis
Burroughs, to whom it was deeded Decenrber 10, 1833. August 7, 1816, the west
middle part, 100 acres, of lot 15 was articled to Samuel Whiting. June 2, 1825, it was
articled to John Maynard, to whom it was deeded December 10, 1833. The west part,
97 acres, of lot 15 was taken up by William Forman February 26, 1817. March 4,
1828, 48^ acres were transferred to William M. Lechler. This parcel was deeded to
Simon Poler December 3, 1836. March 4, 1828, 48^ acres of the same were articled to
Gersham Bennett, to whom they were deeded June 17, 1831.
John Timmerman purchased by article the south part, 188 acres, of lot 16 June 5,
1811. June 7, 1819, 138 acres were transferred to Andrew A. Ellicott. The east por-
tion, 114 acres, of this part was deeded to Thomas Lane March 30, 1833. June 7, 1819,
the west 50 acres of the above were transferred to Daniel Timmerman and with 23|
acres more, were deeded to him December 12, 1836. Henrich Garter took up the
north part, 200 acres, of lot 16 June 5, 1811. It was deeded to Robert Garter June
1, 1819.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 521
The south half, 200 acres, of lot 17 was articlei to Alexander Coon November 14,
1809, and was deeded to him April 16, 1810. The north part, 205 acres, of lot 17 was
taken up by Samuel C. Wells October 8, 1810, and was deeded to William Reed April
24, 1813.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 18 was articled to Elijah Bent. The west part, 50
acres, of this was transferred to Joseph Timmerman May 28, 1819, and the other 25
acres with 25 more, were deeded to him October 7, 1833. The east part, 80 acres, of
the south 100 acres was transferred to Henry Petrie May 28, 1819. Of this, 23 acres
were transferred to David Timmerman. Twenty-five acres of the above named 50
were transferred to Joseph Timmerman November 12, 1829, and a deed was given to
him November 18, 1833. Seventy-three acres cf lot 18 were articled to Christopher
Timmerman November 12, 1829, and 96 acres were deeded to him September 8, 1834.
The north part, 133 acres, of lot 18 was articled to Cornelius Ashton October 21, 1825.
December 21, 1827, 100 acres were transferred to James Clark and Horace CofSn, and
November 23, 1832, were deeded to Cook Hotchkiss. The west part of the tract,
(northwest part of lot 18), 33 acres, was deeded to Cornelius Ashton November 23,
1832.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 19 was taken up by John Timmerman June 5, 1811.
This tract was deeded as follows: 51| acres to David Timmerman, 25 acres to John
Timmerman, and 23J acres to John Timmerman, all March 2, 1831. Don Carlos
Bent purchased by article the middle part, 92 acres, of lot 19 November 11, 1811.
November 12, 1819, the article was renewed to Cornelius Ashton. The north part, of
lot 19, 92 acres was taken up by Cornelius Ashton November 11, 1811. It was trans-
ferred to Asher Freeman December 20, 1827. The whole tract of 184 acres was deeded
to Cornelius Ashton June 5, 1832.
Lots 20, 21, south part of 22, and south part of 25 were sold to Charles E. Dud-
ley January 26, 1828.
The north part of lots 22 and 25, 100 acres, was articled to Nicholas Smith Septem-
ber 28, 1811, and was deeded to Jacob Weatherwax September 29, 1819. The middle
part of lots 22 and 25, 100 acres, was sold by article to Benjamin Nelson October 17,
1811, and the article was renewed to John D. Armstrong June 30, 1828. The land
was deeded to Benjamin F. Williams December 17, 1833.
Lot 23 was articled to James Walworth April 22, 1817, and transferred to Lathrop
A. G. B. Grant May 12, 1831.
James Walworth took up the south middle part, 100 acres, of lot 25 November 1,
1819. It was transferred to William Thompson October 3, 1829, and to Rudolph Zim-
mer January 11, 1834. It was deeded to Mr. Zimmer January 21, 1837.
Lot 26, 338 acres was articled to Joshua Park June 18, 1810. The north part of this, 288
acres, was articled to David Weatherwax June 19, 1820 ; and on the same day 50 acres
were transferred to Jacob Weatherwax. After many transfers the lot was deeded as
follows ; 104 acres to David Weatherwax August 21, 1833 ; 50 acres to Jacob Weather-
wax June 18, 1835; 50 acres to Elijah Defendorf December 16, 1836; 50 acres to John
Shelp December 19, 1837, and 84 acres to Josiah Churchill February 1, 1838.
522 LANDMARKS OF
Abraham Brewer purchased by article lot 27, 256^ acres, June 19, 1810. June 20^
1819, the south part 131 acres, was articled to Samuel Whitney, to whom it was
deeded June 20, 1820. The north part, 125| acres, was deeded to Joseph Rickey June
20, 1820.
The south part of lot 28, 150 acres, was articled to James Carpenter May 28, 1811, and
deeded to Gershom Bennett October 15, 1818. The north part, 97 acres, of lot 28 was
taken up by William Stryker November 12, 1816, and was deeded to Zeno A. Ross
March 15, 1834.
The south half, 177 acres, of lot 29 was taken up by Isaac Simens December 28,
1809. There were several transfers of parts of this south half, which was finally
deeded as follows: 50 acres to Eleazer Frary February 19, 1822; 67 acres to Eleazer
Frary December 21, 1826; 60 acres to Daniel Fuller December 30, 1828. The north
half of lot 29, 185 acres, was taken up by Eleazer Frary November 8, 1810, and was
deeded to him June 14, 1815.
November 14, 1809, Alexander Coon took up the south half, 183 acres, of lot 30
November 15, 1819, it was deeded to Henry Garter. The north part, 192 acres, of lot
30 was articled to Samuel C. Wells October 8, 1810. It was deeded to Peter P. Snell
February 17, 1817.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 31 was taken up by Elijah Bent May 27, 1811. May
28, 1819, 50 acres of this (southeast part of the lot) were articled to Marvin Cheeny ;
March 27, 1828, to John Drew, and June 18, 1831, to Phebe Drew. This land was
deeded to John Timmerman June 22, 1833. The west portion, 50 acres, being the
southwest part of the lot, was articled to Reuben Cheeney May 28, 1819, and with 50
acres more, to John Drew March 27, 1828. Ninety-nine acres of this were deeded to
Daniel Bidleman June 18, 1831 ; and a smaller parcel to Phebe Drew November 28,
1833. The north part, 100 acres, of lot 31 was articled to Joshua Woodard June 22,
1812, and the article was renewed to John Drew March 27, 1828. It was deeded to
Asher Freeman November 28, 1833. The north middle part, 80 acres, of lot 31, was
sold by article to Henry Everson August 7, 1815. September 26, 1825, the article was
renewed to Christian Groff, jr. The land was again articled to Ira Murdock January
13, 1830. It was deeded to Seymour B. and Jasper Murdock November 28, 1833.
Lot 32 was articled to James Walworth April 22, 1817, and transferred to Lathrop
A. G. B. Grant May 12, 1831. He received his deed January 6, 1835.
The south part, 33 acres of lot 33 was articled to Benjamin Walworth March 11, 1823,
and was deeded to Daniel Freeman February 28, 1833. The north part, 120 acres, of
lot 33 was taken up by Ezekiel Stuart November 1, 1821. The west portion, 60
acres, of this was articled to Orrin Pixley November 5, 1832, and was deeded to Joseph
Pixley January 22, 1834. The east portion (the northeast portion of lot 33) 60 acres,
was transferred to Benjamin Wonsey December 31, 1831, and to Harry Kingsley May
25, 1834. It was deeded to Mr. Kingsley January 16, 1837.
The south part, 233 acres, of lot 34 was taken up by Zeno Ross March 30, 1812.
August 11, 1825, 100 acres of this tract were articled to Thomas Charlton, and again
to Daniel Child November 19, 1830. Mr. Child received his deed January 8, 1834.
August 11, 1825, 66 acres of the south part of lot 34 were articled to John Walworth,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 523
and December 22, 1830, to Asher Freeman, to whom they were deeded July 30, 1832.
August 11. 1825, 53 acres of the south part of lot 34 were articled to John Walworth,
and February 20, 1828, to John Sleight, to whom they were deeded March 10, 1834.
September 17, 1810, David Demary took up the north part, 150 acres, of lot 34. It was
deeded to him March 14, 1820.
The north part of lot 35, 100 acres, was taken up by Thomas L. Nichols May 30,
1811. It was deeded to Clark Peck November 29, 1820. June 5, 1811, Adam
Bellinger purchased, by article, the middle part, 200 acres, of lot 35. It was deeded
to Thomas Weatherwax June 8, 1819. David Demary took up the south part, 87
acres, of lot 35 November 23, 1818. It was deeded to him November 8, 1833.
The middle west part, 150 acres, of lot 36 was sold by article to Joshua Carpenter
May 28, 1811. It, with 50 acres more, were deeded to Samuel Whitney June 29, 1816.
The south part of lot 37 and north part of lot 36, 250 acres, were taken up by Sam-
uel Carpenter May 28, 1811, and was deeded to him June 29, 1816.
The south middle part of lot 36, 109 acres, was taken up by Jacob Scott JuneS, 1811.
The south part, 50 acres, was taken up by John W. Gnffing April 14, 1811. These
were transferred and subdivided and deeded : 18 acres to Samuel Whitney June 5,
1829; 60 acres to Abiel Bowen July 20, 1833; 17 acres to Samuel Whitney October
28, 1834; and 64 acres to Henry Johnson December 31,^1836.
The north part of lot 37, 200 acres, was sold by article to Daniel Fuller July 26,
1811, and by deed to Samuel Fuller October 23, 1818. The middle part of lot 37, 166
acres, was articled to Levi Walker September 27, 1811. April 16, 1816, it was articled
to Matthew Bennett. December 28, 1829, 111 acres were articled to John Hutchins,
and on the same day 55 acres to Abram Bidleman. The whole was deeded to Matthew
Bennett April 16, 1816.
The east part, 200 acres, of lot 38 was taken up by Theodorus De Lavergne June 7,
1810. It was deeded to Ebenezer Pixley March 28, 1820. The west part of lot 38
and east part of lot 45, 100 acres, were articled to Samuel Camp, jr., October 14, 1811,
and deeded to him October 15, 1819. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 38, was sold by
article to Asher Freeman October 14, 1811, and was deeded^ to Samuel Freeman Octo-
ber 15, 1819.
Jacob Freeman purchased by article, the south part, 200 acres, of lot 39 June 1, 1811.
He received a deed for the same April 16, 1816. The north part, 175 acres, of lot ^9
was articled to John Anderson September 9, 1811. September 10, 1819, 100 acres of
this were deeded to John Snell, and 75 acres to Eleazer Tracy on the same day.
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 40 was taken by Jared Griffiing February 15, 1812.
February 16, 1820, it was deeded to Eleazer Loomis. The east part, 100 acres, of lot
46 was articled to Silas Shepherd February 15, 1812. February 16, 1820, it was deed-
ed to Jacob Scott. March 13, 1816, the west part, 148 acres, of lot 40 was articled to
Samuel Camp, jr. February 10, 1825, a transfer was made to Aaron P. Camp. Ninety-
eight acres of this were deeded to Asher Freeman November 28, 1833. December 23,
1833, 50 acres were articled to Anthony Mason and were deeded to William Ewings
November 27, 1835.
524 LANDMARKS OF
Lot 41, 121| acres was taken up by Allen Williams March 12, 1817. December 27,
1830, 74 acres were articled to Benjamin Williams, and were deeded to him January 8,
1833. On the same day 47^ acres were articled to Thomas McKenzie, This land was
deeded to John McKenzie October 2, 1835.
Samuel Jones purchased, by article, lot 42, 120 acres, June 3, 1815. February 26,
1828, 80 acres of this were transferred to John Shelp. March 27, 1829, 40 acres were
transferred to Charles Oaylord, and December 24, 1833, to John Shelp. These parcels
were deeded to Mr. Shelp January 13, 1832, and October 25, 1835. The east part, 124
acres, of lot 42 was taken up by Abner Jones August 24, 1815. Of this 58 acres were
deeded to Stephen H. Kinney December 3, 1833; 46 acres to Fortius Lyman Decem-
ber 15, 1833 ; and 20 acres to John Shelp December 24, 1833.
November 20, 1818, 60 acres of lot 43 were sold by article to John W. Tyrrell. This
tract was deeded to Lewis J. Bennett January 20, 1834. The north part, 58 acres, of lot
43 was taken up by Roswell E. Hyde October 15, 1818. October 21, 1830, it was arti-
cled : 30 acres to Lewis Green and 28 acres to George W. Bowen. December 27, 1833,
the whole was articled to Gad Mather, to whom it was deeded September 10, 1835.
The middle part, 60 acres, of lot 43 was taken up by Festus Bennett November 20,
1818. The article was renewed to Henry Johnson September 6, 1828, and he received
a deed December 3, 1833. The southeast part, 43 acres, of lot 43 was deeded to Ezra
E. Wilcox September 14, 1835.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 44 was sold by article to Noah Brooks April 29,
1816. It was articled to Calvin Russell November 25, 1829, and was deeded to him
October 25, 1832. The south part, 116 acres, of lot 44 was taken up by George W.
Bowen November 7, 1816. and 66 acres were deeded to him October 19, 1836. No-
vember 20, 1829, 50 acres of this south pait were articled to Hiram Bowen, and were
deeded to him January 17, 1834.
Alexander Coon took up the west part, 155^ acres of lot 45 January 25, 1828.
Eighty-nine acres of this were articled to Jedediah Marshall, and 59 acres were deeded
to him January 7, 1834. On the same day 30 acres of the same part were deeded to
Aaron Camp. Forty-five acres of this west part of lot 45 were transferred from Alex-
ander Coon to Thomas Wells January 25, 1828. This parcel was deeded to Oliver
Welsh September 26, 1833.
Lot 40, 188 acres, was taken by Samuel Camp, jr., September 7, 1810. It was
deeded to John Hagaman August 25, 1820.
Lot 47 was taken up by Joel Stevens November 19, 1811. November 20, 1819, it
was articled to David Burroughs. February 19, 1828, 80 acres were transferred to
Elijah Bent, and December 14, 1833, they were deeded to Jerome Phillips. February
17, 1828, the south part of lot 47, 79 acres, was transferred to John J. Snell. It was
deeded to William Evvings January 9, 1834.
Alexander Coon was the first purchaser of land and the first perma-
nent settler in the town of Shelby. His article bore date November 14,
1809, and it is reasonably certain that he settled here at about the same
time. In a statement furnished by his son, Alexander Coon, jr., for
ORLEANS COUNTY. 525
Turner's History of the Holland Purchase, it is said that the " family
left tile Lewiston road at Walsworth's, west of Royalton Center, and
arriving upon their land, four crotches were set in the ground, sticks
laid across, and elm bark used for covering. This was a sleeping place,
the cooking was done in the open air. A comfortable log house was
built in five days, without boards, nails or shingles. Through the first
winter their cattle were fed on browse. Our nearest neighbor south was
Mr. VValsvvorth ; there was but one family north on the ridge road; west
there was none nearer than Hartland." Asa Coon, son of Alexander
Coon, sr,, was born February 14, 181 1 ; his was the first white birth in
Shelby. Alexander Coon, jr., was supervisor of Shelby in all eleven
years.
Mr. Coon's land was on lots 17 and 30, about two miles west from Shel-
by Center. Isaac Simens purchased a part of an adjoining lot December
28, 1809, but it is not known when the first settlement was made on his
land. From the statement of Alexander Coon, jr., concerning their
neighbors, it is evident they came in 1809, for in the summer and
autumn of 18 10 twelve purchases were made in their vicinity, and some
of the purchasers must have settled on their lands in that year. These
were Whitfield Rathbun, Andrew Ellicott, Ezekiel Bentley, Salmon
Preston, Joseph Hagaman, Samuel B. Wells, Abraham Brewer. Joshua
Park, Eleazer Frary, David Demara, Theodorus Delavergne, and
Samuel Camp, jr.
Eleazer Frary was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1785. About
1800 he removed with his parents to Ontario county, N. Y., and thence
in 181 1 to Shelby, where he had taken an article for a part of lot 29.
He built a log house and kept bachelor's hall five years, and then mar-
ried Susan Williams, of Royalton. They resided on the farm which he
took up till their deaths. He died in 1848, she in 1843. They reared
seven children: Albert, married Mary Timmerman ; Hiram married,
first, Rosina Snell, and second, Helen Howard ; Sidney removed West ;
George W. married Almira Johnson ; James married Elizabeth Shat-
tuck ; Arvilla married E. Clark, and Livonia married Uriel Timmer-
man.
David Demara, sr., purchased 150 acres of lot 34 in the southwestern
part of Shelby in the autumn of 18 10. He built thereon, two miles
526 LANDMARKS OF
from any neighbor, a log house fourteen by sixteen feet, roofed with
bark, and moved into it when it had neither door, window nor floor.
In 1813 he went away on account of the war, but returned in 1815.
David Demara, jr., was born in Albany county, N. Y., in 1808, and
came with his father's family to Shelby. His wife, to whom he was
married in 1837, was Maria Upham, a native of Massachusetts, born in
1 8 14. He died in 1894.
About thirty purchases of land in the town were made in 181 1, but
during the War of 1812 settlers did not come in rapidly. That was the
period of greatest privation and hardship among the pioneers in this
region. Provisions were scarce, money was still scarcer, the nearest
post-office was Batavia, and communication with the outside world was
difficult and infrequent. Mills for grinding corn were distant, and often
the pioneer was compelled to carry his grist on his back a distance
requiring two or three days to make the journey. Malarial diseases
were prevalent, and when not "shaking " himself, the pioneer was often
compelled to do the " housework" and nurse his sick wife and children.
Under such circumstances many would have left the country, but they
had expended their all in coming here and were not able to get away.
Alexander Coon, jr , said, " When I was collector of taxes in Shelby
in 1 818 I had a tax of less than a dollar against a man, who, to pay it,
made black salts, drew them to Gaines on a hand sled, and "sold them
for money." But the condition of things gradually changed. Prosper-
ity succeeded the period of adversity through which the pioneers passed
and in their advanced years their enjoyment was heightened by the
recollection of their early privations.
John Timmerman was born in Germany and in early life came to
Herkimer county, N. Y. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
His sons were Daniel, Joseph, Christopher, David, and John. His
daughters were Betsey (Mrs. Joshua Woodard), Charity (Mrs. Petrie),
Nancy (Mrs. Cornelius Ashton), and Delia (Mrs. Henry Vedder). In
181 1 John Timmerman, with his family, came to Shelby and settled
southwest from Medina, where some of their descendants still reside.
The sons were thrifty farmers, and the youngest, John, was a preacher
as well as farmer.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 527
Daniel Fuller was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1783. In his
youth he learned the trade of a carpenter, and in 181 1 he took up a
portion of lot n ^ two miles west from Shelby Center. He did not at
once take possession of his land but worked at his trade in De Ruyter,
Madison county, N. Y , for several years. He then came to his farm,
where he remained till his death in 1864. His v\ ife, also a native of
Rensselaer county, was Hannah Godfrey She died in 1837. They
had nine children.
Jacob Freeman was born in Saratoga county, and in 181 1 took an
article for 200 acres of lot 39, in the western part of Shelby. His son
Charles inherited a portion of this land, and resided on it till his death,
in 1887. One-half of this 200 acres was sold to John F. Freeman, a
brother of Jacob who came about 1820. He remained on this place till
his death. The farm passed to his son, Jeremiah Freeman, who died
in 1887.
Micah Harrington was of English descent. His ancestors came from
the north of England in 1642, and first settled in Massachusetts. Twelve
of the descendants of the original immigrants were in the battle of
Lexington and three of them were killed. Micah Harrington was born
in Vermont, and in 1800 went to Lewis county, N. Y., where he married
Hannah Smith. In 1809 he removed to Batavia, and in 1813 to Shelby
Center, where he assisted in building the original Ellicott's Mills (the
first grist mills built in the State west of Canandaigua except one at
Batavia, and possibly one at Buffalo), and during several years he had
charge of them. In the War of 1812 he had an active part, and after
the burning of Youngstown and Lewiston he raised a company of volun-
teers. He was a farmer, surveyor, and conveyancer, and for many
years a magistrate. He died at Shelby Center in 1831. His wife died
at Albion in 1861. Their children were : Devereaux S., Montraville
A., Charles A , Shelby G., and Marcia, who married Charles A. Moore,
of Albion. Charles A. resided for thirty years in Albion, and died
there. The other sons went west.
One of the sons, M. A. Harrington, who was born in 1805, shortly
before his death wrote from his place of residence in Michigan : " I well
remember going with an ox team to where Albion now stands after a
load of brick. The kiln was where the Catholic Church now stands. I
528 LANDMARKS OF
got my brick and went south on the Oak Orchard road to where the
' Poor House ' road joins it. There was a log house on the corner,
where I staid all night. My next trip was to the head of Stillwater, on
Oak Orchard creek, to take a load of siding for a store to be built for
John B. ElHcott, as that was to be the location of a city. There was
no Medina. An old saw mill frame was there, the timber had been cut
off, and the underbrush was thick. I saw the engineers lop down tlie
brush when the survey for the canal was made. When the culvert was
built the ring stone was cut at Barnegat from bowlder limestone, as it
was supposed the Medina stone would not stand the weather. Time
and experience have made people wiser. On the completion of the
canal, when the waters of the lake and ocean were mingled, the joining
was telegraphed along the line by the firing of cannon. I remember
the Middleport gun was heard at Knowlesville before the Medina gun
was. I was then living at Barnegat, and the Albion gun was heard at
the same time as the Medina gun. My father surveyed and cut the
road from EUicott Mills to Benton's ' Four Corners.' I went on horse-
back to carry provisions to the men, bread in one end of a bag and pork
in the other, and now the whole country is like a garden." M. A.
Harrington died in 1893, at the age of eighty- eight.
James Williams, a native of Vermont, was born in 1759. His wife,
Anna Allen, was born in 1760 Their sons, all born in Vermont, were
Samuel, James, Jesse, Squire Allyn, Claramond, Ira Orson, Benjamin,
and Valentine. Of these, James came to the Holland Purchase about
18 1 5, and settled in Royalton, Niagara county. In 18 17 the rest of the
family settled, two on lot 41 in the southwest part of Shelby, and the
others in Royalton, Niagara county, and in Alabama in Genesee county.
The father died in 1825. The sons died afterward at ages varying from
seventy to ninety years. The descendants of this family were numerous
here for many years, but more recently many have emigrated to the
West.
Nathan Sherwood was born in 1738. He removed from Connecticut
to Vermont, thence to Saratoga county, and from there, in 18 15, to
Orleans county, settling on lot 24, about a mile west from Millville,
where he died in 1823. His wife was Rosanna Noble, a native of Con-
necticut. Their sons were William and John, both born in Connecticut
ORLEANS COUNTY. 520
William Sherwood was born in 1774. His wife, Jane Johnson, was born
in 1773. Their sons were : Walter, born in 1799; William, jr., born in
in 1802 ; Noble, born in 1809; and Homer, born in 1814. Walter Sher-
wood resided on Maple ^idge. about two miles from Medina, till about
1870, when he removed to Oak Orchard, where he soon afterward died.
William Sherwood, jr., resided in Ridgeway. He had three sons : Gates,
Frank, and Henry. Noble Sherwood was killed by an accident in early
manhood. Homer Sherwood died in 1891 on the old homestead.
Myron, his oldest son, resided in Millville till his death in 1879. Francis
is now living and Deming resides in Denver, Colorado. John Sher-
wood, second son of Nathan, resided a mile west from Millville till his
death. His sons were: Elisha B., Charles, Guy, Norman B., and Wil-
lis M. Elisha B. became a Presbyterian clergyman. He preached a
few years in Niagara county, then went west where he became a mis-
sionary. Charles died in Gaines at the age of about forty years. Guy
still resides on a portion of his father's farm, at the age of seventy-nine
years. Norman B. remained on his father's homestead till 1873, when
he went to Saratoga, where he died in 1891. Willis M. removed to
South Carolina, where he practiced medicine, thence he went to St.
Joseph. Mo.
James Darling, son of Benjamin Darling, was born in Massachusetts
in 1793 and removed, with his father's family, to New Hampshire in
1795. In i8i6he came to Millville, where he resided till 1837, when
he removed to Oakfield, Genesee county, in which town he passed the
rest of his life. He was an industrious citizen and followed the business
of a master builder. He was the architect of sixty buildings in Shelby
and adjoining towns.
Henry Bidleman's parents came from Germany to America prior to
the Revolution and settled in the valley of the Mohawk river. Their
buildings were burned by the Indians during that war, and they nar-
rowly escaped death by fright. Henry Bidleman came from Herkimer
county, N. Y., to Shelby in 18 16, and purchased from JohnTimmerman
an article for 100 acres of land. The next year the rest of his family
came and occupied the log house that had been prepared for them. As
they came through Batavia they purchased from the arsenal there some
" hard tack " or sea biscuit. A wag named Joseph Snell reported
67
530 LANDMARKS OF
that a Mr. Simonds, who resided in the vicinity, ate so freely of these
biscuit that they swelled in his stomach and burst him, and that he was
to be buried at a certain time, several persons, not understanding the
hoax, went to attend the funeral. Mr, Bidleman died in i860, at the
age of eighty-two. Abram Bidleman, a son, was born in Manheim,
Herkimer county, in 1800, and came with his father's family to Orleans
county in 18 17. In 1822 he worked on the canal where Medina is now
located, and as he said, there he drank his first and last dram of
whisky. He married in 1824 Miss Lucinda Michael. For many years
the thrifty wife manufactured all the clothing for the family, and wove
hundreds of yards for others. Mr. Bidleman died June 8, 1868. In a
sketch written in 1866, and published in Thomas's Pioneer History,
Abram Bidleman says :
My father's family consisted of my father and mother and ten children. When he
moved here he was, to all intents and purposes, poor. I do not think, besides a pair of
old ordinary horses and a cow, he could boast he was worth fifty dollars. I worked
out to help vsupport the family till I was twenty-one years of age. * * * j built
for myself a log home twenty feet square, into which I moved my family having but
one room which he used for a kitchen, parlor, dining room, etc. Our furniture was such
as pioneer farmers in this country usually possessed, viz. : A loom, quill wheel, swifts,
great wheel and little wheel, necessary for spinning; seven chairs, a table and a
cradle, with a few exceedingly plain culinary utensils which were indispensable to our
comfort.
Ralph K. Gregory, of Scotch descent, was born in Connecticut in
1765. He married Deborah Hamilton, and they removed to Fairfield,
Vt. Thence, in 18 16, with his six sons, he came to Orleans county
and located in this town near MiHville, where he died in 1837. His
wife died in 1832. Their sons were Ira, born 1790; Philo, born 1792;
Amos, born in 1796; Norman, born in 1798; Ralph, born in 1800;
and Matthew, born in 1803. All were farmers. Ira married Polly
Hubbell in Vermont, settled a mile and a half south from Millville, and
reared a large family, mostly sons. He died at the age of eighty-
three. Philo married Rachael Card, and they settled between Millville
and Medina. They reared two children. He died in Kalamazoo,
Mich., at the age of ninety two. Amos married Betsey Wyman, and
they settled a mile and a half south from Millville, where he died at the
age of eighty-three. They reared two sons and two daughters. Nor-
man married Filuria Rice, and settled a mile and a half south from
ORLEANS COUNTY. 531
Millville. They had two sons, Arnold and Sylvester. He married, for
his second wife, Sophia Frost, who died in Millville at the age of eighty-
five. Ralph married Lois Mason, a daughter of Jesse Mason, and they
resided a mile west from Millville, where both died. They reared three
sons and three daughters. Matthew married first, Mary Potter, and
they reared four children. His second wife was Laura Root, and his
third was Mrs. Rev. John Hoyt. He died at the age of eighty- two.
Matthew Gregory, in Thomas's History writes:
When we arrived at our future residence we had no shelter from man or beast. Or-
ange Wells and Samuel Wyman had located m that neighborhood in the spring previous
and made small improvements and built log houses. Through the hospitality of Mr.
Wells we were kindly sheltered for a week, by which time we had built a cabin for our-
selves. Our oxen could live very well on browse, but our horses, after standing one
night tied to a brush heap, looked so sorry that my father took them back to Batavia.
We were all happy when we got into our new house ; not a costly edifice like those
dwellings of some of our rich neighbors of the present day, but made of rough un-
hewn logs, notched down together at the corners, shingled with rough hemlock boards,
with joints broken and battened with slabs round side up; the floor made of split bass-
wood logs spotted on the sleepers and flattened on the top, leaving an open space at
one end for the fire place on the ground, the end of the floor planks affording a con-
venient seat for the children around the fire in the absence of chairs and sofas. * * *
At one time my father paid Mr. Phelps eleven dollars for as much pork as he could
carry away in a peck measure, I don't recollect the number of pounds. At another
time he paid Elijah Bent twenty-five cents a pound for pork. * * * At onetime
our supplies were completely exhausted. We had been expecting our father home all
day with his bushel of grist, perhaps, but he did not come and we went nearly supper-
less to bed expecting he would arrive before morning. Morning came but father did
not. We hoped he would come soon, and took our axes and weni to work, but our
axes were unusually heavy. Famt and slow were the blows we struck that morning.
While we boys were trying to chop, mother sifted a bag of bran we had and made of
the finest a cake which she brought out to us during the forenoon. We ate this, which
stayed us up till noon, when father came, and we had plenty to eat, such as it was.
Variety was not to be had in those times.
William Martin was born in Orange county, N, Y., in 1807. In
1 8 16 he removed with his father, William Martin, to a farm which they
took up two miles southeast from East Shelby. Thence they removed,
in 1826, to a farm in the southwest part of Barre. There the father
died, and in 1854 the son removed to a farm near East Shelby, where
he died in 1893. In 1838 he married Sarah Ross, who was a native of
New Hampshire. They had eight children.
532 • LANDMARKS OF
Nicholas Smith was born in Herkimer county. At a very early
time he came to Orleans county and located near West Shelby. He
soon removed to a farm near Shelby Basin, and afterward to a place a
mile and a half east from Shelby Center. There he kept a tavern three
years. He sold it to Daniel Timmerman, who carried on the business
some time. His next place of residence was a farm half a mile west
from Shelby Center. From there he removed to Shelby Center, and
thence to Michigan, where he died in 1863. His wife's maiden name
was Susan Garter. She died in 1856. Their son, Nicholas Smith, was
born in Herkimer county in .1809. He married Katy A. Sleight, who
died in 1889.
Joseph, Daniel, and John Ross came from New Hampshire to Shelby "
about 1817 and settled on lot 20, about a mile from East Shelby.
Some of their descendants still reside in this town. Stephen, the son
of Joseph, died in 1893 on the farm which these brothers settled;
Moses, a son of Daniel, died on a farm about a mile south of Shelby
Center.
William Dunlap was born in Connecticut in 1789. In his youth he
removed to Seneca county, N. Y. He was married in 18 13 to Eliza-
beth Hunt, who was born in New Jersey in 1795. In 1817 they re-
moved to Shelby and located on lot 4, about two miles south from
Shelby Center, where they passed the remainder of their lives. She
died in 1847, ^^^ in 1874. They reared to maturity ten children, of
whom five are still living. Leslie and Joseph live in the immediate
neighborhood of the old homestead. Near the log cabin which he
first built stood a sapling on which Mr. Dunlap hung the quarters of
the first calf he slaughtered. That sapling is now a comely tree.
Samuel Bostwick and Laura, his wife, were natives of Vermont.
They were married in December, 18 16, and in January, 18 17, started
for the Holland Purchase. They came in a wagon drawn by a yoke of
three-year old steers, accompanied by another family in a wagon drawn
by an ox team. On their arrival in Shelby both families were domi-
ciled in a log house with one door and only the chimney and the spaces
between the logs for windows. It was then occupied by another fam-
ily, acquaintances from Vermont, and soon afterward still another fam-
ily of friends from the same State moved in, making twenty-six per-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 533
sons in all, who remained till other houses could be prepared. They
slept on Genesee bedsteads and on the floor, sat on stools, and used
chests for tables. As an example of energy on the part of pioneer
women, it is related that in the spring after their arrival Mr. Bostwick,
by reason of a cut in his foot, received while making sap troughs, was
incapacitated for labor ; and that his wife gathered sap, boiled it in the
house in a twelve- quart kettle, a six-quart pot, and a small teakettle,
and thus made i6o pounds of sugar. She also made the cloth for the
clothing of her own family and wove for others. Mr. Bostwick died
twelve or fifteen years after they settled here, and his widow, in 1833,
married Otis Baker, a farmer in Shelby.
Jacob A. Zimmerman was born in Manheim, N. Y., in 1795. He
came to Shelby in 1817, with John B. Snell, from the same town. He
married Nancy Snell in 181 7, and in 18 19 commenced life on the farm
where they ever afterward resided. He died in 1864. His children
were : Morris, who married Phoebe Bent ; Eleanor, Gilbert, who mar-
ried Janette Sanderson ; John A., who married Mary Powers ; Arvilla,
who married Egbert B. Simonds ; and Andrew L., who married Jennie
Bartram. Apropos of their pioneer life, Mr. Zimmerman said:
I made a table ; we had no chairs ; I made three stools, two for ourselves and one
for company. Our window lights were white paper ; no glass could be had here then.
Our cooking utensils were a four-quart kettle and a black earthen teapot. I gave a
dollar for six cast-iron knives and forks and six cups and saucers, which completed our
eating tools. Times were very hard. I was eleven months without a six-pence in
money ; two months without any shoes. When we saw shoes tied up with bark we
called them half worn out. I gave five bushels of wheat for a pair of coarse shoes
made of flank leather.
Col. Andrew A. Ellicott was a native of Lancaster, Pa. He came
to Batavia in 1803, and in 1817 removed to Shelby Center, where his
uncle, Joseph Ellicott, had given him 800 acres of land, and where he
had built mills. He was a benevolent, kind hearted man, and his
liberality and goodness caused him to be highly esteemed by his
fellow citizens. He married Sarah A. Williams, of Elizabeth, N. J.
He died in 1839. His wife died in 1850. Their children were: Cornelia
D., who married L. A. G. B. Grant ; Sarah B., who married H. N.
Hughes ; Charles, who married Harriet Farnham ; Andrew, who mar-
ried Mary Fairman ; Benjamin, who married Jane Garter ; and Joseph,
534 LANDMARKS OF
who married May Clark. Colonel Ellicott was adopted by the Tona-
wanda Indians under the name of Kiawana (signifying a good man)
in recognition of the many acts of kindness he had shown them. He
has been regarded as ' the patron of Shelby village." He was the
first postmaster in town.
Ziba Roberts was born in Vermont in 1800. At the age of four
he removed with his father's family to Bloomfield, N. Y., and in 18 18
they located in Darien, Genesee county, where the father, Daniel
Roberts, died in 1827. In 1826 Ziba Roberts took up the north part
of lot 10, in the southeast part of Shelby, and built a shanty thereon.
Two years later this rude cabin was replaced by a more comfortable log
house, and ten years later he built a framed house. He died in 1885
on the farm which he settled. His wife was Susannah Wolcott, born
in 1 804 in Montgomery county, N.Y. They were married in 1824. She
died in 1892. Of their twelve children seven lived to adult age. Horace
married Mary F. Eaton ; Henrietta married James Wolcott ; Charles
married Hulda A. Loucks, and Ziba married Cynthia Dewey. The
latter was a volunteer in the War of the Rebellion. The father of Ziba
Roberts, sr., served in the Revolutionary War.
Rev. Jotham Morse was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1793,
and iti 18 14 was married to Dorcas Ferris. About 1814 he came to
Orleans county and took up land west of Eagle Harbor. He first lived
in a shanty which he found empty, but soon built and occupied a log
house on his own land He was married three times and had fourteen
children. He was one of the constituent members of the Christian
church in the west part of the town of Albion, and he preached there
more or less for more than fifty years. In the latter part of his life he
resided at West Shelby. He was blind for many years. In Thomas's
History Rev. Mr. Morse writes :
I bough,t a three year old heifer, and paid for her in chopping three acres of timber
and fitting it for logging, going three miles to the place where I did my work. In
time of haying and harvest I walked to Palmyra and worked there three weeks to buy
pork and wheat for my family. The next fall I moved into a log house I had built
and felt at home. The next year I had a little trial such as was common to pioneer
settlers in those days. It was before harvest. My cow had lost her bell, and had been
gone in the woods eight days. We were destitute of provisions, except a small piece
of bread, some sugar, and some vinegar. I went to the nearest place where flour was
ORLEANS COUNTY. 535
sold and could get none. On my return we gave the last morsel of bread to our chil-
dren. I picked some potato tops, which my wife boiled, and we ate, dressing them
with vinegar. Our empty stomachs would not retain this diet. We speedily vomited
them up and retired supperless to bed. Early next morning I arose and went to my
neighbor's, a mile away, and they divided their small store of flour with me. I carried
it home and my wife salted some water and made some pudding, which we. ate with
maple sugar, and this seemed to me to be truly the best meal of victuals I ever ate.
Joseph, John J., and Jacob Snell, brothers, natives of Herkimer
county, N. Y., came to Shelby at an early day and located in the west
part of the town. Daniel and Solomon Snell were brothers and rela-
tives of the others, and John P. Snell, also a relative, came early and all
settled in the same vicinity. The descendants of these have been some-
what numerous, and have scattered in various directions, but many still
remain here.
WilHam Sowie, a native of Massachusetts, born in i8oo, removed to
Saratoga county, N. Y., and after two years came to Shelby and located
nearly a mile east from Shelby Center, where he remained till his death
in 1863. His wife, to whom he was married in 1823, was Hannah
Meeker, born in Saratoga county in 1804. She died in 1866. Of their
sixteen children eleven lived to manhood and womanhood.
Joseph Wyman, a native of Vermont, came to Shelby prior to 1820,
and lived in a rented log house on lot 24. With him came two sons
and two daughters, all young men and women. Oliver Wyman, oldest
son of Joseph, married a daughter of Rev. Jotham Morse, and they set-
tled three-fourths of a mile from Millville. Oliver died some twenty-
five years since. John Wyman, second son of Joseph, was a mechanic.
He removed early to Berea, Ohio.
Isaiah Grinell was a native of Rhode Island ; from there he removed
to Saratoga county, N. Y., thence to Oneida county, and thence to
Onondaga county where he died at the age of ninety. His children were
Ezra, John, Major, Amos, Betsey (Mrs. Alanson Tinkham), Eliza (Mrs.
William Tyler), Chloe (Mrs. Relly Tinkham), and Anny (Mrs. Weston
Wetherbee). Ezra Grinell was born in Saratoga county, in 1795, and
married Lucretia Leonard, who was born in the same year. Their chil-
dren were Marcus, who married Josephine Manchester; Lauren, who
married MariJla Leach ; Isaiah ; Leonard ; Horace, who married Thurza
Green ; Jane, who married Seth Balcom ; Perry, who married Kate
536 LANDMARKS OF
Clark ; Eliza, who married Wesley Gregory ; Jeanette, who married
Frank Carpenter; and Willis, who married, first, Lura Avery, and sec-
ond, Emily Potts. John Grinell was born in Saratoga county in 1796.
He came to Orleans county in 1820, and first located in Barre, but re-
moved in 1854 to Shelby, where he remained till his death. He was
three times married : first to Roxana Tinkham, then to Lucy Babcock,
and lastly to Mrs. Julia Ann Abbott. His children were: Cyrene,
Daniel, Paul, Peter, Lyman, Andrew J., J. Wesley, Mahala, Harley,
John Jr., and Ella J. Mr. Grinell was an active, energetic man and
at different times was the owner of many farms in Shelby. Major
Grinell was born in 1803. He married, first, Betsey Fisher, and second,
Delilah Wheeler. His children were: Lorenzo, George. Loranus, Sally,
Noah, Celinda, Emeline, Alanson, Marvin, Ann, and Clayson.
Nathan Ide was born in MayfieLd, N. Y., in 1787. His wife was Alu-
shia Bigford, also of Fulton county. They removed to Riga, Monroe
county, and thence, in 1820 to Shelby. They settled on lot 5, just north
from East Shelby, where both died in 187 1. Of their six children
Samuel was for many years a house builder in Medina, and of his eight
sons seven are mechanics.
Alanson Tinkham was born in New England in 1800. When quite
young he removed to Onondaga county, N. Y., whence about 1820, he
came to Orleans county and took up 54 acres on lot 59 in the south-
west part of Barre. Thence in 1833, he removed to a farm which he
purchased on lot 3 in the southeast part of Shelby, where he remained
till his death in 1872, and where his son, Morris Tinkham, succeeded
him. His wife, to whom he was married in 1820, was Betsey Grinell^
sister of the late John Grinell. She died in 1882. Of their twelve
children eight lived to adult age : Minerva married Jeremiah Hatha-
way ; Darius married Mary Gregory ; Jane married Harvey Gregory ;
Eliza married Joseph Dorrance; Maryette married William Neal ; Maria
married Wilson Kirkham ; Morris married Juliette Winchester; and
Alice married M. N. Downing.
John Shelp, a native of Schoharie county, N. Y., was born in 1791.
He married Mary A. Cone in 1818. In 1821 they came to Shelby and
purchased land on lot 42, a mile west from West Shelby, .where they
remained till their deaths. He died in 1868 and she in 1883. His
ORLEANS COUNTY. 537
brother, William Shelp, came to Shelby at a subsequent date but re-
moved west afterward. John Shelp reared five daughters and one son.
The son, William Shelp, died in 1887.
Caleb and Cornelius Stillwell, sons of Caleb, were settlers on lot 6,
south from Shelby Center, in 1823. Cornelius died in 1866 and Caleb
in 1880.
Lathrop A. G. B. Grant, came to Shelby about 1824 and established
himself in the mercantile business. He afterward became a large dealer
in produce. His wife was a daughter of Col. A. G. EUicott. About
185 1 he built the large stone mills at Shelby Center, and conducted
them for some years. He was an active and influential citizen and was
five times elected supervisor of the town. He was also the first repre-
sentative of Orleans county in the Assembly, to which position he was
elected in 1826. He passed the latter years of his life in Oswego, N. Y.
William Hill, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., was born in 1793.
In 1798 his father removed to Saratoga county, whence, in the spring
of 1824, William came to Shelby and located on lot 31. During that
summer he labored a portion of the time on the canal feeder, and in
the autumn returned to Saratoga county, where he married Clarissa
Miller, of Montgomery county, born in 1801. They at once removed
to their home in Shelby where they remained till their deaths. He
died in 1868, she in 1888. They raised to adult age five sons and four
daughters, of whom Horatio N. died at West Barre in 1891, and Jud-
son died in Michigan.
William E. Woodford, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1807, in
early manhood came to Shelby and purchased land a mile south from
Millville. After several removals he settled again half a mile west from
MilviUe, where he died in 1885. He was twice married: first to
Margaret Bent in 1833, by whom he had two sons. He was again
married in 1843 to Mrs. Dolly Ann Wood. They reared four children.
Gardner Berry was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1801. His
wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Russell, was born at Phelps,
Ontario county, in 1805, ^"d they were married in 1823. In the same
year they removed to Genesee county and in 1826 to Shelby and set-
tled on lot 10, near East Shelby, where they resided till their deaths.
She died in i8$i,andhe in 1861. Their children were Andrew J.
538 LANDMARKS OF
Betsey J., Eliza A., Lucinda, John G., and Clark. All lived to man-
hood and womanhood. Andrew J. died in the army. John G. Berry
was born at Shelby in 1832 and was married in 1852 to Fidelia Crane, a
native of Barre. He died in 1891 ; she resides on the farm where his
father settled in 182 1.
Henry L'Hommedieu, of French descent, was born in Vermont in
1799. In 1826 he came to Shelby and located a mile west from Mill-
ville on the farm now occupied by his son, Hon. Wallace L'Homme-
dieu. He was married in 1825 to Almira Hathaway of Granby, Vt.
They reared to adult age six children. Of these one son, Hon. Wallace
L'Hommedieu, and three daughters reside in Shelby.
Otis Baker, a native of New England, born in 1796, came to Shelby
in 1829 and located on lot 22, two miles from Medina, where he resided
till about i860. He afterward lived in Albion and Medina, and lastly
in Shelby a mile west from Millville, where he died in i860. He was
twice married and reared ten children.
John Childs, jr, was born in Massachusetts. He received a classical
education, and studied both theology and medicine, but never became
a clergyman or a practicing physician. He resided in several places after
removing from Massachusetts, and in 181 8 settled in Royalton, Niagara
county, whence he afterward removed to Michigan, where he died.
He was the father of thirteen children by two wives. Of these Daniel and
Rev. J. D. Childs became citizens of Shelby ; Daniel was a farmer. He
died at West Shelby in 1872. Rev. J. D. Childs, who was born in
1 8 16, became a clergyman of the Christian denomination at the age of
eighteen, and has been a preacher and a farmer ever since. His wife,
to whom he was married in 1838, was Betsey Letts, of Shelby. She
died in 1889. Their children were : Mandana (Mrs. Luther Reming-
ton), and Mary (Mrs. George Eckerson). Liberality and independence
of thought, and courage in the expression of his convictions are the dis-
tinguishing characteristics of Mr. Childs. In 1894 he had conferred on
him the degrees of Ph.D. and D.D.
Horace Linsley was born in Vermont in 1799. He was four times
married and reared nine children, six of whom were born in Vermont.
He came to Orleans county in 1832, and settled in the northwestern
part of Barre, where he remained till his death in 1886.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 539
Rev. Daniel Jenkins was born in 1806. In 1832 he married Mary
Ainsworth, who was born in 181 1. The same year they came to
Shelby and purchased from Jacob Wetherwax a farm on lot 25, south
from West Shelby. They remained here till their death. She died in
1878, he in 1887. They reared five children: Wesley, Martha, Dr.
John, Rev. Menzo, and Mary. Soon after coming to Shelby Mr. Jen-
kins was licensed as a local preacher, and in due time he was ordained.
Amnon Blair was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1793. In 1833
he removed to Shelby and located on lot 7, near Shelby Center, where
he remained till his death in 1878. His first wife was Maria Stark-
weather, of Saratoga county. She died in 1830, and he afterward mar-
ried Eliza Manchester, of Broadalbin, Fulton county. He was married
a third time to Virtue Sherman, also of Broadalbin. By his first mar-
riage he had two children : Nancy D. (Mrs. S. A. Poler), and Avery S.
By the second marriage the only child was David A. Blair.
Simon Poler, a native of Saratoga county, was born in 1798. In
1833 he removed to Shelby and located on lot 27, about a mile north
from West Shelby. His wife was Fanny Sayles, a native of Saratoga
county. They reared five children. Mr. Poler died in 1868, his wife
in 1865.
Philip B. Jackson was born in Redfield, Conn., in 1780, and removed
thence to Wayne county. In 1833 he came to East Shelby and located
on lot 4, where he died in 1865. The place was long known as Jack-
son's Corners, or West Jackson's Corners, to distinguish it from West
Barre. His son, Philip B., succeeded him on the farm, and died there
in 1885. He was a prominent citizen and was many years a magis-
trate, and was also a justice of sessions. His son, George B. Jackson,
was a soldier in the Union Army during the late civil war.
Silas Culver was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1808. His wife,
Elmira Swart, was born in 18 12. They had ten children. She died in
1855, ^^^ i" 1857 he married Sarah Ann Mundon. They had six
children. He died in 1888. His widow married J. W. Gregory. Mr.
Culver came to Shelby in 1834, and purchased the north part of lot 19,
a mile west from East Shelby, where he resided till his death. He was
a prosperous farmer, and accumulated a large property.
5-10 LANDMARKS OF
David Burroughs, the first supervisor of the town, was born in New
Jersey. Removing to Shelby in 1818 he settled on a farm two miles
southwest from the Center, and during the remainder of his life was
one of the most active of citizens. In 1820 he was appointed a justice
of the peace and held the office until his death in 1822, aged forty-six
years, at which time he was a member of the Constitutional Convention.
His son, Hon. Silas M. Burroughs, was first a merchant and afterward
a lawyer, and represented Orleans county four years in the Assembly,
and was twice elected to Congress, but died before the end of his second
term.
In the winter of 18 19 Abner Hunt, in order to get money to pay his
taxes, threshed wheat for John Burt for every tenth bushel. The work
was done on the floor of a log barn, ten by eighteen feet, and the chaff
was separated from the wheat with a hand fan made of boards. Mr.
Hunt carried his share of the wheat on his back two miles, and sold it
to Micah Harrington for twenty-five cents a bushel.
William Bennett died October 4, 1812, which was the first death of a
white person in Shelby. His remains were interred in the cemetery at
the Center. The first school house in town was built a short distance
south from Shelby Center and the first brick building was a school
house at that village. The first school was taught by Cornelius Ashton
in the winter of 1815-16. About 1820 Judge William Penniman taught
school near Millville. Upon the erection of the present school house in
Shelby Center, the district, in payment for collecting the taxes for con-
structing the new building, gave Robert Drake the old structure and it
was metamorphosed into a dwelling. The first frame house in town
was located near the old Wormuth tannery at the Center. The first
resident physician. Dr. Christopher Whaley, settled at Shelby Center in
September, 1S19, and was followed soon after by Dr. George Norton.
Dr. Whaley was born in Montville, Conn., June 16, 1798, was gradu-
ated from Fairfield Medical College in June, 18 19, and died October 26,
1867. Dr. Abiel Bowen was a physician and farmer at West Shelby
many years. He died in 1847.
On subsequent pages of this volume will be found extended mention
of many other pioneers and representative families of Shelby, one and all
of whom have contributed to the steady growth and material advance-
ORLEANS COUNTY.
541
ment of one of the finest sections of Western New York. Those hardy-
settlers of early days are gone to their reward, but their children and
grandchildren and others are enjoying the fruits of labor performed
amid privations, sufferings, and hardships, and with commendable pride
are perpetuating their names and deeds of heroism on the page of
history.
During the war of the Rebellion the town of Shelby contributed lib-
erally and promptly of both money and men to sustain the nation's
cause. Her volunteers fought and fell side by side with the brave
soldiers from other portions of the North ; a few still remain to tell of
deeds and sufferings heroic — to retell the ever interesting story of that
sanguinary conflict. A list of those who went out from this town is as
follows :
Henry Allen, 28th Inf.
Samuel Amos, 17th Bat.
Frederick Addleburg, 21st Rat.
Daniel Arnold, 151st Inf.
Harrison Allen, 2d Mounted Rifles.
John Altre, 90th Inf.
Aldrich, 5th Bat.
George A. Bennett, 14th Art.
Silas A. Bird, 8th Art.
Lehman Brace, 28th Inf.
Jesse Benson, 151st Inf.
Luther L. Benson, 8th Art.
John W. Bleekman, 17th Bat.
George R. Bleekman, 97th Inf.
Alexander Butterfield, 90th Inf.
William H. Bartrara 28th Inf.
William Barker, 8th Inf.
John Bothrick, 8th Art.
Carlos Beecher, 8th Art.
Ovid W. Barney, 8th Art.
George Bidleman, 8th Art.
William Buck, N. Y. Cav.
George Bigford, 28th Inf.
James K. Bidleman, 8th Art.
Henry Bentley, 97th Inf.
J. Alfred Barringer, 17th Bat.
Frank Bentley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Alvin Brown, 151st Inf.
Edwin Bentley.
George Bentley, 8th Art.
Henry Breed, 90th Inf.
Robert Coleman, 2d Mounted Rifles.
John Clark, 28th Inf.
Joseph Caldwell, 8th Art.
James Caldwell, 8th Art.
Andrew Coon, 17th Bat.
Samuel Coleman, 1st Art.
John Culver, 1st Art.
Theodore Colhns, drafted.
Joseph H. Cromer, 90th Inf.
Henry Cox, 28th Inf.
Royal Corey, 14th Art.
John Corey, 3d Cav.
George Combe, 13th Art.
Benjamin Cook, 21st Cav.
Thomas Carr
Wyndle P. Clute.
Eugene Cheeseman.
Jacob Deyr, 17th Bat.
Robert W. Drake, 17th Bat.
William Deyo, 1st Art.
Carlton C. Demera, 8th Art.
Alexander Dietrich, 1st Art.
Leander Davis, 1st Art.
David Dun, 1st Art.
Peter Dingy, 17 th Bat.
542
LANDMARKS OF
Joseph L. Dorrance, 27th Inf.
Henry Draper, 1st Art.
Joseph Edick, 8th Art.
David Ellicott, 1st Art.
Frank ElHcott, 1st Art.
Chandler ElHcott, 17th Bat.
Morton M. Edmonds, 17th Bat.
Richard F. Easton, 98th Inf.
Edward Evans, 3d Cav.
Frederick Fish, ] 7th Bat.
William T. Filer, 17th Bat.
William T. Fearly, 8th Cav.
Lynns T. Finch, 8th Art.
Henry Fritcher, 8th Art.
George W. Farley, 31st Bat.
John Foye, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Thomas Foley, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Thomas Freely.
John Grinnell, jr., 90th Inf.
Isaac N. Green, jr., 14th Art.
Thomas W. Green, 14th Art.
Wflliam H. Graves, 17th Bat.
Clark Gifford, 8th Art.
David Glancy.
William Griffin.
Grazier Gates.
Edgar Hoaglan, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Melville Hatch, 17th Bat.
Charles Hatch, 1st Art.
Edward E. Hill, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Nelson L. Huxley, 17th Bat.
Asa Hill, 28th Inf.
August Hankey, 28th Inf.
Alonzo Ham, 17th Bat.
James Hawkins, 8th Art.
David Hall, 1st Art.
Henry Hill, 4th Art.
William M. Ham, 17th Bat.
Elliott E. Hoaglan, 28th Inf.
William H. Hardy, 8th Art.
Sward Huff, 17th Bat.
Francis Holland, 3d Cav.
Edward E. Headley, 21st Bat.
George Headley.
Cornelius Howard, 90th Inf.
William Harland, 90th Inf.
Henry Hawley, 90th Inf.
Dewey Hawkins, 3d Cav.
Gilbert Harrington.
Henry Ide. 90th Inf.
Cephas Jones.
George B. Jackson, 17th Bat.
John Jenkins, 49th Inf.
Frank Ketcham, 8th Art.
Lawrence Keegan, 1st Art.
Frank B. Kent, 3d Cav ; Major 2d col'd Cav.
Aaron Lewis, 28th Inf.
James Lasher, 8th Art.
Abner Leafier, 17th Bat.
James Lysett, 17th Bat.
John Leighbody, 8th Art.
Joseph Little, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William H. Lamson.
Wilbur Lott.
John McGunn, 17th Bat.
David McCarger, 17th Bat.
Robert Montgomery, 17th Bat.
James Mundion 90th Inf.
John Miller, 28th Inf., 2d Mounted Rifles.
George A. Marshall, 8th Art.
James Mann, 8th Art.
George Mann, 8th Art.
Francis Martin, 8th Art.
John McDonald, 17th Bat.
Charles Mace, 17th Bat.
James Mace, 17th Bat.
Josiah F. Morgan, 1st Bat.
George Moore, 17th Bat.
Wallace McDonald, 28th Inf.
Edward J. Miller, 18th Bat.
George F. Norman, 8th Art.
William Neal, 17th Bat.
Edward Olds. 17th Bat.
Ar drew Ondordonk, 90th Inf.
James O'Brien.
Monroe Peaslee, 151st Inf.
Jesse Pratt, 151st Inf.
Stillman Pratt, 151st Inf.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
543
George W. Palmer, 28th Inf.
John Phelan, 8th Art,
August Praell, 3d Cav.
Edward Priddy, 90th Inf.
Wilber F. Prescott, 90th Inf.
Mandeville Phelps, 1st Art.
Newell J. Phelps. 151st Inf.
Charles Price, 28th Inf.
William H. Perry, 25th Bat.
James Panders, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Herbert M. Prentice, 2d Mounted Rifles.
William Quinby.
Jacob Ross, 151st Inf.
Henry Ross, 8th Art.
Michael Ryan.
Ziba Roberts, 28tb Inf.
James Roach, 164th Inf.
Orlando Reynolds, 14th Art.
William H. Reynold?, 8th Art.
Preston Ryan, 151st Inf.
Lysander Robbius, 8th Art.
Jacob Rinker, 31st Bat.
Charles Ross, 8th Cav.
Charles Riordan, 3d Cav.
John Riley.
William Ryan, 90th Inf.
Eugene H. Seeley, Sth Art.
Avery Smith, 17th Bat.
John A. Smith, 28th Inf.
Alonzo W. Snydei , 90th Inf.
James C. Swarthout, 14th Art.
David Sanderson, 29th Inf.
Frank Sanderson, 28th Inf.
Caleb Stillwell, 28th Inf.
Myron Sherwood, Sth Art.
William Shelby, Sth Art.
Robert W. Smith, 17th Bat.
Thomas Smalley, 2Sth Bat.
Edward C. Sleight, Ind Co.
Harvey W. Swarthout, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Albert D. Sowle, 1st Art.
Francis M. Phelps, 187th Inf.
Daniel B. Seeley, 21st Cav.
William Sowle, jr., 17th Bat.
George Sowle, 1st Art.
George A. Stanton, Sth Art.
James Smith.
Snell.
Frederick Streeter, 17th Bat.
Uriah Schwartz.
John Shean, 90th Inf.
James Theodore, ISth Art.
William C. Tucker, 90th Inf.
Lorenzo Toney, 100th Inf.
John Travis, Sth Art.
Burt J. Trowbridge, 90th Inf.
William Thurston, 90th Inf.
Rensselaer Tobis, 90th Inf.
William Trow, Sth Art.
F. H. B. Taylor, 3d Cav.
John T. Tenbroeck.
William Thurston.
Abram Vreeland, 28th Inf.
Syron Vreeland, 17th Bat.
Sidney Vaugh, 129th Inf ; Capt. 12th U.
S. colored Art.
Alexander Vedder, jr., 25th Bat.
Charles Van Wormer.
Francis E. Warner, Sth Art.
Ralph Wood, 90th Inf.
Henry Webb, 28th Inf.
Lamont Wickham, Sth Art.
Eli Ward, 17th Bat.
William Waldron, 4th Art.
Milton Whipple, 17th Bat.
Nathan S. Wood, jr., 4th Art.
Charles Woodford, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Jacob H. Wager, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James H. Whitmore, 17th Bat.
Charles Winegar, 1st Art.
Francis Wilmarth, I7th Bat.
Sands C. Wheeler, 90th Inf.
Gilbert Woodhull, 151st Inf.
George Woodhull, Sth Art.
William G. Wade, 28th Inf.
John M. Wheeler, Sth Art.
Davis Wildey, 17th Bat.
Bradley Webster, Sth Cav.
Charles W"illiams.
James B. Wells, 2d Mounted Rifles.
544 LANDMARKS OF
In this connection the following certificate found among the town's
records is worthy of preservation :
Pension Certificate, War of 1775.
War Department, Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the laws of the United States, of the 18th of March,
1818, Joseph Flood, late a private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the
pension list roll of the New York agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to
commence on the 30th day of May, 1818. Given at the war office of the United
States, this 24th day of November, 1818.
J. C. Calhoun.
Secretary of War.
In 1850 the Medina and Alabama plank road was chartered and con-
structed through the center of the town, but the plank soon proved a
failure and it was stoned and graveled. The charter expired in 1880.
Through the western part of Shelby passes the old salt works road. The
first highway that was opened and worked north and south across the
county was the Oak Orchard road, and from this to Shelby Center the
Holland Land Company cut a road at an early day to enable settlers to
reach the ElHcott mill. The present highways are well kept and com-
pare favorably with those of any section of the State.
In 1820 the average value of land in Shelby was $5.91 per acre ;
number of taxable inhabitants, 199; valuation of real estate owned by
residents, $130,916; and of personal property, $1,750; tax upon real
estate of residents, $293.64, and of non-residents assessed to the Hol-
land Land Company, $191.26. In 1890 the town had a population, ex-
clusive of that portion of Medina village lying within its territory, of
2,098, a decrease since 1880 of 464. In 1893 its real estate was as-
sessed at $1,827,5 1 5 (equalized $1,633,940) and its personal property at
$88,850. The total tax on roll aggregated $12,174.53, the rate per
cent, being .0060868. The dog tax amounted to $273, and the town
audits allowed $3,089.83. The corporations doing business or owning
property in Shelby are assessed on real estate as follows : N. Y. C. & H.
R. R. R. Co, $152,000; Medina Electric Light Company, $1,750;
Medina Water Works Company, $15,000; Postal Telegraph Company,
$5,250; Western Union Telegraph Company, $3,375; Bell Telephone
Company, $1,875 ; Milsons Fertilizer Company, $125. The present
(1894) town officers are Ervin Posson, supervisor ; Herbert L. Olmstead,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 545
town clerk; Grandison W. Liddle, Herbert E. Kilner, A. A. Danields,
Egbert B. Simonds, justices of the peace; Marcellus Culver, collector;
Nelson Posson, assessor ; W. C. Culver, overseer of the poor ; R. A.
Saunders, highway commissioner.
Shelby (locally known as Shelby Center.) — November 9, 1810, the
north part of lot thirty-seven and the whole of lot thirty-eight in the
third range, were articled to Col. Andrew A. EUicott, October 14, 1823,
he took up the east part of lot 7, range 3. The land thus articled to
Mr. Ellicott included the water power at Sheby Center and nearly or
quite all the present village. The line between the third and fourth
ranges was runbyWarham Shepard in November, 1798, and on the
13th of that month the camp of the surveying party was within the
present limits of Medina. The surveys of the Holland purchase were
made under the direction of Joseph Ellicott, and in their field notes
the surveyors set down such items of information concerning the re-
gions surveyed as would subsequently be of value to the agents of the
company. It was noted that here the stream afforded excellent water
power, and the surveyors who afterward divided the ranges and town-
ships into lots gave more detailed descriptions of the lands which they
surveyed. By these means the company's agents in the land office were
made acquainted with the physicial features of all parts of the purchase,
and could estimate very closely the advantages and disadvantages which
every locality presented. Except at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek
there was, at the commencement of this century, no point within the
present limits or Orleans county that gave greater promise of develop-
ment into an active and prosperous village in the near future than did
this place. The canal had not then been dreamed of, and the site of
Medina gave no promise of being anything more than a suburb of the
town that was destined to spring up here with a certainty that the cir-
cumstances warranted. Joseph Ellicott secured about 800 acres here
by article to his nephew. Col. Andrew A. Ellicott, in 18 10, and 500
acres, extending two miles down the creek, to Joseph Ellicott, jr., some
ten years later.
The first mill erected here was a saw mill built in 18 12. In 1813 a
grist mill was erected. Both were on the east side of the creek, and
were built by Joseph Ellicott, under the supervision of Col. Andrew A.
546 LANDMARKS OF
EUicott. For the convenience of the settlers and to promote settlement
and the sale of land a road was opened from these mills east, reaching
the Oak Orchard road about half a mile south of Albion. These
mills were small and clumsily constructed, and the wants of the rapidly
increasing population soon far exceeded their capacity. In 1819 a
second and larger mill was built by Col. Ellicott. This was afterward
burned. It had a large floor which the young people utilized at times
for dancing. On the completion of the mill the first ball in this part of
the town was held there. The musician was a fiddler named Hackett.
The young people here in those times were fond of saltatory exercise
and it was said that when better mu.=ic could not be had at their parties
they danced to the inspiring strains of a jewsharp. In 1840 L. A. G.
B. Grant built a stone flouring mill on the west side of the creek. It
had five runs of stones and was conducted by him ten years. He
sold it to Charles A. Lowber. In 1852 Calvin Hall became the owner
and two years later Hiram Smith purchased it. In 1853 Milford Har-
mon bought it of Mr. Smith, and ran it till 1 87c, when it was sold to
Quail & Cornell and in the spring of that year it was burned. It has
never been rebuilt. In 1849 Mr. Grant erected, near the stone flouring
mill, a building intended for a woolen factory. It was never used as
such; but in 1850 it was purchased by Charles A. Lowber and fitted
up for a custom grist mill with three runs of stones. In 1852 it was
sold to Calvin Hall, in 1853 to Milford Harmon, and in 1876 to Charles
Chamberlain, the present owner. It is conducted by H. S. Olmsted.
The saw mill on the east side of the creek is owned by Clinton Sander-
son. That on the west side was built later. Fifty years ago this mill
was owned by L. A. G. B. Grant. It was sold by him to Cyrus Allen
and by him to Volney A. Acer, the present owner Farther down the
stream a paper mill was built by Philip Winegar & Son some forty
years since. It was sold to L. D. Gifibrd who owned it with partners
till his death, in 1890. It was then owned by Isaac Sonn & Co., and
was used mainly for the manufacture of straw paper. It was burned
in the spring of 1894. In early times a fulling mill stood near where
the custom grist mill now is. After the burning of the flouring mills
this was moved to near the bare walls, and machinery was put into it
for the manufacture of heading. The water wheel of the old flouring
c^^Y~^ <L^^v^n(2L--^^^7-—
ORLEANS COUNTY. 5!7
mill is used. The establishment is owned by Charles Chamberlain. A
stave factory formerly stood on the east side of the creek. It was
burned some years since. Mr. Burns now owns and conducts a cider
and vinegar manufactory here.
The early name of Shelby Center was Barnegat, a designation which
still clings to it to some extent, but why it was ever so called cannot be
determined. Daniel Timmerman established the first tavern in the
town at Barnegat in i8i6. Christian Groffwas the first merchant. He
opened his store in 1818 in a log building on the east side of the creek.
Christopher Whaley was the first physician. In 1821 or 1822 John Van
Brocklin established here an iron foundry, said to be the first in Orleans
county. At about the same time a tannery was built by Justus Inger-
soll. Near to this tannery, on the east side of Oak Orchard Creek,
stood the first framed house erected in the town. To the energy, ac-
tivity, and business talent of Lathrop A. G. B. Grant the village was
largely indebted for its early prosperity. He came here in 1824, and
engaged in mercantile business, and soon became one of the largest
dealers in produce in Western New York. Notwithstanding its loss of
prestige by the building of the canal and the springing up and growth
of the village of Medina, Shelby Center has steadily grown and increased
in wealth. It has now two churches, two physicians, two general stores,
a baker, c. blacksmith shop, a flouring mill, two heading factories, two
saw mills, two cider mills, an evaporator and nearly 300 inhabitants.
The post-office here was the first one in town and the fourth established
in the county, and the earliest mails were received from Ridgeway. The
first postmaster was Col. Andrew A. Ellicott, and the office was long
officially known as Shelby Center. The present postmaster is R. W.
Warmouth. The cemetery here is the oldest in town. In it William
Bennett was buried in 1812 and Mrs, Sarah Ellicott in 1821.
MiLVlLLE. — The village is located at the corners of lots 7, 8, 14 and
15, in the northeast corner of the town. The first purchasers of land
in these lots were: In number seven, Cyrus Johnson and Samuel
Wyman in 1815, and James Mason in 1817 ; lot 8, Abel Sheldon and
Oliver B. Bennett in 1814 ; lot 15, Abel Sheldon in 18 14 and Thomas
Hill in 1815; lot 16, Orange Wells and Champion Wells in 1814, and
Abel Sheldon in 18 15. Probably not all these parties settled and made
548 LANDMARKS OF
improvements on their lands in the year of their purchases. It is known
that in the spring of 1815 Orange Wells and Samuel Wynian came
with their familes, built rude cabins, cleared ground, and sowed wheat
in the fall. Others came in the spring of 1816, and all experienced the
hardships and privations of that celebrated "cold season." Settlers
came in more rapidly afterward, and gradually the place came to be a
point of considerable importance. And even with their primitive sur-
roundings the pioneers were not without social amusements and pub^c
gatherings. One of the earliest of these, and one which was long re-
membered, was a ball at Millville on the F"ourth of July, 18 19. Of
this the late William E. Tanner g,ave the following account:
There were no carnages and but few horses in the country. Young men would
bring their girls behind them, both riding on the same horse. Others would be in
waiting to take the horse aud go after their girls, and soon till the company had assem-
bled. The same course was pursued on their return home. We met in the upper room
of a new building made for a store. The floor was good, but the ceiling overhead was
low at the sides where the seats were placed, audit caused much polite bowing to pre-
vent our heads from coming into contact with the rafters. Our table was spread in
the street in front of the store, and it was well equipped with substantial fare. We
had a fine social time.
" Perhaps this was the first ball ever held in this county," Mr. Tan-
ner writes, but it has been learned that on the same day there was a ball
at the log tavern of Abram Mattison, two miles south from the present
village of Albion.
Two streams unite here to form an affluent of Oak Orchard Creek.
Before the forest was cut away the supply of water in these streams
was more abundant and permanent than it now is, and the wants of the
e.irly inhabitants led to the establishment of mills here, hence the name
of the place. There were at one time two or three saw mills and a
grist mill, and one or two turning mills. A tannery and a foundry
were also in operation, but they have been discontinued. In 1817 a
log school house was built and the first term of school was begun in it
in June by Caroline Fuller. The following winter the teacher was Jew-
ett N. Frost. For a time this school house was also occupied as a
place of worship by the Presbyterians and Methodists, and after it was
replaced by a more commodious structure the new building was used
until 1832 for the same purpose.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 549
In 1839 a substantial stone building was erected for the Millville
Academy, which was incorporated the next year. For a time, under
the efficient administration of the first faculty, which consisted of Pro-
fessors James F. Cogswell, Charles G. Hazeltine, and Miss Clara S.
Montague, the school was exceedingly popular, and the increase in the
number of students necessitated the erection of another building. Af-
terward other academies sprang up in larger and more accessible places,
and this declined. Its charter finally lapsed, and the building came to
be utilized for common school purposes.
The village now has three churches and the necessary mechanical
and commercial establishments to maintain its importance as a prosper-
ous and pleasant rural hamlet. The present postmaster is T. O. Castle.
West Shelby. — The first purchaser of land at West Shelby was
Joshua Park, in the summer of 18 10. In the autumn of that year
David Demara located on lot 34, and became a permanent settler. His
first residence was a log house fourteen by sixteen feet, covered with
bark, without floor, door, or window, with no neighbors nearer than
two miles. The next year Joshua and Samuel Carpenter and Samuel
Bellinger located here, and eight years later David, Jacob and Thomas
Weatherwax purchased some of the lands that had been taken up here,
and from them the place was long known as Weatherwax Corners. West
Shelby post-office was established in 1854, with M. A. Post as post-
master. The present incumbent is Frank Humshery. The place has
a store, the usual mechanic shops, and two churches.
East Shelby is a hamlet located on lots 4 and 12 of range 3. The
first purchases here were made in the spring of 18 17. Though the
name of the post-office is East Shelby, the place has been known as
West Jackson's Corners ; West Barre bearing the name of Jackson's
Corners. P. B. Jackson was the first postmaster here in 1850. There
are two churches, a store, and the usual complement of mechanic shops.
The present postmaster is H. E. Kilner. Many years since a steam
saw mill was built here by a Mr. Peckham. After a few years he sold
it to Gardner Berry, and it was burned while he owned it. It 1853 it
was rebuilt by Peter Grinell, and some five years later it was purchased
by Pope & Brownell, who sold it to J. F. Kilner in 1848. It gradually
fell into disuse, and it is rapidly going to decay. Mr. Kilner built a
550 LANDMARKS OP
steam saw mill at East Shelby soon after Mr. Peckham's mill was
erected. It was built on leased ground, and on the expiration of the
lease it was taken down.
Shelby Basin is a postal hamlet on the Erie Catial two miles west
from Medina. At the opening of the canal it was a somewhat im-
portant point for the sale and shipment of produce, but Medina on the
east and Middleport on the west soon overshadowed it, and it has had
little or no growth.
Medina. — The history of this village, which lies partly within the
limits of the town of Shelby, on the northern edge, is included wholly in
the chapter devoted to Ridgeway.
The First Baptist Church of Shelby Center. — On the 25th of July,-
18 1 8, a meeting for the organization of this church was held at the
house of Joseph Hagaman. The society was organized on the 28th by
Rev. Simeon Dutcher, of Gaines, and during fifteen years the congre-
gation worshiped in school houses, private dwellings, and barns ; but
in 1833 a house of worship was erected. It covered an area of 40x50
feet, and had galleries on the sides, as was then the fashion. Its cost
was about $1,000. It was located a mile south from Shelby Center.
A new church edifice was erected by the society in 1862, and dedicated
in February, 1863. The site was donated by V. A. Acer, and the cost
of the church was $2,250. A parsonage was purchased in 1865. In
1822 several members were dismissed to unite with a society in Royal-
ton, and in 1829 others took letters to unite in the organization of the
Baptist church at Medina. About 1843 the pastor. Rev. A. Draper,
and several members of the church withdrew and formed the Free Will
Baptist church in Shelby Center. During fifteen years Elder James
Carpenter, one of the original members of the church, was its pastor.
He was ordained May 15, 18 19. He was a pioneer, lived in his log
cabin, and supported his family mainly by his own labor, receiving only
slight compensation for his pastoral srevices. Mr. Carpenter was said
to be a man of great earnestness and energy, and of superior native
talent, though not highly educated. His sermons often occupied three
hours in their delivery. It is related of him in Turner's History of the
Holland Purchase that he once, with a single blow of his axe, killed a
large bear that was making off with one of his pigs. It is also said
ORLEANS COUNTY. 551
of him that once, about 1823, as he was on his way with an ox team to
market at Gaines he was recognized and asked to officiate at a funeral
where they had failed to procure the services of a clergyman. He at
once chained his oxen to a tree, laid off his hat and apron, and pro-
claimed to the assembly the consolations of the Gospel adapted to the
sorrowing and bereaved. After commending them in prayer to Him
who " does not willingly afflict " he closed the services, resumed his
working dress, and pursued his journey. The pastors who succeeded
him were in order: Revs. S. Gilbert, A Draper, S. M. Stimson, L. H.
Gibbs, William Branch, G. G. Hatch, William Putnam, H. Pettit, J. M.
Forbes, E. Edwards, D. Donovan, Sears, Bailey, Hartigan, Smith, and
Harrington. The Sunday-school connected with this church was first
organized in 1833.
The Free Will Baptist Church of Shelby Center. — Rev. A. Draper,
who had been pastor of the First Baptist Church and George W. See-
ley, Joseph McCargar, John Bentley, jr., Caleb Stillwell, Adam Liddle,
Sarah C. McCargar, Laura Draper, Anna McCargar, Marsylva Bentley,
Ruth Perry, Harriet Perry, and Melinda M. Liddle, many of whom had
been members of the First Baptist Church Society, organized themselves
into the Freewill Baptist Church in Shelby, which, on the 16th of Janu-
ary, 1845, was recognized by a council as a regular organization. At
first the society met for worship in the school house at Shelby Center,
but in 1849 a church building was erected at a cost of $1,400. The
pastors have been Revs. Henry Blackman, Alanson Draper, William
Clark, P, S. Barker, Charles Cook, H. Perry, S. Bathrick, Wilham
Young, A. Z. Mitchell, D. J. Whiting, M. Blackman, W. H. Peck,
Moon, Butterfield, Cook, Kittle, Baker and Kerningham. The Sunday
school was organized in 1850 with George W. Seely as superintendent.
The people of Millville and the country around it enjoyed religious
privileges at a very early day. Revs. R. K. Gregory and Mr. Lock
were local preachers of the M. E. Church and labored here, and a cir-
cuit preacher, Rev. Daniel Shepherdson, held services in the autumn of
1 8 16, and occasionally afterward. By 1820 the Methodists, Presby-
terians and Congregationalists had organized societies and all wor-
shiped in the log school house that had been built in the spring of
18 17, the different denominations alternating with each other, and all
552 LANDMARKS OF
attending the services of each. Thus they worshiped till 1832, a more
commodious school house having meantime been built.
The Congregational Church of Millville. — On the 15th of November,
1820, Rev. Alanson Darwin organized a nominal Presbyterian Church
at Millville, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of
Rochester on April 17, 1821, and assigned to the Presbytery of Niagara
on the organization of that body. The constituent members were
Nathan Sherwood, Joseph Wyman, Chester Frost, Orange Wells, Leon-
ard Dresser, John Burns, Joshua Church, Betsey Wyman, Elsy Frost,
Lucy Sherwood, Zivia Foote, Sally Elwell, Jane Burns, Timothy John-
son, Harvey Elwell, Benjamin Darling, and Esther Darling. These
members and others who soon united with them were mostly immigrants
from New England and felt a strong preference for the Congregational
form of church government, to which they had been accustomed. After
a few years they adopted that form, to which they afterward adhered,
though for most of the time they had a connection with the Niagara
Presbytery under the accommodation plan. This society worshiped
alternately with the Methodists in the school house till 1832. About
that time a grant of fifty acres of land was received from the Holland
Land Company, and in 1832 their first house of worship was erected
on the north side of the road, sixty or seventy rods west from the cen-
ter of the village. In 1848 it was sold to T. O. Castle and removed,
and a larger and better church edifice was built on the site of the pres-
ent one, at a cost of about $2,000. July 9, 1870, this building was des-
troyed by fire. Measures were at once taken for the erection of a new
one, and J. L. Root, W. L'Hommedieu and D. W. Linsley, trustees of
the society, were appointed a building committee. The new edifice was
completed and furnished at a cost of $7,000, and on the 25th of Janu-
ary, 1 87 1, was dedicated, free from debt. In 1875 J. L Root donated
to the society a church bell, the cost of which was $350, an organ was
purchased for the church and sheds were erected in the same year, the
total cost being $700. In 1884 the auditorium was repainted and fres-
coed. The following clergymen have ministered to this society : Revs.
E. Fairbanks, J. Winchester, A. Rawson, W. P. Kendrick, E. Ray-
mond, R. Dunning, Mr. Chapin, S. A. Rawson, E. B. Benedict, E. W.
Kellogg, D. J. B. Hoyt, E. Colton, N. Y. Yoemans, L. S. Atkins, W.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 553
G. Hubbard, L. B. Rogers, W. Glover, Calvin S. Shattuck, W. Tyler,
Charles Drake, W. H. Yarrow, and G. W. Grush. The Sunday school
connected with this church was organized as early as 1825 and is said
to be the oldest in town.
The Presbyterian Church of Millville, as it now stands, was formed
in 1874 with nineteen members who withdrew in April of that year
from the Congregational Society. The constituent members were
Matthew Gregory and wife, Mr. Scoville and wife, Myron Sherwood
and wife, Heman Coan and wife, Lucy J. Coan, Mrs. Coan, Mr. Chapin
and wife, Noble Potter and wife, Giles Pruden, Asher Pruden, Charles
Hayman, Electa Dresser, and Elva Wyman. The organizer was Rev.
D. Weisner, of Lockport, a member of the Niagara Presbytery. The
society purchased the meeting house that has been built by the
Quakers, and remodeled and furnished it at a total expense of $1,000,
thus converting it into a very commodious and pleasant place of wor-
ship. In 1884 the house was sold again to the Quakers, who have since
occupied it.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Millville. — The first Methodist
class in Millville was organized in 1820 by Rev. Richard Wright. The
first class reader was Roswell Benton, and the first local preacher was
Ralph K. Gregory. The society worshiped in the school house many
years, but in 1834 a church edifice was built. It was repaired, reseated,
and refitted in 1890. The following clergyman have served this society :
Revs. Daniel Shepherdson, P. Buel, Z. Paddock, J. Hall, R. Wright, J.
Summerville, E. Boardman, J. Atwood, Isaac Pufier, W. Fowler, J.
Brownson, John Copeland, Hiram May, P. Woodworth, M. Harker, O.
Abbott, J. Brakeman J. W. Nevins, G. Hines, E. O'Flyng, A. M.
Fillmore, J. B. Lankton, D. D. Buck, Deforest Parsons, S. C. Smith,
P. Powers, J. Timmerman, D. Nichols, J. W. Vaughn, J. Latham, J. F.
Derr J. B, Smith, S. H. Baker, D. J. B. Hoyt, J. McClelland, R. C.
Brownlee, R W. Gould, C. R Clark, J. G. Tate, J E. Wallace, J.
Hagar, John H. Freeland, W. L. Warner, C. A. Woodworth, Richard
Wrench, A. H. Mason, Walter Dynes, T. N. Williams and G. H. Pat-
terson. The society has about sixty-five members. In 1893-94 ^
parsonage was added to their property.
554 LANDMARKS OF
The Methodist Society at Fletcher Chapel. — At a very early date
several families from Schoharie county, N. Y., settled on the road be-
tween East and West Shelby. Their names were Moyer, Becker,
I^'*iggs, Bailey, Vroman, Vanderkar, Worthington, Eckerson, Manning
and others. These were Lutherans, and they formed a society of that
denomination. A house of worship was erected in this vicinity, about
two and one-half miles west frorn East Shelby, and worship was main-
tained there for many years. Deaths and removals weakened the society
till finally it became extinct. During some years preaching was only
occasionally had by ministers who happened in the vicinity, but about
1855 services began to be regularly held by the Methodists. Without
any formal acquisition of the property it came to be the house of wor-
ship of a Methodist society, and it has for some thirty- five years been a
regular charge of the Millville M. E. Church. It is not known how it
acquired the name of Fletcher Church. The membership of this society
is about thirty-five.
The Society of Friends of Millville. — In 18 18 a " Meeting" of Friends
existed in Millville, and as time went on the society prospered. In 1841
they erected a stone church building, and continued their quiet worship
there till 1870. By that time the society had become so much weak-
ened by deaths and removals that they relinquished their organization
and a few years later their meetinghouse was sold to the Presbyterians.
Reuben Haines and Mary Thistletwaite were preachers in this Meeting.
In 1884 the church (as they now term it) was reorganized and the house
of worship was repurchased and in 1887 was repaired and refitted.
Worship was conducted from 1884 till 1893, during most of which
time Mrs. E. G. Underbill was the preacher. She was succeeded by
George Hull. No services have been held since 1893 The society
numbers about fifteen.
Christian Church of West Shelby. — March 21, 1834, Rev. Aaron Cor-
nish organized the Second Christian church in Royalton at a school house
in joint School District No. 4, near West Shelby. The constituent
members were: Lewis Fohett, Eliza Fohett, William Roberts, Daniel
Childs, Maria Childs, James Freeman, Sally Freeman, Abigail Cook, Mary
Ann Lowell. Daniel O. Lee, Sally Lee, Sally Osburn, Anna Valentine,
Mrs. Chase, J. D. Childs, Samuel Gould, Amasa Stone, Nancy Stone,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 555
and Mary Ann Shelp. March 5, 1841, the society resolved to build a
meeting house, and decided that the site should be on the farm of Abiel
Bowen, in Shelby, near the burying ground. A wooden church edifice
was erected the same year under the superintendence of Abiel Bowen,
John Shelp, and Simon Letts, trustees. June 3, 1843, the name was
changed to the First Christian Church of Shelby. January 20, 1869, this
building was burned and measures were at once taken for the erection
of another. The trustees of the society at that time were : Giles
Phelps, W. O. Holdridge, Daniel Childs, and Alonzo Evans. They
were empowered to exercise their judgment in the erection of a church
building, and in the autumn of that year a brick edifice was completed
at a cost of $3,200. As nearly as can be learned the pastors of this
church have been : Revs. Aaron Cornish, Amos Freeman, Sylvester
Pervier, Chester Covill, Asa Morrison, James Knight, J. D. Childs, John
H. Currier, J. F. Wade, Jotham Morse, J. W. Lawton, Ansel Bourne,
H. Rhodes, W. Vreeland, F. R. Wade, Frank Wing, Mr. Somers, D.
W. Moore, and Elias Jones. Of these Rev. J. D. Childs was pastor
during twenty years.
The M. E. Church at West Shelby. — At an early date a Methodist
class was formed at West Shelby, and for many years they worshiped
in the school house at that place. In 1843 this class and another a mile
and a half west united and erected a house of worship at the latter point,
opposite the Demara residence. In this they worshiped more than
forty years, then removed it to its present location in the village and
built an addition, making it a very commodious and tasteful church.
This society is served by the pastor at Middleport. It has at different
times been a portion of the Alabama, Millville, Royalton, and Middle-
port circuits.
The M. E. Church at East Shelby was organized in 1839, with fifteen
constituent members. The society had a slow growth, and its place of
worship was the district school house till 1854. In that year the present
church edifice was erected at a cost of $3,500. Among the clergymen
who have ministered to this society the names are remembered of Revs.
Pearson, Baker, Lawton, Thorpe, J. McEwen, J, B. Lanckton, John
Timmerman, William Seism, J. G. Hammond, R. N. Leake, J. O.
Willsea, P. W. Gould, J. G. Hammond, WiUiam Magovern, Daniel
556 LANDMARKS OF
Clark, E. Wildman, A. H. Maryott, D. D. Cook, Joseph Morrow, and
P. P. Sowers. The house of worship was repaired and remodeled in
1882 at an expense of $1,600. This has always been a part of the
West Barre charge. Its Sunday-school was originally organized
in 1840.
The First Advent Church at East Shelby was organized with the
following constituent members : Jerra Crane, Franklin Carpenter,
Jeanette G. Carpenter, Paul Grinell, Sarah Grinell, Edward Sanderson,
Eliza J. NowHn, Laura A. Whitmore, James H. Whitmore, Laura A.
Hale, Samuel Reed, Samuel W. Smith, Anna Smith, Perry M. Grinell,
Henry Hoy, Mary Hoy, Laurin Grinell, Marilla Grinell, Lucretia
Grinell, Ann Posel, James G. Grice, Ursula Grice, Jesse H. Pratt,
Alden S. Barber, Thomas Rollings, Ann Rollings, Samuel Whitmore,
Horace Grinell, James B. Wyman, Mary E. Wyman. Lewis Sohn, and
Burton F, Jackson. In 1870 a church edifice was erected, at a cost of
$3,000, The following have been pastors of the society : Revs. War
ren Vreeland, B. P. Stevens, J. H. Whitmore, and Mr. Sweet.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE TOWN OF CLARENDON.
Clarendon was erected from Sweden on the 23d of February, 1821. It
is the southeastern town in the county, and lies wholly within the hun-
dred thousand acre tract, which was jointly owned at the time the town
was settled by the State of Connecticut and the Pultney estate. It is
almost exactly square, and has an area of 21,656 acres of sandy loam
mixed with clay. The Medina sandstone underlies the north part of the
town, but south from the terrace which passes through it in an easterly
and westerly direction the underlying formation is Niagara limestone,
and in some portions of this southern part the surface is thickly strewn
with bowlders of this rock. The great Tonawanda swamp includes two
or three thousand acres of the southwest part of the town, the outlet of
this swamp being the east branch of Sandy Creek, which flows in a north-
ORLEANS COUNTS. 557
westerly course and passes into the town of Murray near Holley. On
this branch are two considerable falls : One at Clarendon village and the
other near the north line of the town, and both have been utilized as
mill sites ; a grist mill and a saw mill having been built at each place.
Several other saw mills have been built in different parts of Clarendon,
but as the timber which once grew here disappeared they went to de-
cay. At an early period a number of distilleries came into existence in
different parts of the town, but one by one they have been discontinued,
and it is many years since the last one ceased operations.
The boundaries of Clarendon have not been changed since the organi-
zation of the town. It was named by Eldredge Farwell, its first super-
visor, in honor of Clarendon, Vt. It is bounded on the east by Sweden
in Monroe county, on the south by Byron and Bergen in Genesee county,
on the west by Barre and a small part of Albion, and on the north by
Murray. Thefirst town meeting was held on the 4th of April, 1821, at
the school house in Clarendon village, then known as Farwell's Mills.
The following officers were chosen: Eldredge Farwell, supervisor;
Joseph M. Hamilton, town clerk; Reuben Lucus, William Lewis and
Henry Hill, assessors ; David Church, James A. Smith and Cyrus
Hood, commissioners of highways ; Alexander Annis and Shubael Lewis,
overseers of the poor; Robert Owen, Jeremiah Glidden, and Anson
Bunnell, commissioners of common schools ; Ardel Nay, Luther Peck,
and Samuel Hedges, inspectors of common schools ; Truman Smith,
collector ; John C. Remington, Willard Dodge, and Truman Smith,
constables; and Eldredge Farwell, pound master. The supervisors
have been as follows ;
Eldredge Farwell, 1821, '22; Jeremiah Glidden. 1823, '24; Henry Hill, 1S25; Hiram
Frisbie, 1826; Nathaniel Warren, 1827; Henry Hill, 1828; Chauncey Robinson. 1829;
John Millard, 1830, '31 ; Elizur Warren, 1832, '33; Zardius Tousley, 183-1: ; Horatio
Reed, 1835, '36, '37, '38 ; B. G. Pettengill, 1839; John Millard. 1840; Jason A. Shel-
don, 1841, '42, '43; B. G. Pettengill, 1844, '45; Ira B. Keeler. 1846, '47; Orson Tous-
ley, 1848; G. M. Copeland, 1849, '50; Nicholas E. Darrow, 1851, '52; Daniel F. St^
John, 1853; Nicholas E. Darrow, 1854; Daniel Martin, 1855; Lucius B. Coy, 1856 *
Amasa Patterson, 1857; Thomas Turner. 1858; G.M. Copeland, 1859; Daniel Martin,
1860 ; Mortimer D. Milliken, 1861, '62 ; Martin Evarts, 1863 ; Nicholas E. Darrow,
1864, "65; Henry C. Martin, 1866, '67, '68 ; David N. Pettengill, 1869. '70; Darwin M.
Inman, 1871, '72; Albert M. Church, 1873; Peter A. Albert, 1874, '75, 76; A. J. Pot-
ter, 1877 ; Webster E. Howard, 1878 ; Nathan 0. Warren, 1879; William H. H. Goff,
558
LANDMARKS OF
1880, '81 ; William N. Inman, 1882, '83 ; Charles Lusk, 1884 ; William C. Roberts. 1885 ;
Charles Lusk, 1886; William H. H. Goff, 1887. '88, '89, '90, '91, '92; Eugene Crossett,
1893, '94.
Clarendon was formed from the Hundred Thousand Acre or Connecti-
cut Tract. As has been stated, this land was owned jointly by the State
of Connecticut and the Pultney estate, and that belonging to the latter
was not surveyed and put in market till 1821 ; hence the late date of many
of the deeds.. The Connecticut lands were sold earlier. There were
" squatters " on the lands of the Pultney estate earlier, by tacit permission.
No records of articles, or contracts, with settlers on the Hundred Thou-
sand Acre Tract are accessible. The early agents in charge of these lands
were: Dr. Levi Ward for the State of Connecticut, and Joseph Fellows
for the Pultney estate. The lots in the north three-fifths of the town
are numbered from south to north and from east to west ; and in giv-
ing the following list of grantees this order is followed without regard
to chronological arrangement :
Lot 1, Jacob Dingman, 40, 08 acres, July
1, 1839; Jos. L. Cook, 40, 08 a., March 1,
1838.
L. 2, Asa and Smith Glidden, 97, 04 a.,
Nov. 19, 1834.
L. 3, Jacob Stull. 85, 70 a.. Apr. 28,
1828.
L. 4, Edmund Spencer, 29, 99 a., Oct.
1, 1846; Ichabod Hill, 48, 98 a., March 8,
1831,
L. 5, Stephen B. Williams. 76, 87 a.,
Sept. 1, 1836; Elijah L. Williams, 25, 42
a., Oct. 1, 1846.
L. 6, Stephen B. and Alfred Williams,
49, 63 a., June 30, 1823 ; Elijah L. Will-
iams, 49, 60 a., Oct. 1, 1835.
Lot 7, Dan. Polly, 99. 50 a. (part lot 8),
Nov. 20, 1827 ; John S. Grenell, 43, 78 a.,
Jan. 1, 1840.
Lot 8, John S. Grenell, 43, 78 a., Jan.
1, 1840.
L. 9 and 10, Mortimer H. Taylor. 98, 87
a., June 1, 1855; Henry A. He.s,s, 98, 87
a., May 12,1831.
L. 11, Ja.s. A. Sheldon, .50, 54 a.. May
20, 1833 ; Monmouth Hart, 54, 54 a.. Ju-
ly 1, 1836.
L. 12, Leander Warren, 46, 50 a.. July 3,
1851 ; David Warren, 46, 50 a., Sept. 20,
1836.
L. 20, Joseph L. Cook, 83, 28 a., March
1, 1838
L. 21, Joseph L. Cook, 46, 48 a., March
1, 1838 ; Asa and Smith Glidden, 40, 47
a., Jan. 1, 1821.
L. 22 Selah North, 86, 04 a., Jan. 16,
1827.
L. 23, James Lusk, 47, 59 a., July 1,
1853 ; Joseph Pratt, 47, 59 a., Jan. 1, 1836.
L. 24, Samuel Lusk. 25 a., Jan 1, 1834;
John Nelson, 82. 99 a., Oct. I, 1835.
L. 25, Elijah L. Williams, 30 a., Oct. 1,
1836 ; Daniel S. Ross, 69, 80 a.. May 1,
1845.
L. 26, Benjamin Thomas, 111, 98a., Oct.
1, 1841.
L. 27 and 28, Elizur Warren, 81, 72 a.,
Oct. 1, 1836 John and Aaron French, 20,
ORLEANS COUNTY.
559
18a., April 1. 1842; John French, 50, 95
a., March 4, 1833 ; John Alexander, 50, 95
a., April 1, 1836.
L. 30, Luther D. Hurd, 108, 84 a., March
1, 1854.
L.31, Thomas Hood, 54, 63 a., Sept. 30,
1835; Alva Smith, 40 a., June 12, 1832.
L. 39, Abraham M. Schermerborn, 83,
54 a., Sept. 27, 1850.
L 40, Henry Davis, 89, 66 a., Nov. 1,
1833.
L. 41, Jared L. Cook, 81, 90 a., Feb. 1,
1836.
L. 42, John McConnell, 85, 45 a., June
1, 1838.
L. 43, John McConnell, 54, 11 a., June
1, 1838;'John Pratt. 54, 11 a., Sept. 1,
1834.
L. 44, Orson Butterfield, 47,26 a., Sept.
i, 1834; Orson Butterfield, 47, 26 a., Oct.
1, 1832.
L. 45, Harmon Wadsworth, 80, 73 a.,
Jan. 1, 1852.
L. 46, Levi Clark, 43, 44 a., Dec. 1, 1852-
L. 47, Daniel Bnrnette, jr.. 108, 47 a..
Sept. 3, 1832.
L. 48, George Storm.^, 43. 62 a., Jan. 1,
1835: George Storms, 30, 77 a., June 1,
1854.
L. 49, William Hatch, 13 a., Nov. 1,
1847; George Storms, 28. 31 a, June 1,
1854 ; William Hatch, 51, 81 a., Nov. 1,
1847.
L. 50, Tamerlane T. Roberts, 41.23 a..
May 26, 1836; Epaphres Pennell, 46. 23
a., May 20, 1836.
L. 59, Henry Davis, 48, 85 a., Oct. 1,
1834.
L. 60, Daniel Shepard, 89, 20 a., Jan.
20, 1830.
L 61, Edson Howard, 39 99 a.. Oct. 1,
1836; Selah North, 5 a., Oct. 1, 1836;
Jason A. Sheldon, 45, 25 a., May 4, 1827.
L. 62, Ichabod Hill, 44, 66 a., Nov. 1,
1849; Thomas Glidden, 44, 66 a., Dec. 1,
1836.
L. 63, Israel Keeler, 58, 18 a., Oct. 1,
1834.
L. 64, Simeon B Jewett, 48, 38 a., Nov.
17, 1836-; Eldridge Farwell, 48, 38 a.,
Dec. 1. 1859.
L. 65, Simeon B. Jew^ett, 51, 52 a., Nov.
1, 1836; George W. Farwell. 24, 15 a.,
Nov. 1, 1847; Jane Downs, 10 a., Dec. 1,
1856.
L. 66, Henry Osterhout, 26, 52 a.. May
1. 1845; Nathaniel Huntoon, 3, 13 a.,
Oct. 1, 1834.
L. 67, Aristarchus Champion. 110,32 a.,
Dec. 1, 1836.
L. 68, William Gibson, 64, 25 a., Nov. 1,
1848.
L. 70, John Reed, 95 a., June 14, 1819.
L. 82, John Hawley, 63, 08 a., (part lot
104) Aug. ], 1853.
L. 84, David Matson, 81, 76 a., Oct. 1,
1828.
L. 85, David Matson, 116, 17 a., Feb.
16, 1831.
L. 86, Eldridge Farwell, 43, 14 a., Dec.
1, 1859, Holmes Cornwall, 50 a.. May 1,
1835.
L. 88, Job Hopkins, 20 a., Nov. 1, 1836;
Hiram Joselyn. 21, 93 a., Sept. 1, 1854.
L. 89-90, William Gibson, 26, 49 a., Nov
1, 1855.
L.9], Ruel Haokerson, 41, 08 a., Oct. 1,
1853; George Hood and Harley Hood,
53, 85 a , Nov. 20. 1827.
L. 92, Cyrus Hood, 94, 43 a., April 5,
1831.
L. 103, Nicholas E. Darrow, 31, 68 a.,
Oct. 1,1853.
L. 104, George M. Copeland, 40, 82 a.,
Nov. 1, 1852.
560
LANDMARKS OF
L. 105, Simeon Glidden, 34, G4 a., Oct. 1,
1838. ; Henry C. Glidden, 57, 94 a., July
1, 1835.
L. 106, Henry C. Glidden, 25, 68 a., July
1, 1835; Simeon Glidden, 40.57 a., June
3, 1832 ; Simeon Glidden, 5, 48 a., Oct. 1,
1838; Henry C. Glidden. 5, 48 a., July 1,
1835.
L. 107, Calvin C. Patterson, 38, 05 a.,
Apr. 1, 1845; Simeon Glidden, 58 a., June
30, 1832.
L. 108, 109, Joseph Beard, 202, 19 a.,
Oct. 1, 1835.
L. 110 Harley Hood, 87, 77 a., June 1,
1855.
L. Ill, Albern Joselyn, 26, 70 a., Oct. 1,
1853 ; Jabez and Albern Joselyn, 60, 78
a., Nov. 1, 1849.
L. 112, Harley Hood, 65, 58 a., Feb. 3,
183.3.
L. 113 Eunice Hood and others, 105, 08
a., Feb. 3, 1833.
L. 114, Alexander Milliken, 67, 85 a.,
Aug. 21, 1833 ; L. Howard, 25 a.
L. 126, Zardiu.s Tousley. 50, 02 a., Sept.
2, 1840 ; Lyman Cook, 5, 42 a. ; Loam-
mi Clark, 40, 45 a., May 20, 1836.
L. 127, Isaac Palmer, 41, 03 a., Aug. 28,
1834: David Church, 41,03 a., Apr. 10,
1828.
L. 128, Jonathan Church, 47, 94 a., June
12, 1832 ; Orson Tousley, 47. 94 a., Nov.
25, 1844.
L. 129, Abraham R. Schermerhorn, 94,
29 a., Nov. 16, 1832.
L. 130, Stephen Martin, jr., 61, 60 a.,
Sept. 27, 1815 ; Joseph Sturges, 50 a.,
June 14, 1819.
L. 131, John Church, 101, 79 a., Sept. 1,
1843.
L. 132, Joseph Sturges, 24 a.. May 3,
1822; Eldridge Farwell, 62, 64 a., Feb.
22, 1823 ; Eldridge Farwell, 25 a.. May 3,
1822.
L. 133, Enos Dodge, 89, 17 a., Feb. 11,
1824.
L. 134, Harley Hood, 25 a., Oct. 15,
1838; Jane Nay, 28 a., July 1, 1858.
L. 135, Harley Hood, 18 a., Aug. 21,
1837; Thomas Turner, 70, 13 a., May 29,
1850.
L. 136, Joseph Fellows, 52, 19 a., June
16, 1838.
L. 137, Isaac Cady, 45, 24 a , Apr. 1,
1851 ; Isaac Cady, jr., 45, 24 a., Feb. 1,
1836.
L. 149, Zardius Tousley, 40 a. ;
Loammi Clark, 44, 35 a.. May 20, 1836 ;
W. W. Holt, 10 a., Nov. 10, 1853.
' L. 150, David Church, 80, 39 a.. May 29,
1818.
L. 151, Samuel M. Coy, 87, 66 a., June
29, 1861.
L. 152, Dan Marvin, 19, 40 a., Feb. 25,
1848 ; Thomas Dodge, 45, 05 a.. May 30,
1835; William Tripp, 25, 66 a., July 22,
1852.
L. 153, Stephen Martin, jr., 53, 40 a.,
Dec. 29, 1828; Aaron Cornish, 21, 96 a.,
Nov. 8, 1822; Erastus Bixby, 11, 78 a.,
March 28, 1853; Geo. S. Salsbury, 12,
20 a.
L. 155, Henry C Martin, 15, 18 a., Jan.
30, 1855; Ira PhilHps. 17, 34 a., June 13,
1853 ; Zardius Tousley, 31, 60 a., Dec. 18,
1849.
L. 156, Ben Pettingill, 5, 34 a., Sept. 30,
1836; Joseph Sturges, 54, 01 a., June 14,
1819; Abner Hopkins, 29, 15 a., April 12,
1837.
L. 158, Erastus Cone, 11 a.; John T.
Harper, 80, 21 a., Sept. 29, 1834.
L. 159. John Stevens, 94 a., Dec. 10,
1853; Guy M. Salisbury, 12, 44 a., Jan.
21, 1857.
L. 160, Isaac Cady, 47, 49 a., Aug. 1,
1853 ; Martha Mary Cady, 22 a., Apr. 1,
1853.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
561
L. 173, Warren W. Holt, 32, 30 a., March
15, 1853 ; N. C. Austin, 40 a., Jan. 2, 1851.
L. 174, Amasa Patterson, 41, 62 a. ;
Zardius Tousley, 41, 36 a., June 14, 1819.
L. 175, Zardius Tousley, 75, 16 a., Apr.
25, 1825; Zardius Tousley, 24a., June 14,
1819.
L. 176, William Tripp, 53, 04 a., July 12,
1852; Levi A. Ward, 40 a., Oct. 13,
1847.
L. 177, William H. Ward, 106, 31 a..
May 9, 1827.
L. 178, Augustus Southworth, 51, 94 a,
Dec, 7, 1855 ; Samuel Wetherbee, 25, 97 a ,
Oct. 28. 1839; B. Pettmgill, jr., 25, 57 a.,
May 20, 1836.
L. 179, Benj. Pettingill, jr., 50 a., Oct.
12,1835; Benj. Pettingill, jr., 56, 67 a..
May 3, 1822.
L. 180, Abner Hopkins, 88. 76 a., Sept.
22, 1826.
L. 181, Levi Preston, 52, 31 a., April 15,
1830; Frederick and Andrew N. Salis-
bury, 40, 32 a., Oct. 3, 1846; Abm. W.
Salisbury, 12 a., Jan. 20, 1846.
L. 182, Levi Preston, 45, 62 a., April 16,
1834; Abm. W. Salsbury, 22, 81 a., Sept.
11, 1830; Guy M. Salisbury, 22, 81a.,
April 18, 1830.
L. 183, George S. Salisbury, 51, 71 a.,
Apr. 16, 1834; George S. Salisbury, 51,
71 a., May 14. 1844.
L. 184, Abel Hubbard, 91, 59 a., Nov.
1, 1849.
L. 198, James G. Hill, 48, 77 a., Nov.
36, 1857 ; Valentine Tousley, 25 a., Apr.
1, 1829; Orson Tousley, 23. 77 a., Nov.
23, 1844.
L. 199, Margaret Tousley and others,
22 a., Nov. 23, 1844; Philemon Allen,
40 a.. Feb. 20, 1854.
L. 200, Amasa Patterson, 17, 44 a., May
16, 1859.
71
L. 201, Simeon Glidden, 25, 4G a , June
25, 1846; Orson Tousley, 65. 14 a.. May
6, 1850.
L. 202, Samuel Knowles, 102, 23 a.,
March 17, 1848.
L. 203, Samuel Wetherbee, 51, 76 a.
June 20, 1836; Benjamin Pettengill, 51,
76 a., December 4, 1846.
L. 204, B. Pettengill, jr., 20 a., May 20^
1836; B. G. Pettengill, 20 a., June 12,'
1832; John Millard, 20, 25 a., June 20,
1836; Benjamin G. Pettengill, 30 a., Oct.
5, 1845.
L. 205, David Pettengill, 45, 16 a., Sept.
2, 1851 ; J. Hopkins, 45, 16 a.,
L. 206., Thomas Annis, 52, 02 a., April
10, 1833 ; Alexander Annis, 52, 03 a., Jan.
9, 1828.
L. 207, Abraham W. Salsbury, 46, 69
a., Oct. 1, 1829; Guy M. Salsbury, 46, 69
a., July 27, 1827.
L. 208, Josiah Graves. 53, 53 a., Apr.. 6,
1826; Lemuel Pratt, 50 a.,
L. 209, Norton L. Webster, 26, 38 a..
May 1, 1849; Caleb Hallock, 66, 38 a.,
Nov. 1, 1833.
L. 223, Orson Tousley, 26, 73 a., Dec.
14, 1853 ; Alexander Milliken, 10 a., Dec.
14, 1853 ; Philemon Allen, 61, 79 a., Dec.
15, 1853.
L. 224, John Wetherbee, jr., 81, 94 a.,
May 20, 1836.
L. 225, Philemon Allen, 49, 26 a., Feb.
20, 1854; Orson Tousley, 49, 26 a., Nov.
25, 1844.
L. 226, Orson Tousley, 46, 26 a., Dec.
21, 1853; A. Nay, 46, 26 a.,
L. 227, Amos Palmer, 18, 35 a., Apr. 11,
1838; Amos Palmer, 25 a., Dec. 26,
1845.
L. 228, Samuel Wetherbee, 26 a., Dec.
26, 1848; Benjamin Pettengill, 49, 99 a.,
562
LANDMARKS OF
L 229, Tolin Millerd, 52, 90 a., June 20.
1836; Philip Inman, 48 a., March 10,1852.
L. 230, Daniel Brackett, 67, 95 a., Jan.
16, 1838; Philip Inman, 24 a., Sept. 20,
1853.
L. 231, Joseph Owen, 7, 90 a. ; Daniel
Brackett, 49, 85 a., June 12, 1832; Daniel
Brackett, 20 a., Apr. 10, 1835 ; Philip In-
man, 25 a., Sept. 20, 1853.
L. 232, Manning and Christopher Pack-
ard, 46, 71 a.. July 11, 1845; An Sals-
bury, 20, 91 a., Sept. 6. 1851 ; Daniel Aus-
tin 26 a., Apr. 12, 1837.
L. 233, Adam Glum, 51, 67 a., Jan. 29,
1846; Daniel Austin, 51, 68 a., Apr. 16,
1834.
L. 234, Adam Glum, 22, 06 a., June 1,
1846; Alexander Annis, 24, 67 a., June 1,
1846; Orson Morgan, 18, 48 a., Dec. 1,
1854 ; Adam Glum, 28, 25 a., Apr. 1, 1852.
L. 248, Orson Tousley, 48, 02 a., Nov.
25, 1844 ; Sherman Dibble, 50 a., March
22, 1860.
L. 250, Orson Tousley, 99, 38 a., Nov.
25, 1844.
L. 251, Adam Richey, 40, 70 a., June
29, 1855 ; Joseph Boots, 48, 35 a., Sept. 29,
1853.
L. 252, Adam Richey, 17, 09 a., Jan. 15,
1852; William H. Ward, 49, 59 a.. May 9,
1827 ; Silas A. Snyder, 32, 50 a., May 10,
1856.
L. 253, Abrm. M. Schermerhorn, 104,
21 a., Apr. 2, 1849.
L. 254, John Bentley, 104, 21 a., July 27,
1827.
L. 255, John Hampton, 101, 10 a., June
14, 1819.
L. 250, Susannah Evarts, 31 a., June 20,
1836; Martin Evarts, 69, 23 a.. June 20,
1836.
L. 257, A. N. Salsbury, 25 a.. Sept, 16,
1851; Martin Evarts, 12 a., Dec. 7, 1841 ;
Martin Evarts, 33, 01 a., Dec. 13, 1852.
L. 258, Austin Harmon, 50, 35, a., Sept.
19, 1856.
L. 259, Henry Pierce, 45. 47 a., Sept. 19,
1856; Joseph Root, 45, 17 a., Nov. 1,
1855.
In the south two-fifths of the town the
lots are numbered from west to east and
from north to south.
L. 2, Nathan Adams, 121, 22 a., Feb. 25,
1845.
L. 3, Charles H. Cady, 37, 04 a., Oct. 21,
1858 ; Horace Adams, 25, 75 a., Feb. 9,
1853; Daniel Forbush, jr., 34. 68 a,, Jan.
29, 1846.
L. 4, Benj. Thompson, 50 a., June 12,
1832 ; Walter W. Holt, 37, 88 a., March
15, 1853; Cyrus Coy, 22, 89 a., Jan. 1,
1839.
L. 5, Chauncey Robinson, 123, 90 a..
May 3, 1822.
L. 6, Chauncey Robinson, 44, 75 a., Jan.
7, 1848; Giles H. Orcutt, 52, 25 a.. Mar.
3, 1858.
L. 7, Martha Smith, 120, 73 a.. May 3,
1822.
L. 8, Noah Sweet, 121, 17 a.. May 29,
1818.
L. 9. Noah Sweet, 120, 77 a., May 29
1818.
L. 10, Noah Sweet, 60 a., Jan. 9, 1828 ;
Thomas H. Roby, 60, 77 a., Oct. 5, 1841
L. 11, Daniel S. Ross, 40 a., Apr. 18,
1839 ; Daniel S. Ross, 30, 79 a.. Aug. 18,
1838; Charles H. T. Cowles, 12, 50 a.
Apr. 20, 1842: Selah North, 12, 50 a.
Apr. 20, 1852 ; Elijah L. Williams, 25 a.
Oct. 11, 1852.
L. 12, Ichabod Hill, 30, 20 a., Jan. 29
1846; Joseph Staples, 30, 33 a.,
L. 13, Levi A. Ward, 91, 62 a., Feb. 12
1862.
L. 14, Nathan Adams, 101, 81 a., Feb
25, 1845.
ORLEANS COUNTY
563
L. 16. Stephen Wyman, jr.. 101, 75 a.,
L. 17, B. & Abraham V. Davis, 131, 56
a. (part 218). January 30, 1833.
L. 18, Truman Hulburt, 34, 01 a., Feb.
27, 1830; Simeon Howard, 14 a.,
L. 19, Northrop Smith, 120, 75 a.. May
3, 1823.
L. 20, Gilbert Cook, 58, 21 a., Feb. 12,
1851 ; John Keeler, 43, 75 a., Jan. 24,
1833.
L. 21, John Keeler, 40, 62 a., Jan. 24,
1833; Chas. H. T. Cowles, 28, 10 a., Nov.
3, 1832; Selah North, 28, 10 a., Sept. 29,
1^49 ; James M. Hollister, 4, 50 a., April
30, 1833.
L. 22, Lemuel L. Barron, 101, 79 a.,
June 20, 1836.
L. 23, Burr Williams, 24, 90 a., Dec. 26,
1853; Elijah Williams, 8, 30 a.; Mary
Ann Williams, 8, 30 a. ; Emeline Will-
iams, 8, 30 a. ; Eben B. Hill, 25, 96 a.,
March 14, 1844; John S. Grenell, 25 a.,
Apr. 10, 1840.
L. 24, Raphael Beach, 101, 88 a., Sept.
28, 1826.
L. 25, Levi, A. Ward, 91, 58 a.. Feb. 12^
1862.
L. 26, Abraham M. Schermerhorn, 102
a., Feb. 11, 1836.
L. 27, Ontario Bank, 102, 03 a.,
L. 28, Zardius Tousley, 51, 05 a., Sept.
2, 1840.
L. 29, Horace Peck, 50 a., Feb. 3, 1857;
Valentine Tousley, 66, 74 a., Oct. 5, 1841.
L. 30, Valentine Tousley, 88 a.,
L. 31. Daniel Crossett, 35, 44 a., June
20, 1836.
L. 32, John H. Steele, 101, 69 a., Dec.
18, 1839.
L. 33, James M. Hollister, 101, 69 a.,
April 14, 1854.
L. 34, Sarah M. Hurd, 50 87 a., Apr. 19,
1832; James Dean, 50, 88 a., Apr. 16,
1834.
L. 35, James Hubble, 101, 83 a, Feb. 26,
1823.
L. 3(J, Raphael Beach, 50 a., Sept. 10,
1825; Samuel Babcock, 51, 98 a., Dec. 29,
1828.
L. 37. (91, 57 a.), L. 38 (101, 86 a.),
Abraham M. Schermerhorn Feb. 11, 1836.
L. 30, Mary Ann Cook, 25, 64 a.; Henry
Soles, 51, 27 a., Sept. 28, 1854.
L. 40, Jotham Bellows, 57, 02 a., Sept.
20, 1858; Merritt Cook, 51, 01 a., Sept.
29, 1841.
L. 41, Samuel L. Stephens, 42, 26 a.,
Apr. 30, 1833; John Stephens, 70 a., Jan.
16, 1838.
L. 42, Shubael Lewis, 99, 13 a., Feb. 26,
1823.
L. 43, William H. Ward, 22, 71 a., Sept.
22, 1826; Enoch Andrews, 74, 55 a., Mar.
1, 1861.
L. 44, Enoch Andrews, 107, 25 a., Nov.
1, 1844.
L. 45, Enoch Andrews, 10 a., March 1,
1847.
L. 46, Joseph Sanford, 79 a., Oct. 25, 1826
Thomas Templeton, 26, 24 a., July 1. 1852.
L. 47, William Fox, 102, 85 a., Oct. 1,
1833,
L. 48, Jeremiah C. Stevens, 7 a., Feb. 1,
1859; Elijah Ainsworth, 40 a.. May 1,
1837; Walter O. Ainsworth, 51, 34 a.,
Feb. 1, 1859.
L. 49, Abraham M. Schermerhorn, 91,
71a., Feb. 11,1836
L. 50, Robert Watkinson, 102, 06 a.. May
23, 1839.
L. 52, Edmund Wilcox, 77, 70 a., Oct.
20, 1851; Merritt Cook, 22 a., Oct. 11,
1852.
L. 53, Lemuel Cook, jr., 51, 23, a., Jan.
16, 1838; Lemuel Cook, jr., 65 a., Aug.
21, 1833.
L. 54, John Bean and Warren C. Row-
ley, 100 a., Feb. 18, 1853.
564
LANDMARKS OF
1847; Falkerd Anten, 45, 8G a., Jan. 1,
1846.
L. 75, Levi Sherwood, 98, 85 a , Sept. 3,
1832.
L. 76, Levi Sherwood, 96, 19 a., Mar. 1,
1837.
L. 77, Hubbard Rice, 56, 70 a., Oct. 1^
1853.
L. 78, Hubbard Rice, 49, 50 a., Feb. 12,
1828.
L. 80, Truman S. Phelps and wife, 50,
64: a., Sept. 2, 1850 ; Milton Bird, 25, 32
a^ ; Alpheus Foster, administrator, etc.,
25, 30 a., January 29, 1846.
L. SI, Ai S. Chase, 25, 17 a., Aug. 24
1848; Abner Chase, 25, 17 a., Apr. 16,
1830; Parley W. Brown, 50, 34 a.. May
31, 1847.
L. 82, Orrin Dodge, 50, 19 a., Sept. 20,
1836; Edward G. Wilder, 20, 13 a., Sept.
2, 1853; Horace Langdon, 8 a., Sept. 2,
1853.
L. 83, Shubael Reed, 48, 74 a., Sept. 1,
1837; Horatio Reed, 50. 15 a., June 15,
.1827.
L. 84, John Guthrie, 47, 62 a., Oct. 1,
1847; Seneca Anderson, 47, 87 a., Dec.
20, 1830.
Eldredge Farwell was the first permanent white settler in the town
of Clarendon. In iSio a horse belonging to Isaac Farwell, a brother
who hved on the Ridge road, had strayed ; and Eldredge in seeking for
the animal followed the course of the east branch of Sandy Creek till
he came to the waterfall in this town. The discovery which he thus
accidentally made of this excellent water power induced him to settle
there the next year.
P'or many years prior to this there had been a permanent settle-
ment of Tonawanda Indians on the east branch of Sandy Creek in the
north part of the town. Their principal village was located on lot 88,
lately owned by Col. N. E. Darrow, which gave the place the name of
Indian Lot, a name it still bears. The Indians remained here until
l8i8, when they abandoned the locality.
L. 56, David Beckley, 33, 45 a., Jan. 1„
1846.
L. 58, Thomas Templeton, 103, 11 a.,
July 1, 1832.
L. 59, David Laltime--, 102 a., June 24,
1825.
L. 60, Geo. Hammond, 49, 04 a., Jan. 1,
1837; William W. Jennings, 18, 90 a.,
July 20, 1832; Fuikerd Anten, 30 a., Jan.
3, 1841.
L. 64, Levi Sherwood, 46, 07 a., Mar. 1,
1837.
L. 65, Jesse Van Winkle, 109, 63 a.
Jan. 1, 1849.
L. 66, Henry W. Merrill, 42, 48 a., Apr.
1, 1853.
L. 68, Partimer Munger, 58, 34 a., Nov.
1, 1853 ; Daniel A. Barker and wife, 44 a.,
July 1. 1848.
L. 69, Abijah Dean, 92, 84 a., Dec. 20,
1830.
L. 70, Lemuel Cook, jr., 49, 63 a., Mar.
1, 1847; Parmelia A. Blair and others, 49,
63 a., Julyl, 1834.
L. 71, Simeon B. Jewett, 95, 06 a., Dec.
1, 1836.
L. 72, Jonah Guthrie. 47, 62 a , Oct 1,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 565
Eldredge Farvvell was the son of William and Bethel (Eldredge) Far-
well and was born in Charelton, N H., March 6, 1770. His first wife
was Polly Richardson, of Fairfield, F'ranklin county, Vt. She was born
September 25, 1799, and died in Clarendon in October, 1821. He
afterward married a daughter of Judge John Lee, of Barre. As early
as 1808 he had located on the Ridge road, near Clarkson village, but
early in 181 i he contracted for 210 acres, including this mill privilege
and most of the land on which the present village of Clarendon stands.
In the spring of 181 1 he removed to his purchase, bringing his wife
and five children: Susannah, William, Mary Ann, George W., and
Eldredge, jr. They encamped at first, but he immediately com-
menced the erection of a log house. In this dwelling settlers who
followed them were often entertained, and here, October i, 18 14,
Elisha Farwell the first whfte child in the place was born. When the
county of Orleans was organized Mr. Farwell was appointed, in 1825,
one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas and held that office
five years. He was the first supervisor of this town in 1821, and was
re-elected in 1822. In 1822 he moved out of his one-story frame
tavern into a residence he bought of J. M. Hamilton, and here he kept
the first post-office in town. The letters bore the address of Farwell's
Mills. He died October 15, 1843.
Bradstreet Spafibrd came from Connecticut to Clarendon about 181 1,
and settled about a mile south from Holley, where he remained till his
death in 1 828. During several years his was the only house between
Holley and Farwell's Mills, and in no other direction was there a
neighbor nearer than a mile His first wife died of consumption when
their only daughter was four years old. A daughter by his second
wife says :
It was arranged between my father and his nearest neighbors that if anything more
alarming occurred in her case he should blow the horn as a signal for them to come.
Not long afterward, at midnight, death knocked at his door. He took the tin horn and
blew the warning notes, but the winds were adverse and nobody heard. Agam and
again he blew, longer and louder, but no one heard or came. His wife soon expired.
My father closed her eyes, placed a napkin about her head, and covered her lifeless
form more closely, fearing it would become rigid before he could obtain assistance to
habit it in the winding sheet preparatory for the tomb, for such were' the habiliments
used in those days. He dressed his little daughter, placed her in her little chair by the
fire, gave her her kitten to play with, and told her to sit there until he came back. He
566 Landmarks op
then went a mile to his nearest neighbors and roused them to come to his aid, and re-
turned finding his little daughter as he had left her, alone with her mother.
Jehial Root was a son of Nathan Root, who was a Heutenant in the
Revolutionary army. He was a native of Connecticut, but removed
with his family to Oneida county, N. Y., and thence, in 1811, to Clar-
endon. He located on lot 56, in the south part of the town, and re-
mained there till his death, about 1850. Nathan Root, his son, was
born in Connecticut in 1798, came to Clarendon with the family in
181 1, and performed most of the labor in clearing the farm which his
father took up, remaining on it till his death in 1880. During the latter
years of his life he suffered greatly from cancer. George Root, a son
of Nathan, was born in 1833 i" the log house which his grandfather
built.
Abner Hopkins came to Clarendon in 181 1, and located on lot 180,
west from Clarendon village. Jerah Hopkins, his brother, lived in a
log house west from Abner's, and the names of both appear on the
highway roll of 1821 in that road district. Another brother, Joseph,
owned land still farther west. Abner built the first framed barn on
this road.
Levi Preston settled on lot 181, opposite to Mr. Hopkins, and his
descendants lived in this vicinity till recently. He died in 1857 at the
age of seventy-four.
Samuel Knowles came here from the place where he first settled, and
died in 1872 at the age of seventy- three. Several by the name of
Knowles are interred in the cemetery near this vicinity.
Benjamin Thomas came soon after the advent of Mr. Farwell and
located about three miles east from the village of Clarendon. He built
a stone house there about 1820.
Alanson Dudley came to Clarendon in 18 12, and purchased from
Mr. Farwell a piece of ground on which he erected a log house. Two
years later he established a tannery, and carried on the business of a
tanner and shoemaker.
David Church was a native of ^Connecticut. He lived in different
parts of the State of New York, and in 18 12 came to Clarendon and
purchased a farm a mile and a half south of Clarendon village. The
next year he erected a house on this place and brought his family from
ORLEANS COUNTY. 567
Bergen to it. He continued to reside on that place till his death. His
wife was Lucinda Martin of Otsego county, N. Y. They brought
with them to Clarendon three children. Two more were born here.
Mrs. Church died in 1826, and he afterward married Elizabeth Alvord,
by whom he had two children, of whom William died in the Union
army.
John Stevens was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1774. He first
removed to Oneida county, N. Y., and in 18 13 to Clarendon and set-
tled in the southern part of the town, where he died in 1861, and where
his son Merrick Stevens also died. His wife, to whom he was married
in 1800, was Elizabeth Lewis, of Oneida county. They reared four
sons and three daughters. The other sons were Samuel, who died in
1888; Edward, who removed to Nebraska, and Rev. Schubael, who
died in 1873.
Chauncey Robinson, a native of Coanecticut, was born in 1792.
When he was two years of age his parents removed to Oneida county,
N. Y. In 18 13 became to Clarendon and located about two miles
south of the village on lot 5, where he remained till igSi. He then re-
moved to Holley where he died in 1866. In 1814 ^^ was several
months in military service, and was at the battle of Fort Erie. He
was a prominent and influential citizen and was supervisor of the town
in 1829.
Henry Jones, the first blacksmith in Clarendon lived, in 1813, where
an old stone house now stands, about half a mile south from the village.
Here Thomas Foster once lived.
Elisha Huntley came from New Hampshire to Clarendon in 1813,
and located south from the village. The log house which he built that
year was then the only one between the " Mills " and John Stevens's
in the south part of the town.
John Cone came in 18 13, and settled on lot 158, north from Claren-
don village, and in 1821 he had come to be the largest landholder in
that part of the town. The name of Erastus Cone appears on the town
book of 1 82 1,
William Lewis came to Clarendon in 18 13, and settled on lot 17,
south from the village. On the organization of Orleans county he was
made its first sheriff, and two years later, or in 1826, he died, at the age
568 LANDMARKS OF
of thirty-nine. In the cemetery in that part of the town stands the
memorial stone of Ebenezer Lewis, who died in 1828, aged seventy-
five ; also that of Col. Shubael Lewis, who was born in 1795, and died
1 86 1. During many years Col. Lewis kept a hotel on lot 29, where
also William Sheldon and Horace Peck were landlords. Many of the
Colonel's peculiarties are still well remembered. Of the Lewis family
here there have been some distinguished members. The late Dr. Lewis,
of Albion, was one, and James P. Lewis, LL.D., who has held almost
every important ofifice in the State of Wisconsin and has declined many
honorable federal offices, is another. Governor Lewis was a school
teacher in Clarendon village and slept in the loft of a log house " where
he could look through the roof and count the stars as they twinkled
over him, and in the morning brush the snow from the quilts that
covered him." He is a brillant example of what ability, industry, and
self reliance can accomplish.
Daniel Gleason, from Herkimer county, N. Y., was a settler on lot
29, in the south part of the town, in 18 13.
Abijah Dean, from New Hampshire, came to Clarendon in 181 3, and
located in the southeast corner of the town. He removed to Holley in
1831.
Reuben Lucas was a settler in Clarendon in 18 13. He built a saw
mill in the north part of the town, on lot 69, in that year, and two or
three years later a grist mill near.
Jacob Andrews, a native of Massachusetts, came from Oneida county,
N. Y., to Clarendon in 18 14, and located on lot 44 in the southern part
of the town, remaining there till his death in 1854. In 1816 he re-
moved his family to this place One of his children, Enoch Andrews, was
born in Westfield, Mass., in 1809. He became the owner of the farm
which his father took up, and resided on it till his death in 1886.
Mr. Andrews was married in 1832, to Hannah Hammond, by whom
he had one daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ann Crossett. In 1848 he married
Abigail Peabody. His first wife died in 1833, h's second in 1886.
Samuel Coy became a resident of Clarendon in 18 14. He purchased
100 acres of land about a mile south from the village. Here his wife,
Bethia, died in 1847. His sons, Lucius B. and Martin, were residents of
the town. The former was supervisor in 1856.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 569
Leonard Foster came also in 1 8 14 and took up 100 acres a short dis-
tance north from Clarendon village. He was a cooper, and supplied
the settlers with whatever they required in his line. He was born in
1785 and died in 1853.
Jacob Oman was born in 1784 His wife, Amelia, a Maryland
woman, was born the same year. They came to the western part of
Clarendon in 1814 He died here in 1868 and she in 1871.
Asa Glidden was born in Vermont in 1772, and removed to Lower
Canada. Immediately after the close of the war of 181 2 he came to
Clarendon with his family and a brother-in law. They came each with
a span of horses, a yoke of oxen, and a few household goods, and were
a month on the road. Mr. Glidden settled on lot 3, in the eastern part
of the town, and remained there till his death in 1827. He married, in
Vermont, Sarah Sims, a native of that State. She died in Clarendon
in 1846. They brought with them four sons and two daughters, all of
whom lived to maturity, and most of them exceeded the allotted period
of three score and ten. One of the sons, Asa Glidden, jr., at the age of
eighty-four died on the homestead. Andrew Glidden, a brother of Asa^
sr., came with him. He never married. Jacob Glidden, another
brother, came in 1817 and settled south from Clarendon, but in 18 19
removed to a place about two miles southeast from that village, where
his son, Thomas Glidden, afterward resided. He erected a rude log
shanty at first, but two years later built a large house of hewed logs,
with a loft that was reached by a ladder. He died on this farm about
1848. He reared six sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to
manhood and womanhood, all married, and ten reared children.
Simeon Glidden and his brothers — Jeremiah and David — were natives
of Vermont and cousins of Asa Glidden, sr. Simeon came to Claren-
don in the spring of 18 14 and took up a farm on lots 106 and 107, a
mile southeast from Clarendon village. He came at the same time
with David Matson, sr., and they went together to locate their farms.
He brought his family here not long afterward and passed the rest of
his life on the farm which he took. His first house was the usual log
structure of those times. It is said that in 1818 he had not a dollar in
money and no accounts on whicii anything but barter could be collected.
His wife, Lucy, was the daughter of a Newfoundlano fisherman. It is
72
570 LANDMARKS OF
said that a codfish hook that she inherited from her father was utiHzed
for hanging the meat which she roasted before the fire. This hook is
still in the possession of her descendants They were succeeded on the
farm where they settled by their son, Simeon GHdden, and he by his
son of the same name. Jeremiah GHdden settled about a mile east
from the village of Clarendon, and made the first improvements there.
He was the supervisor of the town in 1823 and 1824. The Glidden
family has been numerously represented in Clarendon, and it^^ represen-
tatives have been prominent members of society. Joseph J., a son of
David Glidden, emigrated to Illinois and there invented barbed wire for
fence, for which he received a patent that made him wealthy.
Jacob Owen and Jeremiah Ward were settlers in Clarendon in 1815.
David Matson, a native of Connecticut, was born in 1778. When a
young man he removed to Vermont, where he married Betsey Calley, a
native of that State, born in 1784. In 1814 he came to Clarendon and
took up lots 84 and 85, southeast from Clarendon Village. Simeon
Glidden at the same time selected his farm next west from this. Mr.
Matson made some improvements and built a log house — the first in
this vicinity. In the autumn of 18 15 he brought his family, consisting
of five, to their wilderness home, coming in a wagon, with a few house-
hold effects, drawn by a span of horses. . He was compelled to cut his
road a portion of the way to his house, and his wagon was " stuck in
the mud " in crossing the creek. He took possession of his shanty,
which had only a blanket for a door and a hole in the roof for a chim-
ney, and this was his residence for fifteen years. In after life they re-
lated the stories of their pioneer life, of their adventures with wild ani-
mals, their privations and hardships, the frolics and merry-makings of
the settlers, and the gradual development and improvement of the
country. Both died at this place; she in 1872 and he in 1876. Of
their ten children Mrs. Juliana Patterson, of Lockport, born in 1813, is
the only survivor. David, born in 18 1 1, died in 1892 at the old home-
stead.
Gideon Salisbury, a descendant of one of three brothers who, tra-
dition says, came at a very early date in the history of this country
from Salisbury Plain, England, to Rhode Island, was the progenitor of
the Orleans county branch of the family. He came very early to On-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 571
tario county, where he married and reared tliree sons and three daugh-
ters. Joseph Salisbury, one of these sons, was the ancestor of the so-
called Clarendon Salisburys. He reared a family of eight sons and five
daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. The sons
were Abraham W., William L., Guy M., Royal S., Hermon L., Sam-
uel, Sampson, and George S. The daughters were Priscilla, Amanda,
Melinda, Miranda, and Phoebe. A majority of these settled in or near
Clarendon, where their numerous descendants reside. Superior intelli-
gence is a distinguishing characteristic of this family.
Isaac Cady, who was born in New Hampshire in 1793, came on foot
from Kingston, Vt., to Clarendon in 181 5. The next year he married
Betsey Pierce. He became prominently identified with the town,
David Mattison was another settler of 181 5. With his family he came
from Vermont in a covered wagon drawn by a horse team, and located
on lots 84 and 85, where he died in 1876. On this place Mrs. Matti-
son planted a quantity of apple and pear seeds soon after their arrival,
and from these was made one of the first orchards in town.
[.inus Peck, the father of the Peck family in .Clarendon, came from
Onondaga county in 18 16 and built a log house about two miles south
from the village. To this place he brought his family the next year.
Luther Peck, his son, worked on his father's farm when a young man,
but afterward adopted the legal profession, in which he became em-
inent. While a law student he taught school in Clarendon, but re-
moved to Pike, Wyoming county, N. Y., and afterward to Nunda,
where he died. Horace Peck was born in Farmington, Conn., in 1802.
He had been hired to go with a drove of animals to Buffalo, came back
to Farwell's Mills, and staid with Leonard Foster three weeks, at the
end of which time the family arrived. Mr. Peck commenced his ca-
reer as a pedagogue in the winter of 1819-20, and continued to teach
each winter during ten years, working for his father and others sum-
mers. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1829, was Miss Anna
White. She died in 1834, and in 1836 he married Miss Adaline Nich-
ols.
Frederick Main, who was born in Connecticut in 1797, came to Clar-
endon in 1 8 16 and located on lot 4, in the southern part of the town.
In 1 8 19 he married Nancy Jewett. George Thomas and Leander Hood
572 LANDMARKS OF
came in i8r6 and located in the south part of Clarendon. They were
from Rensselaer county.
Eiizur Warren, the brother of David and the father of Nathan O.
Warren, took up lOO acres in 1816, two miles west from Clarendon
village. The brothers made the brick for the dwelling which, in 1828,
took the place of the original log house that Eiizur built in 1816.
They were natives of Connecticut. David was born in 1780 and died
in 1841. Eiizur was born in 1790 and died in 1862. Nathan O. War-
ren, who died in 1887, was the son of Eiizur. Stephen Warren took
up 100 acres farther west.
Charles Lee, in 18 16, built a small log house on lot 30, south from
the village of Clarendon. Joseph and Ezekiel Lee came soon after-
ward.
T. S. Maine at first settled on a farm two miles southwest from Clar-
endon village in 1 8 16. He had been drafted in the war of 18 12 and
did duty as a teamster.
Eli Evarts, a native of Connecticut, was born in 1773, came with
his family from Monroe county to Clarendon and purchased lot 256,
two miles west from the village, where he died in 1834. Martin Evarts,
a native of Riga, Monroe county, N. Y., was born in 1812 and came with
his father's family to Clarendon in 1817. He settled two miles west
from the village, where he died in 1887. ^^ was supervisor of Clar-
endon in 1863. His wife, to whom he was married in 1835, was Char-
lotte Burnham. She died in 1862.
Alexander Annis settled on lot 256, near what is now Manning, in
18 17. It is said that he brought here the first sleigh on this road. His
wife brought and planted the first currants in this vicinity.
Benjamin Pettengill was a native of Maine. In 1817 he started from
Portland to Boston, and walked thence with his pack on his back to Og-
den, Monroe county. During that summer he worked by the month,
and in the autumn purchased a place in what was then Sweden, now
Clarendon.
William Tousley came to Clarendon prior to 1817 and located about
two miles. southwest from the village. He was born in 1761, and it is
said was a soldier in the Revolution. Copeland says : " It would be
truly interesting if Tousley would walk in for a few moments and give
ORLEANS COUNTS. 573
us a full account of his actions during the service, and we would be sure
to get the whole truth, now that he has sojourned in a region where
yarns and lies have no market value." He died in 1827. Zardius
Tousley was born in 1787, and died in 1866. He was supervisor of
Clarendon in 1834. Valentine Tousley was born in 1804, and died in
1842. Orson Tousley, for many years a resident of Clarendon, removed
to Albion, where he died. He accumulated large wealth.
Nathaniel Warren was a native of Connecticut. His wife, also a na-
tive of that State, was Polly Smith. In 1818 they came to Clarendon
and settled on lot 12, the northeast corner lot of the town. Here he
died in 1828 and she in i860. They had six children who lived to adult
age.
Leander S. Warren was born in Connecticut in 18 17. He came
with his father's family to Clarendon, and here, at the age of twenty-
four, he was married to Caroline Lambert of Clarkson. She died in
i860, and in 1861 he married Amelia Spencer of Sweden. By his first
wife he had four sons. By his second marriage he had two children.
He died in 1892.
Daniel Brackett took up land in the northwest part of the town in
1 8 19. His place was afterward owned by Deacon Lemuel Pratt. He
was born in 1784, and died in 1865. His wife, Lydia, died in 1871.
His father, Daniel Brackett, sr., a Revolutionary soldier, came with him
and died here.
Amos Salmon was a resident in a log house a short distance south
from the Christian Church at Manning. It is said that his wife was
quite as expert in the use of an axe as her husband.
Zebulon Packard was born in Massachusetts about 1788. He mar-
ried Althea Bannister, also a native of Massachusetts, and in 1815 they
removed to Ontario county, N. Y. In 18 19 they came to Clarendon,
and located on lot 232, half a mile north from Manning. Here he died
in 1827, and she in 1831. Their children were Edward, Althea, Orrin,
Wealthy, Mary, Manning, and Christopher B , all born in Massachusetts,
and all dead. Christopher B. died in 1893 on the old homestead.
He was born in 1813. His wife was Rachel Johnson, a native of
Schoharie county, N. Y. She died in 1890. They had two children.
Manning Packard, born in 181 1, died in 1888. He was a blacksmith, a
574 LANDMARKS OF
shoemaker, a worker in wood, and one of the most ingenious men in
the town.
Jacob Sawyer became a resident of Clarendon in 1819.
John Russell, from Massachusetts, was an immigrant in 1819 and
made his residence south from Manning in a log shanty with a flat
basswood roof.
John French, who was born in 1779, came to Clarendon from Herki-
mer county in 18 19 and settled on lot 27, in the southwest part of the
town. He was a soldier in the war of 18 12, and participated in the
battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. He was also present at the
taking of Fort Erie, where he was disabled. He died in 1863.
Ralzman Thomas took up land in the eastern part of the town prior
to 1820.
Hiram Frisbee was born at Granville, N. Y., in 1791. In 1821 he
located in Clarendon village where, in company with his brother-in-
law, William Pierpont, he engaged in mercantile business and also in
the manufacture of potash and pearlash. In 1828 he removed to
HoUey, where he was a merchant and an active business man. He did
much toward the development of that village.
Elnatban Johnson was, in 182 1, a shoemaker in a log house just east
from Farwell's Mills. Nathaniel Huntoon, in 1821, lived about a mile
east from Clarendon village, and was familiarly called Nat. He after-
ward removed east to a place that was called from him " Natville."
Chester Brace lived in the northeast part of the town in 1821.
Elijah L., Stephen, Sharley, and Alfred Williams were brothers and
natives of Connecticut. Their father died in that State, and the family
removed to Onondaga county, N. Y. About 1821 they came to Clar-
endon and settled in the east part of the town. Stephen died in 1845,
and Alfred in 1881, both in Clarendon. The others emigrated and
died elsewhere. Samuel, a son of Elijah, relates that his grandfather,
Stephen Williams, was a Revolutionary soldier ; that he was wounded
in battle, and that the bullet which was cut from the wound is still in
his possession.
Augustus Sturges, the father of David Sturges, was a resident on a
portion of the Williams property in 1821. He was born in 1759, and
died in 1826. Anson Bunnell, in 1821, resided some two miles south
ORLEANS COUNTY. 575
from Clarendon village on a place that had been taken up by Levi
Dudley. Asahel Clark lived in the south part of the town in 1821.
He died in 1824. Ebenezer Smith owned lands on lots 68 and 80
near the south line of the town, in 1816. Fuller Coy, the brother of
Cyrus, owned, in 1821, a farm two miles south from the village. John
Hamlin lived, in 18 16, in a log house some two and one-half miles
southwest from the village. Zaccheus Fletcher and Elias Palmer lived
in the same part of the town in 18 16, as did also Abner and Bradley
Bishop. Asdel Nay, a justice of the peace, who is remembered as a
very tall man, resided in the west part of the town in 182 1. He died
in 1831 at the age of thirty- three. Jeremiah Wood resided in the
same vicinity in that year.
Seth Knowles was a resident just north from Farwell's Mills in 1821.
It is not known when he came to Clarendon, but probably it was quite
early. He was born in 1762, and died in 1832. His wife, Lucy, was
born in 1763, and died in 1836. Their sons, Remick, Samuel, and
William, were buried in the cemetery near Manning. Remick died in
1855, Samuel in 1872, and Wilh'am in 1871.
The Slocums, Elijah, Eleazer, and Peleg, were settlers about a mile
west from Farwell's Mills some time prior to 1822.
John Nelson came from Seneca county in 1823 and located on lot 43,
east from Clarendon village. Peter Downs had preceded him and Nel-
son purchased his improvements. John was the father of John and
James Nelson.
John Millard and his son Alfred came from Fabius, Onondaga county,
in 1 823, and first located two or three miles east from Clarendon village ;
afterward on the road that leads south from the Christian church, where
the father died in 1864, His wife, Betsey, died in 1855.
Stephen Wyman was born in 1787. His wife. Nancy, was born a
year later. They came from Yates county to Clarendon about 1824,
and located on lot 16. in the southwestern part of the town, where she
died in 1 83 1 and he in 1847. His son, Stephen, jr.. was born in 1809,
and died in 1852.
Dan Polly, in 1825, built the hostelry which was long known as the
Polly Tavern. It was near the east line of the town.
Samuel Wetherbee was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1800.
576 , LANDMARKS OF
In 1814 he removed, with his father's family, to Wayne county. In
1825 he came to Clarendon and located on lot 203, where he remained
till his death, in 1879. His father, John Wetherbee, a native of Massa-
chusetts, came here with him, and died here in 1836. Mr. Wetherbee
married first Polly Wetherbee. She soon died and he was married to
Hannah Pettengill, a native of Maine. They reared eight children.
Silas Wadsvvorth was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1770. In
early life he removed to Cortland county, N. Y. There, in 1798, 'he
married Judith Barrett. About 1 801 they removed to Sweden, Monroe
county, and in 1825 to Clarendon. They settled on lot 45, east from
Clarendon village, where he died in 1847 ^"^^ she in 1859. Of their
nine children seven lived to adult age. A son of Silas was born fn
181 1. He came with his father to Clarendon and died on the farm
where they settled. His wife, to whom he was married in 1833, was
Hannah S. Wilder, of Sweden, born in 1815. She died in 1866. They
reared to maturity five children.
Col. Hubbard Rice, Daniel Keyes, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Van Deuzen
were residents in the south part of the town in 1825.
Thomas Templeton was born in Saratoga county in 1797. In 1823
he married Lydia Cook, of the same county, and in 1827' they came to
Clarendon and settled in the southeastern part of the town. She died
in 1829. and in 1 830 he married Minerva Langdon, of Genesee county.
Mr. Templeton died in 1869, and his last wife in 1889.
Alexander Milliken, who was born in 1799, and died in 1853, became
a resident north from Clarendon village in 1827, and remained there till
his death. The grave of his wife, Sally, is also in the cemetery near
Clarendon, and that of Mary, wife of Samuel Milliken. She was born
in 1766, and died in 1854.
Henry Hill was an early resident in the east part of the town, and
was supervisor in 1828. In the old cemetery in that vicinity are the re-
mains of Deacon Ebenezer Hill, who was born in 1758, and Ebenezer
B. Hill, born in 1797. William B. Fincher was an early settler in the
eastern part of Clarendon, and was a blacksmith there. John Sturde-
vant and Peter Prindle were residents in the southwest part of Claren-
don in 1829. Isaac H. Davis and Ira Glidden resided south from
Clarendon village in 1829. James Lusk was born in Onondaga county,
^'M ^t^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 577
N. Y., in 1811. In 1829 he came to Clarendon, and afterward pur-
chased a farm on lot 23, three miles southeast from Clarendon village.
He died on this place in 1883. He first married, in 1834, Charlotte
Bennett. She died in 1836, and in 1837 he married Susannah Williams,
a native of Onondaga county. She died in i860. He had four chil-
dren. Hull Lusk, a brother of James, came to Clarendon soon after-
ward. After a residence here of some years he removed, with his
family, to Michigan.
Joseph Pratt was born in Massachusetts in 1802. In 1806 his father
started to remove to Jefferson county, N. Y., but died on the way. His
mother, with her three children, completed the journey, and Joseph
was, in 1812, bound out to a farmer. Not being well treated he became
dissatisfied and ran away to the west. In Rochester he paid his last six-
pence for something to eat. He encountered an uncle and came with
him to Sweden, where he engaged as a farm laborer, and at the same
time studied surveying with a private instructor. He also learned the
trade of a carpenter. He purchased a farm on lot 43 in 1829, and re-
moved to this place, where he remained till his death in 1881. He fol-
lowed the business of farming and of surveying, and during many years
was a justice of the peace. In 1828 he married Alinda Howard, of
Sweden. She died in 1849, and in 1851 he married Chloe Hill.
Orson Butterfield was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1808. He
was a half brother of Joseph Pratt, the surveyor. In 1830 he removed
to Clarendon and purchased a farm on lot 44, in the eastern part of the
town. Here he remained till his death in 1857. In 1833 he married
Lydia Wright of Jefferson county, who died in Clarendon in 1887.
They had nine children.
George M. Copeland, born in Massachusetts in 181 5, was the son of
Samuel Copeland, and the brother of Samuel Copeland, jr., of Murray.
In 1 82 1 he came with his father's family to the vicinity of Rochester ;
in 1826 to Murray, and in 1830 to Clarendon and entered the store cf
David Sturges as a clerk. In 1843, on the death of Mr. Sturges, he
assumed control of the business as executor, and subsequently, in part-
nership with his uncle, Benjamin Copeland, as a proprietor. He was
connected with the business here, either alone or in partnership with
others until his death. In 1839 he married Laura A., daughter of
578 LANDMARKS OF
David Sturges, and they had twelve children. Of the sons John A.,
is a Universalist clergyman, and Richard W., Benjamin, and Arthur
Copeland are clergymen of, the M. E Church ; David S Copeland
is the author of the History of Clarendon; and G. H. and S. H.
Copeland are engaged in business in Clarendon. A daughter, Cynthia
A., is the wife of Rev. J. I. Boswell. Mrs. Copeland died in 1869, and
in 1870 he married Mrs. Charlotte M. Hanson, of Wisconsin, a native
of New York. Mr. Copelend died in 1892.
Lemuel Cook was born in Connecticut in 1759. In 1775 he entered
the Revolutionary army and served to the end of the war. He bore the
scars of wounds received in battle, and the selectmen of his town re-
mitted his poll tax on account of these wounds. He also received a
pension from the government. His two brothers were also Revolution-
ary soldiers. His first wife, a native of Connecticut, was Hannah Cur-
tis. From their native State they removed to Oneida county, N. Y.,
thence to Onondaga county, and in 1823 to Bergen, Genesee county,
where she died in 1831. His second wife was Ruth Cooper of Monroe
county. They came to Clarendon about 1835 and located on lot 70, in
the southeast part of the town, where they resided during many years.
He reared to maturity seven sons and three daughters, all except one
of whom lived to be octogenarians. Mr. Cook died May 20, 1866, at
the age of 107 years; probably the greateast age ever reached by any
one in Orleans county. He was buried with Masonic honors. His last
wife died in 1848.
Giles Orcutt was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 181 1. In his
boyhood he removed with his father's family to Chautauqua county,
and when a young man he came to Genesee county, where he worked
by the month during twelve years. About 1840 he removed to Barre,
and five years later to Clarendon, locating on lot 6, south from Claren-
don village, where he died in 1878. His wife, who survived him, was
Harriet Patterson, of Pittsford, Monroe county. They reared two chil-
dren.
Alexander Miller was born in Byron, Genesee county, N. Y., in 1818.
In the same year his father died, and in 1822 his mother married Wash-
ington Wright and removed to Barre. At the age of twenty-five he re-
moved to Clarendon and engaged in the manufacture of agricultural
ORLEANS COUNTY. 579
implements. In 1872 he relinquished this business and removed to Ber-
gen, Genesee county, and thence in 1880, to Caledonia, Livingston
county, where he died in 1886. In 1844 he married Lois Willard, sub-
sequently the wife of O. P. Culver. They reared four children : Ogden
S. Miller, who died in Holley in 1893 ; Fred W. Miller, Jennie V. (Mrs.
Walter Pettengill). and Nellie (Mrs. William A. Bissell.)
In 18 13 Lucas Webb built a saw mill on lot 69, on Sandy Creek, in
the north part of the town. A few years afterward he erected a grist
mill near the same site. In 1821 the town was divided into twenty-
seven road districts. In 1839 a bounty of one shilling per head was
placed on crows. From 1821 to 1835 $1,076 were appropriated for
schools and $50 for the support of the poor. Probably the first stove
in town was placed in the Polly Tavern in 1830. The first reaper in
Clarendon was used by James Cain in 1 850, and the first hip or gambrel-
roofed barn was built by John Irish in 1842. The Robinson burying
ground is one of the oldest in town, while that on the Byron road dates
back to 1826 or before. In the former William Lewis, the first sheriff
of the county, was buried. The first interments in the Glidden ceme-
tery seem to have been made in 1827 and in that on the Root road as
early as 1824. The graveyard near the old Polly tavern has not been
used for several years. It appears to have been opened about 1827.
The old Christian cemetery, a mile west of Clarendon village, contains
the remains of Daniel Brackett, sr., a Revolutionary soldier, who was
buried there about 1826. The first interment in it, however, was in
1 82 1. The town meetings and elections in Clarendon were held in a
frame school house from 1821 till 1837, i" Elizur Pratt's tavern till
1849, i" the present hotel till 1878, and since then in the town hall.
The first tangible effort to inaugurate a temperance movement in town
was in 1847, when a society known as the Sons of Temperance was
organized. The first lodge of Good Templars in Clarendon was insti-
tuted in 1868. The W. C. T. U. was organized August 21, 1883, the
first president being Mrs. Harriet Gleason. This Union established the
Loyal Temperance Legion July 15, 1887. In 1883 Rev. J. A. Cope-
land instituted a system of temperance camps, one of which is located
at Clarendon. It has been under the management of S. Herbert Cope-
land and its annual sessions have been held in George M. Copeland's
grove.
580 LANDMARKS OP
The first physician in town was Benjamin Bussey, of whom Copeland
says: " This doctor went from house to house with his pill bags ad-
ministering the favorite mercury of that day, while the mothers kept
on hand picra, and in later time pills, castor oil, rhubarb, paregoric,
and sulphur with molasses in the spring, the child taking the same
from a stick just before breakfast. In this pill bag of the doctor's could
also be found the awful turnkey." Dr. Bussey practiced his profession
from Clarendon village. Among his successors are recalled the names
of Drs. Henry Carter, Jonathan Howard, T. H. Noyes, Hiram B. Lewis,
S. E. Southworth, W. H. Watson, S. H. Button, C. S. Pugsley, M. E.
Brackett, John H. O'Brien, Cowing, Cornwell, Keith, Benjamin Wood- •
hull, and others.
The first school house in Clarendon was built of logs, in 1812 or 18 13,
a little south of Farwell's Mills. It was a primitive structure, and in it
Amanda Bills taught the first school in the summer of 18 13. It was
superseded in 1819, by a frame building, in which Horace Steele taught
the first term the following winter. Here the elections were held until
1837. Iri the present stone school house, built in 1846, the first teach-
ers were John B. King and Malvina A. Vandyke. Clarissa Lee had a
select school here at an early day, and Elviretta Lewis had another in
1836. The first school house in district number four was built in 181 5
and the same year another was erected in district number thirteen, both
of logs. In 1 82 1 the town had nine school districts and 425 scholars.
In 1 81 4 there was in Clarendon an infantry company of militia com-
manded by Captain Stephen Martin. In 1818 this was divided into
two companies, the one in the north part of the town being under
Captain E. S. Cone and that in the south part under Captain Shubael
Lewis. Captain Lewis became colonel of the 215th Regiment about
1825, and the same year an artillery company was formed with Aretas
Pierce as captain. These trained in Murray. Nicholas E. Darrow was
colonel of the 25th Regiment of Artillery. Of Revolutionary soldiers
who have made Clarendon their residence the names are remembered
of Thomas Mc Manners (a colored man), Charles Lee, Ira Dodge, Ebe
nezer Lewis, William Tousley, Benjamin Pettengill, and Lemuel Cook.
In the war of 18 12 many who became residents of this town took part.
Some of these have been mentioned in this chapter, there were doubt-
ORLEANS COUNTY.
581
less many others ; but the records of their service are not accessible.
Martin Higgins was a volunteer in the Mexican war. In the late civil
brave and loyal citizens to
war Clarendon sent a large number of her
the front, a list of whom is as follows :
Miles Forbush, 24th Cav.
Franklin Furey, 8th Art.
William Farnsworth, 89th Inf.
Charles Avery, 13th Inf.
Hiram Allen, 8th Art.
Edward Alexander, 30th Eng.
Asa S. Alio
Abraham B. Baldwin, 15 1st In
Merritt M. Bateman, 8th Art.
Thomas Barre, 4th Art.
John P. Bailey, 94th Inf.
Joseph Bnrke, 1st Art.
Schuyler B. Bills, 50th Eng.
George Bell.
James Brannary.
John Brown.
Philip Cornell, 8th Cav.
James M. Cook, 8th Art,
George D. Church, 8th Art.
Orson T. Cook, 8th Art.
William Cook, 151st Inf.
Levi D. Curtiss, 8th Cav.
Charles Cook, 8th Art.
George Cromer, 151st Inf.
Charles D. Cornell, 8th Art.
John A. Copeland, 27th Inf.
Hiram Cady, 105th Inf.
David Childs, 2d Art.
Matthew Doyle.
Joseph Dumas.
Lewis E. Darrow, 151st Inf.
Eugene E. DlUton, 4th Art.
Frederic Dutton, 8th Art.
Patrick Dolan, 8th Art.
Mark Denning, 4th Art.
Thomas Elson, 8th Cav.
James Ennis, 8th Art.
Albert Etherington, 8th Art.
William Ely, 94th Inf,
Samil J. Fincher, 8th Art.
Ira J. Finch, 8th Art.
Martin Foster, 151st Inf.
Spencer Ford, 50th Eng.
James Farr.
Thomas Farthing.
Squire Goff, 151st Inf.
Edward Gladden, 151st Inf.
Leander Gelisbee, 151st Inf.
George E. Gardner, 8th Art.
Oleander Gurney.
Homer C. Holmes, 8th Art.
William S. Holmes, 8th Art.
Benjamin Hines, 8th Art,
Henry J. Hunt, 8th Art.
Patrick Hayes, 151st Inf.
Michael Heits, 8th Art.
Clinton Hood, 13th Inf.
Luther Hockey, 105th Inf.
Hamilton Hoag, 21st Cav.
Nathaniel Hammer, 105th Inf.
William H. Hastings, 17th Bat.
John Hart, 1st Art.
J. L. Harper.
Joseph Clapp.
William Joiner, 105th Inf.
Irving Jenkins, 14th Art.;
George Johnson.
Henry Johnson.
James Jones.
John H. Kerby, 4th Art.
Peter Lawlor. 3d Cav.
John Larkins, 90th Inf.
William H. Lowering.
John McFarlane, 8th Art.
Matthew McFarlane, 8th Art.
William Mepstead, jr., 8th Art.
Chauncey Matson, 151st Inf.
Edward Merril, 151st Inf.
582
LANDMARKS OF
Charles Minnie, 94tii Inf.
William Mulligan, 94th Inf.
Owen McAllister, 14th Art.
Robert L. Morgan, 50th Eng,
Richard McLord.
Leonard Morris.
George McFarlane.
Augustus Martin.
Patrick Murphy.
Alonson McCord.
Lewis Pierce.
James Piatt.
Alexander Peal.
John North, loth Inf.
John J. Odikirk, 8th Art.
Daniel T. Phillis, 8th Cav.
Albert J. Potter, 151st Inf.
Charles Pridmore, 151st Inf.
Marion Patterson, 4th Art.
Warren S. Peck, 13th Inf.
William H. Peterson, 1st Art.
WiUiam Preston, 94th Inf.
Charles Putnam, 17th Bat.
Albert G. Reed, 8th Art.
Charles E. Reynolds, 8th Art.
Daniel Root, 151st Inf.
Peter Riley, 89th Inf.
Alcolin Ross.
William Ross.
George J. Singler, 151st Inf.
Erastus Stiver, 8th Art.
Benjamin Swan, 8th Art.
Cornelius Sullivan, 8th Art.
George Smith, 50th JLug.
James Smith.
George Sutherland.
Frederick Smith.
John Snyder.
Alanson Salisbury, 151st Inf.
Herbert Taylor, 104th Inf.
GifFord S. Tuff, 8th Art.
Joseph Thompson, 13th Inf.
Edward Tru^, 94th Inf.
Geoage True, 94th Inf.
Adin Taylor, 8th Cav.
Nathan Venton, Sth Art.
A. Van Antwerp, Sth Art.
William Valan, 8th Cav.
Thomas Westcott, 8th Art.
William H. Westcott, 4th Art.
Luther M. Weiss, 8th Art.
Henry W. Wier, 8th Art.
Amos Wetherbee, 8th Art.
John M. Wetherbee, 151st Inf.
Albert Weller, 151st Inf.
W. H. Wetherbee, 12th Inf.
George Weed, 105th Inf.
James Welch.
Herbert Webster. 105th Inf.
Nathan Warren, 94th Inf.
John Williams.
James Walker.
Henry Ryan.
Harmon Salisbury, Capt. U. S. Col. Tr.
James M. Sherman, 8th Art.
James B. Shed, 151st Inf.
John W. Stephens, 140th Inf.
The town of Clarendon in i88o had a population of 1,797 ; i" 1890
of 1,731. In 1893 it had real estate assessed at $942,670 (equalized
$803,188), and personal property assessed at $89,800. Its entire tax
aggregated $5,978.76, the rate per cent, being .00548254 The town
audits allowed amounted to $1,238.87. Four corporations are a.ssessed
real estate as follows : N. Y. C& H. R. R. R. Co., $25,000 ; Holley
Waterworks. $20,000; Western Union Telegraph Company, $75;
and the Mutual Life Insurance Company $2,350. The town officers
ORLEANS COUNTY. 583
for 1894 are: Eugene Crossett, supervisor; Frank Tamblyn, town
clerk; Ira Dexter, overseer of the poor; Owen McAllister, highway
commissioner; John W. Millard, N. Eugene Warren, Simon P. Freer,
Bert Glidden, justices ot the peace; Charles Wilson-, jr., Adelbert H.
Carr, Charles T. Putnam, assessors ; Joseph W. Murphy, collector.
Clarendon. — This village, which was for many years called after
its founder, Farwell's Mills, is located about a mile north from the geo-
graphical center of the town. As before stated. Judge Farwell, the
first settler in the township, came here in the spring of 181 1. In that
year he erected a saw mill and in 1813 a grist mill. In 18 12 Alan-
son Dudley came, purchased from Mr. Farwell a piece of land, and
built thereon a house, the second in the place He soon afterward
erected a tannery and established a shoe shop. The saw mill that was
built in 181 1 was rebuilt in 1845, and in 1852 a new one was erected.
The grist mill first erected was supplanted by another some thirty years
later, built by Eldridge Farwell and Remick Knowles. In time the
supply of water for these mills diminished, and in 1 857 a steam engine
was added for use in times of low water. These mills were owned and
conducted by different parties till 1873, when two young men, Ogden
S. Miller and Walter T. Pettengill, came in possession of them. They
added machinery for the manufacture of cider and its conversion into
vinegar, erected an entensive evaporator, and expanded the business
till it was surpassed by few establishments of the kind in the State.
They added a planing mill to the saw mill, purchased large quantities
of timber lands in Tonawanda swamp, and conducted a large business
in lumber. ' The grist mill was purchased by Charles Riggs in 1886,
and in 1887 rollers were introduced. The present owner is Alonzo
Smith.
No business enterprise was ever undertaken in Clarendon that
brought as much money into the place as the operations of Miller &
Pettengill. They afterward established works at Holley, where an
active business is prosecuted. In 181 5 a distillery was erected here by
Joseph Sturges, who, with his brother David, manufactured spirituous
liquors for several years. A clothiery was established about 18 J 8
by John Phelps, but as the domestic manufacture of cloth gradually
diminished its usefulness ceased, till finally it was altogether abandoned.
584 LANDMARKS OF
The first store was kept by Denman Brainard. In 1821 Hiram Frisbie
and William Pierpont commenced the mercantile business here, suc-
ceeded in 1829 by David Sturges, who, in 1836, built the stone store
at the junction of Main, Holly and Albion streets. He continued the
business here till his death in 1843. In 1830 George M. Copeland,
then fifteen years of age, became a clerk in Sturges's store, and on the
death of the latter became a proprietor, and he was, with a short inter-
val, in the business till his death. Many other mercantile establish-
ments have from time to time arisen and flourished for longer or
shorter periods, but the continued existence of this in the same build-
ing for more than half a century is a remarkable instance of the lon-
gevity of a business From 181 1 the log house of Judge Farwell was
a place where hospitality was dispensed, but in 1821 William Pierpont
built and opened a hotel. It was conducted by many landlords, and
was enlarged several times; but in 1849 it was burned. In 1837 a
tavern was opened in what is now the Clarendon Hotel. In 1839 what
was known as the Cottage Inn was started in a building which is now a
dwelling, on Albion street. Prior to the establishment of railroads
Clarendon was a point where many teamsters stopped on their way to
and from the Erie Canal, and hotel keeping was a lively business here ;
but since 1851 it has become less remunerative. Several asheries were
conducted here while the forests were being cleared away, but they
have long since ceased operations, and their sites are hardly remem-
bered. The first blacksmith here, in 181 3, was Henry Jones ; the first
tailor was a man named Evarts ; and the first shoe shop was opened
by Alonzp Dudley, in 1812. A foundry was once carried on here.
On the nth of November, 1892, the village was visited by a fire which
destroyed a church, a general store, a hardware store, a meat market
and a dwelling, all of which except the dwelling have been rebuilt.
Clarendon village now contains two churches, a post office, three gen-
eral stores, one shoe store, a millinery, two meat markets, a flour and
feed store, a hotel, two blacksmiths, a wagon shop, a cooperage, a lime
kiln, two cider mills, an evaporator, a grist mill, a saw mill, a stave and
heading factory, and about 250 inhabitants. The present postmaster
is Gordon L. St. John.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 585
Manning. — In 1836 a Christian church was erected at what was for
many years, West Clarendon, about two miles west from Clarendon
village. Soon afterward a small blacksmith shop was started here, and
in 1842 Elias Lawton built one on the site of the post-ofifice. Prior to
that time Omega Rose established a hotel near the present site of the
church, and since that time a carriage shop was built and for some time
conducted by Ira Bronson. John Millard had a whip factory here at
one time, and Harry D. Stewart conducted a nursery some years.
Josiah Lawton is now a blacksmith here, having succeeded his father,
Elias. Besides this there is a manufactory of proprietary medicines
conducted by Rev. J. W. Lawton. In 1887 a post-ofifice was established
at this place. It was named Manning, partly in honor of Daniel Man-
ning, then a member of the national cabinet, and partly from Manning
Packard, an old resident here. He has a store here, as has also R. E.
Lawton. The present postmaster is Simon P. Freer.
The M. E. Church of Clarendon. — It is said that a Methodist Episco-
pal class was formed in Clarendon village, then Farwell's Mills, as early
as 1815. During more than thirty years meetings were held in the
school house and in private dwellings. The increase in members
necessitated the erection of a house of worship, and a legal organization
was effected on the 28th of February, 1848, under the name of the
First Methodist Episcopal Church and Society of Clarendon. Prepara-
tions for the erection of a church building were commenced in 185 1,
the work was begun, and the building was dedicated in Deceniber of
that year. The site was donated to the society by G. M. Copeland.
Some twenty years later this house was thoroughly remodeled, en-
larged and improved ; the grounds were enlarged, and sheds were
erected, at a total cost of $3,000. In 1878 George M. Copeland donated
a site for a parsonage, which was built at a cost of $1,500. In Novem-
ber, 1892, the church building was burned, and during a year meetings
were held in the town halL In that time a new church edifice was
erected, and was dedicated, free of debt, in November, 1893. Its cost
was $4,000. This society and the one at Hulberton have, except for a
few years, always been served by the same pastor. Of the early preach-
ers who ministered to this charge the names have been ascertained of:
Revs. Israel Chamberlain, Hiram May, John Copeland, Josiah Breakmore, George
74
580 LANDMARKS OF
Wilkinson, John H. Wallace, Glezen Fillmore and Micah Seager. Snice 1860 the
pastors have been Revs. J. Kennard, S. M. Hopkins, A. L. Chapin, W. F. Richards, D.
D. Cook, E. M. Buck, William Barrett, E. S. Sparrow, G. W. Terry, H. C. Woods,
William McGovern, John McEwen, C. W. Swift, A. L. Staples, William S. Tuttle, T. C.
Swartz, A. H. Marzott, A. A. Craw, C. N. Patterson and R. Robinson.
The First Universalist Church of Clarendon. — At an early period
meetings were held by Universalists at different places in Clarendon
and South Murray and services were conducted by Revs. Mr. Samson,
of Parma, Liscomb Knapp, and L. L. Flagler. As early as 1827 a
society was formed, and November 3, 1832, it was incorporated as the
First Universalist Society of Clarendon and South Murray. The first
Board of Trustees consisted of Eldridge Farwell, David Matson, James
Orr, Eli Bickford, Harrison Hatch and Ezekiel Lee. For three years
after the incorporation of the society meetings were held alternately in
the school houses at Clarendon and at Holley, but in 1835 a substantial
stone church building was erected in Clarendon village on a lot donated
by Eldridge Farwell. The original cost was $2,500. In 1870 it was
remodeled and refitted at an expense of $2,500. In 1887 a parsonage
was erected on the church lot at a cost of $1,500. The society has no
debt. The pastors since 1827 have been :
Revs. Calvin Morton, Alfred Peck, Isaac Whitwell, Charles Hammond, William
Andrews, Russell Tomhnson, Seth Remington, Thomas L. Clark, William B. Clark,
Dewitt C. Tomlinson, William Cook, Alanson Kelsey, Henry L. Haywood, John J.
Austin, Nelson Snell, William Knott, W. B. Randolph, J. W. Broeffle, W. C. Tansom,
Ottoway, William Knott again, F. B. Peck, E. L. Conkling and H. M. Markley.
In 1843 a Sunday school was organized with Ira B. Keeley superin-
tendent
The Christian Church of West Clarendon. — The Christian denomina-
tion began in the United States at about 1800. It "seems to have
sprung up simultaneously in different parts of the country without any
preliminary interchange of sentiments or concerted plan of action.
Their leading purpose at first appears to have been not so much to es-
tablish any peculiar and distinctive doctrine as to assert, for indi-
viduals and churches, more liberty and independence in relation to
matters of faith and practice, to shake off the authority of human creeds
and the shackles of prescribed modes and forms, and to make the Bible
their only guide ; claiming for every man the right to be his own ex-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 587
positor of it, to judge for himself what are its doctrines and require-
ments, and in practice to follow more strictly the simplicity of the
apostles and primitive Christians." In September, i8i5,a meeting was
held at the house of William Burnham, in the town of Murray, then
county of Genesee (a mile and a half northwest from Holley), and the
following is a copy of the record of the proceedings at that meeting:
We, whose names are written in this book, acknowledge ourselves a church of Christ,
taking Christ the son of God for our leader, master and lawgiver, and the scriptures for
our rule of faith and practice.
The record continues:
In the first place a few names were joined together by Daniel Brackett ; then about
the first of November, 1815, a few were added by Elder Morris. Then, in the month
of March, 1817, the church was regularly organized by Elders Robinson Smith and
Joseph Badger.
The following are the names recorded :
Daniel Brackett, Jesse Everts, Docas Everts, Urania Everts, Paul King, Winthrop
Young, William Whitney, Sarah Whitney, Sarah Brackett, Thaddeus Austin, Eunice
Thing, Robinson Smith, Joseph Terry, William B. Worden, Pollina Worden, Peter
Miller, Esther Miller, Susannah Young, John Stockwell, Levi Preston, William Burn-
ham, Phebe Burnham, Zebulon Rice, Polly Meed.
The pastors of this church were Revs. Daniel Brackett, Robinson
Smith, Joseph Badger and others. Meetings were held in various
places for several years, but about 1824 the place of meeting was estab-
Hshed in the west part of the town, two miles from Clarendon village.
About 1826 a small society of this denomination sprang up in east
Clarendon. It maintained an existence till 1829, when it united with
the church in the western part of the town. In 1839 Daniel Brackett
donated a site on lot 230, at west Clarendon, now Manning, and in the
same year the society built a house of worship thereon, at a cost of
about $2,000. In 1874 this house was repaired and improved at an ex-
pense of $1,000. The pastors, since the removal of the church to west
Clarendon, have been :
Revs. Daniel Brackett, Ezra Smith, Aaron Cornish, Ezra Gates, Richard Davis, Aaron
C. Parker, W. T. Caton, F. D. Childs, Joseph Weeks, Henry S. Fish, F. R. Hoag, Isaac
T. Tryon. Aaron Parker, Elias Jones, James W. Lawton, Warren Vreeland, J. B.
Clark, Elias Jones again, D. D. Moore, Warren Vreeland again, and D. D. Moore, the
present pastor.
588 LANDMARKS OF
The Second Free Will Baptist Church. — At an early day a Free
Will Baptist Church was formed at East Clarendon. April 7, 1846, a
society of this denomination was organized in the southwestern part of
the town, and in 1850 the earlier organization was absorbed by it.
Until 1859 the place of worship was the school house in district No. 10,
but in that year it was changed to No. 4. This society has never built
a house of worship. The first deacons were Jehiel Glidden, and John
Hawley. The first clerk and treasurer was Chester Hawley. The pas-
tors have been :
Revs. Archibald Bennett, A. Gilman, William Peck, Charles Cook, Shubael S.
Stevens, Walter Holt, Alfred Olmstead, and D. L. M. Rollin.
The Church of the United Brethren was organized with about thirty
constituent members at the school house in district No. 12, in 1862.
Giles Orcutt was the first class reader. This school house was the
place of worship for several years, and the pastors were Revs, J. G.
Erb, D. C. Starkey and others. The society was incorporated in 1869,
with Horace Coy, Giles H. Orcutt, and George Lawrence as trustees.
In the same year a framed church building was erected near the school
house in district No. 10. Daniel P. Albert was the builder, and the
cost of the structure was about $1,000. Since the erection of the
church the pastors have been.
Revs. Mr. Hodge, Philander Pierce, Mr. Parker, Mr. Butterfield, I. J. Bower, I. Cole.
Mr. Bennett and George B. Van Waters.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE TOWN OF YATES.
Yates is the northwest corner town in Orleans county. It was set off
from Ridgevvay on the 17th of April, 1822, and because of its geograph-
ical position was called Northton. The name was changed in 1823 in
honor of Joseph C. Yates, then governor of the State. It is bounded
on the north by Lake Ontario, on the east by Carlton, on the south by
Ridgeway, and on the west by Niagara county.
e;^:^^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 589
The town has an area of 22,559^ acres of generally level land,
which was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting
chiefly of whitewood, beech, birch, oak, maple, and hemlock. In many
instances trees in these forests reached a height of over 100 feet; and
directly in front of Daniel Clark's tenement house, in the highway,
stood a whitewood which towered 125 feet from the ground. When
cut down a section of the trunk sixty feet long was hollowed out for a
boat and was used many years on the canal. A huge white oak tree
standing on what is now the Handy farm squared three feet and was
drawn to Oak Orchard by fourteen yoke of oxen. These dense forests,
after 1816, were rapidly cut down and converted into ashes, from which
potash was made, the sale of which for a time was almost the only
source of money for the pioneers. The steady influx of sturdy settlers
soon transformed the wilderness into productive farms, a few of which
have always remained in the families of the original settlers.
The principal water course in Yates is Johnson's Creek, so named
from Sir William Johnson, the famous English agent among the Five
Nations, who at an early date commanded an expedition from Oswego
to Fort Niagara, and the first night out camped at the junction of that
stream with Lake Ontario in what is now Carlton. This creek enters
Yates in the southwest part of the town and flows northeasterly through
Lyndonville. It affords excellent mill privileges and has several small
tributaries. Other streams are Marsh and Four- Mile Creeks, which flow
northeast into the lake.
The soil of the town is a fertile sandy loam admixed with considerable
red clay, and is well adapted to all kinds of agriculture. Among the
farm products grown in marketable quantities are wheat, hay, beans,
apples, peaches, pears, plums, quinces, etc. Sheep and cattle are kept
in limited numbers, and dairying is conducted on a small scale, chiefly
for local consumption.
The town of Yates embraces ranges 3 and 4 of township 16. That
portion in range 3 is divided into nine sections and these are subdivided
into two, four, six, and twelve lots. The portion in range 4 is divided
into thirty lots. In the case of range 3, township 16, the land office
records are not to be found. The order in which the grantees by deed
are named is from south to north and from east to west, regardless of
chronological order.
590 LANDMARKS OF
Section 1, lot 1, Samuel Danolds, 62^ acres, October 29, 1883 ; John Rose, 25 acres,
September 2, 1835 ; Bnos Greenman, 25 acres, September 30, 1835 ; George Ide, GO
acres, September 30, 1823 ; Royal Chamberlain, 40 acres, July 13, 1837 ; Reuben
Petitt, 50 acres, February 8, 1837 ; Daniel Houseman, 120 acres, September 9, 1835.
Lot 2, Reuben Petitt, 59 acres, February 8, 1837; Solomon Stisser, 114 acres, Sep-
tember 5, 1836; John B. Lee, 50 acres, Septemb.r 1, 1834; Archibald Barry, 80 acres,
December 28, 1835 ; Thomas Handy, 25 acres, June 20, 1838.
Lot 3, Samuel Danolds, 62 acres, October 29, 1835 ; Enos Greenman, 60 acres,
September 30, 1835 ; Preserved Greenman, 235 acres, June 8, 1814.
Lot 4, Daniel Houseman, 60 acres, September 29, 1830 ; George Houseman, 60 acres,
October 28, 1828 ; D. Houseman, 60^ acres, September 9, 1835 ; George Houseman, 38
acres, November 11, 1834; James Foster, 73 acres, February 9, 1835; Jeptha Wright,
124 acres, June 1, 1834.
Sec. 2, lot 1, Thomas Handy, 17 acres, December 23, 1830 ; Benjamin Hix, 32f
acres, June 1, 1834; Thomas Handy, 81i acres, December 24, 1833; John Teft, 50
acres, June 1, 1834 ; James Madgen, 60 acres, June 28, 1824 ; John Eaton, 121 acres,
June 18, 1816.
Lot 2, Grosvenor D. Church. 80 acres, June 18, 1838 ; Aaron Root, 50 acres, Decem-
ber 22, 1837; Jesse Hall, 49| acres, June 20, 1834; Williamson Eaton, 24^ acres, June
1, 1834; John H. Tyler, 100 acres, December 28, 1833; Joseph Cady, 48 acres, Jan-
uary 4, 1834.
Lot 3, Benjamin Barry, 80^ acres, December 28, 1833 ; James Barry, 105 acres, De-
cember 28, 1833 ; John S. and Margaret Barry, 102 acres, December 28, 1 833 ; Russell
Sill, 108i acres, June 20, 1834.
Lot 4, Joseph Cady, 117, acres, June 20, 1834; Daniel Dutcher, 88 acres, December
28 1833: Henry D. Henion, 98 acres, December 28, 1833; Matthias Brown, 50 acres,
June 2, 1838.
Sec 3, Lot I.Reuben Root, 55 acres, May 15, 1835; Reuben Root, 31 acres, August
27, 1831 ; Robert Farrington, 25 acres, August 27, 1831.
Lot 3, Jesse Culver, 55^ acres, June 20, 1834; Phineas H. Tyler, 56 acres, June 1,
1834.
Lot 5, Aaron Root, 57i acres, September 26, 1834 ; Samuel S. Cross, 56 acres, De-
cember 26, 1833.
Lot 7, Samuel Tappan, 112^ acres, June 17, 1834.
Lot 9, John Lowber, 113 acres, May 1, 1835.
Lot 11, Philo Warner, 112^ acres, June 20, 1834.
Lot 2, Eber Greeley, 104 acres, June 20, 1834 ; Oilman Greeley, 91 acres, (part lot 4)
June 1, 1834.
Lot 4, Abel S. Barnum, 113 acres, June 1, 1834.
Lot 6, Rensselaer Warner, 150 acres, June 20, 1834.
Lot 8, Richard Barry, 155i acres, (part lot 10) June 20, 1834.
Lot 10, Grosvenor D. Church, 70 acres, June 20, 1834 ; Ransom Barry, 75 acres,
June 20. 1834.
Lot 12, Nelson Cady, 49^ acres, June 20, 1834; Luman Johnson, 22 acres, May 14,
1836 ; Godfrey Tarbox 50 acres, March 2, 1836.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 591
Sec. 4, Lot 1, Preserved Greenman, 201 acres; Preserved Greenman, 158 acres, June
18, 1810.
Lot 2, Preserved Greenman, 242 acres, June 18, 1810; Daniel Stockwell, 23 1-2
acres, November 30, 1835 ; Peter Warner, 50 acres, July 8, 1835. '
Lot 3, John Bannister, 100 acres, October 29, 1833; Abner Mallory, 50 acres, June
20, 1834; Levi S. Smith, 88 acres, November 5, 1835; Stephen Salisbury, 75 acres,
June 20, 1834; Richard Ashbey, 63 1-2 acres, (part of lot 4 and lot 1, sec. 7) September
8, 1834,
Lot 4, Daniel Stockvpell, 105 acres, (part lot 3) November 30, 1835; Steven V. R.
Greenman, 160 acres, June 5, 1826.
Sec. 5, lot 1, Stephen Dutcher, 50 acres, June 1, 1834, and May 15, 1835; Joel C.
Parsons, 152f acres, March 15, 1834 ; Sukey B. Baker and others, 87 acres, March 2,
1837.
Lot 2, Lather W. Valentine, 59 acres, June 4, 1834 ; Hezekiah Bullock, 118 acres,
January 4 1834; Ahimas Blanchard, 303 acres, part lot, January 4, 1834.
Lot 3, Tunis J. Henion, 103 acres, December 25, 1836; Jacob Winegar, 102|- acres,
December 5, 1834 ; Samuel F. Stockwell, 100 acres, November 2, 1836 ; Virgil Hurd,
61 acres, February 22, 1834.
Lot 4, Peter Vanaernam, 110+ acres, June 1, 1834; Richard Vanaernam, 50 acres,
June 1, 1834; Gideon Aber, 80 acres, December 30, 1833; Nathan Aber, 50 acres, De-
cember 30, 1833 ; Jabish Aber, 74 acres, January 5, 183G.
Sec. 6, lot 1, Clark Eldridge, 50 acres, March 6, 1834 ; Abner Allen, 50 acres, March
14, 1834; Philip Warner, 15 acres, November 10, 1834.
Lot 3, Jacob Mead, 132 acres (part lot 5) December 24, 1833 ; William Benjamin, 40
acres, September 26, 1834.
Lot 5, Richard Cleveland, 87^ acres (part lot 2, sec. 5), June 20, 1834.
Lot 7, Asahel Johnson, 116 acres, June 1, 1834.
Lot 9, Anthony Baker, 116 acres, November 28, 1833.
Lot 11, Henry McNeal, 116^ acres, January 5, 1836.
Lot 2, Benjamin Barry, 103 acres (part lot 4) June 20, 1834; Luman Johnson, 100
acres (part lot 4) February 8, 1838.
Lot 4, Kinyon Green, 100 acres, February 1, 1823.
Lot 6, William Carpenter, 70 acres, January 1, 1834; Godfrey Tarbox, 84 acres, De-
cember 10, 1830.
Lot 8, John A. Eggleston, 152 acres, January 28, 1833.
Lot 10, Robert Fraiser. 156^ acres, February 27, 1834.
Lot 12, Joseph Hadsdell, 73 acres, February 15,1834; Herbert Smipson, 100 acres.
May 15, 1835.
Sec. 7, lot 1, Livonia Parker, 87i acres, February 17, 1836; Cyrus Clark, 112^ acres,
November 9, 1835; Cyrus Clark, 121 acres. May 20, 1833; Harvey Clark, 102^ acres,
November 26, 1833.
Lot 2, Samuel Taylor, 100 acres, December 24, 1833; Pierson M. Aber, 50 acres,
August 1, 1836; Stephen W. Mudgett, 50 acres, August 29, 1833; Samuel Clark, 231
acres, December 20, 1833.
592 LANDMARKS OF
Sec. 8, lot I, Samuel Clark, 40 acres, September 23, 1836; Stephen B. Johnson, 120
"acres, December 1, 1835 ; Amasa Spaulding, 100 acres, July 9, 1829 ; Virgil Hurd and
William Shinger, 82 acres, December 28, 1833; Stephen Austin, 56 acres, June 3, 1833;
Peter W. Ambler, 25 1-2 acres, June 1, 1834 ; Friend Curtis, 29 1-2 acres September
24, 1834.
Lot 2, Isaac Van Ness, 80 acres, January 24, 1834 ; Elisha Bowen, 26 1-2 acres, De-
cember 24, 1833; Josiah Hurd 75 acres, January 28, 1834; Isaac Hurd, 171-2 acres,
January 28, 1834; Lemuel Downs, 174 1-2 acres, June 20, 1834; Isaac Hurd, 88 acres,
January 28, 1834; Lemuel M. Downs, 25 acres, September 19, 1831.
Sec. 9, lots 1, 3 and 5, Zaccheus Swift, 20 acres,- May 11, 1836; Zenas Conger, 44
acres, December 30, 1833 ; Jane Spalding, 86 acres, June 16, 1834 ; James Hicks, 105
acres, July 4, 1837 ; John W. Skillinger, 200 acres, November 28, 1833.
Lot 2, Jeremiah Wickhara, 113 acres, February 27, 1834.
Lot 4, Joseph Shannon, 143 acres (part lot 2), August 22, 1834 ; Waterman Clark,
101 acres, December 20, 1837.
Lot 6, Edward Edmunds, 80 acres, May 15, 1835 ; Baruck H. and Elihu P. Gilbert,
79 acres, March 23, 1836; John S. Edmunds, 59 acres, December 31, 1834; Aaron
Thompson, 100 acres, January 4, 1834.
The north middle part, 71 acres, of lot 1, range 4, township 16, was first articled to
Zebediah Heath September 22, 1815. November 5, 1829, it was articled to Joel Fuller,
and with 20 acres more, was deeded to him November II, 1833. The north part, 72
acres, of lot 1 was taken up by Jameson Henry September 22, 1815. It was articled to
Williams Cobb April 22, 1828. and was deeded to him October 29, 1833. The south
part, 200 acres, of lot 1 was taken up by Elisha Sawyer July 14, 1815. October 30,
1828, 100 acres of this were articled to Morris Sawyer, and were deeded to Cyrus Clark
November 26, 1833. October 9, 1829, 80 acres were articled to Rodney Clarke, and
were deeded to him November 1, 1836. Twenty acres of the south part were deeded,
with the north middle part to Joel Fuller November 11, 1833.
William Weaver took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 2 October 28, 1815. De-
cember 24, 1830, it was articled to Jackson Blood, and was deeded to him December
28, 1833. The middle part, 97^ acres, of lot 2 was taken up by Reuben Peck April 26,
1816. May 10, 1824, it was articled to Alfred Bullard, and fifty acres were deeded to
him September 2, 1834. April 29, 1828, 47^ acres of this middle part were articled to
Harry Campbell and afterward to John Ellison. This parcel was deeded to Reuben
Petitt November 4, 1833. Samuel Whipple took up the north part, 157 acres, of lot
2 November 22, 1816. December 29, 1830,50 acres of this were articled to Luman
Hamlin, and were deeded to him February 14, 1834. January 11, 1830, 57 acres of
this north part weie articled to Stephen W. Mudgett, and wt-re deeded to Seth D. Church
February 27, 1834. November 19, 1830, 50 acres of the same were articled to Alexan-
der Oliver, and were deeded to James Clement December 31, 1833.
The north part, 200 acres, of lot 3 was taken up by Thomas Stafford May 29, 1816_
July 7, 1824, 50 acres were articled to Benjamin Drake, and January 4, 1828, to Horace
Drake. The parcel was deeded to Truman D. Austin February 8, 1833. Fifty acres of
this north part were articled to Hiram Moore July 7, 1824, and to Ezra Spaulding De-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 593
cember 22, 1830. They were deeded to Mr. Spaulding June 3, 1833. July 7, 1824,
58 acres of the same were articled to Moore & Hughes, and December 21, 1827, 2
acres of this parcel were deeded to Benjamin Henshaw. On the same day the balance
was articled to Harry Moore, and was deeded to Amasa Spaulding May 12, 1829. July
7, 1824, 50 acres of the same north part were articled to Moore & Hughes, and May 31,
1830, were transferred to Cyrus Briggs. Asahel Buck took up the south part, 113
acres, of lot 3 March 3, 1817. September 9, 1828, it was articled to Amos Barrett, and
was deeded to Roswell Burton December 28, 1833. The south middle part, 50 acres, of
lot 3 was taken up by Benjamin Nichols January 17, 1817. March 1, 1827, it was
articled to John Butler, and January 19, 1831, to Jesse Scofield. It was deeded, with
50 acres of the north part, to Eliphalet Gregory December 28, 1833.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 4 was first articled to George W. Merrick May 29,
1816. June 14, 1827, 50 acres of this were articled to Francis Hair, and September 4,
1828, to Dorris Curtis, to whom they were deeded February 4, 1833. June 14, 1827,
50 acres of this south part were articled to Friend Curtis. May 20, 1834, 1 acre was
deeded to Nathan Martin, and June 1, 1834, 49 acres to Peter W. Ambler. Zenas
Conger took up the middle part, 150 acres, of lot 4, September 3, 1816. October 30,
1829, 75 acres of this were articled to Elisha Bovven, and were deeded to him October
21, 1833. The north part, 74 acres, of lot 4 was first articled: May 22, 1817. to
Zacchens Swift; October 30, 1829, it was again articled to Stephen Swift, to whom it
was deeded December 30, 1833.
The south part, 200 acres, of lot 5 was articled to Luther St. John March 15, 1817,
and 125 acres of this were deeded to him December 24, 1833. The balance, of 75
acres, was articled to Edwin St. John December 23, 1829, and was deeded to him June
1, 1834. The north part, 200 acres, of lot 5 was articled to Simeon Gilbert November
15, 1816, and 100 acres were deeded to John H. Tyler December 14, 1837. October 15,
1829, 100 acres of this north part were articled to Barach H. Gilbert, and were deeded
to him December 27, 1833.
The west part, 100 acres, of lot 6 was taken up by Clark McCarthy April 10, 1817.
December 29, 1830, it was articled to Ripley Lombard, to whom it was deeded June 20,
1834. Israel Murdock took up the east middle part, 150 acres, of lot 6 February 4, 1817.
December 16, 1829, it was articled to Grinald Davis, to whom it was deeded October
25, 1836. The east part, 150 acres, of lot 6 was articled to Amos Spencer November
2, 1816, and was deeded to David Coon November 5, 1833. The west middle part, 102
acres, of lot 6 was taken up by Alexander "Van Broklin September 18, 1820. It was
articled to Farley J. Coon December 21, 1829, and was deeded to Grinald Davis May
15, 1835.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 7, was taken up by Enrich Marlatt October 16, 1816.
December 29, 1830, the south portion, 40 acres of this was articled to Daniel Hunt, and
was deeded to him May 26, 1834. December 29, 1830, the north portion, 60 acres of
this east part was articled to Daniel F. Hunt, and December 18, 1833, to Andrew Weld
to whom it was deeded February 22, 1836. John Marlatt took up the middle part, 100
acres, of lot 7, October 16, 1816. January 18, 1830, it was articled to Andrew Weld,
and was deeded to him November 30, 1835. October 24, 1816, Samuel Church took
75
594 LANDMARKS OF
up the west part 134^ acres of lot 7, January 18, 1830; it was articled to William
Lott, and December 28, 1833, to Jonn Gambell, to whom it was deeded October 27,
1836.
Phillip H. Vedder, took up the south part, lOU acres, of lot 8, April 14, 1817. The
east portion, 50 acres of this was deeded to Henry Vanderpool, with the middle part,
October 6, 1832. The west portion, 50 acres of the same was articled to John H.
Bovere, December 29, 1830, and deeded to Henry Vanderpool, January 14, 1834. The
middle part, 100 acres, of lot 8 was articled to John Marshall, November 24, 1817.
February 5, 1831, 50 acres were articled to Abigail Wright, and the whole was deeded
to Andrew Vanderpool October 6, 1832. The north part, 139 acres, of lot 8, was taken
up by William Loot and Joseph Johnson, April 24, 1819. December 22, 1823, the west
portion, 69^ acres of this was articled to Joseph Johnson, and was deeded to Alanson
B. Arnold November 30, 1833; January 28, 1833, the east portion 69^ acres, of the
same was deeded to Benjamin Marlatt.
The south part, 150 acres, of lot 9, was articled to Philo Manrow March 4, 1817.
The middle part, 157 acres of the same lot was articled to Aaron Hamlin February 26,
1817. These parts were deeded as follows: 107 acres to Aaron S. Hamlin, February 2,
1833, 50 acres to Aaron S. Hamlin January 3, 1834, 50 acres to Henry Vanderpool Jan-
nary 14, 1834, and 50 acres to Chauncey Fellows December 10, 1855. The north part,
100 acres, of lot 9, was taken up by Solomon Hamlin February 26, 1817. November
25, 1830, the west portion, 50 acres of this was articled to William E. Warner, and was
deeded to him February 2, 1833. December 28, 1830, the east portion, 50 acres of this
north part was articled to Chester Houghton, and November 7, 1834, to Josiah R. Hendrix.
It was deeded to Josiah Shaw January 1, 1838.
Libeus, Austin, took up the south part, 100 acres, of lot 10, February 25, 1817. April
27, 1831, it was articled to John Ellison, and the west portion, 50 acres, was deeded to
Lemuel E. Downs December 29, 1837. The east portion, 50 acres was deeded to
Alfred Bullard December 20. 1833. The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 10 was first
articled to Benjamin Ellis February 25, 1817. January 31, 1831, it was again articled
in two parcels of 50 acres each to Jonathan Swett and James Cox. The whole was
deeded to James Cox December 28, 1833. John Staftbrd took up the north part, 120
acres, of lot 10 March 26, 1817. May 12, 1829, it was articled to Amasa Spaulding
and Jeremiah Miller, and was deeded: 00 acres to Amasa Spaulding May 25, 1831;
and 60 acres to Phoebe Miller on the same day.
The north part, 190 acres, of lot 11 was sold by article to John R. Sebring January
20, 18i7. February 8, 1830. 50 acres were articled to Moses Jones, and were deeded
to Alexander Seabolt December 30, 1833. February 8, 1830, 140 1-2 acres were
articled to Philip W. Hewett, and 60 1-2 acres of this portion were deeded to him
February 8, 1634. Eighty acres of the same portion were deeded to Solomon Palmer
January 22, 1834.
The south part, 100 aore.s, of lot 11 was articled to Stephen Cole November 27, 1816,
January 19, 1830, the east portion, 50 acres, of this part was articled to John Clark,
and was deeded to him June 1, 1834. December 29, 1830, 25 acres of the west
portion of the same part were articled to James H. Jones, and were deeded to W. E.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 595
Warner February 2, 1833. January 3, 1831, 25 acres of the same west portion were
articled to William Bell, and were deed to him June 1, 1834. The middle part, 100
acres, of lot 11 was taken up by Stephen Cole November 27, 1816. October 18, 1831,
it was articled in two equal parcels to Francis Brown and Truman D. Austin, and was
deeded to Mr. Austin February 25, 1823.
The east part of lot 12, 150 acres, was articled to Josiah Perry April 10, 1817, and
was deeded to him December 11, 1833. The west part, 146 acres, of lot 12 was articled
to Elisha Smith December 3, 1819. One hundred acres were deeded to him June 1,
1834. December 21, 1829, 46 acres of this west part were articled to David Smith, and
were deeded to him May 22, 1838. The west middle part, 100 acres, of lot 12 was articled
to Ashley Root December 3, 1819, and was deeded to William A. Spaulding June 20,
1834. The east middle part, 112 acres, of lot 12 was taken up by Orange Spaulding
December 3, 1819. December 18, 1829, it was articled to William Spaulding, and was
deeded to Elihu Gilbert February 3, 1834.
The south part, 120 acres, of lot 13 was first articled to James Daniels October 24
1816. February 9, 1830, 60 acres of this part were articled to John Deline, and the
whole was deeded to him January 16, 1833.
The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 13 was articled to David Hendryx November
5, 1825, and deeded to Chester Houghton February 2, 1833. The middle part, 50 acres,
of lot 13 was articled to David Hendryx March 20, 1826, and was deeded to Chester
Houghton February 21, 1833. The north part, 50 acres, of lot 13 was articled to Isaac
Deline June 13, 1826, and was deeded to him January 16, 1833. January 19, 1827, 50
acres of lot 13 were articled to Harman Vedder, and were deeded to Peter Deline
January 16, 1833. The north middle part, 40 acres, of lot 13 was articled to Josiah
Hendryx January 11, 1828. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1. 1835.
The south part, 60 acres, of lot 14 was articled to Aaron Vedder June 6, 1820, and
deeded to Arthur Waterbury June 20, 1834. The middle part, 60 acres, of lot 14 was
taken up by John Marlatt June 3, 1826. It was deeded to Samuel Tappan January 27,
1834. The south middle part, 50 acres, of lot 14 was deeded to Joseph 0. Donaldson
December 11, 1826. The north middle part, 50 acres, of lot 14 was articled to Gideon
Lighthall July 23, 1827. Obed Marlatt took up 50 acres of lot 14 April 6, 1830. No-
vember 14, 1834, this land was articled to Henry Vanderpool, and was deeded to
Ephraim J. Van Ness August 22, 1834. The north part, 78 acres, of lot 14 was articled
to Jacob Haner May 17, 1830, and was deeded to Joshua Rathbone and Langford
Barry June 16, 1834. Twenty-eight acres of lot 14 were deeded to Isaac Vanderpool
October 21, 1834.
The north part, 100 acres, of .lot 15 was articled to Hiram Moore March 4, 1817.
The middle part, 100 acres, of the same lot was ai-ticled to John H. Burroughs April 30,
1817. These parts were deeded as follows: 62 acres to Samuel Hamlin December 29,
1833; 50 acres to Calvin Gilbert January 3, 1834; 42 acres to Samuel Tappan May 31,
1833; and 46 acres to Samuel Tappan December 14, 1833. The south part, 166 acres,
of lot 15 was taken up by Joseph Whitney May 28, 1818. February 29, 1832, it was
articled, in equal parts, to Jacob J. Haner and Alexander Haner. The whole was
deeded to Christian J. Haner December 29, 1833.
596 LANDMARKS 01^
The middle part, 100 acres, of lot 16 was taken up by James Ellison ; May 31,
1830, it was articled to Rebecca Remington, and, with 77 acres of the north part
was deeded to Charles Lum November 25, 1833. The south part, 100 acres, of lot
16 was articled to Chauncey Chapel March 15, 1817. It was transferred to Anna
Houghton July 5, 1830, and was deeded to John Vedder January 5, 1834. John H_
Harrington took up the north part, 127 acres, of lot 16 April 30, 1817. Seventy- seven
acres of this were deeded, with the middle part of the lot, to Charles Lum November
25, 1833. The west portion, 50 acres, of this part was articled to John Rose January
10, 1831, and to Noah Elton November 10, 1834. It was deeded to him January 1,
1836.
April 2, 1819, Benjamin Nichols purchased by two articles the north part, 100 acres,
of lot 17. May 13, 1828, it was articled to Archibald Minto, and was deeded to Piatt F.
Lamont June 20, 1834. The southwest part, 50 acres, of lot 17 was articled to Orton
Gribbs June 10, 1828, and, with the east part of lot 23 was deeded to Jacob Prussia
April 7, 1833. The east middle part, 80 acres, of lot 17 was articled to Charles S.
Jones January 18, 1830, and was deeded to him June 20, 1834. The part, 60 acres,
next south from this was articled to Robert Ellison January 18, 1830. It was deeded to
Phipps W. Hewett April 12, 1834. The south and 'middle part, 59 acres, of lot 17 was
articled to Charles Cretney January 18, 1830. Thirty-four acres were deeded to Calvin
Gilbert January 3, 1834; and 25 acres to Samuel Tappan December 14, 1833. The
southeast part, 60 acres, of lot 17 was articled to Charles Casement January 18, 1830,
and was deeded : 30 acres to William R, and Elanor Cahill June 28, 1831 ; and 50 acres
to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The east part, 250 acres of lot 18 was taken up by Chauncey Beecher Nov. 21, 1818.
Dec. 17, 1830, 100 acres of this were articled to Aretus Butcher, and were deeded to Ezra
M. Mann June 1, 1834. January 19, 1831, 100 acres of the same were articled to Henry
Spauiding, and were deeded to him June 20, 1834. Fifty acres of this part were deeded
to William D. Henderson October 25, 1840. The west middle part, 112 acres, of lot
18, was articled to Joseph Henderson September 17, 1822, and was deeded to widow
Mary Henderson October 11, 1825. The west part, 120 acres, of lot 18 was taken up
by Elisha Thomas October 4, 1820. February 17, 1835, it was articled in two parcels
to Samuel Kenyon 2d, and, with the east 100 acres of lot 24, was deeded to him
February 5, 1836.
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 19 was articled to Matthias H. and Jacob H. Bovee
October 19, 1829, and was deeded to Jacob H. Bovee March 12, 1833. The middle
part, i 00 acres, of lot 19 was articled to Matthias H. Bovee November 9, 1831, and
was deeded to John Lowber March 1, 1835. The south middle part, 25 acres, of lot
19 was articled to Isaac Deline February 7, 1832. It was deeded, with the above, to
John Lowber March 1, 1835. The south part, 130 acres, of lot 19 was sold by deed to
William Lott, February 22, 1832.
The south and middle parts of lot 20, 244 acres, were, after many transfers, deeded
to John Lowber May 1, 1835, with fifty acres of the north part of lot 20: 25 acres
were deeded to Esther James and others January 10, 1835; and 25 to Christina Bor-
dine January 1, 1839.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 597
The north part, 100 acres, of lot 21, was taken up Daniel Cargill June 2, 1817.
August 28, 1832, it was articled to Samuel Tappan, and was deeded to him June 17,
1835. The south part, 100 acres, of lot 21 was articled to James Clement November 6,
1829, and was deeded to Richard Clute December 28, 1833. The middle part, 100 acres,
of lot 21 was articled to John Rose November 16, 1829, and was deeded to him May
16, 1834. The south middle part, 60 acres, of lot 21 was articled to George W. Jones
February 28, 1830, and was deeded to Alexander James January 4, 1834.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 22 was taken up by James Cargill June 2, 1819, and
articled to Royal Chamberlain September 24, 1832. December 26, 1833, 50 acres of
this were articled to Samuel Southworth, and were deeded to Rodney Clark January
1, 1839. December 26, 1833, 50 acres of the same part were articled to George W.
Clapp and were deeded to Heman Coan November 6, 1835. The north part, 100
acres, of lot 22 was taken up by Richard Strong November 8, 1819. January 10, 1831,
the east portion, 50 acres, of this was articled to Charles Pitts, and was deeded to
Milton AUis December 28, 1833. June 1, 1832, the west portioo, 50 acres of this north
part was articled to Isaac Acker, and was deeded to him Jannary 1, 1836. The north
middle part, 50 acres, of lot 22 was first articled to Cyrenius Brown April 15, 1821.
February 18, 1831, 25 acres of this part were articled to Rebecca Remington and were
deeded to Smith Packard September 26, 1835. February 18, 1831, 25 acres of the same
were articled to Joseph Remington, and February 5, 1834, to John Rose, and were
deeded to James Mather November 10, 1835. The south middle part, 67 acres, of lot
22 was articled to Amasa Gleason April 16, 1830. It was deeded to Lewis Reilly Jan-
uary 1, 1838.
The west middle part, 60 acres, of lot 23, was articled to Aquilla Landers April 2,
1822, and was deeded to Levi Landers December 7, 1828. The east middle part, 50 acres
of lot 23, was taken up by Aquilla Landers May 22, 1822. January 3, 1831, it was
articled to Calvin Cass and was deeded to him January 3, 1834. The middle part, 50
acres, of lot 23, was taken up by Aquilla Landers May 22, 1822. November 13 1832,
it was articled to Levi Landers and was deeded to him September 1, 1835. The west
part, 100 acres, of lot 23 was articled to Levi Landers December 28, 1821. It was
deeded to him in two 50-acre parcels November 15, 1833 and March 16, 1836. The
next east part, 51 1-2 acres, of lot 23, was articled to Goit Brown April 28, 1823. April
17, 1833, it was deeded, with 50 acres of lot 17, to Jacob Prussia. Anson Cadwell took
up 100 acres of lot 23, February 21, 1824. December 30, 1830, this land was articled to
Asa B. Brown, and was deeded to James Mather October 26, 1839.
The east part, 100 acres, of lot 24 was taken up by Jonah Henderson April 17, 1822.
December 7, 1832 it was articled to David Thomas, and with 120 acres, east part of lot
18, was deeded to Samuel Kenyon and others February 5, 1836. The east middle part,
100 acres, of lot 24 was articled to Samuel Tappan November 24, 1832, and was deeded
to John Lowber May 1. 1835. The west part of lot 24 was deeded to Jesse Smith
March 1, 1833.
The north part of lot 25 was articled to Thomas Rogers June 6, 1816. It, with the
south part of lot 26, was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The middle part
of lot 25, was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833. The south part, sixty acres, of
598 LANDMARKS OF
lot 25, was articled to Levi June May 8, 1830, and was deeded to Joseph Fisher Decem-
ber 10, 1835. The south middle part, 150 acres, of lot 25, was articled to Harry Wilson
October 24, 1832. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The south part. 100 acres, of lot 26, was articled to Jesse Howe November 30, 1818.
With the north part of lot 25, it was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The
north part, 100 acres, of lot 26 was taken up by Ambrose G. Morehouse November 9,
1826. November 12, 1833, it was articled to Rodney Eaton and was deeded to Elipha-
let Seward March 16, 1836. The north middle part, 100 acres, of lot 26, was articled to
Nathan D. Herrick November 24, 1832. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835,
The middle part of lot 26 was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The south part, 100 acres, of lot 27, was articled to Wilham Ewings January 19, 1832,
It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835. The south middle part of lot 27 was
deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833. The north part, 150 acres, of lot 27, was articled
to Henry Parks October 1, 1816, This, and the middle part of the lot, were deeded as
follows: 110 acres to Joseph Davis May 17, 1831 ; 85 acres to Joseph Davis March 16,
1836; and 100 acres to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The south part, 100 acres of lot 28 was taken up by Elijah Cook, jr., March 30, 1818.
March 10, 1827, it was articled to John Shaver, jr, and was deeded to him May 15,
1835. The northeast part, 165 acres, of lot 28 was taken up by Jacob Shaver February
9, 1822. December 23, 1830, 100 acres of this were articled to Curtis Lum, and were
deeded to him December 9, 1833. December 6, 1832. 65 acres of the same part were
articled to George Fenn, and were deeded to him September 22, 1836. • February 9,
1822, 84 acres of the north part of lot 24 were articled to Jonathan Bateman. Decem-
ber 29, 1830, this land was again articled to Stephen Bateman. It was deeded to Fred-
erick Shaver, May 15, 1835. The northwest part, 50 acres, of lot 28 was articled to
James Lum October 21, 1829. It was deeded to him November 10, 1837.
The west part, 140 acres, of lot 29 was articled to Michael Shaver August 26, 1823
One hundred acres of this were deeded to him January 20, 1834. December 23, 1830,
40 acres of the same west part were articled to Peter Shaver to whom they were
deeded May 30, 1838. Samuel and Christopher Southworth took up the east part, 94
acres, of lot 29, September 19, 1826. Fifty acres of this were deeded to Robert T. Da-
vis June 1, 1834. The east middle part 74 acres, of lot 29 was taken up by James
Ellison September 16, 1867. October 22, 1834, this with 44 acres of the east part was
articled to Cyrus Woodworth, and the whole was deeded to him December 1, 1833.
October 27, 1829, the middle part, 50 acres, of lot 29 was articled to Warren Packer.
It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835. The west middle part, 60 acres of lot 29
was articled to Frederick Shaver October 21, 1829, and was deeded to him November
12, 1833. Seventy-eight acres of lot 29 was articled to Joseph S. Bailey October 6,
1832, and were deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The west part, 200 acres, of lot 30 was taken up by Robert Kenyon February 23,
1822. November 30, 1830, the north portion, 120 acres, of this was articled to Asa
Kenyon, to whom it was deeded January 9, 1834. January 5, 1830, the south portion,
80 acres, of this west part was articled to Daniel Burr, and was deeded to him Decem-
ber 1, 1835. The east part, 100 acres, of lot 30 was articled to Samuel S. Cross No-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 599
veraber 22, 1826; November 29, 1834, it was transferred to Joseph S. Bailey. It was
deeded to Thankful Doolittle and child October 15, 1838. The middle part, 243 acres,
of lot 50 was articled to Samuel Tappan October 29, 1832. It was deeded to John
Lowber May 1, 1835.
The only practicable avenue through which this section could be
reached in an early day was the Ridge, and from that great highway to
the south bounds of the town was an average of about four miles. As
the tide of settlement flowed in this direction the immigrants first located
along the Ridge, then on the more inviting lands lying south from it.
For these reasons few settlers came into Yates prior to the War of
I8l2.
The first permanent settler in town was George Houseman. He was
of German descent and located on lot 4, section i, about three miles
east of Lyndonville, in 1809, where his wife, Marilla (Castle) Houseman,
died in December, 18 13, at the great as^e of 106 years. This was the
first death of a white person in the town. Mr. Houseman came from
Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., whither he returned in 18 13 and died
in November, 18 14. His son, George, jr., married Sally, daughter of
Peter Covert, in 1817, which was the first marriage celebrated in Yates.
Daniel, another son, married Alletta, also a daughter of Peter Covert,
and died here in 1891. His son George occupies the old homestead
and another son. Peter C, lives in Lyndonville. Peter Covert was like-
wise an early settler and a soldier in the War of 18 12. He drew a pen-
sion until his death in 1846.
John Eaton came to the town in 1810, and in 181 1 or 181 2 a family
named Wilkinson lived in the town. It has been impossible to obtain
any other names of actual settlers who came here prior to 1816, and
hence it may be concluded that those mentioned were almost the only
permanent inhabitants until after the War of 1812-15. The fact that
this town was considered a poor, marshy tract, capable of producing
nothing but " bull frogs and ague," and also the fact that it was too
contiguous to scenes of depredations incident to that brief struggle,
caused immigrants to seek homes in sections more accessible to markets
and nearer the civiHzing influences of populous centers. About 1816
immigration revived and the town was rapidly settled by a class of sturdy
pioneers whose sterling characteristics have been indelibly stamped upon
their descendants and successors.
600 LANDMARKS OF
The first deed of land in Yates was taken by Preserved Greenman
from the Holland Land Company June i8, i8iO, and conveyed a tract
of 400 acres of lots i and 2, section 4, to which, prior to 18 12, 200
acres more were added. Upon this he subsequently settled his sons
Daniel and Enos, and the locality was long known as the " Greenman
Settlement." Mr. Greenman, sr., finally became a resident of Yates,
but eventually removed to Genesee county where he died. The Hol-
land Land Company deeded most of the land in this town between 1830
and 1835, though nearly all of it had been taken on articles long before
that period.
Benoni Hall, born March i, 1796, settled in Yates in 18 16, and died
April 6, 1874. He was twice married and had fifteen children, of whom
Ransom (born in 1829) now lives north of the Center. Mr. Hall was a
shoemaker and farmer. He set out one of the first apple orchards in
town and dug out a stump for a samp mortar in which he pounded
grain for his neighbors. He was a prominent member of the early
Methodist church.
Benjamin and Richard Barry came here in 18 16 and were long active
citizens and influential men. The latter was father of the two elderly
twins, Benjamin R. and Nathaniel Barry, who have made this town
their life-long home.
Isaac Hurd, father of the venerable Virgil Hurd and Mrs. Bidleman,
of Yates Center, was a captain in the early militia. Born in 1774 he
settled north of the Center in 1816, and died there in 1848. Virgil
Hurd was born December 25, 1810 ; was the second person to cross the
Niagara River when the first suspension bridge was building ; has al-
ways remained a bachelor and is now the oldest man living in the
town.
John Sawyer, another settler of 18 16, served seven years in the
Revolutionary war. He was born 1755 and died in 1847. His son
Elisha was born in 1785, served two years in the war of 18 12,
took up 400 acres south of Lyndonville, and died in Paxton, 111., in
1868. Warren Elisha Sawyer, son of Elisha, was born here December
22, 1819, and is now the oldest living native of Yates. The family has
been prominently identified with the town and is connected by mar-
riage with many of its leading pioneers.
ORLEANS COUNTY. ' 601
Stephen W. Mudgett was one of the most active men of th'e town.
Born in 1797 he came to Ridgeway in 18 16, but soon removed to
Lyndonville, where about 1827 he erected a tannery and boot and shoe
factory, which were then the only industries of the kind in town. His
tannery stood a Httle below the bridge and was only recently demolished.
He used a horse tread- power to grind bark. He built the dwelling now
owned by William Gray, and during his latter years was a farmer. He
married Ella, daughter of John Sawyer, and died in 1850. William
Mudgett, his brother, was also a prominent resident and died in 1859.
Samuel Church settled in Ridgeway in 18 16, but soon came to
Lyndonville where he was a blacksmith and an active member of the
Methodist Church. The first blacksmith in town is said to have been
a Mr. Peck, but the first one to do regular work in that line was Con-
sider Peabody, who was born in 1800, married a daughter of Morris
Sawyer, and died in Louisiana in 1858. His old shop is now a part of
William Gray's foundry.
Samuel K. Wickham settled on the lake shore in 18 16, and Water-
man Clark on the farm now owned by his brother Eli in 18 17. Eli
Clark was postmaster at Yates from 1864 to 1868.
Luther St. John was born in Massachusetts in 1780. His wife, Polly
Joy, to whom he was married in 1804, was born in Vermont in 1782.
They lived in Onondaga county, N. Y., till 1813, when they removed
to Cayuga county, and in 1817 they came to Yates and purchased 200
acres of lot 5, north from Yates Center. He remained on this farm till
his death, in 1843 His wife died at the same place in 1853. Of their
seven children five were born in Onondaga and Cayuga counties, and
two, Ira and Hamilton, in Yates. Edwin, the eldest of Luther's chil-
dren, was born in 1 805, married Maria Taylor, of Yates, who bore him
six children, all of whom are dead. She died in 1848, and in 1849
he married Rebecca W. Davis, also of Yates. She bore him three
children. Edwin St. John died in 1891. His widow lives on the home-
stead. It is said that Ira St. John was the first male child born in
Yates.
Harvey Clark came to Yates with his wife, two children, two yoke of
oxen, a cart, and a dog, in the summer of 1817, and settled on the farm
his son Daniel now owns, He was a cloth dresser by trade, Daniel
602 LANDMARKS OF
Clark was born here April lo, 1820, and is the second oldest male
native living in the town. James Clark (brother of Harvey), and his
son, Cyrus, came from Monroe county in 1818 and located where
Melchert Petrie now lives. Cyrus walked from Rush, in that county, to
this town in one day, and before retiring at night cut down the largest
hemlock tree he could find. He was an eminent citizen, and an active
promoter and one of the first trustees of Yates Academy.
Stephen B. Johnson settled in 18 17 where Mrs. Wilson Tuttle now
resides. His father-in-law, Simeon Gilbert, came to Yates from
Dutchess county, N. Y., in 18 16, and took up land a mile and a half
south from Lake Ontario, on the west side of the Hne between ranges
3 and 4. He returned to Dutchess county and did not come back to
improve his land till 1818. Barach H. Gilbert, a son of Simeon, was
born in Dutchess county in 1795. He came to Yates in 1817, and
settled on a part of the land his father had taken up, and there he re-
sided about half a century. He was during thirty years justice of the
peace. He was a man of good education, had much energy of charac-
ter, and was a prominent and influential citizen.
John H. Tyler was born in Orange county, Vt., in 1793, and re-
moved to Massena, N. Y., in 18 10. He served six months as a volun-
teer in the war of 18 12. In 1817 he removed to Yates and purchased
176 acres of lot 2, range 3, on which he ever afterward resided. He
was several years justice of the peace, nine years supervisor of the town
of Yates, and a member of the Assembly for Orleans county in 1830
and 1 83 1. He was a man of strong intellect and good judgment. His
first wife, to whom he was married in 1819, was Selina Gilbert, of Yates.
She died in 1842, and in 1843 he married Saloma, daughter of Daniel
Gates, of Carlton. He died in 1856.
Jackson Blood was born in 1795. In 18 15 he came on foot to Yates
and purchased a farm near the lake, where he remained until 1830.
He then removed to a farm which he purchased on lot 2, just south
from Lyndonville, where he remained till his death in 1875. His wife
was Mary Phelps, a native of New Hampshire. Their daughter, Mrs.
Ira Martin, resides on a part of the same place. C. Jackson Blood, a
son and a prominent citizen of Yates, died in the town in 1888.
Thomas Handy was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1794.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 603
He came early to Yates and settled near Carlyon Station, where he re-
mained till his death. He was drowned in the Erie Canal, at Albion,
by the falling of a bridge there September 28, 1859. Soon after he
settled in Yates he married Ruth Camp, of Cortland county, N. Y. Of
their eight children, George, the eldest, lives on the old farm where his
father first settled, and Sheldon H. and Milo W. Handy have farms
near the homestead. The wife of Thomas Handy died in 1878.
Among other settlers prior to 1820 were Robert Simpson, Nathan
Skellinger, Comfort Joy, Zaccheus Swift, Lemuel L. Downs, Stephen
and Truman Austin, Benjamin Drake, Rodney Clark, Jacob Winegar,
Abner Balcom, Amos Spencer, Isaiah Lewis, Zenas Conger, Thomas
Stafford, Moses Wheeler, Samuel and O. Whipple, Josiah Campbell,
and Daniel Stockwell.
Amos Spencer, a native of Connecticut, was born in 1787. In 181 1
he was married to Jerusha Murdock, and in 18 18 they settled on the
lake shore in Yates. In the autumn of 18 19 he sowed ten acres of
wheat, from which he harvested 330 bushels. After a few years he re-
moved to Hartland, Niagara county.
Samuel F. Stockwell was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1805.
When a boy he came to Yates with his father, Daniel Stockwell, and
settled in the south part of the town. His wife was Sarah Maria Bates,
of Niagara county. They settled in 1830 on the farm where their son,
William Stockwell now resides, a mile east from Lyndonville. Mr,
Stockwell died in 1850. His widow is still living.
Jonathan Blanchard was born in New Hampshire in 1802, and came
to New York with his parents in 1809. His father, Ahimaaz Blanch-
ard, was a surgeon and a nephew of Dr. Kittridge, the first physician
who practiced in New England. The first of the family to settle in
America was Thomas Blanchard, who came with a company of Scotch
Dissenters from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in Charlestown in
1639. Ahimaaz Blanchard was born atBillerica, Mass., on the twenty-
sixth of April, 1767. He removed to New Hampshire and married
there Mary Tolford, afterward coming with his family to Moriah, Es-
sex county, N. Y., and dying there on the morning after the battle of
Plattsburg. He left seven children : Samuel, Joshua, Elizabeth, Jona-
than, Ahimaaz, Walter, Jane and Martha. Samuel died unmarried ;
604 LANDMARKS OF
Joshua settled in Saratoga county. Elizabeth married Horace Phipany,
who was the first regular physician to settle in Yates, She left five
children. Jonathan married Ruth Helms, of Yates, and Ahimaaz mar-
ried Mary St. John of the same town, afterward removing to California
and dying there, leaving one son, Henry, whose daughter, Jane, mar-
ried William Cochrane, and died in Albion, leaving four children.
Jonathan Blanchard was a resident of Orleans county for nearly sixty
years. The death of his father left him, at the age of twelve, dependent
upon his own exertions and deprived him of the educational advantages
which he valued so highly, and which he afterward helped many to en-
joy ; but, though he had little schooling, he was by no means unedu-
cated ; among pioneers a man's individuality counts for much, and he
was always active and interested in public affairs, and well aware of
what was going on in the world. With true New England facility he
could do many things well, but preferred to be known as a farmer. He
died in Lyndonville at the age of seventy- eight, leaving two children.
John M. Pitts was born at Middlefield, Otsego county, N. Y., April
25, 1 8 14. He moved with his parents to Chatham, Columbia county,
when three years old. In 1835 he taught school in Arcadia, Wayne
county, N. Y., where he met Miss Mary Ann Clark, whom he married
May 22, 1837. He taught at home during the winter of 1836. After
he was married he became a merchant at Chatham in the firm of Pitts
& Rider. He moved to Yates Center, Orleans county, N. Y., in May,
1838, engaged in mercantile business in the Martin store, corner of
Main and West streets. The firm was known as Pitts & Woodman.
At the end of one year he purchased a farm two miles northwest of
Lyndonville, where he lived six years. He was the most active and
liberal promoter of Yates Academy, where his two sons were after-
wards educated, Hon. Edmund L. Pitts, of Medina, and Silas Wright
Pitts, of Syracuse. He sold his farm, came back to Yates Center and
became head clerk for Peter Saxe in his new store. Here he remained
three years. He was postmaster eight years under Pierce and Buchanan.
• He sold stoves five years and for six years was agent for the American
Whip Company. He was an excellent salesman and always known for
his sterling integrity. He moved to Medina and engaged in the grocery
business. He was three years with the firm of Bulkley, Sheldon &
ORLEANS COUNTY. 605
Company, New York city, wholesale jobbing house, He went into the
produce business in Lansing, Mich., and while there his wife died Feb-
ruary II, 1873. He came back to Medina, went into the insurance
business. November 9, 1876, he married Mrs. Mary E. Tolford, of
Medina. After a few years he bought the Wilson farm, three miles
northeast of Medina, where he now resides.
Among those who came later were : Walter Gray, who came in 1837 •
Melchert and Simeon Petrie, 1842; George W. Martin, 183 1 ; Walter
Blanchard, about 1830; Wilson Tuttle, 1842; James Parmalee, 1832;
John W. Millis, 1837; William Avery and Orange S. Spaulding, 1821 ;
Henry Spaulding, 1823; Curtis Lum, 1826; Jeremiah Miller, 1824;
Godfrey Tarbox, 1820; Livonia Parker, 1832; Stephen Coe, 1836;
Merritt Hard, 1835 5 Arthur Waterbury, 1833; Robert Kenyon, John
Gambell, 1832; Edward Edmunds, 1821 ; David Coon, 1834 ; Jonathan
Kenyon, Barton Waterbury, 1841 ; William Waterbury, 1843 > James
Rutherford, 1847 ; -^r. A. B. Bostwick, 1845; Russell Sill, 1823 ; Oliver
D. Mason, David Lum, 1827; William B. Greenman, 1821 ; Lewis
Wood, 1824 ; William Carpenter, 1823 ; Joel C. Parsons, 1833 ; Abel S.
Barnum and William Lott.
Dr. Elisha Bowen, the first regular physician in Yates, was born in Ver-
mont in 1 79 1, graduating from Darmouth College, and came to Palmyra,
N. Y., in 1817, where his first wife died. In 1820 he came to Yates
and settled on a farm north from Yates Center. For several years he
was the only practitioner in town. His second wife was Miss Adeline
Rawson, and after her death he married Miss Mary Ann Clark, who
died in 1 86 1. He had twelve children, one of whom, Samuel C. Bowen,
resides in Medina. He died in 1863. Dr. Bowen was conscientious
and correct in all the habits of his life, and had the confidenee and re
spect of all who knew him. In the later years of his life he did not
practice his profession.
Dr. Horace Phipany, the second physician in the town and the first
to practice in Lyndonville, came to Gaines in 1824, and began practice
here in 1827. He was a shoemaker by trade and served the town as
supervisor two terms.
James Monroe Palmer, who settled in Lyndonville in 1839, was
for twenty years a local blacksmith, and in 1859 was elected county
clerk. With four others he organized the Republican party in Yates,
606 LANDMARKS OF
James O. Stokes began mercantile business in Lyndonville in 1854
and from 1861 to 1885 was postmaster, succeeding Russell Chamber-
lain in that office. William Cochran, sr., came here about 1820, mar-
ried a daughter of William Mudgett, and died in 1856. As early post-
master of Lyndonville he often carried the mail in hi§ hat, handing out
the parcels as he met their owners. Royal Chamberlain, a very early
merchant in Lyndonville, was at one time a judge of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas. He had an ashery on the creek a little east of the bridge.
His cousin, John Russell Chamberlain, was an early hotel keeper here.
Alfred Bullard, born in Barre, Mass., in 1787, removed with his
parents to Shrewsbury, Vt., where he was educated in the common
schools. He came to Batavia in 18 17, to Barre in 1818, and to Yates
in 1824. He knew something of land surveying, and followed that busi-
ness and laboring on a farm. He was twice married, first to Cynthia
Peck, then to Sally Smith.
Samuel Tappan was one of the most unique characters the town ever
claimed as a citizen. Born in 1781 in Saco, Me., of Quaker parentage,
he was bound out to the tailor's trade, but disliking this he was appren-
ticed to a shoemaker in Massachusetts, from whom he finally purchased
his freedom. He began teaching school in 1803 and for several years
supplied the poet's corner in a local newspaper. In 181 1 he removed
to Pittstown, N.Y.,-and was soon made an ensign in the i8th Regiment
of militia, and was transferred to the 23d Regiment after war was de-
clared in 1812. In May, 18 13, he was ordered to the Niagara frontier.
He followed the fortunes of the war, taught school, participated in the
battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, was promoted lieutenant, was
wounded and received a pension. In 1823 he came to Ridgeway and
taught school that winter, and after attempting to farm it he confessed
he was a failure in that direction. In 1825 he settled in Yates Center
and opened a tavern, the first public house in town, where in one year
it is said he retailed fifty- three barrels of liquor. Up to 1829 he had
taught school nineteen years. He was then appointed postmaster and
held the office thirteen years. In 1832 he was made a judge of the
Court of Common Pleas, holding that position five years, and in 1846
was elected town superintendent of schools. He was married four times
and had nineteen children, of whom Mrs. Ann Lee resides in Lyndon-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 607
ville. He died February 8, 1868. He was a man of more than ordin-
ary intellect, of strict integrity, keen, witty, but somewhat eccentric.
A Lyndonville pioneer, Henry M. Sinclear, died August 27, 1894.
He was born at Essex, Vt., July 3, 1819; went to Lyndonville in 1835,
and was married in April, 1843, to Maria Dunning. He acted as sales-
man for Smith & Babcock.was a merchant at Yates Center and at Sandy
Creek, this county ; removed to Belleville, Ohio, and engaged in banking
and milling business, He was seventeen years business manager for
John D. Rockfeller at Cleveland, Ohio. His wife and one daughter
survive him.
Reuben Root was born in Cooperstown, Otsego county, N. Y., in
1792 with his father's family. He removed to Big Sodus Bay in 1801
or 1802 and to Carlton in 1804. In 18 14 he and his father were or-
dered to Bufifalo for service in the army. There they volunteerd to go
under General Foster and assist in taking the batteries that were be-
sieging Fort Erie. The batteries were taken with some 500 prisoners.
In 1 8 14 he took an article for the land on which he ever afterward
lived, on lot i, section 3, range 3. He worked a farm in Canada in
the summer of 18 15 and during each season of navigation for five years
thereafter he sailed as captain of a vessel on Lake Ontario. In 18 19 he
married Elizabeth Hastings of Toronto, and in 1820 they removed to
their farm, where they afterward resided. Two of their sons served in
the Union Army in the Civil War.
Horace O. Goold was born in Lyme, Conn., in 1800. In 18 18 he
went to Bloomfield, N. Y., worked on a farm one summer, taught school
the next winter, and came to Carlton in the spring of 18 19, locating
about two miles west of the head of Stillwater. He afterward said :
" During the first season we were sometimes rather short of food, espe-
cially meat, but some of the boys would often kill some wild animals
and we were not very particular about what name it bore, as hunger
had driven us to esteem nothing unclean, but to receive it with thank-
fulness." His wife, to whom he was married in 1 820, was Laurinda Fuller
of Carlton They removed to Lyndonville, where both died in 1865.
Henry McNeal was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1792, mar-
ried Lucy Sternberg in 18 14, and came to Yates in 1817. He was
captain of the first militia company of Yates.
608 LANDMARKS OF
Jeremiah Miller was a native of Herkimer county, N. Y., born in
1810. When a youth he removed to Onondaga county, N. Y., where
he was married to Phebe Spaulding, They came to Yates at an early
day and located on the lake shore, northwest from Yates Center. In
1833 they removed to a place which they purchased on lot 10, north-
west from the Center, and remained there till their deaths. He died in
185 I, she in 1870.
Josiah Terry was a native of Shaftsbury, Vt., born in 1787. In 1817
he came to Yates and commenced the life of a farmer here. The first
summer he raised some corn and potatoes by planting among the logs,
and in the fall raised some wheat. He used to tell of carrying a bushel
of wheat half a dozen miles to Dunham's mills in Carlton, guided by
marked trees, there being no road. He was the pioneer school teacher
in the town in 18 19. He was at one time a magistrate.
Russell Sill was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1803. In 1823 he
came with his brother, Elijah Sill, to Barre, where he was married to
Delilah Wirt of that town. In 1832 they removed to Yates and settled
three and one-half miles east from Lyndonville, where he died in 1879.
His son, John W. Sill, resides near where his father located in Yates.
His daughter, Mrs. Mary Grimes, lives in Lyndonville.
Nehemiah Spaulding was a resident of Connecticut, removed thence to
Broome county, N. Y., where he reared his family. His sons William,
Avery, Orange, Almond and Henry became residents of Yates, Orleans
county. William and Orange came in 18 19 and located on lot 12 in
the fourth range. There they made some improvements, and in the
spring of 1820 returned, erected a rude bark covered log shanty, and
began life here. William A. Spaulding was born in 1796. His wife,
who was Charity Williams, was born in 1797. They lived together
seventy- one years and both died on the farm that was deeded to Mr.
Spaulding by the Holland Purchase Company. Mrs. Spaulding died
October 17, 1890, and Mr. Spaulding May 4, 1891. They were highly
respected by all who knew them. He was chosen town assessor and
served for many years. They had ten children : Avery, Orange,
William, David, Erastus M., Maria, Emiline, Nancy, P'rancis, and Henry,
of whom five are still living. Orange Spaulding, younger than William
A., returned east after about four years, and married Mabel Smith of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 609
Cayuga county, N. Y. He subsequently came back to Yates where lie
passed the latter part of his life. Henry Spaulding was born in Scipio,
N. Y., in 1809. In 1823 he came to Yates on foot and took up his
residence with his brother W. A. In 1827 he purchased 100 acres of
lot 18, two and one- half miles northwest from Lyndonville. His first
wife was Sarah Williams. She died in 1874, and in 1884 he married
Mrs Sarah E. Brown. He had one son, Albert Spaulding, who mar-
ried Harriet, daughter of George Clark, of Yates. He still lives at
Yates Center and owns the old homestead. Henry Spaulding died at
Lydonville in 1891, soon after his brother Avery's death.
James Fuller, a native of New Hampshire, removed to Elba, Genesee
county, with his family in 18 16, Joel Fuller, a son of James, was born
in New Hampshire in 1802, and came to Elba with his father's family.
In 1829 he came to Yates and settled on lot i, in the fourth range, south
from Lydonville. He died on that place in i860. His first wife, by
whom he had three children, was Jane Field. She died in 1847,
and in 1850 he married Johannah Boyce, by whom he had three sons.
His second wife died in 1882.
Robert Kenyon, of Onondaga county, N. Y., was the father of Asa,
Amasa, Samuel, Benjamin, Durham and Ruth Kenyon, all of whom
came to Orleans county in 1822, and all settled in the northwest part of
the town of Yates. All are dead, but many of their descendants are
residents of the town or county still. Ruth Kenyon married William
Ticknor, by whom she had six children. She afteward married Sylvanus
Culver.
Arthur Waterbury, the grandfather of Arthur Waterbury, was an officer
in the English army, and came to America during the Revolution. Arthur
jr., was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1809. In company with
his brother Daniel he came to Yates prior to 1834, and settled on lot
14, west from Lyndonville, where he still resides. In 1835 ^^ married
Caroline M. Green of Rensselaer county. She died in 1886, Their
children are George A. Waterbury, ex -postmaster and long justice of
the peace at Lyndonville ; and Jefferson D. Waterbury, who resides on
the old homestead. After a residence of four years in Yates, Daniel
Waterbury sold his land here to Barton Waterbury, a younger brother,
and returned to Rensselaer county. Barton is still a resident of Yates.
610 LANDMARKS OF
Deacon Samuel Taylor came from New London, Connecticut, in 1826,
took up the farm just north of Lyndonville, now owned by Daniel
Clark. He sold the old homestead in 1849, purchased a small tract of
land of Mr. Warren, just north of the village, now crossed by the R. &
W, R. R. Here he resided until he died in 1856. His wife died in
1863. His son, Gordon B., lived on the same place until 1874. Samuel
Taylor was ordained deacon of the Baptist Church of Yates in 1840,
and was a faithful and consistent christian gentleman. He served his
town as supervisor in 1842.
Samuel Warner was the town's first supervisor, and a practical car-
penter. He located in Yates in 18 17. The first tinsmith was probably
J. P. Morehouse, who settled at the Center about 1820.
Lewis H. Loomis, who came to Lyndonville in 1865, started and
still carries on the first hop yard in Yates. Abner Balcom established
the first whisky distillery in town, and his old corn crib is now owned
by Daniel Clark. Mrs. Harvey Clark is supposed to have planted the
first apple and quince seeds in Yates in 18 17. Soon after coming here
she walked to the Ridge and paid a dollar for a pound of butter and a
pound of pork. Prices were high owing to the scarcity caused by the
cold summer of 18 16.
Among the physicians of the town, besides the two previously men-
tioned, were Drs. Shaw, E. R. Armstrong, Carl Poegler, J. H.
Chamberlain, the two Averys, Hugh McKennan, John D. Warren, F.
R. Garlock, Daniel Fuller, Martin Gilbert, Van Allen, B. F Eggleston,
and Eckerman. The present practitioners are Charles E. Fairman, A.
M.,M. D., and David S. Eraser, M. D.
Extended mention of many other prominent families of the town is
made in subsequent pages of this volume, reference to them being found
in the index.
The first town meeting in Yates was held at the house of Comfort
Joy February 11, 1823, when these officers were chosen: Samuel
Warner, supervisor ; Luther St. John, town clerk ; Josiah Perry, John
H. Tyler, James Clement, assessors; Chauncey Beecher, John Shewer,
Richard Barry, commissioners of highways; Comfort Joy, collector;
Alfred Ingraham, Lemuel Downs, overseers of the poor ; John Rose,
Samuel Taylor, Jackson Blood, commissioners of common schools ; Dr.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
611
Elisha Bowen, Luther St. John, John H. Tyler, inspectors of common
schools ; Comfort Joy, Ira Moore constables.
In 1830 there were 4,219 acres of improved land in the town assessed
at $82,691. On October 29, 1864, at a special town meeting, $12, -
491.85 was authorized to pay soldiers' bounties. In the great struggle
for the preservation of the Union this town was among the foremost in
patriotic endeavor to aid the government. Two hundred volunteers
went out to the fields of battle, whose names were as follows:
Albert Ayer, 3d Cav.
Orson D. Angle, 8th Art.
Francis H. Ashly, 8th Art.
Samuel Ashly, jr., 8th Art.
George N. Aber, 8th Art.
Henry Allen, 17th Bat.
Silas E. Allen, 8th Art.
Daniel G. Aber, 1st Art.
Wesley A. Aber, 1st Art.
Jacob Bishop, 27th Inf.
Eugene E. Burton, 49th Inf.
Henry Bruning, 3d Cav.
Henry Beecher, 8th Art.
Eugene L. Babcock, 8th Art.
Lucius M. Barry, 8th Art.
Henry A. Botsford 8th Art.
John J. Bathrick, 8th Art.
Ovid W. Barney, 8th Art.
Charles Bowers, 8th Art.
Fayette Bowers, 8th Art.
Frank R. Burton, 8th Art.
Charles Broad, 8th Art.
Wesley F. Barry. 8th Art.
Martin R. Barry, 8th Art.
Albert Beales, 151st Inf.
Edwin J. Barber, 17th Bat.
Reuben H. Boyce, 17th Bat.
Martin Broombecker, 1st Art.
Lester Burton, 1st Art.
Theodore F. Barry, 1st Art.
Miner D. Beecher, 1st Art.
Milton F. Barry, 1st Art.
Charles F. Bennett, 1st Art.
Elisha F. Barnum, 4th Art.
Wellington Beecher, 4ih Art.
Henry A. Cox, 28th Inf.
Lafayette ChafiFee, 28th Inf.
Charles H. Clark, 28th Inf.
Nahum W. Cady, 28th Inf.
John S. Cornwell, 28th Inf.
James Cook, 28th Inf.
James K. Coleman, 3d Cav.
William E. Church, 3d Cav.
George W. Culver, 49th Inf.
Lorenzo Cook, 8th Art.
Albert 0. Conde, 17th Bat.
Edward Coon, 17th Bat.
John Cook, 17th Bat.
Michael Collins, 17th Bat.
George Coleman, 17th Bat.
Orange S. Church, 17th Bat.
Joseph Cornwell, 151st Inf.
George J. Clark, 1st Art.
Grosvenor D. Church, 1st Art.
Jerry B. Church, 1st Art.
Wilham E. Church, 1st Art.
Henry Culver, 90th Inf.
Almond B. Cady, 151st Inf.
John Coon.
Samuel B. Densraore, 8th Art.
Benjamin H. Dewer. 8th Art.
Erastus Dugan, 8th Art.
George T. Dorrance, 17th Bat.
Lewis M. Davis.
Henry A. Farwell, 8th Art.
James Fisk, 8th Art.
Adin Fellows, 8th Art.
Lewis Fellows, 17th Bat.
612
LANDMARKS OF
Martin E. Gilbert, 28th Inf.
Perry Gilbert, 28th Inf.
Alexander Gardner, 3d Cav.
David Gardner, 3d Cav.
Simeon B. Gilbert, 49th Inf.
Robert M. Glearing, 8th Art.
Wallace M. Greeley, 151st Inf.
Marion H. Greeley, 151st Inf.
Olin Goold, 17th Bat.
Isaac Green, 4th Art.
John Garity, lolst Inf.
Charles Goodrich, 28th Inf.
Luther Hayner, 28th Inf.
Louis Hayner, 28th Inf.
Isaac Harris, 27th Inf.
Laton Harris, 8th Art.
Robert Haywood, 8th Art.
John Heland, jr, 8th Art.
David G. Henion, 17th Bat.
William Henion, 17th Bat.
George Henion, 17th Bat.
Charles E. Henion, 17th Bat.
Marcus Hickey, 1st Art.
Jacob Haylett.
William Johnson, 27th Inf.
John Jacobs, 17th Bat.
Ashley Johnson, 1st Art.
Clarence A. Johnson, 1st Art.
Leroy Kenyon. 28th Inf.
John Keeler, 28th Inf.
Durham Kenyon, 8th Art.
Charles W. hienyon, 8th Art.
Martin Kerwin, 17th Bat.
William H. Lusk, 20th Inf.
Delos Lev/is, 28th Inf.
Chauncey Lum, 28th Inf.
Thomas Lawrence, 49th Inf.
Charles H. Lewis, 8th Art.
Reuben Lodes, 8th Art.
William Lodes, 1st Art.
Robert B. Lewis, 1st Art.
Walter M. Lewis, Ist Art.
Robert Mortimer, 20th Inf.
Edgar Malin, 8th Art.
George Mann, 8th Art.
Edgar D. Miller, 8th Art.
Henry Morehouse, 8th Art.
Francis Martin, 8th Art.
Wilbur F. McEwin, 8th Art.
George R. McEwin, 8th Art.
John Martin, 8th Art.
Thomas Marsham, 17th Bat.
John McLane, 17th Bat.
Owen McCullum, 17th Bat.
Patrick Mahar, 151st Inf.
James Monroe, 13th Art.
John McGuire, jr., 3d Cav.
Alexander McGuire, 3d Cav.
John Newton, 8th Art.
Harmon L. Ogden, 8th Art.
Haller Phipany, 3d Cav.
Chauncey N. Parker, Ist Art.
Edward W. Phillips, 8th Art.
Owen H. Parker, 8th Art.
Carroll Phipany, 8th Art.
Charles F. Patterson, 8th Art.
William Monroe Peaslee, 151st Inf.
John Paul, 17th Bat.
Archibald Paul, 17th Bat.
Michael Post, 17th Bat.
William Place, 13th Art.
John G. Parker, 108th Inf.
Arthur H. Prescott, 8th Art.
William H. Powles, 151st Inf.
Robert Paul, 17th Bat.
Abial P. Randall, 8th Art.
Godfrey Rehwaldt, 8th Art.
Christian Rehwaldt, 8th Art.
Samuel N. Raymer, Sth Art.
John Risch, 8th Art.
Joel E. Rix, 8th Art.
George Ramshaw, 8th Art.
John Robinson.
Orson P. South worth, 28th Inf.
Burrie L. Swift, 28th Inf.
Daniel Stoekwell, 28th Inf.
Orial R. Southworth, 28th Inf.
Benjamin Simmons, 3d Cav.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
613
E. M. Spaulding, 8th Art.
Newton W. Salisbury, 8tli Art.
John D. Sperbeck, 8th Art.
Charles Stock, 8th Art.
JohnSirapson, 8th Art.
Henry Stock, 8th Art.
Jacob Stedley, 8th Art.
Miles W. Stockwell, 151st Inf.
John Simons, 17th Bat.
Michael Sutton, 151st Inf.
Wilber Sawyer, 1st Art.
Nelson W. Salisbury, 1st Art.
Noah Shepardson, 23d Bat.
A. J. Shurgour, 97th Inf.
Charles Smith.
Sylvester Tripp, 28th Inf.
James P. Thorn, 8th Cav.
Judson Thomas, 8th Art.
William Torpy, 8th Art.
Joseph Turner, 8th Art.
Herbert A. Taylor, 8th Art.
G-eorge G. Thayer, 8th Art.
Winfield Tripp, 8th Art.
George W. Turrell, 8th Art.
William Thompson, 1st Art.
Orville Taylor, 8th Art.
P. Church Tucker, U. S. Navy.
Jasper Warner, 4th Art.
Jay Whalen, 8th Art.
James R. Warner, 1st Art.
Edward J. Williams, 8th Art.
Thomas Walpole, 1st Art.
Anthony Welch, 17th Bat.
Alonzo Weed, 17th Bat.
Fernando J. Wickham, 8th Art.
Charles Winegar, 8th Art.
John A. Waterbury, 8th Art.
De Witt C. Wickham, 8th Art.
Patsy Welsh, 8th Art.
Elijah Williams, 8th Art.
Stephen Williams, 8th Art.
C. F. Wallenberg, Sth Art.
In aid of building the railroad the town was bonded for $ioo,000,
An attempt was made to repudiate payment of the bonds, but it failed,
and the costs brought the total indebtedness to about $135,000. This
sum has been reduced annually and the indebtedness is now about
$84,000.
The supervisors of this town have been as follows :
Samuel Warner, 1823-26; Grindal Davis, 1827; John H. Tyler, 1828-30 and
1832-37; Luther St. John. 1831 ; John L. Lewis, 1838, 1840-41, 1843 and 1845; Asahel
Johnson, 1839, and 1850-51; Samuel Taylor, 1842; Daniel Starr, 1844 and 1846; Dr.
Horace Phipany, 1847-48 ; Reuben Hungerford, 1849 ; John J. Sawyer, 1852 ; John
Gates, 1853; Charles Lum, 1854-55; David L Henion, 1856-57, and 1873; Daniel
Clark, 1858, 1861; Chauncey H. Lum, 1859-60; Tunis H. Coe, 1852-63; George
Clark, 1864-65; Jonathan A. Johnson, 1866-68; Henry Spauldine, 1869-70; C. Jack-
son Blood, 1871-72; Walter F. Parmalee, 1874; H. F. Blood, 1875-76; Henry M.
Hard, 1877-80; George Handy, 1881; John P. Levey, 1882-83, and 1887-88; Uriel
Timmerman, 1884; C. F. Barry, 1885-86; Almonde B. Millis, 1889-91; Myron L.
Parker, 1892-93; George H. Rolffe, 1894.
The first post route in the town was a direct line by blazed trees
from Ridgeway to Yates Center. Many of the highways were long
made passable by " corduroy," and frequently the ends of the old logs
614 LANDMARKS OF
are still visible. The earliest of the present roads is known as the
" Angling road," west of Lyndonville. The first road in the town was
an old Indian trail which started from Ridgeway Corners and ran north-
easterly, striking Johnson's Creek about two miles below Lyndonville,
following down that stream a short distance and running thence to the
lake.
The first grist mill in the town was built by Scoville & Irons in 1821,
and stood on the bank of Johnson's Creek near Parsons's bridge below
Lyndonville. This long ago disappeared. The present mill in Lyndon-
ville, the only one in town, was built by Samuel Tappan, Richard
Barry, Stephen W. Mudgett, and others in 1856. The present owner
is Martin S. Rice.
The first saw mill in Yates was built by Gardner & Irons on the
opposite side of the creek from Scoville & Irons's grist mill. Later
another was built near the site of these two, and all were operated by
water from the same dam. Orren Austin also had an early saw mill
on what was recently the Stephen Clark farm. Comfort Johnson built
another in 1840, which was burned down, and rebuilt by C. J. Blood.
Another was erected near the old brick kiln by Augustus Brown, and
still another was situated on the Griffen place ; two more were in ex-
istence in the northwest part of the town.
The first foundry was built by John Van Brocklin where William
Gray's establishment now stands. Mr. Van Brocklin's successors were
Laurin and Nathan Martin.
Brick making was formerly quite an important industry here. A
brick yard was conducted for some time in the rear of Arthur H.
Phipany's dwelling in Lyndonville, and another was situated below the
old fulling mill. The last one in the town was owned by Stephen B.
Johnson.
The officers of the town of Yates for 1894 are as follows : Supervisor,
George H. Rolffe ; assessors, Daniel C. Kenyon, Walter E. Parmalee,
George H. Petrie ; collector, Charles Day.
The following corporations have property in this town which is taxed :
The R. W. & O. Railroad Company, assessed value of real estate,
$107,120; amount of tax, $1,459.83. The Western Union Telegraph
Co., value of real estate, $633.60; amount of tax, $8.46. Bell Tele-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 615
phone Co., value of real estate, $137.50; amount of tax, $1.87. The
The assessed value of all real estate in the town is $967,205. Assessed
value of personal property, $46,855. The rate per cent, in Yates is
.013628. The town paid $250 for support of poor in 1893, and $8,200
principal and interest on railroad bonds. The town audits for 1893
were $1,666.37, the claims being $1,680.07.
Yates Center. — Yates Center (Yates Post-office) was the earliest
trading point in town. At one time it was a place of great activity and
considerable business importance. Moore & Hughes opened a store in
1824, and Samuel Tappan a tavern in 1825. John Mead once had a
large wagon shop, the building still standing. The last hotel in the
place was kept by Henry D. Southworth, and was burned down.
Peter Saxe, a brother of the Vermont poet, John G. Saxe, became
a merchant heie at quite an early day and was largely instrumental in
establishing Yates Academy. He was the leading spirit of the town
and was well known throughout Western New York as a wide awake
businessman. People had confidence in his ability and co- operated
with him in all of his enterprises. He did a large business and was
liberal and full of public spirit. Among the first merchants and firms
were: Nathan Martin, Walingford & Co., Peter Saxe, Saxe & Wood-
man, Marvin & Charles Bennett, Mr. Clute, John Morehouse, Pitts
& Ambler, Anselmo Kenney, Mead & Pitts. Later Chesebrough &
Stevenson, Andrew J. Cummings, Cummings & Densmore, Mr. Brinin-
stool, Seymour Hurd, Eli Clark, S. E. Hagedorn, Charles Daniels,
Charles Harris and Stephen Coe.
Various branches of business were conducted here : two carriage fac-
tories, conducted by John Mead and George S. Haines; the chair fac-
tory of Thomas Greene, a cabinet shop, a turning shop, a planing and
siding mill, three shoe shops, two carpenter shops, two blacksmith
shops and a cooper shop. Among the blacksmiths were : Isaiah Lewis,
Bartlett Halsey, Walter Smith and John Devenshire ; shoemakers, Sey-
mour Hurd, Benjamin Eastman ; carpenters, Henry Barry and Edwin
Barber. Fire broke out in the boiler room of Thomas Greene's plan-
ing mill, July 23, 1852, and destroyed a large part of the village. The
building where the fire started, owned by Abram C. Greene, south part
of which he occupied as furniture warerooms and undertaking and
616 LANDMARKS OF
cabinet shop, the Baptist parsonage and barn, turning shop of Wood-
bridge Barber and John Mead's carriage factory and blacksmith shop
were all destroyed.
These were all rebuilt and business continued as before excepting
the planing and siding business.
The following were the physicians: Dr. Wood, Hervey Blood, sr.,
Peter Brown, Herbert Clark, Van Allan, Dr. Eccleston and Martin
Gilbert.
In this village is located the first and only Baptist church in town.
A cemetery was opened at an early day and is still in use. The first
postmaster was Warren Hughes, and the present official is Stephen A.
Coe. The business of the place now consists of two general stores, a
grocery, a butcher shop, a blacksmith shop, a dry house and a shoe
shop.
Lyndonville. — This is a post village and station on the R. W. &
O. Railroad, with a population of about 6oo. It was originally known
as Lyndon, deriving the name from Lyndon, Vt.; but when application
was made for a post-office the authorities added the " ville " to dis-
tinguish it from another " Linden " in the State. The first postmaster
was Samuel Tappan, who had been appointed to that position at Yates
Center, but upon the larger volume of business being diverted to Lyn-
donville, he transferred the office to this place. The first store was
opened by Laurin and Nathan Martin, two cousins, who came here in
1830. Laurin Martin was long conspicuous in educational matters and
an active member of the Baptist Church. He died here July 5, 1880
Among other merchants who followed the Martins were Smith &
Babcock, Royal Chamberlain, Merritt Hard, and James O. Stokes, jr.
The first hatter was Samuel Clark, whose shop is now a part of Mrs.
Dutcher's dwelling.
Peter G. Klock, about 1830, built a carding and cloth dressing mill a
little below the bridge. It was operated by water power and in 1835
was sold to H. C. Soule. Later it was converted into a shingle mill
and finally toppled over into the creek. The first wagonmaker was
Samuel C. Sinclair, and the first tailor was John Kaiser. John Page
was the first cooper.
The first bridge across Johnson's Creek at this point was erected
ORLEANS COUNTY. 617
of logs about l8l8, and spanned the stream a little east of the present
one.
The first school house was of brick and is now occupied by Arthur
H. Phippany for a dwelling. It was also the first brick building in
town. The first framed house in the village was erected in 1825 where
William Gray now lives. It was removed and still stands in use as a
tenement. The first harnessmaker was Henry Carpenter, and the first
tavern-keeper a Mr. Hunt. The latter had his house on the same site
and it is now a part of the present hotel.
The present business of Lyndonville consists of three general stores,
two drug stores, two hardware stores, a meat market, one furniture and
crockery store, a shoe shop, a jewelry store, two milliners, one hotel,
two liveries, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a foundry and plan-
ing mill, a lumber yard, a large slaughter house, two coal yards, two
cooper shops, one harness shop, two physicians, one dentist, one or
two barbers, and two or three public halls. There are also two churches
and a union school and library. The present postmaster is Dr. R. B.
Wright, who came to Lyndonville in 1876. His father was a soldier in
the English army and in the American Rebellion.
County Line. — This is a small hamlet on the west edge of the town
a mile and a half north of the railroad, and contains two general stores,
a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a Methodist Church and a school
house. The post-office, Hiram A. Vaughn, postmaster, although lo-
cated in this town, is a Niagara county office on the books of the
department.
Miller's (County Line station, Niagara county) is a post hamlet on the
line between Orleans and Niagara counties and contains two stores and
a dry house. The post-office is in this county and was established in
November, 1882, with Edgar Miller, postmaster. His successors have
been George T. Vaness and Joseph S. Ward. The place was named
from the Miller family, who located there in 1847.
Yates pier, 275 feet long, one mile directly north of Yates Center,
was built about 1850 by a stock company composed of farmers. Mr.
George Lane, of Newfane, Niagara county, N.Y., was the principal stock-
holder. Nathan Gilbert was the builder. A warehouse was built as
soon as the pier was complered, A warehouse built by Chamberlain &
618 LANDMARKS OF
Simpson ill 1828 had occupied the same spot ; this was swept away
several years before the pier was built.
Mr. Lane purchased and shipped grain from here to Oswego for sev-
eral years. Mr, Erastus M. Spaulding purchased a majority of the
stock in 1856, and continued the grain and lumber business until he
■entered the army in 1862. The volume of business every fall was
large. Mr. Spaulding bought as high as 50,000 bushels of grain in one
season. His brother, Henry, and O. D. Phelps continued the business
during the war. The lake trade gradually decreased and followed the
line of the railroads. There is no sign of a pier or warehouse there
now (1894).
Pioneer Association. — The Yates Pioneer Association was organized
with about sixty members on the 1st of December, 1884; Henry
Spaulding was the first president. Its object is to foster the study and
preservation of early local history, and it has been eminently successful.
The present officers are : Chauncey H. Lum, president ; Daniel Clark,
vice president ; Mrs. Daniel Clark, secretary.
Cemetery. — The Lynhaven Cemetery Association was organized May
16, 1892, and assumed control of the burial ground at Lyndonville.
The old portion of this plat was set apart for public burials by Samuel
Clark. The first and present officers are : Myron L. Parker, president ;
Richard Barry, vice president and superintendent; George A. Water-
bury, secretary ; John P. Levey, trea.'^urer.
Masonic Lodge. — Yates Lodge No. 675, F. & A. M., Lyndonville,
worked under a dispensation from October Z9, 1867, to June 20, 1868,
when a charter was obtained with Noah Shepardson, W. M. The mas-
ters of this lodge have been S. G Johnson, 1869; Uriel Timmerman,
1870, 1874, 1878-79; A. B. Fisk, 1871, 1873, 1875-76, 1892; Joseph
Spalding, 1872, 1877; George A. Waterbury, 1880-81, 1885-86, 1889,
1893-94; Morrell Dates, 1887; H. B. Fuller, 1890-91. The lodge
has now 150 members.
G. A. R. Post— S. & P. Gilbert Post, No. 73, G. A. R., Lyndon-
ville, was organized June 26, 1876, as the F. & S, Ashby Post, with
eighteen members. The name was changed January 19, 1884. The
first commander was E. C. Fuller, and the present one is C. A. John-
son. The post has now thirty-two members.
ORLEANS COUNTY. C19
Churches. — The religious history of the town of Yates properly be-
gins with the year immediately succeeding the war of 1812-1 5. The
itinerant preacher, called the " circuit- rider," was welcomed to the
cabin of the pioneer and exhorted to small congregations in barns,
dwellings, school houses, or the open air. It appears that the first
gospel services in this town were according to the doctrines of Method-
ism, but who was the first minister cannot now be known. As early
as 1 8 19 three Methodist classes existed, and in that year these effected
a sort of consolidation to form what is now the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of Lyndonville, the prominent mover in the organization being
Rev. John B. Alverson. On March 27, 1827, this body was legally in-
corporated as the first society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Yates, and the trustees elected were Samuel Warner, Samuel Church,
Stephen B Johnson, and Stephen W. Mudgett. As this was the first
religious society in the town it was entitled to, and received, the " gospel
lot," given by the Holland Land Company, and on the site where the
present edifice stands was erected in 1827 the pioneer meeting house
in Yates. The building was of wood and cost about $3,000, It was
dedicated in 1828 and was remodeled and enlarged in 1840. In 1867
it was removed and converted into a flag-collar manufactory. Later
the upper story was used for roller skating and as a hall. It is now
occupied by a hardware store, etc. The present church edifice was
built of brick in 1867 at a cost of $10,000, and was dedicated by the
Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D. The society now has about 155 members
under the pastoral charge of Rev, John Milton Dobson. The society
owns a parsonage valued at about $4,000. The Sunday school has an
average attendance of 125 and Prof. Edson L. Moore is superintendent.
The first Sunday school was organized in 1825 under the superintend-
ence of Samuel Church, who held the position twenty-five years. The
pastors have been as follows :
John B. Alverson, 1819 ; John Somerville, Elijah Boardman, 1820-21 ; Isaac Puffer,
William Fowler, 1822-23 ; IraBronson, S. W. D. Chase, 1824-25; John A. Copeland,
1826; Hiram May, E. Herrick, 1827-28; M. Harker, 0. Abbott, 1829-30; Josiah
Breakman, G. Hines, 1831; Joseph Atwood, J. B. Roach, 1832-33; J> B. Lanckton,
1834-35, 1844-45 ; James Durham, 1836-37 ; William R. Babcock, 1838-39 ; J. G.
Gulick, 1840-41 ; S. C. Church, 1842-43; A. D. Wilbor, 1846-47; Charles Shelling,
1848; W. H. De Puy, 1849; Philo Woodworth, 1850-51; D. F. Parsons, 1852-53,
6^0 LANDMARKS OF
1862-63; J. McCreary, 1854; William Barrett, 1855-56; J. Bowman, 1857-58; H. R.
Smith, 1859; J. McEwen, 1860-61; H. Van Benschoten, 1864-65; A. L. Bachus,
1866-68; R. C. Brownlee, 1869-70; Z. Kurd, 1871; L. T. Foote, 1872-74; C. B. Spar-
row, 1875; William S. Tuttle, 1876; Thomas Cardus, 1877-78; G. W. Kittinger, 1879-
81 ; G. E. Ackerman, 1881-83 ; A. F. Colburn, 1883-85 ; G. W. Cox, 1885-86 ; E. C.
Swartz, 1886-88; T. T. Rowe, 1888-90; Loren Stiles, 1890-92; John Milton Dobson,
since 1892.
The First Baptist Church in Yates, located at Yates Center, was or-
ganized in a school house north of that village June 6, 1822, with eight
members, by Rev. Jeremiah Irons, who had the distinction of being the
first settled minister in town. He was chosen its first pastor and served
until his death, March 13, 1829. The society was originally organized
as the Union Baptist Church of Northton, but upon the changing of the
name of the town to Yates the title of the church was made to corre-
spond. Among the members was Dr. Elisha Bowen, the principal
founder of the church, and the first and many subsequent covenant
meetings were held at his office. The first meeting of the association
with the society was held in his barn. Dr. Bowen was also one of the
council which publicly reorganized the church on October 12, 1822,
the society then consisting of twenty-two persons. On September 22
of that year nine candidates for membership were immersed in John-
son's Creek near the grist mill (in which the services were held on that
occasion) about two miles below Lyndonville, which is believed to have
been the first baptism in town ; and the first one of those baptized was
Jackson Blood. Dr. Bowen and John H. Burroughs acted as deacons
until June i, 1833, when Asahel Johnson, sr., was regularly chosen.
He served until his death, October 20, 1856. Dr. Bowen was the first
clerk. The first house of worship, a frame structure, cost $1,750 and
was finished September i, 1832. The edifice was being rebuilt in 1866,
at a cost of $3,500, and was nearly finished when, on December 16, it
was destroyed by fire. The present brick structure was at once begun
and was dedicated January 30, 1868. It cost about $10,000 and the
dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. E, Dodge, then president of
Madison University. The lot on which the church stands was donated
by Rev. George B. Davis and Friend Curtis. The first parsonage was
of logs and was bought in 1834 for $275. This was replaced in 1837
by a frame structure costing $500. On July 23, 1852, this and the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 621
barn were burned, but were soon rebuilt and are now standing. The
house cost $i,ooo. The present value of the church property is $io,-
ooo. The society has about 105 members and maintains a mission in
school district No. 4, in the western part of the town, which was started
in April, 1892. It has also a Sunday school with an average attend-
ance of 100 scholars. This church united with the Niagara Association
at its second annual meeting which was held in Yates in 1825, In
1844 it was dismissed to form the Orleans Association to which it has
since belonged. The pastors have been as follows :
Jeremiah Irons, 1822-29: Hervey Blood, 1829-31 ; George P. Davis, 1831-34; Arab
Irons, 1834-39 ; Samuel G-ilbert, 1839-43 ; Jonathan Ketchum, 1843-45 ; WilUam Rees,
1845-49; Nelson Fillis. 1849-51 ; Abel Haskell, 1851-60; H. West, 1860-64; W. T.
Potter, 1864-80 ; J. H. Palmer, 1880-83 ; H. W. Wilson, 1883-86 ; F. R. Holt, 1886-
89; B. R. Smith, 1889-90; Lucius C. Davis, since July, 1891.
The first Presbyterian church in Yates was organized October 13,
1833, with sixteen members by a commission of the Niagara Presbytery
which met in the old fulling mill. The first pastor was Rev. David
Page, and the first deacon was Isaac Hurd. The first house of worship
was erected on the present site in 1838. The location of the edifice
was the cause of considerable contention. At first it was decided to
build it at Yates Center, and the final change to Lyndonville led
twenty-five members to secede, but many of them subsequently 're-
turned. The edifice was repaired in 1869 at a cost of nearly $3,000,
and again in 1881 at an expense of nearly $500. It was remodeled
and rededicated January 3, 1889, the cost being $3,500. The society
has now about 105 members and a Sunday-school with an average at-
tendance of 1 10, under John C. Ferguson as superintendent. The frame
parsonage was erected about twenty years ago, on a lot purchased of
Merritt Hard. The church has always belonged to the Niagara Pres-
bytery. The pastors, as far can be ascertained, have been :
Revs. David Page, Joel Potter, Richard Dunning, William Bridgeman, Hugh Carlisle,
J. H. Rice, Isaac Flagler, Jonathan Hovey, Truman C. Hill, 0. Holmes Barnard. P. J.
■ Burnham, Fred A. Chase, John W. Marcussohn, Allen G. Daniels, E. W. Twitchell, and
Henry G. Dean, since December, 1891.
The Second Methodist Episcopal church of Yates, located at the
county line, was organized in 1825 or 1826, with Stephen Bateman as
the first leader. Preaching was occasionally heard from preachers on
622 LANt)MARKS;OF
the Ridgeway circuit until the Lyndonville charge was set off. In 1844
it was annexed to the Somerset district, and now comprises a separate
charge. In 1833, when the society had thirty members, Daniel Cart-
wright located here and was class leader from 1836 to his death, August
15, 1878. To him is largely due the credit of erecting the first frame
house of worship in 1852, at a cost of $2,000. This church was dedi-
cated in 1854, by Rev. S. Seager, D. D. A Sunday-school was or-
ganized at an early day and is still maintained. In 1859 all but about
half a dozen members of this society withdrew and called themselves
Nazarites, but subsequently united with the Free Methodists. A
branch of the county line church was recently organized at Miller's, a
mile and a half south, and a neat house of worship was erected and
dedicated in 1893, on a lot donated for the purpose by Edgar D.
Miller. The building cost about $i,6oo. Both societies are under the
pastoral charge of Rev. Robert E. Brettle.
A Free Methodist church was organized at Lyndonville in January,
1 861, by a number of seceders from the M. E. society, the meeting on
that occasion being held at the house of Silas Wood, by Rev. B T.
Roberts. Rev. Russell Wilcox was appointed minister in charge. The
society originally consisted of twenty-five members. The first deacon
was William H. Lott, who was elected in 1868, and the church was
legally incorporated November 27, 1872, with R. R. Hallock, Cornelius
Johnson, and William H. Lott, trustees. A house of worship was built
in 1869 at a cost of $2,700. The society flourished until about 1880,
when it disbanded and many of its members subsequently joined the
Wesleyans. Their church edifice was sold and is now used by Dr. D. S.
Eraser for a drug store, public hall, and dwelling.
In 1843 twenty- four members of the Lyndonville Presbyterian
church became imbued with the doctrine of Perfection or Abolitionism,
as taught at Oberlin, Ohio, and withdrew to form what they styled a
Christian society. They purchased a lot from Nelson A. Frost and
erected the building now used by Dr. R. B. Wright as a dwelling. The
society had a brief existence and never acquired much stability or
prominence.
The Wesleyan Methodist church of Yates, located in the southeast
corner of the town, was organized by Rev. Joseph A. Swallow, the
ORLEANS COUNTY. 023
first pastor, about 1854, as a branch of the Eagle Harbor charge, to
which it has alwa3's been attached. Their house of worship, a frame
structure, was built in 1856, on the site of the school house which was
burned in 1855, tne lot being bought of the district. The society has
about fifty members and a Sunday-school of fifty or sixty pupils, with
H. A. Barry as superintendent.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE TOWN OF CARLTON.
Carlton includes ranges i and 2, of town 16, of the Holland Land
Company's survey. It lies in the central northern part of Orleans
county, and is bounded on the north by Lake Ontario, on the east by
Kendall, on the south by Gaines and a portion of Ridgeway, and on the
west by Yates It contains an area of 26,385! acres of generally level
land, which is well adapted to the production of fruit, grain, etc.; pop-
ulation in 1892, 2,297. No town in the county is better drained or
possesses better mill privileges. Oak Orchard Creek enters Carlton
near the southwest corner and fliows northeasterly into the lake near
the center of the northern boundar\', where it forms the only harbor
along the lake shore in Orleans county. Its principal tributaries are
Otter and Marsh Creeks. Johnson's Creek enters this town from Yates
and flows northeasterly across the northwest corner into the lake.
In common with all that portion of the county lying north of the
Ridge road this section was known in early times as the North Woods,
from the fact that it was heavil}^ timbered with whitewood, oak, hem-
lock, elm, beech, pine, basswood, and maple. Much of the oak was
squared and sent to Europe for ship building. Large quantities of other
trees were converted into lumber and shipped to distant parts of the
country, but by far the larger portion of this magnificent timber was
burned where it fell, and the ashes were manufactured into potash or
black salts, which formed the chief article of money value to the pio-
neer.
624 LANDMARKS OF
This town was formed from Gaines and Ridgeway April 13, 1822,
under the name of Oak Orchard, which was changed to Carlton in 1825.
Many of the early town meetings were held at the rude log dwelling of
Job Shipman, which was located on lot 2, section 2, near the center of
the town. It being too small to hold all the voters, the ballots were
passed through a window to the board inside, similar to the method
practiced in recent years. The supervisors of Carlton have been as
follows :
Richard W. Gates, 1826 ; Minores Day, 1827-28, 1831 , John M. Randall, 1829-30 ; Isaac
Mason, 1832-33; Chester Bidwell, 1834; Joshua E. Hall, 1835; Horace O.Gould, 1836;
Hiram Merrick, 1837-38; Alfred Bidwell, 1839, '42, '47; Gardner Goold, 1840, '41, '43,
'51, '56; Asahel Byington, 1844, '40; Epenetus A. Reed, 1845; Dalphon V. Sinapson,
1848; Jasper M. Grow, 1849; Willard F. Warren, 1850; John Dunham, 1852; Nelson
Shattuck, 1853 ; Reuben N. Warren, 1854 ; Marvin C. Lacey, 1855; Joseph D. Billings,
1857, '59, '62; Daniel Howe, 1860, '61 ; John L. Harris, 1863, '64; George L. Baker,
1865-66; Dennis Blckford, 1867-68; Benjamin F. Van Camp, 1869-70; John Gates,
1871-72; Stephen D. Skinner, 1873; John Pratt, 1874; D. S. Beckwith 1875-76; John
W. Gilmore 1877, '78, '91, '92; Benjamin S. Wilson, 1879, '80 ; Isaac N. Stebbins, 1881-
82 ; Harvey Blood, 1883-84 ; W. R. Curtis, 1885-86; W. Ward Miles, 1887-88 ; Edward
L. Reed, 1889-90; Wilham N. Dean, 1893-94.
In the original survey of the town that portion in range i was di-
vided into 9, and that in range 2 into 12 sections; and these were sub-
divided into lots, some sections having 2, some 4, some 6, and some 12
lots. The land office records for the first range in township 16 are not
accessible if in existence. In giving the names of grantees by deed and
the amounts and dates of their purchases, the order observed is from
south to north and from east to west regardless of chronological
arrangement.
Sec. 1, lot 1, Gideon Hard, 79 acres, October 19, 1835; Derastus Hanks, 60 acres,
November 20, 1826; Jamas Mather, 37 1-2 acres, November 3, 1837; John Armstrong,
37 1-2 acres, December 1, 1835; Peter Sharp, 75 acres, September 30, 1835; Joseph
Billings, 50 acres. November 9, 1833.
Lot 2, Joseph Billings, 150 acres, July 27, 1826; Lewis Noble, 50 acres, November
13, 1833; Chester W. Bidwell and Alfred Bidwell, 148 acres, June 1, 1834.
Lot 3, Isaac Caswell. 60 acres, December 20, 1833; Calvin Kingman, 51 1-2 acres,
December 1, 1835; Lorenzo Spaulding, 10 acres, December 18. 1833; James Arm-
strong, 70 acres, December 18, 1833; Everett Gray, 31 acres, December 10, 1835;
Lemuel Brandin, 56^ acres, February 5, 1834 ; Everett Gray, 87^ acres, December 20,
1833.
Lot 4, James L. Munion, 100 acres, February 3, 1834 ; Aaron A. Vanderkar, 35
;.«*?«??**■'
c^,^.^,^j^j y. je^U^^^^^^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 625
acres, May 8, 1834; William C. Dye, 65 acres, January 1, 183(3; Levi Gray, 50 acros,
June 11, 1822; Aaron A. Vanderkar, 70 acres, May 8, 1834; Richard Huff, 50 acres,
February 27, 1834.
Sec, 2, lot 1, Franklin H. Eccleston, 50 acres December 23, 1854 ; S(juire J. Eccles-
son, 20 acres, December 13, 1836; Franklin H. Eccleston, 50 acres, October 25, 1835;
Benjamin J. Perry, 100 acres, November 27, 1833 ; Pardon Green, 50 acres, December
7, 1836; Samuel Eldridge, 84 acres, May 15, 1835.
Lot 2, Jesse Smith, 293 acres. March 1, 1833.
Lot 3, Richard Huff, 100 acres, November 23, 1834 ; John B. Lee, 100 acres, April
11, 1836; Isaac Mason, 100 acres, November 23, 1833; Leonard Wilson. 79, acres, No-
vember 28, 1833.
Lot 4, John D. Webster, 100 acres, June 1, 1834; John Lowber, 50 acres, May 1,
1835.; Jesse Smith, 164 acres, March 1, 1833.
Sec. 3, 1703 acres was deeded to Jesse Smith, March 1, 1833.
Sec. 4, lot 1, Rodney A. and Abel R. Torrey, 148^ October 8, 1833; John B. Lee,
52 acres, September 1, 1834; Rodney A. and Abel R. Torrey, 50 acre*! October 8,
1833 ; Bastion Wetherwax, 100 acres, November 22, 1833.
Lot 2, William Reed, 100 acres, April 25, 1836; Andrew Wetherwax, 50 acres, No-
vember 22, 1833 ; Lewis M. Butts, 50 acres, November 22, 1833 ; Holhs W. Chafee, 106
acres, December 20, 1833 ; Robert Wiley, 50 acres, December 20, 1833.
Lot 3, Reuben Scofield, 50 acres, October 7, 1837 ; John B. Lee, 100 acres, Septem-
ber 1, 1834 ; Nehemiah Randall, 63 acres, August 7, 1835 ; John W. Randall, 150
acres, November 23, 1830.
Lot 4, Levi A. Beardsley, 50 acres, September 12, 1835 ; Harmon C. Beardsley, 50
acres, November 14, 1835; John L. Crandall, 50 acres, December 1, 1835 ; Jesse Smih,
76 acres, March 1, 1833 ; Jacob Wood, 70 acres, May 15, 1835 ; Jonathan Wood, 50
acres. May 15, 1835; John Lowber, 30 acres, May 1, 1835.
Sec. 5, lot 1, Jeremiah Luttenton, 50 acres, May 15, 1835 ; William Kellogg, 50 acies,
November 15, 1833 ; Sylvester W. Farr, 50 acres, September 22, 1836 ; George Curtis,
50 acres, October 10, 1832 ; Eli Farr, 64 acres. May 15, 1835 ; Walter E. Dye, 50
acres, November 26, 1834 ; John Curtis, 50 acres, October 16, 1834.
Lot 2, Gideon Archer, 37 1-2 acres, May 25, 1836 ; Gideon Archer, 112 1-2 acres,
May 25. 1838; Elijah Wilcox, 50 acres, June 18, 1833; Jarvis Kimball, 115 acres, Sep-
tember 16, 1835.
Lot 3, Jacob Demary, 50 acres, May 15, 1835 ; Sylvester W. Farr, 50 acres, May 15,
1835; Jesse Smith, 82 acres, March 1, 1833; Sylvester W. Farr, 50 acres, August 13,
1833 ; Sylvester Canfield, 50 acres, August 22, 1834.
Lot 4, Walter E. Dye, 70 acres, October 27, 1835; Robert Scofield, 30 acres, May
16, 1836; Paul Johnson, 50 acres, December 4, 1837; John Lowber, 122 1-2 acres.
May 1, 1835 ; Jesse Smith, 60 acres, March 1, 1833.
Sec. 6, lots 1 and 3, Jesse Smith, 243 acres, March 1, 1833.
Lot 5, John Archer, 62 1-2 acres. June 1, 1834; Job Archer, 61 acres, December 25,
1833.
Lots 7 and 9, Noah Clark, 139 acres, December 19, 1833; Henry Stevenson (lot 7),
79
626 LANDMARKS OF
53 1-2 acres, November 29, 1836; Henry Stevenson (lot iJ), 53 1-2 acres, December 1,
1839.
Lot 11 James Brisban, 123 acres, August 7, 1813.
Lots 2 and 4, Jesse Smith, 321 acres, March 1, 1833.
Lot 6 and part of 8, Reuben Scofield, 233 acres, December 1, 1833.
Lot 10 and part of 8, Joseph Drake, 211 acres, JSTovember 20, 1837.
Lot 12, Benjamin Simpson, 128 1-2 acres, November 6, 1840.
Sections 7 and 8 have each 2 lots, and sec. 9 has 6.
Section 7, lot 1, Calvin Crippen, 75 acres, December 24, 1833 ; Moses Bacon, 60
acres, June 1, 1834 ; Moses Bacon 50 acres, June 18, 1835 ; Richard, jr., and Van R.
McOmber, 61 acres, October 3, 1833 ; Solomon Sutherland, 100 acres, December 3,
1833.
Lot 2, Van Rensselaer and Richard McOmber, 100 acres, January 6, 1834 ; Lemuel
K. Tilden. 50 acres, January 3, 1832 ; Lemuel K. Tilden, 60 acres, December 6, 1833 ;
Cyrus Farwell and Henry A, King, 100 acres, March 23, 1836 ; Jarvis Kimball, 42
acres, Noveftber 20, 1837.
Sec. 8, lot 1,' Asa P. Chester, 50 acres, December 27, 1837; John Lovsrber, 94 1-2
acres, May 1, 1835 ; Amos Kelsey, 50 acres, March 16, 1836 ; Samuel Imman, 50
acres, May 15, 1835; Lewis Fuller, 50 acres, October 1, 1836; Henry A. Baldwin, 60
acres, August 16, 1836.
Lot 2, Ephraim Bocker, 150 acres, September 24, 1829 ; William S. Wilcox, 58
acres, June 1, 1834; Asa Simpson, 120 acres, April 21, 1836.
Sec. 9, lot 1, Jesse Smith, 122 acres, March 1, 1833.
Lots 3 and 5, (south) John Stevens, 89 acres, October 19, 1833.
Lot 3, (north) James Harkness, 72 acres, December 25, 1833.
Lot 5, (north) Elijah Wilcox, 78 acres, December 16, 1833.
Lots 2, 4 and 6, Russell Clark, 342 acres, December 26, 1833.
Range 2, township 16. The south part of lots 1, 3 and 5, Sec. 1, 60 acres, was first
articled to Jacob Moore October 9, 1822. January 28, 1834, it was articled to John
Stevens, and January 1, 1836, it was deeded to Norman Bedell. Richard Bower took
up 50 acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, Sec. 1, November 14, 1822. The land was deeded to John
B. Lee September 1, 1834. Oliver Tibbits took up 100 acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, Sec.
1, November 14, 1822. This land was articled to Jarvis Kimball August 23, 1833.
August 19, 1836, 50 acres of this were deeded to Jarvis Kimball, and 50 to Joshua
Rathbun on the same day. The north part, 100 acres, of lots 1, 3, and 5, sec. 1, was
articled to John W. Collins October 22, 1825, and transferred to Roswell S. Burrows
July 30, 1834. It was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. John Rowley took
a part, 50 acres, of lots 1, 3, and 5 July 31, 1826. It was deeded to John Knapp Jan-
uary 24, 1833.
The south part of lots 2, 4, and 6, 200 acres, was articled to Abial Cook August 12,
1826. It was articled again to Roswell S. Burrows July 30, 1834. January 1, 1836,
50 acres of this were deeded to Roswell S. and Lorenzo Burrows, and on the same day
150 acres were deeded to Richard Gilbert. Fifty acres of lots 2, 4, and 6, sec. 1, were
articled to Robert Luice March 8, 1852. The north part, 50 acres, of lots 2, 4, and 6,
ORLEANS COUNTY. G27
sec. 1, was articled to James Leonard October 5,1832. Fifty-two acres of lots 2, 4,
and G, sec. 1, were articled to James Leonard October 24, 1832. The whole tract, of
152 acres, was deeded to John Lowber May 1 1835.
The south part, 60 acres, of lots 7, 9, and 11, sec. 1, was articled to Herman Logan
January 2, 1832. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835. The north and mid-
dle parts of lots 7, 9, and 11, the east part of lot 8, and the south half of lot 10, sec. 1
weie deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The west part of lot 8, sec. 1, 30 acres, was articled to David Hall, jr., March 21,
1831, and was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The north part of lot 12, sec. 1, was articled to Nathan Roberts March 25, 1831. The
south part, 60 acres, of the same lot was articled to David Hall, jr., March 21, 1831.
The whole was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835,
The north part of lot 10, sec. 1, 60 acres, was taken up by David Hall, jr., March 18,
1831, and was articled to Daniel Forbes, December 1, 1834. It was deeded to Ephraim
Taylor January 1, 1836.
The south part, 60 acres, of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec. 2, was taken up by Barnabas Lowell
July 16, 1824. It was articled to William J. Boulton December 6, 1833, and deeded to
Jacob Lawrence August 6, 1836. The north part, 75 acres, of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec. 2,
was taken up by Nirum Eldridge October 8, 1822. It was articled to Lewis Steel De-
cembpr 27, 1830, and was deeded to Osgood Steel June 1, 1834. Daniel Carpenter took
up 60 acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec, 2, November 13, 1822. September 16, 1833, they
were articled to Varnum and Cyrus Lufkin, and were deeded to Henry Stone May 15,
1835. Fifty acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec. 2, were articled to Asahel Barnabas October
28, 1825. They were deeded to David Hall, jr., December 28, 1833. Samuel Butler,
jr., took up 50 acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec. 2, October 28, 1825. This parcel was articled
to Walter G. Barrett November 25, 1833. March 23, 1826, Nathan Gray took up 60
acres of lots 1, 3 and 5, sec. 2. This land was articled to John Barnett February 11,
1834. The parcel of 110 acres was deeded to Lucas G. Merrill July 1, 1835.
The south part of lots 2, 4 and 6, sec. 2, 264 acres, was articled to John G. Brown
August 22, 1803, and deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812. The north part,
107 acres, of lots 2, 4 and 6, sec. 2, was articled to David Musselman August 12, 1803,
and deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Job Shipman took up lots 10 and 12, sec. 2, 173 acres, May 15, 1804. They were
deeded, lot 10, 73 acres, to Ira B. Tomlin October 30, 1837, and lot 12, 100 acres, to
Anna Shipman and others October 3, 1837.
Lots 7 and 8, sec. 2, were articled to Samuel McKenny July 3, 1804, and deeded to
Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Henry Medberry took up the east part of lot 9, sec. 2, 100 acres. May 25, 1825. It
was transferred to Lemuel K. Tilden December 6, 1833. The west part of lot 9 and
east part of lot 11, sec. 2, 167 acres, were articled to Simeon Gibbs November 14, 1825.
They were transferred to Melvin Davis December 24, 1833, and deeded to James
Mather December 5, 1838.
The west part of lot 11, sec. 2, 125 acres, was taken up by Israel Harris November
14, 1825. It was articled to Lemuel Willard February 1, 1834, and deeded to John B.
Lee September 1, 1834.
023 LANDMxVRKS OF
The west and east part of lot 1, sec. 3, 36 1-2 acres was articled to Elijah Wilcox
November '26, 1830. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
Lot 5, and part of lots 1 and 3, sec. 3. 229 acres, were articled to John G. Brown
May 3, 1803, and deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 7, part of lots 9 and 11, sec. 3, and part of lot 1, sec. 6, 319 acres, were articled to
John Gr. and Elijah Brown May 3, 1803. and deeded to Joseph Ellicott.
Lot 2, sec. 3, 128 acres, was deeded to Alexis Ward and Roswell Freeman Clark, 2d,
March 17, 1830.
Lots 4 and 8, sec. 3, 348 acres, were articled to Alexis Ward March 17, 1830, and
deeded to Caleb Knapp February 12, 1834.
Part of lots 9 and 10, sec. 3, 126 acres, was articled to James Walworth May 2, 1803,
and was deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 12, sec. 3, 115 acres, was articled to Solomon Franklin March 19, 1803, and
deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
The north part of lot 11, sec. 3, 56 acres, was articled to James Walworth June 1,
1803, and deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
The middle part of lots 1, 3, and 5, sec. 4, 100 acres, was deeded to the First Con-
gregational church in the town of Gaines April 25, 1822. The south part of lots 1, 3,
and 5, sec. 4, 60 acres, was taken up by William J. Boulton July 14, 1821. It was
articled in two parcels to Heman Logan and Samuel Hale July 26, 1833 ; and to John
H. Nichols December 3, 1834. It was deeded to John H. Nichols July 1, 1835. The
south middle part, 50 acres, of lots 1, 3, and 5, sec. 4, was articled to William Perry
October 23, 1821. October 13, 1830, it was transferred to Ezekiel N. Hale, to whom it
was deeded November 12, 1833. The north middle part of lots 1, 3, and 5, sec. 4, 48
acres, was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833. Ambrose Boardman took up the
north part, 100 acres, of lots 1, 3, and 5, sec. 4, May 17, 1828. August 9, 1834, 56
acres of this were articled to Joseph W. Morgan, and were deeded to Zera Tomlinson
October 15, 1838. Forty-four acres of the same were articled to Jeremiah Neville
August 9, 1834, and deeded to Trumbell Gary January 1, 1839.
Daniel Logan took up the south part, 50 acres, of lots 2, 4, and 6, sec. 4, December
24, 1822. December 31, 1830, it was articled to Israel Hale. Israel Hale took up the
south middle part, 75 acres, of the same lots February 23, 1827. January 2, 1834, this
and the south 50 acres of the same were articled to Lucas B. Merrill and were deeded
to Israel Hale April 25, 1834. The middle part, 50 acres, of lots 2, 4, and 6, sec. 4, was
articled to James Jacobs January 13, 1831. The north middle part, 78 acres, of the
same lots was articled to Daniel W. Dye December 12, 1832. Both were deeded to
John Lowber May 1, 1835. The north part of lots 2, 4, and 6, sec. 4, was deeded, with
3, sec. 5, to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
The north part, 160 acres, of lots 7, 9, and 11, sec. 4, was first articled to Thomas
Booth December 16, 1822. After several divisions and transfers it was deeded : 70^
acres to Orville B. Glover March 18, 1833 ; 49^ acres to William Sheldon May 15, 1835;
and 40 acres to Benjamin T. Willets March 16, 1836. The south middle part, 100 acres,
of lots 7, 9, and 11, sec. 4 was first articled to Perry Davis February 27, 1826. It was
again articled December 10, 1833, to Nathaniel Tompkins and was deeded, in two par-
ORLEANS COUNTY. G29
eels, to Caleb Knapp and Lorenzo F. Collins January 1, 1838. The south part, 103
acres, of lots 7, 9, and 11, sec. 4 was articled to Parker Taylor March 11, 1826. It was
deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834.
Lot 12, sec. 4, 120 1-2 acres, was taken up by Silas Williams June 5, 1824. Decem-
ber 21, 1830, the south part, 59 acres of this was articled to John Murdock and was
deeded to him February 17, 1831. March 9, 1833, the north part, 61 1-2 acres, of the
same was articled to Ira Mansfield, and was deeded to him June 18, 1835.
The south part, 60 1-2 acres, of lot 10, sec. 4, was first articled to Thomas Woodman-
see July 12, 1824. July 24, 1833, 30 acres of this were articled to Solomon White, and
January 13, 1835, to William M. Sheldon. July 24, 1833, 30 1-2, acres of the same
were articled to Benager Warner. The whole was deeded to Stephen Jennings Decem-
ber 10, 1835.
The south pirt, 60 1-2 acres, of lot 8, sec. 4, was articled to Jeremiah Newville July
16, 1831, and deeded to Frederick Holsenburgh July 10, 1834.
The north part of lots 8 and 10, sec. 4, was articled to John Murdock February 24,
1830, and deeded to him June 27, 1833.
Lot 11, sec. 5, was articled to Elisha Heath July 23, 1823. December 31, 1830,
the north part, 68 acres of it, was articled to Willard Newcomb, and with a part of lot
1, sec. 8, was deeded to him October 3, 1833. The south part of the lot was deeded to
John Lowber May 1, 1835.
Lot I, sec. 5, 129 acres, was taken up by Paul Brown January 26, 1805. It was
articled to Ebenezer Mix January 31, 1833, and was deeded to Nathan Follett Novem-
ber 3, 1835.
The east part, 68 acres, of lot 5, sec. 5, was taken up by Lyman Hethorn June 9,
1826. December 7, 1833, it was articled to John B. Lee. The west part, 50 acres, of
lot 5, sec. 5, was taken up by Seamans & Medbury June 6, 1826. December 23, 1830,
it was articled to Stephen H. Seamans, and January 2, 1834, to Freeman H. Winchester.
The whole lot, 118 acres, was deeded to Nathan Follett November 5, 1835.
Lots 7 and 9, sec. 5, with the north part of lots 8 and 10, sec. 4, 556 acres were
articled to John B. Ellicott March 16, 1816. They were, af^er some divisions and trans-
fers, deeded as follows : The southeast part of lot 7, 54 1-2 acres, to Abel Barnum May
31, 1833 ; the south part of lots 7 and 9, 50 acres, to John Murdock December 21, 1833 .
the north part of lot 9, 50 acres,to Justus F. T. Stewart December 23; 1833 ; and the
middle part of the lots, 75 acres, to Nathan Follett February 25, 1837.
The north part, 75 acres, of lot 12, sec. 5, was articled to Nathaniel Cambell June 20,
1821. December 20, 1830, 40 acres of this were articled to Phineas Culver, and were
deeded to Earl Durfee March 10, 1835. December 21, 1830, 35 acres of the same were
articled to Burret L. Pitcher, and were deeded to Thomas Fuller June 17, 1823. The
south part, 50 1-2 acres, of lot 12, sec. 5, was articled to Richard W. Gates January 27,
1823. November 5, 1825, it was deeded to William Newcomb.
Lot 3, sec. 5, was deeded to Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
Lots 2 and 4, sec. 5, 189 acres, were articled to James Walworth August 18, 1803,
and were deeded to Judith Evans.
The south part of lot 6, sec. 5, was taken up by Obadiah and William W. Fuller
630 LANDMARKS OF
November 17, 1814. July 9, 1824 it was articled, in two parcels, to Lucas G. Merrill,
and was deeded to John B. Lee September 1, 1834. The north part, 45 acres, of
lot 6, sec. 5, was articled to Fitch Chamberlain May 4, 1813, and was deeded to him
November 11, 1817.
Lots 8 and 10, sec. 5, 125 acres each, were taken up by David Goodwin March 16,
1816. February 17, 1830, lot 8 was articled to Joshua E. Hull, and July 21, 1834. the
north part, 50 acres, of it was deeded to Barrett F. Pitcher. February 23, 1830, lot 10
was articled to Asa Simpson, and July 21, 1834, the north part, 50 acres, of it was
deeded to Earl Durfee. The southwest part, 25 acres, of lot 10 was deeded to John
Lowber May 1, 1834, and the balance of the two lots, 125 acres, was deeded to Lowell
Hall May 14, 1835.
The north part, 91 acres, of lot 1, sec. 6, was articled to Minories Day March 20,
1811, and was deeded to him March 9, 1819. The south part, 30 acres, of the same lot
was deeded to Judith Evans, with lots 2 and 4, sec. 5.
Lot 3, sec. 6, 119 acres, was articled to Moses Barnum, jr., March 20, 1811. It was
deeded to Fitch Chamberlain March 13, 1819.
Lot 5, sec. 6, was articled to Fitch Chamberlain March 10, 1811. He received his
deed February 10, 1815.
Lots 7, 9 and 11, sec. 6, 355 acres, were articled to Oliver Clark December 31, 1805.
Lots 7 and 9 were deeded to him January 19, 1809. and lot 11 June 19, 1812.
Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8, sec. 6, 405 acres, were articled to James DeGraw March 19,
1803, and were deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 10, sec. 6, 105 acres, was articled to Samuel Searing May 4, 1813. November 5,
1821, the article was renewed to David Hale. October 24, 1828, 10 1-2 acres of this
were deeded to Giles Slater, and December 31, 1830, 91 1-2 acres were articled to Joel
Burgess, who received his deed August 13, 1833.
Lot 12, sec. 6, 114 acres, was articled to Giles Slater April 18, 1811, and deeded to
him November 11, 1817.
Lot 1, sec. 7, 114 1-2 acres, was articled to Perry Davis December 16, 1822, and with
10 acres of lot 11. sec. 4, was deeded to him March 21, 1836.
The east part, 50 acres, of lot 3, sec. 7, was taken up by Isaac W. Avenll January 18,
1826. January 14, 1834, it was articled to Elizur Hart, and was deeded to A. Holsen-
burg October 14, 1844.
The west part of lot 3 and the east part of lot 5, sec. 7, 111 acres, were deeded to
Jesse Smith March 1, 1833.
Seventy-five acres of lots 5 and 7, sec. 7, were taken up by Johnson Brown January
3, 1831, and January 29, 1835, were articled to John Beers. They were deeded to
John Lowber May 1, 1835. Thirty-five acres of lots 5 and 7, sec. 7, were articled to
Benjamin Everet May 15, 1827, and deeded with the foregoing to John Lowber.
The west part, 70 acres, of lot 7, sec. 7, was first articled to Benjamin Rose February
15,1825. It was articled to Benjamin Rose and Lewis Sturges October 1,1834, and
with 29 acres of lots 9 and 11, sec. 7, was deeded to them September 21, 1836.
Lot 9, sec. 7, 121 acres was articled to George Kuck November 19, 1823. April 10,
1834, the north part of this lot, 53 acres was articled to Matthias Brown, to whom it
ORLEANS COUNTY. GZT
was deeded July 29, 1836. The south part, with the south part of lot il, was deeded
to Mr. Kuck September 21, 1836.
George Kuck also took up lot 11. sec. 7, 121 acres, November 19, 1823. Sixty-one
acres of this were deeded to Alonzo Barrows December 16, 1836.
The north part of lots 2 and 4, sec. 7, 122 acres, was taken up by John Gillam Janu-
ary 7, 1824. It was articled to Barny H. Edson January 1, 1832, and deeded to Ira
Potter December 31, 1835. Charles Dunham took up the south part, 88 acres, of lots
2 and 4, sec. 7, May 10, 1821. May 9, 1829, it was articled to Murdock & Hawkins,
and May 29, 1835, 13 acres of lot 2 were deeded to Montgomery Percival. The balance,
75 acres, was deeded to Aaron Preston January 15, 1834.
The east part, 50 acres, of lot 6, sec. 7, was articled to John Gillam August 12, 1824, •
and was deeded to Henry J. Sickles March 1, 1836.
The northeast part of lot 8, and west part of lot 6, sec. 7, 63 acres, was articled to
Chester Williams June 18, 1825, and weredeeded to Elias Williams September 21, 1837.
The southeast part of lot 8, add southwest part of lot 6, 60 acres, were articled to Ben-
jamin Everett July 8, 1826. December 17, 1833, they were again articled to Solomon
Petitt, and were deeded to Elias Williams October 5, 1835.
Jeremiah H. Green took up the west part of lot 8, sec. 7, 58 acres, December 22, 1823.
November 1, 1831, the north part of this, 29 acres, was articled to Chester Williams, and
was deeded to him, with 25 acres more, September 21, 1837.
Lot 10, sec. 7, 116 acres, was taken up by Abel Barnum January 2, 1824. Septem-
ber 16, 1833, it was articled to Alonzo Barnum, and was deeded to Joseph King and
William King December 10. 1835, and March 16, 1836.
The north part, 58 1-2 acres of lot 12 was articled to David Senter October 2, 1823,
and was deeded to Charles Harris May 23, 1837. October 2, 1823, Cornelius Sebring
took up the south part, 58 1-2 acres, of lot 12, sec. 7. September 25, 1833, it was articled
to Jesse Strickland, and May 5, 1835, to Hosea Allen, to whom it was deeded Decem-
ber 26, 1827.
Lot 1, sec. 8. with lot 11, sec. 5, was articled to EHsha Heath July 23, 1823. It was
several times divided and re-articled and was deeded : The east 54 acres to Willard
Newcomb October 3, 1833 ; and the west 54 acres to Nathan Follett, November 3,
1835.
Lot 3, sec. 8, 108 acres, was articled to Stephen Fuller May 5, 1823. It was deeded
to him August 13, 1836.
John Fuller took up the south part, 58 acres, of lot 5, sec. 8, June 13, 1823. Decem-
ber 21, 1830, 38 acres of this were articled to Thomas Fuller, and were deeded to him
June 17, 1833. December 21, 1830, 20 acres of the same were articled to Joseph Fuller,
and were deeded to John Murdock November 27, 1837. The north part of lot 5, sec. 8,
50 acres, was taken up by John Fuller June 13, 1823. February 9, 1831, it was articled
to John Brown, and October 9, 1834, to Abel Barnum, jr. It was deeded to John H.
Nichols, December 27, 1837.
Lot 7, sec. 8, 115 acres, was articled to George Kuck January 31, 1818. December
17, 1833, it was again articled to Harvey Munn, and was deeded to him January 1,
1836.
632 LANDMARKS OF
April 15, 1819, Elihu Gould took up lot 9, sec. 8, 115 acres. November 16, 1830, it
was articled to Sarah Gould, and was deeded to Stephen Hammond November 27;
1835.
Jesse Knowlton and Horace Gould took up lot 11, sec. 8, 115 acres, May 4, 1819.
December 21, 1830, the east part, 57 acres of this, was articled to James M. Goold, and
February 4, 1834, to Joseph Hoxie. It was deeded to John H. Nichols January 1,
1836. May 9, 1833, the west part of the same, 58 acres was articled to Munson Hobbs
and was deeded to Benjamin Jlobbs December 31, 1835.
Lot 2, 4, and 6, sec. 8, 353 1-2 acres, were articled to John Fuller, July 2, 1810, and
were deeded to Amy Fuller July 1, 1820.
• Lot 8, sec. 8, 224 acres, was taken up by Joseph Mansfield July 2, 1810. Septem-
ber 34, 1810, it was articled to Clarissa Mansfield, and September 1, 1831, 122 acres of
it was articled to Amos Hix, and were deeded to him June 1, 1834, May 6, 1842, 2
acres were deeded to Leonard Gilbert.
Anthony Miles took up lot 10, sec. 8, June 25, 1811, and June 26, 1819, it was arti-
cled to Hiram P. Fuller. November 16, 1830, the south part, 62 acres of this was arti-
cled to Elisha M. Goold, and December 24, 1833, was deeded to Munson Hobbs. No-
vember 16, 1830, the north part of the same lot was articled in two parcels of 21 acres
each, to Linus Fowler and William Fowler. Both parcels were conveyed by deed to
Lyman Fuller June 1, 1834.
Lot 12, sec. 8, 123 acres was taken up by Eber Slater May 12, 1812, and was arti-
cled to Giles Slater November 10, 1821. November 24, 1829, the east part 61 1-2
acres was articled to Harmon Fuller, and was deeded to him March 13, 1837. The
west part, 61 1-2 acres of the same lot was articled to Zebulon Barnum November 24,
1829, and v?-as deeded to him June 1, 1834.
Reuben Fuller took up lots 1 and 3, sec. 9, 228 acres, June 23, 1810. They were
several times transferred in parts and were deeded as follows : 50 acres to John C.
Fuller March 10, 1835 ; 64 acres to John C. Fuller October 5, 1835 ; 64 acres to Reu-
ben Fuller, October 5, 1835, and 50 acres, to Parmelia Slater and daughter December
29, 1837.
Lots 5, 7, and 9, sec. 9, 263 acres were articled to James Dunham July 28, 1803.
August 1, 1808, they with the south part 10 acres, of lot 6, sec. 9, were articled to
Matthew and James Dunham, and lot 9 was deeded to Charles Dunham June 19, 1816,
Lots 7 and 9 and 10 acres of lot 6 were deeded to George Kuck June 19, 18'' 6.
Charles Dunham took up lot 11, sec. 9, 125 acres, May 24, 1809. The north part,
60 acres of this lot was articled to Wilson Hunt May 24, 1825, and was deeded to him
January 6, 1834. The south part of the same lot was articled to Thomas Foster May
24, 1825. It was transferred to Sarah Foster July 20, 1829, and was deeded to Sam-
uel Clarke June 10, 1835.
Lot 2, sec. 9, 122 acres was articled to Sarah Beardsley April 18, 1811. April 19,
1819, the article was renewed to Asahel Byington who received his deed December 16,
1833.
Joshua Woodard took up lot 4, sec. 9, 134 acres, December 31, 1802. It was deeded
to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
/^M^ A^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 633
Lot 6, sec. 9, 136 acres was articled to Joshua Woodard December 31, 1802. Sep-
tember 12, 1809, the north part 126 acres was articled to Charles Dunham. The north
portion, 68 acres of this was deeded to Mary Brown June 4, 1812. The south portion.
58 acres was deeded to George Kuck June 4, 1822.
Lot 8, sec. 9, 137 7-10 acres was ariicled to Reuben Lewis October 1. 1802. Lot 10,
sec. 9, 129 9-10 acres was articled to Reuben Lewis October 1, 1802. Both were
deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 12, sec. 9, 124 acres was articled to Elijah Hunt July 11, 1803. It was deeded
to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 1, sec. 10, 124 acres was taken up by Isaac S. Richmond June 18, 1816. It was.
articled to Barber Kenyon January 15, 1830, and was deeded to him February 9, 1835,
Lot 3, sec. 10, 122 acres was taken up by James Bell May 24, 1815. December 18,
1833, the south part, 50 acres of this lot was articled to Barber Kenyon, and was deeded
to him December 25, 1837. The north part, 72 acres of this lot was articled to Ichabod
White February 11, 1834, and was deeded to Trumbull Cary January 1, 1839.
Lot 5, sec. 10, 121 acres, was articled to James Bell May 24, 1815. June 13, 1823,
the article was renewed to George Andrews. It was deeded to John Lowber May 1,
1835.
Robert Tower took up lot 7, sec. 10. 119 acres. May 1. 1816. May 1, 1833, it was
articled to John Lowber, and was deeded to him September 14, 1835.
May 6, 1816. Peter T. Covert took up lot 9, sec. 10, 119 acres. May 1, 1833, it was
articled to John Lowber, and was deeded to him September 14, 1835.
Alvah B. Cole took up lot 11, sec. 10. 119 acres. May 6, 1816. December 10, 1832,
it was articled to Jacob Houseman, and October 1, 1836, 99 acres of it were articled to
Philo Dewey, and were deeded to him October 1, 1836. The south part 20 acres, of the
lot was deeded to John Rose, September 12, 1835.
Lot 2, sec. 10, ] 19 acres, was taken up by Cornelius Sebring May 7, 1824. July 4,
1833, the north part, 69 acres, of this lot was articled to Dorothy Sebring, and July 10,
1835, to Hosea Allen. It was deeded to Willard Foster December 26, 1837. The south
part, 50 acres, of the same lot was articled to John Durkee July 4, 1833, and July 17,
1835. to Jesse Strickland, to whom it was deeded December 26, 1837.
Lot 4, sec. 10, 118 acres, was taken up by John Follett March 16, 1825. November
14, 1835, it was deeded to Charles Harris.
Darius Knickerbacor took up lot 6, .sec. 10, 116 acres, April 27, 1819. July 12, 1833,
the north part, 52 acres, of this was articled to Benjamin Hix, and was deeded to
Jeremiah Aldrich December 29, 1835. The southeast part, 32 acres, of the same lot
was articled to Ann Ballou July 12, 1833, and was deeded to Ann Birdsley January 30,
1837. February 25, 1835, the southwest part, 32 acres, of the same was articled to
Jarvis Kimball, and was deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835.
The south part, 120 acres, of lots 8, 10, and 12, sec. 10, was articled to Oliver Cain
June 9, 1817, and 100 acres were deeded to him January 2, 1838. The balance of 20
acres was deeded to Dennis Bickford January 3, 1837.
The middle part, 70 acres, of lots 8, 10, and 12, sec. 10, was taken up by Jacob
Houseman July 4. 1818, October 15, 1833, it was articled to Miles Bon toft, to whom
634 LANDMARKS OF
it was deeded May 15, 1835. The north middle part, 76 acres, of lots 8, 10, and 12,
sec. 10, was articled to Johnson Nicholson, April 29, 1820. The west portion, 44 acres,
of this was deeded to Thomas Wright February 22, 1834. The east portion, 29^ acres,
was deeded to John Lowber September 1, 1834.
The north part, 76 acres, of lots 10 and 12, sec. 10, was taken up by Howland Kim-
ball April 29, 1820. June 2, 1832, it was articled to Thomas Hardy, and was deeded
to him February 9, 1835.
July 6, 1818, Matthias Brown took up lot 1, sec. 11, 113 acres. Twenty-five acres of
this were deeded to John Lowber May 1, 1835, and twenty-five acres to Matthias
Brown July 29, 1836. January 28, 1833, the north part 63 acres, of this lot was
articled to Joseph Abbey, and December 18, 1835, to Oliver Dutcher, to whom it was
deeded December 18, 1835.
Lot 3, sec. 11, 113 acres, was taken up by Matthias Brown July 6, 1818. January 9,
1833, it was articled to Samuel Sackett, and was deeded to him December 1, 1835.
The east part, 50^ acres, of lot 5, sec. 11, was taken np by Matthias Brown January
30, 1824. April 13, 1833, it was articled to Amos Sackett, and was deeded to Nathan
Yarrington January 1, 1836. The west part, 62 acres, of lot 5, sec. 11, was taken up
by Bliphalet Hix June 4, 1823. July 12, 1833, it was articled to Samuel Grinald, and
was deeded to Samuel Griswold January 9, 1836.
Moses Mather took up lot 7, sec. 11, 112 1-2 acres, September 12, 1819. February
22, 1831. the east part, 56 acres, of this was articled to Hiram Spaulding, and was
deeded to him December 1, 1836. March 6, 1832, the west part, 55 1-2 acres, of the
same lot was articled to Joseph B. Worster, to whom it was deeded May 15, 1835.
Lot 9, sec. 11, 113 acres, was taken up by Samuel Norton, May 5, 1817. February 1,
1831, the north part, 49 acres, of this was articled to Betsey Yarrington, and was deeded
to Moses Wood June 1, 1834. The south part, 62 acres, was deeded to John B. Lee
September 1, 1834.
Lot 11, section 11, 114 acres, was taken up by Rensselaer Warner January I, 1816.
December 15, 1830, the south part, 64 acres, was articled to Ezariah Ballou, and was
deeded to B. Royal Ballou June 1, 1834. December 15, 1830, the north part, 50 acres,
was articled to Benjamin Hix, to whom it was deeded June 1, 1834.
Lot 2, sec. il, 123 acres, was articled to Adam Fester May 30. 1811, and was deeded
to him October 1, 1816.
Lots 8 and 10, section 11, were first articled to Ephraim Waldo May 22, 1804, but
reverted. February 17, 1810, lots 4,6, and 8, sec. 11, 363 acres, were articled to
Samuel Clark, jr., to whom they were deeded June 21, 1813. Lot 10, sec. 11, 118 1-2
acres was articled to Erastus Granger May 11, 1810. It was deeded to Samuel Clark,
jr., August 19, 1814.
Lot 12, sec. 11, 118 acres, was articled to William Carter, sr.. May 7, 1804. It was
deeded to Joseph Ellicott February 29, 1812.
Lot 1, sec. 12, 123 acres, was articled to William Carter July 11, 1803. Lot 3, sec.
12, 121 acres, was articled to Conrad Foster July 11, 1803. Lot 5, sec. 12, 123 acres,
was articled to Moses Root July 11, 1803. Lots 7, 9, 11, sec. 12, 342 acre.s, were
articled to James Walworth November 15, 1803. All were deeded to Joseph Ellicott,
February 29 1812.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 635
Lot 2, sec. 12, 129 acres, was articled to John Hunt OctoVjer 6, 1807. October 7,
1817, the article was renewed to Harriet Fitch, and September 21, 1832, the lot was
articled to Lyman Selleck. It was deeded to Thomas S. Clark November 23, 1833.
Conrad Ferster took up lot 4, sec. 12, October 6, 1807. July 21, 1829, it was con-
veyed by two articles to Reuben Jennings, and it wss deeded to Hiram P. Fuller Janu-
ary 6, 1834.
Lot 6, section 12, 123 acres, was taken up by Jacob Ferster July 13, 1807. June 1,
1830, it was articled to John Barnum. It was deeded to John Barry June 20, 1834.
Lot 8, sec. 12, 120 acres, was articled to George Fester, jr., February 1, 1810, and
was deeded to him June 28, 1816.
The north part of lot 10, sec. 12, 66 acres, was taken up by Henry Hutchins January
6, 1817. November 20, 1830, it was articled to Matthias Brown, and February 14,
1834, was deeded with lot 12 to Noah Greeley. The south part, 61 1-2 acres, of lot
10, sec. 12, was taken up by John Thompson, January 6, 1817. It was deeded te
Adna Thompson.
Lot 12, sec. 12, 127 acres, was taken up by Jacob Dehartr December 4, 1815. October
31, 1829, it was articled in two equal parts to Noah Greeley; and February 14, 1834,
was deeded, with 66 acres of lot 11, to Noah Greeley.
It has been said that as early as 1798 the celebrated Aaron Burr had
contracted for a large tract of land at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek,
probably including a large portion of the present town of Carlton. In
a letter to Theophilus Cazenove, one of the land company's agents.
Mr. Burr complained that the survey included Tonawanda Bay (Oak
Orchard Harbor), which he thought should not be reckoned as land and
paid for at the stipulated price, $1.50 per acre. It appears that this
sale to Burr was never consummated, and the books of the company
make no mention of it. Indeed in the autumn of 1798 the survey of
the company's land had not been completed and the land had not been
placed in market, though a sale to Mr. Burr had probably been talked
of.
At the beginning of this century the two localities which gave prom-
ise of assuming the greatest importance of any in the county of Or-
leans were at the falls of Oak Orchard Creek in Shelby and at the
mouth of the same stream in Carlton. No canal had then been dreamed
of, and railroads were unknown. It therefore appeared certain that, as
the region developed, produce must seek an outlet over the lake, and
supplies must be brought in the same way. In that case the excellent
harbor at Oak Orchard Creek must of course be the shipping and re-
ceiving point for all this commerce, and an important village must
636 LANDMARKS OP
spring up around it. Joseph EUicott was not slow to discern the pro-
spective advantages which the locality offered ; and to render these
available for the settlers and thus encourage settlement he caused a
survey of the Oak Orchard road to be made in 1803, and opened that
thoroughfare as soon thereafter as practicable. In 1803 he also made
a survey of a town near the mouth of the creek, and named it Manilla.
It never had an existence as a town, however, except on paper ; for
before the region became thickly settled the Erie Canal was projected,.
and work on it commenced in 18 17.
Mr. EUicott was not altogether regardless of his own interests. He
evidently had visions of the probable value in the future, not only of
the land along that portion of Oak Orchard Creek called Stillwater, but
also of that bordering on the lake in the vicinity of Johnson's Creek. As
early as the latter part of 1802 lots 4 and 6, section 9, were articled to
Joshua Woodard, and lots 8 and 10 of the same section to Reuben
Lewis. These lots lie on each side of Johnson's creek at its mouth.
This appears from the company's books to be the first land articled in
Orleans county. Three of these lots were deeded to Joseph EUicott
February 29, 181 2.
In 1803 1^"<^ ^^ this vicinity was articled to John G. Brown, David
Musselman, James Walworth, Solomon Franklin, James De Graw,
Elijah Hunt, William Carter, Conrad Ferster, and Moses Root ; and in
1 804 to Samuel McKenney and William Carter. In nearly all these
cases the parties to whom the land was articled appear to have been
Mr. EUicott's " dummies," for the land, amounting to about 3,000 acres,
was deeded to him February 29, 1812.
In 1803 lots 5, 7, and 9, section 9, at Kuckville, were articled to
James Dunham. They were afterward conveyed to Matthew, James,
and Charles Dunham and George Kuck.
In 1804 Job Shipman and Ephraim Waldo received articles for land.
That of Mr. Shipman was afterward deeded to Anna Shipman and
others. That of Mr. Waldo reverted.
In 1805 land was articled to Paul Brown, and Oliver Clark. That of
Mr. Clark, lots 7, 9, and 1 1, section 6, was deeded to him in 1809 and
1812. In 1807 John Hunt, Conrad Ferster, Jacob Ferster, and George
Ferster were purchasers; in 1809 Reuben Fuller and Charles Dunham ;
in 18 10 John Fuller and Jo.seph Mansfield.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 63?
In i8ii Minories Day, Moses Barnum, jr., Fitch Chamberlain, Giles
Slater, jr., Anthony Miles, Selah Bardslee, and Adam Ferster ; all these
except the last named were members of the " Union Company." But
little land in Carlton was sold between 1811 and 1820.
The pioneer settler in Carlton, and probably in Orleans county, was
James. Walworth, who came from Canada, with his family, in an open
boat and landed at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek in May, 1803.
He built a cabin, Thomas says, " which at that time was the only house
near the shore of Lake Ontario, between Fort Niagara and Bradock's Bay
His nearest neighbor, at first, resided near Lockport, Niagara county.
Mr. Walsworth was very poor then. The only provisions his family
had when they landed were a few potatoes ; these, and fish from Oak
Orchard Creek, of which there was then an abundance, supplied their
sustenance, except an occasional barter with boatmen, who, coasting
along the south shore of the lake, would put into the mouth of Oak
Orchard Creek for shelter. Walsworth hunted and fished mainly for a
living, and when he collected any store of peltries he took them east
along the shore of the lake to a market. After two or three years he
removed to what used to be called the Lewiston road between Lock-
port and Batavia, where he was afterward well known as a tavern
keeper." William Walsworth, his brother, came the same year and
settled near the mouth of Johnson's Creek, but nothing is known of his
subsequent career.
Ray Marsh was a native of Connecticut. About 1800 he went to
Canada and engaged in teaching. In 1803 he married Martha Shaw,
and in the same year came in a small boat to Carlton and located near
the lake shore. In 1805 he removed to Cambria, whence he was driven
by the British and Indians at the time of the burning of Lewiston in the
War of 1 81 2. They fled to Ontario county, but returned to Ridgeway
where they afterward suffered much from sickness and poverty. Mr.
Marsh died about 1852. His wife survived him many years. Seven of
their grandsons were soldiers in the Union army in the Civil War.
Elijah Hunt, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 175 i. He was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War, was captured by the Seneca Indians,
was made to run the gauntlet after the Indian fashion and was after-
ward prepared for torture, but was rescued by an old squaw who claimed
638 LANDMARKS OF
him for adoption in place of a son that had been killed in the battle at
which Hunt was taken. He remained with the Indians about three
years, and after the close of the war was permitted to return to his peo-
ple. He was kindly treated by the Indians, and many years afterward
was visited by them at his home in Carlton. In 1804 he took up a
farm on the lake shore a mile west from Johnson's Creek, and there he
died in 1830. His daughter. Amy, married William Carter in 1804.
This was probably the first marriage in Orleans county.
James Dunham took an article for land in the summer of 1803. With
his father, Matthew Dunham, and his brothers, Matthew and Charles,
he came from Berkshire county, Mass., to Wayne county, N. Y., about
1795, and thence to Carlton. Thomas says :
In the summer of 1804 Matthew Dunham and his sons built a dam across Johnson's
Creek, where the dam now stands at Kuckville, and erected a small building on it for
turning wood. The Dunham family carried on the business of turning in a small way
in this building several years. They did not find much sale for their goods near home,
but sold some chairs and wooden bowls to the new settlers. The most of their work
they took across the lake and disposed of in Canada. They contmued this commerce
until the embargo was declared in 1808, and after that they smuggled their chair stuff
over to a considerable extent on a sail boat which they owned.
It is related by some of the first settlers that in this turning shop the Dunhams fixed
an apparatus for pounding corn, by making a tub or box in which the corn was placed,
and a heavy pestle was made to fall at each turn of the wheel. Into this box they
would put about a bushel of corn, occasionally stirring it up to bring it under the pestle,
and thus pound it till it was reduced to meal. . . . Several families coming in to
settle in the neighborhood the want of a saw mill and a grist mill was greatly felt.
Three or four years after the Dunhams built their turning shop the Holland Land Com-
pany offered to furnish the irons for a saw mill, and the irons and a pair of mill stones
for a grist mill if they would erect such mills on their dam. A saw mill and a grist mill
were built accordingly. These were the first mills of the kind erected in Carlton.
. They remained the property of the Dunhams till about 1816, when they
were bought by George Kuck, and rebuilt on a much larger pattern than the old mills
Mrs. Rachel Dunham, a daughter of Henry Lovewell, was born in
Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1785. In 1789 her father's family removed
to Ontario county, and in 1804 to the mouth of Johnson's Creek in
Carlton, They endured many of the hardships and privations incident
to pioneer life. Her father died in 18 13, and in 18 14 she was married
to Matthew Dunham, who died in 1854. They had seven children.
In 1805 a sailor who stopped at Henry Lovewell's house gave Rachel
ORLEANS C0UNT7. 639
an apple. She planted the seeds from this near the shore of the lake,
and from them grew the first apple tree that was raised north of the
Ridge.
John G. Brown purchased a lot of two and one half acres in the
" village of Manilla." and received a deed December 2, 1806. This
was the first deed of land in Carlton or in Orleans county. Brown sold
it to Silas Joy in 18 15.
John Shipman was born in Saybrook, Conn., in 1772. After reach-
ing adult age he removed to Greene county, N. Y., and thence to
Wayne county, whence he came with the family of Elijah Brown to
Carlton in the summer of 1804. They came by way of the lake, and
on the voyage Mr. Brown died and his body was brought to Carlton and
buried. Mr. Shipman took up a part of lot 12, section 2 in the second
range, of which his son, Israel Shipman, afterward received a deed from
the Holland Land Company. He erected on his farm the best house
in the town. It was a log structure with a board floor and a shingled
roof At this house the first two or three town meetings were held.
His wife, whom he married in 18 15, was Widow Ann Tomblin. He
died in 1833, and she in 1868.
Moses Root removed ftom Otsegg county, N. Y., to Big Sodus Bay
in 1801 or 1802. His family consisted of his wife and five sons In
1804 he came by way of Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario to the
mouth of Johnson's Creek in Carlton. He had taken an article for lot 5,
section 12 in the second range in July 1803, and on this he located. With
his family came that of Mr. Dunham, and with the exception of the Wals-
worth family at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, these constituted the
whole white population north of the Ridge. Reuben Root (who after-
ward settled in Yates), in a published sketch of his life in Thomas's
History, says :
My father built a house of such poles as we could carry, as we had no team to draw
logs, and covered it with elm bark, in which we lived without a floor for one or two
years, then our floor was made of split basswood. After building a shelter for the
family, the next thing in order was to get supplied with food and clothing, the stock
we brought with us getting low. We cleared a small piece of land and planted it with
corn ; from this we made our bread. Our meat consisted of fish, venison, bear, raccoon
and hedgehog. We pounded our corn for meal two or three years, by which time we
began to raise wheat, which we took to Norton's mill in Lima, to be ground. It
was about seventy miles by way of Irondequoit Bay and the lake. The country was so
640 LANDMARKS OF
infested with bears and wolves at that time we could not keep domestic animals. In
the summer of 1806 or 1807 my father got a cow from Canada, but the following fall
she was killed by wolves. Our clothing was made from hemp of our own raising. We
could not raise flax on account of the rust that destroyed the fibre. For several years
we had no boots or shoes for want of material to make them. My father built the first
frame barn in what is now Orleans county. The lumber and nails he brought from
Canada.
Mr. Root and his son Reuben were ordered to Buffalo in 1814 to
serve in the United States Army. They volunteered to go^ under Gen-
eral Porter, and assist in taking the British batteries that were besieging
Fort Erie.
The association that was known as the Union Company consisted of
Minoris Day, Fitch Chamberlain, Charles Webster, Anthony Miles,
Sela Beardsley, Moris Barnum, jr., Russell Smith, and Giles Slater jr.,
all residents of Stockbridge, Mass. In December, 1810, they entered
into the following written agreement:
We who have hereunto affixed our respective names do agree to the following
articles and hold ourselves bound to fulfill each and every one of them as follovv^s, viz.:
Article 1. — We agree that for the purposes of our better accommodation and
mutual benefit we do and have resolved ourselves into one respective body or company,
by and under the appellation of the Union Company, for the express purpose of emi-
grating to the w^estern part of the State of New York, on the Holland purchase, so
called, there to purchase, each one by and for himself, unconnected vpith said company,
as much land as he shall think will comport with his individual interests.
Article 2. — We agree that we will jointly and severally bear our proportional part of
expenses that may accrue, for the use of said body or company in the outfit, or when
embodied or jomed together, which shall be considered necessary by said company, being
made in a just and lawful manner agreeable to the rules and regulations hereafter
adopted.
Article 3. — We agree that one of said body or company shall be appointed as sec-
retary, to see that said expedition is forwarded, to give information from time to time
what progress bas been made or is making, also to keep a book or memorandum on
which shall be carefully recorded whatever has been furnished, and by whom, as well
as the value of said articles and any entry which shall be considered necessary by said
company.
Article 4. — We agree that we will individually furnish our respective proportion of
such articles as shall be considered necessary by said company and make a de-
posit of the same with the company's secretary previous to the first day of January next.
Article 5 — We agree that should any mdividual composing said company furnish
more than his proportional part, for the use of said body, he shall be repaid by them,
and any not furnishing his share shall pay it into the company at their request.
ORLEANS COUNTY. G41
Article 6. — We agree that we will put our joint force and strength together, for at
least two years, next after the purchase of our respective lands and labor in company.
Article 7. — We agree that in order to have no division or dissension between our-
selves, that we will clear off and burn up as much wood on one man's land as on an-
other's, viz., to have it fit for sowing wheat or other grain for which it may be suitable.
Article 8 — We agree that the avails of our joint labor, of whatever kind it may be,
shall be equally distributed among said body or company not having any reference to
the lands or owners of said lands from whence said avails proceeded.
Article 9. — We agree that whatever may be taken by hunting, fishing, or the like,
shall be the joint property of the company, as well as the expense attending the same,
shall be borne by them.
Article 10. — We agree that we will erect a house and barn on the land belonging to
some one of the company, to be jointly concerned in the expense in building the same,
and also joint owners in said building, until said company shall be dissolved, then to
belong to the one on whose land it shall stand.
Article 11. — We agree that in planting a nursery of fruit trees, that on whomsoever
the ground shall belong whereon it shall be planted for that purpose, the avails of which
shall belong to the company after each individual shall have taken what he may want to
plant his individual ground, viz., they (the company) being at the expense of cultivating
it and taking all necessary care.
Article 12. — We agree that we will assist each other in an equal proportion in erect-
ing a house and barn not exceeding the expense of the first house and barn erected.
Article 13. — We agree that we do not hold ourselves as a body or company respon-
sible for any debts of any kind or nature contracted without the express knowledge of
or consent of the whole, neither for the lands which the individuals composing the com-
pany may purchase, each one contracting for his own lands paying for it and owning it
by and for himself, the company not being responsible in that respect.
Article 1-1. — We agree that it is possible that the best human calculations are often
thwarted and disappointed, and the best intentions are sometimes providentially ren-
dered incapable of performing these most solemn vows, that when it shall plainly and
distinctly appear that any one engaging shall unfortunately be rendered incapable of
performing, shall be excused in the manner hereinafter pointed out.
Article 15. — We agree that should any one be disappointed and rendered incapable
as described by article 14, shall he, having furnished his proportional share of the outfit
of said expedition as will appear by record on company books, shall, at the expiration of
two years after the first of January next, be repaid for whatever he may have put or
placed in the hands of said company, they being accountable for the same.
Article 16. — We agree that should any one belonging to said company fail from
reasons assigned in article 14 of this instrument, shall nevertheless be considered as be-
longing to said c<)mpany until the expiration of eighteen months, computing from the
first day of January next ; should he fail of joining said body until after said time is
expired he shall have no other claim than what is allowed by article 15.
Article 17. — We agree that should any one refuse or neglect to go at the time
81
G42 LANDMARKS OF
affixed by said company having other reasons than those assigned by article 14 shall
forfeit whatever he may have deposited in the outfit for the use of said company.
Article 18. — We agree that no one individual belonging to said company shall be
allowed the privilege of substituting any person or persons in his room or stead, each
shall be obliged to perform the work by his own hands (but not debarred from any
assistance he may procure unconnected with said company), unless by consent of said
body or company.
Minories Day.
Fitch Chamberlain.
Saturday, 8th December, 1810. Charles Webster.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Anthony Miles.
Cyrus Beach, "Witness. Selah Bardslee.
Moses Barnum, jr.
Russell Smith.
Giles Slater, jr.
Day, Barnum and Chamberlain took up adjoining lots, i, 3, and 5,
section 6 ; Slater and Beardslee also adjoining lots, 12, section 6, and
2, section 9; and Miles lot 10, section 8; and all were worked accord-
ing to their covenant. Smith did not take up land, but returned to
Stockbridge, and Webster accidentally lost his pocket book containing
his money and was released from his agreement. The other six ac-
cumulated property and reared worthy families. Fitch Chamberlain
was a physician, and practiced in Carlton and adjoining towns.
Daniel Gates was born in Rutland county, Vt., in 1789. His wife, to
whom he was married in i8o8,vvas Ann Anderson. He came to Or-
leans county, and in July, 1809, took an article for a part of lot 29,
township 15, range 2, and resided there several years. He afterward
removed to Carlton, where he resided till his death in 1858. His wife
died in 1866. They were the parents of John, Nehemiah F., Lewis
W., and Matthew A. Gates. The latter resides in Gates. He brought
his family here with a yoke of oxen and a wagon, fording the Genesee
River, over which there was no bridge They suffered many hardships,
especially during the war, when at times they were compelled to sub-
stitute green boiled wheat for bread.
John Thompson was the son of Andrew Thompson, of New York
city, who was a lieutenant in the Revolutionar}' army. John was born
in the city of New York in 1771. He removed to Seneca county where
he remained a number of years, and in 181 1 came to Carlton and lo-
cated in the west part of the town a mile from the lake shore. On the
ORLEANS COUNTY. G43
breaking out of the war of i8i2 he removed his family to Lima, N. Y.,
and he became a soldier in the army. He was in the battle of Lundy's
Lane, where he was wounded in the chest. On the conclusion of the
war he returned to Carlton and located on the lake road in the west
part of the town where he died in 1829. His wife was Phebe Garrett,
of New York. They reared to adult age six children, of whom John
was born in 18 10. His wife was Lory Cushman, who was born in
Vermont in 18 10.
Rev. George Kuck was a native of London, England, where he was
born in 1791. He was educated at King's College, came to New York
city in 1806, and went t© Canada in 1807. I" the war of 18 12 he was
a lieutenant in the Canadian militia, and was also a government clerk.
He came to Carlton in 181 5 and purchased the farm at what is now
Kuckville, where he ever afterward resided. He built a grist mill on
the site of the primitive log mill that Mr. Dunham had erected, and
afterward built a warehouse at the mouth of Johnson's Creek. He also
opened a store in 1 8 16. He at one time conducted a store, farm, ware-
house, ashery, grist mill, and saw mill. He was a good business man and
became wealthy. During thirty years he was postmaster at West Carl-
ton, afterward and now Kuckville. He united with the M. E. Church
in 1 82 1, and was leader of the first Methodist class formed in Carlton.
In 1829 he became an exhorter, and in 1833 a local preacher. He was
ordained a deacon in 1837, and an elder in 1849. His wife, to whom
he was married in 18 19, was Miss Electa Fuller. He died in 1868.
Noah Greeley, a relative of Horace Greeley, was born in New Hamp-
shire, in 1766. He married Anna Powell in 1793, and in 1810 they
removed to Homer, N. Y., where he built a saw mill and a grist mill,
and afterward purchased a farm. He removed to Lock, Cayuga county,
thence to Allegany county, and in 18 17 to Carlton, settling in the north-
west corner of the town, on lot 12, section 12. The summer of 1819
was very sickly, and he, his wife, their thirteen children, and nearly all
their neighbors were sick with the malarial fever that prevailed. That
he might have better nursing than his sick family could give, some
neighbors carried him on a rude litter of poles and bark to the home of
Elijah Hunt, two miles east. As he was taken from the house he bade
his sick wife and children good bye and none of them except his eldest
GU LANDMARKS OF
daughter (afterward Mrs. Rensselaer Warner), who was able to visit
him occasionally, ever saw him again. He died in October of that year.
His wife died in 1849. Their children were Anna, Lucy, Noah, Clif-
ton, Alvin, Oilman, Dustin, Fanny, Eber, Asa, Nancy, Sally, and Al-
fred. Of these eleven were Methodists and two Baptists. All the sons
but one were Whigs and afterward Republicans. None ever used ar-
dent spirits, and only one tobacco. Only. one was married more than
once. The youngest was fifty years of age when the first of the chil-
dren died.
John Hadstead was born in Greenbush, N. Y., in 18 12. His father
was killed in battle in the War of 1812. In 1813 his grandfather took
him on his back to Seneca county, and in 18 14 they went to Ontario
county. In 18 18, his mother, who had married a second husband,
came to Murray, and in 1826 Mr. Hadstead came to Gaines. In 1836
he married Susan Knapp of that town. In 1837 they removed to a
place a mile southwest from Kuckville, and in 1838 to a place half a
mile east from Fairhaven. Thence in 1840 they removed to Ridgeway,
and in the same year to a farm a mile south from Two Bridges. In
1886 he removed to Carlton Station, where he died.
John Barry was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1792. In
1 8 10 he married Eve Failing, and in 1822 they removed to Yates, about
a mile and a half east from Lyndonville. His father and five brothers
had already settled in that town. In 1832 he removed to lot 4, section
12, in Carlton, two miles west from the mouth of Johnson's Creek. In
1838 he removed to Indiana, where he died in 1876. Of his ten chil-
dren only Andrew Barry is a resident of Carlton. He was born in
Montgomery county in 181 1, and came to Orleans county with his
father. His wife was Jane Barnum, a native of Cayuga county. They
were married in 1834. They reared to adult age eight children.
Chester and Alfred Bid well were early settlers on section i, lot 2,
near East Carlton, where both died some years since.
James Armstrong, an early settler came from the eastern part of this
State. His brothers, John and Robert, came with him or soon after-
ward, and located a mile south of East Carlton. James died in 1883.
Robert lives in Albion. John died in Carlton many years since.
Giles Slater, a native of Massachusetts, came to Carlton at an early
ORLEANS COUNTY. 645
day, and settled half a mile east from Kuckville, where he died and
where his daughter, Mrs. George Beckwith, now resides.
Squire I. Eccleston, a native of Connecticut, removed from that State
to Chenango county, N. Y., and thence to Seneca county. In an early
day he came to Murray and thence to Carlton, where he located on lot
I, section 2, where he died.
Franklin H. Eccleston, son of Squire I., was born in Chenango county,
N. Y., in 1800. He removed with his father's family to Seneca county,
to Murray, and to Carlton ; and after his father's death he became the
sole owner of the farm where they settled. In 1889 he removed to East
Carlton village where he died in 1 890. His wife was Theodosia Mans-
field, a native of Vermont. They reared to adult age three children,
of whom Marion M. Eccleston, of East Carlton, is the only survivor.
Richard Hufif came from Seneca county, N. Y., to Carlton early in
the present century and settled at East Carlton, where he died many
years since. Stephen Huff, a son, was born in 18 16, and came to
Carlton with his father. His wife was Amy Ketchum, who resides at
East Carlton. Mr. Huff died in 1883. His daughter, Mrs. Hervey
Blood, resides in Carlton.
Everett Gray was born in New Jersey in 1808. In 1822 he came to
Carlton with his mother's family, and located a mile south from East
Carlton. His wife, to whom he was married in 1832, was Elizabeth
McConley. She died in i860, and in 1862 he married Mrs. Hannah
Furell. They had five children.
Asa Simpson was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1791. He re-
moved to Cayuga county, and thence in 1822 to Carlton, settling three-
fourths of a mile southwest from Two Bridges. Ten years later he re-
moved to a place just west of Two Bridges, now occupied by his son,
J, C. Simpson. He died there in 1868. Mr. Simpson's wife was
Minerva Fish, of Cayuga county. She died in Carlton in 1858.
James Hutchinson was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. In 1823 he
removed to Barre, in Orleans county. After several changes of resi-
dence he settled in Waterport, where he died in 1867, and where his
son, Andrew Hutchinson, now resides.
Harmon C. Beardsley was born in Connecticut in 1804. When a
lad he removed with his father, Levi Beardsley, to Wayne county,
646 LANDMARKS OF
where he remained till 1826, when he came to Carlton and settled on
lot 4, section 4, in the southeast part of the town, where he died in
1871. His wife was Cynthia Batcheller, a native of Vermont. They
were married in 1828, and they reared three children, of whom H. S.
Beardsley is the postmaster and a merchant at Sawyer.
Levi A. Beardsley was born in Connecticut in 1806. When quite
young he removed with his father's family to Wayne county, N. Y.
He was afterward adopted by William Reed, of Carlton, in which town
he passed the balance of his life. He died in 1878. His wife was
Sally C. Hickey, of Niagara county. Of his six children two reside in
Carlton : W. H., a farmer, and S. W., a merchant at East Carlton.
Jacob Wood was born in 1776. In 1826 he removed from Otsego
county, N. Y., to Carlton, and located on lot 4, section 4, a mile south
from Sawyer. Thence he removed to a farm, half a mile west from
Sawyer, where he died in 1842. His wife, whose maiden name was
Elizabeth Griffin, was born in 1778, and died in 1868. Their son, Will-
iam Wood, who was born in 18 14, succeeded his father on the place,
and died there in 1883. His wife was Mary Ann Burg, a native of
Vermont.
Jerry Clark was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 1802. He came to
Carlton in 1826 and settled on lots 7, 9, and i r, near the mouth of John-
son's Creek, which his father, Oliver Clark, had purchased in 1805, but
had not occupied. In 1827 he married Mary Ann Miles, a native of
England. She died in 1830, and in 1832 he married her sister, Priscilla
Miles. Mr. Clark is still living. He had two children : Hiram, now
living on the old place, and Mary P., who died in 1873. Mr. Clark's
wives were the daughters of Anthony Miles.
William B. Clark was born in Massachusetts in 1790. When a young
man he removed to Rensselaer county, N. Y., where he married Try-
phosa Childs, a native of Massachusetts. In 1830 they removed to
Genesee county, and in 1834 to Carlton. They located about three-
fourths of a mile west from the mouth of Johnson's Creek, on the lake
road, and remained there till their death. He died in i860, and she
about ten years later. Of their eleven children five located in the im-
mediate vicinity of the place where they settled ; Alonzo, William
Freeman, Abel R., and Lura. Of these all except Abel R. were born
prior to their settlement in Cariton.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 647
Oliver Dutcher was born in Montgomery county, N Y., in 1814.
[n 1828 he came with his father to Yates, and soon afterward to Carl-
ton, and settled between the west line of the town and Waterport, a
mile north from Kenyonville. His wife was Harriet M. Handy of
Yates, and they reared eight children.
John Curtis was born in New Hampshire in 1808. In 18 16 he re-
moved with his father's family to Monroe county. In 1826 he came to
Carlton and located on lot i, section 5. He remained there till his
death, in 1885, and his son, W. R. Curtis, resides on the farm where
he settled. His father died soon after they came here, and the care of
his mother and eight brothers and sisters devolved on him. He
was three times married : first to Miss B. Schofield, second to Caroline
Fredon, and lastly to Hannah Fredon, who (as Mrs. Cornsforth), is
still living. From Mr. Curtis the place Curtis Corners, now Sawyer,
took its name. George Curtis, a brother of John, came to Carlton at
the same time. After a few years he removed to Ohio, where he died.
Arnold Comstock was born in Smithfield, R. I., October 4, 1807.
When he was eight years old, his father with his family moved to
Cayuga county, N. Y. Here in 1838 he married Phebe Allen, and in
1841 they came to Orleans county, settling on a farm two miles south
of Curtis Corners (now Sawyer) and continued to live here until his
death which occurred in 1879. They raised a family of five children,
four girls and one boy. He was a good citizen and noted for his ster-
ling integrity and honesty. His widow and three children still survive
him ; the son, Arnold A. Comstock, now owns and occupies the old
homestead.
Jesse Strickland was a native of New York, born in 1789. In 1835
he removed to Carlton and located half a mile north from Kenyonville,
where he died in 1865. His wife was Clarissa Durgee. She died in
1864. They had ten children. Charles Strickland, one of the sons,
resides on the old homestead.
Robert Rackham was born in Norfolk county, England, in 18 10. He
came to America in 1836, and to Carlton in 1839. He settled in
Waterport where he died in 1874. His wife was Mary Ann Timm, a
native of England, born in 1805. She died at Waterport in 1889.
Their children are Mrs. Mary Murdock, of Gaines, and Joshua, Joseph,
and James Rackham of Carlton.
648 LANDMARKS OF
Jonathan Murray was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1790, In his boy-
h )od he learned from his father the trade of a shipbuilder. Quite
early in life he became a seaman, and at the age of twenty-four he was
made captain of a vessel sailing from New York. He continued in
command of different vessels during a period often years. In 1824 he
abandoned the sea, went to Jefferson county, N. Y., and followed farm-
ing till 1840. He then went to the upper landing of the Genesee
River, four miles from its mouth, and engaged in ship building, which
he continued till 1847, when he removed to the mouth of Oak Orchard
Creek, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died in 1874.
At Oak Orchard harbor he, in company with his sons* Dexter and Ho-
ratio C, engaged in the business of ship building. They built some ten
or twelve vessels. At the time he came to this place there was a small
hotel here. This he purchased and rebuilt and enlarged, kept it dur-
ing many years, and was succeeded in it by his son, Horatio C. His
wife was Emily C. Comstock, a native of Massachusetts. Four chil-
dren lived to maturity: Charles, who was drowned in Lake Ontario in
1837; Dexter, deceased; Horatio C, now of Point Breeze; and
Catherine, who died in 1873. Mrs. Murray died in 1872.
Ezekiel McKennan was born in Ireland in 1800 He came to
America and settled in Herkimer county, N. Y , and in 1840 removed
to Carlton. He located in Waterport where he died in 1888. His son,
Dr. Hugh McKennan, was a practitioner at Lyndonville. The late Dr.
William McKennan, of Albion, was a nephew of Ezekiel.
Amos L. June a native of Connecticut, was born in 1824. and in 1848
he removed to Waterport. He married, in 1852. Debby Ann Palmer.
She died in 1874. and in 1875 he married Jane McKennan. The chil-
dren of Mr. June are Dr. Fred L., of Waterport, and Genevieve.
Many other pioneer settlers and representative citizens of Carlton are
noticed at length on subsequent pages of this volume, whose sketches
can be found by reference to the index.
In 1800 a deserter from Fort Niagara was drowned while trying to
cross Johnson's creek. This was the first death in Carlton. The second
was that of Elijah Brown. The first birth was of twins, in 1806, chil-
dren of James Walsworth. Judge Thomas says: "At their birth no
physician or person of her own sex was present with the mother." The
eJ-lel [/ftc-Cid'^^^d
ORLEANS COUNTY. GI9
first preaching in the town was by a Rev. Mr. Steele, a Methodist clergy-
man from Canada, about 1810. Elder Simeon Dutcher, a Baptist, came
to Carlton in 181 7, and was the only preacher in the town for several
years. During the anti- Masonic excitement Mr. Dutcher, who was a
Freemason, was called on by his brethren in the church to renounce
Masonry. He refused and was expelled from the church. He was
esteemed highly by all who knew him. He died in i860.
The first schoolmaster in Carlton was Peleg Helms, who taught in
the winter of 1810-1 1. The first merchant was George Kuck, in 18 16.
The first physician, after Fitch Chamberlain, was Dr. Richard W. Gates
who removed to Barre, and thence to Yates. He was a prominent citi-
zen. He was the first supervisor of Carlton of which there is any
record, and in 1841 represented Orleans county in the State Legislature.
It has already been said that Rachel Lovewell planted the first apple
tree. Elijah Brown planted the first orchard near Two Bridges. The
second was planted in 1809, by Matthew Dunham, jr.
The first framed barn in Carlton and probably the first in Orleans
county, was built by Moses Root, prior to the erection of Dunham's
saw mill. The boards for this barn were brought from Canada, as was
all the sawed lumber used in Carlton before the advent of saw mills.
Reuben Root had a sail boat of a few tons burthen which he used for
freight and passengers between here and Canada, and much of the lum-
ber used by the early settlers was brought hither by him.
A complete record of all the boats and vessels constructed at the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek would seem to indicate that that point was
once an important ship building place. This industry, now a thing of
the past, began in 1848, when the flat bottomed schooner New World
assumed tangible shape on the stays. This vessel was launched the fol-
lowing year, and under Capt. Dexter J. Murray plied the lake for sev-
eral years between here and Oswego. The Conroy, a pleasure yacht,
in 1851, and the Bloomer, a 65-ton schooner, in 1852, followed, the
latter being commanded by Capt. H. S. Selheimer. In 1855 a side-
wheel pleasure steamer and Happy Jack, a trading schooner, were built
followed in 1859 by the schooner Sweet Home. The May Queen, a
swift sailing yacht, was constructed in i860, and in 1865 the schooner
H. M. Ballou was built. The latter was subsequently commanded by
650 LANDMARKS OF
Capt. H. C. Murray. The next year the Red White and Blue, a pleas
ure yacht, and in 1874 the schooners Alice and May were erected.
Capt. H. C. Murray, with his father and brother, or alone, was inter-
ested in the building of all these vessels. Among the boats which have
been owned in part or in whole by parties living here may be mentioned
the schooners Star of Sodus, Decatur, Eugene, and Susan Sribel, all of
which were employed in the carrying trade. The first named was pur-
chased by a stock company of farmers in 1847.
The mouth of Oak Orchard Creek being a harbor of refuge a num-
ber of vessels have at one time or another been disabled or wrecked in
the immediate vicinity, and of these are remembered the schooners
Forest, Missouri, Paul Jones, Jane Leslie, Clipper. C. Pollet, Thompson,
William S. Malcolm, Perseverance, and Lord Nelson ; the brigs Matilda
Taylor, St. Lawrence, and Lafayette Cook, and the steamers Cuba,
Lady of the Lake, and Young America.
During the War of the Rebellion the town of Carlton sent to the
front 175 of her brave sons to defend the nation's cause. On the
battlefields, in the hospitals, or in the terrible prison pens of the South
they did their whole duty nobly and fearlessly. In a previous chapter
an account is given of the several regiments from Orleans county. The
patriotic men who went from this town are as follows:
James M. Armstrong 14th H. Art. Owen Blanchard.
George W. Armstrong. John Gray Bragg, 8th H. Art.
Charles W. Armstrong, 151st Inf. John Henry Bragg, 151st Inf.
Edgar F. Austin, 8th H. Art. George W. Beardsley, 22d Inf.
Edward Acherson, 2d Mounted Rifles. Reuben Cash Brown, 17th Bat.
Francis A. Avery, 8th H. Art. Francis F. Brown, 28th Inf.
Henry Acherson, 17th Ind. Bat. James Brown, 129th Inf.
Uriah T. Applin, 151st Inf. William S. Bragg, 129th Inf.
Briggs Applin, 27th Inf. John C. Barry, Ind. Sharpshooters.
David C. Aldrich, 151st Inf. Sherman E. Bunnell, 4th Art.
Barten Aldrich, 151st Inf. Jerome Canright, 151st Inf.
Silas G. Boughton, 108th Inf. William R. Curtiss, 8th H. Art.
Henry B. Barman. Frederick Curtiss, 14th H. Art.
James Bowen, 27th Inf. Joseph Cook, 27th Inf.
Cory don C. Brownell, 8th H. Art. Walter Conklin, 14th H. Art.
George Newton Billings, 8th H. Art. Mathew Conklm, 151st Inf.
George Page Beam, 8th Cav. Francis Curtiss, 14th H. Art.
Wesley Blanchard, 147th Inf. John Francis Curtiss. 14th H. Art.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
Got
Jeremiah S. Corbin, 8lh H. Art.
James Washington Capwell, Ind. Sharp-
shooters.
OHver Clark, 8th H. Art.
James Polk Collins, 105th Inf.
James P. Collins, 94th Inf.
Moses Collins, 151st Inf.
Nathan J. Cornell, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Royal E. Cochrane, 8th H. Art.
S. Robert Q. Cochrane, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Alexander Crawford, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Mahlen Center, 151st Inf. •
Ransom H. Cole, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles Day, 151st Inf.
Christopher C. Drake, 8th H. Art.
William Edwin Dunn, 4th H. Art.
John Daly.
Russel Dunham, 8th H. Art.
Walter Doty, 8th Cav.
Joseph Elson, 8th Cav.
Harrison Eckler, 8th H. Art.
Charles Ferdon, 28th Inf.
Washington Furness, 12th Inf.
George Follett, 8th H. Art.
Edwin R. Fuller, 8th H. Art.
Philo Fuller, 3d Cav.
Josephus Fuller, 8th H. Art.
George W. Fuller, 17th Bat.
Daniel G. Fuller. 4th Art.
D. E Fisher, 3d Cav.
John H. Ferdun, 14th H. Art.
John Griswold, 8th H. Art.
John Gassin 12th Inf.
Fenimore C. Gallet, 8th Cav.
Andrew Grover, 17th Ind. Bat.
Peter Goodrich, 28th Inf.
John Bentley Hall, 27th Inf.; 14th H. Art.
Matthew Hamilton, 14th H. Art.
George Cassius Henry, 14th H. Art.
Harrison Henry, 27th Inf.
John Henry Handy, Ind. Sharpshooters.
Valentine Hummel, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles Hummel, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Alvin G. Hunt, 27th Inf.; 22d Cav.
Leonard Hunt, 8th H. Art.
Franklin Hummel, 8th H. Art.
Joshua M. Hotelling, 8th H. Art.
Harley S. Hobbs, 151st Inf.
Delos Howe, Ind. Sharpshooters.
James A. Henry, 129th Inf.
Joseph Hiscock, 151st Inf.
Ira Webbs, 27th Inf.; 2d Mounted Rifles.
Charles Jerome, 8th Cav.
Hiram Jerome 8th Cav.
Eugene H. Jacobs, 4th H. Art.
Alanson Kimball, 17th Bat.
Henry Kimball, 3d Cav.
Edson Kimball, 8th H. Art.
Albert E. Kingman, 14th H. Art.
Royce Kelly. Ind. Sharpshooters.
George Kelly, Ind. Sharpshooters.
Joseph S. Keeler, 151st Inf.
Daniel C. Lebaron, 8th H. Art.
Samuel Lewis.
Nathan H. Lattin, 8th H. Art.
Darwin Littlefield, 151st Inf.
Demers Le Barr, 4th H, Art.
Patrick Langton, 8th H. Art.
Otis Macoraber 76th Inf.
William Morrow, 3d Cav.
Thomas McCabe, 14th H. Art.
Charles W. Miller, 14th H. Art.
John Morrow, 14th H. Art.
Charles Marst, 4th E. Art.
John E. McCarthy, Ind. Sharpshooters.
John McKenchy, 3d Cav.
William McGuire, 3d Cav.
Stephen Moore, 17th Ind. Bat.
George E. Moore, 8th H. Art.
William G. Moore, 8th H. Art.
Charles McComber, 23d Inf.
Eben Morehouse, 8th H. Art.
Ethan Murin, Sth H. Art.
William H. Morrison, 3d Cav.
Frederick McOmber, 8th H. Art.
George Moore, 2d IMounted Rifles.
T. Jefferson McNeil, 129th Inf.
Lyman William Northrup, r2th Bat.
G52
LANDMARKS OF
Jonathan A. Oakley, 3d Cav.
George Washington Philhps, 151st Inf.
John Grover Potter, 14th H. Art.
Ira Poole, Ind. Sharpshooters.
Daniel Poole, Ind. Sharpshoeters.
Reuben W. Pierce, 151st Inf.
Reuben Plummer, lolst Inf.
William Pendergrass, Ind. Sharpshooters.
James Palmer, 151st Inf.
Alfred H. Parkinson, 4th Art.
Arthur H. Prescott, 8th H. Art.
James P. Ryan, 8th H. Art.
Ira L. Rollins, 8th H. Art
Ambrosall Reed, 76th Inf.
George W. Root, 8th II. Art.
William Moses Root, 151st Inf.
Cassius M. Richmond, 1st Mounted Rifles.
B. W. Richmond, 1st Mounted Rifles.
Edward G. Rorabach, 129th Inf.
Milton Robbins, 151st Inf.
Charles Henry Robinson, 14th H. Art.
Thomas Smith, 115th Inl
Volney Job Shipman, Ind Sharpshooters.
Warren Shingler, 8th H. Art.
Hiram Sackett, 27th Inf.
John Sargent, 4th Mich. Inf.
William Monroe Smith, 8th H. Art.
William Eugene Stevens, 8th H. Art.
Samuel Shingler, 12th Bat.
According to statistics of 1893 the town of Carlton has real estate
assessed at $1,148,106 ; personal property, $55,575 ; it raised that year
by taxation a total of $9,484 79, the rate being .00748233. The town
debt and interest was $1,120. There are four corporations doing
business within the town whose real estate in 1893 was assessed as fol-
lows : Oak Orchard on the Lake Company, $25,000; Carlton and
Albion Telephone Company, $270 ; Western Union Telegraph
Company, $438.75; Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Com-
pany (N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co. lessee), $100,530,
The town officers elected in 1894 are: Supervisor, Wm. N. Dean ;
B. A. Bamber, town clerk ; C. M. Hard, B. F. Van Camp, A. D. Reed,
assessors; H. B.Wilson, collector; Hiram Jerome, highway commis-
Alonzo F. Salisbury, 151st Inf.
Elmer Senter, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Frederick Thomas, 151st Inf.
Jerome B. Terrill, 8th H. Art.
Arctus Terrill, 4ih H. Art.
Henry Fitch Tomblin, 151st Inf.
Samuel Sprinzett Thorne, 151st Inf.
Julius Thurston, Ind Sharpshooters.
Charles Tripp, 4th Art.
Henry Lorenzo Van Dusen 8th H. Art.
John M. Van Camp, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Benjamin F. "V^est, 151st Inf.
Frank E. Willett, 8th Cav.
George H. Wilson, 151st Inf.
Horatio S. Wilson, 14th Inf.
Jeremiah Winter, 151st Inf.
James Winter, 8th H. Art.
George Winter, 8th H. Art.
Valentine A. Wilson, 151st Inf.
Alfred A. Welch, 8th H. Art.
Charies B. WoodruflF, 2d Mounted Rifles.
John C. Wilson, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Leonard Wells, 129th Inf.
Martin Wells, 12th Bat.
John C. Wood, 129th Inf.
George Webster, 129th Inf.
Edwin L. Wage, 151 Inf., capt. 120th U.
S. C. Inf.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 653
sioner ; W. N. Dean, R, W. Harris, William Kenyon, Isaac N. Stebbins,
justices of the peace.
Waterport. — This is the largest business place in Carlton, is
pleasantly situated at the junction of Otter and Oak Orchard Creeks, and
contains a post-office, two general stores, a hardware store, a drug
store, a notion store, one hotel and livery, a jewelry shop, two black-
smiths, a meat market, a harness shop, one cooperage, a foundry and
agricultural implement manufactory, a warehouse and coal yard, one
grist mill, a saw mill, one church, a union school (of which Prof A. W.
Behrend is principal), a physician, and a population of about 250. The
present postmaster, Albert M. Ives, was appointed September 1 1, 1893 ;
he succeeded R. W. Harris, The station on the R., W. & O. Railroad
is located on the opposite side of Oak Orchard Creek about half a mile
north. The flouring mill of Woods & Lum, situated near the railroad,
was built by Robert Rackham, who finally sold it to Nelson Clark.
Upon the death of the latter it became the property of his sons, Lyman
and Oliver Clark, who sold it to A. W. Woods and George F. Lum in
the spring of 1889. The mill is run by water power and has a capacity
of 100 barrels of flour every twenty-four hours.
The Waterport Agricultural Works were established in 1873 by
Robinson & Wilder. P. D. Anderson subsequently acquired the inter-
est of Mr. Wilder and a year afterward became sole owner. In 1886
he sold the business to D. D. Bromley, who, on January i, 1894, took
his son in as a partner, under the firm name of D. D. Bromley & Son.
'They do general foundry work and manufacture all kinds of agricul-
tural implements.
Carlton (locally and perhaps better known as Two Bridges) — Is
located at the junction of Marsh Creek with Oak Orchard, a mile south
from Lake Ontario. It contains a post-office, one general store, a hotel
and livery, two blacksmiths, one carpenter shop, a public hall, a dry
house, one physician, and two churches. The postmaster is James J.
Waldron, who succeeded B, D. Fowler February 23, 1894.
KUCKVILLE — So named in honor of Rev. George Kuck, is a post
village on Johnson's Creek in the northwest corner of the town, con-
taining two stores, a blacksmith shop, and an M. E. Church. The post-
master here, Frank A. Warner, was appointed in November, 1893.
654 LANDMARKS OF
Kenyonville. — This hamlet was named from Barber Kenyon, who
first settled there and built a grist mill and saw mill. Pleasantly situated
on Oak Orchard Creek in the southwest corner of the town, it contains
a post-office, one store, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a grist mill, a
saw mill, and a union church edifice. B. Aldrich, the present postmas-
ter, has held the position since his appointment during Cleveland's first
administration. At an early day the place boasted a carding mill.
Zebulon Barnum at one time also made wooden plows and carried on
the dual business of tailoring and blacksmithing near the village.
Sawyer was formerly known as Curtis's Corners, from John Cur-
tis, one of the earliest settlers there. It is a small hamlet, having a
store, a blacksmith shop, and a few houses. May 28, 1888, a post-
office was established there with H. S. Beardsley as postmaster, who
still holds the position. It was named Sawyer from Hon. John G.
Sawyer, a member of Congress at that time.
East Carlton post-office was formerly at Martin's Corners, where
the East Carlton Baptist Church is located. When the railroad was
built through Carlton this post-office was removed to East Carlton
Station, three-fourths of a mile south from Martin's Corners. The vil-
lage contains two general stores, a blacksmith shop, a warehouse, a
cooperage, a livery stable, one physician, and a dealer in agricultural
implements, etc. The dwellings and other buildings there present a
very neat and tasty appearance, and considerable pride is manifest in
their appearance. The present postmaster is Charles A. Weaver, who
succeeded S. W. Beardsley.
Carlton Station, situated near the center of the town, is a postal
village cotemporaneous with the completion of the railroad, and contains
a post office, two stores, a dry house, warehouse, fruit house, cooperage,
and a small aggregation of neat residences and farm houses. The
present postmaster is M. E. Maginn, who was appointed in May, 1894.
Carlyon, a station and post-office in the western part of the town,
also dates its birth from the construction of the railroad, and like the
two villages last mentioned contains a small cluster of buildings of an
unusual tasteful appearance. The place has a store, two blacksmith
shops, a dry house, and a fruit house. The postmaster is George M.
Welch.
'=^Q^-C^r^
?-/^
ORLEANS COUNTY. 655
Point Breeze. — It has already been stated that a village was laid
out near the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek at the time when settlement
commenced there. A hotel was established on the east side of the
creek at an early day, and a warehouse was erected in 1846. The
hotel was enlarged and improved by Capt Jonathan Murray soon
afterward, and the business of ship building was conducted by Murray
& Sons during twenty years. The place began to assume some com-
mercial importance in 1867, when an appropriation of $87,000 was
made for the improvement of the harbor. Two piers, each 1,600 feet
in length, were built, the channel was dredged to a depth of thirteen
feet, a lighthouse was erected, lighthouse keeper's house was built, and
an elevated walk over one of the piers to the lighthouse was constructed
In 1866 Selheimer & Grear established a lumber yard here. Three
years later the firm became Selheimer & Beckwith, and so continued
during twelve years. The business has since been conducted by H. S.
Selheimer. In 1876 the hotel was sold to Broadwell & Warner, who
kept it four years. They made improvements on the hotel and
grounds, and the place began to be something of a summer resort. In
1 88 1 the hotel was purchased by Rogers & Crooker, and has since been
kept by them. They have still further improved it, and the impor-
tance of the place as a summer resort has steadily increased. An
average of forty boarders are here during the summer. In 1888 a
post-office was established here under the name of Point Breeze with
H. S. Selheimer as postmaster, who continues to hold the position. The
place also contains another hotel, a store, and a boat livery.
Oak Orchard- ON-THE-Lake was until recently known as Lake-
view. A. V. Clark became the owner of some 400 acres of land at the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, on the west side, at an early day. He
built a hotel and kept it many years, till it was burned in 1850. At
this time the place had come to be quite a resort for picnic parties.
The hotel was at once rebuilt by Mr. Clark, and was kept by him till
1866, when it was purchased by D. F. Daniels, who conducted it about
three years. In this time a race track was established near the hotel,
but it had only a brief existence. The hotel again became the property
of Mr. Clark in 1869. About 1870 this began to be a place of resort
for boarders during each summer as well as for picnic parties and tran-
656 LANDMARKS OF
sient pleasure seekers; and since that time its popularity has steadily
increased. In 1883 people commenced the erection of summer cottages
here, and there are nine of these that are occupied during each sum-
mer. In 1888 F. E. Wood & Son leased the hotel and conducted it
until 1892, when it was metamorphosed into sleeping rooms. At this
time a syndicate was formed and purchased the Clark estate, lOO acres
of which were surveyed into building lots, and these were placed on the
market. This corporation, known as the Oak Orchard on- the-Lake
Company, erected an imposing frame hotel with all the modern im-
provements, having a capacity of 150 guests, and the place has acquired
a wide prominence as a lakeside resort.
Lakeside — The ground around the mouth of Johnson's Creek, after
some transfers, became the property of Volney Wilson, who denuded
it of its timbers and sold it to Alvin Greeley. He allowed another
growth of timber to spring up and it came to be a resort for pleasure
seekers and picnic parties during the summer months of each year. It
was so used for a long time witjiout any substantial improvements be-
ing made. More than twenty- five years since Messrs. Coann and Sick-
els, of Albion, leased ground here and erected a cabin which they used
as a summer family retreat several years. In 1882 Bruce S. Hoag pur-
chased a tract of land here and commenced the development of a reg-
ular watering place. He erected a bridge across the creek near its
mouth, built a hotel and surrounded it with cottages and other build-
ings for the convenience of visitors, cleared and beautified a portion of
the grounds, built a pier, and, in short, made all the improvements that
now render it one of the most attractive summer resorts in Northern
New York. He sold cottage lots upon which neat and attractive cot-
tages have been erected, the number of these being now between
twenty and thirty. Nearly fifty acres are utilized here for the purposes
of this resort.
The Baptist Church. — On the iith of February, 1832, at a meeting
held in a school house a mile south from Two Bridges, Isaac Mason,
Hervey Blood, Lemuel Willard, Abiel Cook, Jeremiah Newval, Will-
iam Reed, Dolly Reed, Gracilla Blood, Laura Tilden, Eliza A. Tilden,
Esther Mason, Rachel Newval, and Fanny Rice, members of the Baptist
Church in Gaines, declared themselves a regular Baptist Church. On
ORLEANS COUNTY. G57
the iith of July the organization was recognized by a council held for
that purpose. The membership of the church was widely scattered,
and during many of the early years of its existence meetings were held
alternately in the east and west parts of the town. In 1846 Jefferson
Edmunds and wife, Leonard Wilson and wife, Henry O. Mills and wife,
Albert Rich and wife, N. E. Ballon, J. T. Chandler, Lucinda Day, Lu-
cinda Parish, and Phineas Hall withdrew and organized at Two Bridges.
In the same year houses of worship were completed at East Carlton
and at Two Bridges, and the two churches sometimes united in the sup-
port of preaching, and sometimes they were destitute of pastors. Pre-
vious to the separation the church was served by :
Revs. Hervey Blood, B. Beckwith, Franklin Woodward, and T. E. Inman. Since
the division the church at East Carlton has had as preachers Revs. J. F. Fuller, R. T.
Smith, H. G. Mosher, E. Savage, John Halladay, E. J. G-lazier, William Sawyer, L. P.
Merrill, R. FT. Weeks, J. L. Smith, Cantiue G-arrison, M. Forbes L. S. Stowell, G. C.
Walker, L. B. Albert, H. H. Emmett, Gr. M. vSears and Amos Meyers.
At present the church is without a pastor.
The society has about 100 members and a Sunday school of some
seventy scholars under S. W. Beardsley as superintendent. In 1883 a
parsonage was purchased at a cost of $1,500.
The church at Two Bridges has been served by:
Revs. Cantine Garrison, R. T. Smith, H. G. Mosher, William Mridge, John Halladay,
W. A. Wilcher, L. R. Murrill, J. L. Smith, R. H. Weeks, Cantine Garrison again, M.
Forbes, S. Kingsley, H. H. Emmett, G. N. Sears, L. P. Lappeus, and Rev. Mr. Mills.
The society is now without a pastor, but still maintains an organization and has services
occasionally.
The Methodist Episcopal Church. — It has already been stated that a
Methodist clergyman named Steele, from Canada, was the first who
preached in the town of Carlton. No society or class was formed till
1815, when Rev. Mr. Shepherdson, a preacher on the Ridgeway circuit,
commenced holding services near Kuckville monthly. Revs. P. Buck-
land and B. G. Paddock followed Mr. Shepardson on this circuit. In
1 8 18 a class numbering about fifty was formed at Kenyonville, of
which Barber Kenyon was the leader. In 1821 a class consisting of
George Kuck, leader. Electa Kuck, Sarah Foster, Mary Hunt, John
Gififord, Sarah Gififord, Anna Shipman, Sally Senter, Anna Root and
James Dunham was formed. A class of which Robert Rackham was
058 LANDMARKS OF
the leader was early formed at VVaterport and during many years serv-
ices were held in the school house there. A house of worship was
erected at Kenyonville about 1833, at Kuckville in 1835, and at VVater-
port about thirty years since. No records of the period between 1825
and 1846 are known to exist, but it is remembered that:
Revs. John Copeland and Mr. Herrick were preachers here in 1826. Since 184G this
charge has been served by Revs. F. W. Conable, H. M. Ripley, J. McCreary, T. W.
Eaton, S. M. Hopkins, N. Jones, A. L. Backus, J. Eager, G. H. Dubois, T. F. Parier,
W. H. McCartney, C. W. Swift, Daniel Clark, A. A. Craw, Ward B. Pickard, E. J.
Whitney, and F. E. King since the fall of 1893.
The Waterport Church edifice is owned by the Union Society, con-
sisting of the Congregationalists and Methodists, but no organization
of the former exists there. The M. E. Society has lOO members and a
Sunday school with an average attendance of seventy scholars under
A. VV. Woods as superintendent. The Kenyonville Church has a mem-
bership of thirty five. The edifice is owned jointly by the M. E. and
the Free Methodist Societies, and is valued at $1,500. The Sunday
school has forty scholars with Mrs. Kate Rowley superintendent. The
Kuckville Society, having 1 10 members, owns a neat frame church
edifice and lot valued at $4,500, and the Sunday school has 120
scholars with Miss Hettie Clark superintendent. The first Sunday
school in town was formed May 29, 1825.
The First Presbyterian Church of Carlton was organized June lo,
1 83 J, with Montgomery Percival, Samuel Baldwin, Lewis W. Gates,
Silas Joy, Chasen Miles, Mrs. Sarah Goold, Mrs. Abigail Fuller, Mrs.
Eunice Steele, Mrs. Abigail Baldwin, and Mrs. Eunice Percival constit-
uent members. The first elders were Silas Joy, Montgomery Percival,
Samuel Baldwin, and Chasen Miles; the first deacons, Silas Joy and
Samuel Baldwin; and the first trustees, Selah B. Beardslee, Samuel
Baldwin, and Robert M. Brown. This organization soon became ex-
tinct.
The First Congregational Church of Carlton was organized March
31, 1 84 1, by Rev. Robert W. Laird, with Chasen Miles^ George F. Beck-
with, Nicholas Garbutt, Mrs. Jane Fields, Mrs, Lucretia Wheelock,
Jasper M. Grow, Mrs. Ann Miles, Mrs. Mary Garbutt, Mrs. Jane Grow,
Mrs. Susan L. Beckwith, and Francis Miles as constituent members.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 659
Februjiry 27, 1848, this church resolved to adopt the Presbyterian form
of government, and on June 26, 1849, '^ was received by the Presbytery
of Niagara. The first session consisted of E. H. Garbutt, George F.
Beckvvith, and Chasen Miles. Of the second organization the following
are remembered as pastors :
Revs. Milton Buttolf, Roswell Brooks, A. D. Olds, A. B. Peffers, Philander Griffin,
Samuel F. Bacon, Henry Carpenter, N. Foster Browne, George Strasenbnrgh, Vahn K.
Beshgetoor, and N. Foster Browne, the present pastor.
The society has about thirty five members and a Sunday school of
seventy-five scholars with E. K. Beckwith superintendent. M. P. God-
frey has been an elder in this church over thirty years.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE TOWN OF KENDALL.
Kendall was erected by an act of the Legislature on the 7th of April,
1837, f^rom the north part of the town of Murray. It was named in
honor of Amos Kendall, who was at that time postmaster- general of
the United States; the name being suggested by Webster & Pearsley,
then merchants at Kendall village. They were active Democratic
politicians, and largely instrumental in procuring the passage of the act
of incorporation. The town lies in the northeast corner of the county
and within the northern portion of the Connecticut or Hundred Thou-
sand Acre tract. Its southern boundary is from half a mile to two miles
north from the Ridge, and in a former geologic age its entire surface
was covered by the waters of Lake Ontario, the shore of which now bounds
it on the north. On the east is Monroe county, on the south is Mur-
ray, and on the west is Carlton.
At the time of settlement a swamp, or " swale," lay at the base of
the Ridge in this part of the county, and extended some two miles north
from the southern boundary of the town. This was covered with a
heavy growth of black ash, elm, and other varieties of timber and vege-
G60 LANDMARKS OF
tation which flourish on wet land.' In wet times it was often covered
with water, sometimes four or five feet deep. This part of the town
was not, therefore, an inviting region for settlers, and for many years
they avoided it. The clearing away of the forest and the draining of
the land have converted it into a good farming locality.
Between this swamp and the lake the surface was covered with a
dense growth of timber of those varieties that usually grow on uplands.
This region was, in early times, called the " black North " and it has
been surmised that this name was given because the thick foliage of the
timber almost shut out the light of the sun. It is said that at an early
town meeting in Murray the question was asked who represented the
Black North. It was answered by Capt. H. D. Bates, a pioneer there, who
then stated that the region thus derisively spoken of would yet become
the best part of the town, which literally proved true.
The surface is usually level, sloping slightly toward Lake Ontario.
The principal drainage is afforded by Yanty Creek, which rises in the
southwest corner of Kendall and flowing northeasterly through the
center of the town, flows into Bald Eagle Creek, which empties into the
lake a little east from the middle of the northern boundary ; and Sandy
Creek, which flows in nearly an easterly direction through the south-
east corner of the town. This latter stream affords excellent mill privi-
leges. Grain and fruit form the staple productions. Apples, pears, etc.,
are largely-grown in all parts of the town, while in the northeast corner
peach raising has lately become an important industry. There are also
a few fine vineyards which have proven very successful.
At a meeting held in accordance with the provisions of the act of in-
corporation, at the tavern of John S. Winn, in Kendall village, on the
third Tuesday in May, 1837, the organization of the town was com-
pleted by the election of town officers. Ryan Barber, a magistrate, pre-
sided, and the following officers were chosen : Alanson Whitney, super-
visor; Theron Soule, town clerk; Henry W. Bates, William R. Bassett,
and Thomas W. Ellis, assessors; John W. Crandall, sr., Peleg H. Bas-
sett, and Willard Stearns, commissioners of highways ; Moses B. Gage,
Daniel McConlee, and Alfred Biggs, commissioners of common schools ;
1 In fact the wliole of the county north of the Ridge was within the inemoiy of many now living
so densly covered with timber that the entire region was known as the North W^oods.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 6G1
Jacob Hardenbrook, Dr. Walter R. Sanford, and Jonathan Wilsea, in-
spectors of common schools ; Alfred Riggs, Trumann Spicer and Paul
Kendrick, justices of the peace ; Jacob Hardenbrook and Alexis Crane ;
overseers of the poor ; William Griswold, collector ; William Griswold,
Joim Keeler, and Rodney Webster, constables ; and Solomon Webster,
sealer of weights and measures. The supervisors of Kendall have been
as follows ;
Alanson Whitney, 1837, '51 ; Joseph Mann, 1838, '43, '44; Eyan Barber, 1839, '40,
'41; Henry Higgins, 1842; Levi Hard, 1845, '46 ; Abram Odell, 1847, '48; William R.
Bassett, 1849, '50, '53, '54; Reuben Roblee, 1852; Pierre A. Simkins, 1855, '62, '75,
'76, '81, '82; Philo F. Prosser, 1856, '57, '58, '59; Marvin Harris, 1860, '61 ; William
K. Townsend. 1863; Nathaniels. Bennett, 1864, '65; Augustus W. Barnett, 1866;
Gideon Randall, 1867; Oscar Munn, 1868, '69, '70, '72; William 0. Hardenbrook, 1871.
77. '78 ; Levi Barrows, 1873, '74 ; Samuel A. Bates, 1879, '80 ; Irving E. Wellman,
1883, '84, '91; Ira B. Bates, 1885, 86; Cornelius Fanner, 1887, '88; David L. Jones,
1889, '90; Hiram Acker, 1892, '93; Charles S. Bridgeman, 1894.
The Board of Health was organized in 1882. August 9, 1884, many
of the town records were destroyed in the fire which burned the store of
J. H. Lotz, where the town clerk's office was then located.
The town of Kendall, as previously stated, lies wholly within the
Hundred Thousand Acre tract, which was owned jointly by the Pultney
estate and the State of Connecticut. No records of articles or contracts
with settlers on these lands are accessible, but the original deeds were
granted as follows Commencing at the northwest corner of the town,
and proceeding from west to east and from north to south, regardless of
chronological order.
Lot 1, deeded to Joseph Corbin, 78, 83 acres, Sept. 15, 1834.
L. 2, John L. Preston, 51, 24 a., Nov. 25, 1844; William Ross, 51. 24 a., Nov. 15,
1852.
L. 3, Hiram Acker, 50 a., Dec. 26, 1848.
L. 4. William H. Ward, 157, 75 a., May 9, 1827.
L. 5, Dennis Densmore, 22, 96 a., May 6, 1857 ; Ethan Graham, 25, 47 a., May 7, 1857;
David Jones, 32, 39 a., May 7, 1857 ; Jacob Odell, 29, 63 a.. May 7, 1857.
L. 6, Elisha Rice, 27 a., Nov. 13, 1855.
L. 7, John Curtis, 10 a., Nov. 20. 1846 ; H. La Munion, 10 a., Jan. 28, 1840; John
Curtis' 20 a., Nov. 20, 1846; Geo. Smith, 72, 94 a., Sept. 2, 1850.
L. 8, Andrew A. Smith, 105, 30 a., Dec. 26, 1848.
L. 9, WiUiam H. Ward, 114, 91 a., May 9, 1827.
L. 10, Edson Wilson, 60, 21 a., March 22, 1858; Justin Day, 50 a.. Oct. 19, 1852.
Gfi2 LANDMARIvS OF
L. 12, William H. Torrey, \'>0, 36 a., Dec. 8. 1820.
L. 13. Gilbert Forbes, 161, 93 a., May 1, 1845.
L. U, Marvin Harris, 101 a., Oct. 1, 1853; Minerva Lyell, .".5 a., Nov. ], 18r,8.
L. 15, Ole Johnson, 17, 55 a., Nov. 1, 1846.
L. 16, William H. Ward, 101, 10 a., May 12, 1809.
L. 17, William H. Ward, 97, 70 a., May 12, 1829.
L. 18, William H. Ward, 104, 68 a.. May 9. 1827.
L. 19, Charles B. White, 52, 53 a., Aug. 28, 1844 ; Zebulon Rice, 52, 84 n.. Oct. 3,
1843.
L. 20, William T. Torrey, 106, 56 a., Dec. 8, 1820.
L. 21, William H. Ward, 106, 37 a.
L. 22, Gilbert Forbes, 54, 95 a., March 1, 1847; Jasper W. OdeH, 34, 95 a., July ],
1854 ; Willard M. Stearns, 20 a., May 1, 1845.
L. 24, Patrick Burnett, 188, 14 a., June 1, 1841.
L, 25, Ole Johnson, 50 a., June 1, 1849 ; Marvin Wjlson and other.=, 124, 34 a., Oct.
1, 1855.
L. 26, Gideon W. Burbank, 100 a., Got. 1, 1847.
L. 27, Levi Ward, 178 a., Nov. 1, 1850.
L. 28, (107, 13 a., and L. 29, 101, 21 a.,) Levi Ward, jr., May 12, 1829.
L. 30, Benj. G. Morse. 53, 44 a., Sept. 2, 1853 ; Edwin D. Hanks, 53, 44 a., May 29,
1850,
L, 31, Edward Mulford, 104, 06 a., Jan. 5, 1847.
L. 32, Abijah Reed, 101, 26 a., Jan. 29, 1840.
L. 33, Ethan Graham, 100, 87 a., Sept. 20, 1836.
L. 34, Willard M. Stearns, 50, 37 a., Dec. I, 1837 ; Ethan Graham, 50, 36a., April 1,
1836.
L. 36, Francis Massett, 99, 04 a., June 13, 1823.
L. 37, Ole Herbrandjon, 48, 34 a., Nov. 1, 1845; H. Higgins, 11, 96 a., Jan. 1, 1857;
Henry Higgins, 35, 08 a., March 1, 1860
L. 38, Ira B. Carey, 100, 20 a., Jan. 1, 1835.
L. 39, Elizabeth Breckons, 112, 52 a., Nov. 1, 1855.
L. 40, 101, 41 a., (and L. 41, 92, 83 a.,) Levi Ward, jr.. May 12, 1829.
L. 42, Edwin H. Dunks, 49, 18 a. May 29, 1850.
L. 44, William T. Torrey, 49, 24 a., Dec. 8, 1820; Abijah Reed, 49, 24 a., Jan. 29,
1846.
L. 45, David Jones, 96, 52 a., April 5, 1831.
L. 46, William Plocker, 47, 85 a., Oct. 1, 1846; Roxana Barber and others, 47, 85 a.,
Nov. 1, 1855.
L. 47, Theron Soule, 43 a., Oct 1, 1835. Isaac Soule, 49, 98 a.. May 7, 1844.
L. 48, Theron Soule, 92, 74 a., Oct. 1, 1835.
L. 49, Henry Hervig, 39, 80 a., Nov. 1, 1850; Orlando M. Green. 50, 10 a., Nov. 1,
1855.
L. 50, Philo Prosser, 43, 33 a., June 1, 1853.
L. 51, Philo F. Prosser, 100, 72 a., Nov. 1, 1845.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 663
L. 52, 101, 41 a., and L. 53, 90, 86 a., William H. Ward, May 12, 1829.
L. 54, Harvey Rosecrantz. 51, 28 a., June 23, 1846; Levi Harris, 51, 28 a., April 2!»,
1856.
L. 56. Elias B. Holmes, 50, 27 a., Aug. 18, 1862.
L. 57, Danit-l Requa, 98, 68 a., Dec. 9, 1836.
L. 58, Ryan Barber, 102, 25 a., June 1, 1844.
L. 59, A. Soule, 8, 12 a., July 1, 1850; Theron Soule, 51, 05 a., Oct. 1, 1835.
L. 60, Gideon Soule, 49, 90 a., Oct. i, 1851.
L. 62. Ira Mason, 82, 50 a., Nov. 1, 1850; George S. Pierce, 15 a., Oct. 1, 1847.
L. 63, George W. Holmes, 100 a., Nov. 1, 1845.
L. 64, Aivin Ogden, 49, 22 a., May 20, 1836 ; Daniel Fenner, 24, 80 a., Aug. 20, 1855 ;
Daniel Fenner, 24, 80 a., Jan. 7, 1848.
L. 65, John W. Crandall, 46, 72 a., Nov. 9, 1850.
L. 66, Thomas W. Allis, 48, 36 a., Sept. 2, 1840 ; David James, 24, 44 a., March 14,
1844; Oliver G. Allis, 12, 44 a., Oct. 30, 1848 ; Nelson Coe, 12 a., Oct. 13, 1848.
L. 67, William Warren. 99, 01 a., May 8, 1854.
L. 68, Zebulon Rice, 48, 53 a., June 20, 1836; Elisha Rice, 48, 53 a., April 12, 1837,
L. 69, Daniel Requa, 98, 50 a., Dec. 9, 1836.
L. 70, Harry D. Weed, 95, 36 a., June 1, 1347.
L. 71, Henry Higgins, 98, 76 a., Oct. 1, 1835.
L. 72, Henry Higgins, 48, 86 a.. Oct. 1, 1835; Irving and Ephraim J. Crane, 49, 30
a., Jan. 1, 1856.
L. 74, Joseph Mann, 48. 05 a., Nov. 1, 1844; Joseph Mann, 48,05 a., March 1, 1847.
L. 75, Joseph Mann, 55, 93 a., Oct. 1, 1835; Archibald Fuller, 55. 69 a., Dec. 1
1840.
L. 70, Carman Southworth, 50 a., June 12, 1832 ; Daniel Fenner, 52, 70 a., Aug, 20,
1855.
L. 77, Reuben McDonald, 49, 28 a., Jan. 28, 1840; Thos. W. Allis, 49, 28 a., May 12,
1834.
L. 78, Thos. W. AHis. 50 a., Apr. 16, 1834; OHver G. Allis, 51, 26 a., Apr. 16, 1834.
L. 79, Oliver G. Allis, 49, 24 a., Apr. 16, 1834; Alanson Coe, 24, 24, a, Sept. 17,
1845; Zebulon Rice, 25 a., Apr. 12, 1837.
L. 80, Mary McDonald, 20 a., Apr. 30, 1833.
L. 81, James Weed, 52, 12 a., Sept. 30, 1835.
L. 82, Byron Densmore, 35 a., Feb. 1, 1837 ; Dennis Denmore, 66, 82 a., March 1,
1855.
L. 83, James Weed, 51, 75 a.. Jan. 28, 1826; Heny Higgins, 51, 50 a, Sept. 1, 1837.
L.84, William Griswold, 51, 43 a., Nov. 1, 1858 ; Sarah Powell and others, 51, 43 a.,
Oct. 1, 1840. .
L. 85, Elias B. Holmes, 105, 40 a., March 1, 1830.
L. 86, Edward Jenkins, 50, 45 a., Nov. 1, 1858; Elisha P. Davis, 50, 82 a., Apr. 1,
1842.
L. 87, Jesse and Betsey King, 100, 53 a., Nov. 1, 1850; Daniel Clark, 14 a., Sept. 1,
1837.
664 LANDMARKS OF
L. 88, Jonathan Webster, 50,44 a., July 4, 1852 ; Samuel Crandall, 55, 44 a., Sept.
1, 1845.
L. 89, Samuel Crandall, 57, 26 a.. Oct. 1, 1835; John W. Crandell. 52, 26 a., Oct.
1, 1835.
L. 90, Albert G. Ralph, 25, 82, March 23, 1861; Allen Bennett, 25, 31 a.. May 1,
1852; Thos. W. AUis, 35, 91 a., Oct. 1, 1835.
L. 91 Elisha Rice, 52, 34 a., Jan. 1, 1839 ; Steuben S. Forbes, 51, 85 a., Nov. 1,
1858.
L. 92, Jacob Hardenbrook, 57, 20 a., Oct. 1, 1855 ; Asa Baker, 52,98 a., Oct. 1, 1846.
L. 93, James Whitehouse, 106, 76 a., July 1. 1837.
L. 94, David Jones, 97, 21 a., Dec. 1, 1846.
L. 95, Norman Roblee, 50, 51 a., July 1, 1848.
L. 96, Albert Burnett, 19, 37 a., Feb. 1, 1853; Roswell S. Burrows, 49, 37 a., March
I, 1853.
L. 97, Jonathan Russell, 51, 69 a., March 1, 1849. Caleb A. Barnum, 25,84 a., March
1, 1851 ; Lucinda Hawkins and others, 25 a., Nov. 1, 1845.
L. 98, Gideon W. Burbank, 25 a., Oct. 1, 1846; James Austin, 75, 36 a., March, 1,
1855.
L. 99, Edwin H. Dunks, 90, 19 a., Oct. 1, 1840; Henry W. Bates, 20 a., Apr. 1, 1836.
L. 100, Gideon Hard, Hiram S. Gofif, and I. U. Sears, 101, 77 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 101, Amos Cowell, jr., 47, 98 a., Apr. 1, 1851 ; David Weeks, 47, 98 a., Nov. 1, 1843.
L. 102, Edward Hooker, 101, 89 a., June I, 1838.
L. 103, Hannah Weed and others, 102, 16 a., Aug. 1, 1840.
L. 104, James Whitehouse, 103 a., Apr. 2, 1860.
L. 105, Morey Elmore, 52, 57 a., Apr. 1, 1836; Jonathan Whitehouse, 25 a., Feb. 1,
1836; Morey Elmore, 32 a., Apr. 1, 1836.
L. 106, James Weed, 104 a., Au?. 19, 1831.
L. 107, Abm. M. Schermerhorn, 25 a., Apr. 2, 1839 ; John H. Thomas, 25 a., June
20, 1836; John H. Thomas, 59, 35 a., Apr. 5, 1831.
L. 108, Reuben Roblee, 25 a., June 12. 1832 ; Reuben Roblee, 78, 31 a., July 6, 1854.
L. 109, Caleb H. Barnum, 55 a. ; William Thomas, 55 a., Oct. 6, 1854.
L. 110, Peter Bush, 52, 02 a., Apr. 10, 1835; Jacob Thomas, 52, 02 a., Apr. 1, 1829.
L. Ill, Henry W. Bates, 77, 03 a., Sept. 3, 1828 ; Henry W. Bates, 40 a., Sept. 28,
1832.
L. 112, Gideon Hard, H. S. GoflFand Isaac U. Sears, 109, 16 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 113, Hard, Goff and Sears, 52, 18 a., Sept. 1, 1835; John W. Crandall, 51, 52 a.,
Nov. 2, 1840.
L. 114, Harlow Willard Wells, 106, 33 a.. May 1, 1841.
L. 115, James H. Forbes, 53, 76 a., Apr. 1, 1853 ; Jonathan Thompson, 50 a., Nov.
1, 1833.
L. 117, James Weed, 108, 90 a., March 5, 1831.
L. 118, James Weed, 101, 13 a., Apr. 6, 1826.
L. 119, Orrin J. Smith, 25 a., Nov. 1, 1850 ; N. M. Requa, 10 a. ; Geo. S, Pierce, 12
a., Apr. 18, 1849 ; Henry Higgins, 22 a., Jan. 2, 1833 ; Geo. S. Pierce, 27, 82 a., Oct.
30. 1847 ; R. Roblee, 5 a.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 665
L. 120, Ezra Spicer, 4 a.. Aug. 21, ISoo ; A, M. Schernieihorn, 44,34 a., April 2,
1839; Phebe N. Evarts. 25, 71 a., Apr. 5, 1831.
L. 121, Nathaniel A. Brown, 65, 84 a., Aug. 18. 1838; Obed Westgate, 30 a., June
20, 1836; John H. Thomas, 10 a.
L. 122, Benjamin Morse, 81, 85 a.. Sept. 27, 1833; Benjamin Mor.se, 20 a., Oct. 8,
1829.
L. 123, Fanny Randall and others, 112, 65 a., Apr. 12, 1837.
L. 124, Hard, G^ff and Sears, 101 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 125, Franklin Hinds and others, executors, 95, 34 a., Oct. 1, 1833.
L. 126, William H. Merrick, 45 a., Apr. 1, 1854; Nathaniel S. Bennett, 49, 81 a.,
July 1, 1845.
L. 127, Simeon B. Jewett, 94, 85 a.. May 1, 1845.
L. 129, James Weed, 50 a., July 1, 1837 ; S. Blodgett and others, 20 a., Sept. 1, 1835 ;
Silas Blodgett, 31. 02 a., March 17, 1824.
L. 130, John Farnsworth, 52, 57 a., Apr. 10, 1835 ; Anson Beebe, 40 a.
L. 131, Nathaniel M. Requa, 50, 11 a., Sept. 21, 1840; Alexis Crane, 50, 11 a., Oct.
3, 1846.
L. 132, Daniel Stewart, 48, 21 a., Apr. 5, 1831 ; Robert Clark, 48, 06 a., Apr. 20,
1842.
L. 133, Henry Whitney, 99, 39 a., Aug. 18, 1857.
L. 134, George C. Goodrich, 94, 84 a., Feb 24, 1833.
L. 135, Alfred F. Cox, 30 a., Oct. 11, 1832; Philip Leonard, 68, 47 a., March 31, 1857.
L. 136, Hard, Goff and Sears, 91,61 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 137 and 138, Hiram Frisbie, 181, 02 a., Apr. 1, 1853.
. L. 139, Simeon B. Jewett, 93, 34 a.. May 1, 1835.
L. 140, William Parker, 45, 16 a., March 1, 1861 ; David Jones, 45, 87 a., Dec. 1,
1859.
L. 141, Ebenezer Raymond, 96, 78 a., Dec. 1, 1832.
L. 142, Felix Auger, 50 a., Aug. 9, 1828 ; Lewis L. Peet, 40, 87 a., Sept. 30, 1835.
L. 143, Lewis L. Peet, 49, 39 a., Sept. 30, 1835; Alanson Whitney, 49, 39 a., Apr.
30, 1833.
L. 144, Felix Auger, 48, 28 a., Feb. 18, 1823 ; Robert Clark, 48, 29 a., Apr. 20, 1842."
L. 145, George Balcom, 99, 61 a.. May 3,*1822.
L. 146, Vine Balcom, 47, 31 a., Jan. 7, 1848 ; Guy Bridgman, 46, 78 a., Oct. 24, 1845.
L. 147, George S. Pierce, 55, 45 a., Aug. 28, 1844 ; Asahel Balcom, 55, 45 a., May 3,
1822.
L. 148, Hard, Gofif and Sears, 98, 67 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 149, John R. Hodges, 98, 35 a., July 1, 1836.
L. 150, Alden E. Pemberton, 95, 37 a., Apr. 1, 1853.
L. 151, 98, 18 a., and L. 152, 99, 14 a., Simeon B. Jewett, May 1, 1835.
L. 153, Tyler B. and Ethan A. Thompson, 50, 95 a.. July 1, 1851; Elias Thompson,
47, 72 a., Oct. 1, 1839.
L. 154, Cyrenus Wellman, 48, 19 a., Sept. 27, 1833 ; Lewis L. Peet, 48, 18 a., Sept.
30, 1835.
84
6G6 LANDMARKS OF
L. 155. Addison M. Wood, 50 a., Aug. 24, 1848 ; Daniel McConnell, 50, 62 a., March
28, 1853.
L. 156, Robert Clark, 48. 33 a., Feb. 9, 1853; Daniel Stewart, 48.33 a., Oct. 28, 1839.
L. 157, Levi A. Ward, 100, 48 a., Jan 7, 1848.
L. 158, Guy Bridgman, 46, 78 a., July 20, 1847 ; Guy Bridgman, 46, 78 a., Oct. 24,
1845.
L. 159, Asahel Balcom, 105, 46 a., Feb. 11, 1824.
L. 160. Hard, Golf & Sears, 101, 10 a., Sept. 1, 1835.
L. 161, Benjamin F.Johnson, 50, 71 a., June 7, 1855 ; Samuel Chadsey. 50, 71 a.,
June 1, 1855.
L. 162, Hiram Cowles, 96, 37 a., Jan. 1, 1836.
L. 163, 100,20 a., and L. 164, 98, 78 a.. Simeon B. Jewett, May 1, 1835.
L. 165, Ethan A. Thompson, 50, 94 a., July 1, 1851 ; Epentus A. Reed and Edward
Mulford, 50, 95 a., Apr. 1, 1836.
L. 166, Nathan Fisk, 99, 51 a., June 12, 1832.
L. 168, James E. and Robert Clark, 48, 71 a., March 31. 1854.
L. 169, 103, 29 a., and L. 170, 96, 94 a., were sold Dec. 8, 1820.
L. 171, Asabel Balcom, 109, 69 a., Feb. 11, 1824.
L. 172, Edwin S. Spaulding, 50, 17 a., Sept. 1, 1859 ; Joel Harrington, 50, 17 a.. Nov.
1, 1858.
L. 176, Ansel Frost, 100, 63 a., Dec. 1, 1835.
L. 177, Sylvester Richmond , 103, 07 a., July 1, 1836.
L. 178, James R. Lowry, 51, 55 a., July 14, 1860 ; William Ward.
L. 179, Levi A. Ward, 102, 11 a., Jan. 10, 1837.
L. 180, Wm. McCartney, 4 a.; H. S. Dickinson 3, 06 a.; Geo. S. and Obed W. Clough,
94, 31 a., Jan. 1, 1852.
L. 181, Joseph Hart, 51, 38 a., Aug. 24, 1848.
L. 182, William T. Torrey, 98, 90 a., Dec. 8, 1820.
L. 183, John Smith, 60, 60 a., Nov. 4, 1857.
L. 191, Abraham Cantine, 48, 62 a., June 1, 1839.
. L. 192, Levi A. Ward, 47, 22 a., Jan. 10, 1837.
L. 194, Ezra Spicer, 49, 20 a., Aug. 21, 1851 ; EzraSpicer, 49. 20 a., Oct. 3, 1846.
L. 195, Harry Perry, 99, 22 a., July 11, 1*836.
L. 196, Asahel Balcom, 98, 10 a., June 4, 1819.
L. 197, EbenezerK. Webster, Jan. 1, 1835; Salmon Webster, March 8, 1831, each un-
divided half of 109 a.
L. 203, Charles L. Sprague, 102, 70 a., July 1, 1864.
L. 204, Daniel Smith, 30 a., March 3, 1858; Arthur Harris, 10 a., Apr. 8, 1861.
L. 205, Nathaniel W. and Isaac Perry, 51, 87 a., Dec. 30, 1835; Timothy Ruggles,
(part L. 214), 48, 67 a., Oct. 1, 1859.
L. 206, AVilliam Drew, 4 a., Dec. 17, 1855; A. B. Townsend, 10 a., Dec. 20, 1850;
Christopher C. Ruggles, 20 a., Dec. 20, 1860.
L. 207, Moses B. Gage, 44, 74 a.. May 1, 1856.
L. 208, Asahel Balcom, 106, 55 a., Dec. 8, 1820.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 007
L. 209, Samuel and Ebenezer K. Webster, 113, 16 a., May 1, 1839.
L. 212, Roswell S. Burrows, 87, 77 a., Nov. 1, 1861.
L. 213, Philemon Allen, 98, 02 a., Apr. 12, 1856.
L. 214, Nathaniel W. and Horace B. Perry, 46, 49 a., Dec. 30, 1835; Timothy
Ruggles, 48, 67 a. (part lot 205), Oct. 1, 1851 ; David Arnold, 20, 80 a., Jan. 1, 1857.
L. 216, Lucy Perry and others,23, 27 a., Dec. 1, 1849; Calvin Kingman, 25 a., Nov.
1,1855.
L. 217, Asahel Balcom, 96, 72 a., June 4, 1819.
L. 218, Harry Perry, 106, 01 a., July 1, 1836.
Settlement here was retarded for several reasons, some of which have
already been mentioned. The land, belonging jointly to the State of
Connecticut and the Pultney estate, was not divided between these
owners till i8ri. In i8io Dr. Levi Ward was appointed agent for the
sale of lands by the State of Connecticut, and in i8ii Joseph Fellows
became the agent of the Pultney estate. Land offices were opened and
settlers were invited ; but few came into Kendall for some years. The
lands of the Holland Land Company had been in market, and the fore-
most wave of the tide of emigration had passed west beyond this re-
gion. During some years it was difficult to procure a good title to the
lands of the Pultney estate, and prior to i8i6 but few came into the
town.
The earliest settlers were mostly Vermonters, and so great was the
change of climate and surroundings on coming here that much illness
was experienced by them. At times nearly all were sick, and although
the kindness which always characterizes the early settlers of a country
prevailed among them, yet there were times when so few were well and
so scanty were the facilities for treating and caring for the sick that
great suffering was experienced.
The first, and for some years the principal settlement in the town was
on the eastern border, about midway between its north and south
boundaries. The first settler was Samuel Bates, who came in the
spring of i8i2, and located on lot iii. Mr. Bates was a private in a
New Hampshire regiment during the last three and a half years of the
Revolutionary war, wintering with Washington at Valley Forge and
participating with Sullivan in his famous expedition against the Indians
in Western New York. While serving in the latter capacity Mr. Bates
had occasion to cross to the west bank of the Genesee River, and the
GGS LANDMARKS OF
appearance of the country impressed him so favorably that he resolved
to locate here. Leaving the army he resided for a time in Randolph,
Vt., and then in Burlington, where he left his family to come here in
1812. Mr. Bates cleared a small plat the first year, erected a log cabin,
and in the fall of 1813 sowed two acres of wheat, after which he re-
turned to Vermont for his family, whom he brought to Kendall in June,
1 8 14. He never became acclimated, and after suffering for several
years with malarial fever died August 21, 1822. His son, Capt. Henry
W. Bates, was nearly twenty-one years of age when he came with the
family to Kendall in 18 14. The father, on account of illness, having
failed to make the necessary payments on his purchase, Capt. Bates took
out an article in his own name and went to work for Dr. Levi Ward by
the month to pay for it. He subsequently secured a deed of the farm,
upon which he died in 1887.
In the spring and summer of 181 5 Amos Randall, Adin Manley,
David Jones, John Farnsworth, Benjamin Morse, Nathaniel Brown, and
Zebulon Rice came. Randall, Morse, and Manley located near East
Kendall, Jones and Rice in the north central part of the town, and
Farnsworth a short distance south from the center.
Amos Randall was born in Massachusetts in 1788. His wife, Fanny
Tabor, was born in Vermont in 1793. They were married in 1814,
removed to Avon the same year, and in the spring of 18 15 came to
Kendall and settled on lot 123, near East Kendall, where he died in
1830. The first school house in the town was built on his land and the
first cemetery was located on his farm. He was a public spirited man
and a prominent and useful citizen. He was supervisor of Murray be-
fore the county of Orleans was organized. His children were Charles T.,
Gideon, Dr. James W., Fanny E., (Mrs. O. M. Green), George W., and
Amos S.
Adin Manley was born in Taunton, Mass., in 1793. In 1815 he
came to Kendall and located in the " Black North " at a place then
called "Yanty Creek." He remained through the summer of 18 16, but
in the autumn of that year sickness and discouragement induced him
to return to Massachusetts. Health and^courage renewed, in the winter
of 1 8 17 he married Miss Miriam Deming, and in the spring of that year
he and his brother and wife and child, Eri Twitchell and wife, and
ORLEANS COUNTY. 669
Nathaniel Brown returned with three yoke of oxen and a large covered
wagon and entered on the realities of new country life. , They reared
ten children, all of whom grew to manhood, and accumulated a com-
petence. Mrs. Manley died in 1857 ^^ the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. Manley died in Albion in 1867.
John Farnsworth was born in Franklin county, Vt., in 1795. In
18 1 5 he removed lo Kendall and took up lot 130, where he died in
1873. When he first located there he was three miles from any settle-
ment. The first school house in that section was built on his land.
Benjamin Morse was born in New Hampshire in 1786. In 18 14 he
married Elizabeth Thomas, who was also born in New Hampshire in
J 793- They removed to Avon, N. Y., thence to Rochester, and in
1815 to Kendall, settling on lot 122, a mile east from Kendall village.
They remained there till their deaths. He died in 1880, she in 1885.
They reared to maturity seven children, of whom Franklin M. is a
harnessmaker in Kendall village. Bartlett B. Morse, the second son of
Benjamin, was born November 23, 1816; he was the first white child
born in the town of Kendall. In 1843 he purchased a farm on lot 30,
in the western part of the town, and tliere he died in 1890. His wife,
whom he married in 1846, was Eunice Barton. She still resides on the
homestead. Franklin M. Morse was born in Kendall April 6, 1821,
He was long a justice of the peace and for some time a pettifogger in
justice courts. As a hunter, perhaps no man in the town is better
known
In 1816, the celebrated "cold season," but few families came to
Kendall. Among them were Felix Auger, Rev. Stephen Randall,
Asahel Balcom,^ George Balcom, Stephen Bliss, and James Weed. Mr.
Auger located a mile south from Kendall village, Mr. Randall south
from East Kendall, and the Messrs. Balcom about midway between
East Kendall and Kendall Mills. Asa Ross, a son-in law of Asahel
Balcom, came the same year and settled on the next lot south. Mr.
Bliss located on lot 1 29 southwest from Kendall village, and Mr. Weed on
the next lot north from his. Felix Auger was a Revolutionary soldier.
Asahel Balcom was a native of Connecticut, as was also his wife,
Asenath Martin. In 18 16 they came to Kendall and settled on lot 147,
where they both died. They reared five sons and two daughters.
Their grandson, Martin A. Balcom, resides in Kendall.
670 LANDMARKS OF
James Weed was born in 1790 in New Hampshire, as was also his
wife Hannah Currier, in 1793. In 1816 they came to this town and
settled one mile west from Kendall village, where he remained until a
few years prior to his death, which occurred at Sandy Creek in 1850.
His widow resides near the old homestead.
Zebulon Goodrich, Ethan Graham, Reuben Wellman and many oth-
ers came in 1817, and located in various parts of the town, and from
that time forward immigration was more rapid.
William R. Bassett was born in Rhode Island in 1802. He first
came to Clarkson, where during several years he kept a hotel. He next
removed to Kendall village, where he purchased the shop built by
Roblee & Spicer and conducted the business of blacksmithing. In 1840
he bought a farm on lot 23, and remained there till his death in 1889,
He represented Kendall four years on the board of supervisors. His
wife, a native of Connecticut, was Olive Munger, born in 1807. They
were married in 1829, and she died in 1877. They reared five sons
and five daughters, of whom Frank Bassett, Mrs. Harriet Mulford (who
resides on a part of the old homestead), Mrs. Ira Bates, and Mrs. Os-
car Munn live in Kendall.
William Clark was of English descent. His ancestors came to
America in the seventeenth century. He removed from Lisbon, Conn.,
to Chenango county, N. Y., in 1805, to Utica in 18 10, and to Ken-
dall in 1 8 17. He settled about three miles from the lake at a place
then called Clark's settlement, because two others by that name were
there, Caleb and James Clark who came the year before. Mr. Clark, with
the help of his neighbors, built the usual pioneer log house with bark roof,
puncheon floor, blanket door, ground fireplace, and no^ chimney. His
wife died in 18 19. He married again in 1820 and removed to Le Roy.
but in 1824 returned to Kendall, which was afterwards his permanent
residence. Robert Clark, his son, was born at Lisbon, Conn., in 1801.
In the autumn of 18 18 he returned to Oneida county and learned the
art of distilling whiskey. He afterward worked at that business in
Rochester, and in 1820 built the first steam distillery ever erected in
Canada. In 1824 he marrid Anna Auger a native of Vermont, and a
daughter of Felix Auger. Mr. Clark purchased land in Kendall and
built a distillery, which he sold in 1830, and made farming the business
ORLEANS COUNTY. 671
of his life afterward. In the '* sickly season " of 1828 he and his family,
as well as other settlers, suffered severely.
John H. Thomas, born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1794, came to
Kendall in the autumn of 18 18, purchased lot 107 west from Kendall
village, and partly built thereon a log house. He then went to Geneva,
where he had left his family, and in February of the next year they
came with their effects to their western home. Pending the completion
of his log house he made his home in the house of Jefferson Goodrich,
who had settled with his fami-ly on lot 10, in the spring of 1817. Mr.
Thomas died on his homestead in 1841.
James Whitmore was born in New Hampshire in 1786. Prior to the
war of 1 8 12 he removed to Canada, where he was drafted in the British
service, but, with other /Americans, refused to fight and was employed
in the transportation of ordnance. As soon as peace was concluded
he removed to Henrietta, Monroe county, and in 18 17 to Kendall,
locating on lot 93, just east from West Kendall, and died there in 1861.
His first wife was Susannah Nutter, a native of New Hampshire. She
died in 1827, and in 1828 he married Mrs. Nancy Wilcox, of Murray.
She died in 1888.
Lyman and Orman Spicer were natives of Washington county, N.Y.
In the spring of 1821 Lyman, with Reuben Roblee, came from there
and located on lot 119, at Kendall village. After they had built a
double log house and cleared a few acres of land Lyman went to
Clarkson and engaged in the manufacture of brick. Orman Spicer,
who was born December 7, 1804, came to Kendall in 1822 and pur-
chased Lyman's interest in lot 119. He remained at Kendall village
during the rest of his life. He was an early and leading member of
the M. E. church at that place and was a prominent and influential
citizen. He died December 12, 1893. Mr. Roblee returned to Wash-
ington county in the autumn of 1821, and married Mary Spicer, the
sister of Lyman and Orman. In the spring of 1822 he and Orman
came to Kendall, and they occupied the double log house which had
been built the previous year. They built a framed addition to this, and
in 1823 opened it as a hotel. About 1825 they built and carried on a
blacksmith shop, but soon afterward sold it to William R. Bassett.
These were the first two industries of the kind in town. Mr. Roblee
became a farmer and resided here till his death, in 1871.
672 LANDMARKS OF
David Arnold came from Saratoga county, N.Y., to Kendall in 1824,
and located on lot 214, in the south pai;t of the town. Two years later
he sold fifty acres of his farm to E. K. Webster, but afterward repur-
chased it and in 1832 built a saw mill on his place, which was tra-
versed by Sandy Creek. This mill was afterward operated by his sons.
About 1825 a colony of Norwegians, about fifty in number, settled
in the northeast part of the town, near the lake. The road which
passes south from the lake, about a mile we.st from the county line.^ran
through their settlement; and the name — Norway street — still clings to
it in common parlance. After a residence of a few years there the
most of them removed to Illinois.
Isaac Soule was born in Columbia county, N.Y., in 1874. He was a
farmer and mechanic, and during his youth and early manhood he re-
sided in different parts of Eastern New York. In 1825 he came to
Kendall and purchased a farm about two miles north from Kendall
village. His wife, whom he married in 1803, was Cynthia Carter, of
Dutchess county,, N. Y., born in 1780. They removed in 1826 to the
farm which he had purchased the previous year, and remained there
till their death. She died in 1849 ; he in 1864.
Levi Hard came to Orleans county in 1825 from Washington county,
N. Y., where he was born in 1810. He at first worked in the clothiery
of Bushnell & Clark, at Holley, but in 1843 he purchased a farm on lot
27 in the northeast corner of Kendall, which he made his permanent
residence. He married, in 1834, Rosetta Lake, of Murray. She died
in 1844, and •" 1845 he married Mary Hopkins, of Clarendon. She
died in 1866, and in 1867 he married Polly I. Dutton, of Murray. He
was a prominent citizen and served the town of Kendall as supervisor
and assessor.
Alanson Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1797. In 1808 he
removed with his father to Chenango county, N. Y., and in 181 3 to
Rochester. In 1826 he came to Kendall and located on lot 133, south-
east from Kendall village, where he remained till his death in 1855.
In company with Robert Clark he built the first and only distillery ever
erected in the town. He was a prominent and influential citizen. He
was the first supervisor of Kendall, and was again elected to that office
in 1851. His wife, whom he married in 1822, was Catherine Vorce, of
ORLEANS COUNTY. 073
Rochester. She died in Kendall in 1877. Henry Whitney, eldest son
ofAlanson, was born in Rochester in 1824, and removed with his
father to Kendall in 1826. In 1850 he married Rowena Crane of
Kendall. She died in 1857, and in 1858 he married Susan A. Douglass.
They had two children.
Ose Webster was one of the earliest and most prominent settlers at
Kendall Mills, which was locally known for many years as Webster's
Mills. He was a millwright by trade, and came here about 18 19. His
wife was a pupil of Noah Webster, of dictionary fame. Ose Webster,
soon after his arrival, erected a saw mill and a grist mill (the first in
town), on the north bank of Sandy Creek, at Kendall Mills, near where the
present mills stand. These he subsequently sold to one of his sons, and
removing down the creek into Monroe county he erected two saw mills,
which he soon sold. He then built a saw mill at Arnold's Mills,
which he sold to E. K. Webster and David Arnold. After this he
erected two saw mills lower down the stream and finally a grist mill on
lot 119; all these have disappeared. The mill property at Kendall
Mills has always remained in the Webster family, the junior proprietor
of the present grist mill — which was erected in 1840 — representing the
fourth generation in successive ownership.
Philo F, Prosser was born in Albany county, N. Y., in 1796. In
1820 he married Celeste Willsey, a native of Albany county, born in
1800. In 1826 they came to Kendall and settled on lot 51, on the
line between Orleans and Monroe counties. He finished a log house
that had been commenced there and resided on this farm till his death
in 1882. His wife died in 1867. They reared to maturity eleven
children, of whom Mrs. Alfred Bassett resides on the old homestead.
Mr. Prosser erected on his farm the first brick house in the town.
Alexis Crane was born in Vermont in 1786. He came to Kendall in
1829 and located on lot 131, half a mile south from Kendall village,
where he remained till his death, in 1850.. His wife was Rowena Farns-
worth, of Kendall. They reared eight children.
Hiram Acker was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1812. In
1829 he removed to Murray, where, in 1833, he married Rhoda Sisson.
In 1843 they removed to Kendall and purchased a farm on lots 3 and
674 LANDMARKS OF
4, where they remained till their deaths. He died in 1874, she in 1887.
Of their seven children five lived to maturity,
Reuben McDonald was born in Washington county, N Y , in
1796. He first removed to Tompkins county, N. Y., and in 1832 to
Kendall. He located a mile and a half west from West Kendall, and
died there in 1886. His first wifewas Sally Fenner. She died in 1864,
and in 1865 he married Mrs. Margaret Fenner.
Joseph Corbin was born in Washington county, N.Y., in 1800 He
was first married to Eliza Spicer. She died a year after their marriage
and he afterward married her sister, Mrs. Eunice Comstock. She died
in 1870, and he married for a third wife Mrs. Rhenhama Smith. Of
his six children, all by his second wife, four are still living. A son,
Joseph, resides on the farm which his father first purchased, on lot I,
at the northwest part of the town. Mr, Joseph Corbin, sr , came to
Kendall in 1836 and settled on this lot, where he died in 1888.
George W. Holmes was born in Westchester county, N.Y., in 18 16.
In 1837 he married Abigail S. Fountain. In 1838 they came to Ken-
dall and purchased lot 63 and a part of lot 70. Mr. Holmes has long
been, and now is, one of the most prominent citizens of Kendall
Joseph Mann, a native of Saratoga county, N. Y., was born in 1804,
In 1825 he removed to Clarkson, Monroe county, and in 1833 he mar-
ried Delia Eveline Barrows, of Hamlin, who was born in 181 5. They
removed to Kendall in 1838, and in 1841 located on lot 74, northeast
from Kendall village, where he died in 1881. He served the town of
Kendall as supervisor three years. His wife died in 1866. Their
children were : James, William, Joseph (now living on the old home-
stead), and Frances Ellen, wife of William Spencer.
Caleb H. Barnum was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1807. In
1827 he married Pamelia Winship. In 1829 they removed to Avon,
N. Y., and to Kendall in 1847. They located on lot 100, half a mile
east from Kendall village. Mr. Barnum was a mechanic, a farmer, and
a surveyor. He died in 1853. His wife died in Kendall in 1884.
Their six children lived to adult age, and of these Mrs. Caroline Towns-
end resides in Kendall.
Albert Burnett was born in Ontario county, N.Y., in 1823. In 1839
he removed to Brockport, Monroe county. In 1847 he married Nancy
ORLEANS COUNTY. G75
Ann Vandermark, of Ontario county, and the same year they removed
to Kendall, locating on lot 96, half a mile north from Kendall village.
Their children were Madison A., Harry S., and Henrietta.
Patrick Burnett was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 18 14. In
1840 he removed to Brockport. In 1845 he came to Kendall, where
he had previously purchased a farm on lot 24, near the lake, where he
remained till his death, in 1862.
Andrew Smith was born in 1797. In 1847 ^^^ removed from
Rensselaer county, N.Y., to Kendall and settled on lot 8, where he re-
mained till his death in 1858 His wife, whom he married in 1827, was
Rachel Furman. She died in 1880. They reared ten children. Three
of the sons were volunteers in the War of the Rebellion.
Marvin Harris, a son of Benjamin Harris, and fifth in descent from
James Harris, a merchant and surveyor of Saybrook, Conn., was
born in Connecticut in 181 5. In 1844 he married Jinnet Lyell, daughter
of Philip Lyell, of Lyell street, Rochester, N. Y. He settled in Mon-
roe county, where he was a teacher, farmer and surveyor. In 1849
he removed to Kendall, where he has been a farmer; he was post-
master during sixteen years, a justice of the peace over twenty-five
years, supervisor for Kendall in 1861 and 1862, and member of
Assembly for Orleans county in 1869. He was during seven \'ears a
director of the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad, now known as the Rome,
Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad. He resides at Kendall village.
Edson Wilson was a native of Monroe county, born in 1808. In 1829
he married Polly Nichols, a native of Dutchess county, born in 181 1.
They reared to maturity six children, of whom Mrs. Emma A. Kidder
resides in Kendall village. In 1849 ^^f- Wilson removed from Mon-
roe county to Kendall and settled on lot 10 near the lake shore. He
died on this place in 1882.
William Jenkins was born in Wales, in 1801. He married Jane
Prosser, who was born in the same year. They came to America in
1832 and located in Greece, Monroe county. In 1853 he removed to
Kendall and settled on lot 86, where he died in 1855. His wife died
in Greece in 1844. His son, Edward Jenkins, was born in Greece,
Monroe county, in 1835, and now resides in Kendall.
Biographical notices of many other prominent citizens and families of
G7G LANDMARKS OF .
the town appear on the subsequent pages of this volume, reference to
which is made in the index. Among these may be mentioned David
Jones, Dr. Walter R. Sanford, Zebulon Rice, Alexander Egelston,
Daniel Fenner, Menzo W. Butler, James Hornsby, Abner Munn, Guy
Pridgeman, M. W. Kidder, Reuben Wellman, Thomas R. Williams,
Samuel H. Mulford, Anthony Blake, Nathaniel S. Bennett, Ose Web-
ster, Robert Wilson, and others.
The first marriage in Kendall was that of James Aiken to Esther A.,
daughter of Samuel Bates, March 2, 1817. The pioneer school house
in town was a log structure erected on lot 123 in 18 19, and the first
school teacher was Gurdon Balcom. The same year Auger & Boyden
built the first saw mill in Kendall on Yanty Creek a mile or so southeast
of the Corners. The first death was that of a son of George Balcom in
18 1 6. A burial place was selected by a Mr. Herrington, who gave his
only fine shirt for a shroud, and who, about four weeks later was him-
self buried near by. Thus was started the first cemetery in town, on
lot 123, near East Kendall. The first ashery was started on lot in by
Maj. William Allis, who acted as agent for John W. Strong, of Roch-
ester. The first preacher was Elder Stephen Randall, a Methodist, and
the first log house was built by Samuel Bates, who also broke the first
ground and sowed the first wheat. Probably the first physician was
Dr. Carpenter. Among later ones were Drs. Theophilus Randall, Spald-
ing, Beach, Moses B. Gage, Caleb C. Johnson, Joseph Smith, and W. D.
O'Brien. Dr. W. R. Sanford located at Kendall village in 1836 and there
followed his profession for more than fifty years. Dr. R. W. Bamber
came to this town from Carlton in 1887. Dr. Andrew J. Eaton located
in Kendall mills in 1864.
The scarcity and high price of salt here induced parties to engage in
its manufacture from the waters of some salt springs that were discov-
ered at an early time. H. W. Bates and Caleb Clark, in 1821, set six
kettles, and from the brine which they obtained in a well which they
dug made about five bushels per day, which they could readily sell at
one dollar per bushel. After they had continued a year the govern-
ment imposed a tax of twelve and one-half cents per bushel on salt, and
they closed operations. They sold their kettles to a Mr. Owen, who
engaged in the business at the southwest part of the town. It was not
ORLEANS COUNTY. 677
remunerative and he soon discontinued it. Quite recently the R. W.
and O. R. R. have experienced great difficulty in sinking wells to sup-
ply their engines with water, on account of finding quantities of strong
salt water not far below the surface.
It is worthy of note that as early as 1822 a library association was
formed in the eastern part of the town. Henry W. Bates, Adin Man-
ley, David Jones, Amos Randall, Dr. Theophilus Randall, Orrin Doty,
Benjamin Morse, Nathaniel Brown, Caleb Clark, and James M. Clark
were active in the promotion of this scheme. Shares were sold, contri-
butions were made, and a creditable library was collected. The organ-
ization was successfully continued till the establishment by the State
of district school libraries, when it was abandoned and the books were
distributed among the shareholders.
The town of Kendall sent a large number of her brave sons to the
War of the Rebellion, all of whom did heroic service at the front and on
the fierce battlefields of the South. Nineteen of them gave up their
lives in the cause, among them being the lamented VVillard W. Bates,
who rose to the office of lieutenant colonel, and was mortally wounded
at Cold Harbor, but reached home the day before his death. Refer-
ence is made on previous pages to the valiant deeds of those who went
from Orleans county. Those from Kendall are as follows:
Lewis Amsden. Charles Bacon, 108th Inf.
Lewis Ashley. VVillard W.Bates, 113th Inf., 8th H. Art.
George Ashley. Frank Bruce, 108th Inf.
Richard Bookey, 8th Art. Myron H. Bacon, 8th Art.
George C. Bridgeman, 21st Cav. Samuel W. Barnum, 8th Art.
William A. Boyce, 4th Cav. Royal Bates, 8th Art.
Theodore Batch. Albert Bitts, 8th Art.
James Bokey, 8th Art. George W. Blythe, 108th Inf.
Thomas Brown. Thomas Brakens, 151st Inf.
William Burnett. Ryan Barber, 8th Art.
Theodore Barlow. Hollister Bacon, 12th Bat.
Orrin Beach, 29th Inf. Vernon Bennett.
Longinus Barber. Marcus H. Chappell, 8th Art.
George Bedell, 12th Bat. Charles Cowell, jr., 8th Art.
James M. Berry, 12th Bat. John W. Cooley, 8th Art.
Frank Bahma, 8th H. Art. James P. Collins, 104th Cav.
Robert Brakens, 8th H. Art. Cornelius Churchill, 8th Art.
Melvern Bailey, 8th H. Art. John Carl, 8th Art.
678
LANDMARKS OF
James Caley, 108th Inf.
Alfred S. Covill, 12th Bat.
Ira J. Clark. 8th Art.
Edward Douglas.
John Darwin,
John Dixon, 151st Inf.
Alexander Dixon, 151st Inf.
Benjamin F. Eggleston, 8th Art.
Seneca Eggleston, 8th Art.
Allen Feathers, 3d Cav.
Jeremiah Feathers, 12th Bat.
Byron Finney, 17th Bat.
Peter Guelf, 28th Inf.
John Halverson, 8th Art.
William H. Higgins, r2th Bat.
John Hard, 8th Art.
John Ireland, 8th Art.
Ezra King, 8th Art.
Charles Kinney, 108th Inf.
George W. King, 108th Inf.
George Kendrick, 108th Inf.
Vincent P. Kelley, 108th Inf.
Merrit W. Kidder.
Joseph Lee, 3d Cav.
Robert G. Lewis, 3d Cav.
William Lee, 108th Inf
William Lovell, 8th H. Art.
James Morrisey, 8th H. Art.
Lyman McDonald, 4th Cav.
A. M. McDonald, 4th Cav.
Samuel A. Mulford, 4th Cav.
John McPherson, 27th Inf.
Ira Maxon, 8th H. Art.
George Maxon, 12th Bat.
Thomas Moffit, 3d Cav.
Milo McDonald, 8th H. Art.
David Miller, 151st Inf.
Ransom Owens, 151st Inf.
George Plumley, 151st Inf.
Franklin K. Palnotte, 8th H. Art.
John Radler, 8th H. Art.
Merritt H. Raymond, 12th Bat.
John M. Russell, 12th Bat.
Edgar Rice.
Oliver Rowley, 27th Inf.
Willis Raymond 27th Inf.
Marlow S. Spicer, 12 th Bat.
John Sullivan, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Leonard Simmons, 4th Cav.
James Seitser, 4th Cav.
A. H. Smith, 4th Cav.
Elisha Smith.
Reuben Seitser.
Charles Simkins, 12th Bat.
John W. Simkins, 151st Inf.
Martin Smith, 8th H. Art.
Claus Sulstead, 8th H. Art.
Daniel Smith, 8th H. Art.
Peter L. Smith, 151st Inf.
James Stragogan, 12th Bat.
Alexander Telan, 12th Bat.
Isaac Tooley, 12th Bat.
Abram Van Zandt, 151st Inf.
James H. Van Zandt, 151st Inf.
Geo. W. White, 2d Mounted Rifles,
Elijah White, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Jerome Webster.
Joseph White, 8th H. Art.
Henry White, 8th H. Bat.
James Weeks, 151st Inf.
John Wallace, 19th Bat.
Milburn Whited, 12th Bat.
Albert Warring, 151st Inf.
Manford Walker, 8th H. Art.
Andrew White, 12th Bat.
Simeon Webster, 8th H. Art.
Albert Wilcox, 105th Inf.
Harrybrand Orsland, 151st Inf.
The town of Kendall contains an area of 19,944 acres. Its real estate
was assessed in 1893 at $842,469 and its personal property at $61,550.
The taxes aggregated $9,025.17, the rate percent, being .009225. Two
incorporated companies do business in the town, whose real estate was
ORLEANS COUNTS. 679
assessed in 1893 as follows: Western Union Telegraph Company,
$600; R., W. & O. R. Co. (N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co. lessee), $83,160.
The population in 1890 was 1,775. The town officers for 1894 are
Charles S. Bridgeman, supervisor ; Ephraim J. Fuller, town clerk ;
John W. Crandall, commissioner of highways ; Charles F. Burt, M. W.
Kidder, A. D. Weed, Seldon E. Williams, justices of the peace; William
Baxter, collector; Charles Stone, overseer of the poor; George Porter,
John Wolf, Charles Fish, 'assessors.
The Lake Ontario division of the Rome, Watertown 8i Ogdensburg
Railroad traverses the town centrally from east to west, giving ex-
cellent facilities for travel and transportation. In 1872 the town was
bonded for $60,000 to aid in the construction of this road, which was
completed through Kendall in 1876. The road has stations at East
Kendall and Kendall village. The bonded indebtedness has been gradu
ally reduced till now it aggregates about $9,000.
Kendall. — This village is locally known as Kendall Corners, and
until the post-office was established here in 1835 it was called North
Murray. This post-office was the first one in the town. S. Kinney
was the postmaster and William R. Bassatt had the contract for carry-
ing the mail, making weekly trips. It is the principal village in the
town. The construction of the railroad through the place has made it
quite an important market for country produce. It once had a steam
grist mill, which was erected about i860 by Mr. Campbell of Rochester,
who operated it two or three years, when it was destroyed by fire and
never rebuilt. Reuben Shoals, from New Hampshire, made the first
clearing on the site now occupied by this village. He cut and piled
the timber on a small piece of land in the northwest corner of lot 220
in the fall of 1816, but did nothing further and Orrin Doty subsequently
purchased the lot. The first building was a double log house erected
by Reuben Roblee and Lyman Spicer in 1821. This was used as a
tavern about 1827 and Was kept by Robert and Orman Spicer. In 1830
Lyman Spicer succeeded Roblee, and it was conducted by them several
years John S. Winn kept a public house here as early as 1835. In
1843 Orman Spicer put up a frame dwelling and started a temperance
hotel. The present neat hotel was built by M. W. Butler and was en-
larged and repaired by its proprietor, Luther Foster. The first store
680 LANDMARKS OF
was opened by Gideon W. Burbank, about 1829 in part of a dwelling
house. Some of the early merchants here were Lewis L. and William
W. Peet, Webster & Peasley, and Henry Higgins. S. H. Sanford be-
gan business here in 1872. J. H. Lotz opened a hardware store about
1880, was burned out, rebuilt, and the establishment is now kept by E.
J. Fuller. The place has now three churches, a school house, a hotel,
three general stores, a hardware store, a millinery, a meat market, a
warehouse, one harness shop, a coal yard, an evaporator, a fruit storage
house, a livery, a cider mill, a grist mill, two barber shops, a wagon
shop, two blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, two physicians, two public
halls and about 300 inhabitants. The present postmaster is Fred B,
Mulford, became a merchant here a few years since.
Morton. — Near this place was made the first settlement in the town,
yet from a business standpoint it is the youngest village in Kendall.
With its post-office and station it has always been known as East Ken-
dall, the name being officially changed to Morton July i, 1894, in honor
of Hon. Levi P. Morton. The first store was managed by Major Wil-
liam AUis as agent for John W. Strong, of Rochester. Gideon W.
Burbank also carried on mercantile business here in an early day.
Andrew Clark became a merchant soon afterward. After his death, in
1883, the business passed into the hands of his son, A. C. Clark. In
1884 George L. Lovejoy established a btore, of which in 1888 Webster
Defendorf became the proprietor. It is now conducted by T. R. Wil-
liams & Son. In 1876 John Elliott built a warehouse and in 1878 a
cold storage fruit house. In 1888 he and W. D. Sturges started an
evaporator. The place also has a clothing store, one or two dealers in
hardware and agricultural implements, several mechanics, and about
150 inhabitants. There are two churches on the Monroe county side
of the village. The post-office here was established in 1861 with Andrew
Clark as postmaster, who held the position about twenty years. The
present incumbent, Mary E. Barrows, was appointed in December,
1893-
Kendall Mills. — Ose Webster, from whose family this village was
long known as Webster's Mills, was the first permanent settler here. He
established mills and gave the place a considerable business importance,
which his children and grandchildren have maintained and increased.
ORLEANS COUNTY. 681
His son, Ephraim K. Webster, was during Iiis life especially active in
its various interests. The first store was opened by Benjamin Cope-
land about 1842. The first hotel was started about 1862, by Isaac
Amsden, who changed a dwelling house to that use. The village now
has two churches, one store, a hotel, a grist mill, a saw mill, a cooperage,
a stave and heading mill, two blacksmith shops, one physician, and
about 150 inhabitants. The post-office of Kendall Mills was established
here in 1844 with Cassius Marvin as postmaster.
West Kendall. — The first store at this place was built and stocked
about 1840 by Gen. Henry Higgins; it was kept by Samuel H. Wood.
The same year Peter L. Smith started a blacksmith shop. Among the
industries that have flourished here are Clinton Kendrick, tailor ; Wil-
liam Smith, wagonmaker; Paul Kendrick, carpenter; and Tafift &
Appelin, merchants. The village now contains two stores, a church, a
blacksmith shop, and a wagon shop. The post-office was established
in 1848 with N. J. Appelin as postmaster. The present incumbent is
David Root.
Troutburg. — Half a century since there was a fishing station at the
lake shore on the line between Orleans and Monroe counties. It de-
rived the name " Troutburg " from the large numbers of lake trout that
were caught in the lake here, Hiram Redmond first began to keep a
place of entertainment in the house that was built for fishing purposes.
The land there was purchased by Asa Lee from Levi Hard between
forty and fifty years since, and in i860 it was transferred to his daugh-
ter-in-law, Mrs, S. J. Lee, The place began to assume importance as
a summer resort, and Mrs. Lee, from time to time, erected new build-
ings to meet the wants of the public. About 1880 C. T, Bush built a
hotel on the Monroe county side of the line, and it was named from
him the Bush House. The hotel in Kendall is known as the Ontario
House. Within ten years the erection of summer cottages was com-
menced, and the place now commands considerable importance as a
summer resort. The Ontario House was sold by Mrs. Lee, in 1887, to
William Sturges, In 1890 it was purchased by Menzo Story,
M. E. Church. — A remarkable revival occurred in Kendall in the
summer of 1837. It was long known as "the big barn revival," be-
cause the meetings were held in a barn owned by Ezra Spicer, near
682 LANDMARKS OF
Kendall village. The result of this was the formation of a class with
more than fifty members and Orman Spicer as leader. Revs. Knapp
and Wallace, who had conducted the meetings, remained for a time and
ministered to this class. The society erected a house of worship in the
village of Kendall in 1857. It was a wooden structure, and cost $2,500.
Some seventeen years prior to the erection of this house the society
purchased a lot opposite the present school house, and built thereon a
parsonage. This was sold in 1868, and the present parsonage adjoin-
ing the church, was built at a cost of $1,500. The society was incor-
porated March i, 1858, with Orrin J. Smith, Jacob -Kocher, N. M.
Requa, Nelson Coe, Anthony Blake, P. A. Simkins, and L. B. Felt as
trustees. Among the pastors who served this class prior to 1846, the
names are remembered of:
Revs. Hirara May, Anderson, Story, Wesley Cochran, R. C. Foot, Egbert Sellick,
William Sever, Striker and Whited. Since 1845 the pastors have been, in the order
named : Revs. R. C. Foot, Ralph Clapp, E, Clement, J. B. Lanckton, W. D. Buck, J. J.
Gridley, J. H. Wallace, W. F. Conable, William Cooley, Alfred W. Abel, J. Kennard,
A. L. Buck, Milo Scott, N. Jones, J. McEwen, William Barrett, G. W. Ferry, H. L.
Newton, A. L. Maryott, S. S. Ballou, John Ager, G. E. Ackerman, E. J. Whitney, A.
W. Hayes, H. E. Milliman, J. N. Simkins, Vosburg, J. W. Criswell, and T. M. Williams,
(since October, 1893).
The society has now about sixty members.
At East Kendall an M. E. class was organized in 1830, and at first
its meetings were held in the school house there. In 1833 it united
with the Free Will Baptist Society in the erection of a house of worship
which was known as the Union Church of East Kendall. The house
was a wooden structure, stood on the east side of the county line. Its
cost was $2,000. During more than forty years the two societies wor-
shiped in that house with almost entire harmony. The class has al-
ways been included in the charge at Kendall. Services were regularly
held here till about 1876, after which the members worshiped at Ken-
dall village.
The West Kendall class was also included in the Kendall charge. In
1846 a wooden church building was erected by the society there, at a
cost of about $2,000. The meetings were discontinued after Rev. Mr.
Barrett left and the edifice was sold to the lodge of Good Templars in
i8q2.
ORLEANS COUNTY. f,83
The Baptist Church of Kendall. — On August 31, 1831, a council of
ministers and delegates met at the house of Reuben Roblee, in the pres-
ent village of Kendall, and organized the North Murray Baptist Con-
ference. The constituent members were : Cyrus Barker, Elisha Rice,
William Reed, Francis Drake, Reuben Roblee, Stanton Burdick, Mrs.
Barker, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Drake, Mary Roblee,
Lucinda Burdick, Deborah Densmore, Phebe N. Everts, Laura Burnett,
Sophia Spencer, and Amanda Collar. This conference was recognized
as a regular church by a council which met at Kendall February i, 1832,
and in September of the same year it was received by the Monroe Bap-
tist Association. The first delegates to the association were : Rev. J.
Woodard, S. P. Soule, and Byron Densmore. The first deacons of the
church were : Cyrus Barker and Reuben Roblee. A legal organiza-
tion was effected January 31, 1833, under the name of the First Baptist
Society of North Murray. The first trustees were : John Beach, Cyrus
Barker, Reuben Roblee, Elisha Rice, and G. W. Burbank. A site was
purchased and a meeting house was commenced in 1834. In January,
1835 ^ union with the Congregational Society was effected and the
joint society completed the church building, the first in the present town
of Kendall. It was occupied for worship alternately by the Baptists and
Congregationalists during several years, till the former purchased the
interest of the latter. The preachers who have served this church have
been :
Revs. Jonas Woodward, Edmund Goodnough, Daniel Dye, Eleazer Savage, A. Mason,
George Walker, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Inman, J. J. Fuller, Charles Clutz, Warham Mudge,
William Putnam, Benjamin Warren. J. D. Clark," A. J. Ball, L. Brasted, F. L. Smith.
By reason of deaths and removals of its prominent members the
church became weaker and weaker till it was nearly extinct ; and in
1873 its house of worship came to be occupied by the Advent society.
It is now leased to the German Lutherans.
The Presbyterian Church of Kendall. — The records of this church
prior to 1850 are lost, but it is remembered that on the 14th of Jan-
uary, 1833, it was organized as a Congregational Church. In 1834
and 1835 it united with the Baptists in the erection of a house of wor-
ship, in which it held services alternately with them till 1844, when it
sold to them its interest in the building and commenced the erection of a
G81 LANDMARKS OF
new church edifice. This was partially finished and was used several
years before it was completed. In 1844 the church adopted the Pres-
byterian form of government, and was made a part of the Rochester
Presbytery. In 1850 the ruling elders were Steuben S. Forbes, Seth
Cook, and W. L M. Mead. The deacons Samuel Pettibone, Seth
Cook, and Leman N. Smith; and on the ist of January, 1851, the
number of members was sixty. In 1844 Rev. Mr. Kinmore was pastor
of the church. He was followed by Revs. Roswell Brooks, John Powell,
and G. I. B. Miller, but there were times when the church was without
a pastor. For a few years after 1862 preaching was supplied regularly,
but it finally ceased, the church became extinct, and its house of wor-
ship is used as a place of meeting by the Good Templars.
The Universalist Church of Kendall. — Without a formal organization
a Universalist society existed in Kendall as early as about 1832, and
services were occasionally held in the Baptist Church. In 1840 Rev.
Stephen S. Miles became pastor and preached regularly during two
years. In 1854 a society was regularly organized with about seventy
members, and the next year a church edifice was erected, at a cost of
$2,300. Rev. John J. Austin became pastor at the organization of the
society, and continued till 1862. Then during ten years there was no
regular preaching; but in 1872 Rev N. Snell was engaged and served
the society a portion of the time during two years. The house of wor-
ship is now occupied by the Free Masons for lodge meetings.
The Advent Church of Kendall was organized on the 3d of June
1873, at the Baptist meetinghouse in Kendall village with twenty-three
members. D. C. Higgins, Burre Naess, Andrew Labar, A. B. Town-
send, and Noah Elwell were chosen trustees ; D. C. Higgins, clerk ; and
James Vandermark, treasurer. The first deacons were Judson Knight
and Orman Spicer. The society repaired the Baptist Church building
at an expense of about $500 and occupied it as a place of worship. The
first preacher was Mrs. L. M. Stoddard, who was mainly instrumental
in the organization of the society. She was followed by Revs. Stevens,
Milton R. Miles, and Morris Owen. No services have been held during
some years.
The German Lutheran Concordia Congregation (original Augsburg
Confession) in Kendall village was organized l\Iay 17, 1887, with twenty-
ORLEANS COUNTY. 685
eight members, at a meeting held for the purpose at the house, of
Christian Scheplerby Rev. Carl N. Conrad, of Rochester. The society
occupied the old Universalist church until November, 1891, when it
leased the Baptist church edifice, which it has since used. The first
pastor was Rev. John J. Heissler, who was succeeded by Rev. Frederick
W. Possin, he in turn by Rev. Frederick Th. Teegen, and the latter
by Rev. John J. Flierl, who resigned in April, 1894. The society
started a parochial school in October, 1887, in Spring's hall, and soon
afterward erected a school house on the Universalist church lot. A
piece of land was finally purchased of Alexander Cummings and the
building moved on to it. The school has always been under the
trustees of the German church and has been taught by the pastor in
charge. It has an average attendance of fourteen pupils. The church
has about eighty-five communicants and a Sunday school of some forty
or fifty scholars, with Carl Schwartz as superintendent. The present
(1894) trustees of the church are : William H. Behnke. Frederick Bull,
John J. Schepler, August Bonke, Carl Bonke, Carl Juers, Frederick
Scheick, and Frederick Lotzow. The organization of this church and
the subsequent formation of the parochial school was effected
through the persevering efforts of three men — John Wolff, William
H. Behnke, and Christian Schepler.
The Free Will Baptist Church of East Kendall.— In 1828 Elder Eli
Hannibal organized this society in the school house near East Kendall,
and services were held there till the completion of the Union church
edifice.
Elder Hannibal, the organizer and for many years a pastor of this church, was the
pioneer preacher of this denomination in all this section of country. In barns,
log houses, school houses, dwellings, churches, and in the forest, wherever the people
were assembled or could be called together, he preached the Gospel to thousands of
his fellow creatures, converted and baptized many hundreds, built up religious or-
ganizations, and consecrated churches. He was born in Fairfield, Conn., March 18,
1780, was ordained a minister of- the Free Will Baptist church June 12, 1824, and
died at his home in Waterport, Orleans county, August 27, 187C.'
Rev. Mr. Bathrick was pastor for a short time, after the death of Elder
Hannibal, and after him Rev. Mr. Taylor. Rev. J. B. Randall became
pastor in 1878, followed by Revs. C. A. Hilton, Edwin Pimlott, F. O.
' Sanford'9 History.
686 LANDMARKS OF
Dickey, Hiram Schoonover, S. W. Schoonover, and Mr. Tanner. In
1889 the society built a tasteful and commodious house of worship at a
cost of $3,000. They have also a parsonage.
The First Presbyterian church of East Kendall was organized May 31,
1890, with thirteen members, the present number being thirty- one. On
the site of the Union church, which, was erected in 1834, the society
built a neat frame edifice at a cost of $4,500. It was dedicated Septem-
ber 10, 1891. The frame work of the old building was incorporated in
the new structure. The present pastor is Rev. George Strasenbnrgh,
M.D. The Sunday-school has about sixty-five members.
The Methodist Protestant Church of Kendall Mills. — A class was
formed at a school house on Norway street in the spring of 1844, with
William Burbick as class leader. Among the twenty-five members of
this class were William Thomas, James Johnson, and John Cary. Rev.
Mr. Payne was pastor for a year or more, followed by Rev. Isaac Fisher,
who preached to the society several years in the school house where it
was formed. He organized a class at Kendall Mills, with John Bovee as
the first class leaders and meetings were afterward held at that place.
The society was regularly organized at Kendall Mills February 18, 1868,
and G. C. Bridgeman, Matthias Ladue, Robert McCreary, Martin
Webster, Alexander Cary, Chandler Manley, Philander Buckley, William
T. Brooks, and Simon Van Geisen were chosen trustees. Clinton Perry
donated a site for a church building, and in 1869 the society erected one
at a cost of $3,650. This house was repaired and remodeled in 1878.
The society also owns a parsonage. The pastors have been :
Revs. Seymour D. Kingsley, Austin 0. Hutchinson, Ciiester K. Aiceley, W. H. Farn-
ham, Bert Partridge, William Richards, H. L. Bowen, A. L. Bloorafield, Chester K. Akeley
again, S. A. Baker, D. L. Vaughan, F. Gr. Grafton, A. M. Woodward and W. M. Kel-
logg. It is now without a pastor.
The Free Methodist Society of Kendall Mills aided in the erection of
the church and occupied it a portion of the time. This society was or-
ganized in i860 with William Nichols class leader, and Samuel Ladue,
steward. It is a part of the West Kendall Church, and is served by
the same pastors. In 1882 the society erected a church edifice on the
Monroe county side at a cost of about $1,600.
The Free Methodist Church of West Kendall was organized in i860,
ORLEANS COUNTY. 687
by Rev. Loren Stiles, at a meeting held in the M. E. Church at West
Kendall. The first class leaders were Stephen Jenks, G. W. Thomas,
J. H. Burt, and G. W. Holmes, and the first stewards were Jesse Foun-
tain, N. S. Bennett and G. W. Holmes. At the end of the first year
the church had nearly lOO members. October i8, 1866, the society
was incorporated, and Nelson Coe, G. W. Thomas and N. S. Bennett
were chosen trustees In 1867 a parsonage was purchased at a cost,
with an adjoining lot of two and one half acres, of more than $1,000.
In 1876 this parsonage was repaired and enlarged at at expense of
$750. In 1869 Rev. John W. Reddy, then pastor, donated to the
society a site, and a substantial framed church building was erected
thereon at a cost, including furniture and church sheds, of $3,700.
The following, in the order named, have been pastors of this church :
Revs. Moses W. Downing, Albert G. Terry, Henry Hornsby, George W. Coleman,
Cornelius D. Brooks, Henry Hornsby, Ichabod C. White, John W. Reddy, George W.
Marcellus, William Manning, Otis O. Bacon, M. D. McDougal, C. C. Eggleston, William
Ingleby, John O'Regan, William Mannmg, A. A. Burgess, W. W. Brown, L. D. Per-
kins, and W. W. Manning.
The two societies have a total membership of about fifty-five.
David Jones Post, No. 298, G. A. R., of Kendall village was organ-
ized October 10, 1882, with nineteen charter members, and with Philip
R. Woodcock as commander, the subsequent commanders being Charles
E. Spring, Henry E. Snyder, and Morrill W. Kidder. It was named in
honor of David Jones, a soldier of the war of 18 12, and an early settler
of this town. It present membership is twenty-one.
Kendall Lodge, No. 538, I. O. G. T., was organized February 12,
1868, and now has ninety-five members. The present lodge deputy is
Harry E. Wellman. They occupy the old Presbyterian Church, and
have always held regular meetings.
Golden Harvest Lodge, Nov. 573, I. O. G. T., was organized in the
spring of 1889, and at one time had 120 members, the present number
being sixty- five.
West Kendall Cemetery Association was incorporated May 10, 1 890,
with Rev. Henry Hornsby, W. O. Hardenbrook, G. W. Bird, Levi Bar-
rows, J. A. Higley, and Alonzo Smith, trustees. The first officers were
W. O. Hardenbrook, president; G. W. Bird, vice-president; and Rev.
688 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
Henry Hornsby, secretary and treasurer. By common consent the old
cemetery was placed in possession of the association, more land was
added, and the grounds now present a- very attractive appearance. The
officers for 1893 are J. A. Higley, president; G. W. Bird, vice-presi-
dent ; Rev. Henry Hornsby, secretary and treasurer. This is the
only cemetery organization in town.
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ENOS THROOP SIMPSON.
Enos Throop Simpson was born at Two Bridges in the town of Carlton on June 20,
1830, and died there January 27, 1892. He was a son of Asa Simpson, who was born
in Cayuga county, and came thence to the county of Orleans in 1822, Mr. Simpson
was an extensive farmer, and with his brother carried on a large forwarding trade for
upwards of twenty years. He bought quantities of grain, wool, apples, and beans,
shipping them to Oswego, Boston, New York, and other points. He was collector of
customs at Oak Orchard Harbor under Johnson's administration, and also held the office
of town clerk for several years. In these various capacities, and in all the relations of
life, in public and in private, he was ever held in high esteem, and always exerted a
marked influence on the social, moral, and intellectual development of the community.
Born in the town while it was yet a wilderness he lived to see it transformed into one
of the most productive districts of the State, and during his long and active business
career he accumulated a handsome competency and left an attractive home, now
occupied by his widow.
March 12, 1861, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Emeline, a daughter of Joseph
Park Drake, and a granddaughter of Henry Drake. They had two children ; LettieM.,
born June 1, 1862, died March 15, 1878; and George D., born February 21, 1865.
George D. Simpson married Eveline McCord Browne, daughter of Rev. N. Foster
Browne, a native of New Jersey, and a Presbyterian minister, now residing at Two
Bridges. Mrs. Eveline Simpson was born in Atlanta, Ga., August 6, 1861. They were
married September 12, 1888, and have had one child, Helen, born December 9, 1889.
Henry Drake, the grandfather of Mrs. Emeline Simpson, was born in New Jersey on
April 6, 1770, and settled at East Gaines in 1811. He was an extensive landholder and
died there at a ripe old age. His son, Joseph Park Drake, was born in Ovid, Seneca
county, February 9, 1806, and married, February 11, 1835, Zibeah Ruggles, who was
born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, July 30, 1812. They settled in Carlton in the
month following their marriage and both lived and died here — he October 3, 1881, and
she September 16, 1862. They had ten children, of whom three died in infancy. The
others were as follows: Charles H., born February 11, 1836, died August 8, 1837;
Oscar, born March 12, 1838, died June 20, 1838; Emeline (Mrs. Enos Throop Simpson),
born June 9, 1841 ; Harriet, born February 25, 1844, died March 20, 1844 ; George W.,
born June 10, 1845, died June 8, 1861 ; Warren P., born July 3, 1856, died May 31,
1861; and Ella C, born January 10, 1859, died May 24, 1861.
LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
JOHN HULL WHITE.
1»
Prominent among the senior members of the bar of Orleans county is John Hull
White, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., where he was born in the town of Stanford
on the 29th of February, 1820. He was the third of seven children of Walter and
Mary (Avery) White. Walter White was a respected farmer, and gave his son oppor-
tunity to secure a good edu-
cation. After spending his
youth on the home farm, the
son went to New York city
and served as a clerk three
years, the family meanwhile
removing to Mendon, Monroe
county, N. Y. When the
young man returned home he
attended the academies in
Macedon acd Waterloo, hav-
ing already decided to make
the profession of law his life
work. He studied in the
offices of Denton Gr. Shuart,
at Honeoye Falls; A. P.
Kimball, at Pen field, and fin-
ished with Houghton &
Sprague in Buffalo. Mr.
White was admitted to prac-
tice July 2, 1848, and soon
afterward settled m Albion,
where he has ever since re-
mained. During short
periods of his professional life
he was associated with Reu-
ben Bryant, and with Hiram
S. Goff, but during a large
part of the time he has been
alone. While his practice
has been of a general character, as is the rule in country districts, Mr. White has gained
especial prominence as a trial lawyer, and has been entrusted with many important
cases in Central and Western New York, especially in railroad litigation. He is well
known as a careful, industrious, and well read attorney, who devotes his best energies
to the interests of his clients.
In politics Mr. White is a conservative Democrat and has received honorable evidence
from his party of their confidence and esteem. He has been their candidate for the
offices of district attorney, county judge, and member of Congress; but majorities
BIOGRAPHICAL. 5
against the Democratic candidates are always large in Orleans county, and while Mr.
White has been defeated with the rest of the ticket, he has always been given a vote
that was a source of gratification to himself and his friends. His immediate fellow
citizens have chosen him for president of Albion village, and his intelligent interest in
educational affairs has kept him in the Board of Education as a member sixteen years,
and as president thirteen years.
Mr. White became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1848, and
ever since has been conspicuous in the order; at the present time no person in the
United States occupies a higher position. He has advanced through all the various
lodge and encampment degrees to the position of grand master of the State, and in 1887
was elevated to the high station of grand sire of the order — the greatest honor conferred
in the order. He has also been a member of the Sovereign Grand Lodge since 1865.
He is the author of a valuable digest pertaining to Odd Fellowship, a work that has
attracted much attention throughout the country ; he has also been a contributor to
other works on the same subject.
Mr. White was married on January 19, 1850, to Temperance, daughter of Matthias
B. Miller, of Dutchess county. After her death he married Mrs. Mary A. Miller, widow
of Capt. John B. Miller. She died in 1891, and in June, 1892, he married Frances M.
Noble, of Albion.
MYRON L I'ARKKR.
Myron L. Parker was born September 6, 1837, being the eldest of two sons of
Livonia and Sophronia (Barrett) Parker, his brother Chauncey N., of Lyndonville, be-
ing five years his junior. Livonia Parker, oldest son of Asel and Nancy Parker, was
born March 22, 1801, and moved with his father's family to the north part of the town
of Ridgeway in July, 1816. January 18, 1829, he was married to Jane, daughter of Will-
iam Cochran, who died November 6, 1830. In 1832 he married Sophronia, only daugh-
ter of Amos Barrett, by whom he had two sons above mentioned, and took up his resi-
dence on what is now called Spring Brook farm, on the southern boundary of the town
of Yates. In the autumn of 1861 he removed to the village of Medina, but two years
later returned to Yates and settled in Lyndonville, where he died November 15, 1875.
Sophronia, his wife, survived her husband eleven years, dying November 12, 1886.
Mr. Parker was a substantial citizen, honest, influential and respected, endowed with
sterling traits of character, and possessed of indomitable energy and marked personality.
Myron L. Parker enjoyed only the advantages of the district school in winter and
three terms at the old Yates Academy, and at the age of nineteen commenced teaching
school, enduring the martyrdom of boarding 'round and warming spare beds. After
spending two winters at this occupation he entered upon the active management of
Spring Brook farm, from which his father then retired, and which has ever since been
his home. In 1861 he united in marriage with Miss Annie E., daughter of Martin T.
and Annie (Whitmarsh) Rowley. Mrs. Parker, a most estimable woman, was born on
the farm now owned by her brother George, which adjoins the one where she has spent
6 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
the whole of her married life. Mr. Parker has always taken an active interest in local
affairs, and in both town and county has attained distinction. He was one of the first
board of directors of the Orleans County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, and for
the last two years has served as its vice-president. In politics he has always been a
staunch Republican, and in 1892 and again in 1893 was elected supervisor of the town
of Yates. At the 29th District Republican Senatorial Convention held in Rochester on
October 5, 1893, he was nominated as one of the district delegates to the convention
which assembled at Albany in May, 1894, to revise the State Constitution. He was
duly elected, his majority in the district over the Democratic nominee from Orleams
county being 6.453. During the session of that able body he served with marked dis-
tinction and fidehty to his constituents.
Mr. Parker takes great pride in his calling, that of an agriculturist, and aspires to
nothing higher in a worldly way than to be worthy the name of an intelligent Ameri-
can farmer, such an one as is able to organize and direct the latest and best methods of
rendering the farms our fathers wrested from the virgin forest both profitable and
pleasant homes for ourselves and our posterity.
DAVID S. ERASER, M D.
David S. Fraser, M.D., was born in Canada October 31, 1847. Educated in the
Dundas Grammar School and Toronto University he entered the Bellevue Medical Col-
lege Hospital in New York city, and was graduated as an M.D. in 1868, and the next
year began the practice of his profession in Lyndonville, where he has since resided.
Hugh Fraser, his father, was born in Biggar. Scotland, and died in Canada March 17,
1882. April 25, 1877, Dr. Fraser married Jessie N., daughter of Morris and Mary Colt,
of Yates, and his children are: Hugh, David E., Kenneth D., Keith and Donald M.
He has held the medical offices of the town and is an active member of the Orleans
County Medical Society. In addition to his practice he conducts a drug store in a
building erected by the Free Methodists for a church edifice. He is prominently identi-
fied with local affairs, is a member of the Board of Education, and in politics is an
active Democrat.
W. WARD MILES.
W. Ward Miles was born in Carlton, October 23, 1843, and died there December
27, 1893. His father was Henry 0. Miles, a native of Stockbridge, Mass., born October
31, 1811, who married Hannah Clark, of Palmyra, N. Y., who was born February 14,
1812, and died January 18, 1892. Their children were: H. Page, born September 30.
1837 ; W. Ward ; and Sarah R., born December 15, 1854. W. Ward Miles was a farmer
and prominently identified with the interests of Carlton for many years, having served
as assessor and supervisor. March 19, 1874, he married Sarah E. Wilson, who was born
BIOGRAPHICAL. 7
in Carlton, August 31, 1853, and survives him with their four children: Henry W.
born February 13, 1877 ; Clark S., born January 11, 1883; Armina L., born April 16
1887; and Sanford, born September 26, 1888. Henry Wilson, father of Mrs. Miles
was born in Dover, Dutchess county, August 5, 1807, and died in Carlton, June 24, 1871
His wife was Catharine Shear, who was born in Dutchess county August 6, 1808, and
who died here December 24, 1884. Their children were : Mary, born March 5, 1829
Benjamin S., born May 10, 1831; John C, born December 11, 1832; Cynthia, born
February 17, 1836; George H., born August 31, 1838; Ellen, born August 15, 1840
Margaret, born January 4, 1843; Wilbor F., born April 23, 1845; H. Seaver, born
January 19, 1847; Louise, born January 13, 1849; Philo B., born January 29, 1851
Sarah E., born August 31, 1853; and Clark G., born March 3, 1855.
LEWIS ROGERS.
Lewis Rogers is a son of Jeremiah and a grandson of George M. Rogers, and was
born in Brandon, Rutland connty, Vt., March 10, 1842. George M. Rogers, a native of
Rhode Island, died in 'Windsor county, Vt., in 1866, aged seventy years. His wife
was Mary Stoodley, who died in 1864 at the age of sixty- eight. Their children were
Jeremiah, Lois, William, Nancy, and Thomas. Jeremiah Rogers, born in Vermont in 1820,
married Lucy Goodnow, who was born in the same State in 1819 Their children
were Lestina, Julia, Sarah, Lewis, Frank, and one who died in infancy. They are both
living and reside in Brattleboro, Vt.
Lewis Rogers was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the common
schools of Brandon, Vt. At the age of sixteen he went to Bloomington, 111., and en-
gaged as clerk for the American Express Company, but at the end of one year, in 1867.
he returned to Vermont and became clerk and manager of the Eagle Hotel at Wood-
stock, where he remained ten years He then purchased a half interest in a grocery
store in that village, but two years later sold out and removed to Batavia, N. Y., where
he was proprietor of the Central House for one year. In 1882 Mr. Rogers bought the
Point Breeze Hotel at Oak Orchard Harbor in the town of Carlton, where he has ever
since remained. He has made it one of the best hotels in the county, Situated on the
lake shore at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, it is unexcelled as a summer residence,
and maintains an enviable reputation far and near. It afifords the best of service with
reasonable rates, and connected is a fine boat livery, which is at the disposal of regular
boarders without charge.
Mr. Rogers is an active member of Woodstock (Vt.) Lodge, No. 31, F. and A. M.,
which he joined about 1868. September 9, 1869, he was married at Bridgewater, Vt.,
to Miss Emma N. Chamberlin, who was born August 14, 1843. She was a daughter
of Sylvanus Chamberlin, who was born m 1813 and now resides in Sherburne, Vt.
They have an adopted daughter, Louie Marian, the daughter of a deceased sister (Sarah)
of Mr. Rogers.
LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
H. AUGUSTUS ACER,
The son of Volney A. and Charlotte (Peck) Acer, was born in the town of Shelby,
Orleans county, on June 19, 1858. His father is one of the best known men of the
county.
XIn February, 1882, H. A. Acer formed a copartnership
under the firm name of Whedon & Acer, with Mr. Oscar
Whedon, who had been engaged in the hardware trade in
Medina nearly thirty years. After the death of Mr.
Whedon in August, 1886, Mr. Acer assumed the entire
business and has since carried it forward under the
style of H. A. Acer, keeping a general line of shelf and
builders' hardware, cutlery, stoves, ranges, paints and oils,
agricultural implements, carriages and wagons, with special
departments devoted to plumbing, hot water and steam
heating, located at No. 48 Main street, Medina. On Decem-
ber 28, 1881, he was married to Miss Ella W., the daughter
of Oscar and Julia (Winchester) Whedon, of Medina, and
they have three sons, viz.: Oscar Whedon, Herbert Peck, and
Donald Winchester. Mr. Acer is recognized as an enterprising and honorable business
man, and takes a prominent part in the affairs of the day, poHtical and otherwise.
OGDEN S. MILLER.
One of the early settlers of the town of Byron, Genesee county, N. Y., was Caleb
Miller, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He removed from that town and
settled in Barre, Orleans county, at an early date, and engaged in farming. His wife
was Rhoda Loomis and they had three sons — Caleb, Alvin (who died young), and
Alexander. Caleb Miller died in 1819. His sons, Caleb, jr., and Alexander, learned
the blacksmith trade, and after working for a time in Byron they located in Clarendon
village, Orleans county, where they extended their business to the manufacture of plows
and carried on a foundry. The stone shop which is still used in that place was built by
Caleb Miller, jr. He sold out after a few years to his brother and removed to Michigan,
where he carried on a farm and later a foundry. Alexander Miller was one of the
foremost men of Clarendon ; built many dwellings there and labored for the promotion
and welfare of the place. His wife was Lois, daughter of Ehas Wiliard, of Monroe
county, and they were married in 1844 In 1871 he sold his interest in the Clarendon
business to W. T. Pettengill, and in 1874 engaged in farming in Bergen. In 1878 he
removed to Caledonia, where he with his son, Fred W., again established a manufactory
of agricultural implements. He died in 1886, leaving his son to continue the business
The children of Alexander Miller were : Ogden S. (the subject) ; Jennie V.. who married
Walter T. Pettengill; Fred W., and Nellie L., who married William A. Bissell.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 9
Ogden S. Miller was born in Barre, December 3, 1846, and received his education in
the schools of his native tov^^n and in the Lockport Union School, and at Bryant &
Stratton's Business College in Buffalo. In 1866, when he was twenty years old, he
became associated as partner with his father in the manufacture of carriages and agri-
cultural implements. In 1871 his father sold out his interest to W. T. Pettengill, and
the firm of Miller & Pettengill continued two years in their original business. In 1873
they purchased the cider and grist mill property at Clarendon and soon became extensive
makers of cider vinegar. In 1886 they extended the business to Holley, where they built
a large evaporator, and they soon occupied the position of the largest manufacturers of
cider vinegar in the world. In 1891 the business was incorporated under the name of
'"The Genesee Fruit Company," Mr. Miller being the vice-president and general
manager. He took up his residence in Holley in 1886, and was soon acknowledged as
in every sense a leading and public spirited citizen. He was one of the organizers of the
Holley Electric Light Company, and of the Holley water works. He served as presi-
dent of the village several years, and during his comparatively brief residence in the
village was always conspicuous for his energy, activity, and unselfish service of the
community at large. Mr. Miller was a liberal Democrat in politics, but never sought
political preferment of any kind. He took a deep interest in educational aflfairs and
labored assiduously for the promotion of the village schools. He was a regular attendant
of the Baptist church and liberal in support of religious institutions. Mr. Miller joined
the Holley Lodge No. 42, I. 0. 0. F., August 20, 1871 ; also joined the Holley Lodge of
Masons, May 25, 1881.
Mr. Miller married in 1872 Rosetta G., daughter of William Gliddon, of Clarendon.
Mr. Gliddon was a native of Lower Canada, and married Lucinda Cox, of Vermont, in
1832. They were parents of eleven children. Ogden S. Miller died in Holley, May
20, 1893, his widow surviving.
COL. JOHN BERRY.
The ancestry of Col. John Berry is traceable back to about fifty years after the
landing of the Mayflower, and the family has had connections of more than ordinary
note. On the paternal side the ancestors were of the sturdy and faithful Rhode Island
Quakers, while on the maternal side Colonel Berry had among his ancestry Gen.
Nathaniel Green, one of the Revolutionary heroes. His grandfather was Elisha Berry,
who was born in Rhode Island in 1731, and died March 11, 1803. His wife was Phoebe
Clark, born in 1739, and died in 1820.
Clark Berry, son of Elisha and father of the subject, was born in Berlin, Rensselaer
county, N. Y., whither the family had removed in 1783, and died atPompey, Onondaga
county, N. Y., in 1844. He married Sarah Whitney, who was born in 1787 m Hancock,
Mass., and died in 1852 in Ira, Cayuga county, N. Y., while on a visit to one of her
children. Clark Berry was a man of generally broad intelligence, well educated for his
time and liberal as far as his ability went in giving to his children educational ad-
vantages. The children of Clark and Sarah (Whitney) Berry were as follows : Clark (jr.).
10 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
born at Berlin in 1807, died October 13, 1882 at Lysander, Onondaga county, N. Y.,
married first Avis Deering, and second Cordelia Butts; they had four children. Second,
Sylvester Berry, born at Berlin May 24, 1809, died in Albion May 28, 1879, while on a
visit east from his home in Michigan ; married Mary Gould ; three children. Third, the
subject (see further on). Fourth, Matthias, born at Berlin in 1815, and now living in
Pompey, married Sylvia Osborn ; eight children. Fifth, Sarah, born in Pornpey in 1818,
living in Wisconsin. Sixth, Phoebe, born in Pompey in 1821, died in 1845 in Granby,
Oswego county. Seventh, Laura, born in Pompey in 1823, died in 1857 at Watertown,
Wis. Eighth, Daniel, born in Pompey in 1825, died in 1890 in California, married in
1851 at Holley, to Marcia Elliott. Ninth, Mary Ann, born in Pompey in 1828, died at
Parsons, Kas., in 1889.
John Berry, the third child of Clark Berry, was born at Berlin, Rensselaer county,
N. Y., October 11, 1812, and died in Holley, Orleans county, November 7, 1892. His
youth did not materially differ from that of other American boys of that time ; but he
found opportunity to obtain a fair English education, which in later years he broadened
by extensive reading and clear judgment of current reading during his long life. In
1834, when he was twenty-two years old, he removed to Albion and was employed by
General Lee in the produce business. Three years later he removed to Holley, where
he passed the remainder of his life in the same business — an honorable business career
of more than fifty years. He became widely known in this connection throughout
Western New York, and for years was one of the largest buyers in this section and one
who was implicitly trusted by all with whom he had business relations. In 1852 he
took the stone mill property with L. D. Hurd and Eldredge Farwell and continued the
connection several years. In 1861 he formed the firm of Partridge & Berry in the
produce business, associating with himself his son in-law, D. H. Partridge.
Colonel Berry received his familiar military title through his connection with the
215th Regiment of militia, in which he served as captain, adjutant, and colonel.
Colonel Berry was a Republican in politics after the organization of that party and
took an active part in its councils. After being chosen to several minor public offices,
village trustee, supervisor, etc., he was elected member of Assembly in 1870 and re-
elected in 1871, faithfully serving the interests of his town and county in that body.
In educational affairs he always evinced the deepest interest, and the present advanced
condition of the Holley schools is largely due to his unselfish work. He served as school
trustee and many years as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy ; and he
was a member of the commission charged with building the academy. It was largely
due to him that the old school house was displaced by the present stone building now
used as a dwelling house. So in all affairs of his adopted home he labored faithfully and
unselfishly for their advancement. " The beautiful Hillside cemetery, where he is hur-
ried, is another institution for which we are largely indebted to Colonel Berry's zeal and
enterprise. He was one of its most active promoters and was president of the associa-
tion until his death." He died full of honors and in the enjoyment of the unqualified
respect and confidence of the community.
Colonel Berry was married in 1837 to Rlioda A. Williams, of Tully, N. Y., who died
in 1892. Their children were: Frances Marion, born May 13, 1838, in Holley, married
BIOGRAPHICAL. 11
Wallace L'Hommedieu, now of Medina. Helen J., born March 2, 1840, married D. H.
Partridge, of Holley. Avis M., born June 27, 1850, married C. W. Hatch, of Lockport.
Belle S., born January 5, 1852, married F. A. Milliken, of Holley.
ALBERT L. SWETT.
Among the pioneers of Western New York from the New England States were the
parents of Albert L. Swett. His father was Joel R., and his mother was Minerva F.
Swett, and they settled in Orleans county, town of Ridgeway, in the year 1825. Here
the subject of this sketch was born April 27, 1850. In 1856 his parents removed to
Champaign county. 111. That part of the country was then new and all members of the
family were called on to work hard for the founding of a heme. The son had the ad-
vantage of common school attendance m the winters, working on the farm summers.
When the Civil War broke out his father and his older brother, Joel B. Swett, enlisted
in the army, leaving the mother and four children at home to carry on the farm work.
Albert L. was the oldest of the four and he was only eleven. At the close of the war,
when Albert L. was fifteen years old, the family returned and located in Medina, and
the son entered a grocery store as clerk, remaining two years, and then taking a course
in the Medina Academy under Professor Charles Fairman. Following this he entered
the employ of the Bignall Manufacturing Company, beginning as a helper. He studied
the business and the interests of his employers and soon received promotion as order and
shipping clerk. This position he filled seven years, during which period he had by
economy saved about $1,200. With this modest capital and ample determination and
experience he associated himself with W. H. Samson, organizing under the firm style of
the Medina Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing hardware
specialties. The beginning of the business was a very modest one, with only one em-
ployee, the proprietors doing their own work in a small rented factory. But success
was at hand as it usually is where energy and perseverance are at the helm. At the
end of seven years they purchased land on the north side of Medina village, on Oak
Orchard Creek, erected a dam which supplied good water power, and built one of the
finest manufacturing plants in the State. In 1889 Mr. Swett bought the entire interest
in the business and has since successfully conducted it alone. The plant now consists
of forty six acres of ground, with the water power of several hundred horse power;
substantial and handsome buildings of Medina sandstone furnishing nearly two acres of
floor space, and filled with all the necessary machinery and appliances for the varied and
extensive business. Mr. Swett gives employment regularly to more than one hundred
men. He is also president of the Swett & Card Manufacturing Company, makers of
condensed mince meat, owing over 90 per cent, of the stock.
Mr. Swett has at all times found opportunity to give intelligent attention to public
affairs. He served nine years on the Board of Education of Medina ; has been one of
the commissioners of Boxwood Cemetery since its organization; is conspicuous in
Evangelical church work and one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A. ; and has filled
other minor public positions with ability and integrity.
12 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Mr. Swett was married in 1872 to Lucinda M. Fuller, and they have two sons;
Charles S., aged fifteen years, and Raynaond F., aged eight years. '
CHARLES H. BIDWELL.
Charles H. Bidwell was born in the town of Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., on the
10th of September, 1848. His father, Cyrus Bidwell, was a native of Troy, N. Y. Is
living in Albion aged eighty years. His mother was a native of Vermont, and died in
1872. She was well known as an earnest Christian worker and a woman of exceptional
strong mind and good judgment in matters of business. Her sister, Harriet Hawley, or
better known as " Aunt Harriet," lived in the family and had much to do in looking after
the boy Charles. Through the mother and aunt's influence the boy was sent to the
higher schools (rather against the will of the father who desired to make a farmer of
him), to Albion Academy, where he graduated, then to the Brockport Normal School
for two years, when he was called home on account of his father and mother having
poor health. Mr. Bidwell's liking for mechanical inventions and manufacturing com-
menced to develop early ; at the age of ten years he made a small bean thresher and
drove it by belting to the grind stone. His grandfather was a natural mechanic, a
wagonmaker by trade, the father also possessing the same qualities. Mr. Bidwell was
one of the first to introduce steam threshing in Orleans county, and followed this
successfully for some ten years. During this time he was working on and perfecting his
patent bean thresher, in 1881 he began its manufacture in a very small way and it
proved to be the only practical bean thresher made. Mr. Bidwell continued its manu-
facture in Albion until 1888, when he removed to Medina, N. Y., and in 1891 organized
a company, called The Bidwell Bean Thresher Company, with a capital stock of
$20,0U0. In 1893 he purchased the balance of the stock and is now sole proprietor.
The Bidwell bean thresher is too well and favorably known in all bean growing sections
to require explanation, having practically no competition on merits. Mr. Bidwell's
name is well and favorably known in connection with profitable growing of beans
throughout the entire country, and the value and thorough workmanship and excellency
of material used in his machines is everywhere recognized. Mr. Bidwell has this season
perfected a bean harvester, on which he has patents; this too has proven to be a success
on the start. The entire period first described was one of obstacles, predictions of
failure, and other discouragements, which seem to be waiting all inventors and men
who attempt to introduce a device that will do a certain thing better and easier than it
was ever before done. But he is not of the stuflf to falter in the face of discouragement.
His principle characteristics are invincible determination, perseverance, and almost
obstinacy in overcoming obstacles and opposition, which serves to bring into activity
those characteristics, and have been strong factors in his success. Mr. Bidwell was
married in 1873 to Luella E. Albin, of Vermont; they have four children, one son and
three daughters. Mr. Bidwell is a Prohibitionist and believes that the day of triumph
for that cause will sometime arrive.
f-1^c^
BIOGRAPHICAL. 13
JOHN HALE TAYLOR, M. D.
John Hale Taylor was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., on the 18th of August,
1844. His father was Mortimer H. Taylor, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and removed
early to Oneida county, where he married Mary Brainard ; the former died October 9,
1887, aged eighty-one, and the latter died January 13, 1890, aged eighty-two. In 1850
he removed to Orleans county and settled on a farm in the town of Clarendon.
Dr. Taylor received his general education in the Holley Academy and at the Brock-
port Collegiate Institute. He studied his profession with Drs. Horace Clark and
William B. Mann of Brockport, N. Y., and graduated from the Medical University of
Buffalo February 24, 1869. Since that time he has been in active practice in the village
of Holley, and has attained a large business. To further qualify himself for the respon-
sibilities of his profession Dr. Taylor in 1889 took a post graduate course in medicine at
the New York Polychnic College and Hospital, and at the same time took a private
course of instruction in gynecology under Dr. James R. Gofife of New York, and a
course in operative surgery under Dr. Robert H. M. Dawbarn of New York.
Dr. Taylor is a member of the Orleans County and the Central New York Medical
Societies, and of the New York State Medical Association. He was elected president
of the Orleans County Medical Society in 1892, and has held the office of coroner for
fifteen years. Dr. Taylor possesses all of the qualifications, both natural and acquired, of
the good physician, and his exceptional success is amply deserved.
Dr. Taylor occupies a high position in Free Masonry ; is a member of Murray Lodge
No. 380, and was master in 1883 and 1884, and secretary of the lodge several years. He
is also a member of Orleans Chapter No. 175, Royal Arch Masons, and of Monroe Com-
mandery No. 12, Knights Templar.
Dr. Taylor was married in 1870 to Harriet A. Hartwell, of Medfield, Mass.; they have
two sons: John Mortimer and Forrest Emerson Taylor. John Mortimer was born in
Holley, December 11, 1871, graduated at the University of Rochester in 1892, and
entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York (Medical Department of
Columbia) as a student in medicine, October 1, 1894. Forrest Emerson was born in
Hollev, March 3, 1874.
HON. ISAAC S. SIGNOR.
Isaac S. Signor was born at Skaneateles, N. Y. His family were originally from
Dutchess county. He attended Elbridge Academy and graduated from Hamilton
College in 1870, taking the first Kingsley prize in debate at the end of the senior year.
At the end of 1871 he graduated from the law school and the same year commenced
practice at Albion, where he remained for two years. He then went to New York
city and was in the office of Davies & Work, and still later with Judge Hawes. The
firm of Griggs & Signor was then formed and they did business at 237 Broadway for
over three years. In 1878 he returned to Albion, and since 1879 the firm of Signor &
14 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Wage has been in existence. Judge Signer was elected district attorney on the Repub-
Ucan ticket and served from 1881 to 1884. He was then elected county judge and was
re-elected. He was married December 29, 1879, to Mary Grierson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
daughter of Samuel and Susannah Grierson. They have three children, a son, Charles,
and two daughters, Beatrice and Dorothy. Judge Signor spent his boyhood on a farm,
and for two years of the time that he was preparing for college worked on his father's
farm summers, taught school winters, and attended school fall and spring terms. During
this time he went during the summer once or twice a week four miles to recite, and
during the winter recited evenings. He commenced preparing for college in 1863,
graduating in 1870. During that time he taught four winters and took one year of the
law school course with his senior studies. After graduation he taught one year in the
Clinton Liberal Institute at Clinton, N. Y., pursuing his legal studies at the same time,
and was admitted to practice that year. His father, Eleazer Signor, was born at
Elbridge, N. Y., in 1809, and his mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Rogers, was
born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1810. Both died at Skaneateles, N. Y. His grand-
father on his father's side was born in Dutchess county and was one of the pioneers of
Onondaga county. The Signor family originally came from Holland, the Rogers
family from England. The Grierson family are of Scotch and English descent.
FRED L. DOWNS.
Conspicuous among the early settlers in the village of Medina, Orleans county, was
Simeon Downs, from whom the subject of this sketch is descended on the paternal side.
Simeon Downs was born in 1800, and at one time owned a farm on the Ridge, though
he was a blacksmith and edge tool maker by trade and followed that business more
closely than he did farming. He died in his adopted village, February 9, 1875. His
wife was Sophronia Bailey, and they had three children.
The grandfather of Fred L. Downs on the maternal side was Adam Garter, one of the
prominent settlers of the county. He first came in 1814 on a prospecting tour, and five
years later with his two brothers he came on and took up land about two and a half
miles southwest of Medina village, in the town of Shelby. He was a liberally educated
man for his time, and a practical surveyor. This gave him considerable prominence in
this region, and beheld several town offices, laid out a part of the village of Medina and
surveyed the Burroughs, the Hedley, and many other tracts of land. He died April 5,
1878, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Darius Fuller, village of Medina.
One of the three children of Simeon Downs was Lester C. Downs, who was born
August 17, 1827. During his comparatively short life he worked in his father's tool
shop, studied music and became a successful teacher of singing. He married Susan Garter,
daughter of Adam Garter, and died at the age of thirty-four years, leaving two children,
the subject of this sketch, and Frank R. Downs, now in the insurance business in
Medina. After the death of Lester C. Downs his widow married Andrew Weld, a respect-
ed farmer of the town of Ridgeway, now also deceased. His widow is still living
in Medina at the age of seventy-one years.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 15
Fred L. Downs was born in Medina, August 14, 1855, and began his education in his
native place. The death of his father when he Avas five years old made it necessary for
the son to be sent into the country to live with an uncle, Darius Fuller, where he re-
mained ten years. He attended school regularly during that period, when his uncle
removed to Medina; he then entered the academy for a course of about three years.
At the age of eighteen, having determined to become a lawyer, he entered the office
of Stanley E. Filkins in Medina, and three years later, April 10, 1880, was admitted to
the bar at Rochester. He opened an office in Medma, alone at ihe first, but subsequent-
ly he had as partner for a short period Morgan L. Brainard, and later for one year, H.
B. Dayton.
In his profession Mr. Downs holds an honorable position and enjoys the respect of
his professional brethren and the confidence of his other fellow citizens. He has secured
a practice that has been gratifying to himself, while his success has pleased his many
friends. A Eepublican in politics he has always shown an intelligent and active interest
in the affairs of his party and has worked earnestly for its success. In 1882 he was
elected justice of the peace for the town of Ridgeway, and held the office four years
frcm January, 1883. During that period, and in March, 1885, he was elected trustee of
the village of Medina, and held the office for three years. In March, 1892, he was
elected president of the village, and re-elected in 1893 and 1894. In these posi-
tions he has won deserved commendation for his efforts for the general welfare of
the community, the inauguration and carrying out of needed improvements, and the
careful and prudent use of public funds. He has served as a member of the Republican
County Committee several times and given freely of his time to local political work.
He aided in organizing the Medina Savings and Loan Association, and has been its
attorney from the first. In 1894 Mr. Downs was made a candidate for member of
Assenably, but through certain combinations was defeated for the nomination. Mr.
Downs combines many of the elements that give a man popularity and strength among
his fellow citizens. He is a member of local lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows.
Mr. Downs was married on the 11th day of February, 1890, to Emma A. Emmons,
daughter of H. N. Hopkins, of Medina, and they have one daughter.
HON. HENRY M. HARD.
Merritt Hard, son of Sylvanus and Lucy (Fenn) Hard, was born in Arlington, Vt.,
June 3, 1811. He is of English descent, his great-grandfather coming to America
with Captain Kidd. Sylvanus was a soldier at Plattsburg in the war of 1812. Merritt
Hard came to Yates in 1835 and settled on the farm he now occupies. He followed
school teaching more or less until 1853 and was town superintendent of schools many
years. For nearly twenty years he was a justice of the peace and was also a long
time merchant in Lyndonville. In 1834 he married Charlotte Canfield, of Vermont,
and had three children : Catherine A. (deceased), and Caroline, successively the wives
of Martin S. Rice, and Hon. Henry M. His second wife was Laura C. Fenn, of Con-
16 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
necticut. Hon. Henry M. Hard was born in Arlington, Vt., January 31, 1842, and
was educated in the Yates and Medina Academies. He was long a merchant in
Lyndonville with his father, and afterward alone, and was supervisor of Yates in
1877-78-79 and 1880, being chairman of the board the latter year. In the fall of 1881
he was elected to the Assembly for one year and was re-elected in 1882 and served on
the Committees of Commerce and Navigation, Internal affairs. Trades and Manufactures,
and manv others. In February, 1891, he was appointed by President Harrison United
States consul at Clifton, Ontario, Canada, which position he held for six years, resigning on
account of sickness. He is now president of the Board of Education of the Lyndon,
ville Union Free School. September 1, 1870, he married Kate, daughter of Daniel
Clark, and has one son, Edward C, who was born December 1, 1872, who was gradu-
ated from the University of Rochester in June, 1894, and is now (November, 1894,)
attending the Buffalo Law School.
D. L. JONES.
D. L. Jones was born in the town of Kendall, within one mile of his present residence,
on March 23, 1842. He is the youngest of eight children born to David Jones, the
second settler of the township, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume.
Mr. Jones was reared a farmer, and very early m life acquired the rudimentary knowl-
edge so necessary to the successful agriculturist. At the youthful age of fourteen he
commenced to work for wages, which he used most judiciously in obtaining an educa-
tion in the district schools of his native town. For several years he taught school, thus
supplementing the limited advantages he was permitted to enjoy in the school room.
During the summer months, however, he labored on the farm, at which he continued
until 1877, when he engaged in manufacturing. This business engrossed his attention
in Bridgeport, Conn., and Erie, Pa., for seven years, but during all this time, as well as
ever since his birth, he kept his residence in Kendall.
In 1867 Mr. Jones purchased of James Weed a farm of 100 acres ; in 1872 he bought
another of the same size of the heirs of his father, David : in 1873 a third of the same
area was secured of Robert Todd; and in 1884 he purchased 150 acres of Samuel Ken-
drick. All these are located in Kendall and are still in his possession. In 1884 he
bought of George W. Potter what is known as the Williams farm of 262 acres at East
Carlton, on which his eldest son, Charles D., resides. These farms comprise some of the
finest and most valuable land in Orleans county, and contain in all 710 acres.
As a life-long resident Mr. Jones has ever been actively interested in all matters per-
taining to the advancement of his town. He has been prominently identified with its
best interests, serving it two years — in 1889 and 1890 — as supervisor. During this period
he labored unceasingly to obtain a reduction of the real assessed valuation of not only
Kendall, but also the towns of Carlton and Yates. The fact that he succeeded is indis-
putable evidence of his eminent ability as a parliamentarian. These valuations he
reduced as follows : Carlton from $1,235,207 to $1,175,466; Yates from $1,013,244 to
^U^. O c^-i^J^
BIOGRAPHICAL. 17
$956,883; and Kendall from $921,747 to $866,757. To the taxpayers this meant
thousands of dollars saved, and Mr. Jones not only acquired deserved recognition, but
also the reputation of being an expert mathematician.
November 26, 1868, Mr. Jones united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Chase, daughter
of Julius S. Chase, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. They have
had three children, namely : Cora, born in Kendall June 10, 1870, died December 22,
1880; Charles D., born February 16, 1872, residing on his father's farm at East Carlton,
and Claudius, born March 24, 1885, at home.
" In politics a Republican ; in religion do as you would be done by."
CHESTER WILLIAMS.
Chestfr Williams, the eldest son and child of Jacob Williams, was born in Argyle,
Washington county, N.Y., August 25, 1803. In 1826 he settled on a farm of 112
acres in the town of Carlton, where his widow now resides, taking an article and then
a deed for the tract from the Holland Land Company. His original purchase, how-
ever, comprised several of the present adjoining farms, but by subsequent sales he re-
duced it to the above area. Mr. Williams was prominently identified with the town
and county and held several positions of trust and responsibility. In the days of anti-
slavery he was a strong abolitionist, giving the cause his unqualified support and per-
sonal influence. A Republican in politics he was an active politician, but always
eschewed public office, preferring to devote his time and means to the betterment of
local affairs from a private capacity. He was frequently called to sit on juries, where
his opinions were unquestioned and his decisions never disputed. Endowed with a
strong will and a marked personality he was a man of unswerving characteristics, and
in public and private was highly respected and esteemed. He was neighborly, kind-
hearted, public spirited and benevolent, contributing liberally of his means to every
good cause, especially to the church. From early life he was a good Biblical scholar
and a gifted exhorter, and often preached to local congregations. He first joined the
M. E. church, but later became a Free Methodist, in which faith he died, in Carlton,
September 30, 1889. Honest, substantial, and conservative he lived the life of a
respected citizen and imparted to the community a sterling influence and imperishable
principles. In the home, in the bosom of his family, he was ever the kind husband and
indulgent father, whose memories are cherished by both relatives and friends.
Mr. Williams married, first, Margaret Teachout, who was born in Manchester, N. T.,
February 15, 1808, and who died May 13, 1874. They had nine children; Sarah M.,
born May 1, 1827, died in 1890 ; Lydia R., born September 24, 1829; Betsey J., born
January 14, 1832, died April 11, 1854; Mariette, born September 9, 1834; Delilah,
born January 14, 1838 (deceased) ; Clark 0., born October 5, 1839, died August 16,
1840 ; Harriet, born August 3, 1840, died August 18, 1840; Benjamin F., born July 22,
1842, died in September, 1886 ; and Cassius M.C., born September 9, 1845, died February
15 1894. December 9, 1874, Mr. Williams married for his second wife Mrs. Arabella
18 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
Brown Gilmore, who was bom in Sweden, Monroe county, September 11, 1825, and
who survives him on the homestead in Carlton. Her first husband, Aaron Gilmore,
was born May 13, 1813; they had two children: George, born September 10, 1849,
died an infant; and Alida, born May 16, 1852. Mrs. Williams's father was Luther
Brown, who was born in New Hampshire December 18, 1777, and who died in Gaines
April 15, 1862. He settled in Carlton in 1830. His wife was Anna Burke, who was
born in Vermont September 28, 1785, and who died February 1, 1836. They had five
children : Luther, jr., born January 21, 1814, died July 27, 1892 ; George, born March
19, 1816, died July 25, 1889; Harrison B., born July 28, 1818, died January 29, 1856 ;
Mary Ann, born September 21, 1822; and Arabella (Mrs. Chester Williams). Aaron
Gilmore settled in Albion about 1846, where he was well and favorably known. He
was in the drug business nine years and sold out to H. W. Lewis, M.D., after which he
went west, where he was a contractor on several railroads. He died suddenly of
apoplexy at Chicago, 111., July 4, 1870.
RALPH R. BROWN.
Ralph Robert Brown was a son of Robert M. and a grandson of Elijah Brown, and
was born where his widow now resides, on the 29th of October, 1828. Elijah Brown
articled this farm of the Holland Land Company in 1804 and the next year started with
his family from Sodus, Wayne county, for his wilderness home, but died on Lake On-
tario during the journey. May 7, aged fifty-seven, his remains being interred in the
family lot near the present house. Robert M. Brown, his son, then "eleven years of
age, being born April 30, 1794, succeeded to the homestead and cared for his mother,
Bethshua S., until her death June 30, 1826, aged seventy one years. He passed the
remainder of his life here, dying March 5. 1846. He married Fanny West and had
nine children who attained maturity, viz.: Philena, born December 9, 1817; Belinda
W., born December 16, 1821; Salome H., born February 2.5, 1825; Sarah H. (Mrs.
Hosea M. Ballou), born November 30, 1826; Ralph R.; Christopher C, born June 13,
1830 ; Blias W., born April 17, 1833 ; and Elizabeth F. and Andrew E.. twins, born
April 13, 1836. Mrs. Brown was born April 22, 1794, and died October 14, 1851.
Ralph R. Brown was reared on the farm and was educated in the district schools of
the town. With the exception of one year spent in Michigan he always resided in
Carlton, succeeding to the homestead, which he purchased of the heirs. At the early
age of seventeen he was deprived by death of the guidance of a father, and thencefor'
ward the support of a widowed mother devolved upon his youthful shoulders. He was
a life-long farmer, always a Democrat in politics, and by his townsmen far and near
was ever regarded as an honest, unostentatious man. He never aspired to public office,
but continually exerted a strong influence for good among his fellow beings. As a
citizen he was benevolent and public spirited, and as a hu.sband and father he was ever
kind, indulgent, and beloved. In all the relations of life he carefully avoided difficulty
with his neighbors, abhoring every thing which prompted personal bickerings or strained
/P/P/3o
BTOSRAPHICAL. 19
relations. He was highly and widely respected, and died without an enemy on Octo-
ber 8, 1893.
December 8, 1853, Mr. Brown married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Truman Luttenton,
who survives him^and resides on the old homestead. She was born in Carlton February
28,1834. [Mr. Luttenton was born in Herkimer county May 14, 1801, married Sally
Eastman, and died July 27, 1888. She was born in Vermont February 28, 1804, and
died July 24, 1882. Their children were Augusta ^., born December 16, 1828 ;
Nathaniel 0., born February 11, 1830; Ruth A., born May 20, 1832; Sarah J. (Mrs,
Ralph R. Brown) ; Amanda M., born May 25, 1836 ; Mary E., born December 25, 1839 ;
Truman R, born July 28, 1841; Joel H., born October 22, 1843; and Rosamond E.,
born February 13, 1848]. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had born to them three children: Clara
J., Harry L., and Anna West.
GEORGE A. NEWELL.
George A. Newell was born in Medina, Orleans county, N. Y., January 11, 1846.
He is a son of Arthur W. and Cornelia E. (Smith) Newell. Mr. Newell enjoyed excellent
opportunity to obtain a liberal education and graduated from Yale College in 1868. He
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1869. He is a Republican in politics and in
1874 was elected police justice and justice of the peace, both of which offices he filled
with credit and ability until just previous to his election as county clerk in 1877. This
office he held by re election nine years. In 1888 he was elected treasurer of the village
of Medina and still holds that office. In the fall of 1885 he was elected treasurer of the
school board, and has been re-elected annually until the present time (1894). In the
fall of 1893 he was elected county treasurer and is the present incumbent. In all of
these pubhc positions of honor and responsibility Mr. Newell has exhibited those quali-
fications that contribute to make the good citizen. In 1884 he became the cashier of
the Union Bank of Medina, and was chosen president of the bank on January 1, 1893.
Outside of his business interests Mr. Newell has devoted considerable time and atten-
tion to Free Masonry. He is, beyond question, the best informed Mason in the county.
Made a Master Mason in Medina Lodge in April, 1877, he was elected its senior war-
den in 1879, and its master for 1880. At present he is its secretary and one of its
trustees.
In the Chapter he was made a Royal Arch Mason in May, 1878 ; was elected king
for 1881-82, and high priest for 1883, and re-elected each successive year since.
In the Council he was created a select master in November, 1878, and served as its
master for eight years. He was created a Knight Templar in Genesee Commandery in
April, 1879, served as junior warden in 1890, and as eminent commander for the years
1891, 1892, and 1893. He received ihe thirty-second degree Scottish Rite in Rochester
Consistory March 21, 1878, and is at present thrice potent grand master of Lock City
Lodge of Perfection. In the Grand Lodge he was grand steward in 1882-83 and dis-
trict deputy grand master in 1885-86. In the Grand Chapter he was grand master of
20 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
the second veil in 1889. In the Grand Council he was grand steward in 1886 and had
served in its several offices until he was elected its grand master in September, 1893,
which office he now holds. At the last meeting of the Supreme Council of the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, held in Boston September 20, 1894, he was elected to receive
the thirty-third and last degree. These numerous and honorable offices which have
been freely tendered him, show that he has a firm place in the hearts of his brethren.
Mr. Newell very kindly prepared the historical account of Free Masonry in Orleans
county for this volume.
In 1886 Mr. Newell married Anna E. McGrath, and they have one son and two
daughters.
ADAM GARTER.
Adam Garter was of German descent and was born in Herkimer county in the his-
toric Mohawk valley on the 4th of May, 1794. He inherited all the sterling character-
it-tics of his race, and early in life acquired habits both thrifty and methodical. His
education was necesfearily limited to the district schools, yet he obtained superior
knowledge at once practical and substantial. In his boyhood he seemed to look into
the distant future and intuitively saw the necessity of thorough business preparation,
with which he equipped himself by hard study and diligent research. He became a
well known surveyor, and an excellent biblical student Possessed of a mind keenly
discrimmating and endowed with qualities both rare and retentive, he early evinced an
inclination for study, and gratified that desire by systematic readings of the Bible. In
this direction he was recognized as an expert. He never tired of discussion on that one
favorite subject of truth and immortality. He lived the life as pointed out in that book
of books, teaching its principles as he understood them, and doing "unto others as he
would be done by."
While yet a youth Mr. Garter taught several terms of district school, at which he was
very succes.vful. In 1814, with his father and two brothers, he came to what is now
the town of Shelby, purchasing a piece of land of Alexander Coon. He soon returned
to Herkimer county, however, where he remained until 1819, when he again came to
Orleans county, and settled permanently on his farm in Shelby, where he practically
lived the remainder of his hfe. This place is now owned by Daniel P. Snell. There
Mr. Garter reared a family of nine children, of whom three daughters and four sons are
living. After coming here he was employed as a surveyor for many years by Joseph
Ellicott, the prmcipal agent of the Holland Land Company, in which capacity he estab-
lished most of the original lot lines in Western Orleans and Eastern Niagara, particularly
in Shelby and Ridgeway. Many of the corner stones in the two counties were laid
under his supervision and are lasting monuments to his ability and methodical work.
He was careful to a fault that every line, no matter how unimportant, should run accur-
ately, and when once established it was immovable. He was an expert mathematician,
and a careful, precise, and an accurate surveyor. In^^Medina vihage he laid out into lots
<2^
4^^:U^t^zyry\ J^^^^
BIOGRAPHICAL. 21
the Hedley, Burroughs, and other tracts and additions, and in various sections of this
and Niagara counties more recent examples of his professional work are every where
seen.
Mr. Garter always took an active part in local affairs and held several positions of
trust and responsibility. By education he was eminently fitted to serve in a public
capacity, and one year held no less than five elective offices. He was an able exponent
of the principles of the old Jeffersonian school of Democracy, but ever regarded personal
worth and qualification superior to partisan victory. In every official position he served
with marked distmction, with unquestioned fidelity to his constituents, and with thfe
ability and integrity born of an honest purpose. He was supervisor, town clerk, high-
way commissioner, and assessor of Shelby for several years and long an inspector of
common schools.
In religion Mr. Garter inclined toward Universalism, being fitted by life-long study of
the Bible to expound the truths of that doctrine. He was practical rather than theoreti-
cal, but withal scholarly, accurate, and decisive. He was benevolent to the extent of
his means, which were always limited. As a citizen he was public spirited, quick to see
the needs of his fellow beings, generous to the poor, and kind hearted.
October 17, 1813, Mr. Garter married Miss Rebecca Churchill, a woman of quiet,
unobtrusive characteristics, of sturdy Scotch descent, end of devoted womanly qualities.
Their wedded life covered a period of nearly fifty-one years, her death occurring in
Medina October 21, 1874, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Weld. Mr.
Garter died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Darius Fuller, in Medina April 5, 1878.
Their nine children were as follows: James, born July 16, 1814, died at Belmont,
Wis., September 16, 1878; Jonas, born September 9, 1819, living in Lockport, N. Y. ;
William, born September 1, 1821 ; Susan (Mrs. Lester C. Downs and afterward Mrs.
Andrew Weld), born June 19, 1823, living in Medina; Anna, born May 16, 1825,
died unmarried ; Churchill, born March 16, 1827, residing at Stony Creek, Va. ;
Elizabeth (Mrs. George Henderson and afterward Mrs. Darius Fuller), born February
20, 1829, living in Medina; Joseph, now of Buffalo, born June 6, 1831; and Ellen
(Mrs. George Kinsley and afterward Mrs. George B. Holdredge), of Middleport, born
April 23, 1833.
MORTON A. BOWEN.
Morton A. Bowen is a descendant from Dr. Abiel Bowen, his grandfather, who was
born in Guilford, Vt., in 1798, and came into Western New York early in the present
century. He studied medicine in Middleport, N. Y., and graduated from the Fairfield
Medical College. He began practice in Shelby and in 1828 established himself at West
Shelby, where he purchased a farm. He practiced until about 1840, and died in 1847.
He married in 1826 Anna S. Cone, a native of Vermont, born in 1803 ; she died in 1852.
Among their seven children was Adna Bowen, father of the subject of this sketch, and
one of the able and successful members of the Orleans county bar. He was born at
22 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
West Shelby November 15, 1829, and died in June, 1883, at Medina. He was educated
in the high schools at Millville, and Caryville, and studied law in Batavia, N. Y., begin-
ning practice in Medina soon after his admission to the bar. He was successful in his
practice both in a professional and a financial sense. A Democrat in politics, in a strong
Republican county, he never held any office except that of justice of the peace, and was
canal collector before the canals were made free. He married Eunice Post and they had
four children: a daughter who married V. A. Acer of Shelby Center; two are deceased,
and Morton A.
Morton A. Bowen was educated in the schools of Medina, studying in the private
school of Miss Swift after he was fifteen years old, and finished at the Medina Academy
at the age of nineteen years. Leaving school he spent one year in Michigan, and fol-
lowed that with a course in a Buffalo business college. He then spent three months in
the business office of the Buffalo News on special work, returning thereafter to Medina.
At about this time the Medina Register office came into possession of his father. Mor-
ton A. Bowen is a Democrat in politics and the Register being an organ of the same
party, he purchased the establishment and has since found in the editorial and business
management of the paper congenial and successful employment. He is a fluent and in-
telligent writer, and is thoroughly c^rnversant with public affairs. Under his manage-
ment the Register has attained a gratifying circulation and exerts a wholesome influ-
ence in the community.
MAHER BROTHERS.
The firm of Maher Brother manufacturers of upholstered furniture in Medina,
is composed of John, Francis T., Joseph and Robert, sons of John, sr., and Mary
(Kimmit) Maher. They spring from substantial Irish ancestry and inherit the sterl-
ing characteristics of a sturdy parental race. They are all natives of Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada, whence they removed to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1867. John Maher, the
eldest, was born August 13, 1855, was educated in the schools of Hamilton and Buf-
falo, and learned his trade of upholsterer in the latter city. In 1874, when less than
eighteen years of age, he accepted a position with a firm then doing a large business
in Middleport, Niagara county, where he was placed in full charge of their upholst-
ering department. It was not his purpose, however, to work for others all his life,
and accordingly, in 1878, with his three brothers, he established a retail business in that
village which proved very successful, and which was carried on under the firm name
of Maher Brothers until their removal to Medina in 1882, the brothers being taken
into partnership as soon as they became of age. In Medina they started a retail estab-
lishment which they successfully conducted for several years. In 1887 they began on
a small scale the manufacture of upholstered lounges, and thus formed the nucleus of
their present extensive business. The retail portion was eventually discontinued and
their entire attention was devoted to manufacturing. Traveling men were sent out
and their goods found a ready market in several States. The business increased with
BIOGRAPHICAL. 23
rapid strides, taking soon a foremost rank among those of similar concerns. In fact, it
is very seldom that any line of manufacturing attains the success that has been achieved
by this enterprising firm in the comparatively short period of their operations. Within
a year from the time they started they were obliged to increase their facilities by add-
ing a two-story building, 40 by 140 feet, to their plant, the site for which had been pur-
chased in 1887, and which was then occupied by a stone structure.
In 1893 a disastrous fire consumed their main plant, and although their loss was
large, particularly in its interruption of their business, they were not discouraged, but
immediately commenced the erection of their present large establishment south of the
railroad, which was completed J^ily 1, 1894. It comprises a three-story brick structure,
with floor space aggregating 44,125 square feet, besides a large wooden building and a
building used as a storehouse. North of the railroad the firm has another wooden
building, supplied with water power, in which their frames used in upholstering are
manufactured. They employ from 140 to 150 hands, and have turned out in one year
as high as $300,000 worth of goods, which are sent to all parts of the United States.
All kinds of upholstered furniture are manufactured.
Of the individual members of the firm it is eminently fitting that something should
be preserved in this volume. Francis Thomas Maher, the second eldest brother, was
born November 13, 1860, and learned his trade of John in Middleport. Joseph Maher
was born March 22, 1863, while the birth of Robert, the youngest, occurred October 13,
1865. They are all skillful mechanics and thoroughly conversant with the art of up-
holstering. John Maher, the head of the firm, is a man of energy, intelligence, and in-
domitable perseverance, qualifications that have enabled him to attain his present promi-
nent position among the manufacturers of the county. This applies to the others as
well. Each one is a specialist in the business, fitted by experience to maintain his re-
spective part.
HENRY AUGUSTINE CHILDS.
A GENEALOGY of the Child family shows that Henry A. Childs is in the seventh
generation from the original ancestor and is a descendant of Joshua Child, jr., in the
fourth generation, son of Joshua and Sarah Child. Joshua Child, jr., was born in
Worcester, Mass., September 26, 1725, and married June 2, 1748, Mary Hinds, who
was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., August 18, 1726. They had three children, one of whom
was Artemas, of the fifth generation, who was born in Northboro, Mass. (whither his
parents had removed), August 16, 1762. He married Lucy Keyes, of Wilton, N. H.,
about 1793. Artemas Child added an "s" to his name and lived in Dublin, N. H., and
in Ballston Spa, N. Y., where he died November 9, 1839. He was father of eleven
children, of whom five were sons, one of them being Artemas, jr. He was the sixth
child and was born in Dublin, N. H., August 12, 1802, and married about 1824 Nancy
Dolloff.
Levi Lincoln Childs was the third son and the eighth child of Artemas, jr., and Lucy
24 LANDMARKS OF OELEANS COUNTY.
Keyes Childs, was born in Dublin, N. H., February 23, 1806, and married about 1832
Ann M. Wright, daughter of Asahel and Polly Wright, who were natives of Vermont,
but lived at Middlebury, Wyoming county, K Y., many years, whence they removed to
Gi-aines, Orleans county, N. Y., where they died. Levi Lincoln Childs lived in Games,
where he died May 16, 1857. He was father of five children, as follows: Louisa F.,
born September 30, 1833, married July 4, 1853, Calvin P. Hazard; Henry Augustine
(the subject) ; Mary E., born June 17, 1839, married Edwin Wilson, and died July 19,
1865; Helen A., born July 18, 1842, died August 17, 1851 ; Albert D., born November
22, 1844, died January 3, 1847.
Henry Augustine Childs, eldest son of Levi L. and Ann M. (Wright) Childs, was born
in Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., July 17, 1836, and married, November 16, 1859, Juha
B. Freeman, daughter of Orin and Permelia Billard (both of whom are deceased).
In early life Judge Childs determined to adopt the legal profession, and after securing
his education he began the study of law in the office of the late B. L. Bessac, in Albion,
N. Y. Four years later he was admitted to the bar and at once opened an office in
Medina, where he has ever since resided. He early took a prominent position in the
bar of the county, and his ability and his sterling natural qualifications were soon
recognized by his fellow citizens. He has always affiliated with the Republican party,
and in 1865 was elected district attorney of Orleans county, and served in that responsible
office by repeated re-election nine years, leaving an enviable record for industry, legal
ability, and close watchfulness of the interests of the community. At the close of his
service as district attorney he continued his large practice, his constantly advancing
reputation preparing him for a higher position.
In the judicial convention held in Buffalo, October 4, 1883, Judge Childs was placed
in nomination for one of the Supreme Court justices for the Western District of New
York. He was elected in the foUovping November by a gratifying majority. In the
campaign preceding his election the fact that almost nothing was said in public against
him was noted in the local press, while his high qualities as a lawyer and a man were
extensively published.
In his career upon the bench, now covering a period of more than ten years, Judge
Childs has won the unqualified favor of his professional brethren as well as the com-
mendation of his constituents throughout the district. His decisions are rendered with
a promptness evincing quick perception and a full and ready understanding of law and
equity, and in a manner to at once win the respect and confidence of those having busi-
ness before the court. Quiet and unostentatious, patient and forbearing under all
circumstances, a close analyst of evidence, clear knowledge of law and unflagging
industry in clearing court calendars. Judge Childs has exhibited in his judicial career all
the qualifications that go to constitute the able and upright judge.
It is proper, perhaps, to quote the following from the Medina Tribune, published at
the time of Judge Childs's nomination :
" The people of Medina were much delighted with the nomination of Mr. Childs for
justice of the Supreme Court, and the citizens of this county feel greatly honored at his
selection as one of the candidates for the position. Mr. Childs is a gentleman in the
prime of life, Avhose character in every respect is above reproach and of the most ex-
^ a^'?cUH
'/
BIOGRAPHICAL. 25
cellent kind, and whose knowledge and ability will make him one of the best and ablest
judges. He possesses the confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens to the fullest
extent, and they are high'y gratified at the honor bestowed upon him, which they know
to be justly merited. Thts nomination was not the result of any trick or political
intrigue, but because the convention regarded him as the strongest name to be placed on
the ticket."
In recognition of the public services and high legal attainments of this eminent jurist,
Williams College in October, 1893, conferred upon him the degree of LL.D., he being
the second Supreme Court justice of New York State to receive such mark of distinction
from this old college.
LEMUEL C. BIGNALL.
Lemcel C. Bignall was born in Tyre, N. Y., September 11, 1829. His paternal grand-
father was RulofF Bignall, a native of Vergennes, Vt., who married Sabra Glenn. Among
the children of Ruloff Bignall, was Solomon L. Bignall, father of the subject and also a
native of Vergennes. He came with his parents in early years to Tyre, Seneca county,
N. Y., and married Betsey Elizabeth Crane, daughter of Stephen Crane, a native of New
Jersey. Solomon L. Bignall and family resided at Tyre until about the year 1835, when
they removed to Unadilla, Mich. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters,
as follows : Nety Ann, born in 1826 ; Lemuel C. (the subject) ; Moses Crane, born in
1832 ; Solomon L,, jr., born in 1834, and Burnett Boardman, born in Michigan in 1840.
Solomon L. Bignall, sr., was a well-to-do farmer, served as justice of the peace several
years and was much respected in the community. His wife died in Michigan January
28, 1846; he survived her 31 years and died in 1877 at the home of his son, Solomon
L., jr., in Fowlerville, Mich.
Lemuel C. Bignall was taken to Michigan by his parents when he was about six years
old, and there began his attendance at the district schools, from which he secured such
education as was possible. Born with a large store of self reliance and honorable ambi-
tion to achieve success in life on broad lines, Mr. Bignall returned east at the age of
eighteen years, locating in Seneca Falls. Two years later he established a grocery
there, which he conducted five years with varying success. He had not yet found his
proper field of labor. Closing out his business he made a. trip through Canada in the
winter of 1854-55, for the pump manufacturing firm of Cowing & Company, of Seneca
Falls, principally to make collections of outstanding accounts. It is an indication of his
native energy and determination in surmounting obstacles, that he crossed the St. Law-
rence River from Cape Vincent to Kingston on the ice, on foot, pushing a boat ahead
of himself for use in case he broke through the ice.
He was successful on his mission and so pleased his employers that they engaged him
to travel on the road to sell their goods. He continued in this business five years,
traveling in both the Eastern and Western States and meeting with the most gratifying
success. At the end of the five years he engaged with the celebrated Holly Manufac-
D
2G LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
turint^ Company, of Lockport, N. Y., and continued with them another five years, dur-
ing which he gained further valuable business experience and accumulated considerable
means.
Feeling that he was now in a position to take the responsibilities of a business for
himself, he formed a partnership with his brother, Moses C. Bignall, and in 1862 estab-
ished the Bignall Manufacturing Company, in Medina, N. Y., for the manufacture of
pumps, sinks, and various other kinds of heavy hardware. This company has been success-
ful in a broad sense, and much of its prosperity has been due to Mr. Bignail's personal
efforts. He continued at the head of the organization until July, 1894. when he retired
from active business, with the consciousness that he had well earned a period of rest
and freedom from care. He is at the present time ("fall of 1894) in Holland, Mich.,
where he has extensive landed interests on which he is making permanent improve-
ments.
Mr. Bignall became a member of the Lockpoit Masonic Lodge in 1860 and has since
taken all of the degrees conferred by the order in this country. He is a member of
Genesee Commandery No. 10, K. T., of Lockport, and in politics is a Republican ; he
would never accept public office. He was formerly a member of the Wesleyan M. E.
church in Seneca Falls, and afterward of the Congregational church of Lockport.
On July 1, 1853, Mr. Bignall was married to Margaret Freeland, of Seneca Falls.
They have had two children — Rose E., born in Tyre, and Angelia, born in Seneca Falls
and died when two years old. The elder daughter married William Brockway Rob-
bins, of Chicago, III, September 13, 1877, now the practical head of the Bignall
Manufacturing Company.
Margaret Bignall, wife of Lemuel C, died in Seneca Falls December 29, 1888.
HON. EDMUND L. PITTS.
Hon. Edmund L. Pitts was born in the town of Yates on the 23d of May, 1839. His
father, John M. Pitts, born in 1814, removed from Columbia county, N. Y., to Yates in
1838, and is now living a well preserved man, hale and hearty, in the town of Ridgeway
near Medina; his wife, Mary A., died in 1873, aged fifty-five years. The father was
first a farmer, but a few years after settling in this county engaged in business at Yates
Center as a general merchant. He was very successful, and for several years carried on
an extensive trade. He took a prominent part in affairs of the town, an active interest
in the old Yates Academy, and in various ways contributed materially to the advance-
ment and maintenance of both religion and education.
Surrounded by influences stimulating native energy, Edmund L. Pitts enjoyed only
the advantages that usually fall to the lot of the average country lad, yet he improved
every opportunity and succeeded in obtaining a good common school education, supple-
mented by a few terms at Yates Academy. At a very early age he manifested an
inclination for legal study and when twenty entered the law office of Hon. Sanford E.
Church in Albion, where he enjoyed the tutelage and personal friendship of one of the
C^/^ty^T^U>t.-Lyt^ cC. (yVx5^
BIOGKAPHICAL. 27
leading members of the bar of Western New York. A few years afterward he became
a student at thf? State National Law School at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., an institution long
since discontinued, from which he was graduated and was admitted to the bar in 1860,
when only tweaty-one years of age. In October of that year he began the practice of
his profession in Medina with Adna Bowen, with whom he continued for eleven years.
He then practiced alone two years, when he formed a partnership with John W.
Graves, which was dissolved in 1876. The same year he became associated with Hon.
Henry A. Childs, with whom he continued as a partner until 1886. Again he was alone
for nearly two years, and since 1887 has been in partnership with Leon M. Sherwood.
From early life Mr. Pitts has always taken an active and a prominent part in politics,
and since the age of twenty-one has rendered his party valuable service on the stump
and in convention. He is an unswerving Eepublican and a man of eminent oratorical
ability, and in every position to which he has been called he has served with distinction
and rare fldelity. In 1864, when only twenty-five years of age, he was elected to the
Assembly, which office he held by re-election for five successive terms. In 1867, when
twenty -seven, he was chosen speaker, being the youngest man that ever occupied that
position. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that nom-
inated General Grant for president, under whose administration he served for five years
as assessor of internal revenue, or until the office was abolished. In 1884 he was a
delegate to the Eepublican National Convention that neminated James G. Blaine for the
presidency. In 1879, 1881, and 1885 he was elected to the State Senate, and during
his last term was president pro tern, of that body. During the whole of his legislative
career Mr. Pitts was active in debate and on various important committees. His voice
was frequently heard on the floor and his speeches always conimanded attention. In
1866, during the great fight for municipal reform in New York city, his unparalleled
work in the Assembly was signally recognized by the Citizens' Association, who thanked
him publicly and presented him with a handsome set of Appleton's Encyclopaedia. At
Saratoga in 1882 he made the speech renominating Hon. Alonzo B. Cornell for governor,
which was commented upon by the press for and near as a superior effort. These are
only a few of the numerous occasions which he has signalized by word and deed. He
has frequently been called upon to represent his party in convention, and has filled every
position with marked distinction. As a lawyer he ranks with the best in the State.
Scholarly, thorough, and discriminating, he goes to the very bottom of a case, and never
gives up until every resource is exhausted.
December 9, 1862, Mr. Pitts was united in marriage .with Una E., daughter of James
0. Stokes, y., of Lyndonville, and granddaughter of Rev. James 0. Stokes, sr., one of
the first rectors of the Episcopal church of Medina, of which he has for several years
been a vestryman. They have an only daughter, Grace M. Mr. Pitts has ever been a
liberal supporter of religion, contributing of both time and means towards the main-
tenance of local denominations. He is thoroughly and prominently identified with
village, town, and county affairs, and takes a foremost part in all that tends to the better-
ment and advancement of society, education, and the home.
23 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
EDWARD DAVEY.
Edward Davf.y was the fourth of a family of nine children of John F. and Elizabeth
(Millard) Davey, and was born in Theal, Parish of Wednaore, Somersetshire, England,
February 5, 1814. Many of the family name, among whom was Sir Humphrey Davy,'
attained distinction on English soil and actively identified themselves with the affairs of
their respective burghs. His grandfather, Edward Davy, died October 22, 1800. His
grandmother was Hannah (Frapple) Davy, whose death occurred January 29, 1813.
John F. Davey was born August 2, 1782, and his wife, Elizabeth Millard, on August 3,
1874. May, 8, 1830, they left England and arrived in New York city July 3, consum-
ing eight weeks in making the voyage, the family consisting of Mr. and Mrs. John F.
Davey, three daughters, and two sons, including our subject, Edward. The oldest
daughter remiined in England and an elder son had preceded them to America by one
year. The family came up the Hudson River, thence by canal to Weedsport, and by
wagon to Auburn, where they resided until the spring of 1831. Mr. Davey then pur-
chased a farm of 100 acres three miles southwest from Skaneateles, N. Y ., and in the
fall returned to England to sell his property. The vessel in which he took passage was
wrecked near the Azores Islands and he reached his native country only a short time
before his daughter's death. Returning he found that the time for making the pay-
ment on his farm had expired aud he was obliged to purchase another a little east of
the village. He died there January 12, 1863 ; his wife's death occurred December 2,
1857.
Edward Davey was already inured to manual labor. With an energy born of youth-
ful ambition he assisted in establishing his parents in their new home, but in December,
1832, having the future of himself and the family at heart, he left the parental roof
and commenced a three years' apprenticeship at carriage making in Skaneateles with
Seth and James Hall. In 1836 he went to New Haven, Conn., but returned in 1837,
and from then until 1842 visited the larger cities east of the Mississippi as a journey-
man. December 1, 1842, he formed a partnership with Richard Herendeen for the
manufacture of carriages in Newport, N. Y., which continued until 1845. He then fol-
lowed his trade in Penn Yan till 1849, when he came to Medina and purchased the in-
terest of Cyrus G. Davis, of the firm of Davis & Bennett, carriage manufacturers, com-
mencing business March 5, and making their first buggy for S. M. Burroughs. In the
fall he bought out Mr. Bennett and became sole proprietor, and in 1853 he built a shop
on the south side of Center street, which formed the nucleus of the present establish-
ment. Mr. Davey increased his business from time to time, adding to it as circum-
stances permitted, and became one of the most extensive manufacturers of carriages and
buggies in Western New York.
As a business man Mr. Davy was shrewd, conservative, and honest. He was thor-
oughly conversant with every detail and a good judge of perfect work. In all the re-
lations of life he exerted a marked influence for the betterment of his fellow beings. In
1 Originally the. name was spelled Davy, but upon the family's arrival in America the present
form, Davey, was adopted. — Editor.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 29
the home, m gociety, in church, and in politics he was ever respected and highly
esteemed, and as a citizen, neighbor, friend was always the kind hearted, indulgent
gentleman. He was liberal to a fault, and benevolently inclined to all charitable
objects, giving liberally of his means for every good cause. He had traveled extensively,
not only all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Alaska, over nearly the whole
of Europe, first in 1878 and again in 1887. He died in Medina, where he resided since
1849, on August 29, 1894.
October 2, 1856, Mr. Davey married Harriet M. Clark Seeley, of Marcellus, N. Y.,
who had one daughter, Mrs. Allen W. Webber, of Syracuse, by her first husband. They
had one son, Edward Humphrey Davey, who was born in Medina on March 15, 1859.
Mrs. Davey died September 5, 1870. Edward H. Davey succeeded his father in business
and continues the establishment, which he has managed about fifteen years. Julv'9,
1890, he married Susan Mae Dodsworth, of Buffalo, and has two children: Margaret
Elizabeth, born January 17, 1892, and Edward Howard, born December 16, 189-3. Mrs.
Davey is a daughter of Charles and Margaret E. Dodsworth, of Buffalo.
HENRY A. BRUNER.
Hi-NRY A. Bruner was born in Danville, Pa. When a mere lad he removed with his
parents, Jacob and Esther (Arwine) Bruner, to Yates county, N. Y., and upon their
death commenced to learn the trade of harnessmaking. He had acquired a knowledge
of rudimentary English in the common schools of those times, and after learning his
trade he prepared himself for teaching. After teaching a number of terms he entered
the State Normal School at Albany, and was graduated therefrom m 1847, and contin-
ued teaching school several years. In 1856 he was appointed the first school commis-
sioner of Yates county under the law creating that office, and the next year was elected
to that position, which he held in all four and one-half years. He was eminently
qualified for the office and filled it with distinguished ability.
In January, 1861, Mr. Bruner came to Albion, where he has since resided, and with
his brother, David S., purchased the Orleans American of Andrews & Ray, taking
possession January 17th. His brother's health failed, and July 1, 1868, he became sole
editor and proprietor, in which capacity he has ever since continued. In 1871 he was
appointed postmaster at Albion by President Grant, which position he held four and
one-half years. In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican National convention that
nominated James A. Garfield for president, and under Harrison's administration was
special inspector of customs.
Mr. Bruner has always been true and faithful to his party and friend.s, and has ever
stood by them in all changes of successes and defeats. He has always sustained and
advocated all Republican nominations, whether they were, individually, such men as he
would place on the ticket or not. This he has done, as his whole career as an editor
has shown, with an eye single to the success at all times of the Republican party, be-
lieving that its success was uniformly for the prosperity and glory of the country. He
30 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
is a very shrewd judge of men, of their abihties and influence, and has always been
solicitous of securing the nomination and election of those whom he judged could
exert the most influence toward the welfare of his party. His paper, the American,
under his able management, has uniformly pursued a dignified, conservative, and
honorable course with reference to all public measures and to his friends and opponents
as well, and he has been recognized as a high-minded advocate of good morals, thorough
public education, and wholesome literature. His abilities and services, he has the satis-
faction of knowmg, have been recognized in the highest quarters by the active and
responsible leaders of the party. He has enjoyed the confidence of and been frequently
consulted by such eminent statesmen as the late Roscoe Conklin and President Arthur,
and others, who considered his journal one of the most influential papers published in
the interior of the State. In addition to his other labors he has always taken a warm
interest in promotmg the welfare and prosperity of the town and county in which he
lives, and in sustaining all laudable measures for their general good.
In October, 1852, Mr. Bruner was married at Starkey, Yates county, to Jerusha
Maria Pierce, who died February 1, 1865. In September, 1866, he was married,
second, to Sarah S. Smith, of Albion. His only surviving child is Lizzie, the wife of
Dr. John E. Sutton, a practicing physician of Albion village.
A. WILSON SHELLEY.
A. Wilson Shklley was born in the town of Gaines, about one-half mile west of his
present residence, on the 27th of July, 1837. The family spring from English aacestry,
three brothers of the name coming from that country to America more than 150 years
ago. One settled in Maryland, one near Saratoga, N.Y., and the other in the South.
His grandfather, Aaron Shelley, emigrated from Washington county, N. Y., to Gaines
in 1812, settling where the Widow Montrose now lives. He was a skilled mechanic, a
farmer and a general dealer, and erected on Otter Creek the first saw mill in the town,
"and also built and kept the pioneer tavern on what is now the Whipple farm. His
wife was Mary Wood, and their children were: Eunice, Nathan, Betsey, Amasa, Lucy,
Ambrose, Mary, and Laura, of whom only the last named is living. She was born in
1810 and resides in Eagle Harbor. Amasa Shelley was born in Washington county
May 26, 1801, came to Gaines with his parents in 1812, and died here November 21,
1868. He was a millwright, a good mechanic, and a farmer, and with a Mr. Noble
built at West Gaines the first cider mill in town. With him also he placed in operation
for George Kuck at Kuckville, in Carlton, the first run of stone for grinding in the
county. He married, first, September 7, 1828, Sylvia, daughter of Nehemiah Pratt, of
Gaines. She died January 31, 1834, and he married for his second wife, August 11,
1834, Ann, daughter of David Wilson, of Orange county, by whom he had five chil-
dren: Sylvia A. (Mrs. Seth Jones), of Kendall; A. Wilson, Solomon A., of Gaines;
George W., of Barre ; and William Henry, of Gaines. Mrs. Amasa Shelley died
January 21, 1892. One of her brothers served in the war of 1812.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 31
A. Wilson Shelley was educated in the district schools of his native town and finished
in the academies of Yates and Albion. He then engaged in teaching winters and
working on the farm summers, avocations he followed until September I, 1862, when
he enlisted in Company D, 151st N. Y. Vol. Inf., as a private. Going to the front with
his regiment, he participated in all its engagements, notably the battles of Locust Grove,
Monocacy, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania, and at Cold Harbor, on June 1, 1864,
was severely wounded just below the knee. In the mean time he had been promoted
corporal, and after lying several months in the hospitals of Judiciary Square at Wash-
ington, Fort Schuyler in New York city, and the General Hospital in Buffalo, he was
honorably discharged as corporal December 21, 1864, on account of the gunshot wound
he had received, upon the consolidation of the regiment. Returning home he was
Slate census enumerator of Gaines in 1865 and in the fall of that year went to Missouri,
where he remained eighteen months, ten of which were employed in teaching school.
He again returned to Gaines, purchased the farm he still owns near Kenyonville, and
taught school two or three winters. He followed this latter vocation in all fourteen
terms. He has always been a farmer, and has also been engaged more or less in deal-
ing in produce. He settled on his present farm, two miles west of Gaines village,
in 1883.
Mr. Shelley has ever been thoroughly identified with the affairs of his native town
and county, and in various capacities has always merited the confidence and esteem
of his fellow citizens. He is a staunch Republican, giving his party his unqualified sup-
port. In the fall of 1889 he was elected sheriff of Orleans county and served a term
of three years with signal credit and ability. He in a member of the County Agri-
cultural Society, of Renovation Lodge No. 97, F. & A! M., of Albion, of Albion Lodge
No. 67 A. 0. U. W., and of Bates and Curtis Post, G. A. R., of Albion village.
April 16, 1872, Mr. Shelley was united in marriage with Miss Marietta L., eldest
daughter of Moses and Marietta (Dolley) Broadwell, of Gaines. Moses Broadwell, son
of Aaron and Sarah (Seeley) Broadwell, was born in Plattsburg, N. Y., October 17,
1812. Aaron was a native of New Jersey and one of a family of three sons. He had
twelve children, of whom ten attained maturity. [Moses Broadwell removed with his
parents to St. Lawrence county, N,Y., and came thence to Gaines about 1834. He was
a sawyer, which business he followed until about 1840, when he purchased the farm
now occupied by Mrs. Nahum Fish. He subsequently resided on other farms in the
town and died where xVTr. Shelley now lives July 12, 1883. His wife's death occurred
September 8, 1867. Their children are : Mrs. Shelley, above mentioned, and Sarah
Evelyn (Mrs. Horace Street), of Dixon, 111., who has three children : Lester Chapin,
Horace Broadwell, and Marietta Louisa.]
CAPT. RELLY MADISON TINKHAM.
Capt. Relly Madison Tinkham is a son of Relly Madison, sr., and Chloe (Grinnell)
Tinkham," and was born in the southwest part of the town of Barre March 5, 1826.
His father was a son of Capt. Daniel Tinkham and was born in the central part of
32 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
this State in 1800. Tliere he married his wife, who was also a native of that section,
and about 1820 removed to Barre, where he died in November, 1826. His widow
afterward became the wife of John G-ale, moved to Michigan, and died there Decem-
ber 29, 1876. The children of Relly M. Tinkham, sr., were: Stephen W., who died in
Michigan, and Relly M., our subject. The parents possessed sterling traits of character,
and shed an elevating influence throughout the pioneer settlement. The mother was a
devout Free Will Baptist, and both were liberal supporters of all religious and educa-
tional enterprises.
Capt. Relly M. Tinkham, the son, being left fatherless at the infant age of six
months, was raised in the family of his mother's sister, Mrs. Weston Wetherbee. in
Barre. His early life was characterized by struggles with adversity, yet his native
energy and indomitable perseverance enabled him to overcome all obstacles. Limited
in circumstances and early deprived of paternal counsel, his education was necessarily
confined to the district schools, but by close application and systematic reading he
acquired a practical knowledge of the elementary English branches. At the age of
twenty-three he engaged in business for himself as a farmer, which he followed un-
interruptedly until 1856, being also to a considerable extent a dealer in and shipper of
live stock. In that year he sold his farm and moved to Barre Center, where he has
since resided. He purchased the lumber, stave, heading and shingle mill of Crane &,
Noble, which he conducted till about 1866, employing at times from ten to fifteen men.
July 21, 1862, Mr. Tinkham enlisted as a private, and through Hon. Sanford E.
Church was appointed captain of Company C, 129th N.Y. Vol. Inf., under Col. Peter A.
Porter. At this time his business required his individual attention, but his great
patriotism and the earnest solicitation of friends impelled him to offer his services.
He had been active in filling the town's quota, giving liberally of both lime and means
to aid in suppression of the rebellion. Arriving at the front about the 24th of August,
Captain Tinkham's regiment was placed on garrison duty at Baltimore, having charge
of hospitals and Forts McHenry, Federal Hill, and Marshall, and being soon afterward
transferred by designation to the 8th N.Y. Heavy Artillery. During his army career
he had charge of the transfer of hundreds of prisoners and on one occasion transported
250 rebel officers from Baltimore to Fort Delaware, between which points he also
volunteered to take 1,250 prisoners after his resignation had been accepted. In March,
1863, he was taken seriously ill, and, after several weeks' sickness, was forced to resign,
and on July 8th was honorably discharged for permanent disability.
Meanwhile, Captain Tinkham had carried on his mill business at Barre Center, and
after his return from the army continued it until about 1866, when he sold out to Tice,
Tent & Co., and resumed farming. He followed that until 1884, when he permanently
retired and since 1885 has occupied his present attractive home.
In a public sense Captain Tinkham has been especially prominent. He was town
clerk and highway commissioner of Barre (then including also Albion) each eight
years almost continuously. In politics he was originally a staunch Republican, but
since the nomination of Hon. John P. St. John for president he has been actively and
prominently identined with the Prohibition party, being its nominee in the falls of 1890
and 1894 for member of Assembly. He is a life member of the New York State and
BIOGRAPHICAL. 33
Orleans County Agricultural Societies, a member of Renovation Lodge No. 97, F. & A.
M., of Albion, since 1864, and of Orleans Chapter No. 175, R. A. M., since 1867, mem-
ber of Curtis (now Bates & Curtis) Post' No. 114, G. A. R., several years, and one of
the organizers and first directors of the Orleans County Mutual Fire Insurance Com.
pany. For almost eighteen years Captain Tinkham has been officially connected with
the Independent Order of Good Templars, holding all the chairs of the local lodge and
several of those of the county and State organizations. He has been a member, by
representation, of the Grand Lodge of the State for seventeen years, and of the
Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the world nearly twelve years, being one of the board
of managers of the first named body three years. He has several times been chosen
county chief templar.
January 1, 1848, Captain Tinkham was married to Lucina Adelaide, daughter of
Lucius and Fanny (Griswold) AUis, of Barre. Lucius Allis came to this town from
Massachusetts about 1822 and located the farm on which his youngest son, Elliott E.
Allis, now resides. He returned and married Fanny Griswold, of Vermont, and settled
permanently on his purchase about 1823, where they lived and died.
VOLNEY A. ACER.
VoLNEY A. Acer was born at Pittsford, Monroe county, N. Y., November 18, 1818,
the eldest son of David Adams and Sarah (Post) Acer. His father was a native of
Hadley, Mass., and the son of Willi im Acer, who with his wife, Dorothy Adams (a mem-
ber of the celebrated Adams family, which has given so much value to our country, and
nearly related to John Adams, the second president of the United States), who was
born at Montpelier, Vt, settled in Monroe county, N. Y., about three miles south of
Pittsford, in 1790, upon land deeded to him by the Seneca Indians and subsequently
endorsed by Phelps & Gorham, the agents of the Holland Company.
Another of the four sons of William Acer, John, built a hotel and for many years
kept the first line of stages running between Canandaigua and Pittsford.
A third member of this family, now Mrs. M. J. Acer Fisher, of Rochester, still owns
the family homestead at Pittsford, under the spreading branches upon which estate the
numerous descendants and connections held centennial re-union in 1890.
After receiving the benefit of the district schools Volney A. Acer gave his attention
to farming and real estate operations until his marriage, a few months after which, the
decision having been reached that they would locate upon property in Orleans county
purchased a short time before, during the fall of 1854, with his bride beside him, he
drove to Shelby and built near the banks of the Oak Orchard Creek the house in which
for nearly forty years the gradually increasing family made a happy home. In 1866 he
erected a steam mill at Shelby Center and commenced the manufacture of staves and
heading, a business which increased so rapidly that in 1869 it was esteemed advisable to
remove the buildings to Medina, where, alongside the canal, the business has since been
successfully carried on. Despite the demands made upon his attention by the mill and
E
34 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
his steadily increasing real estate interests, Mr. Acer has given freely of his time to the
public benefit in various vrays, prominent among such being his earnest and persistent
labors towards the improvement of Oak Orchard Creek and the reclamation of the
25,000 acres of Tonavi'anda Swamp. In 1858 he was one of three commissioners on the
part of private effort to reclaim that immense waste, and he has since given much effort
to such end until finally, and largely through his personal work and influence, the State
has taken the operation in hand and is pushing it through to a valuable completion. Mr.
Acer served his town as supervisor three terms. He has been heavily interested in real
estate matters here and elsewhere, and gave the Baptist Society of Shelby the land upon
which their church now stands. The school house there was also erected upon his
property. Descended from old Presbyterian stock, he has been trustee of the Medina
Presbyterian church about twenty-five years. Politically he is a Democrat.
In June, 1854, he was married to Charlotte Clark Peck, daughter of Anthony and
Harriet (Clark) Peck, of Tallmage, Ohio, and the result of the union was as follows,
viz. : Da A, Acer (who for three terms was supervisor of Shelby township, and for
five years superintendent of the Bignall Manufacturing Company of Medina, and is now
living at Seneca Falls connected with Gould's Manufacturing Company, the extensive
manufacturers of hydraulic machinery) ; Harriet Peck Acer (now Mrs. Dr. P. D.
Carpenter, of Pittsford, N. Y.) ; H. Augustus Acer (a leading merchant at Medina,
whose sketch will be found in this volume) ; Sarah Antoinette Acer, of Aurora, N. Y. ;
V A Acer (who married Miss Kate, daughter of the late Adna Bowen, one of the lead-
ing lawyers of the county, and with their two children resides upon the old homestead
at Shelby Center); Charlotte Clark Acer, of Pittsford, N. Y. ; and Frank A. Acer, a
practicing lawyer of New York city, now connected with the legal department of the
municipal government there.
Of strongly marked characteristics Mr. Acer has impressed his views of morality and
integrity upon the entire surroundings and is recognized as a valuable member of the
community.
After the death of Mrs. Acer (who was born at Tallmage, Ohio, June 15, 1828, and
died January 30, 1883) he removed from Shelby to Medina and makes his home with
his son, H. A. Acer.
JAMES ARDELL HANLON.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lockport, N. Y., November 16, 1841. His
father was John Hanlon, a native of Armagh, Ireland, and his mother was Mary
McQueelan, who came to America in 1837, and settled at Lockport. The father died in
1858, and the mother in 1892. Edward Hanlon, who is intimately associated with his
brother James in the firm of Hanlon Brothers, leading hardware dealers of Medina, was
born in Lockport, March 6, 1845.
When James A. Hanlon had reached the age of four years his parents removed to
Medina. The lad's early years were passed principally on a farm, working hard in the
BIOGRAPHICAL. 25
summers and attending the district school in the winters; but the principal part of his
education was obtamed in the Medina Academy. When he reached his majority he
left school with a good English education and began work in the hardware store of
Whedon & Allen, whom he faithfully served six years, acquiring a thorough knowledge
of the business in all its branches. At the end of six years, so well pleased were his
employers that he was admitted to the firm with Mr. Whedon, Mr. Allen retiring. The
new firm was styled Whedon & Co., and continued in successful trade for seven years.
In 1876 James withdrew from the firm, and the new firm of Hanlon Brothers was
organized as it has existed ever since. They are both men who study their business
and give it close individual attention. The result is that they now occupy more floor
room than any other house in their line between Rochester and Bufi'alo.
James A. Hanlon is a Democrat in a strong Republican county ; but this fact has not
prevented his receiving honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. He has been trustee
of the village of Medina; collector of tolls on the canal at Medina in 1874, and in 1886
was made collector of mternal revenue for the 28th District, which includes fourteen
counties in the western part of the State, which responsible office he held almost four
years. In all of these positions Mr. Hanlon fully met their requirements.
No citizen has been n)ore active in the political field of Orleans county than Mr.
Hanlon. For the last twenty years he has never missed attending the Democratic
State conventions; he was a delegate to the convention of 1872, which nominated
Francis Kernan for governor, and Chauncey M. Depew for lieutenant-governor. He
was also a delegate to the National convention of 1884 at Chicago, and in 1892 in the
same city. In the councils of the party Mr. Hanlon's advice and earnest effort are
always highly appreciated. He was a warm personal friend of Samuel J. Tilden, Daniel
Lament, Daniel Magone, Benjamin Field, and President Cleveland, and was one of the
few confidants of Governor Tilden.
Mr. Hanlon was married in 1874 to Sarah Elizabeth Dawson, of Toledo, 0. They
have had nine children, five sons of whom are living.
IRA EDWARDS.
Among the pioneers of the Genesee country in the spring of 1819 was the grand-
father of the subject of this sketch, whose name was also Ira. He purchased 100
acres of land in Shelby, Orleans county, and the farm has since remained in possession
of the family ; it was the first one administered upon in Orleans county in 1825. The
elder Ira Edwards married Phoebe Bailey in Schoharie county.
One of the children of Ira Edwards was Edward Edwards, who was born in Scho-
harie county, N. Y., December 22, 1810, and was brought to Orleans county with his
father's family. He followed farming through his life ; was much respected, and held
the office of road commissioner. His wife was Eliza Vrooman, of Schoharie county,
who died in Septhmber, 1841, and Mr. Edwards afterwards married Anna Shafer. Mr.
Edwards died December 13, 1886. By his first wife he had four children and by his
36 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
second wife three children. His first child was Ira Edwards, the subject, who was
born in Shelby October 6, 1834, His boyhood did not differ materially from that of
thousands of farn^ers' sons; he worked at home and attended the district school and
Medina Academy. At twenty years of age he began teaching district school, and, to
prepare himself the better for his profession, attended the State Normal School at
Albany the spring and simimer of 1860. Mr. Edwards taught fourteen years in all,
and during that period was principal of the Holley Academy two years (1865-66), and of
the Medina Academy (1867-69). In this profession Mr. Edwards was successful in a
broad sense and on progressive lines.
In 1870 Mr. Edwards gave up teaching, settled in the village of Holley and estab-
lished the hardware business which he has since conducted. In 1874 his store and its
contents were burned, entailing a severe loss; but he immediately purchased a new
stock of goods, and now carries one of the largest stocks in the county. To meet the
demands of his increasing business he built a brick block on the east side of the public
square in 1885, which he still occupies.
Mr. Edwards is a Republican in politics, and, though he has not sought office or been
an active partisan, his fellow citizens have tendered him substantial public honors. In
1882 he was elected supervisor of the town of Murray, and in 1887 he was elected
member of Assembly for Orleans county, and re-elected in 1888. In that body he
served the county in an intelligent and able manner. He has also served two years as
president of Holley village. He is a member of the Methodist church, active and
liberal in promoting religious work, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school
many years, and for a number of years president of the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Edwards married, October 27, 1852, Jane, daughter of Alonzo Smith, a farmer
near Knowlesville, Orleans county. They have five children: Lillian, teacher of
English and Normal Methods in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N.Y.; Frank
and Fred, who are with their father in his store ; Ella H. and Jennie G., both of whom
are successful teachers.
CHARLES S. ALLEN.
Charles S. Allen, who for forty-six years was known throughout Orleans county as
a surveyor and civil engineer, was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, N. Y.,
August 1, 1813, and was a son of Caleb and Huldah (Dawley) Allen. The father, a
Rliode Islander by birth, was of Welsh descent and inherited the sterling characteristics
of his race. He was a mechanic of limited means and in 1827 moved with his large
family to Cayuga county. When nineteen years of age Charles S. bought his time,
agreeing to pay his father the first $50 he could earn. His education was necessarily
confined to the common schools, but his native ability and brillianc intellect, sharpened
by close application and systematic readmg, enabled him to acquire a good knowledge
of the elementary English branches, and he went to Ontario county and taught school
in the village of Phelps. While teaching there, at the suggestion of a friend, he studied
BIOGRAPHICAL. 37
surveying and civil engineering, and spent one summer assisting in surveying the rail-
road from Auburn to Rochester. Another year was spent in Indiana, then a compara-
tive vv'ilderness, in surveying and laying out portions of that State. Returning to
Phelps he resumed his teaching, and in the spring of 1848 came vs^ith his family to
Barre, settling first on a farm of seventy acres in what is known as the Burmah district.
Five years later he sold this and removed to a farm near Barre Center, whence he came
in 18G6 to he town of Albion, locating just south of the village, where he died May
20. 1894.
During the major portion of his residence in Orleans county Mr. Allen followed the
dual avocations of farmer and surveyor. He never affiliated with politics in a promi-
nent sense, but was actively identified with many enterprises of a general character.
He was no office seeker, yet for several years he served as one of the assessors of Barre.
It was in the profession of surveying and civil engineering, however, that he was best
known. In this capacity in this county he was employed by over 2,200 persons and by
the court was appointed on twenty-eight ditch commissions. He also assisted in divid-
ing and settling twenty-five estates, and was one of the originators and for many years
a director of the Orleans County Mu'ual Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Allen had naturally what might be called a mathematical mind, which was
greatly improved by careful study, until he acquired such a mastery of arithmetic,
algebra, geometry, and mensuration that there were very few problems in either of
those branches which he could not elucidate and demonstrate. He also, by long prac-
tice, had become very familiar with the use and management of the best surveying and
engineering instruments. He was often called as an expert witness in close and trouble-
some litigation respecting boundary lines and proportionate division of lands in dispute
in court, and there is no instance recollected in which in any of these cases his profes-
sional opinion was overruled or set aside. He possessed indomitable courage and per-
severance, and was characteristically prompt to meet engagements, his reliability in this
connection being proverbial. He was excessively careful to cause no one any incon-
venience or trouble in waiting. He was decidedly a self-made man and endowed with
a keen observation at once discriminating and accurate, a strict integrity and a charity
that could not olten be provoked to speak ill of another were not the least of his many
virtues. He loved his work and took great pride in its proper execution. Above al
he was a patriotic and useful citizen, a faithful friend, and a pleasant and genial com-
panion. In religion he was a consistent Baptist, being an influential member of that
church during his entire residence in the county. While his religious convictions were
of the strictest New England orthodox faith, yet his mind was of that free and fair
nature that it was always open to the reception of new truths, if any there were, from
whatever source they might be presented.
Mr. Allen was married on the 6th of June, 1838, in Phelps, N. Y., to Miss Edna
Robinson, daughter of James Robinson, who was one of the early settlers of Ontario
county and who built the first house in Canandaigua. She survives him, residing on the
homestead in Albion. Their children were Alvin R. Allen, clerk of Orleans county;
Dr. A. J. Allen, of Lockport, N. Y. ; Dr. William C. Allen, of Colorado Springs, Col. ;
and Josephus W., James G., and Frank M. Allen, deceased.
38 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
JOHN NEWTON PROCTOR.
John Newton Proctor was born in the town of Gaines on the 12th of October, 1828,
and died in Albion on the 11th of February, 1889. Within this brief period of three
score years was comprised the Hfe of one of the best men the county ever honored as a
citizen, a man whose memory illuminates the pages' of local history and .«hines with
peculiar splendor from amidst his more distinguished contemporaries. His parents were
in limited circumstances and his preliminary education was necessarily confined to the
district schools of his native town, supplemented, however, by a short attendance at
the old Gaines Academy. He passed his boyhood on the farm, acquiring a robust con-
stitution, and overcoming difficulties with characteristic energy. His career, successful
and honorable, was purely American. At an early age he became a clerk in the general
store of Era?tus Woodruff in Gaines village, but about two years later, when less than
twenty, he accepted a similar position with William Gere in Albion, where he ever
afterward resided. His shrewd business tact soon won his employer's confidence and
admiration to such an extent that he was taken into partnership, which continued until
Mr. Gere's death. He then formed a partnership with Isaac Gere (son of W illiam)
which continued until the latter's death, when the stock was sold to Butcher & House
in September, 1866. From then until his decease Mr. Proctor devoted his time to
farming and to other business matters in which he was interested.
Mr. Proctor possessed an unusually active nature and a tremendous will power.
Full six feet in height and erect in stature, his presence was commanding, courteous,
and dignified. ~ He was endowed with great decision of character, and abhorred hypoc-
risy, dishonesty, and lack of integrity. When he had once formed an opinion, which
was always after careful deliberation, he never wavered, but carried it out over all
obstacles. Unlike most men he never acted from the vantage-ground of policy, but
pursued an independent, fearless course, a course, however, that made him no enemies,
but instead, hosts of friends. Without any special study, but possessing shrewd judg-
ment and sound common sense, he had considerable knowledge of law and was an ex-
cellent conveyancer, a business he performed more or less for others for several years.
He was a beautiful penman and left many examples of fine chirography.
In politics Mr. Proctor was originally a Whig and afterward a strong Democrat, but
never a politician or an office seeker. Nevertheless he was very influential and gave his
party his unqualified support. For several years he was trustee and president of Albion
village and a member and president of the Board of Education. While serving in the
former capacity he was instrumental in permanently suppressing certain forms of vice
which had long been flagrant, and during the winter of 1887-8, as a crowning act of
his life, he was active in abolishing the corrupt system of dealing with tramps that was
practiced by officials whose remuneration was derived from fees. As a financier Mr.
Proctor possessed qualities of an unusual order. Shrewd and far-sighted he was gen-
erally successful, and by a large coterie of friends and acquaintances was recognized as
a safe counselor and adviser. He was frequently consulted in such matters, and was
often made the assignee of business concerns, performing his duties to the satisfaction
of all interested parties. Many a man owed his start in life to his liberality and valu-
J^/, ^M(c^.
<:>y^
^C^OV^TT^^
BIOGRAPHICAL. 39
able advice. He was a true friend to the deserving young, one to whom they could
go for substantial aid and encouragement. For several years he was the able business
and financial power of the Curtis Manufacturing Company, directing its affairs both as
president and director and from the position of a large shareholder. He was an in-
satiate reader on economic subjects and well posted in general matters, particularly
those of a political nature; and was, moreover, in close touch with the public. For
many years he was trustee and a prominent attendant at the Baptist Church in Albion,
to which both he and his estimable wife contributed liberally of their means.
October 12, 1852, Mr. Proctor married Miss Frances Orcelia Gere, the daughter of his
business associate, William Gere. She was a native of Saratoga county, N. Y., and
died March 7, 1888, aged sixty-two years. Their only child was Clara, the wife of ex-
District-Attorney William P. L. Stafford, of Albion.
JOSEPH PRATf.
Joseph Pratt was a native of Hadley, Mass., being born there October 9, 1802. Soon
after his parents started for Jefferson county, N. Y., but the father died on the way,
leaving the family to complete their journey alone. They setiled in Jefferson county,
whence Joseph removed to Sweden, Monroe county, where he learned the trade of a
carpenter and joiner, which he followed several years. About 1820 he came to Claren-
don, purchased a tract of land in the eastern part of the town, and engaged in farming.
Mr. Pratt also studied su veying, which profession, he followed with marked success
in this and adjacent towns, being widely known as an accurate and talented mathema-
tician. He possessed a mind of rare discrimination and a knowledge at once thorough
and complete. lu politics he was originally a Whig and subsequently a Republican, and
in local affairs was both prominent and active. He was a justice of the peace in Claren-
don for many years, and during the Rebellion was one of the loan commissioner.s, filling
these positions with signal ability and unwavering fidelity. A man of unblemished
character, endowed with sterling qualities of head and heart, he was highly respected
and universally esteemed by his townsmen, whom he served officially and professionally
with merited distinction.
Mr. Pratt married for his first wife Melinda Howard, who died December 11, 1849.
November 27, 1851, he married, second, Mrs. Chloe Hill, of Sweden, N. Y., who survives
him. His death occurred June 29, 1881.
JOHN WELLS HART.
John Wells Hart was born in Albion, September 11, 1836. His grandparents, Joseph
and Lucy (Smithj Hart, came with their family to Albion from the central part of the
State in 1812. They were of English descent and always substantial farmers. Joseph
Hart was a deacon in the Albion Presbyterian church from its organization until his
40 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
death about 1852. His son, William Hart, the father of John W., was born in Durham,
Dutchess county, February 22, 1801, and died in Albion December 30, 1879. He mar-
ried Pamelia Wells, a native of Wethersfield, Conn., whose death occurred in January,
1865. He settled on the farm situated within the corporate limits of Albion village now
owned and occupied by their son.
John W. Hart was reared on the farm and the district schools of his day, finishing
his education in Albion Academy. At the age of twenty-one he assumed charge of the
homestead, which he inherited upon his father's death, making it his life long home. He
is one of the prominent and substantial men of the town and county and intimately
identified with every good cause. In public and in private he merits the respect ^nd
esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. He is actively connected with the Presby-
terian church of Albion, being one of its most liberal supporters and at present a mem-
ber of its Board of Trustees, In a business way he is widely known and especially
prominent. He was long a member of the Albion Shoe Company, and ever since its
organization in 1890 has been actively connected with the Blanchard Vinegar Company,
being one of its largest stockholders.
October 28, 1869, Mr. Hart married Miss Sarah Lucretia Smith, daughter of Russell
Smith, of Gaines. They have had five children, three of whom are living : Pamelia
Wells (Mrs. Augustus Berhand), of Albion; Grace and Gertrude at home; Maynard
Samuel, who died at the age of eleven years, and one who died in infancy
ELIZUR HART.
Elizur Hart was born in Durham, Greene county, N. Y., May 22, 1803, and died
while on a visit to his wife's sister in Jonesville, Saratoga county, August 13, 1870. His
father, Deacon Joseph Hart, settled in St-neca county in 1806, and moved thence in
October, 1812, to what is now the town and village of Albion, where he spent the re-
mainder of his life; he participated in the War of 1812 and was one of the founders of
the First Presbyterian church, of Albion.
Elizur Hart enjoyed the benefits of only limited instruction in schools, as it was several
years after the family came into the wilderness that schools were established in their
neighborhood. During his youth he was employed mainly in clearing up the farm, in
which occupation he acquired a robust constitution and a well developed physique. He
formed habits of remarkable industry and frugality, but grew to manhood with little
knowledge of books or business beyond that of the community where he lived. About
1827 he was elected constable, an office he held two years, and was necessarily often
called to Albion village. Having $500 of his own and a like sum placed in his hands
by his brother William, he began to buy small promissory notes and deal in other local
securities, at which he was very successful. About this time Joseph Hart deeded to his
sons Elizur and William 100 acres of his farm for |500, and subsequently William be-
came sole owner by paying his brother the $500 originally placed in the latter's hands
and all profits that had accrued therefiom.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 41
Mr. Hart continued to invest his money in local securities, and also in bonds and
mortgages and articles issued by the Holland Company for land. In 1852 he was
appointed assignee and afterward receiver of the Orleans Insurance Company, and upon
the failure of the old Bank of Orleans was made receiver of that institution. In this
capacity he was eminently successful. Its diversified business affairs were settled up
to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, and the labor thus directed established for him
a wide and substantial reputation as a sound financier, a reputation which he retained
throughout the remainder of his life. February 17, 1859, with Joseph M. Cornell as
cashier and himself as president, he started the Orleans County Bank and commenced
business in February, 1860, with a capital of $50,000 which was soon increased to
$100,000. August 9, 1865, this institution was superseded by the present Orleans
County National Bank, of which Mr. Hart was president and principal stockholder until
his death in August, 1870, when he was succeeded in the latter position by his only son,
Hon. E. Kirke Hart.
Elizur Hart was not a speculator in business. He was a shrewd investor, careful,
conservative, and deliberate, and uniformly successful. Correct and exemplary in his
habits, he was never dilatory or impulsive. Without the aid or influence of wealthy
connections he became one of the wealthiest bankers in the State, controlhng at his death
hundreds of thousands of dollars, a fortune accumulated from comparatively nothing.
He was emphatically a self-made man, and was characterized by strict integrity, un-
questioned honesty and unwavering fidelity. He was highly respected and widely
known, and exerted a marked influence on the community in which he lived. In reli-
gion he always took an abiding interest. He was an active member of the First Presby-
terian church, of Albion, and in his will gave $50,000 to the society to erect a house of
worship and $5,000 as an endowment to the Sunday school. This handsome legacy
was used in the erection of the present beautiful stone edifice — a fitting monument to
the memory of a good man, Mr. Hart was not a politician and never mingled in poli-
tics, yet he was well posted on general subjects and took a deep interest in the affairs
of his town and county. He was quiet and unobtrusive, devoting his attention strictly
to business, but was nevertheless prominently identified as a citizen in all matters of
public import.
In May. 1835, Mr. Hart married Miss Loraine Field, who died February 11, 1847.
October 16, 1849, he married for his second wife Miss Cornelia King, who survives him
and resides in Albion village. His children were : Frances E. (Mrs. Oliver C. Day),
Jennie K. (Mrs. Henry L. Smith), and Hon. E. Kirke.
HON. E. KIRKE HART.
One of the most illustrious names that ever adorned the pages of local history was
that of Hon. E. Kirke Hart. For over a quarter of a century it was a synonym for
business integrity, sound financial judgment, and thorough honesty. It carried a
prestige of extraordinary worth into every community in Western New York as well
F
42 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
as into larger cities of the country. In political, business, and educational circles its
power was conceded beyond dispute, while in private life it was love, indulgence, and
tenderness personified. In all the varied relations of an eventful career it merited and
retained the confidence, esteem and respect of a wide and diversified public.
Hon. E. Kirke Hart was born in the village of Albion on the 8th of April, 1841, and
was the only son of Elizur and Loraine (Field) Hart. His education, received in the
common schools, of his native place and in the old Albion Academy under Professors
George Whiting and Oliver Morehouse, was of a practical business character, embracing
a liberal range of the sciences and the English classics. At the close of his school days
he spent two years, 1856-58, in Adrian, Mich., and Alton, 111., joining at the latter
place the military expedition against the Mormons under General Harvey. Returning
to Albion his practical business training commenced in earnest. In February, 1860,
his father, with Joseph M. Cornell, established the Orleans County Bank, the two tak-
ing respectively the positions of president and cashier. Mr. Hart was made book-
keeper of the new institution, and continued as such until the present Orleans Cqunty
National Bank superseded it in August, 1865, when he was promoted to the post of
teller. Upon the death of Elizur Hart in August, 1870, he became the principal stock-
holder of the bank. Mr. Cornell was elected president and E. Kirke Hart was made
cashier, which oflfice he held until the death of the former in July, 1890, when he be-
came chief executive officer, and remained in this position till his decease, February 18,
1893, after an illness covering a period of several months.
Mr. Hart directed his attention mainly to his banking interests, but he was neverthe-
less identified with various other business enterprises, and was known throughout
Western New York. In 1882, with George Elwanger, he founded the Rochester Post-
Express, being president of the company several years, and continued one of its princi-
pal owners until near the close of 1891 ; and in this connection it is worthy of note to
add that he was ever generous, considerate and appreciative, never seekmg to pervert
the newspaper from that noble service of the public to the service of any private in-
terest. He was also a director of the Niagara Falls International Bridge Company.
Mr. Hart was not a politician in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but he took a
deep interest in public affairs and mingled more or less in politics. He was originally
an ardent Republican, and in 1871 was nominated by that party for the Assembly, be-
ing elected by a pi-.enomenal majority. He was placed on the Assembly Committees on
ways and means and on banks^ and made a good record as an able legislator. In 1872
he sympathized with the Greeley or Liberal movement, and following this trend in
politics was ever afterward considered a nominal Democrat. In 1870 he was placed
on the Democratic ticket for representative in Congress from this (the 30th) district,
composed of the counties of Orleans and Monroe, and was elected by nearly 1,000
majority, while the nominal Republican majority was 4,000 or 5,000. In Congress,
where he served one term, he was made a member of the committees on banking and
currency and on revision of the laws of the United States, and had for his most mti-
mate associates and friends such distinguished men as S. S. Cox, Samuel J. Randall,
James A. Garfield and others. His legislative career was characterized by strict fidelity
to his constituents. He had no partisan passion, no political prejudices, no personal
BIOGRAPHICAL. 43
ambition. He put his great business experience and ability to valuable public use and
generally reached sound conclusions on questions of .vital importance. In fact, his
political record was one of which any man might well be proud.
It was in his native village, however, with which he was prominently identified, that
Mr. Hart was most esteemed. He served it in various capacities, and always with a
love born of home associations. For many years he was a member of its Board of
Trustees and Board of Education, holding the latter position at the time of his death.
For several years he was one of the three commissioners of beautiful Mt. Albion
Cemetery, where his remains repose, and whose beauty his efforts contributed to in-
crease. He was largely instrumental m securing electric lights in the village, being a
large stockholder and the treasurer of the company, and it was due wholly to his in-
fluence and personal labors that the House of Refuge for women was located in Albion.
He was a member and the first president (in 1890) of the Board of Managers of that
institution, and served as such until his decease. Early in the sixties, under the minis-
try of Rev. Henry Niles, Mr. Hart became a member of the First Presbyterian Church
of Albion, and for many years was one of its trustees. Through the efforts of himself
and his cousin, John W. Hart, both giving liberally, the erection of the present brick
parsonage, one of the finest in Western New York, was made possible. To all these as
well as to many other charitable and benevolent objects he gave generously of both
time and means.
As a business man Mr. Hart was a model of precision and accuracy. Reticent, tena-
cious, and quiet in manner, he was slow to act, but decisive, firm and immovable when
his resolution was taken. He showed enthusiasm seldom, discouragement never, com-
mon sense, confidence always. He possessed sound judgment and exceptional business
ability. He was emphatically a man of culture and rare Hterary attainments, and an
indefatigable collector of autographs, there being, it was said, but two collections in the
world that exceeded his in completeness and value. A genuine lover of books, he ac-
cumulated one of the largest private libraries in Western New York, comprising many
rare and costly works and many volumes of the English classics. He was the first to
fign the petition to establish the present circulating library in Albion and always took
a deep interest in its welfare. Endowed with superior literary tastes he was a recog-
nized authority on general literature, and was also foremost in all educational enter-
prises, serving for a time as chairman of the library committee of the Board of Educa-
tion. His large fortune was liberally dispensed, but always with a discriminating good
sense. Eminently successful himself he inspired others with self-confidence and enthu-
siasm, and unostentatiously assisted them. His sense of justice was keen and sweet,
and no one knew better how to speak words of encouragement and to communicate to
the unfortunate some of his own firmness. He was a man with warm attachments
and faithful friendships and a nature rare for its combined strength and tenderness.
June 10, 1863, Mr. Hart married Miss Louise Sanderson of Alton, 111., who survives
him and resides in the family home on Main street in Albion. Their children, five of
whom are living, were Charles E. Hart, who succeeded upon the death of his father to
presidency of the Orleans County National Bank, which position he has since held •
Emma Brown, a graduate of Vassar College and one of the directors of the bank, and
44 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
Loraine Field, at home; E. Kirk. jr., a student at Harvard College; Louise Sanderson,
at home ; and Mary Ann, who died May 3, 1875, aged four years. In his fannily Mr.
Hart was especially revered for his many endearing and ennobling qualities of head
and heart. To ihem he ever gave a father's boundless love and indulgence. His home
was his sanctuary, the fireside his pleasure.
HON. WALLACE L'HOMMEDIEU. •
After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes several members of the Huguenot family,
L'Hommedieu, wei'e obliged, on account of religious persecution to flee from La
Rochelle, France, and finally came to America about the year 1685. Benjamin L'Hom-
medieu, one of the family, located at Southold, L. L, of whom Wallace L'Hommedieu is
a descendant.
Mr. L'Hommedieu's grandfather, Mulford L'Hommedieu, a resident of Long Island,
enlisted in the Revolutionary Army just prior to the battle of Long Island and served
until the close of the war, thereupon going to Swanton, Franklin county, Vt., to reside,
at which place his son, Henry, father of Wallace, was born January 13, 1799. Henry
L'Hommedieu removed from Vermont to the town of Shelby in the spring of 1826,
where he has since resided and is still living at the advanced age of ninety- five years.
Wallace L'Hommedieu was born in Shelby, Orleans county, N. Y., on the 8th day of
September, 1833. He worked on his father's farm until he arrived at the age of
twenty-one ; gaining his education by attending the common schools and the Genesee
Weslyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. In 1862 he married Frances M. Berry a daughter
of Col. John Berry of Holley, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. L'Hommedieu have five children:
Avis Marion, wife of Hervey D. Jump of Sayre, Pa.; Irving, a lawyer of Medina; John
Berry, a physician of the Department of Public Corrections and Charities of the city of
New York ; Jessie Belle and Albert Warren.
Mr. L'Hommedieu has been a member of the Republican party since its formation in
1856, and has held several public positions in the gift of his party and in that of the
people. He was one of the assessors of the town of Shelby from 1869 to 1876. In
1887 he was elected supervisor of the town of Shelby, being the first Republican
elected to that position in eleven years. He was re-elected in 1888 and in 1889, de-
clining a renomination in 1890. In the Board of Supervisors he was a faithful repre-
sentative of his town and took an active part in the transactions of the Board.
In the fall of 1889 he became a candidate for member of Assembly and was nomi-
nated for that office by the Republican County Convention on the 14th day of Septem-
ber, 1889, being elected by a large majority at the succeeding election. In the Assem-
bly of 1890 he was a member of the Committees on Commerce and Navigation, Banks
and Excise. He was returned by his district to the Assembly of 1891, and was a mem-
ber of the Committees on Banks and Excise. As assemblyman Mr. L'Hommedieu was
a worthy representative and diligently cared for the interests of his constituents. He
secured the passage of two general and several local and special acts.
^2^,/Z^d.^^',-^=^,;*^^<i>^<Z>2>^>^^^
BIO&RA.PHICAL. 45
Mr. L'Hommedieu is a prominent member of the first Presbyterian Church of Medina
and has been a member of its Session and Board of Trustees for a long term of years;
he is also one of the Trustees of the Slater Fund of the Niagara Presbytery.
Mr. L'Hommedieu has been a farmer all of his life and resides on his farm on what
is know as Maple Ridge in the town of Shelby. He also owns the farm upon which
his father settled in 1826, which is near his residence, here he expects to spend the re-
mainder of his days, engaged in the true husbandry of earth.
HON. MARCUS H. PHILLIPS.
Few men in Western New York have more thoroughly identified themselves with
their inmiediate communities than has the Hon. Marcus H. Phillips, who has been a
resident of the little hamlet of Hulberton in the town of Murray since 1851. Born in
Barre, Orleans county, on the 23d of January, 1829, he is the youngest son and third
child of Hanford and Sally (Raymond) Phillips and the grandson of Perez Phillips, a
native of Massachusetts, whose ancestors emigrated to that commonwealth from Wales,
at a very dale. The latter moved from Vermont to Candor, Tioga county, N. Y., in
1804, and in March, 1819, his son, Hanford Phillips, came thence to Orleans county and
settled in Barre, where he cleared a farm, married, and resided until 1851, w^ien he re-
moved with his family to Hulberton and purchased the Joseph Budd homestead, which
his son, Marcus H., now owns and occupies. He was born in Marlboro, Vt., and was
married on February 1, 1824, to Miss Sally Raymond, daughter of John Raymond, of
Barre Center. Their children were: Morgan, who died in infancy in 1826 ; Nancy M.,
born in 1826, died February 14, 1858; Marcus H.; Rhoda E. (Mrs. G. L. Le Roy), born
October 30, 1830; and one who died in infancy in 1833. Mr. Phillips was a substantial
farmer, a highly respected citizen, and for many years a liberal supporter and an active
member, steward, class-leader, and trustee of the M. E, Church at Hulberton, where he
died March 8, 1877, aged nearly eighty-one. His wife's death occurred January 5,
1870, in her sixty ninth year.
Marcus H. Phillips has been a life-long farmer. He was educated in the common
schools of Barre, in the academy in Albion, and in the Caryville Collegiate Seminary at
Oakfield, Genesee county, completing the usual courses and acquiring a practical knowl-
edge that has ever been increased by keen observation and systematic reading. His
youthful pursuits developed in him a rugged physique, while the obstacles he encoun-
tered sharpened a natually brilliant intellect. He imbibed habits of economy and thrift,
and improved every opportunity which promised legitimate advancement. Since 1851
he has lived on his present farm at Hulberton, to which he has largely given his atten-
tion, being also interested in stone quarrying. From 1866 to 1869 he was engaged in
the general mercantile trade, and during that period and previously he carried on quite
an extensive produce business. In all these as well as in other directions he has been
very successful.
In a political sense Mr. Phillips has been especially active, holding a number of re-
46 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
sponsible positions with signal ability and great credit to himself and to his town and
county. He has always been a strong Republican and a recognized leader in the coun-
cils of his party. In 1855 he was elected superintendent of the schools of Murray and
in 1860 and again in 1863 was chosen school commissioner of Orleans county. Endowed
with superior attainments he was eminently qualified to fill these offices, which he did
with singular executive ability. In 1871 he was elected clerk of the county of Orleans,
and for two years, 1880 and 1881, represented his Assembly district in the State Legisla-
ture. In the latter capacity Mr. Phillips attained pre-eminent distinction, serving as
chairman of the sub-committee of the whole and as a member of the committee on
ways and means, and on other committees. His voice was frequently heard in debate
and his personal influence often decided important questions. During the great fight
over the election of U. S. Senators to succeed Hon. Roscoe Conldin and Hon. Thomas
C. Piatt in the spring and summer of 1881, he was the recognized leader of those Re-
publicans who affiliated with neither the "Stalwarts" nor "Half Breeds," and to him
more than any other man was due the successful breaking of a long and tedious dead-
lock. He personally prepared and circulated the petitions which assembled the decid-
ing conference and the final caucus, and which resulted in the election of Hon.
Warner Miller and Hon. Elbridge G. Lapham. In 1887 and 1888 he was a valued
member of the Republican State Committee and during President Harrison's adminis-
tration was deputy collector of internal revenue. His political career has been charac-
terized by constant party fealty, by unswerving integrity, by honesty of purpose, by a
thorough knowledge of events, and by an honorable ambition. He is a shrewd judge
of men, and in every public capacity has performed his duties to the lasting benefit of
his fellow beings, inaugurating a number of public reforms which have been discussed
and often adopted. As a citizen Mr. Phillips is universally respected, and in religious
and educational matters is prominently identified. He is a trustee of the M. E. Church
of Hulberton, to which he is a liberal contributor and an active supporter.
November 14, 1858, Mr. Phillips united in marriage with Miss Julia E., daughter of
Horace Balcom, ^ of Murray. They have had five children : John M., who married
Grace, daughter of Judge E. R. Reynolds, of Albion, and lives in Murray ; Clara A.,
the wife of Arnold A. Comstock, of Carlton; M. Jennie and Arthur H., at home; and
Blanch, who died in infancy in July, 1875.
^ Horace Balcom, the father of Mrs. Marcus H. Phillips, came to Murray from Hopewell, Ontario
county, in t8i2, and selected a farm on lot 217, through which the Erie Canal was afterward con-
structed. On this he settled permanently in 1816 and lived there the remainder of his life, dying
April 5, 1861, aged seventy=one. His wife, whose maiden name was Sally Lyon, died December 2,
i860. Mr. Balcom was always a prominent citizen and was highly respected for his many sterling
traits of character. He was for many years a justice of the peace, and a liberal supporter and an
active member of the M. E. Church in Hulberton. His children were, Rosetta (Mrs. Lewis Smith),
deceased; Hiram, deceased; John Martin, of Sparta, Mich.; Myron, of Missouri; Mary A. (Mrs.
Nelson Root), deceased; Darwin, who resides on the old homestead; Charles, living at Murray
Station ; and Julia E. (Mrs. Marcus H. Phillips).
BIOGRAPHICAL. 47
WILLIAM G. SWAN.
William G. Swan is a native of Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., and was born Feb-
ruary 9, 1822, being the eldest of two children of whom the other, Mary J., was born
February 5, 1824, and died November 14, 1839. His parents were Coddington W. and
Susan (Gere) Swan, who were born in Saratoga county June 13, and July 14, 1797,
respectively. In 1835 the family removed to the village of Albion, where they ever
afterward resided, and where Mr. Swan, pere, engaged in business as a general merchant
which he followed until shortly before his death on October 10, 1843. His wife sur-
vived him till February 5, 1875.
William G. Swan was educated in the schools of Albion and of Lima, Livingston
county, and when about eighteen began clerking in hi.s father's store in the village first
mentioned. He was reared amid scenes of ceaseless activity and early imbibed habits of
thrift and frugality. Possessing qualifications inherited from sturdy ancestry and a keen
discrimination born of individual worth, he quickly availed himself of every opportunity
and diligently applied both talent and skill to his daily work, in which he won and ever
afterward retained the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. A few years before
his father's death he assumed charge of the mercantile business in partnership with Joseph
M. Cornell, under the name of Swan & Cornell, and continued about ten years, when
the firm sold out and dissolved. In October, 1855, Mr. Swan was appointed superinten-
dent of the Niagara Railway suspension bridge at Suspension Bridge, N. Y.. a position
he held continuously until October, 1893, when he permanently retired from business
During this entire period of thirty-eight years he served with rare fidelity and distin-
guished ability, receiving the meritorious thanks of an appreciative corporation, and
acquiring the recognition of both press and public. In the mean time, in fact from 1835,
he retained his residence in Albion, building his present handsome and commodious
brick house on the corner of Main street and Mt. Albion avenue in 1877.
Mr. Swan has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his town, and in all
matters of general importance manifests his hearty, unqualified support. In the educa-
tional and moral advancement of the communit)' he is especially prominent, lending his
personal aid and influence in furthering every goo 1 cause. He was the first subscriber
in Orleans county to the present volume, which is honored by this brief tribute to his
well-spent career. Endowed with sterling characteristics of an unusual order, possessed
of a personality at once marked a"d modest, and distinguished by attributes invaluable
and rare, he has ever lived the life of a quiet, unostentatious citizen, exemplary in its
unassuming simplicity. Public spirited, enterprising and benevolent, encouraging every
laudable undertaking, and aiding with substantial means all charitable objects he merits
the respect and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances. In an ofiScial capacity he is
not without honors deservedly conferred. He is treasurer and one of the commission-
ers of Mount Albion Cemetery and treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of
the Niagara Falls International Bridge Company. He is also president of the Board of
Trustees of the Baptist church, of Albion, with wh.ch he has been connected for fifty-
seven years, and to which he has contributed liberally of time, talent, and means.
Mr. Swan married, first, Catherine C, daughter of Lemuel C. Paine, of Albion, who
48 LANDMARKS OF OELEANS COUNTY.
died September 28, 1854. October 16, I860, he married, second, Miss EmmaM. Ether-
idge, of Hastings, Minn. Mrs. Swan is prominently identified with all charitable, reli-
gious, and literary enterprises.
EDWIN L. WAGE. 1
Edwin L. Wage was born in Providence, Saratoga county, N. Y. He is the eldest of
three children of William S. and Julia (Woodard) Wage, natives of Saratoga county,
who moved with their family to East Gaines in 1844. In 1861 they removed to Barre,
where Mrs. Wage died in October, 1865. William S. Wage subsequently came to the
village of Albion, where his death occurred in April, 1884. He vv^as always a farmer.
The son, Edwin L., w^as raised on the farm, obtaming his preliminary education in the
district schools of Gaines. In the autumn of 1853 he entered the Albion Academy,
where he pursued the regular course of study during the spring and fall terms for five
years, teaching, meanwhile, winters and working on the farm summers. Leaving the
academy he continued in these occupations until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a
private in Company D, 151st N. Y. Vol. Inf., being, however, elected sergeant before
leaving for the front. His regiment was attached to the Sixth Corps of the Army of the
Potomac. In January, 1864, he passed an examination before General Casey's board
and was commissioned captain at Washington by President Lincoln, and assigned to
duty in the 20th Regiment of United States Colored Troops, then stationed at New
York Harbor. In March the regiment was ordered to New Orleans, and soon after its
arrival he was permanently detached and appointed provost-marshal, with the rank of
major, with headquarters at Carrollton, La., which position he held until August, 1865,
when he resigned his commission, was honorably mustered out of service and returned
to his home. He participated in all the battles and hard marches of his regiment from
the time it left until his promotion, never missing a roll call during the time while they
were in the field.
Returning to Albion he engaged in the fire and life insurance business for nine years.
He then studied law in the office of Reynolds & Crandall, completing his course in the
law school of Hamilton College, and graduating with the class of 1879. He immediately
formed a partnership for the practice of his profession with the Hon. Isaac S. Signor at
Albion, under the firm name of Signor & Wage, which partnership still continues. In
politics he has always been a staunch Republican. In 1884 and 1885 he was clerk of
the Board of Supervisors, and in 1890 supervisor of the eleventh United States Census
for the Tenth District of the State of New York. At the present time he is a member
of the Republican State Committee.
June 15, 1865, Mr. Wage was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Comstock, of
Carlton, N. Y. They have had two children, a daughter, Julia C, who died in 1880,
aged fifteen years, and a son, Arnold Edwin Wage, aged nineteen, who is now (October,
1894) a member of the class of 1898 of the University of Rochester.
' By W. Stanley Child.
PART III.
FAMILY SKETCHES,
FAMILY SKETCHES.
Anderson, George G., was born in Gaines, March 10, 1839. He resides on the farm
that was owned and occupied by his father, Nahum Anderson, and also his grandfather,
Robert Anderson, who came to Gaines from Ira, Rutland county, Vt, and invested ex-
tensively in real estate; he was the first judge of Orleans county, which then included
Genesee county, and also served his district in the State Legislature. Judge Anderson
was a man who commanded the respect and esteem of all. His family consisted of a
wife and four children, who journeyed from Vermont in wagons drawn by oxen.
Nahum Anderson, his son, was prominently identified with the leading interests of
Gaines for many years, serving the town as supervisor several years, was a thorough
and successful farmer, and died August 7, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-four.
His wife was Matilda Van Kirk, whose birthplace was Ovid, Seneca county, N. Y.
They had six children, only one of whom is now living; she died June 24, 1858. In
April, 1861, he was again married to Hannah Morgan, of Groton, Conn., who survives
him. George G. attended the public schools in his native town, was two years at Yates
Academy, after which he attended the Collegiate Institute at Rochester; his vocation
has always been farming, and the present condition of his farm speaks well for his abil-
ities in that line. On December 24, 1862, he married Mary J. Sherwood, of Shelby ;
their children are : Robert S., who, after graduating from Albion High School and the
Buffalo Business University, began business in Olympia, Wash., where he was employed
in the State auditor's office and invested in real estate both in Olympia and in Tacoma,
Wash., and Howard R., who is now a student in Albion High School.
Atwell, Eli. — Nelson Culver, son of pioneer Orange Culver, the latter being mentioned
elsewhere in these sketches, was born July 25, 1812, He married Ann Alida Hanson,
on September 3, 1840, in Cass county, Mich., where he had settled two years previously.
He was the first of the children of Orange Culver to leave the old home farm. Nelson's
children were Caroline, who married Eli Atwell, September 25, 1866; David W., who
died in Barre, May 20, 1867; and Homer H., who is a farmer in Barre. Nelson Culver
died in Elkhart county, Ind., December 3, 1851, and his wife February 13, 1857. Levi
Atwell was one of the pioneers of western New York, coming from Cayuga county in
1811. Near what is now Eagle Harbor he discovered a valuable spring of water, and
there he decided to settle. He took an article for the land, made a clearing, then re-
turned east for the winter, but became a permanent resident in 1812. His children
were Abbie, Roxie, Mary, Joseph, Martin, and Levi. Joseph married Anna Freeman
4 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
in 1828, and they had these children : James W., who died in Albion January 23, 1892 ;
Freeman J., now a prosperous lawyer in Dowagiac, Mich. ; Eli, of Barre, and Lydia,
who died November 5, 1887, at her home in Atlanta, Mo. Joseph Atwell died May 4,
1872; his wife died in 1838. Eli Atwell is known as one of the best farmers of Barre.
He was born January 17, 1834. At twenty-six he began farming for himself near
Barre Center. His first wife was Mary Miller, whom he married October 16, 1861.
She lived only about four years, and on September 25, 1866, he married Caroline
Culver. They have no own children, but Anna E., wife of Euretus AUis, and Daisy M.,
are their children by adoption.
Alderman, Horace, was born at Manlius, Onondaga county, in 1829, a son of Zardius
and Hannah Alderman. He came to Orleans county in 1849, and settled at Albion,
where he engaged in boating until 1863, when he purchased a farm in the southwestern
part of Murray, where he has since resided. In 1854 he married Susan Mustill, of
Murray. He is a Republican in politics.
Allen, Daniel B., is a grandson of Amasa Allen, who was born in New England, and
died in Pavilion, Genesee county, about 1820, aged sixty years. He was a soldier in
the Revolution, serving seven years and seven months. Horatio, his son, and father of
our subject, was born in 1799, and died in Niagara county in 1839. He married
Hannah Tirrill, born in Connecticut in 1804, and died in 1833. They had three
children: Albert K, born in 1824, died in 1860; Henry T., born in 1826; Daniel B.,
our subject, born November 20, 1828, in Niagara county. Mr. Allen married .second,
Adeline Freeman, by whom he had three children : Matilda, Elizabeth, and Candace,
the latter two deceased. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and reared
on a farm. At the age of twenty-one he began to learn the painter's trade, which
business he followed nine years. In 1861 he bought the farm where he now resides,
comprising 160 acres. Mr. Allen has served as trustee and president of the village of
Suspension Bridge, Niagara county, N. Y., also justice of the peace of the town of
Carlton, Orleans county, N. Y., having served fourteen years. April 16, 1855, he
married at Niagara Falls, Caroline Dutcher, who was born in Schoharie county, Decem-
ber 5, 1835, and they have had four children : Albert M., born April 21, 1857, married
Lucy Bough ton, and has one child, Harold B.; Charles D., born November 4, 1860,
married Florence Kenner, and has one child, Rollin D. ; Luella H., born May 8, 1865 ;
and George D., born October 24, 1S67.
Butler, Menzo W., Kendall, is a son of Amos Butler, and was born in Middlefield,
Otsego county, November 6, 1827. He was reared in his native town, worked for a
year in Massachusetts, and followed rafting on the Susquehanna river much of the time
until he attained the age of twenty-seven, when he located permanently in Kendall,
where he was a farmer in different parts of the town until 1884. He then moved into
the village, where he has since resided, and where he has recently erected one of the
best dwellings in this part of the county. Mr. Butler has always evinced a broad
public spirit in forwarding all local enterprises, and was especially active in obtaining
subscriptions to build the depot at Kendall village. He is pre-eminently a self-made
man, and has always regarded his word as good as his bond. He married Sarah T.,
a daughter of Nathaniel Requa, of Kendall.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 5
Burrows, Lorenzo, was a native of Groton, Conn., born March L5, 1805, the son of
Roswell and Jerusha Burrows, His father was a Baptist clergyman, and Lorenzo was
given a good education at Plainfield, Conn., and Westerley, R. I. In 1824 at the age
of about twenty, Lorenzo came to Albion, and was for about twelve years associated
with his brother in mercantile pursuits. In 1839 the brothers established the Bank of
Albion, Lorenzo being for several years cashier, but from that position he resigned and
thereafter became an active factor in State and local politics. In 1844 he was nomin-
ated by the Henry Clay party to a position on the electoral ticket. In 1845 he was super-
visor of Barre, and was also county treasurer. From 1849 to 1853 he Avas in Congress,
and in 1855 he was elected State Comptroller, serving two years. In 1858 he was ap-
pointed to the State Board of Regents, continuing to the time of his death. He was
among the first to take an active interest in providing the village of Albion with Mount
Albion Cemetery and at the erection of the cemetery commission in 1862, he was
elected one of the commissioners, which office he held until the time of his death.
Originally a Whig, he later in life became a Democrat. With all public enterprises
Mr. Burrows was actively identified. He was an early stockholder and director of the
Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge Company, and a member of the Tnt^ernational
Bridge Board. He was also specially interested in education. May 11, 1830, ^Mr.
Burrows married Louisa Lord, by whom he had six children : Emeline of Albion,
Louisa, wife of Dr. McGregor; George L., of Saginaw, Mich.; Lorenzo, jr., of Albion ;
Julia A. and Ellen, both died in infancy. Lorenzo Burrows died March 6, 1883, and
his wife September 30, 1883. He was an attendant at the Baptist Church, and his
wife had an active membership in the society.
Bowman, George N., was born September 12, 1824, in Herkimer county, a son of
Frederick Bowman, who married Electa Brown. In 1829 they removed to the town
of Yates and engaged in farming. They had five children : George N., L. W., Eliza-
beth, Almira and Henry B., two of whom are now living, George N., and Henry B.
He resides in Carleton and is engaged in farming. George N., our subject received a
common school education and in 1857 with Birdsall J. Perrigo, engaged in the mer-
cantile trade at Sandy Creek, and continued in business there until 1SG7, when he re-
moved to Holley, and with C. W. Gibson, established the Exchange Bank of Holley,
Mr. Bowman acting as cashier. One year latter Mr. Gibson sold his interest to George
W. Stoddard, Mr. Bowman then becoming president. In May, 1871, Mr. Stoddard sold
his interest to Luther D. Hurd, who remained a member of the firm until September 1,
1882, at which date he sold his interest to Orange A. Eddy and John Downs, the firm
name now becoming Eddy, Downs & Bowman. In 1884 Mr. Eddy died, his interest
being transferred to the two remaining partners, who have since conducted a general
banking and insurance business, under ihe firm name of Downs & Bowman. Mr.
Bowman has long been one of the substantial men of the village, is a Democrat, has
filled the office of village trustee, and was president one year. He was one of the or-
ganizers of the Holley Electric Co., of which he is treasurer. In 1856 he was col-
lector of Murray and in 1883 was elected supervisor, and re-elected the following
year. He is a member of Murray Lodge No. 380 F. & A. M., and is the only charter
member now living. Has been an officer in the lodge since its formation, having been
6 LANDMARKS OF OIILEANS COUNTY.
master ten years, and treasurer and trustee. He is also a member of the Orleans
Chapter No. 175 and Monroe Commandery No. 12. Mr. Bowman married in 1850
Mary Jane, daughter of Calvin Church, of Murray. Calvin Church was born in Hamp-
shire county, Mass., March 3, 1792. Upon reaching manhood he located in Manchester,
Ontario county, pursuing the business of carriage making, when his shop with all its
valuable contents was burned, with no insurance. He turned his attention to various
other pursuits with the average success of a young man of limited means. In 1822 he
married Ruth S. Newell, born in Lenox, Mass., in 1804, and they settled in Black
Rock, then a suburb of Buffalo, thence removed to a farm near Moscow, Livingston
county. After a time he sold his interest, and going to North Chili engaged in hotel-
keeping, which he pursued successfully for many years. Removing to Albion in 1834,
he rented the Mansion House and soon after bought the property and made extensive
repairs and improvements, his hotel being second to none in that locality and his fame
as a host extended far beyond the bounds of the county. In 1844 he sold the hotel,
taking in part payment another one in Sandy Creek, where he removed ayear later and
rebuilding the hotel, which he named the Lafayette House, kept it until 1852, then
sold and removed to his farm adjacent where he remained until the death of his wife,
February 3, 1870, when he retired from active life, living with his daughter, Mrs. George N.
Bowman in HoUey until his death, September 1, 1876. at the age of eighty-four years. He
left the honorable record of a good citizen, an upright man and a loyal friend. He was
a lifelong Democrat and warm personal friend of Lieutenant Governor and Chief Jus-
tice Sanford E. Church. Soon after coming to this State he united with the Masonic
Fraternity, passing with them through the exciting Anti-Masonic crisis and emerged
ready to assist in raising the order to the prestige since attained. He was a member of
Renovation Lodge No. 97, and a charter member of Orleans Chapter No. 175. He left
three children : William N., who died in 1884; Sarah, who never married and who lives
with her sister, and Mary J., the wife of George N. Bowman, banker of Holley, N. Y.
Bordwell, Joseph, was born at Three Rivers, Canada, February 23, 1820, and was the
fifth in a family of eight children of Amab and Ursula (Martelle) Bordwell. His mother
was a direct descendant of John (or Jean) Martelle, the liberator of France. At the
age of twelve Joseph was left an orphan and compelled to make his own way in life.
When only seventeen he came to Monroe county, reaching Brockport with but two
shillings in his pocket. He could not speak English, and had much difficulty in finding
employment, but finally obtained work in a brick yard. In 1843 Mr. Bordwell came
to Albion and went to work in the blacksmith shop <)f Mitchell Gardner, having pre-
viously learned the trade in Clarkson. He worked for Mr. Gardner for some time, and
in 1846 bought the shop. In 1849 he went to California, sailing from New York city
on the steamer Sarah Sands. He reached San Francisco in June, 1850, having stopped
at the large ports of South America. He worked in the mines and followed his trade
of a blacksmith. In 1851 he returned to New York by way of the Isthmus of
Panama. From 1852 until 1865 Mr. Bordwell was a blacksmith in Albion, and by hard
work and good management he accumulated a valuable property. In the year last
menti'^ned he disposed of his business to his nephews and devoted his personal attention
to the care of his invested interests. In 1861 he built the family residence on South
FAMILY SKETCHES. 7
Main street. In 1862-3 he erected the present well-known Bordwell block on East
Bank .street. April 29, 1852, Mr. Bordwell married Althea, daughter of John and Lucy
(Barlow) Blodgett, of Clarksoa. The children of this marriage were: J.Norman,
born June 3, 1854, died March 21, 1893; Mary Althea, born August 16, 1856, died
November 17,1857; Addie M., born Augusi 14, 1859, died October 2, 1859 ; John
Blodgett, born September 16, 1863, in Albion. Mr. Bordwell died in Albion, June 17,
1877, and in 1882 his widow married George W. Moore, of Medina, Mich.
Blake Edward M. — Anthony Blake, born in Alsace, France. Ma}^ 27, 1819, came to
America with his parents in 1832. In the spring of 1833 he went to Lima, Livingston
county, where he lived several years and where, while attending school, he made the
acquaintance of Mary PhiUips, whom he married January 1, 1839. They had eight
children : Caroline E., Frank B., John W., Mary J., Edward M., Theodore A., Emma
A. and George W. Mr. Blake was reared in the Roman Catholic faith, but read and
experienced religion in a different light, and in 1838 united with the M. E. church at
Lima. Soon after the family moved to a farm in Mendon, Monroe county, whence
they came to Kendall in the spring of 1853, settling about two miles north of Kendall
Corners. Here both were prominent in the M. E. Church. August 10, 1882, Mrs.
Blake died, and in the spring of 1884 Mr. Blake married, and with his wife and two
daughters removed to Albion, where he resided until his death, October 13, 1893.
Edward Mortimer Blake, the only one of his children living in Orleans county, and who
occupies the homestead in Kendall, was born in Mendon, September 18, 1852. Novem-
ber 19, 1873, he married Anna C, daughter of Orman Spicer, and has six children:
Nelhe E., William E., Harry 0., Sherman M., Edna and Raye.
Best, John M., was born in Dutchess county, March 25, 1814, and was the son of
Jacob Best, a highly respected farmer of the Hudson River Valley. At the age of
twenty-six John started out for himself and worked his brother's farm in Columbia
county, in which locality he lived five years. While there in 1839 Mr. Best married
Harriet Tanner, who died in 1845, and in 1846 he married Caroline Vosburg, and came
to Barre and bought of Edmund Harris the ninety-six acre farm, on which he has ever
since lived, and is now possessed of a competency. His present attractive dwelling
was built in 1856. Mr. Best was originally a Whig, but is now a staunch Republican.
He has been a member and for several years a trustee of the Barre Centre Presbyte-
rian Church. During his early residence in Dutchess county, Mr. Best was captain of
a military company, but his service was limited to the pleasant duties of general train-
ing. The children of John M. and Harriet Best were : Julia, Josephine and Harriet
(wife of Daniel Sherwood). His children by his second wife were : Frederick, Mary
E. and George. Mrs. Caroline Best died in June, 1881.
Batchellor, Anson, was born in Connecticut, February 19, 1792, moved to Mendon,
Monroe county, April 15, 1839, and married Theresa Newton, who was born in Pultney,
Vt., May 20, 1800. They settled in Barre on a farm now owned by his grandson, John,
and there lived and died. In his family were four children, viz : Mary, who married
Loren Parsons and died in Barre ; Caroline, who married Penfield Cleveland and lives
in Rochester; Eliza, who married William March and is now dead, and George. The
8 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
last mentioned, George Batchellor, was born December 6, 1822, and was about sixteen
when his father came to Barre. He married Betsy Ann Sears and had two children,
Philena, who married Edward F. Delano and died in Michigan, and John S., of South
Barre. Soon after his marriage George Batchellor came to the Sears farm, and there
lived until his death, December 23, 1882. His wife died December 11, 1892. John S.
Batchellor was born January 20, 1850, and has always been a farmer in Barre. He
has been, like his father, a successful business man and somewhat active in town afiFairs,
and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. November 11, 1873, he
married Anna E. Waldo, by whom he has two children, George Homer and Charles
Crane Batchellor. Ogden Sears was born in Connecticut, August 19, 1798, and died in
Barre, February 25, 1883, and his wife, Betsey Harding, was born July 19, 1803, and
died May 15, 1883. They were married December 1, 1819, and their children were as
follows: Eunice, who married John P. Church and died in Barre; Betsy Ann. who
married George Batchellor, and Mary A., who died January 13, 1829. Ogden Sears
was a cooper by trade and worked at it some after leaving Connecticut, though in this
town he was a farmer. His substantial stone residence was built many years ago, and
for it he picked the stone on his own land, burned the lime used in erecting it, made
the plaster and mortar and carried it to the workmen in a sap bucket. He was a suc-
cessful business man and accumulated a good property.
Baldwin, Benjamin F., is descended from Ziba Baldwin, who was born in North
Stonington, Conn., February 16, 1775, and died September 27, 1803. Benjamin's father
was Thomas, a descendent of John Baldwin of Buckinghamshire, England, who came
America in 1628. He was born in North Stonington, Conn., May 3, 1777, and died
July 26, 1843, and his mother was Nancy, daughter of Dr. Asa Spalding of Stoning-
ton, Conn., born January 30, 1803, and died December 3, 1887. The children of
Thomas and Nancy Baldwin were as follows; Nancy, born January 30 1803, and
died in Otsego county; Thomas J., born February 5, 1805, and died in 1811 ; Almira,
born May 24, 1807, and died in Otsego county in 1864 ; Thomas H.. born April 1,
1812, died February 21, 1894, in Minnesota ; Lucy Ann, born January 6, 1815, and
died in Otsego county ; Amanda J., born November 29, 1818, married William H.
Dozzonel in 1840, and died in Albion, May, 1860; Asa S., born June 27, 1821, died in
1821 in Connecticut; Benjamin F., born in North Stonington, New London county,
Conn., September 24, 1823. Benjamin F. Baldwin attended the common schools of
North Stonington, his native town, and finished his education at the Gilbertsville
Academy, Otsego county, N. Y. He taught school iu Otsego, Schoharie and Schenec-
tady counties, then moved to the town of Gaines, Orleans county, and taught one
term there. In 1850 he bought the farm in Gaines where he now resides, and has
since engaged in farming. Mr. Baldwin has served two terms as justice of the peace
of Gaines and was elected for a third term in the spring of 1893 ; has been clerk of
Gaines and Murray for many years. In 1848 he married Amy R. Baldwin, who was
born in Pitcher, September 28, 1828. Her father was Elisha Baldwin, born August 11,
1786, in North Stonington, Conn., and her mother was Patty Spalding, born in North
Stonington. The children of Benjamin and Amy Baldwin were these : Kate, born in
Morrio, Otsego county, September 18, 1850, married William Smith (deceased) of Or-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 9
eans county, by whom she had three children (Nettie M., born in Gaines in 1876;
iGussie, born in Murray, March 28, 1879, died May 5, 1880; and Grace, born in Murray
April 9, 1881); Nettie M., born in Gaines, November 29, 1852, married E. A. Egles-
ton ; B. Frank, born in Gaines, September 26, 1859, married Ella Baker; Jennie M.,
born in Pitcher, Chenango county, December 3, 1869 married David Ely, and have
one child ; Hazel, born September 13, 1892.
Bliss, Edwrin, was born in Springfield, Mass., July 13, 1S19, and is a son of William
C. Bliss, whose father, Moses Bliss, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. William
C, with his family consisting of ten sons and two daughters, removed to Orleans
county in 1835, and settled in Kendall, purchasing Jands and engaging in farming.
Edwin Bliss became a carpenter and builder, and in connection with farming was thus
engaged until 1867, when he removed from Kendall to Holley andjbecame associated
with Luther Gordon in the. building and lumber business. For many years he was the
principal builder in the village, and in 1879 built the brick block opposite the Downs
Hotel, which he still owns. In politics he is a Democrat, was supervisor of Murray for
three years, and has been trustee of die village several years. He is president of the
Cemetery Association, was one of the organizers of the Holley Electric Light Co., and
is its president. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is senior warden. In
1890, owing to ill health, he retired from business. In 1848 married Mary A. Seymour,
and they have two children : Ella S , wife of Captain George W. Buggies of Charlotte ;
and H. Dwight Bliss, M. D., of Brooklyn.
Beck, Richard, of Norfolk, England, was born in 1834. He and his father, who was
also named Richard, came to America in 1854, and settled at Hulberton. He afterward
removed to Ridge road, west of Sandy Creek, where he resided until his death in 1886.
He married in England, Harriet Fairhead, and they were the parents of eight children :
Elizabeth, who was twice married, first to William Young and second to William Rice-
brook ; SarBh, who married William Ricebrook ; WiUiam settled in Clarendon, married
Catherine Gibbons, and is a farmer ; Ann, who married Joseph Lee ; James, a farmer
in Kendall, who married Mary Anderson; Emma married Edwin Cutts ; Harriet, mar-
ried Norman Boyce ; and Richard. He has always been engaged in farming, and pur-
chased a farm of 250 acres on the Ridge road just west of Sandy Creek. Mr. Beck is
a staunch Republican, but does not aspire to political honors. He married in 1858,
Clara A. Hall. She died in 1862, and in 1864 Mr. Beck married second Almina Tour-
telot of Monroe county, and they have four children : Charles R. is a farmer in Barre,
and married Nina Smith ; Jacob E. is a farmer in Murray and married Addie High ;
Clara B. married Seymour Clark ; and Lavina C, who married Lewis H. Smith.
Bullard, Chancy, our subject, was born in Gaines, September 25, 1824. His father,
William, and his brother. Brigadier, came into Gaines, Orleans county, N. ¥., in
February, 1812, from Bennington, Vt, with two pair of oxen hitched to a sled, the
snow when they arrived in Gaines was three feet deep on level. My grandfather,
David Bullard, was born in Dedham, Mass., in 1761 ; he afterwards moved to Vermont,
where he resided until 1816, when he removed to Gaines, N. Y., bringing his family
with hiui; he settled one-half miles west of Gaines on north side of Old Ridge road on
10 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
a farm which had been taken up by his son William ; after a few years he moved one and a
half miles south on a farm owned by his son Brigadier, where he lived till his death in June,
1832. He married Elizabeth Hadley, and their children were : William, who was born in
Linesboro, Cheshire county, N. H., April 10, 1789, and died September 26, 1861. He mar-
red Nellie Loveland, who was born in Windham county, Vt., June 9, 1794, and died
December 9, 1864. Their children were: Albert, born in Gaines, September 15, 1816,
and died September 15, 1856; Anson, born February 10, 1820; Olive, born April 1,
1822; Chauncey, born September 25, 1824; William W. Bullard, born May 26, 1828;
John W., born December 17, 1830, died December 9, 1890; David H., born December
3, 1836. Subject's brothers were all educated in common district schools, their style
was work more than books and they are all in comfortable circumstances in their old
ages. The brothers own at present over 500 acres of as good land as there is in
western New York or any other State. Their land lays joining right along on the Old
Ridge road situated one mile west of Gaines. Four of those Bullard brothers ran an
orchestra of their own and furnished music for the cotillion in their younger days.
They originally were Whigs, but after the Republican monopoly party was organized,
they voted with the Democrats, as that party was so nearly alike the old Whig party.
Our subject married Lucy Leonard, of Albion, N. Y., April 24, 1867, who died March
31, 1891, aged fifty-four years. [Written by Chancy Bullard].
Billings, Joseph Drake, is the grandson of Joseph, who was born in Somers, Conn.,
and lived and died in Smyrna, Chenango county, about 1842, aged seventy-six. His
son, father of our subject, was born in Smyrna in 1795, and died in Gaines, December
10, 1866. He owned about 500 acres of land and built a saw mill at Marsh creek,
which he conducted many years. He was also identified with all the leading events of
his town, and was a prominent man in the local politics, as well as being one of the
projectors of the Universalist church at Fair Haven. He married Charlotte Drake,
born in Ovid in 1800, and died in 1873. Of their eight children six survive : Joseph D.,
born in Gaines, February 20, 1822 ; Myron, born March 15, 1824; D. Clinton, born in
1827 ; Clara, born in 1829; Helen, born in 1831 ; Harlow, born m 1833 ; Henry, born
in 1836, died in 1858 ; and William, born in Gaines in 1840. Our subject was educated
in the district schools, and finished at Gaines Academy. He is a well read man, and
owns a valuable library. He has a farm of 155 acres, and has taken a prominent part
in local affairs, having served as supervisor four terms, and represented his county in
the Assembly at Albany two terms (1877-78), as a Republican, serving on the Com-
mittees of Expenditures and Agriculture the first term, and the second on the Committees
of Railroad and Agriculture. December 1, 1845, he married Melinda Shaw, who was
born September 17, 1821, in Providence, N. Y., a daughter of Stephen Shaw, and they
have had three children: George N., born December 7, 1846, who married Grace
Bedell, of Albion, and has one child, Harlow. He is now cashier and part proprietor
of the Delphos Bank, at Delphos, Kan. He enlisted in Company 0, of the Eighth
Lleavy Artillery, in 1862, and served till the close of the war. The second child of
our subject was Cora May, born February 12, 1859, who married H. W. Lattin, of
Albion, and has one child, Jay D. Mrs. Lattin graduated in April, 1894, from the
Bufi'alo Medical College, and has graduated from Boston Seliooi of Oratojy. The ihiid
FAMILY SKETCHES. 11
child of our subject is Lottie, born May 21, 1861, who married Charles Stilson, of
Barre, Orleans county, and has one son. Charles B., now attending .school at Rochester.
Mrs. Stilson died in Carlton, December 3, ISS-i. The following article may not be out
of place in this connection, referring as it does to the wife of our subject's oldest child,
George N. At the time of Lincoln's nomination for the presidency, Grace Bedell, then
a child of twelve, had given her by her father (a zealous worker for the Lincoln party)
a picture of the future president. The little girl viewed the likeness with a critic's eye,
and decided that Mr. Lincoln would look, better with whiskers, and with the consent of
her parents she wrote him a nice little letter, expressing her childish views, and asked
him to answer her through his own little daughter, if he had not time to write her him-
self. Mr. Lincoln replied as follows: " Springfield, III, September 19, 1860. Miss
Grace Bedell : — My dear little miss, your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received.
I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughter. I have three sons, one seventeen,
one nine, and one seven years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole
family. As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would
call it a piece of silly affection (affectation), if I should begin it now. Your very sincere
well wisher, A. Lincoln." Mr. Lincoln later decided to accept the advice of his young
friend and cultivate whiskers, and while en route to Washington to take his seat in the
official chair, he stopped at Westfield, made a speech from the platform of his car, when
he alluded to this incident, saw and kissed his,*young friend, and said : " Grace, you see I
let these whiskers grow for you."
Buell, Miles S., was born in Benton, Yates county, January 17, 1842, and is a son of
Lewis T. -Buell, who came to Orleans county in 1848, and located in Murray. He
married Maria Brown, and their children were; Caroline 0., William W., Lucelia J..
Justina A., and Miles S. Lewis T. Buell died July 2, 1870. Caroline Buell married
Albert Leonard. William is a farmer and settled in Murray, and married Roby E.
Curtis. Lucelia married Nelson M. Root, of Murray ; Justina married George Rose-
velt, and settled in Brockport, N. Y. Miles S. Buell has always resided in Murray, and
is a farmer. On January 4, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 105th New York Infantry.
He participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare
Gap, and Second Bull Run, and November 22, 1862, was discharged on account of
wounds received in the latter engagement. He married, December 22, 1875, Emily
Smith, nee Bromly, of Alexander, Genesee county.
Beardsley, H. Spencer, is a descendant of Levi Beardsley, born in Connecticut in
1776, and died in Carlton in 1866. His wife was Esther Crary, born in Connecticut,
and died in Phelps in 1810. Their children were : Delilah, Artemisha, Harmon C,
Martha A., Levi A., of whom Harmon C, father of our subject, was born in Kent,
Conn., September 29, 1804, and died in Carlton, December 30, 1871, having settled in
that town in 1827. In 1828 he married Cynthia Bacheldor, born in Danville, Vt., July
13, 1805, who still survives. Her father was Samuel Bacheldor, a native of Massachu-
setts, born April 21, 1765, and died October 8, 1819, who married Anna Richardson,
also born in Massachusetts, who died September 22, 1849. Harmon C. Beardsley had
these children: Sally C. born January 27, 1830; Samuel H., born October 11, 1833;
H. Spencer, born October 22, 1847. The latter was educated in the public schools at
12 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Carlton, and reared on a farm, following farming and carpentry until about 1886, when
he bought the store at Sawyer. May 4, 1888, he was appointed postmaster at Sawyer,
which position he now holds. He has also served as commissioner of highways three
terms, and is now overseer of the poor at Carlton. He is a member of Renovation
Lodge No. 97, F. & A. M., of Albion. December 18, 1872, he married Etta M. Hoag,
born July 17, 1849, and their children were: George J., born June 15, 1875, died
August 15, of the same year; and Grordon C, born June 8, 1883. Our subject's farm
was taken up by his father in 1826, and has never been out of the family.
Bartlett, John R., was bora in Sweden, Monroe county, March 7, 1829, a son of
Samuel G., whose father, John, was a native of New Hampshire. The family is sup-
posed to have come originally from Wales. Samuel G. was born in Groton, N. H.,
July 13, 1799. November 7, 1825, he married Elmira Phelps of the same place, and
moved to Yates, Orleans county, shortly after, settling in Sweden, Monroe county,
where he followed farming. In 1852 he came to Clarendon. Samuel G. died Decem-
ber 24, 1875, and his wife, Elmira, July 12, 1854. Their children were : Clarissa,
born August 8, 1826; John R., born March 7, 1829, Ruby M, born June 1, 1831 ;
Henry P., born July 19, 1833 ; Mary J., born April 6, 1836, and Eliza A., born Feb-
ruary 14, 1838. John R. resides in Clarendon, is a farmer and in politics a Democrat.
January 21, 1856, he married Sarah M., daughter of Colonel N. E. Darrow of Clarendon,
and their children are, Clara E., born August 5, 1860, who married George M. Moore
September 15, 1881 ; and Lewis D., born November 23, 1863, who married Cora I. Rod-
well June 21, 1886.
Bailey, Jeremiah, was a native of Whitestown, Oneida county, born November 10,
1803. In April, 1844, Mr. Bailey and family came to Orleans county and located m
Gaines on an eighty-acre farm, to which he added until he owned 240 acres. His wife,
whom he married in 1827, and who survives him, was Laura Williams, and they had
three children : Lewis, who died young ; Abner B. and James. Abner B. was one of
the successful men of the county. He was for several years in the grocery trade with
his brother James at Albion, but retired shortly before his death. His only son, Lewis,
is now a wealthy dry gooods merchant of Cleveland, 0. James Bailey was born in
Whitestown October 25, 1834. At the age of eighteen he was employed for three
years by Deacon Harvey Goodrich, and later was a partner with Charles Baker nearly
fifteen years, dealing in fruit and produce, which he combined with farming and other
interests. This has been his chief occupation, though for twenty years he has been
identified with the grocery trade in Albion, which he started with his brother Abner in
1871 Abner retired in 1879 and James continued till 1882, when the firm of James
Bailey & Son was formed, as grocers and commission merchants at 61 Main street
Albion, and their fruit house is on the railroad near freight depot, capacity 8,000 barrels.
James Bailey has been successful in all his business adventures. He is interested in
the County Agricultural Society and much of the advancement of that society is due to
his efforts and leadership, he being one time its president. He was the first to develop
Oak Orchard on the lake, and his beginning has resulted in a beautiful summer resort.
In politics he is a Democrat. April 2, 1857, Mr. Bailey married Mary Jane, daughter
FAMILY SKETCHEa 13
of Gershom R. and Adelia S. Cady, by whom lie has had two children : Herbert J., now
in business with his father, and Frank Hamilton, who died August, 1868.
Barker, James Madison, was born in Providence, Saratoga county, N. Y., March 18,
1809. His parents, and indeed all his relatives, were Friends, and he was reared among
these estimable people. In his early business life he was actively engaged in manu-
facturing scythe snaths, and also had partnership interest in a tannery. For a number
of years he superintended the work of a large farm. In June, 1837, he married Emily,
youngest daughter of Hon. Isaac Gere, of Galway, Saratoga county, and in the Gere
homestead were born his four children, Jennie B., widow of the late Francis Larned of
Chicago; Harriet G., widow of the late Henry H. Hewitt of Bloomington, III.; Wil-
liam E. and Julia E., both of Albion, N. Y. In 1868 Mr. Barker and family removed
from Galway to Albion and for a time was in the coal business with Smith D. Shourds,
but devoted his attention mostly to investments in other localities. After years of
failing health and a few weeks of acute suflering he died November S, 1877, aged sixty-
eight. Mr. Barker was a man of unusually fine presence, and possessed great natural
excellences of character. Although a resident of Albion only nine years, he had in
that short time endeared himself to all who came within the circle of his acquaintance,
and in the words of his pastor "' was as near the model man as we often meet in our
journey through life." At the time of his death he was senior deacon of the Baptist
Church, and very few could pass out of church and home and be more sadly missed
than was this most honorable citizen, and true servant of God.
Blake, Ashley, was born in Clarkson. Monroe county, January 22, 1846, the youngest
of five children of Amaziah and Ann (Thomas) Blake. When thirteen years old Ashley
went to Carlton and for the next seven years lived in the family of his sister, Mrs. Cap-
tain Murray. He became interested in the lake and the possible revenues he might
receive from carrying picnic parties along the south shore, and bought a yacht and did
a successful business. Through this means he became acquainted with business men of
Albion, and when the pleasure seasons were at an end he found ready employment in
the village. He worked for a time with Battles & Bennett, but during his employment
with that firm he had for a time command of a sailing vessel on the lake. Later on he
was interested in business with Mr. Goodman. The firm were dealers in liquors and
cigars. During their continuance in business, a period of about seven years, the firm
was abundantly successful, much of the credit being due to the energetic eflorts of Mr.
Blake. After the death of Mr. Goodman, subject was out of business for a time, but
eventually returned to trade and continued ten years without a partner. He retired in
May, 1886, and after three years began dealing in apples, and was a large operator.
Mr. Blake has been for many years the owner of fine bred horses, and to-day he pos-
sesses the best animals in the county, some being very fast. He is the owner of a good
farm, which is carried on his personal direction. He is a Democrat, has been village
trustee and assessor, and is now serving his third term on the Board of Excise. June
28, 1876, he married Mary, daughter of Capt. David and Catharine Hardie, and they
have had five sons, three of whom are living.
Behnke, William H., Kendall, was born in Prussia, Germany, January 30, 1850. He
came to America in 1871 and settled in Rochester, where he married, April 27, 1872,
14 LANDMATHCS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Henrietta Tarraschke. In February. 1877, they moved to Kendall, and have resided
in their present home since 1881. Mr. Behnke has been promiently identified with the
German element of the town, taking an active interest in civil, educational and relig-
ious affairs, and being with two others largely influential in establishing the German
Lutheran Church and parochial school at Kendall village. His children are: Frederick
W., Louisa H., William H., Edward H., Martha M., Richard W., Ella C. (who died in
infancy), and Paul C.
Blott, Jonathan, was a native of London, England, born June 4, 1813, and came to
this country when about nineteen years of age in company with Robert Lewis, the
latter going subsequently west where he died. Jonathan Blott was a butcher by trade
and for a time sought work in New York and Albany He finally found his way to
Albion where he worked at odd jobs until a position was offered at his trade. After
many discouragements Mr. Blott finally got into business. Five years from the time
he came to Albion he returned to England, and there, on November 24, 1839, married
Sarah Harris, daughter of Thomas Harris of London. In 1840 Mr. Blott and wife
came to Albion, and in after years this persevering and industrious man became identi-
fied with some of the best interests of the village. The close of his lie found him
possessed of a competency, while personally he was regarded as one of the most promi-
nent merchants of the county seat. Mr. Blott died February 28, 1873. Four times
during his residence here he returned to his native country. His children were : Jona-
than, Sidney (dead), Rosa (dead), Emma (dead), James and Alfred. The Blott Build-
ing on Main Street was erected in 1866,
Bishop, Francis M., born in Oakfield, Genesee county, March 22, 1851, is a son of
Dr. John E. Bishop. Dr. Bishop conducted a drug store for a time at Akron, Erie
county, but in 1858 he settled in Holley, purchasing the drug business of D. W. Frye.
Dr. Bishop married a Miss Hackley of Batavia, and they had four children : Kate A_
John E., Jennie E., and Francis M. Mr. Bishop w&s a Republican, but never aspired
to public office. He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church of Holley. His
death occurred in February, 1864, since which date the business has been carried on by
his widow and son, Francis M. F. M. Bishop married in 1879, Kate H. Knickerbocker,
and they have two sons, Oscar H., and Frank, and one daughter, Irene S. Mr. Bishop
is a member of the Baptist Church, the State Pharmaceutical Association, and the
American Pharmaceutical Association. John E. Bishop settled in Syracuse, where he
is a practicing physician.
Bennett, Charles,, was born in Devonshire, England, November, 25, 1833, and was
the youngest of eleven children born to James and Mary Q. C. (Godfrey) Bennett. His
father was a fuller and cloth dresser, and all of the sons were brought up in the sanie
occupation. At the age of twenty Charles and his brother James came in a sailing
vessel from Plymouth to this country, being five weeks on the voyage. They landed
at Quebec and went to Bowmanble and there found work, Charles found work tending
mason ; from there he came to Charlotte, thence to Gaines, where his brother, William
11. Bennett, then lived, and where Charles found work as a day laborer. He worked
at various occupations for several months, and in the next spring was employed on the
FAMILY SKETOHES. 15
enlargement of the canal. He then spent one summer in the quarries and followed
that by two years packing flour. In this latter connection he learned the cooper's
trade in the fall of 1857, and at that he worked for three years. By living frugally he
managed to save a little money. In the winter of 1861 he went to Canada but soon
returned to Eagle Harbor. By this time he had saved $250, and with that money
bought and remodeled a barn into a cooper shop, borrowed an additional sum to pur-
chase stock, and became a manufacturing cooper at Eagle Harbor. This was the begin-
ning of what afterward proved to be a very successful busine.'-s, although it was at-
tended with some misfortunes and many vicissitudes. The present firm, which is com-
prised of Charles and William Bennett, William Lee and Xathaniel Cole, had its origin
in the little business started way back in 1861 by Charles Bennett, and to-day the
senior partner is the active man of the firm. Mr. Bennett bought his farm in 1877. It
contains eighty-two acres, and is one of the best in that part of the town. When he
landed at Quebec in 1854, Mr. Bennett had but a half sovereign in his pocket, to-day
he is in very comfortable circumstances. In 1856 Charles Bennett married Isabella
Lee, daughter of William Lee of Eagle Harbor. No children have been born to them
but they have had five by adoption. One of them, James T. Hayman, was in the 4th
N. Y. Heavy Artillery ; was promoted to lieutenant of colored regiment, and was shot
at Petersburgh in 1865. Another, William Hayman, was in the 2d N. Y. Mounted
Rifles, served through the war, returned home and died soon after. The third child
was Jennie S. Lee ; the fourth Fred E. Bennett, and the fifth Charles J. Bennett, who
lives with his foster father. Since 1872 Mr. Bennett has been a Prohibitionist, form-
erly he was a Republican. For many years he has been a member of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church, for twenty years one of its officers and is now superintendent of its
Sunday school.
Bassett, William R., son of William L., was born in Rhode Island, April 9, 1802. In
1820 he removed to Clarkson, Monroe county, whence be came to Kendall in 1829,
and started a blacksmith shop. Two years later he removed to a farm near the lake
shore, where he also carried on blacksmithing, and where he died June 12, 1889. He
was probably the first permanent blacksmith in town, and was active in church and
civil affairs, served as assessor and was supervisor in 1849, 1850, 1853 and 1854. He
married Olive Munger, who died March 9, 1877. Their children were Chauncey M.,
Edwin H., Harriet R. (Mrs. Joseph P. Mulford), Charles L., Laura J. (Mrs. A. W. Bar-
nett), Catherine C. (Mrs. Oscar Munn), Emily L. (Mrs. Ira P. Bates), William W.,
Frank and Anna (Mrs. E. W. Nicholson).
Q Bridgeman Charles S. Guy Bridgeman, son of Judge John Bridgeman, was born in
Vernon, Vt., March 15, 1774, and removed to Kendall in 1834, settling where Charles
5. now lives, where he died February 21, 1853. February 10, 1797, he married Eunice
Hapgood, of Petersham, Mass., who was born July 22, 1774, died August 22, 1862.
Their children were Nancy, born December 2, 1797, died April 11, 1843 ; Lydia, born
February 25, 1799, died April 22, 1882; George, born December 26, 1800, died June
6, 1883 ; Levi, born January 22. 1802, died September 29, 1864 ; Thomas, born March
26, 1803, died September 13, 1803; Miranda, born July 11, 1804, died May 1, 1845;
E'lnice, born May 2, 1806, died August 25, 1808; Horatio N., born February 28, 1808,
16 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
died March 4, 1874; Electa, born July 24, 1809 ; Guy C, born April 13, 1811, died
April 25, 1872; Oliver H., born March ;'>, 1813; John F., born April 23, 1815, died
November 14, 1815; and Lucretia S., born December 11, 1816. Jesse Bridgemau, a
brother of Guy, also came here in 1834 and died at Kendall Mills. Oliver H. Bridge-
man married Amanda Sedgw^ick and has had three children : Mary A. (Mrs. E. A. San-
ford), Charles S., and Emily S. (Mrs. B. F. Stangland). Charles S. Bridgeman was
born June 5, 1849, and married Mary R., daughter of Rev. Milo Scott, by w^hom he
had these childien ; Charles S., jr., Arthur C, Margaret A., 'and John S. He vs^as asses-
sor three years and in March, 1894, was elected supervisor af Kendall. Rev. Milo
Scott became pastor of the Kendall M. B. Church in 18G1, officiating two years, and
died in Clarkson, Monroe county, in 1864.
Burt, Joseph H., Kendall. — Erastus Burt, son of Jonathan, was born in Brattleboro,
Vt., January -7, 1795. He came to Ontario county in 1817, where he taught school, and
where he married Elizabeth Hall, whose father, Joseph, was a major in the War of 1812
and a colonel in the State militia. After returning to Vermont, Mr. Burt moved to
Wayne county and thence to Monroe county, whence he came to Kendall in 1841, set-
tling on lot 16, where he died November 4, 1844. Mrs. Burt was born January 6, 1803,
and died January 10, 1879. Their children were: Antoinette, died in infancy; Joseph
Hall, born in Vermont, February 28, 1820; Elizabeth D., born in 1822, died March 5,
1831 ; Erastus C, born February 7, 1825, died July 31, 1825; Christina G. (Mrs. Den-
nis Densmore), born April 3, 1828; Mary A., born April 11, 1832, died January 16,
1834 ; Laura S. (Mrs. Cyrus Garlock), born January 2, 1835, died Novemi^er 6, 1892 ;
and John H., born January 29, 1837. Joseph Hall Burt married, March 15, 1843,
Eunice Maria Comstock, born February 22, 1820, stepdaughter of Joseph Corbin, sr.,
and March 15, 1893, celebrated their golden wedding. Their children are: Charles
Franklin, born September 17, 1850, and Erastus Joseph, born September 2, 1857, both
residing in Kendall. Mr. Burt was justice of the peace nine years and held other minor
town offices. Charles F. Burt was graduated from Cornell University in 1875, and is
now a justice of the peace. December 28, 1881, he married Laura A. Quinn, and has
two children : Lulu E., born June 11, 1883, and Charles W., born April 22, 1891. Eras-
tus J. Burt married, November 17, 1880, Isabell, daughter of George W. Bird, and has
one son, Elbert L., born November 27, 1882.
Bennett, Nathaniel Smith, Kendall. — Michael Bennett, son of Jeremiah, was born in
New Jersey, August 29, 1791. During the War of 1812 he removed to Ontario county,
N. Y., where he married, in 1814, Olive Smith ; they had six sons and six daughters ;
Nathaniel Smith Bennett, born August 13, 1818, being the second child and oldest son.
In 1820 the family came to Clarendon, and during their residence there Jeremiah Ben-
nett and his wife removed thither, died, and were buried in a cemetery in that town.
In April, 1834, the family settled in Kendall, where Nathaniel S. has since resided, and
with him the father passed the last years of his life, dying February 27, 1884, aged
ninety-three. In November, 1845, Nathaniel Smith Bennett married Adelia C. Ham-
lin, who died April 17, 1854. They had two children: Addison Henry, born August
15, 1846; and Nancy Adelia, born April 13, 1841. January 31, 1856, Mr. Bennett
married second Mrs. Miranda Mead. Mr. Bennett was a charter member of the West
FAMILY SKETCHES. 17
Kendall Free Methodist church, in which he has filled responsible positions. In poli-
tics he was first a Whig, but has always been a staunch Republican since the organiza-
tion of that party. He has been elected to various important town offices, having been
justice of the peace, assessor for a number of terms, and supervisor in 1864-65. In 1873
he was appointed by Governor Robinson a loan commissioner for the county, which of-
fice he held ten years, until a change in the State administration. In all of these posi-
tions he served with signal ability and strict fidelity. His daughter, Nancy A., mar-
ried Ambrose A. Clark, January 27, 1876. Two children, Frank and Lillian, were born
to them, Frank having died in infancy. They reside in Kendall. Rev. Addison H.
Bennett, his son, united with the Genesee Annual Conference of the Free Methodist
church in September, 1873, and for twenty years has been actively engaged in the min-
istry, ten years of this time being district chairman (presiding elder). lie has been
treasurer and since June, 1890, a trustee of the A. M. Chesbrough Seminary at North
Chili, Monroe county. He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gene-
see Conference of the Free Methodist church since 1888, and secretary of said board
since 1889. October 24, 1872, he married CeliaA. Romer, and has one son, Milton Na-
thaniel, born September 23, 1873.
Barry, Benjamin, came to Yates in 1816, settled on what is now the Webster farm,
and died in 1822. His children were : Phoebe (Mrs. Benoni Hall), Richard, Benjamin,
jr., Samuel, Frank, James, Sally (Mrs. John Gorham), Archibald, Isaac, and Jemima
(Mrs. John Eaton). James Barry, born June 16, 1799, married, in 1820, Martha, a
daughter of Hezekiah Bullock, who settled in Ridgeway in 1814 and in Yates in 1816.
Mr. Barry died April 9, 1889. He was one of the founders of the M. E. church and
long a trustee and class leader. Their son, Benjamin B., is a justice of the peace, and
since 1871 has been local correspondent of the Medina Tribune. Richard Barry was
born May 12, 1785, served in the War of 1812, and died at Yates Centre about 1870.
His wife, Elizabeth Muncy, died June 30, 1859. Their children were : Cynthia (Mrs.
Benjamin I^ullock), born December 13, 1806 ; Nathaniel and Benjamin R. (twins), born
November 30, 1808, still living in town ; Ransom, born March 16, 1811 ; Samuel, born
March 17, 1813 ; Jane (Mrs. Grosvenor Church), born May 2, 1815; George, born July
28, 1817; Sena (Mrs. William Church), born August 25, 1819; Hannah (Mrs. F. H.
Daniels), born October 30, 1821; Henry, born February 27, 1824; and Charles, born
August 5, 1826. Of these children eight are living, and Mrs. William Church is the old-
est woman born in town who still resides here.
Bates, Ira B., Kendall. — Samuel Bates, the first permanent white settler in the town
of Kendall, was born in Haddam, Conn., August 9, 1760. He served three and one-
half years in the Revolutionary War, in a New Hampshire regiment, being with Wash-
ington at Valley Forge, and was under General Sullivan in his memorable expedition
against the Indians in Western New York. While in this latter service he reached the
Genesee River and shooting a duck he was obliged to cross to get it. The locality im-
pressed him so favorably that he resolved to emigrate hither as soon as possible, but
upon leaving the army he resided first in Randolph, Vt., and subsequently in Burling-
ton, whence he came to Kendall in 1812 and located lot 111, where his grandson, Ira
18 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
B., now lives. The first year he cleared a small plat and built a log house, and in 1813
he sowed two acres of wheat and returned to Burlington, Vt. In June, 1814, he
brought his family to his pioneer home, where he died August 21, 1822. June 1,
1786, he married Abigail Willard, who died January 1, 1831. Their children were
Clarissa, born December 10, 1787; Lindamind, born December 27, 1789; Henry Willard,
and Ira B., who died July 26, 1828, aged twenty-five. Henry Willard Bates, born in
Randolph, Vt., February 4, 1794, came to Kendall in 1814, was a captain in the State
militia, and married Sally Clough, who died December 16, 1832, leaving children : Julia
(Mrs. C. C. Johnson); Henry C, who died November 29, 1847; Royal, Almira (Mrs.
A. G. Schenck), and Samuel B., all deceased; and Sarah L, wife of W. S. Benham,
both of whom were drowned in Lake Michigan in the Alpena disaster. In 1833 he
married Tamma, widow of Daniel Beebe, who survives, and who bore him two children,
Col. Willard W., and Ira B. Mr. Bates died December 12, 1887, on the homestead.
William Bates enlisted in Company K., 8th N. Y. H. A., 13th N. Y. Infantry, and was
promoted lieutenant; served in the 25th N.Y. Infantry, as captain and was wounded;
and was transferred to the 8th N. Y. H. A., became lieutenant-colonel, and upon
Colonel Porter's death was made colonel, receiving his commission the day he died,
June 24, 1864, from a wound received at the battle of Cold Harbor. Colonel Bates in-
herited sterling soldierly qualities. He was six feet high and weighed 230 pounds.
His widow drew a colonel's pension. Ira B. Bates, born May 5, 1846, married, first,
January 17, 1867, Emma A., daughter of Charles Barrows of Hamlin, by whom he had
one child, Emma B. Mrs. Bates died January 3, 1873, and October 20, 1878, he mar-
ried Emily L., daughter of William R. Bassett. Mr. Bates was supervisor of Kendall
in 1885-86.
Bliss, Clement Porter was born in Riga, December 1, 1817, and came with his
widowed mother to West Barre in 1831. The mother soon married, after which Cle-
ment went to live in the family of David Palmer, for whom he worked with a promise
of $100 on reaching his majority. He proved faithful to every duty and was rewarded
with $200 instead of the $100 promised. When of age he started out for himself,
working as farm hand for a time and afterward selling fanning mills for Mr. Dickey.
Later on, having married, Mr. Bliss settled in Barre and for twenty-five years was a resi-
dent of that town, dealing and speculating in farm property and machines, and in West
Barre was a merchant and farmer. Among his fellow men Mr. Bliss Avas regarded as
"a man of influence and prominence, and in all his endeavors he was rewarded with suc-
cess. In 1872 he went to Albion, where he lived in comfortable retirement until his
death, July 22, 1890. In 1843 Mr. Bliss married Savilla A., daughter of Henry Edger-
ton, of Elba. Their children were as follows: Sarah J., wife of Francis Avery ; Savil-
la, wife of J. Grinnell ; Porter C, of Albion ; Helen F., wife of John Bruce of La Peer
Mich.; Charles A., who died in Albion ; Mary A., wife of George Snyder of Eagle
Harbor ; Elmer E., of Albion ; and Rose B., wife of D. D. Van Nocker of Petersburg,
Mich. Mr. Bliss was formerly a Republican, but finally an independent Democrat, and
has held office as justice of the peace and assessor. Porter Clement Bliss was born \u
Barre, July 21, 1849, and was reared on a farm. In 1872 he married Adtlia S.
Street of Illinois, and they were the parents of two children, Carrie and Coia. Until
FAMILY SKETCHES. 10
1873 Mr. Bliss was a farmer, and since that time has extensively engaged in dealing in
agricultural implements.
Barnum, Noah G., was born August 25, 1825, in Yates, and received his education
from the Yates common school, and spent his boyhood days on the farm. He after-
ward improved on his limited education by extensive reading and taught school three
winters. He gave up teaching about 1860, and later in life worked at the carpenter's
trade for several years and then bought out Richmond Hurd and carried on the wagon
business in Yates, manufacturing principally lumber and democrat wagons. This busi-
ness he followed for twelve years, and then traded his property in Yates for a farm in
Murray where he remained two years. He next traded the farm for a store, house and
lot in Waterport and moved there March 7, 1881, where he has since resided. March
28, 1849, he married Marie Antoinette G-askill of Honeoye Falls. She was born at
Victor January 20, 1829, and her father, Joseph Gaskill, was born at Little Egg Harbor.
N. J., May 9, 1800, and died about 1871 in Barry county, Mich., and her mother,
Wealthy Fox, was born in Westmoreland in 1803, and died in Barry county, Mich., in
1864. The children of Joseph and Wealthy Gaskill were : Franklin, who died at the
age of two years ; Mary Stainton of Rochester ; Sarah Jane Warren (deceased) ; Marie
Antoinette, wife of subject ; Lydia Ann of Barry county, Mich.; Leavitt (deceased) ;
George W., died at two years of age ; Charles Henry, of Barry county, Mich.; Benja-
min F. of Barry county, Mich.; Martha E. Garrison (deceased) ; Eugene of Florida ,
Hay den of Michigan. Lydia Ann Gaskill was thrice married, first to Clifton Barnum,
who died April 18, 1863, in the hospital at Fairfax, Va., and was a member of the 6th
Regiment Michigan Cavalry. Her second husband was Charles Dugar of Yates, who
died in 1880, and the third was Dewitt Kenyon, whose parents built the Kenyonville
mills. The children of Noah G. and Marie Antoinette Barnum were : Ella, born Jan-
uary 7, 1851, and married John J. Tyler, and they had one child, John B., born May 17,
1874, who died March 20, 1879, and Mrs. Ella Tyler March 1, 1877; Eugene E., the
second child of Mr. and Mrs. Barnum, was born March 9, 1854, and is a physician. He
received his early education in the Yates Academy, and subsequently graduated at Will-
iams college, Massachusetts, in 1878. He then studied medicine with Dr. Garlock of
the town of Yates, then attended lectures in the University of Pennsylvania and in the
University of Buffalo, and was in the Rochester City Hospital fourteen months. In
1881 he located at Waterport and practiced his profession eight years, when his health
failed and he moved to Lancaster Court House, Va., where he regained his health and
is widely known as a physician. He holds the degrees A. B., A. M. and M. D. He
married Effie G. Hutchinson of Gaines, born May 15, 1860, and they have had three
children : Eugene E., born April 24, 1885; Dora E., born June 29, 1887, died May 19,
1890; Mildred E., born December 13, 1891. The third child of Mr. and Mrs. Barnum,
Willard W.. born November 18, 1857, died September 24. 1882. He married Addie E.
Johnson, born December 9, 1856, and had two children, Willis Eugene and Willard
Ward. Willard Ward died June 4, 1882.
Blair, Henry A., was born in Batavia May 12, 1840, and was the son of John L., and
Polly (Lumbert) Blair. His mother died when Henry was but a few days old, and he
was taken into the family of his aunt, Mrs. Sophia Gunn, at Eagle Harbor, where he
20 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
was brought up. At the age of twelve he began work for himself, and has ever since
been regarded as one of the most persevermg and industrious workers in the time. He
bought a farm of sixty-five acres in Albion and now has ninety- five acres. May 18,
1865, Mr. Blair married Martha Church of Gaines, and they had three children, two of
whom died in infancy unmarried, and the other is the wife of Jesse Parker of Albion.
Wiltsie, Andrew, and wife, Esther Scott Wiltsie, came from Burkham, Dutchess
county, to Barre soon after the War of 1812. Andrew was in that war and was cap-
tured at Lewiston ; was also at the burning of Buflfalo. He was a carpenter and cab-
inet maker and cloth dresser, and for many years had a factory at Eagle Harbor. His
children were Lydia, Franklin, Mary, Justin S., Elizabeth, Christine and Juline (twins),
Wellington and Allen P. Andrew, the pioneer, died in March, 1888, aged ninety- five
years, and his wife three years previous aged eighty-six years.
Bolton, Henry M., is a son of James Bolton, born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 14,
1803, and died in Salem, Wis., December 4, 1863. His wife was Hannah Decker, born
in Newark, N. J., January 11, 1803, and died in Salem, Wis., in 1874. The children
of James and Hannah (Decker) Bolton were as follows: Elizabeth, born in Hampton-
burgh, Orange county, April 16, 1829, and died in Carlton in November, 1884 ; David,
born in Orange county October 17, 1830, died in Chester March 1, 1856; Arminda,
born in Orange county May 3, 1833, and resides in Orange county ; Mary Ann, born
in Orange county June 2, 1835, died in Orange county in 1859 ; Henry M., born May
16, 1837, in Orange county; Sarah Jane, born October 17, 1839, in Orange county, and
died in Orange county March 23, 1845; Caroline, born March 27, 1842, and resides in
Antioch, 111.; John T., born April 27, 1844, in Orange county, and resides in Salem,
Wis.; Deborah I., born December 18, 1846, and resides in Carlton. Henry M. Bolton
while young learned the painter's trade which he followed for nine years. He then
worked as hotel clerk three years at Craigsville, and afterward did farm work in Orange
county for four years. He spent one year in Wisconsin, and in 1864 moved to Yates,
Orleans county. From thence he came to Carlton where he has since resided. Here
he has been engaged in farming and also carried on a store at Kuckville. While in
Orange county he learned the profession of veterinary surgeon, which business he has
practiced on occasions for more than thirty years. Mr. Bolton served as postmaster
under Cleveland's administration one year and four years under Harrison. In 1860 he
married Elizabeth Boyd, born in Newburgh, February 28, 1842. Her father was Sam-
uel Boyd, born in Orange county in 1802. died in 1869. His wife was Mariah Baird,
born in Orange county, April 19, 1820, and died March 28, 1846. The children of
Samuel and Mariah (Baird) Boyd were: Elizabeth H., Jane A., born March 13, 1844,
and died in Ithaca in 1884. The children of Henry M. and Elizabeth H. Bolton were:
Charles E., born in Orange county February 11, 1861, and died December 16, 1891;
and James H., born October 28, 1862. Charles E. married Emma Ryan and they had
three children ; William H., who died in infancy ; William Henry, who was born May
19, 1886; Jessey May, born November 19, 1888; Ray H., born February 24, 1890.
James H. married Mary Ryan and they have three children : May E., born May 22,
1886; Hellen H., born August 12, 1888 ; Clide A., born August 28, 1890.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 21
Burbank, William H., was born in Langdon, Sullivan county, N. H., November 20,
1839, and came to the village of Gaines with his parents in 1847. They originally
settled in Gaines in 1831, and then returned to New Hampshire, coming again to
Gaines in 1847, as above stated. The grandfather of William was Elias, a native of
New Hampshire, coming to Gaines in 1831, and drove a stage for many years between
Gaines and Batavia via Albion. He and his wife, Joana Fletcher, died in this town,
he in 1850, aged seventy, and she in 1863, aged eighty years. They were the parents
of seven children. Origin D. Burbank, father to William, was born in New Hampshire
in 1802 and died in 1856. His wife was Catherine P. Wilson, born in New Hampshire
in 1814, is still living and resides in Lowel, Kent county, Mich. The children of Origin
and Catherine were as follows: Elnora L., born in Gaines in 1834, married first, Cassius
Hayden, and for her second husband Abisha Kingsley, and now resides in Lowel, Mich.;
Mariah, born in New Hampshire in 1838, married Ezra Torey of Gaines, and died in
1881 ; William H., born November 20, 1830; Orin D., born in New Hampshire in 1842;
Elizabeth E., born in New Hampshire, September, 1844, William H. Burbank was
educated in the common schools of Gaines and since then has carried on the cooper
business, employing at times six workmen. In April, 1859, he married Lucy A. Dwin-
nell, who was born October 11, 1839, in Massachusetts. Mrs. Burbank's ancestors were
natives of New England. Her mother, Mary Ann Woodburn, was an aunt of Horace
Greeley, and her father was Benjamin Dwinnell. The children of William H. and Lucy
A. Burbank are as follows: William 0., born in May, 1860, married May Cookof Pavil-
lion, Genesee county, where they reside ; Ella, born in January, 1862, and died August,
1863 ; Charles, born in July, 1864; George E., born February 1, 1867, died February^
1893 ;Mary E., born in April, 1869 ; Harry, born in February, 1871, and died in May,
1878; Florence, born in 1873, and died in November, 1885; Lillian W., born in October,
1876 ; Ell, born in July, 1880 ; Anna B., born in September, 1882.
Ballard, David, grandfather of the Bullards nonliving in Gaines, married Elizabeth
Hadley, and their children were: William, Polly, Judith, Olive, Betsey, Nancy, Sally,
David, Brigadier and Ransom; of these children William, father of our subject was
born in Cheshire county, N. H., April 10, 1789, and died m Gaines September 26, 1861,
He married NeUie Loveland, born in Windham county, Vt., June 9, 1794, and died in
Gaines December 9, 1864. Their children were : Albert, born in 1816 ; Anson, our
subject, February 10, 1820; Olive, born in 1822; Chauncey, born m 1824; William,
born in 1828; John, born in 1830; David, born in 1836. Anson Bullard passed a large
amount of his time in reading and corresponding for several sporting papers, the
English beagle being a great favorite of his, of which he has bred and sold a large num-
ber. He married Caroline Chubb, born November 19, 1818, a daughter of Arba Chubb.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bullard are : Frank, born May 4, 1844, who married Mary
F. Ruggles, born August 31, 1848; and Fred, born June 11, 1849, died September 20,
1852; Arba Chubb, father of Mrs. Bullard and one of the first pioneers was born in
Poultney, Vt., in 1791, and died in Michigan in 1875. Mr. Chubb has served in all the
town offices, being the first justice of the peace in the town of Gaines, which office he
held fifty-six years. He was assemblyman in 1848, and has held every office in the
militia, from that of corporal to major. The grandfather of our subject enlisted in the
22 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
war of the Revolution at the age of fourteen and served throughout the war, his father
served in the war of 1812, and his grandfather Lovewell was also in the Revolution-
ary war.
Clement, Newton P., was born May 24, 1856. His grandfather was Samuel Clem-
ent, who was born in Petersham, Mass., in 1788, and died in Paris, Oneida county, in
1877, aged eighty-eight. Samuel married Olive Wheeler, born in Petersham, Mass.,
in 1788, and died in Smyrna, N. Y., in 1827, aged thirty-nine. His ten children were:
Lucy, Randall, Philo, Mary, Olive, Leander, Lucretia, Wellington, Cornelia, and Leroy.
Philo N., father of our subject, was born in Smyrna, N. Y., March 2, 1813, and
married Maria L. Beebe, a native of Granville, N. Y., born May 1, 1818, and died in
Carlton, N. Y., September 28, 1890. She was the daughter of Aaron and Lovina
Beebe, and was one of ten children whose names were: Clarissa, Chester, Aaron,
Orvin, Louisa, Horace, Sarah, Franklin, Warren and Maria. Aaron Beebe was born
in 1780 and died in Gaines, N. Y., in 1841, and Lovina, his wife, was born in
1784, and died in Gaines in 1847. The children of Philo and Maria Clement
were : Frances M., born in 1844, who married Charles L. Barber ; Aaron B., born in
1846, who married Alice A. Thomas; Cornelia E., born in 1848, who died in 1883 the
wife of William L. Bills, and Newton P., our subject, all born in Carlton. The latter
was educated in the common schools of Carlton, graduating from the Rochester
Business University in 1892, and has been a teacher for twelve terms, but is now en-
gaged in farming. He has for eight years served as inspector of elections, and is a
member of the L O. G. T. of East Carlton. March 26, 1879, he married in Clayville,
Mina R. Le Roy, who was born in Clayville, August 13, 1856. They havt had two
children, Olive M., born January 6, 1881, and Ellen M., born May 27, 1886.
Cole, Isaac U., was born in the town of Murray, Orleans county, February 12, 1840.
His father, Cornelius, was a son of Leonard Cole, who was a native of Orange county.
He came to Orleans county in 1835 and settled in Murray, purchasing a farm one mile
north of Holley, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a member of the
Baptist Church of Holley. He married Betsey Underbill, and their children were :
Cornelius, Israel, Eliza, Leonard and Margaret. Israel Cole settled in Michigan
and died there. The others settled in Orleans county. Cornelius Cole lived and died in
Murray, was one of the most successful farmers of the town, and also dealt in live
stock. He was a strong Democraf, but never aspired to office. He was also a member
of the Baptist Church. He married Fannie Brundage, and they have had nine chil-
dren: Margaret, Mary, Jeremiah, Charles, Isaac U., Sarah, Helen, Garrison and Henri-
etta. Margaret Cole was twice married, first to Elias Underbill, and second to Albert
Taf t, M. D. ; Mary married B. W. Bradley ; Henrietta married Lott Farnsworth. Isaac
U. Cole has always been a farmer, and resides on the old homestead settled on by his
grandfather. Mr. Cole is a Democrat, and has been assessor of Murray. He is a mem-
ber of Murray Lodge No. 380 F. & A. M. He married in 1866, Ellen, daughter of
John Onderdonk, of Murray, and they have two children: Jesse, born August 10, 1870,
and Glenn P., born April 2, 1872. He married May L. Cowles, and they have one
daughter, Jessie.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 23
Clark, Jerry, is descended from Samuel Clark, his grandfather, who was a soldier of
King George in the French and English war. His birth place is not known, but as he
was tirst known in Pennsylvania, it is supposed that he was born there. Oliver Clark,
father of Jerry, was born in Pensylvania, February 14, 1767, and died in Palmyra,
January 21, 1843. Oliver came to Carlton in 1809 add purchased a quarter section,
where his son Jerry now resides, and returned to Palmyra. He married Sarah Jessup,
born in Long Island, December 22, 1773, and died January 8, 1823. They were
married December 29, 1796, and were the parents of eight children : Maltby Clark,
born March 31, 1797; Matilda, born June 3, 1800; Jerry, born at Palmyra, September
16, 1802; Dennis, born March 21, 180.5; Nelson, born May 7, 1807; Betsey Jane, born
December 5, 1819; Hannah, born February 14, 1812; Hiram, born April 29, 1814.
Jerry Clark learned the trade of tanner and currier, which he followed eight years in
Palmyra. In 1826 he came with his brother Nelson to Carlton and commenced to
clear the land purchased by their father seventeen years previous. The father gave
them a deed of 100 acres each. The land was in a wild state, no clearing having been
done. The first house was a frame house erected the first year he came. Jerry Clark
has lived on this place since 1826. Mr. Clark married Mary Ann Miles, born in Eng-
land, December 24, 1807, and died January 10, 1831. He married for his second wife,
Priscilla Miles, born in Carlton, December 1, 1813, and died in 1890. The children of
this marriage were: Hiram, born July 12, 1834, and died April 9, 1891, and Mary,
born January 27, 1837, and died November 8, 1873. Mr. Clark has served as justice
of the peace of Carlton. He adopted a child of a few weeks of age, who is known as
Olin Clark, born Deeember 30, 1852. Olin Clark married Louise Almey in 1871, and
they have two children, Mary P., born August 6, 1873, and Ella A., born September 24,
1875.
Cook, Ely H., born in 1836 in Clarendon, Orleans county, is a descendant from
Revolutionary stock. His father, Joseph L., was a son of Elijah. The latter was a son
of Jared, who was a son of Jedediah Cook of Killingly, Conn. Elijah Cook settled in
Verona, N. Y. Jedediah, the father of Jared, lived to the age of 104 years, making the
journey from Killingly, Conn., to Verona, N. Y., a distance of over 200 miles, on horse-
back when he was 100 years old. Elijah Cook enlisted in the American army at the
beginning of the Revolutionary war, and served until the close of the war. He came
from Stephentown, N. Y., to Monroe county, in 1817, with four sons, settling in the
town of Clarkson. Jared married Charity Knapp, of Greenwich, Conn. Elijah, his
son, married Charity Lockwood, of Killingly, Conn., and had thirteen children. His
oldest daughter, Betsey, lived 100 years and 5 months. Joseph L. Cook, with his
brother Jared, settled in what is now School District No. 12, in Clarendon, some time
previous to 1821, keeping " bachelor's hall " in a primitive log shanty with its bark roof,
a neighbor, Mrs. Asa Glidden, baking their bread for them until Jared married; then
Joseph L. lived with them until January 21. 1826, when he married Aima, sister of
Elijah Foote, the first judge of Orleans county. Joseph L. Cook's youngest .sister,
Lydia, married Orange, a brother of Judge Foote. Joseph L. was a captain in the State
militia at the same time that his brother Jared was colonel, when it was the custom of
the men on general training day to go about early in the morning to awaken their
24 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
officers. One careless man forgot to withdraw his iron ramrod from his musket, when
on firing, it stuck in a log underneath the bed on which the brothers were sleeping.
Joseph bought out his brother Jared, who removed to Michigan in 1836. Joseph had
one son by his first wife, Chauncey, who died in 1848, aged twenty-two years. Mrs.
Cook died January 24, 1834, and June 22, of the same year, he maraied Nancy, daughter
of John Hawley, of Clarendon (a soldier in the war of 1812). Their children were:
Sarah and Ely F. Mrs. Cook died December 18, 1837, and March 18, 1838, Mr. Cook
married third, Betsey Rockwell, of Danbury, Conn., and they had one daughter,
Alma F. Mr. Cook died March 11, 1842. Joseph L. Cook was one of the thriving
men of his time. A Whig in politics, he served his town as school commissioner, over-
seer of the poor, assessor, and highway commissioner. In religion a Free Baptist, and
a deacon in the church. In 1857, Ely H. Cook married Clara R., daughter of Alpheus
Foster, of Barre, and settled on the farm of his father. Mr. Cook removed to Holley in
1871, and engaged in the mercantile business for three years. In 1877 he returned to
his farm in Clarendon, but sold his farm and removed to Holley again in 1889, where he
now resides. He was a Republican in politics until 1880, when he became a Pro-
hibitionist. He began teaching in the Sunday school in 1851, and is still a Sunday
school teacher. He was the superintendent of the Holley Presbyterian Sunday school
for eighteen years, and has been an officer in the Presbyterian church since 1867. His
daughters, Cora A. married J. B. Stevens, of Dayton, 0. ; Hattie A. married Henry
C. Hazen, and has been with him a missionary in India since 1884; Sara J. is pre-
ceptress of Middleport Union school.
Crandall, Christopher, was a native of Rhode Island, born in 1773, and after living in
Oneida and Cortland counties, became a pioneer in Barre in 1816, settling east of
Albion village on a 140 acre farm. He died in the town in 1850, and his wife, Lucretia,
who was born in 1778, died in 1833. They had thirteen children, and of these the
following came to this county : Sarah, Thankful, John, Wealthy, Elizabeth, Margaret,
Christopher, Lucretia, Lewis, and Anna ; and of these children only Christopher, jr.
and Anna, now survive. He was born April 6, 1810, and for a period of almost eighty
years has lived in this county, having been known as an upright and industrious
farmer. In 1837 he married Salomi Whituiarsh, and to them three children were born
none now living. Mr. Crandall was one of the founders of the Free Methodist church
of Albion, and of his abundance has liberally contributed to its support. Mrs. Crandall
is a member of the M. E. church.
Cole, Sands, was a native of Montgomery county, N. Y., born February 25, 1809.
His wife, Jane Eliza Wheeler, was born in Saratoga county July 28, 1813. They were
married September 25, 1834, and in 1837 came to Knowlesville, Orleans county. Mr.
Cole was identified for a long period with the best mercantile and social interests of
this village, and was a successful business man, enjoying the respect of his fellows. He
was for many years justice of the peace, and in 1844 was elected to a seat in the
Assembly. His wife died August 5, 1885, and he April 28, 1887. Their children were
these: Elizabeth, who married Lemuel C. Paine, and died May 8, 1864; Jane E., mar-
ried Ira M. Luther ; Mark W., who died October 2, 1872, and Sands, jr., who died De-
cember 22, 1883.
FAMILY SKliTCHES. 25
Luther, Ira M., w?.-- born near Brockport, February 15, 1821. In early manhood he
spent sonae years as a merchant in Illinois, and left for the California gold fields in
1849. He was successively a miner, a conductor of emigrant parties across the plains,
a hotel proprietor in Sacramento, and a mill and ranch owner in Nevada. In 1861 he
became a member of the upper house of the first Nevada Legislature. In 1855 he
married Lucy Crippen, of Attica, N. Y., by whom he had three children, Homer J.
and Frank C, born m California, and Nellie Nevada, born in Nevada, now wife of
William G. Frost, of Montclair, N. J. In 1865 he returned to the east, where Mrs.
Luther died. In 1867 he married Jane E., daughter of Sands Cole, of Knowlesville.
To them were born the following children: Beth C, wife of Walter P. Weinstein. of
Terre Haute Ind. ; Mark Lee, Jessie F., and Ira M., jr. Mr. Luther died at his home
in Albion, May 29, 1890.
Cole, William, and his wife, Asenath (Williams) Cole, were both natives of Richfield,
Otsego county. They were married there. In 1824 they settled in the town of
Barre. Mr. Cole was a carpeter and millwright and an excellent mechanic, but came
to this region to become a farmer. He began poor and succeeded in building up a
good property. He built many mills and invented many valuable mechanical appliances.
In his family were ten children : Almina, who died unmarried ; Alma Jane, who mar-
ried Alson D. Smith ; Veeder H., Clarissa, who married William A. Tanner ; Harriet,
who married Joseph Hart ; William, who married Louise Hill, was killed in the army ;
Perry, who was killed by accident; Henry, who died an infant; Phiana, who married
S. E. Howard, and Winfield S., of Kansas. William Cole, the pioneer, died in Feb-
ruary, 1871, and his wife in July, 1883. Veeder H. Cole was born December 1, 1827,
and was brought up to the various occupations followed by his father, particularly that
of farming and at work in a mill, after which he started out to make his own way in
life. He began work at ten dollars per month, and as an employee he continued until
twenty-six years of age. Mr. Cole has been a successful farmer, a hard worker, and
has improved farms that he has bought very much. He has been called upon to settle
several estates, has been appointed assignee, and has been guardian of three families of
children. In politics he has been, a Whig and Republican, and was assessor of the
town three years. Mr. C. is a public-spirited man, and has done much to beautify his
home and make farm life attractive. He has been a member of the Presbyterian
Church more than forty years, and for eleven years one of its ruling elders. April 18,
1854, Mr. Cole married Caroline C. Smith, of Barre, and they have had four children :
Carrie, who died at one year old ; the second child died in infancy ; Mary A., who died
in 1885, and Clara C, wife of Clark F. Thomas, of Monroe county.
Clark, Robert, was born in County Cork, Ireland, August 27, 1841, and was the
youngest but one of twelve children of George and Elizabeth Clark. The family came
to Rochester in 1847, where the father was a marketman and butcher. Robert learned
the confectioner's trade, and in 1873 came to Albion and succeeded George Ashbey in
business. By careful attention and good judgment he has succeeded in building up a
fine trade, and his ice-cream department, particularly, has met with great favor. Mr.
Clark is also well known in local politics, and was twice elected supervisor of the town
(1
26 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
of Albion. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has served as vestryman and
treasurer of that society. On August 6, 1861, Mr. Clark married Mary E. Kingston.
They have had eight children, four of whom are now hving.
Coann, Ezra T., was born in Byron, Genesee county, March 25, 1829, and was the
son of Ezra and Fanny (Hull) Coann. His father was a farmer and Ezra, jr., was
brought up on the farm until the age of fourteen, when he came to Albion, where his
elder brother was teaching school, and attended the academy. He worked in a store
until he reached his majority when he succeeded his employer, Thomas C. Fanning, in
business. From 1850 to 1868 Mr. Coann continued in trade and then sold out. He
was elected to and held the office of county treasurer during the war, and during the
same period he was one of Governor Morgan's Military Committee for the purpose of
raising and organizing troops for the service. Mr. Coann was secretary of this com-
mittee, and it was a part of his duty to provide for the raising of funds for the pay-
ment of bounties, for which county bonds were issued. In 1869 Mr. Coann closed out
his business, and with his family took an extended European tour, covering a period of
one and one-half years. Returning to Albion he established a banking house, which
has always been known as " Coann's Bank," and which is justly recognized as one of
the stable financial institutions of the county. Mr. Coann's business life has been re-
warded Avith great success. He is a firm Republican but has never sought public office.
February 10, 1852, Ezra T. Coann was married to Marcia H. Clement of Geneseo.
Two children were born of this marriage, both of whom are still living. Mrs. Coann
died in March, 1890.
Clark, Orra, was born in Berkshire, Mass., May 15, 1795, and his wife, Sophronia
Phelps, was born in Oneida county, September 17, 1804. The grandfather of Mrs.
Clark was a gunmaker and supplied arms to the patriot troops during the Revolutionary
war. In 1819 Orra Clark came to Western New Y"ork, but it was not until December
19, 1821, that he was married. He settled in Barre (now Albion) on land he took up
and cleared. The children of this family were: Amelia, born September 30, 1822,
married Eri Green, living in Michigan until his death, then returned and married Seth
Waldo, a Presbyterian minister; Caroline H., born September 16, 1824, married to
Dimick French, and after his death Edwin Tanner; Henry E., born December 25, 1829,
lived and died in Albion; Truman A., born March 23, 1832, died in 1878; Mary M.
born July 5, 1834, married Charles Howard of Medina; James B., borU' March 9, 1839,
died aged seven; Eber R.. born May 13, 1842, now in Rochester; Edward, born July
3, 1844, now in Rochester; Laura E., born October 2, 1847, wife of Edward Merrill of
Atlanta, Ga. Orra Clark, the pioneer, died July 26, 1878, and his wife November 26,
of the same year. George S. Clark was born September 8, 1826, was brought up and
always lived on a farm with the exception of three years. At the age of twenty- one
he commenced working for himself, first as a farm hand, and then worked land on
shares until he was able to buy a farm for himself. In 1892 he came to Albion to live,
whereby his industry and upright dealings he has won the respect of the communit}'.
June 26, 1854, he married Martha E. Huff, who died January 26, 1890. The children
born to them are as follows : Truman A., of Albion ; Jennie Porter, of Holley ; Olin,
of Albion ; and Allie M., of Albion. Mr. Clark is a strong Republican and has held
FAMILY SKETCHES. 27
office as collector, highway commissioner, assessor, and has just been elected highway
commissioner for another term of two years. Also president of the Orleans County
Agricultural Society for four years.
Chase, Julius S., is a son of Obediah Schuyler Chase, who was born about 1800, and
an adopted son of Enoch Wheeler, who was born in Connecticut, November 12, 1788.
Mr. Wheeler married Lucy Higgins, who was born October 1, 1790. They came to
Mendon, Monroe county, in 1845, and that fall settled in Barre, whence they removed
to Kendall in 1853, and located where Julius S. Chase now lives, and where both died,
Mr. Wheeler August 12, 1876, and his wife June 18, 1873. Both were i:>rominent in
the M. E. Church. He served in the war of 1812, and drew a land warrant. Julius
S. Chase, born April 6, 1823, married, October 1, 1844, Calista Ann, daughter of John
Nickerson. (Mr. Nickerson came to Barre in October, 1845, and late in life came with
his wife to reside with their daughter m Kendall, where both died, he in July, 1885, and
she August 12, 1881). Mr. and Mrs. Chase have lived on the Center road between the
ridge and the lake forty years. Their children are Lucy A. (Mrs. David L. Jones),
Julia A. (Mrs. Edward L. Reed, of Carlton), Mary A. (Mrs. Edward J. Clark, and after-
ward Mrs. Harvey Curtis), and Isabella (Mrs. John Bilhngs, of Carlton).
Church, Samuel, born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1781, came into North Ridgeway (now
Yates) in 1816. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and long a prominent member of
the M. E. Church. He finally moved to Lyndonville, where he died in 1871. His
wnfe, Ann Daniels, who died in 1825, bore him four sons : Seth, Grosvenor, Isaac and
William. Grosvenor Church came to Ridgeway with his parents when eight years old,
and moved thence in 1831 to Yates, settling on a farm iu the east part of the town.
October 27, 1831, he married Jane, daughter of Richard Barry, and died April 26, 1873.
He was long a justice of the peace and a trustee of Yates Academy, and during his
life was one of the town's most eminent men. His widow now resides in Lyndon-
ville, and has gained considerable prominence by her exquisite needle work. William
Church was born June 8, 1812, and died July 19, 1893. October 25, 1837, he married
Sena, daughter of Richard Barry. He was justice of the peace and overseer of the
poor many years, and was long an active member, class leader, steward, and trustee of
the M. E. Church. Like his brother, Grosvenor, he lived first in Ridgeway and later
in Yates. His widow still survives and resides at Yates Centre.
Clark, Harvey, born in Middletown, Conn., in April, 1784, came to Yates with his
wife and two children, two yoke of oxen, and a cart in August, 1817, settling on a
farm now owned by his son Daniel, and which has never been out of the possession of
the family. This he bought by article and converted into a valuable farm. He was a
cloth-dresser by trade and followed that business extensively in Connecticut, but after
his settlement here he was always a farmer. He was an old line Whig, but never
aspired to office. He married Betsey Clark, who was born in 1789, and died January
18, 1882. Their children were Nelson, Harriet, Mary A. (Mrs. L. Martin), Daniel,
Harriet, second (Mrs. John Darling), Betsey, and Betsey second. Mr. Clark died
December 12, 1866. Daniel Clark was born April 10, 1820, and he says in " Ridge-
way, Genesee county, afterward lived in Northton, Genesee county, and is now a resi-
28 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
dent of Yates, Orleans county, and yet has always resided on the same farm." Decem--
ber 8, 1841, he married, first, Jane Blanchard, of Peacham, Vt., who died July 27,
1874. Their children were Kate (Mrs. H. M. Hard), born July 18, 1843, and Edward
H., born March 2, 1845, died December 13, 1867. Mr. Clark married, second, August
25, 1875, Sophie McKennan, who was born at Richfield Springs, N. Y., July 26, 1832.
Her father, Ezekiel McKennan, son of William, a Scotchman, was born in Belfast,
Ireland, m 1797, came to America in 1815, settling first in Rome, N. Y., then in Her-
kimer, and finally in Richfield Springs, and mov^ed thence to Carlton, September 1,
1840, where he died November 24, 1887. He was a carriage maker, and married
Sophia Warner (born September 3, 1802, died April 27, 1869), their children being
Rachael (Mrs. Albert Backus), Dr. Hugh, Oliver, Salinda, Sophie (Mrs. Daniel Clark),
Sarah (Mrs. S. M. Berry), James, George, Jennie E. (Mrs. Henry Rowley), and Mary
E. (Mrs. George Fuller). Daniel Clark has been supervisor three terms, has held
nearly all the minor town offices, has been an elder of the First Presbyterian Church
some time, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school ten years. He is a
writer of considerable ability, particularly upon local history.
McKennan, Dr. Hugh, son of Ezekiel, who was long a resident of Carlton, was born
in Richfield Springs, N. Y., February 27, 1827. He was graduated from the Bufi'alo
Medical College in 1848, and the same year located in Lyndonville, where he practiced
as Dr. Horace Phipany's successor until 1865, when he removed to Muskateen, la.
There his wife died in 1878, and he went to Syracuse, where he died August 18, 1886.
His wife was Hattie Swift, a native of Yates, and by whom he had four children, all
deceased. The family are all buried in the Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville. Dr.
McKennan was a skillful surgeon, a talented writer, and an excellent scholar and fine
Clark, Alonzo, is a grandson of Zephaniah Clark, who died June 4, 1816, in Sand
Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y. The latter married Zulyma Cooley, who died March 4,
1826. Their children were: Isaac, Abel R., Freeman, William B., father of our subject
Zephaniah, Thos. S., Claremond, Zulyma, Lydia, Telhassa. Wm. B., father of our sub-
ject, was born in Williamstown, Mass., April 27, 1792, and died January 27, 1860,
married Tryphosa Childs, who was born April 27, 1792, at Williamstown, Mass., and
died July 27, 1872. There children were: Alonzo, born January 2, 1815 , Minerva, born
March 21, 1817 : Alvin, born August 26, 1818, at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y.;
William, born September 5, 1819, Freeman, born July 12, 1821; Edward born, June 25,
1823; Zephaniah, January 7, 1826, at Troy; Matilda, born February 10, 1828; Lura,
born November 1, 1829, at Sand Lake ; George E., born November 1, 1832, at Alexan-
der, Genesee county, and Abel R., born at Carlton, Orleans county, September 20,
1834. Alonzo was educated in a public school at Troy, until the age of thirteen, when
he came to the town of Alexander, Genesee county, N. Y., to live with his uncle R. B.
Cady, where his father and family moved in the spring of 1830. April 1, 1834, they re-
moved to Carlton on the farm adjoining the farm where Alonzo now resides on a farm
consisting of 56 acres of land. Mr. Clark has .served as justice of the peace in said town
over twenty years. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., Kuckvllle Lodge No. 374 and
is an elder in the Methodist Episcopal church at the latter place. February 9, 1840, he
FAMILY SKETCHES. 2t)
married Mary A. Blood, born January 17, 1816, and died April 11, 1883. Their chil-
dren : Hettie T., born November 9, 1840 ; Lucinda M., born October 2, 1842 died Sep-
tember 25, 1851 ; Orrin A., born October 14, 1845, who married Mary Richards and had
two children, Alva L. died September 22, 1872, and John A.; George R., born Septem-
ber 28, 1848, married Julia Pitts, no children except an adopted daughter, Nellie M.
Mary 0., born'March 6, 1852, married Arnell P. Sherman (deceased) and had two
children. Ethel I. (deceased) and Belva M.; Hattie N., born February 22, 1856, and
Louis A. born February 13, 1862.
Clark, Zephaniah, who for forty or more years was numbered among the respected
residents of Albion, was a native of Williamstown, Mass., born September 21, 1794,
and was the sixth of nine children of Zephaniah and Zulyma (Cooley) Clark. Al-
though brought up on a farm Zephaniah at the early age of seventeen went to Troy, and
became an apprentice to the pnnting trade in the office of the "Farmer's Register,"
He enlisted in the war of 1812 and served in one campaign on Long Island, and for nis
service during the war Mr. Clark was made a pensioner. Returning to Troy he served
out his apprenticeship and then went into a printing office at Salem, N. Y. In 1817 he
purchased the ''Troy Northern Budget" and published that paper until 1828. He then
engaged in the book and stationery business in that city, and continued until 1843,
when he sold his interest and came to Albion. In this village Mr. Clark purchased the
old Butts farm, then comprising 100 acres, and to it devoted his chief attention. He
engaged in no active business in Albion other than the management of his farm, which
was afterwards divided into village lots. In all public affairs he took a deep interest
and in politics was a Jeffersonian Democrat. For forty or more years he was senior
warden of Christ Church, and a most devout churchman. Mr. Clark was thrice
married; first on December 22, 1819, to Catherine Coenhoven, by whom he had two
children, Frances who died at the age of five, and one son. Dr. Edward Clark of New York
city. His second wife was Elenore S. Adams of Troy, whom he married May 28,
1833, and by whom he also had one son, William DeWitt Clark, who was lost at sea in
1861. April 17, 1844 he married Sophia A. McHarg, of Albany, who died September
12, 1886, and the children of this marriage were: Howard K., who died at St. Johns,
Canada; Frances Clark Forbes, of Albion ; Franklin and Katharine Gr., wife of J. Will-
iam Cornell. Zephaniah Clark died in Albion August 18, 1888, at the advanced age of
ninety- four. Franklin Clark was born in Albion April 30, 1852. He was educated at the
Albion Academy, after which he was six years in the Central freight office at Albion.
He then went into the drug business at Kingston, N. Y., where he remained five years.
In 1882 in company with Mr. Bates he established a drug store in Albion, and in 1888
became its sole proprietor. Mr. Clark was also interested in the Curtis Manufacturing
Company, of which he was at one time the president, and when the affairs of the com-
pany were closed, he and Samuel Willyoung purchased the property and are still its
owners. On June 19, 1884, Franklin Clark was married to Louie M., daughter of
George W. Ough, and four children have been born to them.
Cornell, Joseph M., for more than half a century intimately associated with the busi-
ness interests of Albion. He was born in Galway, Saratoga county N. Y., June 21,
1819. His father, Asa Cornell, was a farmer. Mr. Cornell's independent and self-re-
30 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
liant nature, early inspired him td a wider sphere of activity, than the farm presented,
so in 1835 at the age of sixteen he left his father's house, for what was then "the west,"
and came to Albion by the Erie Canal. He at once found employment as a clerk in the
general store of Mr. C. W. Swan, and also made his home in the family of Mr. Swan.
Confidence then secured, and intimacies then formed, lasted unbroken and unimpaired
until the day of his death. Upon the retirement of C. W. Swan from business in 1843,
he was succeeded by Swan & Cornell, the firm being composed of William Gr. Swan, son
of the former proprietor, and Joseph M. Cornell, both of whom had been clerks in the
establishment of which they now became proprietors. This firm continued business fpr
about nine years. The business was then sold out and the firm dissolved, and Mr. Cor-
nell retired permanently from mercantile life. In 1853 Mr. Cornell became book-keeper
in the old Bank of Orleans and when that association failed he assisted in settling its
afifairs. In February, 1860, he was one of the organizers of the Orleans County Bank,
and was its first cashier and held that position until August, 1870, when, upon the
death of Mr. Elizur Hart, he was elected president of the association. The bank in
1865 was reorganized under the National Banking law, and became the Orleans County
National Bank. Mr. Cornell practically directed the policy of the bank until his death,
July 4, 1890. He was originally a Whig, and later a strong Republican. When the
village of Albion was incorporated, he was elected a trustee, and served several years
as supervisor of the town of Barre, was treasurer of the county for a number of years,
also postmaster at Albion for some time, and a member of the Board of Education since
it was organized. Mr. Cornell has been a member of the Baptist church since he was
eighteen years of age, and was always very zealous and active in church work, and was
treasurer of the society for many years, and a very generous contributor. His domestic
relations were peculiarly happy. On the 25th of April, 1848, he married Jane M.
daughter of Col. Curtis Cole of Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y., and their home
of culture and refinement was one of the chief society centres of the town. Mr. Cor-
nell was one of the purest and noblest of men, of commanding presence, with a mind,
large, well informed, and active, with his powers at all times under control, and ready
for service. He was a leading citizen, and able financier, a wise counselor, and a firm
and steadfast friend. Two children were born to them, Matie A. wife of Dr. Tousley
B. Lewisof New York, and J. William Cornell; the latter was born June ]5, 1885, at
Albion, N. Y., and he received his education at the Albion Academy and in Buflalo, N.
Y. He entered the Orleans County National Bank as a book-keeper in 1872, and was
appointed teller of the bank in 1885, which position he held until 1890 when he was
made cashier. He has also been a vestryman and treasurer of Christ church for a num-
ber of years. Mr. Cornell was married to Katharine S.. daughter of Zephaniah Clark of
Albion, N. Y., July 20, 1881. Politically he has always been a strong Republican.
Crandall, John Wm., Kendall. — John W. Crandall, sr., son of Caleb, was born June
4, 1796, in Washington county and married, February 12, 1816, Phoebe Clements, who
was born August 15, 1799. They came to Kendall about 1822 and settled where their
son John W., jr., now lives, where they both died. They moved into town with all
their goods on a sled drawn by a yoke of oxen, and upon his arrival Mr. Crandall had a
solitary sixpence in money. He served as commissioner of highways a number of years.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 31
Their children were Louisa (Mrs. E. J. Farnsworth), born February 25,1818, ofMiehi-
gfan; Caroline (Mrs. Albert G. Ralph), born April 3, 1822, died July 3, 1860; Melissa
(Mrs. Benjamin Wheeler), born October 17, 1824, died April 12, 1846: Caleb, born
January 19, 1826, died in February, 1832; Mary Ann (Mrs. Sylvester Barton), born
May 29, 1829, died January 16, 1850; John J., born March 21, 1831, died June 30,
1842; William F., born August 11, 1833, died May 23, 1853, and Lucy Elizabeth (Mrs!
Alonzo Bgelston), born September 14, 1836. Mrs. Crandall died March 26, 1842, and
he married, second, Mrs. Mary Wheeler, nee Smith, June 8, 1842. She was born
June 15, 1800, and died March 19, 1885. They had one son, John W., jr., born March
14, 1843, who married, August 13, 1865, Mary H. Jennings, who was born December
6, 1842. Mr. Crandall died May 27, 1864. With two others he brought the first plow
mto the west part of the town, carrymg it on cheir backs all the way from the ridge.
His brother Samuel came to Kendall about 1823. Their parents also came here late in
life and died in Hartland, N. Y., Caleb, December 26, 1863, aged 104 years, and his
wife Mary Holmes, June 18, 1838. John W. Crandall, j r., who resides on the home-
stead, has been highway commissioner nine years and constable four years and county
central committee three years and charter member of Social Lodge No. 713 of F. & A.
M. Stephen S. Jennings, his wife's father, was born in Fulton county Deceniber 6,
1814, came to Kendall in 1843, and died January 31, 1889, his wife dying February h
1891. His son, Henry C, resides near West Kendall.
Copeland, Samuel D., was born October 22, 1812, in the town of Norton, Bristol
county, Mass., and is descended from Lawrence Copeland who came from England to
Boston in 1620. The father of our subject was Samuel, a son of Samuel, who married
Eunice Danforth, and had three sons, Samuel, Benjamin, and John. Benjamin was a
college bred^man,|and a teacher in the Southern States for many years, who finally came
to this county, bought land, and erected a saw mill, which he conducted a number of
years, then sold his property in Murray and moved to Michigan, built a flour mill at
Booklyn, Jackson county, was member of the legislature in 1838-9, disposed of Michi-
gan property, returned to Orleans county, N. Y., settled in Clarendon, was merchant
for several years. Died aged eighty-eight years. Samuel came from Norton, Mass., to
Brighton, Monroe county in 1820, and in 1820, came to Murray. He was an active
politician and a prominent member of the Methodist church at Hulberton. He married
Mercy R., daughter of Ebenezer Titus, and they had five children : Samuel D., George
M., Benjamin F., Horatio N., and Eugene, both of the latter dying in early manhood.
Samuel D., our subject, has resided at Hulberton since 1826, From 1834 to 1885 he
was engaged largely in public works, for man;^ years having charge of repairs on the
Erie Canal from Tonawanda Creek to Brockport. He has also been engaged in farming.
He is a Republican in politics, having voted at every election and town meeting since
reaching his majority. Since about 1840 he has been an Odd Fellow of Holley Lodge,
and is a member of the Methodist church of Hulberton. December 13, 1838, he married
Emehne, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Budd, of Murray, and their children are:
Geoige F., John B., Eunice D., Emeline B., Daniel B., and Samuel B. George F. lives
at St. Paul, Minn., and is superintendent of the Butte, Anadonda & Pacific Railroad •
John B. resides in Seattle, Wash., and is superintendent of the Coast Line of the Great
32 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Northern Railroad; Samuel B. is an engineer and lives at Anaconda, Mont.; Daniel B.
resides in Murray ; Eunice D. is unmarried ; Emeline B. married Frank Moore of Hul-
berton. Mrs. Emiline Copeland died March 17, 1888. George M. Copeland went to
Clarendon at the age of thirteen and entered the store of David Sturgis, finally became
a partner, and later sole proprietor, dying in 1892. He was a broad-mmded, public
spirited man, a prominent member of the M. E. church of Clarendon, giving sites for
church and parsonage, and contributed largely towards their building and maintenance.
In 1852 he was elected to the legislature, and also served as supervisor of his town
(1849-50-59). He married Laura, daughter of David Sturgis, and they had twelve
children, of whom eight survive. Benjamin F. Copeland spent his early life in Murray
and in 1850 removed to California.
Christie, James, was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, born March 13, 1800. During
his youth he learned the trade of rope and sail making, and at the age of thirteen he
went on the sea as a cabin boy. Proving active, competent and reliable, he gradually
raised in rank until he became captain of a ship, and for forty-eight years followed the
sea. He married, June 1, 1820, in Boston, Sarah Parsons; they have no children.
Mrs. Christie died January 1, 1864. Leaving the sea in 1857, Captain Christie came to
this county and settled in Barre, where he had a farm of fifty acres. There he lived
about twelve years and then came to Albion, where he died April 6, 1874. By a provi-
sion in his will he left to the Baptist Missionary Union Society a bequest of $10,000.
In April. 1864, Captain Christie married Hannah Samantha Randall, and four years
after his death his widow married William H. Ross, of Albion, who died in September,
1881. Samuel Ross was born at Morristown, N. J., in 1785. He was a blacksmith by
trade, and spent twenty-five years in Schenectady, coming to Shelby in 1832. He died
in 1872, and his wife in 1847. Charles C. Ross, of Albion, was one of the four children
of Samuel. He is a coachmaker by trade, and worked in Medina about fifteen years be-
fore coming to Albion in 1884. In 1839 he married Maria Finch in Schenectady. Will-
iam Halsey Ross, also son of Samuel, married second Hannah Samantha Christie, widow
of Captain James Christie.
Culver, Orange, was the pioneer head of a large and respected family of descendants
in Barre, and was himself one of the strongest men in influence and worth in the county
during his time. He was the son of Benjamin Culver and a native of Columbia county,
born in 1781. In that county he married, and soon afterward bought a farm and set-
tled in Cayuga county, but in 1828 he came to Barre, where he purchased the " better-
ments" of John Kessler and Jedediah Heath. He added to his lands until he at one
time owned 600 acres, but by an unfortunate investment in the old Bank of Gaines
much of his fortune was swept away, and it required the efforts of his sons to re-estab-
lish him financially. He died in Green River, Columbia county, while on a visit to his
birthplace, October 14, 1849, and his widow October 15, 1872. Mr. Culver's wife was
Betsey Andrews, and their children were : Samantha, who married David White and
died in Barre ; Ebenezer, who died in Clarendon ; Sarah Ann, who married Samuel
Eddy ; Nelson, who moved to Indiana and died there ; Caroline, who married Luther
Porter and now lives in Gaines; Orange A., of Albion ; James L., of Osborne, Kan.;
Oliver Perry, of Barre; Byron, who died in Dakota. Oliver P. Culver was born Jan-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 33
uary 22, 1822, and has always been a farmer in Barre, with tlie exception of a year and
a half spent in Holley. He now lives on the old homestead and is regarded as one of
the successful farmers of the town. He was originally a Democrat, but one of the
founders of the Republican party in the town. October 8, 1846, Mr. Culver married
Jane Delano, by whom he had three children : Daniel D., of Barre Center; Mary, who
married Sanford Wagoner and moved to Michigan ; and George P., of Barre. His
wife died July 3, 1856, and March 17, 1858, Mr. Culver married Sarah S. Burnham, by
whom he had one child, Milton L. Culver, of Rochester. His second wife died June 26,
1886, and September 25, 1887, Mr. Culver married Lois M. Miller, who died August 31,
1892.
Calkins, David, was born in Mt. Washington, Mass., and died at West Gaines at the
age of eighty-four in 1868 on the farm where his daughter. Miss Eleanor, now resides,
His wife, Sarah Stuart, was born in Kent, Conn., and died at West Gaines in 1852,
aged seventy-four. David came with his family to West Gaines, March 12, 1821, and
bought the farm on which he lived and died ; he endured the hardships of pioneer life.
The children of David and Sarah are as follows : Edward, born in Kent, Conn., in 1804,
and died August 8, 1873. married Eliza Beauvay ; John, born in Kent, Conn,, in 1809,
resides in Lewiston, married Betsey Curtis, by whom he has four children : Sarah, Ellen
J., S. Cordelia, and John ; Cornelius, born in Kent in 1810, died in 1882, married Al-
zina Patrick and have four children: J. Jay, Ray, Addie, and Ella; Eleanor, born in
Kent, September 20, 1813, lives on the farm where her parents lived and died ; Sarah,
born in Cayuga county, September 23, 1817, and died at the family home in 1873 ;
James, born on this farm in 1823 and resides in Albion, married Jane Sherman and
have five children : Sarah, Alice, Anjennett, Edwin, James, and Frank Sherman.
Downs, John, was born in Clarendon, Orleans county, January 22, 1846. His father,
William, was a native of Ireland, being a son of Alexander Downs. William came to
America in 1828, and settled in Troy, N. Y. A few years later he removed to Orleans
county, locating in Holley, but soon afterward settled in Clarendon, where he engaged
in farming. He was also a dealer in live stock for many years. His father, Alexander,
came to this country in 1840, and after a short residence in Orleans county removed to
Wisconsin. William Downs married in 1840 Jane, daughter of John Best, and they
had two sons, William and John, and one daughter, Nancy. He was an active mem-
ber of the Methodist church. He died in May, 1877, and his wife February 26, 1894.
William Downs, jr., married Mary McFarland, and resides on the old homestead. Sub-
ject was educated in the public schools of Clarendon, and when a mere boy engaged in
the live stock and wool business, buying and selling to eastern markets, gradually ex-
tending his operations until he became known as one of the largest shippers of live
stock in the country. Between 1880 and 1890 he forwarded more sheep to New York
than any other dealer who bought them direct of farmers, and was also the largest buyer
in the Detroit market, having shipped 200 car loads to New York in one winter. In
1875 Mr. Downs became a partner in the well known firm of Hallwell & Wilhs, exten-
sive wool dealers of Rochester, continuing eight years. In 1874, in company with
George W, Stoddard and W. G. Rutherford, he organized a bank at Walden, Orange
34 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
county, N. Y., carrying on a private banking business until 1883, when it was reorgan-
ized as the Walden National Bank, Mr. Downs severing his connection with the institu-
tion soon after. He was two years a agent of the firm of Nelson Morris & Co., of
Chicago, dealers in dressed beef. In 1882 he purchased an interest in the banking busi-
ness of Eddy & Bowman, of Holley, the firm name becoming Eddy, Downs & Bow-
man, and conducted business under that name until the death of Mr. Eddy in 1884,
since which time the firm has been Downs & Bowman. Mr. Downs is largely inter-
ested in real estate and stone quarries. In 1885 he removed to Holley A monument
to his enterprise and public spirit is the fine stone building known as the Downs Hotel,
erected in 1892, and is the finest hotel in Orleans county. He is a Republican, is a
member and vestryman of the Episcopal church ; a member of Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F.
and Murray Lodge No. 380, F. & A. M., and has passed most of the chairs. In 1885
he married Eva, daughter of Warren Glidden, of Clarendon, and their children are :
John, jr., Nancy, Hattie and Gladys.
Austin Day was born in Connecticut in the year 1790, being one of a family of thir-
teen children. His parents were Oliver Day and Diadema Beebe, embodying a
marked progressive spirit they were not content with the offerings of their native
State, they formed a colony with nine other families and started to better their con-
dition. In the year of 1800 the colony moved to Bennington county, Yt., where Aus-
tin Day received his education, and after teaching for a time married Mary Chapman of
Holland county, Conn., sister of the celebrated Doctor Chapman of Long Island, she
also being a teacher. Mr. Day's father was a thrifty farmer, and Austin, inheriting the
sterling qualities of his forefathers, became bent upon penetrating the western wilds ;
at twenty-five years of age with their accumulations and stout hearts, with covered
wagons and stock they began their long trip to the " Genesee country." In the sum-
mer of 1815 they bought their first farm in the town of Murray, and then began pioneer
life in earnest within the confines of the dense forest. That section began to fill up
rapidly. Being a man of energy and capability, he became at once a leading spirit in
the work of the development of the resources of the country, establishing of schools,
and the bettering of the conditions of the less fortunate emigrants. With a kind heart,
sympathetic nature and open hand, he dispensed to the struggling ones material assist-
ance and with the growth of the section grew his prominence. In 1826 the Erie Canal
was completed, and from private life he was called to the superintendency of the canal,
and during his office he developed (as much of the stone work at important points was
rebuilt by him) into a contractor of note, as he displayed marked courage by making a
canal contract along the Susquehanna River, which required three years to complete,
proving a profitable undertaking, thus enabhng him to materially increase his ownership
of land in this county. He was elected sheriff, served one term, accepting the appoint-
ment of a judgship, serving in that capacity for five yerrs. In 1850 he retired from
public life, devoting his time thereafter to the management of his farms, which consisted
of about five hundred acres in the town of Murray. His motto was, " Owe no man
anything." His life was one of sterling integrity united with a kind and sympathetic
nature and of perfect morals, and well may it be said of him, '' The world is better for
his having lived in it." He gave to his wife the credit justly her due, as through her
FAMILY SKETCHES. 35
wise council and executive ability they were enabled to leave to their children a com-
petency. His wife died in the year 1858, at the age of seventy- six and he followed in
1874, aged eighty-four, both being members of the Presbyterian Church. Their family
consisted of Mary A. Buell of Holly, N. Y., deceased; Catharine M. Parsons of Albion,
N. Y.; Ferdinand A. Day of Albion, N. Y.; Cory don Day who died in 1835, fifteen
years of age.
Dye, William, arid his family were among the pioneers of Western New York, hav-
ing come from Rhode Island at a very early date and settled in Monroe county. Wil-
liam spent his last years with his son, Walter E., who is remembered as one of the sub-
stantial farmers of Carlton. The latter purchased his farm in the town in 1837 and in
May, 1839, married Charlotte, daughter of William D. Butts. They had one child,
William B., a resident and a business man of Albion. Walter E. was a farmer and
builder having erected many buildings in Carlton. For a time he kept a store and was
withal an enterprising and successful business man. He came to Albion to live in 1870,
and there he died four years later. William B. Dye was born in Carlton, June 13,
1840, and was brought up on his father's farm and in the store. He was educated at
the Albion Academy and at a business college in Rochester. In 1870 Mr. Dye came to
Albion and in 1872 became a member of the clothing firm of Adler & Fox, which then
took the name of Adler, Dye & Company. Mr. Adler retired in 1884, and then the
present firm of Dye & Fox was formed. Mr. Dye is a strong Democrat and has been
active in politics. In 1879 he was elected supervisor, and has also held office as trustee
and president of the village. Is now president of the Board of Managers of the West-
ern House of Refuge for Women at Albion. January 16, 1867 he married Lottie E.,
daughter of Edward Dediermar of Jackson, Mich. Three children have been born of
this marriage, two of whom are now living.
Denio, John, was born in Greenfield, Mass., where he published a newspaper twenty
years and had his files back to 1800 ; and at the time of his death he had been in the print-
ing and publishing business half a century, and was one of the oldest practical printers
and publishers in this state. He died in Albion aged eighty-one years. He was also a
prominent Mason and defended the order during the anti-Masonic period. Mr. Denio
and son, John H., were publishers of the "Orleans American" for eight or nine years.
The eldsst daughter of John Denio was the wife of the late Dr. William Noble, for
many years one of the leading physicians and surgeons in this county, and well known
throughout the State. John H. Denio was the youngest but one of the five children of
John Denio. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in this county
and has ever since been an ardent supporter of that party with both voice and pen.
He has held the offices of county treasurer (two terms), postmaster, district deputy
provost marshal for the county during the war, and was one of the members of the
county military committee to fill the quotas. Mr. Denio, was ineligible for personal
service in the army, but under a law passed by Congress he was allowed to send a
representative into the service. Mr. Denio has been a continuous resident of Albion,
and in addition to the services mentioned, has been engaged in the banking and insur-
ance business, stone quarrying and milling and has also dealt largely in real estate. He
has four children living. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth Denio, has for a number of
36 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
years been a professor of languages and lecturer of arts at Wellesley College, and is
also noted as having been an extensive traveler in foreign lands and the translator of
both English and German works. She was a graduate of Phipps Union Seminary and
Mt. Holyoke Seminary, and was a teacher of Latin in Yasser one year. Another
daughter, Lillian, was educated at Wellesley College and is now librarian of the Teach-
ers' Institute Department of Columbia College. The third daughter, Louise, is the wife
of Henry M. Fisher, Esq., of Batavia, a member of the Genesee county bar. The
fourth child, Lorenzo B., was graduated at Oberlin Commercial College; engaged in the
hardware business at Clyde for a time, and is now a resident of Buffalo.
Danolds, C. A., is of New England stock, his grandfather having been a native of
Connecticut, who died in Avon, Genesee county, N. Y. The father of our subject was
David, born in Connecticut August 5, 1788, and died at Galena 111., June 18, 1846. He
married Mattie Hosmer, who was born in Connecticut, November 17, 1790. Their
children were: Samual, Mary A., Ezra, Charles A., our subject, born August 17, 1818,
at Stafford, Genesee county ; Truman W., Henry S., George I., and Mattie E. David
first settled in Avon, where he carried on the brick business for several years, then re-
moved to Stafford and engaged in the hotel business, and also in the milling and potash
business. He next went to Batavia where he conducted a hotel three years. Remov-
ing to Elba, Genesee county, he followed various pursuits, and in 1833 came back to
Oak Orchard, where he bought 2,600 acres of land, and took up farming on a large
scale, employing fifty men Charles A. was educated in the common schools of Oak
Orchard, and kept hotel there for ten years, then sold out and moved to Eagle Harbor
in 1848, and engaged in mercantile business ; he also owned and conducted four canal
boats, and carried on a potash business. About 1852 he bought the farm where he has
smce resided, which consists of two hundred acres. He has been extensively engaged
in the enlarging of waterways, having been engaged on the Erie canal, Champlain
Canal, Chenango extension, and various locks, having built six on the Wellar d Canal,
besides the 'construction of the Elmira Reformatory. He was general superintendent of
the Western Division of the Erie and Genesee Valley Canals for three years, and also
bought and sold horses for the Government during the war. He is a member of Reno-
vation Lodge No. 97, of Albion, and is the oldest mason in the county. He is also a
member of the L 0. 0. F. of Medina. February 16, 1848, he married Mary J, Patter-
son, born December 29, 1820, in Westmoreland, Oneida county, and they had three
children : Charles P , born April 25, 1849. died July 10, 1861 ; Warren S., born Sep-
tember 3, 1851, married Emily Tarbell Searl, and lives in Albion ; Carrie P., born May
18, 1854, married Sands Cole, jr., and has two children ; Charles D. and Marc W. Mr.
Cole died December 22, 1885.
Darrow, Col. Nicholas E., was born at Chatham, Columbia county, April 1, 1808, and
is descended from good old revolutionary stock. His father, Capt. John Darrow, and
three brothers, fought in the Continental army, and Captain Darrow participated in
the battle of Danbury. The ancestors of Colonel Danbury were Scotch-Irish, and on
the mother's side came over in the Mayflower. Capt. John Darrow was a son of
Daniel Darrow, and came from Columbia county to Caledonia in 1813, with his wife,
Eunice Eggleston, and a large family of children. His death occurred before they
FAMILY SKETCHES. 37
were settled. His widow afterward married Broadstreet Spoflford, and in 1815 the
family settled in Clarendon. Colonel Darrow. with his brother Lewis, built a stone
block on the south end of the square in Holley. Lewis Darrow died at Holley in 1833.
Colonel Darrow engaged in the mercantile trade, but in 1834 failing health compelled
him to give it up. He then removed to Ohio, remaining until 1837, when he returned
to Holley, and for three years was engaged m farming. In 1840 he removed to Claren-
don, and has since been a resident of that town, where he has been engaged in farming.
He was for four years colonel of the 25th Regiment Artillery, 8th Brigade, 4th Divis-
ion State Militia. He is the only living charter member of the Holley Lodge, I. 0. O.
F. He is a member and trustee of the M. E. Church. Colonel Darrow was a Jackson
Democrat but joined the Republican party on its formation. He was elected supervisor
of Clarendon in 1851-2 and in 1854, and in 1864 and 1865. He was postmaster at
Clarendon for thirteen years, and in 1861 was elected to the General Assembly from
Orleans county. In 1846-47 he was superintendent of the canal from Holley to Pen-
dleton. December 20, 1830, he married Sarah Sweet, who died in 1889. Their chil-
dren were : Mary, who married John S. Nelson ; Sarah M., who married John R.
Bartlett ; Laura, who married Albert J. Potter ; Hattie, who married James Gibson ;
Etta, who married George H. Copeland ; Eunice, who married Alfonso D. Cook ; Sa-
brina, who married Kirk Blancha'-d ; Nicholas H., who married Juliana Wyman and
afterward settled at Benton Harbor, Mich., in 1893 ; Lewis E., who married Satie Car-
penter, and is in the banking business at Corry, Pa. He (Lewis E.) enlisted in the
151st N. Y. Infantry and served in the war of the rebellion. Harry Darrow, brother
of Colonel Darrow, spent his life in Orleans county until 1892, when he settled at
Hamlin, Monroe county. James, another brother, settled in Homer, Mich., about the
year 1855, and a sister, Polly Darrow, married Cheney Luce and settled in Wisconsin.
Dean, WiUiam N., is descended from Eli Dean, born in Danbury, Conn,, in 1749, and
died in 1814. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill, where
he was taken prisoner after being wounded. His son. Nelson, was born in Canaan,
Conn., in 1805, and settled in Carlton m 1839. He died in 1853, and his wife, Mary
A. Andrews, born 1813, died in July, 1893. Their children were: William N., born in
Canaan, Conn., in 1837 ; George W., born 1839 in South Canaan, and still lives in the
same town; Julia A., born 1841, died April 11, 1868; John H., born May 20, 1843,
died 1852; Mary L., born May 28, 1846; Sanford H., born August 14, 1852, died
October 24, 1886. Our subject attended the common schools at Carlton, and later
graduated at the Albion Academy in 1860. He has always followed farming and lived
on the homestead of 108 acres. He is a Republican, and has served as asses.sor five
terms, and justice of the peace, was elected supervisor in 1893, and re-elected in 1894.
He enlisted in the late war and sworn in the regular army, but thrown out on account
of throat difficulty, afterwards enlisted twice in the volunteer service, and again rejected
for the same reason. He is a Mason, of Renovation Lodge No. 97, Albion. February
23, he married Genevieve Porter, lorn in 1848, a daughter of Alonzo Porter, born in
1818, who married Phoebe PhiHips, born in 1827. Our subject has two children :
Harry P., born February 23, 1877, and George A., born September 8, 1878. Mr. Dean
38 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
has taught schools winters for eighteen seasons, holding a State certificate from Nei
Gilmore.
Bccleston, Marion Marcus, is a grandson of Squire I. Eccleston, who was born in
Stonington, Conn., and whose father was Benedict Eccleston. The maternal grand-
father of our subject was John Mansfield, and his father was Franklin H. Eccleston,
who was born in Pharsalia, N. Y., May 14, 1800, and died May 5, 1890, at East
Carlton. He married Theodosia Mansfield, born in Milton, Vt., May 30, 1806, and died
at East Carlton, March 14, 1894. Their children were: Charlotte, born in 1825, died
in 1826; John F., born in 1827, died in 1890 at Springfield, Mo.; Seymour, born' in
1829, died in 1833 ; Squire A., born in 1832, died in 1833 ; Squire S. A., born in 1834,
died in 1872 at Nebraska City, Neb.; Marcus, born April 6, 1836, and died April 13,
1841 ; Marion M., born October 11, 1844, he being the only survivor of the family. He
was educated in the district schools at East Carlton, and finished at the Albion
Academy. He has taught music occasionally for over twenty years, being proficient
on both violin and guitar. February 6, 1873, he married Alice Eliza Shipman,
who was born at Carlton, April 10, 1847, and their children are: Arthur I., born
March 18, 1874; and Frederic F., born July 19, 1875; Mrs. Eccleston's father,
Israel Shipman, was born in Carlton iu 1815, and is now living. Franklin H. Ec-
cleston and Theodosia Mansfield were married January 8, 1824. John F. Eccleston and
Lucy Hagedorn were married July 18, 1852. Squire S. A. Eccleston and Margaret
Boyes were married September 1, 1853. There were born to Squire S. A. Eccleston
and wife two children: Frank B. Eccleston, born May 28, 1859, and Lenna T., wife of
John Wale, born December 24, 1856; both of these children reside at Nebraska City,
Neb.
Flint, William S., came from Brandon, Vt., in 1821, and settled south of Eagle
Harbor, but prior to locating in this county he hved several years in Ontario county.
He married Sarah, daughter of Zatien Payne, by whom he had three children : Mary
Ann, who married Thomas Parker; Emerency R., who married first, Orrin Simmons,
and after his death, Chester Freeman, who now lives a widow at Albion ; and Hattie,
who married James C. Smith, and died some years ago in Albion. William S. Flint,
on coming to this region, bought an article from the land company, and became one of
the successful farmers of the town. He was a prominent member of the Baptist
church. He died in 1869, aged seventy-two years, and his wife in 1881, aged seventy-
six years. His wife, Sarah Payne, came to this county with the family of Asa Payne,
and settled near Sheldon's Corners, in Barre (now Albion). Orrin Simmons was born
in Otsego county. In 1862 he married Emerency Flint, by whom he had one child,
William F., who died at three years of age. He lived in Canada about twelve years,
and died there in 1874. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Simmons returned to
her mother's home in Albion, and September 2, 1885, married Chester Freeman. Mr.
Freeman died June 4, 1889. He was a native of Cayuga county, and came to this
region in 1812.
Asahel Fitch was a native of Connecticut and an early settler in Seneca county.
He was a wool carder and cloth dresser, and in Seneca carried on a large business. He
FAMILY SKETCHES. 39
married Charlotte Squier, after which he went on foot to Ohio in search of a suitable
place for permanent location. Returning he decided to locate at Eagle Harbor, and in
1819 purchased the betterments of a former occupant, and in 1821 took the deed direct
from the land company. The children in this family were as follows : Emily M., who
lives on the old home farm ; Harriet, who married Willis P. Collins and died in Albion ;
Caroline, who died in infancy ; Pulaski S., of Albion, and Asahel W., who died on the
old homestead. Asahel Fitch, the pioneer, died of measles in July, 1826. His widow
kept the family together for several years, after which she married William Penniman,
and to them two children were born, viz : Julia, who married Hiram Crego, and Aurelia
C, of Eagle Harbor. Pulaski S. Fitch, the subject of this sketch, was born Novem-
ber 24, 1824. At the age of eighteen he began as a clerk for Collins & Waters, with
whom he worked two years, followed by a like term in the service of his stepfather
on the farm. He was next employed in the mill in 1846, where he worked about three
years. In 1848, with Albert Collins, he bought a boat and went on the canal, remain-
ing about three years, after which he returned to the mill. Later on he was on the
canal for his brother one season. About 1850 he went to farming, and in that year
built the house where he now lives. Mr. Fitch married Phcebe A. Hoag, daughter of
Andrew Hoag, of Niagara county. Their children were Isaac Henry, who died an
infant; Emma C, a music teacher of prominence in the county; Alice M., wife of
William B. Aris, and Charlotte, wife of Charles A. Phipps. Pulaski S. Fitch has
always been a hard worker and has always made his own way in life. He began with
no means and has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable property. He is a Demo-
crat and was the son of a Democrat, but takes no active interest in political affairs.
Ferry, Medad, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He came from
Rome, Oneida county, in 1826 and settled in Murray. He was a farmer, was a staunch
Democrat and a faithful member of the Methodist Church. He married Lavinia Little-
field, and their children were: William, who went to Michigan in early life; Lewis
D., Lorenzo, Louise, Eunice and Susan. Lorenzo married Juno Dutcher, and resides in
Buffalo ; Louisa married Asahel Lewis ; Eunice married Ret. Sheldon Baker, and Susan
married Edward Day. Lewis D. Ferry was a farmer. He married Sylvia, daughter of
Paphiras Beebe, of Murray. Their children were Ellen A., who married Milton Hurd ;
Aden M., who married Nancy Garrison ; George A., who married Amarett M. Gridley ;
Wilbin L., Carrie and Edward, who died young. Wilbin L. was born in Murray in
1848. His early life was spent on the farm. For several year.s he conducted a livery
business in Holley, and since 1886 has been engaged in the harness business, and is
also a dealer in carriages and sleighs. He married Hattie E., daughter of Horace B.
Perry.
Ford, Albert H., was born m Rome, Oneida county, in 1845. He is a son of Homer
Ford, who was a native of Springfield, Mass. Elon Ford, father to Homer, served in
the war of 1812 as captain. George Ford, son of Elon, settled in Hulburton about
1860, and for several years run a boat on the canal. Albert H. Ford came to Orleans
county in 1887 and opened a stone quarry on the estate of George Ford, and has since
been engaged in that business. In 1879 he married Fanny L. Hook, and their children
are : Albert H., jr., Roy A., Otis R., Jesse 0. and Grace B.
40 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Fuller, George, was born in Carlton, Orleans county. In 1810 Captain John Fuller,
great-grandfather of George, settled in Carlton, between Waterport and Kuckville,
where he purchased 400 acres of land. He came from Pennsylvania with his sons
Reuben, John, Thomas, Stephen and Joseph. John Fuller, grandfather of George,
came to Carlton when eleven years of age. His wife was Hannah Jagger, of English
descent. He served in the war of the rebellion. David, the father of our subject, was
born in Carlton in the log house erected by his grandfather in 1819, and died November
30, 1891. He was a farmer of energy and thrift, and died possessed of 236 acres of
land. Mr. David Fuller was a Republican and has held office as assessor and highway
commissioner for many years. His wife was Joan Sebring, born in Carlton in 1825,
and is still living. She and her husband were born and married in the same house.
Their children were these : George, our subject, born in Carlton, March 27, 1846; Olin,
born October 13, 1847, and Andrew, born April 12, 1853. George Fuller, after leaving
the district school of his native town, attended the Albion Academy three terms, and
at the age of sixteen went to Southampton, L. I., where he attended the Southampton
Academy for several years. He then went into business for himself by working the
farm of Ezekiel McKennan, consisting of 186 acres on shares, and has ever since been
a farmer. November 13, 1872, he married Mary E., daughter of Ezekiel McKennan,
and she was born October 21, 1846, on the farm where she now resides at Waterport.
Her father, Ezekiel, was born in Bell Castle, Ireland, and died November 28, 1888,
aged ninety-one, having lived in the town of Carlton over sixty-six years. Their family
consisted of the following ten children : Rachael, Hugh, Oliver, Sophia, Selinda, Sarah,
James, George, Jane E. and Mary. George and Mary Fuller were the parents of two
sons, Raymond D. and Herbert L. Raymond D. was born in Carlton, February 24,
1874, and began his education at Waterport. He then took a college preporatory course
at Kalamazoo College, a business course in stenography at Rochester, and is now
attending LTnion College at Schenectady. Herbert L. was born October 17, 1877, and
is now attending school at Waterport.
Gage, William, came from Onondaga county at an early day and settled in the west
part of the town of Barre, where he was a farmer. His children were Stanton,
Rensselaer, Addison, Milo, Mehetable and Orphana. Addison Gage married Elizabeth
Ferguson and lived throughout his life in Barre. Before marriage he was a carpenter,
but afterwards a farmer. His children were : Helen Janette, who married Richard
Sbaw ; Maria, who married John Weld ; William H., of Albion ; Melvina, wife of H.
H.Holt; Alice, who married J. H. Post; and Taylor A., now in Newark, N. J. Ad-
dison Gage was a small farmer. He was originally a silver grey Whig and afterward
a Democrat. He died in 1875, and his wife in 1870. William H. Gage was born in
Barre February 23, 1842, and lived on the farm until he went into the army. Septem-
ber 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, 151st Regiment, and was appomted corporal,
which office he held to the end of his service. He was wounded at the first Wilder-
ness battle, being shot through the right wrist. This occurred November 27, 1863,
and for a long time Mr. Gage lost the use of his right hand. He was discharged from
the service April 26, 1864, after which he returned to the farm, remaining there until
1891, when he came to Albion, October 29, 1867, Mr. Gage married Marietta,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 41
daughter of Henry and Sophia Gibson. They have no children. Mr. Gage was a
Republican prior to 1884, but since that time he has been identified with the Prohibition
party. He is a member and steward of the M. B. Church. Henry Gibson was born
in Mendon in 1813, and was the son of Newell Gibson, who settled in Barre soon after
1850. Both Newell Gibson and his wife died in Albion. Henry Gibson was a suc-
cessful farnfer and accumulated a fair property. In 1838 he married Sophia Wain-
wright, who bore him three children : John, of Barre ; Marietta, wife of William H.
Gage; and Myron, who died in 1864. Mr. Gibson was for four years supervisor of
Barre, and for more than twenty years held the office of justice of the peace. He was
prominent in the town, and was noted as a very successful auctioneer. He died March
18, 1891.
Getty, James H.,was born in Sullivan, Madison county, June 4, 1819, a son of
Thomas and Fannie (Herron) Getty. His father was a farmer, but at the age of about
fourteen James was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade at Fayetteville, N. Y., and
after long years thus spent he became partner to Henry Ecker, in a tailoring business
at the same place. Here he continued until 1861, when he came to Albion. While
still a resident of Fayetteville, July 24, 1855, Mr. Getty married Anna Amelia, daughter
of David Kennedy, of Sullivan. Mrs. Getty was born June 8, 1828, and died in Albion
June 2, 1874. She was a faithful and devoted Christian worker, whose example and
teaching was always for right. No children were born of this marriage above noted,
although just previous to the death of Mrs. Getty, Louise Humiston was taken into
Deacon Getty's family as a daughter. She is now Mrs. Warren Stone Gordis, her hus-
band being a professor in the J. B. Stetson University at Deland, Fla. Mr. Getty,
familiarly known as " Deacon " Getty, from his long and useful connection with the
Baptist Church, has been deacon since 1863. He is a Repubhcan, but has never taken
an active part in political affairs.
Green, Rhodes, was born in Rhode Island, and came with his father, Nathan Green,
to Oneida county at a very early age, where he owned the first foundry, and was also
interested in cotton mills in the region. Rhodes afterward went to Camillus, where he
married Sophronia Rockwell, and thereafter lived in that town for nearly twenty years.
In 1839 the family came to Barre, residing there until 1876; thence moved to Albion,
where he died in October, 1886. In 1876 Rhodes Green and is wife celebrated their
golden wedding. The children in this family were: Lydia A., who married Nelson
Warner: Jane, who became the wife of Benjamin Adams; Merlin, who died in
Oswego ; Herman, who died in Buffalo ; and Martha, who married Albert Operti, of
New York city. Nelson Warner was the eldest son of Leonard Warner, the latter one
of the pioneers of this country. Nelson was a farmer, but failing health compelled him
to retire from the farm.v He went into the produce and apple business, afterwards in
coal and grain, and in this venture was very successful. In 1849 he married Lydia A.
Green. Children were born to them but none grew to maturity. They have one son
by adoption, Daniel E. Warner, now living in Barre. Nelson Warner died February
26, 1887, aged sixty-one years,
f
42 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Greene, Abram C, was a native of Providence, R. L, and in his native State his
young life was passed. He learned the trade of cabinet making and joining, which was
his chief occupation through life, although in the town of Yates, where he was an
early settler, he added undertaking to his other business pursuits. Mr. Greene came to
Orleans county with his brother, Thomas P., but the latter afterward moved to Michi-
gan, and still lives at Lansing in that State. Abram C. Greene was twice married, his
first wife being Polly Goodell of Ridgway, by whom he had these children : Charlotte
and Ashael, both of whom died young. Ellen Jane, who married, first, David C.
Chesebrough, and after his death Joshua Sharpsteen, and now lives in Medina; and
Freeman A. The second wife of Abram Greene was Angeline C, widow of Charles
Allen. Two children were born of this marriage, John and Lina, the older of whom
died during childhood, and the younger married Frank Drake and now lives in Roch-
ester. Mr. Greene died in Yates in 1873. Freeman A.]Greene was born September 23,
1844, was educated at the Yates Academy and the University of Rochester, graduating
from the latter in 1869 with the degree of B.A. Following that he taught school at the
Yates Institution, also at Wilson, and in 1876 was called to the superintendency of the
Union Free Schools of Albion. This position Professor Greene has since held, and
much of the success attained by the local school system and its high standard of ex-
cellence, known throughout the county, is due largely to his efforts. On July 16, 1873,
Freeman A. Greene was married to Cora L., daughter of Isaac Aber of Niagara county,
and three children have been born to them, two died in childhood, and Louis F. Greene
prepared for college at Albion High School, and entered Yale University September,
1894. The second wife of Freeman A. Greene was Susan Ida, daughter of Farrington
Price of New York.
Gwynne, Richard, a native of Wales, was the first of this family to settle in Orleans
county. He came to America about 1834, and settled first at Newark, N. J., and then
moved to the town of Carlton, Orleans county, in 1837 and engaged in farming. In
1840 he moved to Brockville, where he remained until his death on October 8, 1884.
His widow, aged ninety-two, survives him. Mr. Gwynne was a blacksmith by trade
and followed that business after coming to Brockville. He married Anna Thomas in
Wales, and they were the parents of six children : Thomas and Sarah, who died young,
John, Mary, Henry, and Charles F. Mary A. married William A. Roland, and Henry
settled at Bay City, Mich. John Gwynne was born in 1828, and is a blacksmith by
trade, conducting a shop at Hindsburg since 1854. On August 30, 1862, he enlisted in
the 151st N. Y. Volunteers, and served until January 13, 1864, when he was discharged on
account of wounds received at Locust Grove. He married Mary A. Longley in 1858,
and their children were: Anna B., who married Moses Hart, Elizabeth and Grace, who
died young, and Frank A. Charles F. Gwynne was born in Murray, March 13, 1849.
He learned the blacksmith trade and followed it for a time, and later was an engineer
on the N. Y. L. E. & W. R. R. for ten years. In 1887 he opened a stone quarry be-
tween Hulburton and Hindsburg, and has done an extensive business, owning at the
present time four quarries. He furnished the stone for the new Armory building at
Utica and for De Voe College at Suspension Bridge. He is a Republican, and has held
office as highway commissioner and collector. In 1881 Mr. Charles Gwynne married
FAMILY SKETCHES. 43
Sarah A. Sackett of Avon, and their children are: Homer R. (deceased), Cora M.,
born July 25. 1885, and Ella A., born October 1, 1887.
GofF, William H. H., was born in Barre, this county, April 6, 1843, a son of Stillraan
Goff, said to have been the first white child born in the town of Rush, Monroe county,
his father having come from New England at an early date and settled there. Stillman
came to this county about 1835 and settled in Barre. He married Sophia Rowley, and
their children were : Adeline, who married Amon Schoonover and settled in Carlton ;
Jane, Marquis, Hannah, who all died unmarried; Edward, who settled in Indiana;
Squire, who settled in Barre. and married Harriet Crowell ; and William H. H. The
latter has always followed farming, and lived in his native town unfil 1869, when he
came to Clarendon. He is a Democrat in politics, and is regarded as one of the leading
men of hi- party in the town. He has served as assessor and supervisor for many
years, has been repeatedly elected delegate to the county conventions, and in 1893 he
was elected delegate to the State convention. He is a member of Holley Lodge, I. 0.
0. F., and in 1867 he married Emeline Orcutt, their children being : Henry N., who
died in infancy ; Hattie E. and Charles S.
Garrett, Daniel F., was born in Kendall, January 12, 1848, a grandson of Wait Gar-
rett, who was a native of Whitehall and died in Kendall in 1864, aged eighty-eight.
Garrison, father of Daniel F., was born in Wayne county in 1818, and died in Carlton,
January 9, 1892. He married Lettie Peck, who was born in Tompkins county in 1820.
Their five children were as follows : Margaret A., born in 1843, married Andrew
Fletcher; Harriet E., born in 1846, married Joseph A. Webster; Daniel F.; Melvin,
born in 1851, married Alice M. Warren, and Nellie M., born in 1856, married Frank
Day. Daniel F. married at East Carlton, November 22, 1876, Ida A. Armstrong of
Carlton, who was born May 17, 1852, a daughter of John H. Armstrong of Berne, Al-
bany county, who was born January 9, 1813, and died in Carlton m August, 1862.
Her mother was Susan Flynn, born in Knox, Albany county, August 3, 1814, and died
March 12, 1892. Their children were Emily A., Charles W., Catharine M., Elmina,
George W., Clark B., Helen J., John H., and Ida A. Mr. Garrett was collector of the
port at Oak Orchard Harbor during 1885-87. He and wife are members of the East
Carlton Lodge, No. 784, L 0. G. T.
Grinnell. This name stands for pioneership and as well for general worth and integ-
rity in Orleans county. John Grinnell was the first of the family to come to this
county, and he settled in the west part of Barre. He was three times married and
among his children were Paul, Peter, Jackson, Wesley, Lyman, Harley, John and Ella.
Ezra Grinnell, brother of John, came in 1826 with his family, and settled where Na-
than Bragg now lives. His wife was Lucretia Leonard, and their children were Mar-
quis, Ira, Lauren, Isaiah, Leonard, Horace, Perry M., Willis A., Almira Jane, Eliza Ann
and Janette. Amos Grinnell, brother to John and Ezra, came in 1828. His eight
children were Diana, Franklin, Charles E., Orlando, Henry, William Harvey, Fillmore
and Anna M. Lauren Grinnell, son of Ezra, was born in Onondaga county, October
28, 1821. He has always been a farmer and is one of the most successful and fore-
handed men of Barre. He married Marilla S. Leach, by whom he has two children :
44 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
Jay, of Barre; and Clara A., wife of John A. Brown. For thirty years Mr. Lauren
Grinnell lived on his present farm, but for twelve years he lived in Shelby, returning
to Barre in 189L William Harvey Grinnell was born in Barre June 19, 1843, and has
always lived in view of the old home farm of his father, Amos Grinnell. He is the
owner of one of the most productive and best appointed farms in the town, compris-
ing nearly seventy-five acres all under cultivation. Mr. Grinnell married Elizabeth, the
daughter of B. T. Mull.
Grinnell, Charles E., was born in Barre, November 8, 1832 and was the third of
eight children of Amos and Rosamond (Whaley) Grinnell of that town. His father
was a farmer and to that occupation Charles was brought up, and has always followed
the same. At the age of twenty-three he began for himself, married and located on a
farm at Bragg's Corners, where he lived eight years. He then sold the farm and
bought another at Barre Center, where he lived three years. He purchased and came
to his present excellent farm in Albion in the fall of 1868. Charles Grinnell has al-
ways been an industrious and thrifty farmer, and one whose endeavors have been
amply rewarded. He is a member and one of the founders of the Free Methodist
Church of Albion, and one of its chief supporters. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.
In 1855 Mr. Grinnell was married to Mary F. Payne of Barre. They have had three
children, viz. : Wilbur H., who lives at home ; Ed. Clayton, a merchant of Albion ; and
Lamonte, who died m infancy. Wilbur H. Grinnell was born September 27, 1856,
married January 15, 1879, to Helen Dykeman. They spent nearly four years in Ing-
ham county, Mich., and at the request of his parents came to take charge of the farm
in Albion.
Goodwin, James, was born m Kent county, England, August 11, 1814, and was the
second of nine children of James and Anna (Webb) Goodwin. The father came to
this country in 1828, and settled in the town of Seneca, where he lived and died.
James, our subject, determined to own a farm for himself, and to this end worked in-
dustriously as a farm hand, and finally, in 1831, came to Albion and set up a threshing
machine where the Free Methodist Church now stands, and was the pioneer of this
business in the county, and for many years afterward he threshed all through this
region. In 1833 Mr. Goodwin went to Michigan, where he took up eighty acres of
land and afterward increased its size by other purchases, so that he in part owned a
farm before he was of age, and he earned and paid for it all without outside help.
However, Mr. Goodwin returned to this county, where he has since lived, having come
to his present farm in Barre in April, 1844. His home farm in Barre contains 116
acres, and 234 acres in Genesee county. October 29, 1839, Mr. Goodwin married Lu-
cinda Loveland, by whom he has three children : Hattie, wife of Lewis M. Morgan ;
Clara and Artemas.
Gibson, John A., whose finally appointed home farm is conveniently situated on the
main road between Albion and Barre Center, was born in Barre and was the son of
Henry M. Gibson, the latter also a prominent man in the town, and of whom mention
will be found elsewhere in these sketches. John A. Gibson lives on the old home farm
of his father, and although a man conservative in his habits, is regarded as one of
FAMILY SKETCHES. 45
Barre's best representatives. His wife was Caroline Matilda, daughter of Captain Orrin
Raymond, and they have two children : Charles M., an active young business naan and
manager of the Gibson farm ; and Henry, who died in infancy. Charles M. Gibson
was born in Barre, July 9, 1862, was educated in Barre and the Albion High School.
Until quite recently Mr. Gibson has been interested in real estate operations in Batavia,
also in business in and about Schenectady for a time. On November 28, 1883, he mar-
ried Eveline Moreau of Alden, Erie county, and they have two children, one of whom
is still living.
Hill, Ezra N., was born in Murray, May 21, 1822, a son of Dr. Hira Hill, who was a
native of Connecticut, born in 1772. The latter served in the war of 1812, being
assistant-surgeon. About 1817 he came with his family from Georgia, Vt., and settled
in Murray, where he practiced his profession. About 1835 he bought property on the
road running south from the ridge, where he erected a substantial stone house, and here
he died July 26, 1849. He was a prominent figure in his locality, and it is said that he
delivered the address at Holley, when Governor Clinton passed through on the opening
of the canal. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity. His first wife was Experience
Post, and their children were: Myra, Priam B., Eveline, Ozro P., and Darwin M. Dr.
Hill married second, Anna Northrup, and they had one son, Ezra N. Hill. He was
educated in the public schools of his native town, and at the Gaines Academy, and the
Brockport Collegiate Institute. For several years he was principal of the school at
Holley, and later at Lewiston, Niagara county, and from 1846 to 1852 he engaged in
farming in Murray, in the latter year entering the insurance business, which he con-
tinued till 1878 in Holley and Brockport, taking up his residence in Brockport in 1869.
He is a Republican, and has taken an active interest in political affairs. He was super-
visor of Murray in 1852-60, assistant-assessor of internal revenue during Lincoln's
and Grant's first administrations, and was one of the trustees of Brockport. Since 1849
he has been a member of Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., and has passed all the chairs. April
18, 1848, he married JCornelia A. Whitney, of Lewiston, N. Y., and they had three
children : Fitz James, Eva A., and Whitney. Mrs. Hill died April 26, 1864, and July
12, 1865, he married Ella F. Whitney, and they have a son, Ezra D., who lives in
Indianapolis, Ind. Fitz James settled at Black River, Mich., and is county treasurer;
and Whitney settled in New Mexico, and is a ranchman. Eva A. married Volney W.
Foster, of Evanston, 111., in 1876, and died in 1887. She had two children, Albert V.,
and Eva C.
Hurd, Luther Dean, was born in Newport, N. H., August 13, 1820, a son of Parnehus
and Sophia Hurd. In 1824 the family removed to Blizabethtown, N. ¥., and four
years later to Proctorville, Vt. Luther D. learned the trade of a carriage trimmer, and
followed it until about 1839, when he settled in East Holley, Orleans county, and
entered the employ of William Seward, produce and grain dealer of Rochester. Mr.
Hurd was his representative in Holley, and bought large quantities of grain and pro-
duce. He operated the stone grist-mill in Holley for a time, and with Henry Hurd,
his brother, owned an extensive flouring mill in Dexter, N. Y. Later, Mr. Hurd
operated in the Avest, dealing extensively in western grain until the time of the Chicago
fire. He also had large real estate interests in Ilhnois. In 1871 Mr. Hurd purchased
4f; LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
of G-eorge W. Stoddard his interest in the banking business of Bowman & Stoddard,
continuing a partner until September 1, 1882, when he sold his interest to Downs &
Eddy, and purchased a lime kiln in Rochester. Mr. Kurd was thrice married, in 1839
to Sarah M., daughter of Abijah Dean, of Holley, by whom he had two children :
Dean A , and Gertrude. Mrs. Hurd died July 2, 1846, and November 27, 1850, he mar--
ried Aurelia E. Smith, who died in 1869. He married third, October 15, 1872, Jennette,
daughter of Alvah Morgan, of Holley, and they had one daughter, Cora A. Mr. Hurd
died March 29, 1891.
Hart Family, The. — In 1812 Joseph Hart came from Dutchess county, and settled in
the present village of Albion, the property being now owned by his son Joseph. He
was the pioneer head of a large line of descendants, and among them have been some
of the county's foremost men, both in civil and political life. He was a deacon, and one
of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Albion. His children were: William,
Benjamin, a physician ; Elizur, John, Joseph, Samuel, Lucy, who married Ambrose
Berry ; Lovica, and Mary, wife of Langford Berry. William, the oldest, was born in
Dutchess county in 1801, and came with his parents to Albion in 1812. He died in
Albion, December 29, 1879. His wife was Pamelia Wells, a native of Connecticut, by
whom he had one child, John Wells Hart, a well-known and lifelong resident of Albion.
The latter was born September 11, 1836, and was a farmer. In 1869 he married Sarah,
daughter of Russell Smith, of Gaines, and they have had five children, three now
living. Mr. Hart leads a comparatively retired life. In politics he is a Democrat, and
has served as village trustee. Elizur Hart was born in Durham, Greene county. May 23,
1803, and was nme years old when his parents settled in Genesee county. Soon after
attaining his majority he was elected constable, which was the beginning of a prominent
and useful public career. In 1860 he became connected with the Orleans County Bank,
of which he was the founder and chief managing and executive oflScer. He was also
one of the early members of the Presbyterian church in Albion, and a generous con-
tributor to its maintenance. Mr. Hart was twice married, his first wife being Loraine.
daughter of Spafford Field, by whom he had these children: Frances E., now Mrs. C.
C. Day, of Kansas City, Mo.; Jennie K., now Mrs. Henry L. Smith, of New York;
and Elizur Kirk. Mrs. Hart died February 11, 1847, and October 16, 1849, Mr. Hart
married Cornelia, daughter of Roger and Christina King, of Jonesville, Saratoga county.
Elizur Hart died August 12, 1870. Elizur Kirk Hart was born in Albion, April 8,
1841, educated at the old Albion Academy, and spent two years in Michigan and
Illinois. He was also a member of the company under General Harvey, who prose-
cuted the vigorous expedition against the Mormons. In 1859 he returned to Albion,
and in 1860 became bookkeeper in the Orleans County Bank (founded by his father),
then teller, and upon his father's death in 1870, he was elected cashier. This position he
held until July, 1890, when, upon the death of Mr. Cornell, he became president. As
president and principal stockholder of the bank (the institution having several years
before become a National Bank), Mr. Hart continued until his death, February 18,
1893. He was deeply interested in all the public and private enterprises, looking to
the welfare of Albion and the county, and the worthy poor were always relieved by
his generosity. He was originally a Republican, and was elected to the Assembly in
FAMILY SKETCHES. 47
1871. He was an ardent admirer and supporter of Mr. Greeley in 1872, and after that
was identified with the Democratic party. In 1876 he was nominated by the Demo-
cratic convention as its candidate for representative in Congress, and although the
majority in the district was nearly 5,000 Republicans, he was elected by a plurality of
1,000. He also served as member of the Board of Education, was village trustee a
number of terms, and for nearly twenty years was one of the cemetery commissioners.
In 1890 he was appointed by Governor Hill a commissioner of the Western House of
Refuge for Women, and through his influence Albion was selected as the seat of loca-
tion for that institution. June 10, 1863, Mr. Hart married Louise Sanderson, of Alton,
111., by whom he had five children : Charles Elizur, Emma Brown, Loraine Field, Mary
Ann, Elizur Kirk, and Louise Sanderson. Charles Elizur was born at Alton, 111., May
31, 1865, and educated at Albion Union School. He first came into the bank in a
working capacity in 1885, but in 1886 went to Arizona in connection with real estate
enterprises, and in pursuit of recreation. He returned to Albion in 1890, and again
went into the bank, and on the death of his father, in February. 1893, was elected
president.
Harrington, Charles A., who was for many years identified with the best interests of
Albion, was born in Shelby, August 29, 1815, and was the son of Micah and Hannah
(Smith) Harrington. The family were New Englanders, and on both sides were patriots
of the Revolution. In the famous battle of Lexington there were eleven members of
the Harrington family, and two of them were killed. The father of Micah was Thomas
Harrington, the latter leaving Massachusetts in 1790, and settled in the eastern part of
the State of New York. He was a large land owner and was killed by accident. Micah
Harrington was born at Marlborough, Mass., but came to this State, where, after a short
residence m different counties, he finally settled at Shelby in 1813. His brother, Daniel
was also a pioneer of this county. Micah was surveyor in this county, and was asso-
ciated with the Elliotts in developing the Holland Purchase. He served with credit in
the War of 1812. The children of Micah and Hannah (Smith) Harrington were : Dev-
ereaux, who died in Coldwater, Mich. ; Montraville Amos, who died at Benton Harbor
Mich. ; Charles Augustus, our subject ; Shelby Andrew, who died at Coldwater, Mich. ;
Marcia, who married Charles H. Moore, late of Albion. Micah Harrington died in
April, 1833, and his wife in September, 1861. Charles A. Harrington was brought up
to business pursuits, was a merchant for a time, but his chief occupation was that of
contractor. He was a strong Republican and held office as postmaster at Albion through
Mr. Lincoln's and a portion of Mr. Johnson's adiainistration. His business life was suc-
cessful, and he was regarded as one of the substantial and influential men of the county
seat. He was one of the founders of the Episcopal church in Albion. June 9, 1841,
Mr. Harrington married Harriet J. Whitney, daughter of John Whitney. Their children
were as follows : Clara, wife of Henry Hanington, of Denver, Col. ; Emma ; Rollin W. ;
Adeline ; Harriet W. ; Belle W., wife of George H. Sickles, jr., of Buffalo. Charles H.
Harrington died October 11, 1878, and his wife December 22 of the same year.
Howland, George, was a native of Gill, Mass., born December 17, 1788. He was a
farmer, and came with his family to New York State in the spring of 1820. He lived
in Seneca, Ontario county, until 1825, then came to the town of Barre and located at
48 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Porter's Corners. In ]826 he moved to the farm now owned and occupied by his son,
H. H. Rowland, and there the old pioneer died January 12, 1875, aged eighty-six years.
His wife died June 29, 1823. She was formerly Tabitha Luce, a native of Gill, and was
married to George Howland, December 17, 1811. Their children were: Porter L.,
born March 3, 1813, lived and died in Michigan ; Hf nry H., of Albion ; George D ,
born December 8, 1818, lived and died in Ontario county; and Tabitha A., born April
19, 1823, married Gain R. Patterson, and now lives in Michigan. After the death of
his first wife George Howland married Mary Wrisley, by whom he had one child, Caro-
line, who married Urbane C. Thurston, of Albion. George Howland came to Western
New York to build up a home and competency for his family, but in 1837 he was
stricken blind and remained in that condition to the end of his life. Henry H. How-
land was born February 4, 1815. He was brought up to farm work, and since he was
eleven years of age has lived on the same farm property. On October 7, 1846, Mr.
Howland married Lucinda Scott, and to them two children were born : Sarah, born
July 14, 1850, died September 4, 1859 ; Mary, born February 17, 1853, married Charles
B. Gray, and lives with her father on the old farm. During his many years of residence
in Albion, Mr. Howland has taken an active interest in all public afiairs. He is an
earnest Republican, was formerly a Whig, but has never had any political aspirations.
He is a consistent member of the Baptist church.
Horton, Joseph H., was born at Sand Lake, April 19, 1824, one of twelve children of
George and Lucinda Horton. His father was a lumberman, and Joseph worked for
him six years, then went to Troy and was employed as engineer in a stove foundry.
He was also employed as engineer in a steam saw mill at Berlin for a short time, then
came to Genesee county and became a farmer in Pembroke. In August, 1862, Mr.
Horton enlisted in Company G, 8th Heavy Artillery, and served two years and ten
months ; was mustered out of service June 5, 1865, at Bailey's Cross Roads, Va. He
participated in the battles of Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, front of
Petersburgh, Ream's Station, operations about Petersburgh, Hatchers' Run, joined in
the pursuit of Lee, and was present at the final surrender at Appomattox. During this
time the farm was successfully managed by his wife. Returning home Mr. Horton re-
mained a year on the farm, then moved to East Pembroke, where be worked as carpen-
ter. They moved to Shelby Center in 1868, thence after a year to Sand Lake, where
he took charge of his father's business. After the death of his parents he came to Al-
bion to educate his daughter at the Phipps Seminary, and at that time practically re-
tired from public life. December 25, 1845, Mr. Horton married Electa E., daughter of
Rana and Sophia Adams, of Sanl Lake, by whom he had two children, the first of whom
died in infancy, and the latter, Sophia, married in 1888 Rev. Emil J. Miller, indepen-
dent Baptist missionary at Lower Burmah. They have one child. Mr. Horton has al-
ways been a Ptcpublican. His service in the army was as drummer, and he was also
drummer in the famous Log Cabin campaign of 1840, and at a later period during Mr.
Lincoln's candidacy for the presidency. Emil J. Miller was born in West Prussia in
1857. His father was a soldier in the Prussian army, and on him for gallant service the
order of the Iron Cross was conferred by the king. Emil J. came to the United States
in 1873, and was educated principally at Colgate University, entering the ministry in
FAMILY SKETCHES. . 40
Hatch, David N., was born iu Murray, in 1820. His father, Harrison Hatch, came
from Sherman, Conn., in 1815 and settled in the eastern part of Murray on the farm
now occupied by the family. In 1834 he moved to Holley where the remainder of his
life was spent. He was assessor for several years and has filled the office of supervisor.
He married Rebecca Nortbrup of Sherman, Conn., and to them these children were
born : Sarah and David, who died young, Selina A., David N., Mary D., and Sarah A.
Selina A. married Stillman A. Clark of Milton Vt., and Mary D. married John H.
Moore of Canada. David N. Hatch always lived in the town of Murray. His princi-
pal occupation was farming, but for several years he was in the produce business at
Holley. Mr. Hatch was a public spirited man and prominent in social and political
circles in the town. He was for several years president of the Orleans County Agri-
cultural Society, and was largely responsible for its success. In 1844 Mr, Hatch
married Mary J. Perry, daughter of Nathaniel Perry. David N. Hatch died May 11, 1891.
The children of David N., and Mary J. Hatch were as follows : Sarah C, wife of Edward
Lewis, Harrison E., Charles W., married to Avis M. Berry, Mary Barnard, Addie E.,
Frank M., who died at thirteen years, N. W. Perry, living iu New York (married),
Cornelia H., married to Charles Gr. James, and Robert N., now of Murray.
Hawes, William H., youngest child of Peter and Caroline (Yan Alstyne) Hawes, was
born in Albany, July 20, 1843. He was brought up to the various occupations pur-
sued by his father and came with the family to Albion in 1862. In August of that year
William enlisted as private in the 17th N. Y. Battery, and after an honorable service
of nearly three years, was mustered out at Richmond, June 12, 1865. At Petersburg,
July 12, 1864, Private Hawes was wounded by a ball through his left foot, and which
also took off the great toe of his right foot. Returning from the service Mr. Hawes
soon went into business with his father and was with him in Maryland and Elmira,
after which William returned to Albion and has ever since been a merchant in the
village. He was associated formerly with his brother, but is now sole proprietor of a
bakery and confectionery store. In politics Mr. Hawes is a strong Republican, is a
devoted Methodist and is one of the present stewards of the church. June 16, 1871,
he married Margaret Littlebrant.
Hawes, Peter S., was a native of Kinderhook, Columbia county, and early in his
business life was a manufacturer of wadding at Niverville in that county, and also in
the grocery business at Kinderhook and Albany several years. At Albany he met
with reverses and decided to go on the canal with a boat, in connection with which
occupation Mr. Hawes came to Albion in 1862, where he afterwards made his home.
He started a grocery business, continued it until 1874, then went to Somerset county,
Md., thence to Elmira, still later to Poughkeepsie, and finally to Lockport. In 1883
Mr. Hawes again opened a grocery in Albion, remained two years and retired, thence
went to Lockport where he died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, Caroline Van
Alstyne, died in Albion in 1864. Their children were: Sarah J., wife of Joseph Sny-
der ; Hiram, of Albion ; Margaret A., wife of Julian T. Du Quette ; and William of
Albion. Hiram was born in Cohoes, January 14, 1838. Until he was about seven-
teen he lived on the farm, and for the next three years was engaged on the Erie Canal,
g
50 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
He came with his father to Albion in 1862 and was with him in his various business
enterprises. He went into business with his father in 1863, and was later associated
with his brother William under the firm name of Hawes Brothers, grocers and bakers,
in Albion. Afterwards the business was divided, William taking the bakery and
Hiram the grocery, with which each has ever since been engaged. In Poughkeepsie,
Hiram married Catharine A. Hess. In politics Mr. Hawes is a strong Republican. He
is an active member of the M. B. Church.
Hall, John 0., was born in Nashua, N. H., in 1836, and his ancestors were all natives
of New Hampshire. His father's name was Benjamin P. Hall, born in New Hamp-
shire in 1813, and in 1840 moved to Utica, where he held a number of offices and
served one term as sheriff of Oneida county. He was instrumental in bringing to
justice two noted incendiaries, Conklin and Orcutt, both of whom he arrested, and saw
one hung, (Conklin), and Orcutt sent to Auburn prison. Mr. Hall died about 1853.
Caroline (Linscott) Hall, mother of John, was born in New Hampshire in 1814, and
died in 1856. Benjamin P. and Caroline Hall had four children : Charles, who lived
but two years ; Georgiana, born in 1840, died about 1846 ; John O., and Arabelle, who
was born in 1846. John 0. Hall was educated in Utica and came to Somerset in 1855,
where he worked on a farm until the breaking out of the rebellion. He enlisted in
Company D, 8th N. Y. Artillery Volunteers at Lockport, and was there mustered into
the United States service. He was in six engagements as follows : Aquia Creek,
Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Hanover. At Petersburg he
was struck in the ankle joint by a Minnie ball, and the leg was afterward amputated
three inches below the knee joint. He is a member of Veteran Post No. 5, Gr. A. R.,
Department of Ohio. John 0. Hall was married at Somerset, in 1857, to Elizabeth
Joyce, who was born in Genesee county in 1852, and died in Ridgeway, in 1877. They
were the parents of two children : Cora A., born in 1859, in Leroy, Genesee county,
married Eugene Howland, of Somerset, and they have two children (Lena and Addie
who reside in Somerset) ; Emma E., born in 1861, married Elbert D. Barlow, of
Ridgeway, reside in Gaines, and have two children, (Ada E. and Eunice B.). Mr.
Hall entered the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, in 1878, and was assistant postmaster
two years, and Avas then promoted to chief of police of the Home for nearly two years.
In 1881 he returned to Ridgeway, where he married Lurinda Chase of that town. In
1883 he and wife removed to the town of Gaines, where they now reside. Mr. Hall
was five times elected to the office of town clerk of Gaines and was postmaster four
years under the administration of President Harrison.
Hard, Joseph, was the grandson of James Hard, who was born in Whitehall, N. Y.
His wife was Ruth, born in Connecticut, May 26, 1774, and they had these children,
Levi, Samuel, Amos, Joseph, WiUiam, and Dennis. Joseph, father of Cassius, was
born in Whitehall, December 30, 1804, and died February 1, 1881. Sarah Spear,
mother of Cassius, was born in Webster, Monroe county, August 11, 1815, and died in
March, 1884, aged sixty-eight. The children of Joseph and Sarah Hard were: Cassius
M., born February 2, 1845; Sarah T., born November 19, 1846, and died in infancy;
Newton S., born August 17, 1848. Francis P., born March 20, 1851, and died June 14,
1877 ; Bradford W., born May 5, 1855 ; Elmer C, born August 26, 1858. All of ihese
FAMILY SKETCHES. 51
cbildren were born in Murray. Cassius M. Hard wa.«; educated in the common schools
of Murray and attended the Murray Academy for two years. He has been engaged in
farming since a boy. In 1883 he purchased the farm of fifty-seven acres at Kuckville,
where he now resides. Mr. Hard has served as assessor of Carleton two terms. He is
a member of the A. 0. U. W. Lodge at Waterport. In 1870 Mr. C. M. Hard married
Ella Smith, who was born in Carlton. February 28, 1852, and the children of this mar-
riage were : Wallace C, born August 12, 1873 ; Irene S., born June 8, 1875, and mar-
ried Henry V. Wilson ; Manley J., born April 8, 1883.
Hill, Lewis J., born in Clarendon, Orleans county, in 1848; is a son of Loren Hill,
who was a native of Phelps, Ontario county. Loren Hill came to this county in 1846
and settled in Clarendon, where he engaged in farming. He held numerous offices in
the town, being justice of the peace several years. Lewis J. Hill resided in Clarendon
until 1886, and engaged in farming. At this time he became associated with A. B.
Raymond & Co., grain and produce dealers, in Brockport and Holley, managing the
affairs of the firm in the latter village. Loren Hill married Maria Smith of Lyons, N.
Y., and they were the parents of seven children, three sons : Goodwin H., John S., and
Lewis J. ; and four daughters, Emma, Frances, Mary and Nora M. Mr. Hill was mar-
ried in 1892 to Emma L., daughter of William S. Ghdden of Clarendon. The Glidden
family were among the first settlers of the town of Clarendon, and came to the town
in 1816. There were Asa and Jacob Glidden (brothers) and their cousins David, Jere-
miah, Willard and Simeon. They all came from Vermont with the exception of Asa,
who had settled the township of Stansted in Canada. He, and his uncle, named Bod-
well, were the first to arrive, and came on foot, driving their cattle, and when their
funds were exhausted they were compelled to sell an animal from time to time, to sup-
ply their needs. They located in Clarendon, which was then a wilderness, and after
making a small clearing and erecting a log house, sent for their famihes. They were
all farmers and with their descendents contributed in no small degree to the clearing
up and settlement of the town. Asa Glidden married Sallie Sims, and their children
were : Sabrina, who married Jason A. Sheldon and finally settled in Michigan ; Johial,
who married Betsy Davis and also settled in Michigan ; Clarissa, who married Helen
Babcock ; Asa, who married Emeline Chapin ; Smith, who married Cordelia Whaler ;
and William S., who married Lucmda Cox. Of this family only William S. is living. He
was born in 1810, and his occupation has always been farming, and until his removal
to Holley a few years since, his entire life has been spent in Clarendon. William S.
and Lucinda Glidden were the parents of eleven children, one son, Ezra, and ten
daughters, Amelia, Lydia, Sabrina, Electa, Sarah, Evelyn, Rosetta, Augusta, Emma and
Irene.
Hutchinson, George S., was born in Canada, in Murray, September 2, 1826, and
moved to Gaines with his parents in 1828. He was a Revolutionary soldier. John,
father of George S., was born in Norwich, Vt., and died in Gaines in 1857, aged sixty-
seven. He married Lorena Worden, born in Watertown, N. Y., and died in Gaines in
1850, aged forty-nine. Their three children were : Ann B., who resides in Albion ;
Jane W., who lives in Detroit, Mich., having married Asa H. Paine, by whom she has
three children ; and George S., our subject. The latter was educated in Gaines Acade-
52 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
my, and has been a merchant for many years, but is now in the insurance business in
Albion, representing fire, life and accident insurance. He is a Democrat, and has served
as president of the village of Albion, also trustee, and is now treasurer. During the
late war he organized a company in the Lolst regiment, and went to the front in 1862.
He is a member of Renovation Lodge No. 97, F. & A. M., Orleans Chapter No. 175,
R. A. M., Alpha Omega Council No. 75, and Monroe Commandery No. 22. June 24,
1857, he married at Warren, Pa., Catharine B. Wetmore, born May 1, 1836. Her
parents were early settlers of that town, where her father was a lawyer.
The Hebner Family. — The first of the Hebner family to settle m Orleans county was
Conrad Hebner, who was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. He married Mar-
garet Ginther, and in 1855, with his family consisting of his wife and two sons, John
and George, he came to America and settled in the town of Rush, Monroe county,
where he became a farmer. The following year they removed to the town of Clarkson,
and in 1859 removed to Orleans county and settled in the town of Clarendon, and one
year later to Carlton, where they lived until 1870. In that year George Hebner
removed to Murray, where he has since resided. He engaged in the stone business in
1889 on the canal Avest of Hulberton, and carried it on until the fall of 1893, when he
sold his quarry and engaged in the bottling business and manufacture of temperance
beverages at Hulberton. He married, in 1857, Mrs. Mary A. Curchin, and their chil-
dren are : George J., who married Florence Judd ; Mary E., who married George W.
Hollister ; David C, who married Lucy Hooker; Susan A., who married John C. Alt-
peter ; Emeline L., who married Daniel W. Altpeter ; Ida S., who married C. Frederick
Tubbs, and William C, who died unmarried. John Hebner resided in Clarendon, Carl-
ton and Kendall until 1876, when he removed to Murray and for five years
engaged in farming near Murray Station. He then removed to Hulberton, where he
has since resided, in 1888 he purchased land on the north side of the canal and opened
a stone quarry, and has since been engaged in that business. He married , in 1855,
Mary S. Prince, and their children were: Elizabeth, Susan and John (deceased), Henry
and William,
Hard, Merritt, son of Sylvanus and Lucy (Fenn) Hard, was born in Arlington, Vt.,
June 3, 1811. He is of English descent, his great-grandfather coming to America with
Captain Kidd. Sylvanus was a soldier at Plattsburgh in the war of 1812. Merritt
Hard came to Yates in 1835 and settled on the farm he now occupies. He followed
school teaching more or less until 1853 and was town superintendent of schools many
years. For nearly twenty years he was a justice of the peace, and was also a long
time merchant in Lyndonville. In 1834 he married Charlotte Canfield, of Vermont,
and had three children : Catherine A. (deceased), and Caroline, successively the wives
of Martin S. Rice, and Hon. Henry M. His second wife was Laura C. Fenn, of Con-
necticut. Hon. Henry M. Hard was born in Arlington, Vt., January 31, 1842, and
was educated in the Yates and Medina Academies. He was long a merchant in Lyn-
donville with his father and afterwards alone, and was supervisor of Yates in 1877-78-
79 and 1880, being chairman of the board the latter year. In the fall of 1881 he was
elected to the Assembly for one year, and was re-elected in 1882, and served on the
committees of commerce, navigation, internal affairs, trades and manufactures and
FAMILY SKETCHES. 53
several others. In February, 1891, he was appointed by President Harrison United
States Consul at Clifton, Ontario, Canada, and resigned on account of sickness. He is
noAv president of the Board of Education of the Lyndonville Union Free School.
September 1, 1870, he married Kate, daughter of Daniel Clark, and has one son, Edward
C, who was born December 1, 1872, and who was graduated from the Rochester
University in June, 1894.
Hornsby, Rev. Henry, was born in Stourton, Warwickshire, England. August 19,
1821. His parents, James and Rosanna (Sweetman) Hornsby, came to America in
1839 and settled in Ontario county. In 1843 the family moved to Murray, in 1845 to
Clarkson, Monroe county, aad in 1847 to this town, locating on lot nineteen. James
Hornsby was born February 14, 1794, and died November 11, 1883; his wife was born
April 26. 1792, died April 13, 1883. Rev. Henry Hornsby, in 1849, married Mianda
Jenks, of Kendall, who died in 1866. His second wife is Sophia R., daughter of
Charles Dugar, who settled in Yates in 1847. Mr. Hornsby began the gospel ministry
in the M. E. Church in Sweden, Monroe county, in 1852, and as a pastor in that denom-
ination was stationed as follows : Grand Island, 1853 ; West Falls, 1854 ; a mission in
Buffalo, 1855; Franklinville, 1856-57; East Oito, 1858; Java, 1859-60. He then
joined the Free Methodist Church, which he served : Kendall, 1861-62, 1865 ; Yates and
Carlton, 1863-64 ; Perry, 186G-67 ; Java, 1869. His health failing he was then superannu-
ated and settled permanently at West Kendall. Recovering, he was chairman of the Gene-
see District from 1876 to 1880, when he was again superannuated, and since then has
given his attention to his home and to the cause of the church, with which he has so
long been connected. He was one of the originators, and a liberal contributor, of the
Orphanage and Home of the Free Methodist Church at Gerry, Chautauqua county, in
1886, having been since the organization its president and one of its trustees, and for
several years its financial agent. This benevolent institution is designed for the care of
aged men and women and orphans without regard for color, nationality or religious
affiliations.
Johnson, Stephen, was a soldier under General Putnam in the Revolutionary War.
His son, Stephen B., served in the War of 1812. The latter was born in Washington
county, N. Y., May 19, 1794, moved to Jefferson county, came thence to Yates in 1817,
and died in Lyndonville, February 24, 1855. In 1819 he married Maria, daughter of
Simeon Gilbert. She died December 27. 1874. Mr. Gilbert came to Yates from Oneida
county in 1817 and settled on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Swift, where he died
about 1834. Mr. Johnson's children were Stephen G., Cornelia (Mrs. Wilson Tuttle),
Cynthia M. (Mrs. Hiram Deline), Dr. Natlian P., and Lydia S. Stephen G. Johnson
was born October 16, 1820. In 1846 he married Harriet Blanchard, of Vermont, and
had three children : Clarence A., Dr. Harvey B., and Charles B. Mrs. Johnson died in
August, 1867. Dr. Nathan P. Johnson, born in 1827, long a practicing physician in Or-
leans and Niagara counties, died in January, 1888. Miss Lydia S. Johnson was an
army nurse under Miss Dorothy L. Dix, going to Washington in September, 1862, and
serving in the warehouse, the Dunbarton street and the Union Hotel hospitals in George-
town, and in the Wold Street Hospital in Alexandria until March, 1863, when she was
stricken with typhoid fever and came home. In the fall of 1864 she returned to Wash-
54 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
ington, and was soon assigned to hospitals at Fortress Monroe, where she served until
July 28, 1865. Miss Johnson was the only nurse Orleans county sent to the Civil War.
Since her discharge she has resided in Lyndonville. Clarence A. Johnson, born No-
vember 2, 1848, enlisted in Battery H, 1st N. Y. Light Artillery, September 5, 1864, and
served until his discharge May 30. 1865. He joined the G. A. R. in Framingham, Mass.,
in 1871, and has been commander of the local post four years.
Andrews, J. A., was born January 2, 1842, in the town of Ridgeway on the farm he
now owns. In June, 1867, he married Emma H. Bacon ; their family consists of four
children : Avery V., Anna D., Allen B. and John R., also a niece, Alice P., who has
lived with them from infancy, now Mrs. W. Edgar Hedley, of Buffalo. J. A. An-
drews's father was Avery V. Andrews, born in New Hampshire, but removed with his
parents to Vermont. His mother's maiden name was Anna Tanner, a native of Ver-
mont. J. A. Andrews's parents took up the farm he now owns from the Holland Pur-
chase Company.
Avery, Albert, was a native of Connecticut, but at an early age went to Onondaga
county, where he was an extensive business man, dealing in and shipping salt and carry-
ing on a store. He left that region about 1839 and came west, locating for fourteen
years in Yates and then coming to Barre, on the farm now owned by Mr. Homer Waldo.
In 1868 he sold the farm, and afterward lived in Elba and Oakfield, dying in the latter
town in September, 1893. His wife was Emily Geer, and to them four children were
born: Francis G., of Barre; Lura, wife of Willis A. Grinnell, and now dead; John,
now in Michigan ; Charles B., of Oakfield. Francis G. Avery was born February IG,
1839, and was brought up a farmer, though after his education at Albion Academy he
taught school several terms. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 27th Regiment N. Y.
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the spring of 1862, when he was discharged for
disabilities, from which he has never quite fully recovered. In 1864 Mr. Avery came
to his present farm, which is known as one of the best in the southern part of the town.
March 24, 1863, Francis G. Avery married Sarah Jane Bliss. Their children are as fol-
lows : Emilv, wife of Charles Porter ; Lillian, wife of Edward Shotwell ; Helen, wife
Albert Grinnell ; Albert, and Charles.
Bragg, Solomon, was one of the pioneers of Barre, coming to the town in the fall of
1818, bringing a cow and an ox team. Solomon and his son Nathan each took a tract
from the land company. The children of Solomon Bragg were as follows : Levi, Na-
than, Joel, Lydia, Lucy, Lucretia, and Dolly and Polly (twins). About 1819 or 1820
Nathan went to Scottsville and there married Lavica Vannocker, by whom he had two
children : Sylvester, of Barre ; and Luana, wife of S. K. Wyman. Nathan Bragg died
in Barre in November, 1881, and his wife June 29, 1854. After the death of his first
wife Nathan married the widow Groff. Sylvester Bragg, who for nearly half a century
has been one of the leading and most influential men of Barre, was born November 9,
1824, and has always lived within 100 rods of his present residence. He has always
been a farmer, and his industry and perseverance have been rewarded by success.
Further, he has provided generously for his children as they have matured and started
in business. Mr. Bragg is one of the staunchest Republicans in Barre, and has served
FAMILY SKETCHES. 55
«s assessor ten years, supervisor three years, and is now highway commissioner. Feb-
ruary 4, 184G, Sylvester Bragg married Eliza Ann Whiting, of Shelby, and to them
seven children have been born, viz. : Nathan, a farmer of Barre ; Henry, who died at
the age of nineteen ; Oscar, who died at sixteen : Lillie, wife of George N. Brown, of
Barre; Eugene and Ulysses Grant, both of Barre; and Lovinna, wife of Elmer Bliss.
Brown, J. B. was born in Connecticut, June 10, 1840. His parents moved west and
settled in Missouri when he was fourteen years old. In 1877 he came to Ridgeway
and has lived in Knowlesville since 1886. Mr. Brown married Fannie E. Ostrander,
and they have two daughters, Melissa S. and Fannie C. Mr. Brown enlisted early in
the war for six months' service, and subsequently entered the 4th M. S. M. Cavalry,
U. S. Volunteers, and saw service along the Missouri and Kansas frontier throughout
the war.
Blood, S. P., was born in Lyndonville, April 17, 1857. His parents moved to Ohio
in 1875, and when twenty years of age S. P. came east to Niagara Falls and learned
the milling trade. After milling a while in Medina he went to Minneapolis and worked
eight months in the Pillsbury " A " Mill. He then came to Medina and worked for Mr.
Hoag six years. After a short time in Oakfield he went into partnership with Mr. Spoor
in the flour and feed business, and in February, 1893, formed the present partnership
with George R. Tmimerman in the old Hoag Mill. In 1882 Mr. Blood married LinaM.
Moore, and they have two daughters : Jessie and Pearl. Mr. Blood's father was S. P.
Blood, and his mother was Emily (Fuller) Blood. His grandfather, Jackson Blood,
came into the town of Yates in 1824, and was one of the pioneers of this county.
Burnham, William, came from New England at an early dale and settled in Murray,
where he took a farm about a mile north of Holley. He married Phoebe Sprague, and
their children were : Warren, who married Eunice Miller and resides at Brockport ;
Charlotte, who married Martin Evarts, of Clarendon ; Lucinda, who married John
Brackett, of Clarendon ; William, jr. ; Elias (deceased) ; Ozro, who married Polly
Wetherbee and settled in California ; Oski, who married Nancy Day and settled in
Iowa; Mary (deceased); Jasper (deceased) ; Chauncy, who married Eusebia Root and
in 1880 removed to Michigan. William Burnham, jr., died in 1862, was a farmer, and,
with the exception of a short residence in the west, has spent his life in Murray on the
old homestead. He married Mary J. Bushnell, and their children were: Helen, who
married William Bickford ; Emma, who married Hiram E. Bronson ; Phoebe, who mar-
ried John Opp ; Charles 0. (deceased) ; and Fred W., who is unmarried.
Bronson, Hosea, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He was a
native of Vermont and a son of Samuel Bronson, and came to Murray about 1836. He
was a carpenter by trade and always followed that business. In 1841 he married Caro-
line, daughter of Elisha Blodgett, of Murray, and in 1858 settled in Hollev, where the
remainder of his life was spent. His children were two sons: Elisha D., born July 1,
1843, and Hiram E., born January 4, 1846, both of whom settled in Holley, and both
are carpenters. Elisha D. Bronson was married in 1872 to Jean Milne, daughter of
Charles Milne, of Murray, and they have two children, Bernard and Edith. Hiram E.
Bronson married Emma, daughter of William Burnham, of Murray, and their children
are : Maude, who married Horace A. Hose, Bertha, Donald F., and Ralph.
56 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Blodgett, Elisha, was born at Middleburgh, Vt., in 1787. His father, Samuel Blod-
gett, served in the Revolutionary War and was twice captured by the Indians. Elisha
Blodgett came from Vermont in 1810. and settled in Henrietta, Monroe county, where
he remained until 1822, when he came to the town of Murray and settled on the Ridge
road east of Sandy Creek. For many years he was industriously engaged in the stave
business, buying and shipping large quantities by canal to eastern cities. Mr. Blodgett
was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Holley. He married Lois Cowles, and to
them were born three daughters and one son. Hiram Blodgett, the son. setiled in
Kendall and was a farmer. The daughters were : Caroline, who married Hosea Bron-
son, Amanda, who married Harry Bradley, and Orpha, who married Bernard Sawyer.
Elisha Blodgett died in 1856.
Brace, Joseph N., was born in Shelby on the farm, where he now resides, February
17, 1848. In 1876 he married Martha Gillis, daughter of John S. Gillis of Ontario
county, and they have one daughter, Inez G. Mr. Brace's father was Norman Brace,
and his mother Catherine N. (Jameson) Brace. Norman Brace was a son of Asa and
Eunice (Brown) Brace. Mrs. Brace's mother was the daughter of Hugh and Jeanette
(Brock) Jameson. Joseph N. Brace was appointed Slate inspector of public works in
November, 1893. He has also held town offices, and is a member of the County Demo-
cratic Central Committee.
Berry, Albert M., was born in New Jersey, August 27, 1823, and when thirteen
years of age drove to Orleans county with his brother with a horse and wagon. His
people settled in Yates, and he was educated in the Albion Academy. He has followed
farming all his life most successfully. In 1849 he married Martha Porter, who died in
1886. They have two children living, Eugene S., and Mrs. John Bland of Medina.
Cook, George H., was born in Clarendon in 1839. a son of Merritt Cook. The latter
was a son of Lemuel, jr., and grandson of Lemuel Cook, who was a native of Pompey,
Conn., and served in the Revolution. He settled first in Onondaga county, and from
there removed to Clarendon, this county, at an early date. He was a farmer and lived
to the great age of 107 years, dying in Clarendon. His children were: Miles, who
served in the war of 1812; Lyman, Lemuel, jr., Curtis, Seeley, Worthy, Gilbert, Han-
nah, Esther and Electa, all of whom lived to old age. Meriitt, son of Lemuel, )r.,
settled in Clarendon, and was a farmer. He married Jane Darrow, and their children
were: Mary, George H., Charles, Emma, Ella and John. Mary married Alson Blod-
gett, and settled in Minnesota ; Charles is a farmer of Clarendon and married Eveline
Glidden ; Emma married Lyman Smith of this town ; Ella married Judson Bolton, also
of this town ; John married Mary Morton and settled in Michigan. George H., with
the exception of a few years (spent in Wisconsin), resided in Clarendon till 1885, when
he removed to Murray and bought a farm south of Sandy Creek. In 1861 he married
Mary Field of Oakfield, N. Y., and they have an adopted daughter, Sadie, and an
adopted son, David H. Cook. George H. Cook died in 1892.
Castle, Reuben S., was born in the town of Parma, Monroe county, N. Y., January
21, 1820. He attended the district schools. In 1836 his first business experience was as
clerk with Messrs Grant and Ellicott, merchants in Medina, Orleans county, after which
FAMILY SKETCHES. o7
he attended the Lima Seminary in the years 1837 and 1838. He then spent live years
as clerk with Messrs Grant and Turner who had the contract with the State for build-
ing the aqueduct across the Genesee River, at Portage, Allegany county, on the Gene-
see Valley Canal. In 1844 he went to Shelby Centre, Orleans county, and conducted
a general mercantile business under the firm name of R. S. Castle & Company eleven
years; served as town clerk several years and postmaster, whose commission was
issued by the then president, James Buchanan. In 1855 he came to Medina and has
been in the grocery and various other kinds of business here several years. Mr. Castle
has been assessor in Medina ten years, and is now serving his fourth term, has been a
justice of the peace of the town of Ridgeway, and police justice several years in Medina
village. In 1846 Mr. Castle married Sarah A. Bathgate, born in 1826 and said to be
the first while child born in Medina. They have buried three children and three sons,
and three daughters are now living. Mr. Castle claims to be a Jeffersonian Demo-
crat.
Filer, John H., was born in Ontario, Canada, November 18, 1854, and was educated
in the Toronto Normal School. He holds a first class grade A certificate, the highest
grade issued in the Dominion. In 1876 he came to the United States, attended the
Brockport Normal a short time to get the ways of the schools of this State, and has
been constantly engaged in teaching since that date. He has been principal of Water-
port and Knowlesville Union Schools eight years (three years in the former and five
years in the latter). During that time he took a three years' correspondence course in
the Chautauqua University and received a diploma for the work done. He is recog-
nized as an able and successful teacher. In 1895 he married Cora M. Parkman.
Grinnell, Paul, was born in Barre, July 14, 1823, and has always followed farming.
In 1846 he married Sarah Butler, and they have five children : Ervin, Edwin, Cynthia
(Mrs. Sanborn) of Virginia; Florence (Mrs. Elliott) of Buffalo; Alice (Mrs. Smith)
of Medina. Mr. Grinnell's father was John Grinnell, and his mother Praxana (Tink-
hara) Grinnell. John Grinnell was a native of Saratoga county, and came to Barre,
Orleans county in 1820.
Gorman, Charles A., was born at Great Bend, Susquehanna county. Pa., October 19,
1853. At the early age of fifteen he left the farm and went to work in a stone quarry
at Shelby Basin. He remained there ten years, advancing himself not only in his
trade and business, but in education. He became foreman of a quarry and succeeded in
obtaining a two years' course in St. Joseph's College at Buffalo. During his college
course he bought and sold stone in Buffalo. During the earlier years of his struggle to
advance himself he received much assistance and encouragement from the Le Valley
family of Shelby Basin and attributes his success to them. At the age of twenty-eight.
Mr. Gorman was the owner of a quarry, and for the last twelve years has been one of
the leading quarry men of this county. He has occupied various positions of trust and
responsibility, and was once nominated for member of Assembly by the Democratic
party and the vote he received in the Republican stronghold showed his great personal
popularity. In 1883 Mr. Gorman married Margaret Kearney, who died in June, 1893.
They had two sons and two daughters.
58 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Geballe, L H., was born in Germany April 1, 1846. He came to America in 1868,
landing in New York, where he spent several years as clerk in the clothing line. He
then moved to Rochester, and from that point peddled through this part of the country,
from Rochester to Suspension Bridge. In 1875 he came to Medina, and embarked in
the clothing business. His first venture was not successful, but immediately making a
rearrangement of his business, he made a fresh start, and during the past eighteen
years has built up a splendid clothing trade. There is no larger clothing establishment
than his between Buffalo and Rochester, and he constantly carries a large and carefully
selected stock of ready made clothing and gent's furnishing goods. Mr. Geballe is
recognized as one of the leading business men of Medina, and is also well known in
social circles. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, of the Odd Fellows, A. 0.
U. W., Knights of Maccabees and Free Sons of Israel. He is also a director in the
Medina Loan Association and holds a seat in the Corn Exchange. Of late years he has
been giving attention to the wholesaling business with much success, and contemplates
going into it entirely in the not distant future. Mr. Geballe is a stockholder in a sash
and blind factory in Middleport, and of his city property special mention might be
made of his handsome residence on Center street. In 1876 Mr. Geballe married Hen-
retta Lesser, and they have five children, three sons and two daughters.
Howell, H. B., was born in 1841 at Olcott, N. Y., entered the army in defence of the
Union in 1861, where he was promoted to captain, and was discharged in 1865. He
immediately took up his education where it was dropped and began school again at
Clinton Liberal Institute, thence to St. Lawrence University under the able tuition of
Dr. E. Fisher in the theological department. In 1869 he was ordained a minister in
the Universalist Church, and has been settled in Ridgeway, Leroy, Clifton Springs and
other places, but finally retired from active work in consequence of voice difficulty. In
1873 Mr, Howell married Helena A. Bowen, and they have one daughter and three
sons. Mr. Howell has recently given his attention to farming, while at the same time
answering many professional calls. His father, John Howell, was killed in the battle
of Cold Harbor, Va., and his mother's maiden name was Elmira Olmsted.
Hetsler, Frederick G., was born in Wheatland, Monroe county, November 14, 1823,
and was educated at Yates Academy. He was left an orphan at the age of seven,
thereafter practically made his own way in the world, and with much success. At the
age of eighteen he went on the road as traveler, and followed this business twenty-six
years. In 1871 he came to Medina, and eventually purchased the fine block in which
he has since conducted his business of jobber and dealer in tobacco, cigars, confectionery,
etc. In 1845 he married Sarah Mariah Clark, who died in December, 1891. They have
one son, Frank. Mr. Hetsler's father was George, who married Lydia Van Auken, and
his grandfather was Frederick Hetsler, who was one of the pioneers of Monroe county,
and was on the site of Rochester when only two log houses stood in the wilds where
the city now stands.
Hood, Mrs. Emma L., is a daughter of R. C. Tompkins, of Knowlesville. In 1873
she married Harry R. Hardick. who died in 1885, Mr. Hardick belonged to one of the
best known families in the county. In 1890 she married N. G. Hood, and they con-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 59
ducted a general store in Knowlesville in which the post-office is located, Mr. Tompkins
being postmaster.
Hood, Silas M., was born near Knowlesville, town of Eidgeway, May 10, 1840, and
excepting during the war has always followed farming. He enlisted July 17, 1861, in
Company A, 3d N. Y. Cavalry, and has the honor of belonging to the first company of
cavalry mustered into the volunteer service for three years. He is a brother of Sam-
uel I. Hood, for whom S. I. Hood Post, of Medina, was named. In 18G6 he married
Lucy Elizabeth Haynes, and they had two children, Mary E., now Mrs. Gillett, and
Samuel L His mother died when he was an infant. April 5, 1876, he married for his
second wife Mrs. Mary F. Pratt, of Gaines, and they have two sons, Willis Mainvill
and S. Burroughs. Mr. Hood's father was David Hood, who came from Seneca
county in 1816, and his mother Ehzabeth Burrough Hood, from Ovid, Seneca county,
and sister of Hon. S. M. Burrough, who was member of the State Legislature several
terms ; also member of Congress at the time of his death.
Hunt, Daniel F., was born in Vermont in 1813, and came to Orleans county before
he was four years of age. He still resides on the old Hunt farm, a mile north of
Ridgeway. He married Tryphosa Greenman and they had seven children, four of
whom are living: William, Bert, Nora and Addie. Mr: Hunt's father was Daniel F.
Hunt, and his mother, Abigail (Batchelor) Hunt, both natives of Vermont. Mr. Hunt's
first wife died April 11, 1880, aged seventy-two years, and in 1892 he married Saman-
tha Greenman Dutcher.
Hunt, Edmund L., was born in Camillus, Onondaga county, July 5, 1822, and came
to Orleans county in 1848. In that year he married Emeline Jackson, daughter of
WilHam and Martha (Comstock) Jackson. Mrs. Hunt was born April 25, 1827, in the
same school district in the town of Ridgeway where she now resides. Her grand-
father Jackson came from England with his parents and settled in Schenectady county.
Mr. Hunt's father was Lorenzo Hunt, a native of the State of Rhode Island, and his
mother was Ann (Comstock) Hunt, of Onondaga county, this State.
Ingalls, Lewis, was born in Hartford, Washington county, June 8, 1817, and when
young learned the blacksmith trade, but has generally been a farmer. At the age of
twenty-one he began life for himself, working farms in Geneseo, Livingston county.
From here he went to Nunda, Allegany county, where he purchased land ; thence to
Perry, Wyoming county, and finally, in 1850, moved to Orleans county, and located
three-fourths of a mile from Gaines village. In 1856, Mr. Ingalls purchased his
present excellent farm, located in the southeast quarter of the village of Albion, and
here he has continued to reside until the present time. Lewis Ingalls began life
destitute of means, his only capital being his determination to succeed, coupled with a
strong constitution and excellent health. As a farmer and business man, his life has
been abundantly successful, and to-day he is in the enjoyment of a competency. Until
he was twenty-six years of age, Mr. Ingalls's faith was atheistical, but after a long and
critical attention given to prophetic and historic portions of inspiration was converted
and became a true Christian, this change being the result of his own meditation, unaided
by any known human influences. Ftom then until the present time Mr. Ingalls has
60 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
devoted much of his hfe in heralding the gospel among his fellow men, and as an
expounder of Bible truths he has but few equals in the county. His early education
was limited, but in his maturer years he became a student of Greek, was self taught,
and is now unquestionably familiar with the classics, and translates Greek scriptures
into English. Mr. Ingalls is not identified with any church society, yet he inclines
toward Methodism. In 1838 he was married to Sarah Warren, then a resident of
Livingston county, but a native of Massachusetts. Of this marriage one child was born,
Mary L., wife of Foster Udell, a large and successful fruit grower in Brockport, western
New York.
Johnson, James, born in Saratoga county, March 28, 1819, settled in Ridgeway in
1850, moved thence to Yates in 1882, and died June 24, 1890. He held several minor
town offices, and was prominent in local affairs. February 26, 1840, he married Lois
Sarah Olmstead, born August 1, 1821, died in November, 1883. His second wife was
Mrs. Mary Moore. His children were: Marian A., born December 2, 1840, deceased;
Elizabeth, born August 10, 1842, deceased; Louisa D., born September 26, 1844 (Mrs.
Henry J. Clark); William H., born March 4, 1846; Mary E. (Mrs. Art Ferris), born
September 24, 1847 ; James Ernest, born May 17, 1849 ; and Lena A. (Mrs. John'
Ferris), born September 19, 1856. James E. Johnson is a farmer in the southeast part
of the town. Rodney Clark, son of James, was born January 1, 1798, came to Yates
with his father in 1S18, and married, January 16, 1822, Sally Weld, who was born
October 24, 1801, and died August 6, 1826. Their children were: Lurana (Mrs.
Erastus King), Martha (Mrs. Chester Field), and Laura (Mrs. Russel Jackson, who
married second, George Swan). His second wife, Sally Barrett, who died January 14,
1840, left no children. February 16, 1842, he married third, Mrs. Priscilla (Paxon)
Doty, and had two children, of whom Henry J. is a farmer near Lyndonville. Slie died
February 2, 1892, aged ninety-three years.
Jackson, James Adelbert, was born in Sweden, Monroe county, May 13, 1846, a son
of Willett, whose father, James, came from Canada in 1811, and took up a farm south
of Brockport. He served in the war of 1812. Willett Jackson settled in Sweden,
where he lived till 1854, when he bought a farm in Clarendon and removed there. In
1888 he removed to Holley. He married Betsey Fanning, and they had one son,
James A. He married second, Mrs. Mary Gates. James A. Jackson settled in Claren-
don, where he has followed agriculture. In 1868 he married Alice, daughter of Smith
Glidden, and they have two children: Avis and Charles.
Kast, John T., was a native of Alsace, France, born May 8, 1816, and was the son of
a farmer. John came to this county at the age of nineteen, located at Rome, Oneida
county, where his uncle lived, and for whom he went to work on a farm. Mr. Kast
lived in that vicinity about twenty-one years. January 4, 1844, he married Barbara
Baker, and in 1848 he bought a small farm in Oneida county, on which he lived eight
years, then sold and came to Albion. His original purchase here was a fifty acre farm,
to which he has added twenty acres more, and in 1883 he purchased the Tooley farm of
51 acres, which is located one-half mile east of Barre Springs. The children of John
T. and Barbara Kast have been as follows: Elizabeth, Albert, John, Caroline, William,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 61
and Mary. Mr. Kast is remembered among Albion's successful farmers. In politics he
is a Republican, but has never sought public office. Both he and wife are members of
the M. E. church.
Kelly, John Russell, is a son of George Kelly, born in Orange county in 1815, and is
now living in Van Buren county, Mich. George came to the town of Carlton in 1842,
where he resided until 1864, and then moved to Michigan, in which State he has since
remained. His wife was Ellen Ostrander, born in Orange county in 1817, and died in
1859. The children of George and Ellen Kelly were as follows: Halsey, born in
Orange county in 1834, died in Michigan in 1885 ; George B., born in Orange county in
1836, was killed at the battle of Mine Run, Va.. in 1863; Margaret, born in Orange
county in 1838, resides in Van Buren county, Mich.; John Russell, born in Orange
county, November 13, 1841 ; Royce, born in Carlton November 13, 1845, resides in
Michigan ; Mary, born in Carlton in 1848, resides in Michigan ; Charles, born in Carl-
ton in 1854, resides in Michigan. John was educated in the common schools of Carl-
ton, and his boyi.ood days were spent on a farm. At the age of seventeen he engaged
as a sailor on the Great Lakes, which business he followed eleven years ; for the last
three of which he was a third owner in a vessel, of which he was second officer in com-
mand. In 1869 and 1870 he was employed by the government in building piers at Oak
Orchard Harbor. In June, 1871, he was appointed keeper at Oak Orchard Light
Station, Carlton, which position he still holds. Mr. Kelly married at Kendall, January
13, 1869, Emma A. Smith, born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, April 15, 1848, and
they have one child, Genevra Abbie Ellen, born November 2, 1871, who married Will-
iam G. Taylor of Albion, December 9, 1891.
Ludington, Howard, a native of Dutchess county, was the first of the family to
settle in Orleans county. He came to Murray in 1854, settled near Holley, and en-
gaged in farming. He married Sally Ann Corbin, and they are the parents of ten
children : John, Anna, Edward, Sarah, Ehen, Varnam D., Gilbert, James, Ira and
George. Ira and Ellen are deceased, all the others are living. John Ludington settled
in Bowling Green, Ky., and James settled in Dallas, Tex. Anna married Newton
Hard of Murray; Edward resides in Albion, and married Sarah Wells; Sarah married
Clark Smith of Murray ; Gilbert married Sarah Haight and resides in Murray ; George
settled in Albion, and married Ella Gleason ; Varnum D. is engaged in farmmg in Mur-
ray. He is a staunch Republican, and a member of Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. He
married Grace, daughter of Jerome R. Love of Murray.
Love, Major William, was born January 19, 1795, and in 1816 came to Barre. In
1818 he brought his young wife and occupied a log cabin in the wilderness. The old
home farm in Barre is still owned by his son, Albert S. Love. Major Love was a public
spirited man, well informed in political affairs, and his strong antagonism to slavery, and
all forms of injustice, is still well remembered in the county. He died December 19,
1864. His wife was Lucinda Oaks, a native of Oneida county, born June 6, 1797,
deceased March 8, 1873. They had ten children : William Delos, born September 29,
1819, a Congregational clergyman living in Hartford, Conn. ; Samuel G., born May 30,
1821, a well-known school organizer and teacher, als6 librarian of the noted Prender-
62 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
gast Library at Jamestown. He died November 12,1893; Ozro, born Februarys,
1823 ; Lavancha E., born October 27, 1824, married A. Z. Barrows, who was for more
than forty years a teacher in Buffalo pubhc schools, where his wife also taught. She
died February 2, 1870 ; Laura M., born July 17, 1826, who married William C. Scofield,
a Congregational minister of Washington, D. C. ; Miranda H., born March 27, 1828,
married William E. Ledyard, late of Milwaukee, Wis.; Levi, born September 29, 1830,
died February 1, 1831 ; Jerome, born September 6, 1832; early in life a teacher, subse-
quently a farmer at the west, and now in the town of Murray ; Albert S., born May
31, 1835 ; Frankhn D., born May 12, 1837, and for nearly thirty years a teacher in
Buffalo. Albert S. Love was reared on his father's farm, educated in the district .school
and Randolph Academy, finishing his course at Buffalo Central School, and later returned
to Randolph Academy and taught two years. He taught school and worked on the
farm about ten years. August 13, 1860, he married Marietta, daughter of Harry W.
Weed, of Kendall, and they have three children : Cora L., Ella M. and Edith M.
(deceased). In 1862 Mr. Love moved to Marion, la. While there he was principal of
a Union school at the county seat, and also engaged in farming. Upon the death of
his father he, by request, returned to Barre and bought the home farm. In 1891 he
came to live at the county seat. He was assessor in Barre six years, and was also con-
nected with the school interests of that town. Ozro Love was educated in the common
school and attended the academy one winter. In 1844 began life for himself. For
nearly forty years Mr. Love was a farmer in Orleans county, during which time he
owned several farms in Barre. In 1881 he came to live in Albion village. His first
wife was Martha Street, whom he married September 26, 1844. Two children were
born to them : Lucius Delos, who died in 1882, and one who died in infancy. His
wife died December 9, 1874. October 28, 1875, he married Emily A., widow of
Charles Webster, of Barre, and daughter of Alonzo D. Atherton. Ozro Love was
originally a Whig, a strong anti-slavery advocate, and was one of the first Republicans
in the county. He was supervisor of Barre in 1873-4, and was assessor of that town
several years. He was for many years a trustee of the Presbyterian Church at Barre
Centre.
Leonard, John H., born December 15, 1829, in the town of G-aines on the farm where
he now resides. He is a brother of Jefferson Y., who resides on a part of the same
farm, which was purchased by their father, Ephraim, who purchased the farm of the
land office situated at Batavia in 1815. Our subject was educated in the common
schools and is a farmer. He married, November 15, 1865, at Albion, Anna Iden, born
February 10, 1842. Her father was Jacob Iden, an early settler in' Gaines. Her
mother was Sarah C. Stringham. Our subject's children are. Sarah, born October 6,
1866, married Jesse Jobson and resides in Oregon ; Mary M., born August 19, 1868,
married Lincoln Lettis and resides in Albion village. They had two children : Anna,
born April 9, 1889, and John H.. who died in infancy ; E. Jay, born April 29, 1873,
and George I., born December 29, 1874.
Lawrence, William, a Connecticut Yankee by birth, but before settlement at
Knowlesville, a resident of Madison county, came to this county in 1837, bringing a
wife and two sons, William II. and George J. William Lawrence, sr., had been un-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 63
fortunate in businesss in the east and came to this locality to recover his fortune. Be-
fore coming to Orleans county, when residing in Madison county he was a merchant,
also the proprietor of lime kilns and plaster mills, etc., and the owner of a line of boats
on the canal. In 1850 the family moved to Ithaca, where Mr. Lawrence established a
stove depot and store, and in 1862 came to Genesee county and engaged in farming.
He came to Albion in 1876, where he died in 1885, and his wife in 1888. George J.
Lawrence, son of the pioneer, was born in Chittenango, October 22, 1834, and was
brought up to the same business his father conducted. While in Ithaca he learned
telegraphy, which he afterward followed for nine years. During the war he was em-
ployed in the United States Military Telegraph Corps and stationed at Harper's Ferry,
and other points, following the army under orders. In 1865 Mr. Lawrence returned
home and engaged in farming, and in 1876 came to Albion. At the request of his
uncle, Mark H. Beecher, professor of mathematics in the United States navy, he took
charge of his business for two years until his uncle's death in 1882. Two years later
he began the manufacture of carbonated beverages at Albion, and now carries on a
large and successful business. April 23, 1890, Mr. Lawrence married Lucy A. Allen,
widow of Asa Allen, of Richmond, Mich., and daughter of Lewis Newman, of Leister,
Livingston county.
Landauer, Moritz, who for more than thirty years has been identified with mercantile
interests in Albion, was born in Hurben by Krumbach, Bayern, Germany, March 9,
1829, anJ was the son of a cattle dealer. In Germany Moritz learned the trade of
cotton weaving, but at the age of twenty years left his native country and came to
America rather than enter the German army, which he would have been compelled to
do in accordance with the laws of that country. Almost at once after landing in New
York, Mr. Landauer purchased a pack of wares and notions and began life here as a
peddler, followed by a clerkship in a store in the city. However, meeting with some
friends, he was induced to go to Macon, Ga., where he also worked as a clerk for a
year, after which he and his brother, Samuel, purchased a stock of goods, agreeing to
pay $5,000 in three years. This agreement was fully complied with, and they did a
successful business in Macon for several years. Early during the war Mr. Landauer
was compelled to furnish a sub.stitute for the confederate service, and also pay $600.
In addition to this he was afterward drafted and was left the only alternative of leav-
ing the South or else enter the army. The stock was sold at a great sacrifice, and Mr.
Landauer returned to New York. In 1863 he came to Albion, went into a general
dry goods business with his brother, and for the next seventeen years the firm,
M. Landauer & Bro. was numbered among the substantial and successful business
houses of the county seat. In 1881 the firm was dissolved and the business was after-
ward carried on by our subject until 1887, when Louis Landauer became partner with
his father, under the firm name of M. Landauer & Son. In 18L)1 Landauer Bros, suc-
ceeded to the business, and Moritz Landauer practically retired, though he daily visits
the store, for he is still an active man. His wife was Theckla Goodman, born April
10, 1839. Their children are as follows: Bertha, born October 17, 1859, married
August Strouse, and died July 8, 1879; Henry, who died June 7, 1878; Louis, born
November 1, 1865, now the senior partner in the business at Albion ; Augusta, wife of
64 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Louis Goodman; Samuel, the junior partner, born October 26, 1867; aud Jesse, born
September 3, 1875.
Lattin, Frank H., is a grandson of William Lattin, who was born in Pleasant Valley,
Dutchess county, May 15, 1808, and died at Gaines, March 17, 1863. The father of
our subject, Joseph Wood Lattin, was born in Dutchess county, April 15, 1833, and
died in Gaines, December 11, 1870. He married Mary Haak, who was born in Spring,
Crawford county. Pa., December 28, 1840, and their children were, Frank H., and
Gary B. The latter was born in Gaines, November 29, 1864, and died in Gaines, July
8, 1891, being at the time of his death deputy State treasurer of the State of Washing-
ton. He was a graduate of Albion High School, class of '84, and of the Omaha Busi-
ness College (1888), and taught school in the town of Gaines two years. Frank H.
Lattin was born in Gaines, August 17, 1861, and graduated from the Albion High
School, class of '82, after which he taught school in his native village. A few years
previous he had become greatly interested in the study of natural history. This inter-
est had increased to such an extent that he now determined to make it his life work.
Discovering that certain portions of Orleans county were rich in geological products,
of the drift period especially, he spent every moment at his disposal in the search for
specimens, and in reading up for scientific information. He made several valuable
"finds" in the drift and also in the neighboring sandstone and limestone quarries, and
soon began a correspondence with other collectors, effecting an exchange of his dupli-
cates for other specimens from all over the world, until his collections became quite
extensive in the various branches of natural science. At first he devoted himself
especially to birds' eggs and in 1884 began the publication of a monthly magazine,
called the "Oologist," which has now attained a circulation of nearly 3,000 copies
monthly, and is the official organ of the Oologists in this county. Mr. Lattin has a
handsome home in Gaines, which he says with pardonable pride, is probably the only
one in the world secured with a single sale of bird's eggs. He has two large warehouses
filled with his collections. He has placed a large collection of eggs in the Field Museum
at Chicago, where, during the World's Fair, his collection in the Anthropological build-
ing occupied 2,000 square feet. After the close of the Fair, Mr. Lattin effected the
purchase of the entire collection of shells, numbering 50,000 specimens of 10,000 spe-
cies, formerly owned by the great collector, the late Colonel Jewett, of Santa Barbara,
Cal. Mr. Lattin is a wholesale and retail dealer in specimens, instruments, supplies,
publications for the naturalist, and curiosities generally. September 9, 1885, he mar-
ried May E. Bullard, born in Gaines, August 9, 1866. Her grandfather was Brigadier
Bullard, who settled in Gaines Basin in 1812.
Lockwood, Henry C, was born at Chestertown. Warren county, N. Y., December 9,
1848. His father, Henry F. Lockwood, being a son of Col. Jeremiah Lockwood, who
served in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch came to Holley, Orleans county,
N. Y., in the fall of 1871, and for six and one half years was employed in the general
store of H. G. Newton. In 1878 he succeeded Mr. Newton in the dry goods business, and
has since that time carried on a general dry goods, carpet and wall paper business. He
has held the office of school trustee of the village and is prominently identified with the
Methodist Episcopal Church of which he is a member, holding at present the office of
FAMILY SKETCHES. 05
trustee and steward. He is a member of the Murray Lodge No. 380 F. & A. M. He is
also national vice-president of the National Protective Legion, an insurance company
which gives benefits to living members at actual cost, paying them $500 in five year
periods. In 1871 Mr. Lockwood was married to Mary Van Benthuysen and they have
had five children, two sons and two daughters are living.
Lusk, Charles, was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, October 4, 1835, a son of
Ira, who was a son of Solomon Lusk, a colonel in the war of 1812, and one of the
early settlers of Oneida county. Ida married Betsey Williams. Their son Charles
came to Orleans county in 1855, and resided for a year, then removed to Michigan and
remained till 1866 when he returned to Orleans county and for two years lived in
Barre, removing thence to Holley, and five years later, in 1873, he purchased a farm in
the eastern district of Clarendon, and here he has since lived. He is an active man in
his party, and has served as assessor several years, and served as supervisor of Claren-
don during 1884-86. He is a member of Holley Lodge, I. O. 0. F., of the A. O. U. W.
and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. In 1855 Mr. Lusk married Electa, daughter of
Asa Lewis of Murray, and their children are : Charles F., Aden B., Herman A., Myrtle,
and Jennie. Of these, Charles married LiUie Venton, Herman married Aggie Clarey,
and Myrtie married John Langham.
Munson, Edward, M. D., was born in Penn Yan, Yates county, March 30, 1859, and
was educated at Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., and the College of Physicians and
Surgeons, New York city. He took his degree of M.D. in 1881, and immediately be-
gan practice in Medina. He is a member of the Orleans County Medical Society, and
of the Central New York Medical Association. In 1883 Dr. Munson married Lillian
Smith of Watkins, N. Y., and they have five children, three sons and two daughters.
Miller, Ogden S., son of Alexander Miller, was born December 3, 1846, in the town
of Barre. Alexander was a son of Caleb, who came from Byron and settled in Barre
at an early date, where he engaged in farming. He married Mrs. Rhoda Loomis, and
they had three sons : Caleb, Alvin, who died young, and Alexander. Caleb Miller died
in 1819. His sons, Caleb, jr., and Alexander, were blacksmiths by trade and carried on
a shop in Byron for a time then came to Clarendon village, where they engaged in the
blacksmith and foundry business, manufacturing plows extensively. Caleb Miller, jr.,
built the stone shop at Clarendon which is still in use. After a few years Caleb sold
out to his brother and removed to Michigan, where he became a farmer and later es-
tablished a foundry. Alexander Miller built many houses in Clarendon, and did much
to promote the growth and welfare of the village. He married Lois, daughter of Elias
Willard of Monroe county in 1844, and their children were : Ogden S. (our subject) ;
Jennie V., who married Walter T. Pettengill; Fred W., and Nellie L., who married
William A. Bissell. In 1866 Ogden S. Miller became a partner of his father in the
manufacture of carriages and agricultural implements. In 1871 Alexander Miller sold
his interest in the business to W. T. Pettengill, and in 1874 engaged in farming in Ber-
gen. In 1878 he removed to Caledonia, where with his son, Fred W., he again en-
gaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. Alexander Miller died in 1886,
and Fred W. continued the business. Fred W. Miller was twice married, his first wife
i
66 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
being Minnie Carruthers, and the second Lottie Tiffany. Ogden S. Miller was edu-
cated in the school of his town and in Lockport Union School, and at Bryant & Strat-
ton's Business College of Buflfalo. In 1871 he formed the partnership with Mr. Pet-
tengill, and for two years they were engaged in the manufacture of carriages. In 1873
they purchased the cider and grist mill property at Clarendon and soon became exten-
sive manufactures of cider vinegar. In 1886 they extended their business to Holley,
building a large evaporator and becoming the largest producers of cider vinegar in the
world. In 1891 the business was incorporated as the '' Genesee Fruit Company," Mr.
Miller being the vice-president and general manager. He removed to Holley in 1886.
He was one of the organizers of the Holley Electric Light Company, and the Water
Works. He was president of the village several years and was known and recognized
as one of the most enterprising and public spirited men of the town. He was a mem-
ber of Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., Murray Lodge, F. and A. M., and the A. 0. U. W.
In 1872 Mr. Miller married Rosetta G., daughter of William Glidden of Clarendon. He
died May 20, 1893.
Mansfield, Harvey, was born in the town of Murray in 1835, and is a son of Alanson,
born March 9, 1793, whose father was Amos Mansfield. Amos Mansfield was a native
of Scotland and the names of his children were : Alanson, Harmon, Amos, Polly, Sally,
and Annie. Alanson Mansfield served in the war of 1812, and came to Orleans county
in 1814 and settled in Murray. He worked at chopping for a short time until he had
saved a little money, then took out an article of lot 219, just north of Hindsburg, the
price being three dollars per acre. He then returned to Vermont and brought back his
father's family, consisting of his father and mother and six children, of which Alanson
was the oldest. With a pair of horses and their effects in a sleigh and leading a cow
behind they made the journey, arriving at Murray in the winter of 1815. They built
a log house and made a clearing. Their first crop of corn was grown from the seed of
four ears. Alanson was married, October 14, 1817, to Polly Hart, whose father,
Ebenezer Hart, had sett'ed where the Murray depot noAv stands. They were the
parents of ten children : Lucina, who married Riley Church of Murray ; Valina, who
married Rev. David Moore, D.D., of Geneva ; Almina, who married Huron Baker ;
Minerva, who married Nelson Butts of Albion ; Myron, who married Mary J. Parmley
and is a farmer in Murray ; Sophia, who married Walter Yager ; Maria, who married
Henry Decker; Orrin, Jackson and Harvey. Orrin is a farmer and resides in Murray.
He married Mary Ellsworth. Jackson married Maria Yager, and his early life was
spent in Murray, but removed later to Michigan and finally to California, where he now
resides. Harvey Mansfield settled in Murray, and has always been engaged in farming.
In 1860 he married Clara, daughter of Munson Mansfield, and his second wife was
Sarah E., daughter of Isaac Day of Murray.
McKendry, Thomas, was a son of John, who was born in Galowayshire, Scotland,
and died in the house where subject now resides in November 1, 1864, aged eighty-
seven years. He emigrated in 1857, and resided with his son until his death. The
mother of our subject, Margaret Ewins, was born in Scotland, and died in 1864. Their
family consisted of eight children : James, Sarah, Thomas, our subject, born in Scotland
November 14, 1819; William, Mary, Jesse, who resides in Lyndonville, Orleans county ;
FAMILY SKETCHES. G7
Elizabeth, and John. Subject received a common school education in Scotland. He
emigrated to this country in 1851, and settled in Yates, where he remained one year,
and then removed to Carlton. In 18fi2 he purchased the farm vi^here he now resides,
formerly known as the Crain farm. It now contains 100 acres. He married in Scotland
in 1838, aged nineteen years. They had four children, all born m Scotland : John, born
in 1839, and died in North Carolina in 1862. He was a soldier of the Rebellion, a mem-
ber of the Third New York Cavalry, Company F; Robert, born in 1842, and resides in
Michigan. He married Lottie Brown, a native of Carlton, and they have four children :
Anna, John, Allie, and Elizabeth ; William, born in 1845, and died in Scotland, used six
years; and James, born in 1850, resides in Fargo, Dakota. He married Jennie
Hutchinson, of Gaines, and had two children: Sumner and Ernest, both deceased.
Mathes, George, was a native of Alsace, France, born November 28, 1840, and was
the youngest of four children of George and Elizabeth (Root) Mathes, In 1846 the
family came to this country, and settled in Barre, where the father was a farmer, and
where he lived until his death in 1857. The mother died in Clarendon. The children
in this family were : Bernard, of Barre, and George, now of Albion, and two others,
who died in infancy. George Mathes, the present superintendent of the poor of the
county, was brought up on his father's farm in Barre, and upon the death of his father
worked the farm three years. He then purchased a farm in Clarendon, and worked it
for twenty years. Still later he became a merchant in Clarendon village, and was in
business about five years, selling out in 1890, when he became county superintendent.
Mr. Mathes has been an active factor in county politics for many years, and in Claren-
don held the offices of collector and town clerk, and was a candidate for the supervisor-
ship, but that being a strong Democratic town, he was defeated. While living in Barre,
George Mathes married Orcelia, daughter of the late Dennis Evarts, and they have had
six children : Willard E., Adelbert, Lewis D.. Benjamin C, Kirk B., and Cora E. They
have been members of the M. E. church thirty-three years, and for nearly twenty-five
years Mr. Mathes was class-leader, steward and Sunday school superintendent of the
Clarendon M. E. church. He is now one of the trustees of the M. E. Society in
Albion.
Mustill, James John, was born in London, Eng., July 5, 1830, and was the third of
ten children born to James and Sarah (Ashbury) Mustill. The father was a frescoer
by trade, and came to the United States in 1833, locating at Lockport, where he lived
until 1852, then came to Murray and settled on a farm, where he lived until his death,
May 24, 1857. His wife died in 1890. Young James was put out to learn the harness
making trade at the age of fourteen. After thoroughly learning the trade, Mr. Mustill
worked as foreman for several years, and then went into business at Lockport. In
1852 he came to Albion and worked with G. W. Hotchkiss, and later associated with
Mr. Merrifield, the firm being Mustill & Merrifield. Mr. Mustill then succeeded to the
firm, and ever since has been regarded as one of the substantial business men of the
county seat, and is now the oldest active business man of the town. Mr. Mustill is a
prominent Mason, having become a craftsman September 1, 1851, in Lockport Lodge,
and is now a member of the Renovation Lodge No. 97, of Albion, having taken the
thirty-second degree in the Rochester consistory, and is also member of Monroe Com-
68 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COLTNTY.
mandery No. 12. In 1849 he married Ruth Few, daughter of James Few, of Lockport.
They have had six children, only one of which, Alice A., widow of James Wilson, is
now living. Mr. Mustill is a Republican, but takes no active part in politics..
Mulford Samuel, H., was born March 16, 1796, at East Hampton, L. L He settled
in Rensselaer county, and for many years was in the milling business. In 1845 he came
to Hulberton, Orleans county, and after a short residence there settled in Kendall,
where he engaged in farming. He was a member of the old State militia, and was
major in the same. He married, in 1823, Clarissa GrifEng, and they had five children :
Mary Elizabeth, Clarissa, Samuel E., Joseph P., and Harriet J. Mary Elizabeth mar-
ried first, George H. Buckley, and second, Cornelius G. Palmer. Clarissa married
Thaddeus R. Sherwood ; Samuel E. married Mary E. Cramer, and is a farmer in Ken-
dall ; Joseph P. married Harriet J. Bassett, and is also a farmer in Kendall. Harriet
J. is unmarried. Samuel H. Mulford removed from Kendall to Holley in 1869,
and resided there until his death in 1871.
Mulford, Fred B. Samuel H. Mulford, son of Matthew, was born in East Hampton,
L. I., March 18, 1796. His ancestors came from Devonshire, England, where the name
was spelled Molford, and arriving in America settled in Rhode Island, whence some re-
moved to Connecticut. Captain Samuel Mulford, great-great-grandfather of Samuel
M., was a member of the Colonial Assembly of New York from 1705 to 1720, and a
captain in the militia, as was also his son Matthew. David Mulford, son of the latter,
was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, in which Matthew, grandfather of Samuel H.,
served as a sergeant and afterward drew a pension. Samuel H. Mulford married, Sep-
tember 18. 1823, Clarissa Griffin, settled in Lansingbug, Rensselaer county, and was
proprietor of a grist mill. About 1845 he came to Hulberton, but in 1846 removed to
a farm in Kendall, whence he finally went to Holley, where he died in December, 1871.
His children were Samuel E., born December 19, 1830; Joseph P., born May 1, 1834;
Harriett J., born June 22, 1840; Mary (Mrs. C. G. Palmer), born October 17, 1824;
and Clarissa (Mrs. T. R Sherwood), born November 14, 1826. Joseph P. Mulford
married, January 28, 1858, Harriet R., daughter of William R. Bassett, and their chil-
dren are Fred B., born December 30, 1859 ; Harry J., born November 4, 1863, died
November 24, 1887; George S., born November 16, 1865, married Lowella Barlow of
Du Bois, Penn., July 11, 1888, apd resides in Buflfalo ; Nina (Mrs. Frank J. Murphy)
and Lina (twins), born March 18, 1869 ; and Mary 0., born January 15, 1876. Mr.
Mulford settled on his present farm near the lake shore in 1864. Fred B. Mulford mar-
ried, December 30, 1880, Rose E., daughter of Dennis Skutt, of Kendall, and they
have two children, Roy J. and Ward S. He purchased his present store in Kendall
village of Miss Sarah Jewett in May, 1889, and was appointed postmaster in Septem-
ber, 1893. Dennis Skutt, father of Mrs. Rose Mulford, was born September 21, 1831,
and married Betsey Hard, who was born December 22, 1834, and died September 11,
1875 ; they had two children : Rose E., born June 27, 1861, and Harry H., born April
24, 1872, and died October 15, 1893.
McDonald, B. Frank, born in West Kendall in 1855, is a son of Milo McDonald, who
was a carriage blacksmith, and was in business at Kendall for many years. He was a
FAMILY SKETCHES. 69
member of Kendall M. E. Church, and was a staunch Republican. In 1861 he enlisted
in the 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, was appointed corporal, and was afterward pro-
moted sergeant. He was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. He married
Minerva A., daughter of Ezra Spicer of Kendall, and they had one child, our subject.
Mrs. McDonald, m 1869, married Abner Ray of Holley. B. Frank McDonald was edu-
cated in the public schools of Holley, and at a Commercial College in New Haven.
Conn. In 1879 he engaged in the manufacture of cabinet and fine wood work at
Holley. Mr. McDonald is a strong Republican, and a member of the Baptist Church
and Royal Templars. He married in 1880 Etta, eldest daughter of Francis D. Cogs-
well of Holley, and they have four children, Ray, Walter, Earle and Carrie.
Milliken, Fayette A., born in Clarendon, Orleans county, August 7, 1848, is a son of
Robert Milliken, who was a native of Peterboro, N. H. His father, Alexander, came
from Peterboro in 1827 and located in Clarendon, where he purchased lands and
engaged in farming. The early life of Robert was spent oti the farm. In 1859 he came
to Holley and engaged with Joseph W. Robb in the grocery business. In 1871 the
business was purchased by F. A. Milliken, who conducted it until 1891, when he sold
out to H. Cole & Son. Mr. Milliken is a Republican, and January 9, 1890, was
appointed postmaster at Holley. During the four years he has held the office he has
never been absent from his post a single day. Both the Democrats and Republicans
say that never have the affairs of the office been more satisfactorily administered than
under Mr. Milliken's administration. Mr. Milliken has been village clerk for several
years, is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of Murray Lodge, No. 380, F. & A. M.
Mr. Milliken was educated in the schools of Holley and the Rochester Business Univer-
sity. He was the first boy that ever sold the Rochester daily papers on the streets of
Holley. Mr. Milliken married, June 4, 1873, Belle S., youngest daughter of Colonel
John Berry, of Holley, and they have one daughter, Donna B.
Moore, David, was a native of Westmoreland, England, and came to America in
1834 and settled in the town of Murray at Hulburton. He was a stone mason by
trade and has always followed that business. He married a Miss Clowdsdale, and their
children were as follows : Sarah, who married Barzilla Richmond and settled in Wis-
consin ; Elizabeth, who married William Tyson and settled in the same State; Martha,
who married Edward Reed ; Margaret, who married Lorenzo D. Clark ; Isabella, who
married James D. Burns; Rev. David Moore, D. D., of Geneva; James, a former of
Hulburton, who married Miss F. L. Laverick, and John, who was born September 18,
1828. Mr. John Moore learned the mason's trade, but in 1862, in company with George
Over, engaged in the mercantile trade at Hulburton, which has since been his business.
This partnership existed for one year, Mr. Over then disposing of his interest to Alfred
J. Squires. Two years later Mr. Squires retired from the firm and Thomas S. Reed
became the partner of Mr. Moore, continuing for eight years, when Mr. Moore's son,
Frank, acquired his interest, and the firm still exists as J. Moore <fe Son. Mr. John
Moore is a strong Republican and has held office as collector for several years and was
appointed postmaster at Hulburton during Lincoln's first administration, and held that
office continually until Cleveland's election in 1884. Mr. Moore is a member of Holley
Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. In 1850 he married Rosepha Brockway, of Murray, and they were
70 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
the parents of these children: J. Frank, Gussie, Clark W. and three Avho died in
infancy. Mr. Frank is also a Repubhcan and was postmaster during Harrison's adminis-
tration. He married Emma, daughter of Samuel D. Copeland, of Hulburton, in 1873,
and to them were born the following children : Frank C, Gussie M., Fannie B., John
(deceased), and Alice R.
Millener, William S.Jr., is one of the enterprising young business men of Holley.
He was born in 1871 and is a native of Spencerport, Monroe county. He graduated
from the New York College of Pharmacy in 1892, and was president of his class. The
same year he settled in Holley, purchasing the drug business of J. B. Fuller. He has
one of the best equipped drug stores in the county and has a large trade. Mr. Millener
is a member of the Board of Managers of the Glenwood Club, and is president of the
Holley Debating Club.
Miller, Olin B., is a descendant of Timothy Miller, who was born in Pittsfleld, Mass.,
in 1794; died in Carlton in 1854. George, son of Timothy, was born in Leroy, Gene-
see county, in 1825, and married Harriet Wright in 1849, born in Carlton in 1832,
died in 1875. Their children were : Emily J., born in 1850, died in 1852 ; Fred G.,
born in 1852; Ellen E., born in 1854, died in 1874; Adelbert T., born in 1857 ; Emma
E., born in 1860, died in 1887; Benjamin D., born in 1863; Olin B., born in 1865;
Carrie M., born in 1868 ; May H., born in 1870. Olin B. was educated in the public
schools of Carlton and a select school in Albion, taught by Miss Foster. February 9,
1893, he married at Waterford Hattie E. Squires, born in 1862, and was educated in
the public schools of Carlton, also the high schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated
at the Brockport Normal School in 1884 ; afterward taught in the public schools.
They have one child, Bernard 0.. born December 24, 1893. Mrs. Miller's father was
Nathaniel Squires, who died July 17, 1891, aged seventy-two years. His wife was
Lucina M. Phillips, born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1829.
Martin, George W., was born December 22, 1799, and died March 17, 1882. He
came from New Hampshire to Ridgeway in 1816, but two years later removed to West
Bloomfield, N. Y., to learn the blacksmith's trade. In December, 1831, he settled per-
manently in Yates and lived until the spring of 1832 in a log house standing where
Daniel Clark now lives. He then moved to a place north of Johnson's Creek and built
the brick house in Lyndonville now occupied by E. L. Shaw. He followed black-
smithing until 1852, when he removed to what is now the Samuel Ckiurch farm in
Ridgeway, but returned to Lyndonville in 1891, and died there. His children were :
Ira, Samuel H. (died February 18, 1832), and William H. Ira Martin, born January
3. 1828, married December 21, 1658, Clara V., daughter of Jackson Blood. He resided
in Jackson, Mich., from 1862 to 1864, lived in Ridgeway for a time, and settled on his
present farm in 1890. William H. Martin was born January 29, 18;i3. October 1,
1870, he married Rebecca E. Adams, a native of Maine, and now resides in San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
Mason, Anthony, a native of Connecticut, came into Ridgeway at a very early day,
settled on a farm, and died in Medina, May 10, 1866. His wife died December 7, 1863.
Their son, Oliver D., was born in Ridgeway, July 14, 1824. December 25, 1845, he
FAMILY SKETCHES. 71
married Matilda A., daughter of George L. and Betsey Hackney, who was born Feb-
ruary 18, 1825. She survives her husband and resides on-the homestead south of the
county Hne, near the station of R., W. & 0. RR. Their'children were : Emma, born
June 30, 1847, died January 20, 1848; George L., born NovemVer 8, 1848; Theodore
F., born September 23, 1850, died November 23, 1874; Newton, born December 25,
1854; Flora E., born July 30, 1857; and Clara, born March 23, 1860, died June I3'
1873. Mr. Mason died May 29, 1889. He was one of the leading farmers of the town
of Yates. George L. Hackney was born in Schenectady, N. Y., in 1798, came to Me-
dina about 1831, and died May 20, 1855. His wife, Betsey Hackney, died November
25, 1864. Mr. Hackney was a blacksmith by trade and followed that business in Me-
dina many years. His father, William Hackney, came from Scotland to America and
served in the Revolutionary War, and his widow received a pension until her death.
Miles, W. Ward, was born in Carlton, October 23, 1843, and died there December
27, 1893. His father was Henry 0. Miles, a native of Stockbridge, Mass., born Octo-
ber 31, 1811, who married Hannah Clark of Palmyra, born February 14, 1812, and
died January 18, 1892. Their children were: H. Page, born September 30, 1837; W.
Ward; Sarah R., born December 15, 1854. W. Ward was a farmer and prominently
identified with the interests of Carlton for many years, having served as assessor and
supervisor. March 19, 1874, he married Sarah E Wilson, who was born in Carlton
August 31, 1853, and survives him with their four children: Henry W., born February
13, 1877; Clark S., born January 11, 1883; Armina L., born April 16, 1887; Sanford,
born September 26. 1888. Henry Wilson, father of Mrs. Miles, was born in Dover,
Dutchess county, August 5, 1807, and died June 24, 1871. His wife was Catharine
Shear, born in Dutchess county, August 6, 1808, who died December 24. 1884. Their
children were: Mary, born March 5, 1829 ; Benjamin S., born May 10, 1831 ; John C,
born December 11, 1832; Cynthia, born Fel3ruary 17, 1836; George H., born August
31, 1838; Ellen, born August 15, 1840; Margaret, born Jannary 4, 1843; Wilbur,
born April 23, 1845; H. Seaver, born January 19, 1847; Louise, born January 13,
1849; Philo B., born January 29, 1851; Sarah E., born August 31, 1853; and Clark
G., born March 3, 1855.
Miles. Edwin Wade, is a grandson of Anthony Miles, of England, and a son of
Anthony, jr., who was born in Suffolk, England, m 1784, and died in Carlton June 6,
1883, aged ninety-nine years. The latter was one of the pioneers of this county,
where he settled in 1810. His first wife was a Miss Benjamin, by whom he had five
children : Mary, Grace, Edmond, Henry 0. and Priscilla. He married second Jane
Brown, and had by her six children : Sarah, wife of George Miller ; Edwin W. our
subject, born September 6, 1830, in Carlton; Mary Ann, who married J. B. Norris;
Col. Edmond B., Cynthia, Victoria, wife of William Sutton. Edwin W. was educated
in the common schools and Yates Academy, and has always been a farmer. He has
served as highway con.missioner three years, and is a member of Renovation Lodge
No. 97, F. & A. M. of Albion, and of the A. 0. U. W. of Carlton. December 30,
1852, he married Elizabeth Hall, born September 12, 1832, who was a daughter of
Moses Hall, born m New Hampshire in 1807, and died in Michigan in 1890. He mar-
ried Henrietta Harris, also of that State, born in 1812, and died in 1855. Our subject
72 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
has a relic in his possession worthy of notice, it being his father's picture, framed in
one of the oxbows of the two yoke of oxen which brought the Bachelor Company to
Carlton. Mr. and Mrs. Miles have one daughter, Mary, born October 28, 1853, who
married Frederick Sutton and resides in Carlton.
Nichols, Charles, and his wife (Eliza Thompson), were natives of Ulster county,
Ireland, but their marriage took place in G-enesee county, to w^hich region they both
came at an early date. Charles Nichols came to Albion about 1835, and was a mason
by trade. He died in Albion in 1879, and his wife four years later. Their children
were as follows : William H., Martha J., and Charles A. (deceased). William H.
Nichols was born in Albion in 1841, and like his father learned the trade of mason, at
which he worked until 1862. On August 27, of that year, he enlisted in the 17th New
York Battery, and served until the general muster-out, June 12, 1865. Returning from
the service, Mr. Nichols worked at his trade for a time in Albion and in Titusville, Pa.,
and in 1867 became connected with the grocery firm of T. Hales & Co.. consisting of
Thomas Hales, John Normile, and W. H. Nichols, of Albion. This firm continued until
1881, and then merged into that of Nichols & Normile, the latter doing business until
1888, when it dissolved, Mr. Normile continuing the business. For three years Mr.
Nichols was engaged in orange growing in Florida, and now owns an orange grove
and other real estate there. He also engaged for a time in the real estate business in
Rochester, but in 1891 again returned to the grocery trade, in which, as in other enter-
prii^es, he has been successful. On March 16, 1870, William H. Nichols married Sarah
Braley, daughter of Nathaniel Braley, of Albion (died January 24, 1879), who bore
him three children, two boys dying in infancy and one daughter at the age of ten years.
September 9, 1891, he married Emma Webster, of Rochester, by whom he has one
child, a daughter. Mr. Nichols is a member and trustee of the M. E. church, and in
olitics has always been a Republican.
O'Reilly, Bernard, was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, in 1827, and came to this
country in 1848, and until 1850 was in the west. In the latter year he settled in
Medina, where he has since resided. From 1857 to 1864 he was bookkeeper and super-
intendent for Patrick Horan of Medina, and for one year he was his partner in the
business. Later he, with Timothy O'Brien and Michael Smith, operated a stone quarry
at Shelby Basin for a year. He then, with Michael Welch, purchased a property at
Brockville, and opened quarries, which they operated for five years. In 1882 he pur-
chased lands on the north-side of the canal, east of Hulburton, and has since been
engaged in the stone business there, and is one of the prosperous and successful quarry-
men of the county. In 1840 Mr. O'Reilly married Margaret Looley, and their children
are: Bernard, jr., Catherine, Dennis, Bridget, Mary, David, and Patrick, all of whom
are living but David, who died in infancy. Bernard is the only one married, his wife
being Mary O'Shea, and their children are : Edward, Bernard, and Margaret.
Owens, George L., was born in Brockport, November 6, 1866, educated at State
Normal School, and was manager three years of the leading clothing house in
Brockport, was deputy-postmaster at Brockport four years under Cleveland's first ad-
ministration. He came to Medina August 12, 1890, and started a tailoring house. In
FAMILY SKKTCHES. 73
September, 1891, he opened his present store, and has become one of the leadmg
clothiers and tailors in Orleans county. He is president of the Citizen's Hook and
Ladder Company, trustee of the Celtic Club, and an active member of the C. M. B. A.,
and Medina Cyclers. Mr. Owens is the oldest son of John Owens, a merchant of Brock-
port. His mother was Emily (Shay) Owens, of Hamlin.
Pease, Henry, was born in Lewis county, May 30, 1856. He was educated at the
Brockport Normal School and the University of Rochester, from which he graduated
A.B. in 1887, and A.M. in 1890. He has been teachmg since 1873. He came to
Medma in 1891 as principal of the academy, and superintendent of schools, and it is bat
just to say that the schools of Medina, under his supervision, are in a highly creditable
condition. In 1888 Professor Pease mariied Flora J. Owen, who died in February,
1892. Professor Pease's father was Charles Pease, his mother Maria (Kent) Pease.
His grandfather. Major Alpheus Pease, was a Revolutionary soldier, and spent some
time in the old Jersey prison ship.
Posson, Nelson, was born November 28, 1842, and came to Orleans county in 1850.
In 1863 he married Carrie, daughter of Harvey Clute, and they have four children:
Belle, now Mrs. David Maxwell ; Nellie, a bookkeeper in Rochester; Le Roy and Hazel.
Mr. Posson raises stock of all kinds, but makes a specialty of fine wool Merino sheep,
and takes premiums wherever he exhibits his stock. He is a member of the A. O. U.
W., the Good Templars and other organizations. He is a brother of Ervin Posson,
supervisor of Shelby.
Platts, John, was born in Rutlandshire, England, July 26, 1847, and came to America
with his parents in 1852. They first settled in Ohio, near Dayton, but afterwards went
to Canada. At the age of thirteen John Platts went to work at paper making in
Georgetown, Ontario. He afterwards removed to Rochester and then to Medina. He
has been a marble cutter since 1864. In 1871 he and his brother, Thomas, purchased
the marble business which they now conduct so successfully. In 1869 Mr. Platts mar-
ried Nancy M. Mace, and they have a family of one son and four daughters.
Platts, Thomas, was born August 29, 1852. He learned the trade of marble cutter
early in life, and in 1871 joined his brother John in the firm of Platts Brothers in
Medina. November 26, 1893, he married Jennie Wilmoth, daughter of Samuel Wil-
raoth, a .pioneer of the town of Shelby. Mr. Platts is a prominent Odd Fellow and
chief patriarch in the Encampment.
Partridge, David H., was born in Galway, Saratoga county, in 1836, a son of Phineas
S., whose father was Asa Partridge, who came from Massachusetts at an early date
and settled in Holley, where he died. David H. came from Saratoga county to Lock-
port in 1851, and in 1856 removed to Holley, where he has smce lived. In 1860 he be-
came a partner in the grain and produce business with Col. John Berry, which they
conducted until the retirement of the latter in 1890, since which Mr. Partridge has car-
ried on the business alone, having an established reputation for honesty and fair deal-
ing. He is a strong Republican, and has served on the Board of Trustees, being a
member at the time the Union School was incorporated. He has been repeatedly urged
J •
74 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
lo take the nomination for supervisor and county treasurer, but refused on the ground
that he preferred his business to the field of politics. He has been an active member
of the Baptist Church for many years, and has served as trustee, treasurer, and leader
of the choir. He also took an active part in the building of the new church in 1890.
Mr. Partridge is one of the original stockholders in the Hillside Cemetery, and belongs
to the following organizations : A. 0. U. W, and Masonic Lodge. In 186.3 he married
Helen J., daughter of Col. John Barry, and they have two children: Mildred B., wife
of Charles B. Arnold, of Rochester ; and John S., who is in business with his father.
Berry, Col. John, was boru in Berlin, Rensselaer county, October 11, 1812, and
descended on the paternal side from Rhode Island Quakers, on the maternal side from
Gen. Nathaniel Green, of Revolutionary fame. Colonel Berry came to Orleans county
in 1834, and in 1837 to Holley, where for over fifty years he carried on the grain and
produce business. He was especially interested in educational matters, serving as
school trustee, and it was largely through his efforts that the old and insufficient school
house was done away with and the fine stone building erected in its place. He was
also prominent in the building of the academy in 1848. He was a strong Republican,
and served in many positions of honor and trust, supervisor, etc., and was elected mem-
ber of Assembly in 1870, and again in 1871. He was also a member of the 215th
Regiment, State Militia, serving as captain, adjutant and colonel. In 1837 he married
Rhoda A. Williams of TuUy, who died in 1892. They had four children : Mrs. W.
L'Hommedieu of Shelby; Mrs. D. H. Partridge and Mrs. F. A. Milliken of Holley, and
Mrs. C. W. Hatch of Lockport Colonel Berry died November 7, 1892.
Paine, Eli, was a native of Otsego county, and was a pioneer in Barre, he having
settled in the town about 1814, at what is now called Sheldon's Corners (now in
Albion). After living some time in this vicinity Mr. Paine purchased the farm now
owned by his son, Corydon D. Paine, where he lived and died. At Phelps Eli Paine mar-
ried Mary Barber, and they had one child, Corydon D. Eh Paine died in 1863, his wife in
1861. Corydon D. Paine, who is recognized as one of Barre's most thrifty farmers,
and one of the leading men of the town as well, was born June 29, 1823. He has
always been a farmer, yet early in his life he taught a winter school. On June 18,
1850, he married Nancy Caroline, daughter of Col. Elisha Wright, and they have had
six children ; Helen A., wife of A. D. Bannister; Cyene A., wife of F. D. Hill; Emory
C. of Barre; Luella C, wife of H. L. Cloak; C. Bstelle, who died in childhood, and
Fletcher W., now living at home. Although a lifelong resident of Barre and a man
deeply interested in public affairs, Mr. Paine has never sought political ollice. He is a
Republican, was originally a Whig. He is a prominent member of the W. Barre M.
E. Church, in which he has held all the society offices, was choristor thirty years, and
has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Paine was formerly connected
with the Albion M. E. Church.
Potter, Albert, was born at Stephentown, January 6, 1815. His father, Seeley
Potter, was born at Lindsbury, Mass., September 14, 1790, and in 1814 married Phoebe
Hopkins of Adam.s, Mass. In 1815 they came to western New York and settled at Red-
mond's Corners, Monroe county, where they remained until the fall of that year, when
FAMILY SKETCHES. 75
they moved to the southeast corner of the town of Murray. Mr. Potter purchased fifty
acres of land from Ezekiel Allen and built a log house, and here they resided several years.
Mr. Potter purchased 150 acres more and by great energy and untiring industry soon
became one of the most prosperous farmers in the town. In 1832 he built the large
stone house where he resided the remainder of his life. His death occured in 1878.
The children of Seeley and Phoebe Potter were these: Albert, Eliza, Peleg, who
settled in Michigan and died in 1893 ; Jannette, who married Henry Clark and resides
in Murray; William, who resides in Niagara county; Phoebe, Maria, Seeley, Julia,
Caroline, who married Avery Richardson and resides in Bergen, Genesee county •
Geoi ge of Clarendon. Albert Potter has always been a farmer and resides on the old
farm. He was captain in the state militia four years. Mr. Potter has been thrice
married, first to Sylvia Cummings in 1849, by wnom he had two children. Mrs. Potter
died in 1859 and in 1861 he married Charlotte Miller, who died in 1874. In 1877 Mr.
Potter married for the third time, his wife being Janette B. Swift, widow of G. W.
Swift of Murray. One daughter, Al. Bertha Potter, was born of this union. Mr. Pot-
ter is a member of the Baptist Church at Holley.
Pettengill, Walter T., was born in Clarendon, Orleans county, in 1849, is a son of
David N., whose father, Benjamin G. Pettengill, was among the early settlers of
Clarendon, he being the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. Benjamin G.
Pettengill came from Lewiston, Me., and became a prosperous farmer. He was a
prominent member of the Universalist Church, and in politics was an active Republican,
being at one time supervisor of the town. He married Hannah Pettengill, and their
children were : David N., Phoebe, Amos, and True. David N. Pettengill was a gradu-
ate of the Albany Normal School, being one of the first normal graduates in the State.
He taught school for ten years, and later became a member of the firm of Copeland,
Pettengill & Martin, in the milling business at Clarendon. This firm soon dissolved.
For thirty years he was interested in the milHng business at Clarendon. He was an
active member of the Universalist Church and a prominent member of the Republican
party. For thirty years he was justice of the peace transacting a large amount of busi-
ness, administering estates, etc., and was supervisor of Clarendon in 1869 and 1870. He
married Eliza D., daughter of Chauncy Robinson, one of the pioneers of Clarendon.
Chauncy Robinson came to Orleans county, town of Clarendon, July 25, 1813, there
being at that time only one house in the place. He settled about four miles south of
the village and became a farmer. He was a strong temperance man, a pronounced
Abohtionist, and something of a literary character. In 1829 he was supervisor of the
town. He married Anna, daughter of Ebenezer Lewis, whose son. William Lewis was
the first sheriff of Orleans county. The children of David and Eliza Pettengill were,
Walter T. and Beatrice. Beatrice Pettengill married David N. Salisbury of Rochester.
Walter T. Pettengill engaged in the manufacture of carriages at Clarendon in 1871
with Ogden S. Miller. Two years later they purchased the old Farewell Mills and en-
gaged in the milling business and the manufacture of vinegar and evaporated apples.
They built up a large and prosperous business, erecting the extensive plant in Holley
in 1886 and becoming the largest producers of cider vinegar in the world. In 1891 the
Genesee Fruit Company was incorporated. Mr. Pettengill is manager of the Holley
7G LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
and Clarendon mills and vice-president of the company. In 1866 Mr. Pettengill be-
came a resident of Holley, and is one of the enterprising and public spirited men of the
village. In 1872 he married Jennie V., daughter of Alexander Miller of C>arendor>,
and their children are, Agnes E. and Ben M.
Perry, Frederick, was born October 24, 1858, and has followed farming. In 1883 he
married Frances E., daughter of H. H. Blakely. Mr. Perry's father is Russell M. Perry,
and his mother was Mary (Fenton) Perry.
Blakely, H. H., was born January 20, 1822, in Erie county. He came to his present
farm thirty-one years ago. In 1848 he married Laura M. Needham, and they have
three children : Howard, Mrs. Fred Perry, and Elsie. Mr. Blakely's father was Joseph
Blakely, a native of Connecticut. His mother was Sally Williams of Rocky Hill, Conn.,
a sister of the Rev Comfort Williams who was the first Protestant minister of the vil-
lage of Rochester, N. Y. sent by the Connecticut Home Mission Society to labor in
that vicinty. He acquired a good sized farm, lying where now is the business portion
of the city. The property reverted to descendants at his death in 1825.
Pullman, George Mortimer, was born in Brockton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., March
3, 1831, and is a son of James Lewis Pullman, who was born in Rhode Island, July
26, 1800. The parents of James L., soon after his birth, removed to a farm in Onon-
daga county. N. Y., where he spent his early youth in the quiet routine of agricultural
pursuits. Becoming restless and longing for more stirring scenes, he determined to
start out into the world, and with the parental blessing he left home and friends for
the then thriving village of Auburn. There he established a successful business, and
on September 4, 1825, was married to Emily Caroline Minton, who was born in that
place August 14, 1808. This union was an exceedingly happy one. To them were
born ten children, six of whom are now living. After the birth of the second son the
family removed to the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, where seventeen event-
ful years were spent. There, four sons and two daughters were born. During this
period Mr. Pullman became deeply impressed with the truths of the gospel. He was
a diligent student of the Bible, and aided by his clear perceptions and logical mind,
advanced steadily to find the doctrines of the Universalist Church distmctly revealed
in it. He united with the First Universalist Church of Portland. In 1846 the family
removed to Albion, where two more children were born, and where Mr. Pullman pur-
sued the trade of a carpenter and the vocation of a mover of buildings. In this latter
occupation he was frequently assisted by his sons, whom he had trained to habits of
industry, thrift and frugality. Here he passed the remainder of his life, taking a deep
interest in political affairs and the reforms of the times, exhibiting a christian spirit in
all relations of life. He was an honored member af the I. 0. O. P, and of Renovation
Lodge A. F. and A. M. In December, 1852, he was taken ill and died November 1,
1853. His widow survived until May 21, 1892, when she died at her residence, 611
Fifth avenue, New York city. Both were buried in Mt. Albion cemetery. Their
children were : Royal H., a noted clergyman of the Universalist Church of Baltimore,
Md.; Albert B., a former officer of the Pullman Company, who died in Chicago in
1893; George M., of Chicago; Frances Caroline, who died aged two years; James M.,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 77
D. D., a distinguished clergyman of Lynn, Mass.; William Eaton, who died aged about
one and one-half" years; Charles L., an officer of the Pullman Company ; Helen, wife
of George West, of New York city ; and Frank W., for two years assistant United
States district attorney in New York, who died aged thirty years.
To George M. Pullman, the third child of this family, belongs the honor of making
the family name known throughout the world. To him is due the lasting gratitude of
the traveling public of two hemispheres. He inherited keen intelligence, great force of
character, unbending integrity, and marked individuality. All these qualities were
called into action upon the death of his father, when the support of the mother and
four young children devolved upon him. He began as a clerk in a village store, at the
age of fourteen, receiving a salary of forty dollars per year. Afterwards he worked at
cabinetmaking with his brother in Albion. At the time the enlargement of the Erie
Canal was in progress he succeeded in securing contracts with the State of New York
for the removal of buildings along the route, from which he realized several thousand
dollars. With this capital he went to Chicago and engaged extensively in raising
buildings. He raised entire blocks of brick and stone buildings, an undertaking en-
tirely novel thirty years ago. It was about this time that his attention was drawn to
the discomforts of long railway journeys, and he determined, if possible, to improve
the methods of traveling. In 1859 he remodeled two old day coaches belonging to the
Chicago & Alton road, changing them into sleeping cars. They found favor at once,
and created a demand for improved traveling accommodation. In 1863 he began at
Chicago the construction of a sleeping car upon the now well-known model which has
inseparably associated his name with railway equipment. It was named the " Pioneer "
and cost about $18,000. It formed part of the train which carried the remains of the
martyred Lincoln from Chicago to Springfield in 1865. Soon after it conveyed General
Grant, then in the first flush of his great fame, to his old Galena home. From this
small beginning has sprung the va^t system of Pullman cars which are known and
used all over the world. Pullman's Palace Car Company, organized in 1867, soon be-
came a prominent factor in the equipment of railroads. Its fleet has grown from
thirty-.seven cars to 2,500 ; its working force from half a hundred to 15,000. Its cars
are operated over nearly a hundred roads, and over a mileage equivalent to five times
the circumference of the globe. From the first year of its existence it has paid its
quarterly dividends with the regularity of a government loan, and its $36,000,000 of
capital has a market value of $60,000,000, while its stock is so largely sought as a
security for the investment of the funds of educational and charitable institutions, of
women and of trust estates, that out of its 3,246 stockholders, 1,800 are of this class,
and 1,494 of these 1,800 are women. It was in 1880 that the town of Pullman was
founded in obedience to the imperative demands of the Pullman Company's business for
increased shop facilities. It was purely a business enterprise, but a business enterprise
projected upon a broad and generous scale, and conducted according to principles recog-
nizing the mutuality of interest of capital and labor as the best and most enduring form
of practical philanthropy. The town now has a population of 12,000. Over this vast
business Mr. Pullman has always had the presidency and a manager's directing eye, for
to him alone is due its wonderful development. Another enterprise of magnitude and
78 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
of great importance, in which Mr. Pullman has been prominently engaged, was the
building in 1875-77 of the Sixth Avenue and Second Avenue Elevated* Railroads, in the
city of New York, he having been the organizer and president of the New York Loan
and Improvement Company which undertook and carried forward to completion the
construction of these roads. This undertaking, which at the time of its projection and
during construction was bitterly opposed by many property owners and surface railway
companies, has resulted in a public convenience and a development of the upper part of
Manhattan Island far beyond any estimates or expectations of that time.
But it is as a public benefactor that we should view him in connection with a history
of Orleans county, at the county seat of which he spent his young manhood. As a
business man Mr. Pullman is especially active, but he is as well a thorough gentleman,
endowed with a remarkable personality. He is dignified and erect in bearing and pos-
sesses a keen yet kindly eye. In action he is at once masterful and sympathetic. In
1888 he built on one of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River a summer
home for his mother, called " Castle Rest." In Chicago, on the site of the memorable
massacre of 1812, he caused to be erected a bronze memorial group, which was unveiled
and formally presented to the Chicago Historical Society on June 22, 1893. The cere-
monies were held near the " Massacre Tree," which was blown down during the storm
of May 17-18, 1891. But perhaps the most touching — certainly the most enduring —
monument yet attempted is the handsome Memorial Universalist Church edifice, which
Mr. Pullman is now (1894) erecting in Albion, and which is described in another page
of this volume. The idea of this occurred to him in 1890, but it was not until 1893 that
his plans assumed tangible form. Not only does he erect this church as a memorial to
his parents, but also as a fitting memorial to the deep interest they manifested in the
progress of Universalism. Moved by the sacred influence of his father's life he builds
this beautiful edifice as a lasting tribute to the honor of a respected and revered family
name.
Parsons, Catherine M., was born in 1813, and was nearly three years of age when
her father, Austin Day, came from Vermont to this county. She was educated at
Wilkesbarre Seminary. On November 12, 1839, she married Elijah Freeman, a resi-
dent of Rochester, N. Y., he being one of the owners of a popular line of packets on
the Erie canal. He died August 6, 1842. On October 7, 1844, Mrs. Catherine Free-
man married William C. Parsons, a native of Litchfield, Crnn., a son of a prominent
physician of that place. Mr. Parsons was born May 16, 1808, and came to New York
State at an early age. He was educated at Geneva College, studied law and became a
successful practitioner and lecturer of note on educational, political economy and tem-
perance questions. A man of strong mdividuality and moulder of public opinion, he
became one of the founders of a society, the outgrowth of which was the Republican
party. His close identity with this great movement brought him mto personal contact
with John C. Fremont and later with Abraham Lincoln, with whom he was on the
most intimate and friendly terms, and through his personal friendship the destiny of
this great nation was materially effected. Prior to the breaking out of the war Mr.
Parsons located at Washington, D. C, where his family expected soon to follow and
there make their permanent home. On February 23, 1861, Mr. Lincoln arrived at
FAMILY SKETCHES. 79
Washington, and during the journey to the capital great care was exercised to prevent
any designs upon the president's life. Mr. Parsons having in charge one of the depart-
ments of the Secret Service, with headquarters at Washington, was a valuable assist-
ant to the government authorities, and through his shrewdness the life of President
Lincoln was undoubtedly saved, for Mr. Parsons discovered a deep laid scheme, which
had it been consummated would have resulted in the president's death, and through his
agents he discovered and thwarted a plot to burn the city of Washington. Mr. Parsons
learned that they had fixed upon the southeast angle on the north wing of the capito^
as the most favorable spot from which to accomplish their object. With a number of
Union friends Mr. Parsons came early on the morning of that day and occupied the
place. Not long after the conspirators alto arrived, and looked their rage and disap-
pointment at finding their vantage ground preoccupied. The rebels had proposed before
the attack on Sumter to destroy Washington with fire and pillage, under the direction
of the Knights of the Golden Circle. A strong force was to come up from Richmond
and sack the city on the morning of April 14, 1861, and set it afire. Just before the
Sumter afFau' the rowdies of Washington suddenly disappeared, and it is now thought
they had gone to j.in the marauders from Richmond. About the same time the rebel
mayor of the city had ordered all the fire hose destroyed, as being useless from long
wear. He evidently was in the secret and wished to cripple the fire department. And
this is the ruse by which Mr. Parsons defeated the iniquitous scheme : With his seques-
trated knowledge he was able to assume membership in the Knights. The postmaster
of Richmond, as he knew, was a member of the order. To him Mr. Parsons addressed
a letter, bearing the marks of the utmost haste, to this effect : " We do not think it best
under present circumstances to attack Washington to-morrow. There are 60,000 men
within a few hours march of the city. It will be madness to undertake it with the
handful of men we have." The letter was addressed " My Dear Brother of the K. Gr.
C." and signed with the cipher of the order, as nearly correct as the writer could make
it, trusting that the evident haste would appear to account for its lack of correctness.
It was sent to Richmond on the 13lh of April. This letter, Mr. Parsons learned through
his agent, was received at night, read before the Knights, and caused them to postpone
their attack until a more convenient season. Mr. Parsons also industriously circulated
among the Virginians he met reports that nearly every public building in Washington
was swarming with armed men concealed ready for action. These reports had the
effect to frighten the plotters, and history remains as it is known. At the opening of
hostilities, Mr. Parsons, with many other citizens, served for a time in the defense of
Washington under Cassius M. Clay, as a soldier, and was honorably discharged. He
refused the appointment of a consulship under Mr. Lincoln, thinking he could better
serve his country at home. Mr. Parsons died April 6, 1862. The children of Cather-
ine M. and W. C. Parsons were as follows : Mary D (deceased) ; Minerva, wife of
George W. Barrell, of Albion ; Catherine, wife of C. C. Carpenter, of Rochester ; Wil-
liam A., of Buffalo ; Francis, deceased, and Cora E., of Albion, N. Y.
Parker, Thomas, was a native of Conway, Mass., and at an early day settled in
Phelps, Ontario county, where he followed the occupation of farming. In that town
he married Mary Berry, and in 1823 came to Orleans county and took a farm in the
80 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
western part of the town of Barre, now Albion. He died on the old farm March 25,
1860, and his wife August 31, 1865. The children of these pioneer parents were as
follows: E'mina, who married Franklin Gates; Lucy P., who married Paul Pratt;
Thomas, of Albion ; Stephen, who died in Chicago, and Potter, who died an infant.
Richard Parker was a farmer, whose business life was rewarded, with success. On
February 16, 1848, he married Angeline Loveland, of Albion, but had no children. He
died January 27, 1894. Thomas Parker was born January 8, 1825, and was brought up
on the farm. He lived at home until his marriage in 1848, and then began for himself,
pursuing farming generally, but also dealing extensively in stock. He has taken a
lively interest in local politics, being a strong Democrat. He was sheriff of the county
from 1875 to 1878 : was postmaster at Albion under Mr. Cleveland's first term. On
March 30, 1848, Thomas Parker married Mary A., daughter of William and Sally (Paine)
Flint, of Albion. Mrs. Parker died in August, 1863. On October 5, 1865, he married
Mary A., daughter of Job and Amelia (Ford) Potter, of Albion.
Phipps, Joseph, and Mary Eames his wife, were natives of Massachusetts, and early
settled in Lee, Oneida county, N. Y., and their children were afterward identified with
the interests of Orleans county. Some of them were intimately connected with the
once famous Phipps Union Seminary at Albion. The children were Nancy, who lived
in the Seminary, and who died unmarried at Eagle Harbor; Zerrah, who died young;
Mary, who managed the boarding department, and, in fact, was the financier of the
Phipps Seminary and who died in Michigan ; Zerrah, second, who married Eber In-
glesby and died in Onondaga county; Sarah, who married Macy Pratt; Aaron, Joseph,
who died young; Mahala, who married Samuel Anderson and moved to Michigan;
Caroline, the founder, in fact, of the Seminary, and who married Henry L. Achilles and
died in the Seminary building January 10, 1881 ; Sophronia, a teacher in the Seminary,
and who married Rev. James L. Hodge and now lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; and
William, a Kentucky farmer and formerly contractor and mail carrier during the late
war. Aaron Phipps was born March 10, 1803, in Oneida county. He married Judith
Pratt and brought her to his new home near Eagle Harcor. He was a strong Abo-
litionist and temperance man, and one of the founders of the Wesleyan Methodist
Church at Eagle Harbor. The children of Aaron and Judith were: Hobert Edgerton,
Mary A., Frances M., Joseph, George W., William H. and William Wallace. Hobert
E. was born August 20, 1832, and was educated in the Albion Academy. April 7, 1856,
he married Hannah M., daughter of Hiram and Jane Pratt, and they had four children :
Charles A., now a missionary in the State of Washington ; Helen J., George H., who
died at eleven years ; and Arthur J. of Albion. Hobert was an active Republican until
1884, when he became a Prohibitionist. He is a prominent worker in Eagle Harbor
Lodge of Good Templars.
Potter, Russell, was bcrn in New York city. His father, who was a sea captain, and
a man of considerable means, gave his sons a good start in business, but Russell lost his
property by fire. He married Ann Butts, and with the Butts family came to Orleans
county in 1832. He lived in Albion, and later in Carlton as a farmer. His children
were : William of Carlton ; Sarah, who married Alexander Carry ; Stephen, a resident
of California ; George W., of Albion ; Eliza, wife of Amos Wood ; Russell, who was a
FAMILY SKETCHES. 81
veteran of the late war, a survivor of Libby Prison, and was afterward lost at sea.
The youngest child died in infancy. Russell married, second, Emeline Grover, and had
six children. The family afterward moved to Barre county, Mich. George W. Potter
was born March 4, 1835, in Rensselaer county. His mother died when George was
four years old, and he was brought up in the family of his uncle, Washington Butts,
late of Carlton. At sixteen George W. began work for himself as a farm hand in the
employ of Walter E. Dye. During winters he attended district school, and at the age
of eighteen entered the old Albion Academy, intending to become a teacher, but had
to provide the means for his own mamtenance. He taught in Canada and other
places, but soon returned to the farm and worked at the carpenter's trade, continuing,
however, to teach during winters until he was twenty-five years of age, since which
he has been a farmer and dealer in produce. He has also dealt extensively in real
estate. He founded East Carlton Station, donating land for the same, and was post-
master of that place. He was also a merchant in Albion. Mr. Potter has been a suc-
cessful business man, and is now the owner of four excellent farms in Niagara county,
a first- class home in Albion, where he now resides. In 1860 he married Janette Liddle,
and has had three children : Jennie, wife of D. W. Blood ; Georgia, wife of Edward
E. Mix, and Clark L. Potter, his son.
Perry, WiUiams, was a native of Pelham, Mass., and on arriving at manhood he re-
moved to Canada, where for several years he was in the lumber business. He then re-
moved to Malone and for a time kept hotel at French's Mills. In 1814 he came to Or-
leans county and settled near Sandy Creek, where he engaged in farming. A few
years later he moved to the town of Clarendon, and finally came to Holley and settled.
He married Miriam Barnard of Milton, Vt., and to them these children were born :
Joseph N., of Alexander, Genesee county ; Nathaniel W. ; Horace B. ; Mary, who mar-
ried Warner Comstock and settled in Michigan, her daughter being the wife of Senator
Chaffer, whose daughter became the wife of U. S. Grant, jr. ; Harry and Asa, both of
whom settled in Illinois. William Perry died in 1853. Nathaniel and Horace Perry
settled in Murray, and were prominent and influential men in town. They engaged in
the hotel business succeeding Reuben D. Jones, in the building which occupied the site
of the present Downs House. They conducted this establishment for many years,
Nathaniel W. Perry was the first justice of the peace of the town and held that office
for many years. He was a Democrat and was active in politics. He married Rachael L.
Ferguson of Murray, and they were the parents of the following children : Mary J.,
who married David N. Hatch of Murray ; Horace W., who settled in Iowa and died
there; Edward N., who hves in Iowa; Sophia, who married Charles Moulton and
settled in Dakota, and Henry D., who died in Iowa in 1892. Nathaniel W. Perry re-
moved to Illinois in 1845, and died there in 1874. His wife survives him and is nine-
ty-one years of age. Horace B. Perry was born in 1803. From 1842 to 1845 he re-
sided at Albion and then returned to Holley and kept a hotel until 1858. Horace B.
Perry was twice married. His first wife was Almira Bogue, and they were the
parents of five children, three of whom died in infancy, and one son, Virgil, and a
daughter, Marion, grew to manhood and womanhood; the first died in 1892, and the
latter in 1858. In 1844 Mr. Perry married Mrs. Sarah A. Stewart, and they had these
82 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
children : Edwin and Harriet living, and Frances Emma and Sarah who died )Oung.
Edwin married Miss Dell Wickiser and resides in Ohio; Harriet E. married Wilben
L. Ferry of Holley. Horace B. Perry was one of the most popular and highly esteemed
men of this day and took a deep interest in the growth and welfare of the village. He
died May 18, 1861.
Porter, Joshua, was born August 9, 1771, and was a native of Franklin county,
Mass. He came to Onondaga county early in the present century. After four years
he went to Ontario county, locating in the old town of Seneca. His wife was Jane
Luce, born May 18, 1771, and to them were born the following children : Lucinda,
who married Thomas Ottley ; Allen ; Betsey, who married George Gates ; Elkanah ;
Polly, who married Ira Peek; Joshua, now hving in Phelps and aged ninety
years ; Jane (deceased), and Samuel. In 1815, Joshua Porter, the pioneer, came to
the old town of Barre and located three farms, which were taken and improved
respectively by his sons, Allen, Samuel, and Elkanah, though the latter did not come
to the town till several years later. Allen and Samuel cleared their land and built a
log house, and 1816 they became permanent residents of the town. Allen was born
August 24, 1795. He served in the War of 1812. December 22, 1819, he married
Electa Scott, and to them were born ten children, five of whom died young ; those
who grew to maturity were : Eliza, who died at 28; William H., of Knowlesville ;
Wells, of Minnesota; Sarah J., who married Sheldon E. Warner; and Henry S., of
Albion. Allen Porter died on the old farm in December, 1883, and his wife in 1866.
Mr. Porter was one of the foremost men of the town, and was active in political affairs,
holding office as constable and justice many years. Elkanah Porter was born August
18, 1799, and came to old Barre (now Albion) January 20, 1829. In Ontario county he
married Miranda, December 31, 1828, daughter of William and Submit Dinsmore and
to them were born seven children: Carlos D., born September 26, 1831, Willis, born
December 19, 1832, who died October 17, 1854, at twenty-one; Miron, born August
10, 1834, of Medina; Mary, born May 30, 1838, who married John Stocking, of Barre,
died March 7, 1874 ; Perry, born April 30, 1836, who died October 21, 1858, at twenty-
one; George W., born December 26, 1840, died in Michigan, in 1893, and Esther, born
April 4,1872, who married Jared Stocking. Elkanah Porter lived on his farm only a short
time that his father took up, but later traded with his brother Allen and took the farm
where Carlos D. Porter now lives; and on this place he died December 16, 1875, and his
wife died January 31, 1888. Carlos D. Porter was born September 26, 1831. At the age
of twenty-one he began for himself working out by the month the first year, worked the
home farm for two years, and three years later bought forty-five acres from his father
and still later bought the old homestead, and from that small beginning has become
one of the most successful farmers of the town. On February 7, 1856, he married
Clarisa B. Lee, born March 31, 1834, and to them these children were born : Willis
M., born June 2, 1857, who died April 30, 1858; Nettie L., born April 20, 1858, who
died April 6, 1873; Cora B., born November 28, 1860, wife of David L. Parker, and
Alice M., born July 21, 1863, wife of Artimas Gooding of Barre. Mrs. Porter died
October 6, 1889.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 83
Preston, Kiram W.. was a native of Dutchess county, born October 23, 1831,
and was the youngest of eight children. His wife was also the youngest of eight
children in her father's family. Hiram's father died when he was an irfant, and
when but a youth he went to Brockport, where his early life was spent and
where he became a practical jeweler and watchmaker. About 1853, having in the
meantime located at Norwalk, Ohio, and accumulated a small sum of money, Mr.
Preston opened a store with a fine stock of jewelry and started with good pros-
pects for future success, but in 1858, the region was subjected to the ravages of chol-
era, which destroyed and unsettled all business interests. In 1859 or '60 Mr. Preston
came to Albion and assumed charge of the jewelry store of his brother-in-law, E. J.
Hill, which he continued until the death of Mr. Hill, and upon that event he succeeded
him in business. From that time for a period of more than thirty years, Mr. Preston
was one of the leading merchants of the county seat and one of the most popular men
in the vicinity. In Masonic circles he was especially prominent and advanced through
all the subordinate lodges to the 32d degree and held the chief offices in all the various
Masonic organizations. Mr. Preston was a member of Christ's Church, and one of its
vestrymen and wardens. A beautiful memorial window in the church edifice was the
gift of his wife. On June 29, 1854, he married Emily, daughter of Daniel and Eliza-
beth (Comstock) Butler. Of this marriage one child was born, Adele A., a charming
daughber whose untimely death at the age of nine years was a serious blow to the
parents, and from which Mr. Preston never fully recovered. Mr. Preston died in
Albion September 9, 1888, and is survived by his wife. Mrs. Preston is actively
interested in charitable and church work, and has been a member of the Union Chari-
table Society twenty-six years,
Parsons, Joel C, was born in Conway, Mass., April 7, 1803, and died in Yates April
12, 1885. In 1813 he came with his father's family to Madison county, but in June,
1814, returned to Massachusetts to live with his grandfather until he attained his ma-
jority. After attending Ashfield and Wilbraham Academies he taught school several
years, and in April, 1827, removed to Orleans county, living in Shelby and later in
Barre, In 1833 he settled in Yates, where he became a prominent resident. He was
converted November 27, 1821, and ever afterward was an ardent supporter of the M.
E. Church. In 1829 he married Phoebe Clark, who died in 1870. Two children sur-
vive them — Mrs. Richard Barry, of Lyndon ville, and I. Clark Parsons, of Medina. Ed-
ward H. Parsons, a nephew of Joel C, and a son of C. D. Parsons, was born in Con-
way, Livingston county, Mich., and came from Michigan to Barre in 1871, moving
thence in 1872 to his present farm in Yates, northeast of the Center. He married Miss
Minerva E. Manson and has two daughters and a son : E. May Parsons, Emma E., and
Richard N. Parsons.
■ The Parker family trace there ancestry to the north of Scotland, whence some of its
members in feudal times emigrated to Londonderry, Ireland. They came thence to
Londonderry, N. H., as very early settlers of that town. Asel Parker, born March 13,
1775, died December 19, 1847, lived in Delaware and Rensselaer counties, N. Y., and
came with his family to Ridgeway, July 4, 1816, setthng where HoUis M. Parker now
lives, in the north part of the town. He located on this farm, which has never been
84 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
out of the possession of the family, on account of the presence of one of the larojest
springs in Orleans county, He was a typical pioneer, six feet tall, and being a carpen-
ter by trade did considerable building for the early comers. He articled 150 acres of
land of the Holland Land Company and converted it into fine farm. His first wife,
Nancy Warren (born June 27, 1768, died September 22, 1828), bore him these children :
Amanda, born August 27, 1799, died September 8, 1831 ; Livonia, born March 22, 1801,
died November 15, 1875; Laura, born May 21, 1802, married January 4. 1821, Elisha
Weld; Velina, born June 23, 1804, married February 22, 1827, Jacob L. Weld; and
Horatio N., born February 21, 1807, died June 21, 1865. Asel's second wife was tlje
Widow Burlingame. Horatio N. Parker married October 11, 1835, Mary Ann Taylor
(born February 16, 1817, died August 28, 1891), and his children were: Hollis M.,
born April 3, 1838 ; Ellen M., born August 30, 1839 ; Franklin H., born July 17, 1841 ;
Orren H., born October 9, 1843, who enhsted July 21, 1862, as corporal in Company
A, 8th N. Y. H. A., and was killed at Ream's Station August 25, 1864 ; Laura A.,
born November 23, 1846, died March 5, 1856; Maria T., born December 19, 1848, died
October 25, 1852, and Everett L., born February 9, 1859, died April 13, 1862. Ellen
M. married, first, John Waterbury and second Martin T. Rowley. Llollis M. Parker
married January 29, 1861, Mary Morehouse, of Yates.
Parker, Livonia, the eldest son of Asel and Nancy Parker, was born March 22, 1801,
and moved with his father's family to the north part of the town of Ridgeway in July,
1816. January 18, 1829 he was married to Jane, daughter of William Cochran, who
died November 6, 1830. In 1832 he married Sophronia, only daughter of Ann Bar-
rett, and took up his residence on the premises now called Spring Brook farm, on the
south town line of the town of Yates. In the autumn of 1861 he moved to the village
of Medina, where after a residence of two years, returned to the town of Yates, estab-
lishing a home in the village of Lyndonville, where he died November 15, 1875.
Sophronia, the wife, survived her husband eleven years, her death occurring Novem-
ber 12, 1886. Myron L. Parker, born September 6, 1837, was the eldest of the two
sons of Livonia and Sophronia Parker, his brother Chauncey N. being five years his
junior. With the advantage of the district school in winter and three terms attendance
at Yates Academy, he essayed teaching school at the age of nineteen, enduring the
martyrdom of boarding around and warming spare beds. After two winters thus spent
he entered upon the active management of the farm from which his father now retired.
In 1861 he married Anna E., daughter of Martin T. and Annie (Whitmarsh) Rowley.
Mrs. Parker was born on the farm now owned by her brother George, which joins Spring
Brook farm, the one where she has spent the wholeof her married life. Mr. Parker was
one of the pioneer directors of the Orleans County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company,
and for the last two years has been its vice-president. In politics he has always been
a Republican. In 1892-93 he served his town as supervisor. At the Republican Twenty-
ninth District Senatorial Convention held at Rochester, October 5, 1893, he was nom-
inated as one of the district delegates to the convention which assembled in Albany in
May, 1894, to revise the State Constitution. His majority in the district over the
Democratic candidate from Orleans county was 6453. Mr. Parker takes great pride in
his calling, and aspires to nothing higher in a worldly way than to be worthy of the
FAMILY SKETCHES. 85
name of an intelligent American farmer, such a one as is able to organize and direct
the latest and best methods of rendering the farms which our fathers wrested from the
virgin forest, both profitable and pleasant homes for ourselves and our posterity.
Parmelee, James, was born December 13, 1787, came to Yates October 17, 1832,
and settled where his son Walter E., now lives, where he died January 17, 1884. He
married Cynthia Clark of Haddam, Conn., and their children were: Betsey A., Susan
C, Hezekiah S., Jared H., Walter E., Catherine L., and Jane E. Walter E. Parmelee
was born January 15, 1827. He married Melissa E. Burton, who was born April 13,
1830, and their children were: Fred B., Charles C, and Clara L. Mr. Parmelee has
been assessor since 1892, has served as town clerk and as constable and collector,
and was supervisor of Yates in 1874. He resides on the homestead farm at Yates
Centre. He was born at Durham, Middlesex county. Conn.
Roberts, Ziba, was born on the farm he now owns, July 31, 1840. In 1867 he mar-
ried Cynthia Dewey, and they have seven children : William Z., John D., C. Merrill,
May C, CallaD., Grace L., and Iva. Mr. Roberts enlisted November 8, 1861, in Com-
pany D., 28th N. Y. Infantry, and served nineteen months. He was with the Army
of the Potomac, was taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Valley during Banks's retreat,
May 25, 1862. He was taken to Lynchburg and kept there until August 8, when he
was transferred to Belle Island where he was kept until September 14, when he was
parolled and afterwards exchanged. He is chaplain of the S. J. Hood Post of Medina,
and has been commander of the post. He is also class leader and recording steward of
the M. E. Church at East Shelby, also assistant superintendent of the Sunday School.
Mr. Roberts's father was Ziba Roberts, and his mother Susanna (Wolcott) Roberts
William Ziba Roberts is a graduate of Buffalo Medical University, and is a practicing
physician in Buffalo.
Ryan, John J., was born in Medina, N. Y., November 14, 1856, and soon thereafter
moved with his parents to a farm north of the village, where he lived till 186G, until
the death of both of his parents. Afterwards he lived and attended school at Medina,
Lockport and Buffalo. Again returning to Orleans county, he spent two years in the
then flourishing Yates Academy ; and was afterwards educated at the Ionia High
School, Ionia, Mich., and at the Rochester University, Rochester, N. Y. He graduated
from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1883, then in charge of
Judge Cooley, and was admitted to the bar in that State the same year. In 1884 he
again returned to New York and was admitted to practice there. Mr. Ryan has ever
since been a member of the law firm of Whedon & Ryan, of Medina, N. Y., and is a
member of the Board of Education of the village. In 1887 he married Alberta C.
Davis, and they have two sons and a daughter.
Remde, William, was born in Germany, September 28, 1824, and came to America in
1852. He worked in a brewery in Rochester for two years and came to Medina in
1854, where he followed his trade until 1869, when he embarked in the brewery busi-
ness for himself. He owns his own brewery and residence and makes 2,400 barrels of
ale annually, selling entirely at wholesale. In 1848 Mr. Remde married Louise Remde,
8G LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
and they have two daughters, Louise and Lena. Mr. Remde has lived in Medina forty
years, and has not only been a successful man, but his career has been honorable.
Rhodes, Nathaniel P., was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1800
(died November 8, 1890), and vv^as a son of Walter Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes came to Or-
leans county in the spring of 1834, and purchased a farm a half mile east ot the Transit
Church in the tovi^n of Murray. Daniel Rhodes, his brother, had come to the county
several years previous and settled a short distance west in the town of Gaines. Both
brothers were musicians and accomplished fife players, being members of a military
band ; this band accompanied Captain Achilles and his company of volunteers to El-
mira in 1861, which joined the regiment of (Colonel) afterwards General Slocum ; the
colonel tried to induce them to go with his regiment to the seat of war, but they being
men of advanced age declined the offer. They next heard of the regiment was they
had taken part in the battle of Bull Run. Mr. Rhodes's widowed mother lived in his
family about forty yeais, and died at the ripe age of 101 years. Richard Rhodes, a
younger brother, settled in Chautauqua county about 1830, and in 1850 came to Murray,
and afterwards removed to Illinois. Nathaniel P.Rhodes married a daughter of the
Rev. Alderman Baker in 1828, and they were the parents often children, nine of whom
are still living, viz. : Martha, Walter, Sarah, Mary, Eliza, Nathaniel, Josephine, Lorenzo
and Selecta, Franklin (deceased). Nathaniel Rhodes was born m 1843, and with the
exception of two years has always resided in Murray. He is a Democrat and has
served his town as assessor from 1885 to 1891, and supervisor in 1891 and 1892. Mr.
Rhodes was married, February 14, 1866, to Miranda Salisbury of Murray, and they
have two children : Arthur and Nettie. Daniel Rhodes was born in 1802, he married
Emaline King, and they had. two sons and three daughters, viz. : William, Silas, Mary,
Maranda, and Laura; William was a singing teacher of note and they all were ac-
complished musicians.
Reed, Daniel, the first of the family to settle in Orleans county, was born July 26,
1786, at West Chesterfield, Hampshire county, Mass., the son of Samuel and Betsey
(Smith) Reed. Samuel served during the last three years of the Revolution. He was
a son of Ezekiel Reed. In 1803 Daniel, when only seventeen, came to Jefferson county,
where he remained one summer, then returned to Massachusetts and married Lucy
Bates. The following spring he and his wife moved to the Black River country, where
he took up land and cleared a home. On account of ill health he was compelled to
return to Massachusetts, where he remained until the winter of 1812-13, then came to
Orleans county and took up sixty-eight and a half acres of land in the town of Murray,
to which he added later and then sold at an advance. He became one of the leading far-
mers of the town. He was soon followed to Orleans county by his brothers Samuel
and Joseph and two sisters, Mrs. Betsey Nash and Mrs. Susan Stearns, who later went
to Ohio and Wisconsin. , Daniel Reed was a public-spirited man and helped in every
way to open up the new country. With two others he laid out and cleared the direct
road from Sandy Creek to Lake Ontario. He was instrumental in laying out the straight
road from HoUey to the Ridge. Settlers moving into the country often found a shelter
at his home until their own log cabin was ready. As the forests were cut down and
the sun shone full on the stagnant pools of water it became very sickly. Sometimes
FAMILY SKETCHES. 87
every member of the family was sick at the same time. There were hardly well ones
enough to care for the sick in the settlement. During one fall Mr. Reed watched with
the sick over thirty nights, and often walked two miles to the sick neighbors' houses
after a hard day's work. His wife died August 3, 1814, the first death in Orleans
county. She left four children : Fordice, Daniel W., Lucy and Horace, the last, a
babe nine weeks old. Leaving Fordice with his brother Samuel and taking the three
youngest children and his brother's wife to care for the babe, he retraced his steps to.
Massachusetts. There he married his second wife, Mercy Nash, and returned to Mur-
ray in 1817. Their children were: Mercy and Napoleon B. The hardship of a new
country brought on a lingering disease and his second wife died May 2, 1821, and in
the same year he married Marilla Knapp. Their children were: Alonzo, Susan M.,
Samuel, Sylvester F., Nelson K., Juliaett and Elian R. His third wife, Marilla Reed,
died June 2, 1862, and his own death occurred February 28, 1864. In politics Mr.
Reed held strong anti-slavery views, often saying "Liberty and slavery can never grow
together, one will destroy the other." Although he had never belonged to the "Under-
ground Railroad' his sentiments were so well known by those who did, that many a
fugitive slave was sent to him for directions, counsel and aid, which was never refused.
He was an organizer and a deacon of the Holley Baptist church, which office he held
at his death. He gave $600 toward the building of the old church, besides work with
men and teams. All his children lived to grow up, and most of them settled in Orleans
county. Fordice was a carpenter and settled in Murray. He married Eunice Swan.
Daniel W. married Electa Hubbard, of Massachusetts, and settled in Murray. He was
a member of the old State militia and color bearer. He was highway commissioner of
the town at one time. The children of Daniel W. and Electa Reed were: George M.,
who died young ; Pamelia, who married John Seeley, and Fordyce D., who settled in
Michigan. Daniel W. died April 1, 1885. His second wife was Martha Weatherbee.
Lucy married Cyrus Stearns and settled in Murray. Horace settled in Murray. He
married Mahala Hitchcock. Napoleon B. married Czarina H. Glazier and settled in
Murray. Mercy married Owen Moffit and settled near Mukvvonaga, Wis. Alonzo
married Celia A. Sprague and settled in Murray. Celia A. died March 28, 1858, and
November 8, 1860, he married Abigal E. Halsenburg,. Susan M. married Amos R.
Sprague and settled on Narrow's Prairie, Sauk county, Wis. Samuel married Sarah M.
Partridge, of Massachusetts, and settled in Murray. Sylvester F. married Louisa M.
Underbill. Nelson K. settled in Ridgeway, June 1,1853, and married Julia A. Weeks,
who died May 22, 1862; and second Juliaette A. Dikeman, who died September 17,
1888. He married third Mrs. Ann H. Smith, April 7, 1892. Juliaett married Martin
C. Dawes and settled in Owosso, Mich. Mr. Dawes enlisted in the 20th Regiment,
Michigan Infantry, in 1862, and served to the close of the war. He was promoted
captain of Company I, 20th Michigan. Daniel Reed and two sons, Horace and Samuel,
and two grandsons, Lyman A. Reed and Sabastian Stearns, in Company C, 105th N. Y.
Volunteers, and one grandson, Marion Stearns, in the 2d Ohio Battery.
The Re Qua family in America descended from a father and four sons who came from
France at an early date. Elijah Re Qua was a soldier in the Revolution. His son, Na-
thaniel Martin Re Qua, was born in Westchester county, N. Y.. August 22, 1795, and
88 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
for several years was a boat captain on the Hudson River betv(^een New York and
Albany. In 1839 he left Tarry town, N. Y., and came to Kendall, where he settled on
a farm now owned by Gideon Randall. He died at Kendall Corners, July 27, 1867,
and his wife, Nancy See, August 21, 1889. Their children who attained maturity
were: Emily (Mrs. R. P. Vorce), deceased; Harriet (Mrs. Warren Elmore), who died
in November, 1890 ; Ann Augusta (first Mrs. Obed W. Clough and afterwards Mrs.
Fredeiick Hatch); Sarah T. (Mrs. Menzo W. Butler), of Kendall, and George C. of
Illinois
I Rowley, Selh G., was born in Bolivar, Allegany county, July 30, 1847. He started
to work in the lumber business at sixteen years of age and has been in it ever since,
excepting a short time spent with the Western Union Telegraph Company. He was
with L. Gordon in Brockport one year and bad charge of his mills in Cattaraugus
county for five years. He then returned to Brockport for a year and thence to Port
Allegany for about one year. He established his business in Middleport in 1873 and
in 1880 came to Medina, where he has yards covering one and one-half acres of
ground, and does a large business. His partner, G. W. Eddy, looks after the Middle-
port branch of the business. Mr. Rowley is a prominent Mason, and has been a mem-
ber of the Medina Board of Education nine years. In 1875 he married Nevada Jus-
tina Holmes, and they have four children: Harry E., Lena A., AnnaT., and Nevada E.
The Royce family in Albion was descended from three brothers who left Wales about
1730 and settled in New England. Origen and Julius Royce, who for many years
were identified with some of the best interests of Albion, and who alone of the family
came to this county, were sons of Origen and Hannah (Fay) Royce. Origen Royce,
sr., left Mansfield, Conn., about 1818 and settled in Broome county, thence moved to
Cortland county. In his family were seven children, and of them Ozro, James Fielder,
Julius Heath, and Origen, jr., came to Western New York. Ozro being the pioneer.
Origen Royce, jr., was born January 11, 1811, and when a young man learned the car-
penter trade. He came to Albion in 1853, and thereafter engaged in the hardware
business, and was known as one of the enterprising and successful men of the county
seat. He was o'^e of the strong Abolitionists of the county and later an equally strong
Republican. At the time of his death he was an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
October 6, 1833, he married Frances Henrietta Havens,and to them these children were
born : Elizabeth, who married George Frederick Sawyer, and Charles, who married
Alice Casey Carrington and now lives in New York City. Frances Havens Royce died
December 4, 1870, and two years afterward Origen married Keziah Dunn, by whom
he had one child, Orriette Stewart Royce. Origen Royce, jr., died April 19, 1884.
George F. Sawyer and Elizabeth H. Royce were married November 5, 18C6, and two
children were born to them — Charles Royce Sawyer, of Albion, and a daughter who
died in infancy. George F. Sawyer w^as a native of this county and spent several
years of his life in the naval service. In Albion he was a merchant. He died Decem-
ber 8, 1878. Julius Royce was born in Broome county, January 16, 1819. His life in
Albion was devoted to mercantile pursuits, he being for many years in the hardware
business, a part of the time in partnership with his brother Origen. He was also iden-
tified with other interests and associated with many public improvements. Julius was
FAMILY SKETCHES. 89
the pioneer of the family in this county, first locating in Clarendon, thence coming to
Albion in 1848, where he died July 2, 1888. In Hartford, Oneida county, October 25,
1848, he married Harriet Amelia Wells, by whom he had three children : Sophia, who
married Talcott Williams in Philadelphia ; George Fay, now in the West, and Harriet,
wife of George N. Bliss, of New York City. Harriet Wells Royce died April 21, 1891,
Rice, Enos, a native of Massachusetts, settled first in Seneca with his father's family.
In 1816 Enos came to Barreand took an article from the land company. In 1831 he
moved to the farm now owned by Abel Rice, and there he died April 27, 1876. In
1822 he went back to Seneca, and married Elsie Berry, and had these children ; Abel,
William, Marial, Eleanor, Jane and Juliana. Abel Rice was born December 20, 1822,
and has been a successful farmer in Barre and Albion many years. July 8, 1845, he
married Louisa J. Porter, by whom he had one child, Fred, who died, aged nine years.
His wife died February 4, 1856, and April 15, 1858, Mr. Rice married Eunice C. Eddy,
and they had one child, Elsie, who married, September 29, 1880, James G. Brown of
Albion. They have had four children.
Reed, William, a native of Marlborough, Mass., and an extensive real estate operator,
in 1809 bought a large tract of land, which now comprises the village of Medina. He
resided several years among the Shakers at Mount Lebanon, then came to Barre, and
finally bought a large tract of land in Carlton, where he lived until his death, Septem-
ber 10, 1850. The children of the pioneer were : Richard, Phoebe, Thomas J., Morgan
N., Reuben R.. Hannah, Matilda and Rebecca. Thomas J. was born in 1808, and was
a broom maker and farmer. He married Eliza Chase, and had these children : Aaron
G., born October 20, 1836 ; Mary Ann, born in 1837, died in 1857 ; Jenks, born in Sen-
ecacounty and died in childhood ; Thomas, born in 1841, in Tyre, Seneca county ; William
N., born in 1844, died in 1865 ; Eliza, born April 11, 1848; Frances Ella, born in 1852,
both died in infancy. Thomas Reed died April 9, ]888, and his wife in 1862. Aaron
G. was born in Wayne county. He went to Michigan about 1854, and carried on a
farm until 1859, then returned. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, 35th N. Y.
Volunteers, and served two years, being known as a hard and fearless fighter. He
served in some of the fiercest battles of the war, among them being : Culpepper, Sec-
ond Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Free ericksburg and others. He was mustered
out in June, 1863, after which he returned to Albion. February 25, 1868, Aaron G.
married Jennie E., daughter of Rev. Seth and Maria Smalley of Battle Creek, Mich.,
and they have three children : Gertrude, George and L. Elizabeth. Mr. Reed owns 117
acres of land, is a strong Republican, and his family are members of the Presbyterian
Church.
Ross, John H., was an early settler in Ontario county, having come from the east at
an early date with the family of his father, John Ross, the latter afterward going to
Ciarkson, where he lived and died. John H. was a farmer chiefly, though he was a
practical stone mason and made that his business prior to his marriage. He lived at
one time in Parma, then moved to Lockport, and from the latter place came to Carlton
about 1842. Ten years later he came to Albion, and for ten years lived on the Bur-
rows farm. During his early life Mr. Ross had accumulated some means, hence could
1
90 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
afford to live in comparative retirement. He died in 1889, aged seventy-seven years.
His widow, who still survives him, was Nancy Porter, daughter of George and Anna
Porter, who were for some years residents of Albion. The children of John H. and
Nancy Ross were : Charles D., of Albion, and Ellen A., wife of A. G. Fox, now living
in Pennsylvania. Charles D. Ross was born in Parma, April 29, 1837, and spent his
early life with his parents. He entered the post-office a« a clerk, and while there learned
telegraphy also and had charge of the office at Albion during the war of 1861-5. Since
then Mr. Ross has engaged in the insurance business, in which he is very successful.
He became a Alason in 1875 and a member of the A. 0. U. W. in 1884. On June 12,
1861, he married Edna E., daughter of Harmon and Harriet Stone, of Genesee county,
and to them one child was born, Eloise S. Ross.
Reed, Reuben Rodney, was born in the town of Shelby about two and one-half
miles southwest of Medina, April 7, 1813, and was one of seven children, of William
and Rebecca Reed, pioneers of this county. William was a descendant of the old
English dissenters who came to New England about 1688. Indians would so often
come stealthily in and look at her little infant in his bark cradle that the mother became
so alarmed for his safety that the father returned with his family to their home in Her-
kimer county. His boyhood was passed there on a farm and his youth was spent at
Mt. Lebanon, Columbia county, N. Y. ' Later he followed farming at Barre and in
Carlton, where he cleared up a large tract of wild land, and by integrity, foresight and
alertness in embracing advantageous opportunities he gained a competency and was
always ready to assist those who would help themselves In 1868 Mr. Reed came to
reside in Albion, having purchased a building lot off of the old Church farm, and his
life here was devoted to the care of his estate. June 24, 1856, he married Emily M.
Hale, daughter of Levi and Anner Hale, of Gaines. One child, Emma R. Reed, was
born of this marriage. During the war of 1861-5 he was active in all public and pri-
vate measures adopted for raising and forwarding troops for the service. In politics
he was a Republican. Mr. Reed died January 29, 1891.
Hale, Levi, was a native of Windsor county, Vermont, his ancestry dating to Boston,
1630, being the son of David Hale, the latter an old Revolutionary patriot who fought
at the battle of Trenton and numerous other battles under Washington as commander.
Levi was in the service of 1812 and on his release came ou foot to Genesee county and
settled in Gaines, where he lived and died. He was a mason by trade and contractor.
Several brick houses, old landmarks in this county, are his work. He also followed
farming, owning several different farms. He was one of three to form the first tem-
perance society of the county and also an active member of the first Baptist Cliurch
organized in the county. In 1817 he married Anner Durkee, she being the first school
teacher of West Gaines. They were the parents of five children : Nelson, of Albion ;
Emily M., who married Reuben R. Reed; Louisa J., who married Henry B. Collins;
Lorane, who married Henry W. Burch ; and Colwell, now a physician in Syracuse.
Mr. Hale held several town offices, and was well known throughout the county as a
man of principle and worth. He died in 1863 and his wife in 1869.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 91
Root, Joseph, was a native of Coventry, Conn., whose first settlement in this State
was at Whitestown, Oneida county. From there he moved to Jefferson county, and
from the latter removed to Genesee county, locating at Batavia. In 1820 he came to
Barre (now Albion) and bought eighty acres from the land company at six dollars per
acre. He lived in a log house until 1833, and then built the stone residence now occu-
pied by his son Henry. The children of Joseph Root were as follows : Levi, Polly,
Sallie, Clarissa, William, Henry, Chester, Ellura, Nathan and one other who died
unnamed. Joseph Root, the pioneer, was a blacksmith as well as a farmer, and as a
mechanic could make almost any kind of a tool used on a farm. He made a number of
mill stones from the native stones of this locality, which in pioneer days did very good
service. As his boys grew to maturity they did the work on the farm, and it was
through their efforts their father was enabled to make his way comfortable in life. He
died on the old home farm August 22, 1846, and his wife, whose maiden name was
Fannie West, died March 21, 1849. Henry Root was born in Jefferson county, Decem-
ber 27, 1806, and came with his father to Barre in 1820. He worked in his father's
shop, but was determined to become a farmer, and possessed a like determination to
accumulate a good property. In this he has been successful, and is now the owner of
375 acres of good farm land in the town. On November 29, 1835, Henry Root mar-
ried Amanda W. Ferguson, by whom he had one child, Floyd Ferguson Root, of Albion.
Mrs. Root died March 1, 1876. Floyd F. Root was born May 20, 1841. On May 1,
1867, he married Henrietta, daughter of Joshua and Esther D. Kendall, of Chemung
county. They have five children, Kenry K., Alma L., Levi F., Gertrude D. and John
Irving Hartwell Root. Henry Root has lived to see two great-grandchildren, which
are named Benjamin H. Root and Robert E. Cutts.
Roberts, Thomas, was a Welshman by birth, and with a large family came to this
country in 1818, locating at Deerfied.N. Y. Among the younger children in this family
was William Roberts, who was brought up on a farm, but at the age of fifteen was
apprenticed to learn the trade of harness and saddle making. He first started in busi-
ness at Clarendon Mills, and then came to Albion and opened a shop where the North
Avenue Hotel was afterwards built. He did a good business here for many years, but
in 1859 he sold out and moved to a farm at Barre Springs. Farming, however, proved
uncongenial to his taste and he gradually worked back to his trade. December 31.
1844, William Roberts married Marion J. Tousley, and to them these children were
born : Melville T. and Byron W., of Chicago ; Jasper B. (deceased) ; Victor H., of
Albion, and William C, a merchant, lately m business in HoUey and Albion. Victor
H. Roberts was born in Albion, May 1, 1853, and was educated at the village academy
and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. He began his business life as a clerk,
and later was in the post-office under J. M. Cornell, and for a short time he was in the
Orleans County Bank. In 1873 Mr. Roberts went to Chicago, and during his eleven
years' residence in that city engaged in successful mercantile business in the wholesale
grocery and dry goods trade. Ill health, however, compelled him to leave that city
and he came to Albion in 1885. Two years later he bought the C. D. Gould lumber
yard, and has since been its proprietor. On September 1, 1880, Victor H. Roberts
92 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
married Minnie E. Meliren, adopted daughter of Henry A. Reed, of Chicago. They
have one child, Edith H. Roberts. Mr. WiUiam H. Roberts died in February, 1883.
Roraback, Henry, was born in 1820 in Ancram, Columbia county. His father,
Christian, enlisted in the War of 1812, and was appointed captain of his company.
Henry came to Orleans county in 1856, purchasing a farm in Carlton, where he resided
several years. He was highway commissioner of the town four years. He removed
to the town of Gaines in 1865, and from there to Hulburton in 1874, where he has since
resided, and is in the stone business. Mr. Roraback is a prominent member of the Free
Methodist church of Hulburton, and is a strong prohibitionist. He married, in 1848,
Pauline Perry. The only other member of the family to settle in Orleans county was
Edward C. Roraback, his brother, who came to the county in 1872, and died at Eagle
Harbor in 1893.
Rolfife, Charles C, was born in England. He came to America in 1850 and settled in
Yates before the Rebellion. He married Fannie M. Reynolds, and their children are :
Mary J., Fannie M. (deceased), George H., Margaret A. (Mrs. H. B. Fuller), Edilh L.,
Charles J., and William J. George H. Rolffe was born May 26, 1858. and married
Delia A., daughter of Tunis H. Coe, December 30, 1885. He was educated in the
Yates Academy, has taught school several terms, and is now a farmer residing at Yates
Center. In March, 1894, he was elected town supervisor on the Republican ticket by
a majority of 164 over his Democratic opponent.
Slack, Michael, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, August 11, 1840, and came to
America in 1850. He started out in life as a clerk in a grocery store. In August, 1862,
he enlisted as a volunteer in the 17th N. Y. Independent Battery and served with the
Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. Returning to civil life in 1865 he en-
tered the employ of the Merchants' Union Express Company until he accepted the
position of bookkeeper, in which occupation he continued until he started his prosper-
ous grocery business in 1871. A few years later, taking his brother into partnership,
they formed the grocery firm of M. & J. Slack, which business they still continue. In
1886 he engaged in the quarrying business at HoUey, N. Y., under the firm name of
Gorman & Slack, three years later purchasing the Gorman interest, which he still owns
and conducts on an extensive scale. Mr. Slack has taken an active interest in the pros-
perity of Medina since he entered on his business career. He built the first store having
full size plate-glass windows in Medina. He served nine years as trustee of the village
and fifteen years as a member of the Board of Education, is vice-president of the Me-
dina Savings and Loan Association, and a member of the Business Men's Association.
He is a charter member of Branch 10, C. M. B. A., was its first financial officer and third
president, and is still connected with the four latter bodies. In 1870 Mr. Slack married
Kate Dolan and they have had six children, three sons and three daughters. Mrs.
Slack and one of the daughters are dead.
Seeley, John K, was born in Cattaraugus county, July 20, 1836, and is a son of Cyrus
and Eliza S. Seeley. He has three sisters, the youngest, Mrs. P. M. Hay ford, came to
Holley in 1878, where she now resides. She had three daughters and one son. His
brother, Anson J. Seeley, at our country's call in 1861 enlisted. He served his country
FAMILY SKETCHES. 93
two years, was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he died in 1863. John
R. Seeley came from Monroe county m 186-i and settled in Murray, where he is a far-
mer. For several years during hi.s early residence here he taught school. He is a
member of the A. 0. U W. of Holley. In 1861 Mr. Seeley married Paulina Eeed,
daughter of Daniel W. and Electa Reed, of Murray. They are both members of the
Baptist church of Holley.
Stebbins, Isaac N., traces his lineage back to Rowland Stebbins, born in Cambridge,
England, about 1594, came to America in 1634 with his wife and four children. They
located at Springfield, Mass., and later the father and son, John, removed to Northamp-
ton, where the father died December 14, 1671. John was born 1626, died 1679. Benoni.
his son, born 1655, died 1704; Benjamin, his son, born 1692, died 1780; Joseph, his
son, born 1735 ; Isaac, his son, born 1775, died 1823 ; William V., his son, born 1811,
died 1858. His wife was Teressa Waring of Rensselaerville, Albany county. Their
children were: Sibyl M., Isaac N., Sarah J., George C. and Charlotte Ella. The two
oldest daughters died soon after their father. The mother died March 27, 1888. There
now remains of the family Isaac N., who owns the old homestead in Carlton. N. Y.
He has served as assessor, supervisor and justice of the peace; was married in 1867.
His children were Edith C, born September 28, 1873, died February 7, 1878, and J.
Edna, born April 13, 1879; George C, one of the compilers of Gospel hymns. He is
a singer and has been engaged in revival work under Moody for some years. Charlotte
Ella married Roscoe D. Miller in 1872, and is living in Catskill, N. Y.
Stevens, John J., was born January 4, 1832, in this town, and is a son of Merrick
Stevens, born in Oneida county in 1802. John, the grandfather, settled in Cohocton,
Steuben county, at an early date, and in 1813 came to Orleans county and took up a
farm of 116 acres south of Clarendon village. By his wife, Betsey Lewis, he was the
father sf six children ; Samuel L., Melinda, Lucinda, Shubal and Edward. Samuel
settled on a part of the old homestead, where he died. His first wife was Amanda
King, and his second Harriet Kingman. By the first marriage there were four children,
two now living, Lucinda and Lewis, both of whon settled in Iowa. By the second
marriage there was one son, Edgar, who also settled in Iowa ; Mary A. married and
settled in Iowa; George died in Niagara county ; Melinda married Henry Prindle and
lives at Charlotte, Mich; Lucinda married Ephraira Beardsley and settled in Michigan •
Shubal, a Free Will Baptist minister, settled in Clarendon and died there. He married
first Rebecca Bellows; second Sally Avery, and third Rachael Hicks. He left two
children, Elizabeth and Frank. Edward settled in Nebraska, where he died. Remar-
ried Adeline Nichols; Merrick, with the exception of two years spent in Lockport
and a year at Barre Springs, where he kept a hotel, always lived in Clarendon, where
he kept a hotel in the village for a year. He married Lucy, daughter of William Tous-
ley (a Revolutionary soldier), and their chileren were John J. and Charles, who died
young. John J. resides on the farm taken up by his grandfather. He is a Democrat
and takes an active interest in party affairs. He has been collector three years, and has
held the office of assessor and commissioner of highways. He has been a member of
Holley Lodge. I. O. 0. F., over forty years. Mr. Stevens married, in 1854, Ellen F.
94 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
Hooper, and their children are: Fred H., Charles H and Lucy S. Fred H. settled in
Chicago, and married Cora Wheeler. Charles H. is a teacher and lives at Byron Cen-
tre, N. Y. He married Effie Leonard. Lucy G. married A. Ward Blanchard, of Albion.
Staines, Robert, was a native of England, born in 1810 and came to this country in
1833, stopping a few months in Wayne county, thence coming to Barre, where he
bought the fifty acre farm on which he afterward lived and died. He married Sarah
Alchinn, by whom he had nine children : Nelson, Anna, Thomas, Charles, Sarah, Mary,
Henry, G-eorge and John. For his second wife he married Mrs. Emily StaiFord, who
still survives him. Thomas Staines was born in Barre, April 30, 1839, was brought up
and always lived on a farm, though since 1886 he has owned and operated a lime kiln
in the northeast part of Barre. He began his business life with no means except a de-
termination to succeed, and his efforts in this direction have been successful. Mr.
Staines enjoys the confidence and respect of the community. He is an active member
of the Free Methodist Church at Albion. In 1861 Thomas Staines married Janette
Stafford, and they have three adopted children, Charles and Jennie Staines, nephew and
niece of Thomas Staines, and Jay Staines, nephew of his wife. Let others that have
no children go and do likewise.
Shorey, J. L., was born in Dansville, Steuben county, June 11, 1819. He lived at
home until sixteen years of age and then started out for himself. He was brought up
as a farmer. On January 26, 1842, he married Eunice, daughter of Joseph Morgan, of
Sweden, and then moved to Michigan. In 1844 he returned to Sweden, and carried
on a farm until 1856, when he purchased of John Brown his present farm in the town
of Barre. Mr. Shorey's children are: Martha C, wife of Charles N. Mix, and Adelle
M., who married Rufus F. Beadle, of Sweden, and who died September 2, 1888. Mr.
Shorey is a strong Republican and held the office of assessor for one term. He is a self-
made farmer, whose life has been devoted to his business affairs and to his family and
friends.
Storms, Frank A., was born May 12, 1849, in the town of Clarendon, and is a son of
Willard and grandson of George Storms. George Storms was one of the first of the
family to settle in Orleans county, coming from Schoharie to Clarendon in 1826. Here
he engaged in farming and also built a sawmill, sawing the timbers of which the old
Baptist Church of Holley was constructed. He married a Miss Stearns, and their chil-
dren are as follows : Willard, Sophronia, who married Daniel Mitchell ; Wilder, who
married Phoebe Humphrey and resides on the old homestead; Emily, who married
Charles Weatherbee, of Clarendon ; Ellen, who married Horace Green. Willard
Storms settled in Clarendon and engaged in farming. He married Temperance North,
and to them were born these children : Frank A., Floyd D., and Clark A. They all
engaged in farming and settled at Clarendon. Clark A. married Ida Campbell and still
lives at Clarendon. Floyd D. married Maggie McGowan and settled in Holley in 1893.
Frank A. Storms lived in Clarendon until 1881, at which time he purchased a farm
about two miles north of Holley in the town of Murray, where he now resides. He is
extensively engaged in farming and the dairy business. In 1866 Mr. Frank Storms
married Alice McMichael, and they have three sons: Arthur D., Jesse B. and Myron J.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 95
Squire, George, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He was a
native of Hillsdale, Columbia county, and the son of Jesse Squire, being one of twelve
children. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; was engaged in the bat-
tle with the Indians at Canajoharie, took part in the battle of Saratoga, and was pres-
ent at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was the son of Asa Squire, who came from
Scotland and settled in Ontario. Jesse Squire married Amy Cole. George Squire was
born October 15, 1788. He served in the War of 1812, where he received the title of
major. He came to Murray in 1825, settled at what is now Hulburton, aiid built the
first frame house of the town where the store of J. Moore & Son now stands. Mr.
George Squire has always been a farmer. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held
office as justice of the peace, justice of sessions and supervisor. He married Betsy
Williams, and they were the parents of the following children : George H., James E.,
Alfred J., Orsamus J., Antoinette, Esther J., Eunice A. and Almira, who died young.
George H. Squire married Louisa Armstrong and resided at Hulburton the early part
of his life, and died on his way to California in 1852. James E. is a lawyer. He
went to California in 1849 and settled at San Francisco. Orsamus J. settled at Ber-
gen. Antoinette married H. N. Ellison, of Murray. Esther J. married Stephen P.
Wood, of Murray, who went to California, where he died. Eunice A. married E. N.
Felton, of Bergen. Mr. George Squire died at Hulburton, March 1, 1867. Alfred J.
Squire was born at Hulburton in 1834 and spent his life in the town of Murray until
1871. His occupation is farming, though for a number of years he was associated with
John Moon in the mercantile trade. He is the pioneer in the quarry business in the
town of Murray, having opened quarries in 1870, which he has since operated. Mr.
Alfred Squire is a Democrat and has served as town clerk and justice of the peace.
He is a member of the Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., and Murray Lodge, No. 380, F. & A.
M. In 1855 he married Emily Ripley, daughter of Rev. Horatio M. Ripley, and they
have four children : George H., Alfred R., Jesse E. and Minnie E. The sons are
engaged in the stone business with their father. George H. married Gussie B., daugh-
ter of John B. Scott, of Columbia county. Alfred R. married Jessie Hargrave, daugh-
ter of William Hargrave, of Hulburton. Minnie E. married Christopher Otto, of Gas-
port, N. Y. Alfred J. Squire moved to Rochester in 1891.
Posson, George Warner, was born in Shelby, October 2, 1850, and was the youngest
but one of five children of Cornelius V. and Artemesia Posson of that town. George
was brought up on the farm and was given a good education at Medina, Knowlesville
and also at the Brockport Normal School, but ill health compelled him to leave before
the graduation. He lived at home in Shelby until 1874, teaching school winters for
five successive terms, and then came to his present farm in West Barre. Mr. Posson is
not only considered one of the enterprising farmers of his town, but as well one of its
progressive citizens. He is a Republican and was three times elected supervisor of
Barre. The family are members of the M. E. Church at Shelby. On November 6,
1873, Mr. Posson married Jennie M. Clute, of Shelby, and they had four children :
Howard C, Martha J., Georgia B. and Artemesia A.
Stacy, Benjamin, is the son of Benjamin and Lydia (Cooly) Stacy. The father was
born in Boston and died October 19, 1844, aged eighty years, and the mother was born
96 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
in Massachusetts and died in Gaines, September 9, 1827, aged sixty years. The chil-
dren of Benjamin and Lydia Stacy were as follows: Sarah, Electa, William, Russell,
Saioraa, Sylvester, Lydia, Theodotia, Mary Ann and Benjamin. Sarah was born in
Williamstown, Mass., in 1790, and died in Murray in 1872. She was twice married,
her first husband being Charles Nichols, by whom s) e had one child, Abigail, who died
in Carlton, December, 1S93, and the second Bradley B. Stearns. Electa, born in Ver-
mont in 1792, died in Michigan in 1846, was married to John Jones, by whom she had
three children, Maria, Hannah and David. William was born in Vermont in 1794, and
died in Gaines in 1880. He settled in Gaines in 1815 and married Charlotte Standish.
They had three children : Maria, Henry (deceased) and George W. Russell was born
in Vermont in 1796, and did in Albion in 1872. He settled in Gaines in 1815 and mar-
ried Theresa, daughter of Samuel Day, who came from Lake George and settled in
Gaines in 1815. Their children were as follows: Sylvester W., born in Murray, Feb-
ruary 13, 1825; Ira, born in Gaines, February 26, 1827, died in South Carolina on the
march with Sherman; John B., born in Gaines, September 16, 1828; Electa M., born
in Gaines in 1830, died in 1852; Fannie C, born in Gaines, August 1, 1832 ; Lydia,
born in Gaines in 1834, died in Indiana in 1877 ; Alice M., born in Carlton, August 29,
1837; Sarah Jane, born in Gaines, August 10, 1839, and died in Hamlin in 1871;
Fidelia T., born in Carlton, August 10, 1841 ; William R., born in Carlton, October 19,
1844; Henry E., born in Carlton, June 26, 1846; Ophelia A., born in Carlton, April
30, 1851. Saloma, born in Vermont in 1798, died in Gaines, May 7, 1889, was married
to Anthony T. Johnson for her first husband and John P. Curtis her second husband.
Sylvester was born in Vermont in 1800 and died in 1823. Lydia was born in Vermont
in 1802 and died in Gaines in 1832. Theodotia was born in Vermont in 1804 and died
HI Gaines in 1890. Mary Ann was born in Vermont in 1806 and died in Gaines in 1877.
Benjamin, our subject, was born September 1, 1810, in Benson, Rutland county, Vt.
He has owned his farm in Gaines for sixty-seven years. The following is copied from
the Orleans American of March 6, 1890: '' The veteran court crier, Benjamin Stacy,
has resigned that position after a service of forty years. During that period he served
as constable fifteen years, justice of the peace twelve years, collector for the town of
Gaines five years, deputy sheriff four years, notary public two terms. The duties of
all these positions have been discharged accurately, efficiently, courteously, to the satis-
faction of the constituency, and the veteran retires from the public service with clean
skirts and a consciousness of having always promptly discharged the duties devolved
upon him." December 12, 1878, Mr. Stacy married Altana L., daughter of P. Hakes.
She was born in Pitcher, Chenango county, June 22, 1844.
Simpson, Mrs. E. Throop, is a descendant of Henry Drake, who was her grandfather.
He was born in New Jersey, April 6, 1770, and settled in Gaines in 1811. Mrs. Simp-
son's father was Joseph Park Drake, born in Ovid, Seneca county, February 9, 1806.
and moved with his parents to East Gaines in 1811. He died on the place where his
daughter now resides, at Two Bridges, October 3, 1881. He married Zibeah Ruggles
February 11, 1835, His wife was born in Rosiere, Jefferson county, July 30, 1812,
and died in Carlton. September 16, 1862. The children of Joseph Park and Zibeah
Drake were as follows; Charles H., born m Carlton, February 11, 1836, and died
FAMILY SKETCHES. 97
Augusts, 1837; Oscar, born March 12, 1838, died June 20, 1838; Emeline, born June
9, 1841 (our subject); Harriet, born February 25, 1844, died March 20, 1844; George
W., born June 10, 1845, died June 8, 1861 ; Warren P., born July 3, 1856, died May
31, 1861; Ella C, born January 10, 1859, died May 24, 1861. Mrs. Simpson, whose
maiden name was Emeline Drake, was married at Two Bridges, February 12, 1861, to
Enos T. Simpson, who was born June 20, 1830, at Two Bridges, and died January 27,
1892. His father was Asa Simpson, born in Cayuga county. Enos and Emeline Simp-
son were the parents of two children, viz. : Lettie M., born June 1, 1862, and died
March 15, 1878, and George D. George D. Simpson was born February 21, 1865, and
married Eveline McCord Browne, born August 6, 1861, in Atlanta, Ga. Her father
was N. Foster Browne, a native of New Jersey, and a Presbyterian minister, now a
resident of Two Bridges. George D. and Eveline Simpson were married September
12, 1888, acd they have one child Helen, born December 9, 1889. George D. Simp-
son was elected justice of the peace of Carlton. Mr. Enos T Simpson carried on an
extensive farming business, and owned, in company Avith his brother, two warehouses
at the Bridges, where they did a large commission business, buying grain, wool, apples,
and beans, which were shipped to Oswego, Boston, New York, and other points. This
was before the R.,;W. &. 0. R. R, was built, and they carried on the business for twenty
years or more. Mr. E. T. Simpson was collector of customs at the Oak Orchard harbor
under President Johnson's administration : also held the office of town clerk for a num-
ber of years.
Swan, William Gere, was born in Galway, "Saratoga county, February 9, 1822, and
was the elder of two children of C. W. and Susan Swan. In 1835 C. W. Swan and
family came to Albion, and here the father established a general merchandise business,
with which he was connected until succeeded by his son WiUiam. For about ten or
twelve years William G. Swan and Joseph M. Cornell were partners in business, and
in October, 1855, the former became superintendent of the Railway Suspension Bridge,
continuing in that capacity thirty-eight years. Mr. Swan resigned his position a year
before it was accepted. He is still a stockholder, director and treasurer in the American
Company, and is also a large stockholder in the Pullman Car Company. Mr. Swan
began work early in life, and for a period of more than half a century he has been
actively identified with the business history of Albion and Western New York. The
first wife of William G. Swan was Catharine, the daughter of Dr. L. C. Paine, of Albion.
She died in 1853, and in 1860 he married Emma M. Etheridge, of Hastings, Minn. No
children were born of either marriage. In politics Mr. Swan is inclined to be inde-
pendent and conservative. For many years he has been a member of the Baptist
Church and president of its Board of Trustees.
Spaulding, William A., a former resident of Cayuga county, came to the town of
Yates in 1821 and purchased of the Holland Land Company a hundred acre tract of
land. Mr. Spaulding was a successful farmer and a man of influence in this town. In
politics he was a Republican and for a number of years held the office of assessor. He
had ten children, viz. : Betsey, who lived and died in Yates ; William, of Yates ; Or-
ange, who died before twenty-one; David, who died in infancy; Erastus M., Marie,
98 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
S. Emeline, Nancy, who married L. S. Barnum ; Frances, who died when a child ; and
Benry H., of Rochester. William A. Spaulding died in Yates in 1892, aged ninety-four
years, and his wife the same year, aged ninety-three. Erastus M. Spaulding was born
June 14, 1829, and lived on the farm until he came of age. He then went into the prod-
uce and commission business in Yates and continued it about eight years. In July,
1862, he enlisted as a private in Company A, 129th N. Y. Vol. Infantry, which in De-
cember, 1862, was transferred to heavy artillery and designated as the 8th N. Y. Vol.
Artillery, and having been largely instrumental in recruiting the company, was elected
its captain. In the winter of 1863 he was promoted to major, and in 1864 was retired
with the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel on account of disabilities arising from a pro-
longed attack of malaria, which confined him to the hospital for two months. Major
Spaulding has twice been elected sheriff of the county, his first election bringing him
to Albion, where he has since resided. Mr. Spaulding is a Republican, and under Har-
rison's administration was appointed to examine the mortgaged indebtedness of this
congressional district. In 1862 he married Harriet V., daughter of Rev. William Brad-
ford, and to them two children were born, Truman H. and Louis M. The Consumers'
Drug Company was organized and incorporated in 1893 through the efiforts of Truman
H. Spaulding, he being elected the secretary and general manager. A successful busi-
ness was inaugurated by the company through Mr Spaulding's energy, and at a time
when the future seemed most bright and promising he was stricken ill and died March
29, 1894.
Skinner, Jarvig M., was a native of Providence, Saratoga county, born June 3, 1799.
His wife, Mary Delano, was born at the same place, December 25, 1800. They were
married February 4, 1822. Soon after their marriage Mr. Skinner came to Barre and
made an improvement on lot 33, and the nexf year returned to Saratoga county and
brought his wife to their new home. Mr. Skinner was a harness and saddlemaker by
trade, but is chief occupation in Barre was farming. Mr. Skinner and wife had ten
children, the first of whom died in infancy. The others were : Jonathan, who died in
Barre ; Polly, who married Jonathan Clark ; Nancy'P., who married Elisha Wadsworth ;
Susan B., who married William Gillett; Henry W., Jarvis M., jr., of Albion; Sarah
E., who married Ceylon Otis, of Warsaw, N. Y. ; Stephen D., of Carlton, and Ezra D.,
of Albion. Jarvis M. Skinner died in 1882, and his wife in 1876. Henry W. Skinner
was born in Barre, June 1, 1834, reared on the farm, and educated at the Albion and
Lima Academies. In the fall of 1854 he went west. For a time he taught school in
Indiana, and in 1855 went to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he purchased a farm, which he
still owns. In 1856 he returned to Barre and married Caroline E., daughter of Romeo
Sanford. With his young wife he went agam to Michigan and lived on his farm until
1880, then returned to Orleans county, and has since been a resident of Albion. Mr.
Skinner has been extensively engaged in the produce business, in connection with
which he built, in 1887, the large elevator near the railroad. Of his children only
one is living, Cora P. Mrs. Skinner died in 1868, and in 1870 he married second,
Maryette Wickham, of Gaines. He is known in Orleans county as a man whose fair
dealing qualities have won success for him. He is a Republican and a member of the
M. E. Church
FAMILY SKETCHES. 99
Sickels, Hiram, came from Auburn. Cayuga county, in 1824, and located at Albion.
At that time the now county seat of Orleans county was known as Newport. Mr.
Sickels was a practical hatmaker, and on coming to Albion he established himself in
business, and thenceforth was conspicuously identified with local interests. For a num-
ber of years he was associated with Deacon Harvey Groodrich, and was generally
known in business connections in the village in the manufacture and sale of hats and
caps, and in various other enterprises, for a period of about fifty years. Mr. Sickels
built the first brick dwelling house in the village of Albion. He died in 1873. His
children were as follows: G-eorge H., of Albion; Hiram B., now clerk and reporter
for the New York Court of Appeals ; Laura, of Albion ; Robert, of New York city,
and one other child who died in infancy. George H. Sickels was a child when his
father came to Albion, but since 1847 he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits in the
village. He began his career as a clerk, and Avas for two years at Mt. Morris in a cap
and hat store. In 1847 he started in business at Albion with T. C. Fanning, and two
years later became sole proprietor. In later years and until about three years ago, the
firm name of Sickels & Co. was well known throughout the county. At the time
indicated the present firm of Sickels, Day & Collins was established. Mr. Sickels has
always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has held the position of president
of the Board of Trustees of Albion Academy, taking an active part in changing that
institution to a union free school. He is one of the leading members of the Presbyte-
rian Church and one of the members of its session. In 1853 George H. Sickels married
Almira, daughter of Stephen P. Morehouse, of Albion. They have three children :
G-eorge H., jr., and Frank, of Buffalo, and Ella, wife of Harry C. Fulton, of Daven-
port, Iowa.
Salisbury, G-uy S , was born in Wilson, Niagara county, March 16, 1846, and was the
son of Royal and Sally Ann (Annis) Salisbury. His father was one of seven brothers
who settled in Clarendon at an early day, and were among the pioneers. Royal was
originally a carpenter, but after settling in this county he became a farmer. Guy was
brought up on a farm and educated at the academy at Holley. At the age of seventeen
he went on the railroad as brakeman, but after two years was advanced to the posi-
tion of conductor, holding the latter four years. Leaving the road he was mar-
ried to Emma T. Parsons in the year 1869. Mr. Salisbury lived for a short time on
the farm of his wife's father, then went to his mother and cared for her until she died.
After that he was in^ the grocery business for a time at Fairport, and two years later
purchased the general store of W. S. Sheldon at Barre Centre. For five years Mr. S.
carried on the store, then traded it for the stave and heading mill, of which he is still
the proprietor. He is a member of Renovation Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 37, and Orleans
Chapter, No. 175, of Albion. Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury have one child, M. Elva, born
June 4, 1874, at Clarendon, Orleans county.
Sheldon, Jonathan, was a native of Massachusetts and an early settler in Otsego
county, in the town of Burlington Flats. From this place he came to the old town of
Barre (now Albion), locating at the point which was named for him, Sheldon's Corners,
in 1823. Here he lived until his death, and during that time he was known as one of
the most prosperous farmers and one of the most influential citizens in the town. His
100 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
children were; Marshall, Jonathan D., Clymena, who married Abram Crittenden; Eliza,
who married Mr. Lazalier; Berthier, who died at Detroit; Harriet, who married Joseph
Wood and died in Cincinnati, Ohio; George, of Sing Sing, N. Y ; Abigail, who died
at twelve, and two others who died in infancy. Jonathan Dwight Sheldon was born
in 1808, and, like his father, was one of the foremost farmers in the town. In 1835 he
married Prudence Wells, who bore him these children; Helen, wife of Daniel Ben-
nett, of Port Huron, Mich. ; Kirk D., of Albion ; Alice, who married Frank Potter, of
Saginaw, Mich. ; Delos D., of Lockport, and Cornelia, who died in infancy. Mr. Shel-
don was originally a Whig and later a strong Republican. He never accepted public
office, but was much interested in the schools of the town. He was a prominent mem-
ber of the Presbyterian Church. He died at the old home farm in 1882. Sherman
Wells was a native of Connecticut, a farmer in life by occupation, and became a settler
in Barre in 1839. He died on his old farm in 1853. In his family were eight children,
viz : Charlotte, Prudence, who married Jonathan D. Sheldon ; Maria, who married
Mr. Madison ; Dudley, of Logansport, Ind. ; Cornelia, who married William Loveland ;
Gideon, Parmelia, who married Henry Owen, and Roena, who married Emmet Eddy,
of Sandwich, 111.
Sargent, Alfred, is a descendant of Reuben, who was born in England and emigrating
to this country, joined the American army in the Revolution as a marine, and was lost
at sea. The father of our subject was Reuben, born in Massachusetts, and died in
Carlton in 1838, aged eighty-five years. His wife was Mary Tarbox, born near Boston,
Mass., and died in Londonderry, N. H., in 1830, aged sixty-two years. Their children
were; Mary, Sarah, Cynthia, Dana, Parker, Eliza, Clarissa and Sophia. Alfred, our
subject, was born in Nottingham West, N. H., August 31, 1812, settled in Yates in
May, 1838, and worked a farm on shares four years ; then moved to Carlton, where
he bought a farm of fifty-seven acres, and subsequently purchased fifty acres adjoining,
making 115 acres. He sold out and purchased the farm where he now resides of 143
acres, and now owns 235 acres at Waterport. Our subject was educated in the com-
mon schools. He has held the oflice of assessor two terms. He married, September
13, 1837, at Londonderry, N. H., Susannah S. March, who was born at Londonderry,
N. H., July 14, 1811, and they had these children; Alfred H., born April 11, 1839,
and was killed by accident August 9, 1871 ; Mariette, born September 18, 1840 : Reu-
ben, born May 9, 1844; Celestia, born August 29, 1847; Sylvanus, born June 2, 1851,
died August 26, 1854. Mariette married George A. Houseman, and they have four
children and reside in Yates. Reuben married Hannah Watson, resides in Carlton,
and they have five children. Celestia married C. A. Tower, and they have one child.
Sanderson, Clinton, was born June 15, 1836. In 1869 he married Louise Brace, and
they have one daughter, Jessie C. Mr. Sanderson has been engaged in the sawmill
and lumber business at Shelby Center since 1866, and is also interested in farming. His
father was Elisha Sanderson, a native of Deerfield, Mass., who came to Orleans county
in 1819. His mother was Mary (Crosby) Sanderson.
Starkweather, Avery Meech, was a native of New London county, Conn., and
moved with his parents when small to Saratoga county, N. Y. He resided there until
FAMILY SKETCHES. 101
1816, when with his wife and one child he came to Orleans county and bought 150
acres of the Holland Land Company in the town of Barre, for which he paid three
dollars per acre. He cut the first tree on this farm the night he arrived for the cow to
browse on. He built a log house in which he lived about ten years, and in 1827 built
the brick house now on the place. In 1826 the Erie Canal was completed and added
much to the value of his farm. Mr. Starkweather was the first superintendent of that
division of the canal, was postmaster at Eagle Harbor, and also supervisor of the town
of Barre two terms. He was one of the founders of the M. E. Church at Eagle Harbor
and one of its most devoted members. He died October 3, 1865, aged just 75 years.
His wife was Abigail Brockett, by whom he had four children, viz. ; Jared B., who set-
tled in Kenosha, Wis., and died there in 1891 ; Reuben C, who lived and died in Or-
leans county ; Eli P., who spent most of his life m the west and died on the homestead
in 1888 ; Giles E., who lived a number of years in Milwaukee, Mich., and died there in
1887. The second wife of Avery M. Starkweather was Electa Moon, by whom he had
one child, Hiram Avery, who served three years in the war of 1861-5, after which he
moved to Van Buren county, Mich., and died in 1886. Reuben Cheney Starkweather
was born in 1816. In 1840 he married Susan Jane Brown, daughter of John and
Olive Brown, of the town of G-aine.s. Their children were Abigail and Amelia, who
died young; Avery C. and Arthur J., who with their mother own and live on the old
home farm. Mr. Starkweather was a steward and prominent member of the M. E.
Church at Eagle Harbor. He died July 18, 1873. Avery C. Starkweather married
Annie E., daughter of John and Elizabeth Anderson, of Carlton, March 23, 1892.
Timmerman, George R., was born in Shelby Center, June 23, 1849. He learned the
trade of milling in his native place and followed it nine years, when he took up farming
in Erie county for four years, and then went to Alpena, Mich., and engaged in the
lumber business. In 1883 he came to Medina and was with Mr. Hoag in the milling
business up to 1893, when the partnership of Blood & Timmerman was formed. Mr.
Timmerman is an Odd Fellow and an active member of the County Democratic Com-
mittee. In 1871 he married May Reynolds. His father was John W. Timmerman,
who was of Mohawk Dutch descent, and his mother, Mary Underbill, was of Long
Island Yankee descent. His grandfather Timmerman's name was Daniel and he had
four brothers, Joseph, Christopher, David and John, all early settlers of the town of
Shelby, Orleans county, N. Y., all farmers, and John, a Methodist minister,
Tanner, Samuel N., was a native of Rhode Island, born September 26, 1792, and with
his father's family came to Chenango county in 1810. Here and in Onondaga county
he remained for three years, when he removed still farther west, to Ontario county,
where he remained until 1820. At this date, then grown to young manhood, Samuel
came to what is now known as the town of Albion, in Orleans county, taking an arti-
cle from the Holland Land Company for the farm on which he ever afterward Hved,
and which is now, and always has been, owned and occupied by his descendants. Mr.
Tanner came to this farm in the spring of 1820, worked that summer and fall, then
returned to Ontario count}' for the winter. The next spring h« became a permanent
resident of the town, and in later years became one of the most prosperous and enter-
102 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
prising farmers of Barre (subsequently Albion), and was the owner of several good
farms. May 3, 1821, he married Mary S. Spear, and by her had six children, who
grew to maturity ; Edwin R., of Rochester; Robert S., of Chicago ; Ann, who married
Lawrence Piatt, of Albion; Mortimer C , of Chicago; William A., late of Albion, and
Charles C, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mary (Spear) Tanner died December 22, 1840, and
April 25, 1843, Mr. Tanner married Sarah C. Mullett, of Darien, Genesee county, a sis-
ter of Judge James Mullett. She died Februar)' 14, 1863. Mr. Tanner was a Demo-
crat in politics and a Universalist in religion, as was both of his wives. Samuel N.
Tanner died in Chicago, October 7, 1854. William A. Tanner was born March 14, 1829,
was brought up, lived on, and finally owned the farm his father bought in 1820. June
7, 1853, he married Clarissa E. Cole, by whom he had one child, Spencer N. Tanner,
now a prominent farmer of Albion. Clarissa (Cole) Tanner died October 15, 1858, and
September 20, 1859, Mr. Tanner married Polly Elizabeth, daughter of Cyrus Jaquith,
of Albion. Of his last marriage these children were born : Frank J., now a resident
of Buffalo; Fred W. and Helen A. These children were given by their parents the
benefit of a good academic education, and each of them is deeply interested in the
educational welfare of the community in which they live ; in fact all of them have
been teachers. William A. Tanner died November 3, 1893. He is remembered as
having been one of the most progressive and public spirited farmers of the town, yet
he was in no sense a politician. He loved good roads and was active in their construc-
tion. In politics he was always a Democrat, in religion a firm and active member and
trustee of the Memorial Universalist Church of Albion. Cyrus Jaquith was born in
Massachusetts, June 19, 1799, and when young came with his father's family to New
York State and settled in Jeff'erson county. He afterwards came to Albion and located
where his son, Maynard A. Jaquith, now lives. This was about 1824. Here he mar-
ried Amanda Bloss, and by her had three children : Austin, who died in infancy ; Polly
E., who married William A. Tanner, and Josiah, who was shot and killed in )864 by
southern sympathizers for his Union sentiments, while at that time a resident of Mis-
souri. Amanda (Bloss) Jaquith died March 24, 1835. The second wife of Cyrus
Jaquith was Percy Bloss, sister of his first wife, who died May 24, 1838. His third
wife was Anna Bloss, sister of those he before married. By his last marriage one child
was born, Maynard A. Jaquith, who lives on the old farm. Anna (Bloss) Jaquith died
March 16, 1876. Cyrus Jaquith died in 1866. In politics he identified himself with
the old Whig party, and later with the Republican party. In religion he was a staunch
Universalist, as was also each of his wives. He was a successful farmer and a man
greatly respected in the town.
Thurston, Caleb C, came from Oneida county during the winter of 1814, and settled
one mile west of Albion village, on what is now the Denio farm. Mr. Thurston was a
farmer and secured a comfortable fortune, which enabled him to retire from farm work
and live in the village during his latter years, and there he died June 3, 1861. His
wife was Thankful Bailey, and she died April 4, 1858. Their children were as follows :
Sophronia, who married Orlando Rogers ; Stephen B., Urban C, Joel C, Thankful,
who married first John Parker, and after his death Asa Howard, and Lydia, who mar-
ried ITarlow W. Lee. Caleb Thurston was one of the founders of Albion village, also
FAMILY SKETCHES. 103
one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church there, and otherwise prominently
identified with pioneer events in that town. Asa Howard, who married Thankful
Thurston, was a native of Hinesburg, Vt., and came to Albion about 1828. He was a
furniture and cabinet maker during his young business life, and became a merchant and
forwarding and commission dealer on the canal during the early days of village history.
He accumulated a fair property, but misfortune in business swept it away, he lending
his name and credit to friends, who failed to keep good their promises. By his mar-
riage with Thankful (Thurston) Parker he had one child, Ellen S., now the wife of
William A. Howard, of Albion. Asa Howard died February 11, 1873, and his wife
September 25, 1885. WiUiam A. Howard was born in Huntington, Vt., August 30,
1840. His father, Spencer D. Howard, was a tanner, currier and shoemaker, but
William was brought up to farm work. In 1859 the latter came to Albion to attend
the old academy, but before his course was fully completed he became bookkeeper for
Asa Howard. Later on he was taken into the business as one of the then existing firm
of Howard & Thurston. A little later still, and after being one year out of the busi-
ness, William A. bought ihe property and established the firm of William A. Howard
& Co., and to the present day Mr. Howard has been numbered among the successful
and enterprising business men of Albion. On February 21, 1865, Mr. Howard married
Ellen S. Howard. Two children were born of this marriage: John Henry, born
August 23, 1868, and Sarah B., born May 8, 1871. John H. married Myra Black and
has one child, Mabel Ellen, born July 4, 1893. Myra Black, born in Coventry, Vt.,
October 4, 1867.
Von York, Constantin, was born inPrussiaj February 21, 1844, and is a son of Fred-
erick and Eliza Von York. He came to America in 1869 and resided for a year in
Rochester. In 1870 he came to Medina and for two years was engaged in the quarries
there. He came to Hulberton and until 1876 was in the employ of Alfred J. Squire in
the stone business; then purchased the hotel property at Hulberton, and for eight
years kept hotel. In 1887 he purchased property on the north side of the canal, de-
veloped stone quarries, and has since been engaged in that business. Mr. Von York is
a Democrat in politics, was elected justice of the peace in 1888, and justice of sessions
in 1890. He married in 1877 Eleanor Buddery.
Van Stone, Robert White, was a native of Horrabridge, Devonshire, England, born
December 15, 1835, and was one of a large family of children born to'John Van Stone.
Of the thirteen children in this family eleven of them came to this couatry. Seven are
now living and five of them reside in Albion. In 1854 John Van Stone came to the
United States and temporarily to Niagara county ; two years later he came to Albion
and for twenty years afterward was a miller in the village in the mill known as the
Albion Mill. He was an earnest, industrious and honest man, hence was much re-
spected in the town. He died August 19, 1874, his wife having died some three and
one-half years sooner. Robert W. Van Stone was brought up from his cradle to the oc-
cupation so long followed by his father, but with his trade of practical miller he com-
bines a natural aptitude for any mechanical work. He came to Albion on Christmas
day, 1856, and has since been a recognized i-esident of the village. In Albion he was
104 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
first employed in 1857 in the Albion Mills and soon after went for a brief time to Illinois.
On March 17, 1858, Mr. Van Stone became a permanent employee in the Albion Mills,
and in 1879 became the owner of one of them. By the Lee failure in 1878 he lost heav-
ily, which considering the fact that it swept away the fruits of years of labor, was in-
deed a serious loss to him. From the time of the purchase in 1879 of one of the mills
at public sale Mr. Van Stone has been proprietor of the mill mentioned, and has suc-
ceeded in establishing a large and profitable business. Naturally a busy man, he has
nevertheless found time to devote to public affairs. He is an active Democrat and for
four years was trustee of the village of Albion. On May 1, 1862, Robert W. Van Stone
married Kate E. Hodgman, of Albion, who died on April 2, 1886, leaving one child, a
daughter, now the wife of A. W. Richmond.
Whipple, F. H., was born in the town of Ridgeway, Orleans county, September 28,
1866, and was educated at the Medina Academy. In 1884 he took a position in the
Union Bank, Medina, and remained there until 1892, when he became secretary and
treasurer of the Bignall Manufacturing Company. In 1892 he married Laura B. Scott,
daughter of Harvey Gr. Scott. They have one daughter, Helen K. Mr. Whipple is a
son of William and Catherine Whipple, of Ridgeway.
Warren, Elizur, one of the pioneers of the town of Clarendon, was a native of Con-
necticut and came to this town in 1812-13, where he settled on a farm three miles east
of the village. He was a prominent man in the town and took an active part in polit-
ical affairs. He married first, Sally Aldridge, and their children were : Nathan 0.,
Caroline, William, Mary and Edgar. His second wife was Mrs. Sally Lord. Nathan 0.
Warren settled in Clarendon, where he took an active part in local politics, having been
justice of the peace, town superintendent of schools, justice of sessions, and supervisor.
He was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Christian Church, of Manning. He mar-
ried Eliza Rockwell, of Connecticut, and their children were : Josephine, who married
John Kirby, of Clarendon, and resides near Charleston, West Va. ; Helen, who married
Decatur Wilkinson and settled in Sweden, Monroe county ; Nathan E., born in 1847,
and Willis H., born in 1859. Naihan 0. Warren died in 1887. Nathan E. is a carpen-
ter by trade and an active Democrat. He has served as justice of the peace several
years, highway commissioner, and is an Odd Fellow. In 1870 he married Eva King,
and their children are: Ada E., Rena A., Cora E., Fred K., and Earl E. Willis H.
Warren is a farmer and resides in Clarendon. In 1887 he married Sarah Rodwell, and
they have one son, Harry.
Wormuth, R. W., was born in Shelby, November 5, 1847. He learned the trade of
tanner and followed it ten years. During this time he was elected and served as town
clerk. He purchased the property where his store now stands in Shelby Centre in
1875 and built it in 1876, since which time he has conducted a general store. He was
appointed po.stmaster at Shelby, March 6, 1894. In 1863 he married Rosetta A. Sowl,
and they have two children : Arthur R. and Irving B. Arthur R. married Minnie
Johnston. R. W. Wormuth's father was Moyer Wormuth, and his mother Lany (Mil-
ler) Wormuth. They moved to Shelby from Herkimer county in 1837 and suffered the
hardships of pioneer life.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 105
Wood Jay, was born in the town of Gaines, April 23, 1843. He was educated at
Albion Academy and Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie. In 1866 he married
Louise H. Stevens, who died March 27, 1885, by whom he had two sons and three
daughters : Harriet L. and Louise M. being the only ones now living. About twenty
years ago Mr. Wood began his nursery business, which he has managed ably and with
much success. His father was William Wood, of Otsego county, and his mother Har-
riet Burch. Mr. Wood has been clerk of the Baptist Church of Knowlesville several
years.
Webster, Eli, is descended from James, his grandfather, who was born in Rhode
Island in 1760 and died in 1843 at Parma, Monroe county. William Webster, father
of Eli, was born in Rhode Island, February 2, 1790, and died in Spencerport, Mon-
roe county, in 1860. The wife of William Webster was Sarah Snow, born in Massa-
chusetts about 1795, and died at Ogden, Monroe county, in 1887. The children of
William and Sarah (Snow) Webster were as follows : James S., born in Massa-
chusetts, Nov. 21, 1814, and died about 1874 ; Roxana, born in Ogden, January 4
1817, died in 1884; William M., born in Ogden, October 2, 1818, died in 1844; Lorenzo,
born in Ogden, August 27, 1820, died in 1886; Eli, born in Ogden, July 22, 1822-
Henry, born in Ogden, August 27, 1824, died in 1882 ; Horatio, born in Ogden, Auo-ust
1, 1827, died in 1888 ; Sarah, born in Ogden, July 1, 1829, and resides in Ogden. Eli
Webster was educated in the common schools of his native place and attended the
Spencerport Academy two terms. He came to Hulburton, Orleans county, and remained
about seven years, then sold his farm there and purchased the farm where he now
resides on the Transit, which consists of 110 acres. Mr. Webster is a Republican and
has been elected justice of the peace of the town of Gaines two terms, and has served
the county two terms as justice of sessions. November 25, 1846, he married Elizabeth
K. Kellogg, of Ogden, who was born October 18, 1824, and died May 20 1852. Eli
and Elizabeth Webster were the parents of one child, WiUiam M., born in Hartland
Niagara county, November 2, 1847. He married AUie Williams, and they have one
child living, Frank, born in 1876, and resides at Delphos, Kansas. Eli Webster married
for his second wife Martha Sprague, September 25, 1853. Mrs. Webster was born in
Murray, January 3, 1831, and died December 25, 1891. Eli and Martha Webster had
one child, Danly S., born in Murray m 1853, married Cora A. Hatter and resides in
Murray. December 1, 1892, Mr. Webster married his third wife, Emily Stockham
born March 18, 1838. Mr. Eli Webster died June 7, 1894.
Wilkins, Robert O., was born in Norfolk county, England, November 3, 1821 and
was a son of Robert and Mary (Osborn) Wilkins.^ His father was a farmer, contractor
and builder, and Robert learned the trade of brick layer and ornamental plasterer, and
in 1846 began business at Stalham, England. At a general election in his native coun-
try Mr. Wilkins became dissatisfied with the manner in which it was conducted so
decided to come to the United States, where many of his ancestors had preceded him.
In 1851 he first visited the country, two years later came to Medina, and after about
a year settled in Barre. In 1859 he moved to the village of Albion, where he hag ever
since resided. He has assisted in the construction of some of the most prominent pub-
106 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
lie and private buildings in the village, among them Bordwell's block, the Harrington
stores, the Methodist Episcopal and Free Methodist churches, etc. He also built the
addition on the Burrows house and the Bordwell house, renovated the Judge Davis
house. In 1866 Mr. Wilkins returned to England for about six months. In 1861 he
started a toy and yankee notion store and saloon in the village, which he carried on
several years. His residence was erected in 1874. On June 10, 1846, in England, Mr.
Wilkins married Eliza Dix, by whom he has had two children: Robert Richard, now
in business in Albion as successor to his father, and Mary, wife of John W. Thomas.
Mr. Wilkins has served as'assessor and firewarden, and was a member of old Company
No. 2 until it disbanded. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Wright, Col. Elisha, is accorded the honor of having been the pioneer of Barre, h<^
having settled in the western part of the town in 1818, and in advance of Solomon
Bragg or Mr. Blunt, both of whom he afterward discovered in the region east and south-
east. Colonel Wright was a native of Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn., born October
15, 1791. His parents came first to Montgomery county, but soon went west and set-
tled in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, where both died. Being for various causes
dissatisfied with life in the more settled region of Ontario county, Mr. Wright deter-
mined to seek a home in the widnerness, and accordingly started out, having then no
definite plan in view, but in traversing the ridge in Barre he discovered a favorable
location, which included the lands now owned by A. D. Bannister, and there he made
his ''pitch," taking title from the land company for 100 acres for $600. In five years
he cleared his farm and went to Batavia to pay for it. He had done so well the com-
pany gave off $100 and sold him another one hundred acres for $500. In 1819 Colonel
Wright returned to Ontario county, aud January 14 married Nancy Phillips, whom he
brought to his new home and here both lived and died, he June 22, 1874, aged eighty-
three, and his wife in 1886. Colonel Wright was a large-hearted, public-spirited man,
and his life as a farmer was abundantly successful, he owning 500 acres of land and
other valuable property. He was an earnest Whig and strong Republican, and in 1843
represented his county in the Legislature of his State, and was the founder and main
supporter of the M. B. Church at West Barre. His children were as follows : John
Selira, born October 24, 1819, and died in Kansas, January, 1881 ; Clarissa Phillips,
born May 12, 1821, married Daniel L. Dusinberre September 29, 1846, and after his
death married (February 16,1853,) Rev. Allen Steele; Mary Amy, who married Hiram
Snell, late of Milford, Del. ; Nancy Caroline, wife of C. D. Paine ; Sarah Maria, wife
of Zeno Timmerman, o f Medma; Syene Jane, wife of George M. Street, late of Ham-
mond, Wis. Rev. Allen Steele was a native of Connecticut, and in that State ne was
educated and entered the ministry. On February 16, 1853, he married the daughter of
Colonel Wright. He came from New York to this region in 1856 and built the house
at West Barre where he afterward made his home, and where he died January 14, 1873,
after a ministry of fort3'^-two years in the M. E. Church. Of his marriage one child was
born, Josephine Alice, who married Charles Bickford Peck. In 1855 Mrs. Steele
adopted Elizabeth Ellen Steele, now wife of David K. Mull.
Wood, William, is a grandson of Joseph, who was born in Connecticut and died in
Cherry Valley in 1826, aged seventy-two. Ezra, father to William, was born in Dan-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 107
bury, Conn., in 1784, and settled in West Gaines in 1839, one and one-half miles from
Eagle Harbor, where he resided until 1861, when he removed to Knowlesville where
he died in 1863, and where his son William now resides. Sylvia Tobey, mother of
William, was born in Ballston, Saratoga county, March 25, 1791, and died in 1874.
The children of Ezra and Sylvia Wood were as follows : Angeline, born in Cherry Val-
ley, Otsego county, March 9, 1813, married Jesse Wetmore, and had two children,
William C, of Buffalo, and Irvin, deceased. She died aged nineteen ; and Calista, born
in Cherry Valley March 8, 1815, who became the second wife of Jesse Wetmore, and
died in Knowlesville in 1882. She had three children, all deceased; William, born
March 7, 1817. Ezra Wood and wife were both members of the Baptist Church at
Knowlesville. William, our subject, was educated in the common schools and academy
of Cherry Valley and came to this county with his father when twenty-one years of
age. He has always followed farming as an occupation, his farm now consisting of
ninety-three acres. June 11, 1840, William|Wood married Harriet S. Burch, who was
born in Cherry Valley October 18, 1818. The children of this marriage are as follows :
Seth C, Jay, and Angeline. Seth C. was born in Gaines August 1, 1841, and married
Sarah Haskell (deceased), by whom he had two children, Jessie M., born October 5,
1870, and Edward H., born November 28, 1872. Seth C. Wood works the farm and
carries on a nursery of twenty acres, raising all kinds of trees, including ornamental
shrubs. Jay Wood was born in Gaines in April, 1843, and married Louisa Stevens
(deceased), by whom he had two children : Hattie, born in 1879, and Louise, born in
1886. Jay carries on quite extensive nurseries. Angeline was born January 21, 1848,
and died in April, 1893. She married Elmer J. Smith, by whom she had four children :
Willard, born in March, 1880; Seward, born in June, 1881; Ralph, born in January,
1885; Carl, born in November, 1890.
Wilcox, Harry S., was born September 22, 1852. His grandfather was born in
Rhode Island and died in Carlton, this county, in 1826, aged forty-three years. He
early settled in Carlton, and married Mary Brown, a native of Massachusetts, who died
in 1824. Their children were : Silas, Rescum, Elijah, William S., George, James, Gil-
bert, Basha, Lauren William S., father of our subject, was born in Carlton in 1809,
and died in 1881. He married Sarah E. Day, who was born in Carlton in 1816 and
died in 1869. Their children were: Matilda L., died in 1860, aged twenty-one;
WilHam W., died in 1893, aged fifty-three; Mary E., died in 1894, aged fifty-one;
John J., born in 1845; Kate L., born in 1850; Harry S., our subject, and Clara D.,
born in 1857, died in 1888. William S., father of our subject, was a public-spirited
man, and identified with all the leading interests of the town. Harry S. attended the
public schools at Baldwin Corners, and is now a member of the I. 0. G. T., of Water-
port Lodge. He is unmarried.
Williams, James S., was born in Saratoga county, December 1, 1829, a son of John!
who died in 1830, aged forty years. The father of John was David Willfams, one of
the captors of Major Andre. John married Sarah M. Winslow, who, after the death of
her husband, moved to ChiH, Monroe county, with our subject, her other children re-
maining in Saratoga county. They were as follows : Marcus De L., Michael H., Sarah
J., and James S. Mrs. Williams married second Andrew Smith, by whom she had two
108 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS CO nTY,
children. In 1851, at the age of twenty-one, our subj went to California, at the
outbreak of the gold fever. He remained about six irs, engaged in mining, then
returned to this State and 5pent a year in Benton, Ya' .Jnty, where he regained his
health, which had been shattered by exposure in mil ^. He then went again to Cali-
fornia and remained over six years, returning to his mother's residence in Be'iton in
1863. He enlisted in the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and received his honora" le dis-
charge in September, 1865. In 1871 he removed from Benton to Kenyon\ ..le, this
county, and bought a farm of seventy acres, where e has followed farming. Septem-
ber 4, 1866, he married Sarah H., daughter of A. ( Mallory, a Baptist minister. Mra.
Williams was born in 1840 and died October 27, 1 7, leaving one son, George M., born
October 16, 1867, a lawyer, and a resident of Roc .ester, who married Estella Wood, of
Carlton. Mr. Williams, our subject, married second Anna Waldron, of Benton, born
October 20, 1840, a daughter of James Waldron, who Avas born in Bergen, N. J., in
1800 and died in 1884.
Westcott, William H., born at Oak Orchard, Orleans county, February 2, 1839, is a
son of John, a native of Bow, Devonshire, England, who was born August 12, 1810.
In 1834 John Westcott came to America, and for a year lived at Le Roy, N. Y. Com-
ing to Orleans county in 1835 he settled at Oak Orchard. He was a shoemaker by
trade. Mr. Westcott removed to Albion, where he entered the employ of Mr. Close,
who owtied a tannery and shoe shop. Mr. Close soon established Mr. Westcott in
business at Hindsburg, where for ten years he did a prosperous business. In 1850 he
returned to England to visit friends, and on his return to thiscountry purchased several
acres of land in that part of Clarendon known as the Brown School House District,
where the family resided seven years. In 1858 he removed to Clarendon village, and
for eleven years carried on a boot and shoe business with David Wetherbee. In 1870
Mr. Westcott removed to Holley, Avhere he has since resided. He immediately engaged
in the boot and shoe business, retiring from active business in 1886. Our subject mar-
ried, February 4, 1838, Mary Cook, and they have had three children : William H.,
Thomas and Emeline. William H. married, May 6, 1873, Adelaide L. Peggs, of Clar-
endon. Thomas married Alice V. Strickland, and they had two daughters, Julia and
Adelaide. Emeline married Thomas H. Pierce, of Rochester, N. Y., and they have one
son, John H. Mr. and Mrs. John Westcott celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their
marriage in 1888. They were converted in 1842, and joined the Free Baptist Church
of Clarendon. Mrs. Westcott died in 1891. William H. was educated at Albion Acad-
emy and the Albany Normal School, and for several years was a teacher. Both sons
were in the civil war. Thomas, immediately after the firing on Fort Sumter, responded
to the call for three months men, enlisting is the 13th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, and
participated in the battle of Bull Run. At the close of his term of enlistment he
returned home, but in August, 1862, both he and William H. enlisted in Colonel Por-
ter's regiment, Sth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Company K. They were stationed for a
time at Baltimore, going to the front in 1864 just before the battle of Cold Harbor. In
this battle Thomas received wounds, from which he never fully recovered. Ke was
appointed first sergeant of his company when organized, and in February, 1864, was
promoted to second lieutenant. For several years after the war he was mail agent
I'rFAMILY SKETCHES. 109
between Rochester and Niaga )Falls. He became a partner with his father in the shoe
business in 1870, the partner-i' > existing until his death, April 3, 1874. William H.
was made corporal upon his en\\ ;*.f>ient. In September, 1863, he was appointed quar-
termaster sergeant, promoted secgt.iV lieutenant December 2, 1864, and first lieutenant
March 18, 1865. In June, 1865, he- was transferred to Company C, 4th N. Y. Heavy
Artillery! was mustered out at Washington D. C , September 28, 1865. In the spring
of 1866 Mr. Westcott engaged in the hardware trade at Clarendon, continuing eight
years. He is a Republican, and wat- clerk of Clarendon, also deputy postmaster. In
1874, on the death of his brother, he 'amoved to Holley and became a partner with his
father, retiring in 1S86. He is a met ''ier of the G. A. R. and A. 0. U. W.
Weld, Thomas, the head of the Weld family, active in the settlement of the northern
part of Ridgeway, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, December 31, 1771. When six
or seven years old he removed with his family, John Weld, to Reading Vt. There he
married Lorana Learens, and became the father of nine children, born as follows:
John, January 27, 1795 ; Elisha, September 26, 1796 ; Thomas, November 5, 1798; Jacob
L., November 5, 1798 ; Ezra, July 28, 1800 ; Sally, October 24, 1801 ; Andrew, August
6, 1804 ; Ehas, September 5, 1806; Marson, October 8, 1808; Maria, October 2, 1812.
One of the twins, Thomas, died when a child. In 1817 Mr. Weld, with his familv,
came to Ridgeway and settled on lot nine, township fifteen, range four, one mile south
of the present village of Lyndonville. Mrs. Weld died in 1819. A son, Ezra, and a
daughter, Sally, wife of Rodney Clark, died in 1826. Mr. Weld died November 18,
1852. John, the eldest son of Thomas Weld, married Weltha Bigelow in Reading, Vt.
in 1830. A few years later he came with his wife and two children to Ridgeway
where he remained until 1843, when he removed to Wisconsin. He died in 1884'
John's oldest son, John Wallace Weld, married Nancy E., eldest daughter of Elisha
Weld. He was living in Ridgeway at the opening of the civil war. He enlisted in
the autumn of 1861, and served through the war as an officer in the 1st New York
Artillery. He now resides in Whitewater, Wis. This branch of the family is repre-
sented in Orleans county by Irving Wallace W^eld, son of John Wallace, in the fourth
generation ; in the fifth by Wallace Irving, son of Irving Wallace, and his wife, Alice
Barry Weld; Elisha, second son of Thomas Weld, married Laura Parker in 1821; he
died in 1876, Mrs. Weld in 1892. Three daughters, Mrs. H. G. Scott, Cynthia U. and
Lucy A. Weld of Lyndonville, survive them. Jacob L. Weld married Velina Parker;
she died in 1878, he in 1884. Their descendants are Asel Parker Weld, who enlisted
in the army, and Thomas Weld, both of Ridgeway. In the third generation are Ward
W. and Roy, sons of Asel P. Weld, Irmaand Monk, daughter and son of Thomas Weld.
Andrew Weld married Roxy Stockwell; she died in 1839, he in 1888. Their eldest
son, Albert died in 1857. A daughter, May Darwin Fuller, of Medina, and two sons,
John, of Medina, and Andrew S., of North Dakota, survive. Further descendants in
this line are John Leon Weld, of Rochester, son of John Weld, and his two sons, Law-
rence Peters and Louis Cheeseboro Weld; also Bert Weld, son of Andrew S, Weld.
Andrew Weld married for his second wife Clarissa Root, who died in 1866. For his
third wife Mrs. Susan Downs, who survives him. Elias Weld married Cynthia Elmer.
She died in 1840, he in 1874. Their children are Wellington Weld and Mis. Warren
110 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Ensign, of Medina. Elias Weld married for his second wife Harriet Harding. She
died in 1865. His third wife, Mrs. Martha Gilman, survives him. Marson Weld mar-
ried Sarah Tanner. He died in 1878. His widow and three children, Esther, Marson
and William, reside at the homestead, just south of Ridgeway Corners. Maria, the
youngest of Thomas Weld's children, married Adonijah Elmer. She died in West Vir-
ginia in 1889.
Wright, Joseph A., was a native of Columbia county, was a mason by trade, and
came when a young man to the then western region of the country and settled at Barre.
In 1831 he married and after that was a farmer in the town. His wife was Melinda
Spencer, and to them these children were born : Spencer A., born, April 27, 1834 ;
Clark, born July 2, 1836, and has always been a farmer, and on November 24, 1874,
married Edith L. Bannister; Daniel, born May 18, 1840; Augusta, born May 24, 1845,
and Ida C, born September 2, 1851. In 1886, after the death of the widow of Joseph
A. Wrieht the farm was divided, Clark taking fifty-four acres off the west side. Spencer
A., Augusta and Ida C. Wright own and occupy the home of their parents.
Williams, Samuel, the pioneer head of one of the most respected families among the
early settlers of Orleans county, was a native of Rhode Island and settled first in Otsego
county, and from thence c; me to Barre in April, 1829. Prior to his coming to this
county Mr. Williams was a carpenter, but in Barre his life was that of a farmer.
During his twenty-four years of residence in Otsego county Mr. Williams was some-
w^hat active in public affairs, but in this locality he was devoted alone to his family, the
church and his farm. He was a strong Baptist and held the office of deacon in Otsego
county and also in the town of Albion in this county. Mr. Williams died November
16, 1853. In his family were eight children who grew to maturity, and all came to
this county. They were Asenath, who married William Cole ; Belinda, who married
Rensselaer Fuller and settled in Wisconsin ; Silansa, who married Horace Fitch and
lives in Albion ; Juliana, who married Stephen B. Thurston ; Rhoba M., who married,
Davis 0. Bailey; George R., of Albion; Samuel H., who died in Dakota, and Lemuel
C, of Gaines. George R. Williams was born in Otsego county October 22, 1818. His
whole business life has been devoted to farming. He made his beginning with his
brother Samuel on a sixty- acre farm where George R. now fives. Of this farm he
afterward became the sole owner and has added somewhat to its area. On April 22,
1845, Mr. Williams married Abigail H. Tracy. Their children were: Desta Maria
Albert T., Mary Amanda, who married W. E. Howard ; Adell Asenath, wife of William
Burton, and Desta Elmena (the first child of this name having died in infancy). His
wife died July 11, 1871, and on September 21, 1875, Mr. Williams married Sophia,
daughter of David Smith, and widow of William A. Armstrong, of Ridgeway. Since
March, 1842, Mr. Williams has been an active member of the Baptist Church of Albion_
For about nine years he has been one of its deacons, and among his acquaintances is
generally known by the title of Deacon Williams. In politics he was formerly a Whig
and later an earnest Republican. He has held the office of assessor one term. Albert
T. Williams was born July 10, 1847, and has always lived in his father's family. In
October, 1871, he married Arvilla Sherwood. They had two children, Bertha B. and
Abbie L. His wife died June 1, 1875.
FAMILY SKETCHES. Ill
Williams, Thomas E. — William Williams, a lineal descendant of Roger Williams, of
Ehole Island, settled at Clarksou's Corners. Monroe county, about 1804, where he died
October 4, 1850. He was the pioneer blacksmith in this portion of the Genesee coun-
try, and for several years did work for the settlers even as far away as Rochester and
Batavia. Emigrants seeking homes found him a helpful friend, who took great interest
in showing them the country. Benevolent, kind, and hospitable he was very popular,
but never an office-seeker, and during his life was a warm friend of Rev. Eli Hannibal,
the organizer and for fifty years the pastor of the Union Church at West Hamlin, who
died at Waterport, August 27, 1876. Mr. Williams held a lieutenant's commission in a
rifle company of the State militia, and in 1809-10 was in the employ of the Portage
Company of Lewiston, where he also served nearly a year in the war of 1812, being
one of the volunteer.^ to carry away the dead after that city was burned. Coming from
Vermont, when Rochester contained but three log houses, and before settling in Clark-
son, he traversed the Ridge road to the Tonawanda Reservation, where he stopped over
night with Captain William, an Indian chief, and the next day hired out to a fur dealer
in Canada, and the knowledge of the country thus gained rendered his services valuable
before and during the war of 1812. His wife died March 19, 1876. Their children
were : George and Thomas R., of Kendall ; Sarah, Sophia, Huldah and William H., all
deceased : William, of Michigan, and Caroline, John L., and James A. Thomas R.
Williams was born in Clarkson July 14, 1825, settled on his present farm at East Ken-
dall in 1864, and has been assessor of this town twelve years. November 1, 1849, he
married Mary Curtis, and their children are: Selden E., born January 4, 1852, post-
master at Kendall Mills from 1876 to 1894, and two years a justice of the peace ; Day-
ton C, born October 14, 1856, a merchant in Reed City, Mich. ; Electa M., born Octo-
ber 8, 1859, at home; William Henry, born July 26, 1862, a lawyer and real estate
dealer in Herkimer, N. Y. ; and Thomas A., born August 20, 1863, died January 1,
1869. From 1876 until 1894 Mr. Williams was also engaged in general mercantile
business at Kendall Mills with his son, Selden E., under the firm name of T. R. Williams
& Son. In April, 1894, they transferred their store to East Kendall
Weed, James, was born in irnit_y, N. H., April 25, 1787, came to Kendall in 1816,
removed to Sandy Creek in 1837 and conducted a grist mill several years, and died
February 28, 1850. His wife, Hannah Currier, died February 27, 1891. Of their six
children only two are living, Susan (Mrs. Cyrenus Wellman), of Kendall, and Harriet
(Mrs. Claudius Jones.)
Woolston, Edward F., son of Mark and Rebecca Woolston, was born in England,
November 14, 1847. and came to America in 1864. He lived in Brockport one year
and since then has resided in Yates. He worked on the farm for Simeon Petrie two
years, for Melchert Petrie two years, and for Samuel Fisk one year, taught school six
years, and finally became a butcher, which business he has followed eighteen year?.
He is also a dealer in live stock, and three years ago began farming. Mr. Woolston is
one of the town's auctioneers and was president of the last Board of Trustees of the
old Yates Academy. He resides at the Center and carries on a meat market there and
at Lyndonville.
112 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Whipple, William, was born in Silver Lake Susquehanna county, Penn., October 6,
1827. He learned the carpenter trade and went to California in 1853. In 1858 he
married Catherine, daughter of William H. Watson and Catherine (Barr) Watson, of
Albion. They settled on their present home in Ridgeway in 1864. Their children are
Watson H. and Francis H. Mr. Whipple has been treasurer of the Niagara Universal-
ist Association for many years, and has been treasurer of the Orleans County Insurance
Company since its organization.
Wadsworth, Adalbert A., was born in Clarendon, January 6, 1848, the son of Har-
mon Wadsworth, who was born in 1811, and the latter was a son of Silas, born in
1770 and died in 1847, who came from Rome, N. Y., in 1825 and took up a farm in
Clarendon. In 1798 he married Judith Barrett, and their children were : Alvin, born
in 1799 ; Hannah, born in 1801 ; Sally, born in 1804 ; Electa, born in 1806 ; Benjamin,
born in 1809; Harmon, born in 1811 ; Eliza, born in 1815; Betsey, born in 1819, and
Harriet, born in 1821. Alvin settled in Sweden, Monroe county, and married Polly
Wilder ; Hannah died young ; Sally married Samuel J. Fincher ; Electa married Wil-
liam B. Fincher ; Benjamin died unmarried; Eliza died young; Betsey is unmarried ;
Harriet married Edwin Hill. Harmon Wadsworth was a farmer and settled on the old
homestead. He was a man of quiet tastes, attending strictly to his own affairs. He
married Harriet Wilder, of Sweden, and their children were: Sarah J., born in 1834,
who married Abner Hopkins, of Clarendon ; Luania, born in 1837, who married William
Edmonds of Sweden ; Hiram, born in 1840, died unmarried ; Electa, born in 1843, mar-
ried William Edmonds, and Adelbert A. Harmon Wadsworth died in Clarendon,
December 27, 1893. Adelbert A. settled in Manistee, Mich., in 1876, where he engaged
in milling. In 1885 he returned to Clarendon and settled on the homestead, where he
is engaged in farming. In 1876 he married Anna Jesson, and their children are : Lena,
born m 1877, died in 1878; Ada, born in 1879; Beulah, born in 1881, and Harmon,
born in 1887.
Wickham, Jeremiah, settled on a farm in this town in 1816. Samuel Kenyon, his
son, was born in Onondaga county, December 16, 1806, died April 18, 1871. He mar-
ried, in 1833, Lucy A. Dewitt, who was born January 5, 1812, and died July 8, 1893.
Their children were: Wallace W., who was born November 22, 1835 ; George D., born
June 24, 1838; Dewitt C, born December 7, 1842; Fernando J., born August 3, 1845.
Dewitt C , now a resident of Michigan, enlisted July 21, 1862, in Company A, 8th
N. Y. H. A., was promoted corporal Augnst 28, 1862, sergeant August 8, 1863, second
lieutenant November 26, 1864, first lieutenant December 13, 1864; wounded before
Petersburg, June 22, 1864, and discharged June 5, 1865. Fernando J. enlisted in Com-
pany A, 8th N. Y. H. A., in November, 1864, was appointed corporal May 7, 1865;
was discharged in July, 1865. He married Anna H., daughter of Samuel Gray, March
10, 1874, and has three children: Blanche A., Lillian M. and Wilda. Mr. Wickham is
a carpenter by trade, and for three years has been inspector of the government break-
water at Buffalo. He resides at Yates Centre, N. Y.
Zimmerman, L. F., was born in Niagara county, March 10, 1842. He was educated in
Medina, his parents having moved to this village in 1844. He first worked in a flour
FAMILY SKETCHES. 113
mill and then at cigar making. In 1862 he enlisted in the 17th N. Y. Light Artillery
and served until June, 1865. participating in the engagements about Petersburg and the
surrender at Appomattox. Mr. Zimmerman is a member of the G. A. R. Post and is a
prohibitionist. In 1866-67 he was in the pension office at Canandaigua. He was then
with the Bignall Manufacturing Company one and one-half years, then had charge of
a mill at Shelby Centre for a time. For about ten years he was connected with the
Union Bank in Medina, and has since that time been engaged in the insurance business.
Mr. Zimmerman's father was Rolandes Zimmerman, his mother was Roxanna (Gluck)
Zimmerman, both of whom are living. His great-grandfather, Emanuel, was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war, and his grandfather in the war of 1812. In 1867 Mr. Zim-
merman marred Mary L. Snyder. They have four children : Edmund F., Erastus R.,
Mrs. John Le Valley and Mrs. William Hammond.
Young, John, was born in Canajoharie, N. Y., March 25, 1802, and died September
8, 1879. His father, Thomas, came from Germany when a child. When young, John
was apprenticed to learn the trade of tanner and currier, but owing to the harshness of
his treatment he left his employer and found work in Camillus, Onondaga county
N. Y., where he learned the shoemaking trade. In 1824 he came to Gaines and
worked at shoemaking. Later he worked in the tannery for James and Elihu Mather.
He married Mary Ann Mather, the daughter of Elihu Mather, and still works at his
trade. He accumulated enough to buy a small farm. Summers he worked on his farm
and winters at his trade until late at night, his estimable wife doing what she could to
assist in paying for their home, spinning and making cloth for the family, and other
work necessary with a large family in pioneer life. Their children were : Eunice M.
(deceased), Emily L., Elihu M. (deceased), Caroline H., Mary A., Martha A., Henry
M., Lathrop M. (deceased), Malona S., John H., Ann Eliza, Dwight J. (deceased).
They sold their farm, which they still owned, and purchased one hundred acres one and
one-half miles north of Albion, which was improved by underdraining and ditching,
and building comfortable and commodious buildings ; also setting shade trees and
orchards of apple and peach trees, which aided him materially in the payment of his
new farm. By diligence and prudence he accumulated a competence which left him
the comforts of life in his later years. He died in 1879. His widow survived him
eleven years. She was born in Brattleborough, Windham county, Vt., January 9, 1808.
Young, Daniel, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He was a
native of Herkimer county and his father, Jacob Young, was a native of Germany, and
on coming to this country settled in Herkimer county. One of his sons, Jacob Young,
jr., served in the war of 1812, in which he was a captain. Daniel Young was also in
the service for a short time. He came to Orleans county, arriving in Murray April 20,
1830, and took up a tract of land northwest of Hulburton, cleared it. and became one
of the prominent farmers of the town. He married Catherine Caswell, of Herkimer
county, and their children were: David, Jacob, who studied law and died shortly after
being admitted to the bar; Ebenezer, who was a painter in Rochester and was twice
married, his first wife being Elizabeth Young and his second Mary McCall ; Nelson,
who married Jane Lewis and settled in the west : Charles, who married Phoebe Harris
114 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
and was a farmer in Kendall, Orleans county, during the earlier part of his life, and
then settled in Wisconsin; Catharine (deceased). David Young was born in 1816 in
Herkimer county and came to Murray with his parents, and on arriving at manhood
became a farmer. In 1869 he removed to Albion and engaged in the butcher business,
carrying on a market there for a period of four years. Mr. Young is a Democrat and
during his residence in Albion served as president of the village. In 1883 he returned
to Murray, where he has since resided. He was thrice married, first to Jannette Perry,
and they had one son, Daniel P., who settled in Kansas and married a Miss Willett.
David Young married for his second wife Abigail Bush, and they had one son, Charles
F., born in 1847. His third wife was Julia Ward, and they had two children who died
in infancy. Charles F. Young resides in Murray and is a farmer. He is an active mem-
ber of the Democratic party, and was elected justice of the peace in 1894. In 1868 he
married Mary J. Bggleston, and they have two children. Charlie D. and Lissa B. John
W. Young was born in Murray in 1836 and has always lived in the town. Until 1882
he was engaged in farming, but in that year purchased the stone grist mill at Balcon's
Mills of William Salisb :ry, and in 1890 he rebuilt the mill and equipped it with modern
machinery. In 1858 Mr. John Young married Clarissa E., daughter of Romaine
Ostrander, of Murray, and their children are Grace A. and Charles R.
Ostrander, H. S., was born in Ridgeway, January 3, 1846, and has made farming
his chief occupation. In 1874 he married Clarine Devereaux, and they have two chil-
dren, Roscoe and Alvin. In 1887 Mr. Ostrander was elected to the position of super-
visor, and re-elected in 1888. He was again elected in 1892, and has filled the office
up to the present time. His father was Christopher Ostrander and his mother Melissa
Slater Ostrander. His father came to Ridgeway in 1S36 and bought the farm on which
our subject now resides.
Salisbury, Alexander C, was born in Clarendon, August 24, 1844, a son of George
S., who was a son of Joseph, the latter's father having been Gideon Salisbury, whose
ancestors came from Salisbury Plains, England, and settled in Middlesex, Ontario
county. Joseph was born June 1, 1771, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married
Phoebe Westbrook. Later they came to Sweden, Monroe county, N. Y., and about
1819 to Clarendon. They had thirteen children. Their grandchildren numbered eighty-
two and their great-grandchildren forty-seven. Their children were: Abraham, Pris-
cilla, William S., Amanda, Guy M., George S., Melinda, Royal S., Miranda, Harmon,
Samuel, Samson and Phoebe. George S. settled in Clarendon and became a farmer,
also a strong anti-slavery advocate. He married Amanda, daughter of Alexander C,
Annis. a pioneer of the town, and their children were : Annis A., George S., jr., Pris-
cilla 0., Stephen V., Harmon L., Mariamne. Juliette and Alexander C. Annis married
Henry Spring; George jr., died in early manhood ; Priscilla married Andrew M. Caton;
Stephen settled in Clarendon on the homestead and married Morja A. Griffin ; Harmon
settled in Virginia. He married first Sarah Danby and second Susan Freeman. Mari-
amne died in early womanhood, and Juliette died in infancy. Alexander C. Salisbury
has always resided in Clarendon and is a farmer. He is a member of Holley Lodge, I.
0. 0. F. He married, October 17, 1867, Martha J. Freer, by whom he has three chil-
dren : Journal E., Barton C. and George F.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 115
Root, Elijah, the first of the family to settle in this county, came from Oneida county
in 1833, and bought a farm in the northwest part of Clarendon. He was a member of
the Clarendon M. E. Church, and married Susan Smith, by wHom he had these chil-
dren: Elijah, Ezekiel, Datus E., who lives in California; Joseph, Nathan, Harvey,
Asbury, Wesley, Mary and Betsey. Elijah settled in Murray ; Ezekiel in Rich's Cor-
ners; Nathan in Barre, and later in Illinois; Harvey and Asbury died in early man-
hood ; Wesley settled in the west ; Mary married Mr. Green ; Betsey married Bela
Shearer; Joseph settled on the homestead and married Elvira Thompson, by whom he
had these children : Sidney, who died young ; Lucy, who married George Clark ; Euse-
bia, who married Chauncey Burnham ; Daniel T., who married Harriet Reynolds and
settled in Michigan, and William, a farmer in Clarendon on the homestead. In 1856 he
married Mary A., daughter of Rev. William Williams, by whom he had these children :
Weldon, who died in infancy ; Elvira A., who married Charles Alderman ; Gertrude J.,
who married William Kast ; Bertha M., who married Alfred Potter; Cora B., who
married Bruce Stockham, and Ernest E., who is unmarried and resides on the home-
stead, being the fourth generation to occupy it. William Root died in 1879.
Lyman, William, was born in Le Roy, Genesee county, January 9, 1839, a son of
Dwight Lyman, who was a native of Vermont, and came with his parents to Genesee
county at the age of four. He came to Clarendon in 1876, where he is engaged in
farming. In 1876 he married Florence Butterfield, of Clarendon, and they have two
children : Carrie I. and Orrie A. Dwight Lyman, father of William, married Mary A.
Clapp. Colonel Orson Butterfield (deceased) was born in Rodman, Jefferson county,
in 1808, a son of Daniel Butterfield, and came to Clarendon in 1830, settling on 100
acres south of Bennett's Corners. In 1853 he went to California and remained till
1869, then returned to Clarendon, where he died August 11, 1887. He was a member
of the old State militia and a prominent man in his locality. He married Lydia Wright,
and their children were : Sarah, Myron A., Lauriette, Wolford, Pratt, Alice A., Florence
A., Rosella and Ida A. Sarah, Ida and Myron A. all died young.
Pratt, Joseph, was born October 9, 1802, in Iladley, Mass., and soon after the family
started for Jefferson connty, N. Y., and the father died on the way. The family settled
in Jefferson county, and about 1820 Joseph came to Sweden, Monroe county, and
learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed several years. He married Melinda
Howard, and about 1830 removed to Clarendon, buying a tract of land on the east side
of the town and engaged in farming. He learned surveying, and for many years fol-
lowed that business in Clarendon and surrounding towns. He took an active part in
the political affairs of his town, being originally a Whig, but later a Republican. He
was justice of the peace for many years in Clarendon, and during the war was one of
the loan commissioners. He was a man of unblemished character and highly respected
by his townsmen. His wife died December 11, 1849, and he married second, November
27, 1851, Mrs. Chloe Hill, of Sweden, N. Y. Mr. Pratt died June 29, 1881.
Palmer, Mortimer C, was born in the town of Nelson, Madison county, in 1833. He
is a son of Joshua and Amy (Cook) Palmer. He came to Orleans county m 1865 and
settled in Murray, purchasing the Ezekiel Root farm, where he has since resided. In 1862
116 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Mr. Palmer enlisted in the 1st N. Y. Artillery and served until the close of the war.
He married, in 1862, Jennie C, daughter of Ezekiel Root, and they have three sons:
Harry, Grant and Coolidge.
Davey, Edward, was born in Somersetshire, England, February 5, 1814, came to
America with his parents, two brothers and three sisters in 1830. The following year
his father bought a farm and settled in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga county,
N. Y. Here he lived until December, 1832, when he went to Skaneateles village to
learn the trade of carriagemaker. After serving an apprenticeship of three years he
worked as a journeyman until 1849 at Skaneateles, New Haven, Conn., Penn Yan,
Syracuse and Newport, N. Y. (except two years that he earned on the business in
Newport), came to Medina, N. Y., and began business as a carriage manufacturer,
March 5, 1849, and still continues the business. In 1857 he married Harriet M. Seeley
Clark, of Marcellus, N. Y., and has one son, Edward H. Davey, who is now manager of
the business. (Although Mr. Davey, sr., is over eighty years of age he is still haie and
hearty.) Edward H. Davey was born March 15, 1859, was married to Susan Mae Dods-
worth, of Buffalo, N. Y., July 9, 1890. They have a daughter, Margaret Elizabeth,
and a son, Edward Howard.
Bidweli, Anna G., is'the widow of Chester W. Bidwell, who was born in Connecticut,
and died at East Carlton in 1882, aged eighty-four years. He moved with his parents
to Sherburne, Chenango county, at the age of five, and came to Orleans county in 1824,
making the distance from Chenango county on horseback. He afterward sold the
horse to Winslow Pratt, of Gaines. He and his brother Alfred bought the farm where
Mrs. Bidwell now hves, which contained 150 acres, and which they later divided, each
taking half. The father of Chester W. Bidwell was Ozias, a native of Connecticut, who
died in Smyrna, N. Y. He married Mary Weatherly, and had thirteen children : Polly,
Chester, Betsey, Alfred, Eleazer and Elizur (twins), David, Hannah, Eunice, Seth,
Amanda and John (twins), and George. Seth, the last survivor, died in Brighton,
Mich., in 1893. Chester Bidwell was twice supervisor and twice justice of the peace
in Carlton, taking a prominent part in the affairs of his locality. He married at Pal-
myra Anna G. Barnhart, February 6, 1827, a native of Bloomfield, Ontario county.
She was born August 16, 1807, and moved on the farm where she now lives March 5,
1827. Mr. and Mrs. Chester Bidwell had one son, William R., born March 25, 1828,
who died April 19, 1852. He married Isabel Allen in 1850. Mrs. Bidwell has in her
possession the saddlebags owned by her husband and used by him on the journey to
Orleans county. The first labor performed by Mr. Bidwell in Orleans county was chop-
ping the wood from twenty acres of land which is now a part of the farm on which
the county poorhouse is situated. While performing this labor he boarded at the house
of Lucius Street.
Wiedrich, George J., was born in Wyoming county November 16, 1851. He came
to Elba, Genesee county, with his parents about 1860. In 1877 he married Julia E.
Stang. In 1883 he engaged in the grocery business in Shelby, continuing until 1890,
when he sold his stock of groceries and engaged in the grocery business in Medina. In
1892 he was elected supervisor of the town of Shelby and in 1894 justice of the peace.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 117
Since he came to Shelby he has held the office of town clerk for three terms. His
father's name was Peter Wiedrich, who was born in France and came to America
when seven years old. His mother was Margaret (Feller) Wiedrich.
Lee, William U., was born in Barre, Orleans county, December 21, 1843. His father
was a farmer and Mr. Lee has made that the principal occupation of his life. Tn 1881
he relinquished active work on account of failing health. In 1883 he settled in Medina
and has resided there since. He was one of the organizers of the Medina Savings and
Loan Association and has been its president since it was organized May 1, 1888. He
is also president of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church and for six years
was a member of the Medina School Board, during four of which he was secretary. He
also served as a member of the first Board of Sewer Commissioners of the village of
Medina, organized under the act of 1889. In 1867 Mr. Lee married Frances H. Church,
and they have one daughter, Mary E. Mr. Lee's father, Charles, who Avas postmaster
at Farmingham for more than twenty years, beside holding other positions of public
trust, was a pioneer in the town of Barre, as also was his grandfather, John Lee, who
was a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in what was then Genesee county. The Lee
family trace their ancestry in this country back to 1634, when John Lee, a merchant of
London, came over from England and settled m Agawam, now Ipswich, Mass. The
family name at that time was spelled Leigh. Mr. Lee is a member of the seventh gen-
eration since the settlement of the family in this cont.try. His father and uncle, Ora
Lee, cut the first timber felled between the Oak Orchard road in Barre and the vUlage
of Millville in Shelby, on what is now known as Lee street, in the year 1826. Mr. Lee
and his cousin, Ora Lee, are now the owners of a large portion of the tract of land
taken at that time from the Holland Land Company by their fathers and grandfather.
Marshall, Edward, was born on the farm where he now lives April 3, 1834, and ex-
cepting five years in California has always resided here. In 1857 he married Jeannette
Britt. He has one son, Frank, who is associated with his father in his business opera-
tions. Frank married Rose, daughter of Charles Adriance. Edward Marshall's father
was Lewis Marshall, of Dutchess county, who came to Orleans in 1832. His mother
was Sarah (Angevine) Marshall, who died in March, 1879. Mrs. Frank Marshall's
grandfather, Theodore Adriance, came to Oak Corners in 1855 and died in 1890. His
wife died in 1882. The Marshall family is one of the most highly respected in the
town.
Swett, Albert L., was born in Medina April 27, 1850, and has resided in this place
all his life excepting nine years, when he lived west from the age of six to fifteen. On
his return he took a clerkship and attended school a few winter terms. He subse-
quently went into the employ of the Bignall Manufacturing Company, and after spend-
ing seven years with them began business for himself. The firm at first was Samson &
Swett, but after sixteen years Mr. Swett purchased his partner's interest, in 1890, and
has since conducted the business alone. He has been in the foundry business for
twenty-one years and probably has the best equipped shop in Western New York, em-
ploying one hundred and twenty hands. vSince he assumed full control of the industry
Mr. Swett has spent $30,000 in improvements, $11,000 of which were expended in the
118 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
construction of a fine stone dam, 234 feet long, across the Oak Orchard creek. Mr.
Swett has always taken an active part in the public affairs of Medina, and is connected
with several organizations here. In 1872 he married Lucinda M. Fuller, and they have
two sons, Charles S. and Raymond F. Mr. Swett's father, Joel R. Swett, was one the
pioneers of Orleans county, coming here when a boy with his father, Dr. Jonathan
Swett. He was born in 1808 and died in 1890. His mother was Minerva F. (Bates)
Swett. She is still living.
Stevens, John H., was born September 23, 1839, on the farm where he now resides.
He served nearly three years in Company A, 151st N. Y. S. Vol. Infantry. He was
wounded at the battle of Mine Run November 27, 1863, transferred to the Veteran Re-
serve Corps and detailed as clerk in the provost marshal general's office at Washington.
He was discharged May 10, 1865. His first wife was Alice A. Andrews, a native of
Ridgeway, who died November 28, 1875, leaving two sons, one, George A., now living
at Buffalo, N. Y., the other, Avery T., dying March 22, 1881. His present wife was
Mary D. Clapp, also a native of Ridgeway, and they have one daughter, Florence.
Rourke, M., was born in Ireland in 1846, and came to America in 1853. He enlisted
in 1863 in the 22d N. Y. Cavalry and served two years and two months, going through
the Shenandoah Valley campaign with Sheridan. He was taken prisoner at Port
Royal and recaptured by the Michigan brigade. After the war he followed farming
until 1886, when he embarked in the hotel business at Knowlesville, in which he is still
engaged. In 1869 he married Mary Connelly, and they have one daughter, Anna J.
Le Valley, John, 2d, was born in Ridgeway January 12, 1859, and was educated in
the Medina Academy and Lima Semmary. He married, December 23, 1891, Laura
Zimmerman, and they have one son, John, 3d. Mr. Le Valley's father was John, born
at Paris Hill, Oneida county, May 31, 1810. He came to the present Le Valley home-
stead in Ridgeway in 1835. He was one of the three surveyors who surveyed and
widened the Ridge road in 1852. He died August 28, 1889. Joseph Davis, the grand-
father of our subject, was also a pioneer in Orleans county, and settled on the first farm
south of the Ridge road. Mr. Le Valley has taken an active interest in the public
affairs of Ridgeway, and is the owner and operator of extensive Medina sandstone
quarries at Shelby Basin, N. Y.
Tanner, William, was born in the town of Ridgeway, October 8, 1841. His life
occupation has been farming. In 1871 he married Nellie Mudgett and they have one
son, Harry F. Mr. Tanner is a leading Democrat in Ridgeway, and has been town
assessor for twelve years. He was recently appointed loan commissioner by Governor
Flower. Mr. Tanner's father was William C. Tanner and his mother Julia A. Flagler,
the former a native of Rutland, Vermont, and the latter of Genesee county.
Goodwin, Elias M., was born in Onondaga county N. Y., January 22, 1816. In 1841
he married Amanda Benedict and moved to Ridgeway, Orleans county, N. Y., and
settled on the farm where he now resides. They had six boys : Ossian D., who resides
in Yates ; Egbert B. (deceased) ; Elbert C. (deceased) ; George S. (deceased) ; Frank
E., who resides on the old homestead, and Charles W., who is a locomotive engineer on
the Missouri Pacific Railroad, resides in Sedalia, Mo. One son, Egbert B., was three
FAMILY SKETCHES. 119
years a private in Company D, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, in the late civil virar;
wounded at Cold Harbor, contracted consumption in the army after being wounded,
and died in April, 1872. His first wife died in 1876. He again married, Mrs. Louisa
M. Smith, June 7, 1877. Mrs. Goodwin is a daughter of Simon Holland, who was a
widely known man in Monroe county, N. Y.
Mason, W. E., was born in Erie county, September 11, 1860, and for some years
conducted a grocery business in Middleport for his father. He came to Jeddo, Orleans
county, in 1882 and established his general merchandise business in partnership with
his father and brother, under the firm name of F. H. Mason & Sons. He does a large
retail business, driving a wagon five days in the week to points m Hartland, Yates,
Somerset, Royalton and Carlton. In 1886 Mr. Mason married Anna Dennis, and they
have three children : Mildred, Mabel and Fordyce. Mr. Mason is a young, enterpris-
ing and highly successful business man. February, 1893, the firm burned out, and he
is now the firm's successor.
Colby, M. H., was born in Ogden, Monroe county, August 23, 1839. He followed
farming until 1880, when he came to Medina, excepting during three years service in
the War of the Rebellion. He enlisted August 31, 1862. in the New York Light Artil-
lery, and served until June 23, 1865. He was with the army of the Potomac until the
battle of Gettsyburg, in which he participated, and was then with Sherman on his
march to the sea. He is commander of Hood Post in Medina. In 1866 Mr. Colby
married Mary Ann Adams. They have two daughters, Minnis J. and Ella N. The
latter is a teacher in the Medina Academy, where she has taught five successive years.
Mr. Colby is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor and Royal Templars.
Fuller, Edmund, is now the oldest male resident in Medina, having resided here since
1829, a period of sixty-five years.
Frisbie, Hiram, was born in Granville, N. Y., August 16, 1791. His father was Dr.
Samuel Frisbie, who afterwards located in Verona, where Hiram became a clerk in a
store. On the breaking out of the war in 1812 he enlisted in the cavalry. He was a
bearer of dispatches from Sacketts Harbor to Black Rock, arriving at Buffalo the dav
after it was burned by the British. At the close of the war he settled at Farwell's
Mills, now Clarendon village, where, in company with William Pierpont, he engaged in
business, conducting a store and hotel and manufacturing pearlash. He eventually
bought out Mr. Pierpont and carried on the business alone. About 1828 be removed
to HoUey, and, in company with James Seymour, purchased the unsold land of a 100
acre tract where the village is now situated. They donated sites for a school house,
also for the Baptist and Presbyterian churches. They erected a two story brick block,
known as the Seymour and Frisbie block. Soon after Mr. Frisbie and Augustus South-
worth built the stone grist mill, it being the first mill erected- in HolJey, and carried on
the business several years. In the mean time he had engaged in the mercantile trade
and was an extensive dealer in wool and produce. He also built a three story brick
block called the Frisbie block at the southeast corner of the square. He was post-
master of HoUey about twenty years, was a strong Democrat, and was elected super-
visor of Murray in 1829. Mr. Frisbie was twice married, first to SallieSayre, and they
120 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
had one son, Hiram S., now deceased, who was engaged in business for a time with his
father. For his second wife he married, June 18, 1828, Juliette A., daughter of Joseph
Butler, of New Hartford, N Y. They had six children : Frederick B , who resides in
Rochester; Edgar C, who lives in Baltimore, Md. ; Charles H., Cornelia E., Sarah L.
and Martha S. About 1868 Charles H. Frisbie became a partner in the mercantile
trade with his father, and they were in business until 1874. Retiring from the mercan-
tile business Charles H. has since been a dealer in carriages and sleighs. Hiram Frisbie,
sr., died August 11, 1874. Mrs. Frisbie died August 22, 1878.
Danolds, A. A., was born at Eagle Harbor, May 12, 1853, and has been on a farm
since seventeen years of age. In 1886 he married Hattie A Potter, of Medina. Mr.
Danolds' father was Truman W. Danolds, a merchant of Eagle Harbor and a native of
Livingston county. His mother was Hannah E. Andrews, of Ridgeway. Mr. Dan-
olds is a justice of the peace and president of Maple Ridge Lodge, No. 493, Farmers'
Alliance. He is a large land owner and one of the leading farmers of the county.
Gray, William, was born in England, March 21, 1818, and came to America in 1832.
He settled in Orleans county, and in 1843 he married Lucy Todkill. They have five
children: Charles W., Almon J., Walter L., Fred E. and Emma, now Mrs. Leary.
Mr. Gray is a large owner of land and thorough bred stock.
Rowe, Harry C, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He came
from Oneida county to HoUey and carried on a meat market for several years, after-
ward carrying on the same business at Hulburton, Sandy Creek and Kendall. From
the latter place he returned to Murray and settled at Sandy Creek, where he spent the
remainder of his life. He married Nancy A., daughter of Samuel King, of Orange
county, and their children were: Phoebe, Joshua, Samuel V., James H., Sarah, Wil-
liam, H. B., Cornelia and two that died in infancy. Phoebe married William A. Dun-
ning; Joshua settled in the west and died in Chicago. He married Sarah Brown.
James H. settled at St. Marys, Ohio; Sarah married twice, first George Allison, of
Hindsburgh, and second Lewis Stevens, and resides at Independence, Iowa. Colonel
H. B. Rowe settled in Kendall and engaged in the butcher business. He married Hat-
tie, daughter of Charles Higgins, of Kendall, N. Y. He enlisted in Company K, 22d
N. Y. Cavalry, was mustered in at Rochester, February 6, 1864, and was commissioned
sergeant. In 1893 he settled in Chicago. Samuel V. settled in Hulburton and is a
carpenter by trade. He married Sarah A. Greave, of Murray, and their children are :
Elizabeth B. and Samuel V., jr. (deceased), and James H., born October 13, 1857, at
Sandy Creek, who also learned the carpenter's trade, but for several years past has car-
ried on a mercantile business in Hulburton. He is a Damocrat, was elected town clerk
in 1884 and again in 1886, and justice of the peace in 1893, was a member of the Dem-
ocratic County Central Committee in 1893-4. He was postmaster at Hulburton during
Cleveland's first administration. He married in 188:J Hattie, daughter of William
Stackhouse, of Clarendon.
Ryan, James, was born near Knowlesville, November 18, 1835, and has been a far-
mer all his life. In 1860 he married Viona Holtzinger, and they have two sons and
two daughters: David, Edward, Mrs. Coleman and Rose, who is a graduate of Cornell
FAMILY SKETCHES. 121
University and professor of mathematics in the Yankton, Dak., High School. Mr.
Ryan's father was Charles Ryan and his mother Eliza (Turner) Ryan. He is a very
successful and enterprising farmer.
Crossett, Eugene, was born in Clarendon, August 11, 1855, and is of French descent.
His father, John, was a son of Nathaniel, whose father came from Fort Ann, Wash-
ington county, to Clarendon at an early day with his three brothers, Isaac, Nathaniel
and Robert. Isaac settled on the farm now owned by William P. McGowen, afterward
removed west, where he died. Robert and Nathaniel settled m Clarendon, where they
died. Nathaniel married Matilda Fuller, and their children were : Miles and James,
who settled in California, and Aaron F., who settled in Hornellsville, N. Y. John
Crossett settled in Clarendon and married Sarah A. Andrews, by whom he has one son
and one daughter, Eugene and Julia, who married Archie Ventress. Eugene Crossett
is a farmer and resides in Clarendon. He was highway commissioner two years and
supervisor. He married, in 1879, Cora P., daughter of David Matson, of Clarendon.
Churchill, Wellington, was born in Niagara County, August 16, 1850, and came to
Orleans county in 1854. January 30, 1877, he married Elvira Chase, and they have
two children, Jessie May and Roy M. Mr. Churchill's father was Major Churchill and
his mother Mary A. Deline.
Kennedy, Michael, was born in 1842 in County Tipperary, Ireland, a son of William
Kennedy. Michael came to America with his parents in 1849 and settled in Canada,
and a year later came to Walworth, Wayne county. March 15, 1862, he enhsted m
the 105th and 94th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry and served till the close of the war, par-
ticipating in the following battles : Cedar Mountain, South Mountain, Antietam and
Bull Run; also Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was from August 19, 1864, to
February 28, 1865, a prisoner at Belle Isle, Libby and Salisbury prisons. He partici-
pated in both Fredericksburg battles, and also many skirmishes. Mr. Kennedy takes
an active part in local politics in the town of Clarendon, where he has lived since 1873.
He is engaged in farming and speculating in live stock.
Agnew, Thomas H., was born in the county of Halton, Ontario, November 11, 1864.
He was educated for his profession in Toronto and Philadelphia, graduating from the
Philadelphia Dental College D. D. S. in 1891. About the first of May of the same
year he came to Medina, where he succeeded in practice the late Dr. S. C. Brownell.
In 1893 Dr. Agnew married Grace M. Breed, of Medina. He is a member of the
Garretsonian Society and Alumni Society of his college.
Crego, Walter S., was born in Gaines, Orleans county, in 1857. Both his father and
grandfather were named Abram, the senior being a son of William Crego of Vermont.
Abram, sr., came to Orleans county about 1850 and settled in Albion. He married
Margaret Eyghama. Hiram, William, and Abram, jr., their sons, were all engaged in
boating on the canal, for many years. Abram, jr., after following that occupation for
several years engaged in farmmg. He took a great interest in the affairs of his town,
and was at one time a candidate for county superintendent of the poor. He married
Ellen M. Fairfield, and their children were: Walter S., Eldredge C, Ellsworth E., and
a daughter who died m infancy. Ellsworth E. and Eldredge C. are unmarried ; Eldredge
C. is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at HoUey ; and Walter S. is
engaged in farming in Murray. He married in 1883, Antoinette Ocumpaugh, and their
children are : Elmer A., Lottie, Grace, Ralph and Margery.
Burns, Mrs. Lorette Wheeler, was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, October 31,
1827. Her great-grandfather, Elijah Wood, was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1745,
dying February 11, 1810 ; he was a soldier in the_Revolution, was a clergyman, and was
first pastor of the Baptist Church ia Amenia, Dutchess county; he had seven sons and
p
122: LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
four daughters : Andrew, Jessie, Reuben, Jacob, Zepren, Newcomb, Elijah, Olive
Sheppard, Lydia Wheeler, Phebe Wood, Anna Sheppard. His son Reuben Wood was
born in Dutchess county, June 23, 1777, and died in Monroe county, 1853 ; his son,
father of our subject, was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, November 7, 1802, and
is now living ; he is a Republican and voted at the last election at the age of 91 years.
He married his first wife,Delia Cole.born in 1805 in Clifton Park, Saratoga county, and
died in Brockport. Monroe county, in 1842, leaving two daughters, Loretta W. and
Anna, born August 6, 1830. He married for his second wife Amelia M. Mead, born in
Amenia, Dutchess county, August 2, 1803. A very worthy woman, and has been the
most devoted of step-mothers, none her equal as many can testify that knew her, now
living at 91 years of age; her faiher, Joshua Mead, died when she was young. She went
to Poughkeepsie and learned the millinery trade ; in 1844 she came to Albion and
worked at the business twelve years. The daughter learned the trade. Anna was
married to O. P. Burns, Octobe'r 1, 1850, by Silas Ilsley; she had three children and
died September 17, 1862, leaving her children quite young, the daughter Anna only
two years; she was a lovely character leaving all with her Heavenly Father, she thought
she had been cared for and her darlings would have all attention needed. The Dr. said
it was the most beautiful death bed scene he had ever witnessed. She wished them to
sing, she would name the pieces : There is Rest for the Weary, The Dying Christian,
The Shining Shore, and many others, and gave to us all a Bible and gifts. She is
buried in beautiful Albion cemetery. Her oldest son Robert, born in Barre, December
2, 1850, at the age of eighteen went to Texas and died at the age of twenty years,
buried at Columbus, Texas. Edward Mead was born in Madison county. Ivy., January
26, 1854, he married Mary Smith of Michigan. He died in Kansas City in the winter
of 1892 and left two daughters, G-eorgia and Anna. Anna Lorette born March 10,
1860 in Albion, married Dr. F. C. Dorrance, they have two daughters, Anna Pauline
and Julia and now live in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. D. has a great reputation as first class
dentist. Oscar Fitzallen Burns was born in Metz, Cayuga county, July 25, 1824. died
in Central America, July 24, 1866, buried in Greytown. He was a business man of
great ability and also a teacher of note, he taught in Kentucky three years. August
27, 1864 Lorette W. Wood married 0. F. Burns and she only lived with him two
years when he failed for a great amount in the oil speculation and then died as stated,
leaving us to do the best we could. Lorette then found her trade a great blessing, and
she kept up the home by the help of her father and mother and is now caring for
them in their old age, the happie.st part of her life. Her maternal grandfather was
Samuel Cole, formerly of Rhode Island but lived for years in Clifton Park; he had a
contract on the first railroad built in New York State between Schenectady andAlbany,
then drawn up a hill with horse power; he also had a contract on Erie canal. Mrs.
Burns has in her possession a valuable relic from her great-grandmother on her father's
side, a large India China bowl over 120 years old.
Cowles, Henry T., was born in Clarendon, in 1839, and son of Charles H. T. Cowles,
who was born in New London, Conn., in 1804, and died in Clarendon in 1890. They
trace their ancestery back to John Cowles, who was born in England and came to
America in 1635, and settled in Massachusetts, and in 1639 removed to Hartford, Conn.
Charles H. T. Cowles came from Vermont in 1830 and settled in Clarendon, taking up
a farm of ninety acres. He was at one time Commissioner of Highways, was a member
of Murray lodge, F. & A. M., and Holly lodge, I. 0. 0. F. He married Mrs. Atwel,
and their children were: George E. who settled in Clarendon, and is a farmer. He
married Laura J. Ford; Mary L., deceased; Ann J., who married John C. Tupper;
Charles B. is unmarried, and lives in Oneida, N. Y.; Henry T. is a farmer who resides
on the old homestead. He first married Ellen M. Richardson, and their children were :
Jennie A., May L., and Homer H. For his second wife he married Eveline Van
Winkle, and they have one child, Edna M. May L. Cowles married Glen P. Cole.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 123
Chester, Courtland M., was born in Carlton, October 10, 1849 a grandson of Nathan,
born April 14, 1765 in Connecticut. The father of our subject was Asa P., born
August 25, 1804 at New London, Conn., and died January 8, 1866 in Illinois. He
married Mary A. Morgan, born in New London, May 19, 1813, who died in Game.s
December 11, 1892. These children were: Nathan, born August 15, 1833 ; Mary A.,
born January 3, 1838; Asa F., born January 25, 1840; Josephine, born February 8,
1844; and Courtland M., who was eduated in the common schools in Kankakee county,
III., where he went with his parents when young. He learned telegraphy at Oberlin,
O., and came to Gaines in 1875, working his sister's farm for about fifteen years. He
then bought a farm of ninety-one acres, where he now lives. March 27, 1883, he mar-
ried Clara M. Warren, born July 18, 1853. in Nunda, Livingston county. Her father
was Jonas Warren, born in Stockbridge, Mass., April 12, 1812, who died in Gaines
April 7, 1887, who married Diantha Rice. The latter was born in Cattaraugus county,
and died m Gaines in 1890, aged seventy-three. Mr. and Mrs. Chester have one child,
Loren W., born in Gaines December 22, 1884.
Groat, John H., was born in Montgomery county, December 11, 1843, and came to
Orleans county in 1874. In 1878 he married Gertrude E., daughter of Edmund Griffin,
and they have one son, Fred H., born in 1878. Mr. Groat's father was Jeremiah, of
Cranesville, Montgomery county, born in 1805, and died in 1863, who married in 1832
Mary A. Horsfall. The father of Jeremiah was John L. Groat, of Cranesville, born in
1763, and died in 1845. He married first, in 1791, Sarah Miller, and second, in 1814,
Margaret Von Hazen, nee Van Valkenburg. John L. was a son of Louis, of Cranesville,
born in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1712, who died in 1794. He married in 1760 Elizabeth
Van Epps, He was a son of Philip Groat, who came to America from Rotterdam and
in 1716 made a purchase of lands near Cranesville, Montgomery county, N. Y. (See
Simms' Frontiersman of New York).
Jerome, Norman, was born in Herkimer county, and his son, Norman, jr., was born
in Murray, September 9, 1811, and died April 29, 1875. He married Elvira Oakes, of
Herkimer county, born April 12, 1820, and died December 1, 1883. Their children
were : Hiram, our subject, born in Gaines, June 2, 1839 ; Sarah Augusta, born Decem-
ber 24, 1840; Pulaski, born November 11, 1841, who was killed at the battle of the
Wilderness May 8, 1864; Charles, born June 11, 1844; Riley N., born October 24,
1855. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and spent his young days on
the farm. In 1861 he enlisted in the army. In 1865 he engaged in farming, which
occupation he continued till 1875. He was employed by Selheimer & Beckwith in the
produce business at Carlton Station until 1883, then entered business for himself, doing
a general produce and commission business. In 1889 he was appointed by Harrison
assistant inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry in the Agricultural Department,
which position he held four years. He has served as town clerk and commissioner of
highway.s. September 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, 8th N. Y. Cavalry,
commanded by Col. Samuel Crook, and served at Beverly Ford, where he was made
sergeant of General Beauford's body guard ; the Wilderness, Winchester, Antietam,
Gettysburg, Maryland Heights, Harper's Ferry. Our subject is a member of the A. 0.
U. W., of Carlton Lodge, No. 247, a charter member of Bates Post, No. 114, of Albion
and of the F. & A. M., Eastern Star of New York city. No. 227. January 24, 1866,
he married Mary Garbutt, of Carlton, born April 9, 1843. Their children are : Harry,
born April 30, 1867, died October 3, 1893; M. Gertrude, born May, 11, 1870, married
Henry Spicer, and lives in Falls Village, Conn.; Frank G., born Septemder 16, 1872;
Elizabeth E., born October 31, 1874; Mahlon D., born March 31, 1878, lives in New
York city; and Ethel M., born December 25, 1882.
The Howard Family. — The first Howard who settled in this county was Josiah, born
December 31, 17.63, at Stephentown, Rensselaer county, and died at Clarendon Sep-
124 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
teinber 1, 1830. He came herein 1815 with his oldest son, Joseph, and took up one
hundred acres of land when the locahty was a wilderness. He cleared a spot and
built a log cabin in the woods. His wife was Phoebe Gardiner, a native of Newport,
R. I., born in 1772. Their children were: Josiah, Oran, Hannah, Eunice, Almeron,
Edson, Hartson, Arsnowie, Elizabeth and James S. Edson was born in 1804 and lived
and died on the old homestead in Clarendon. He was a man of bright intellect and
character, a strong Abolitionist and temperance man. His wife was Abigail Ely, by
whom he had three children : Rensselaer, born in 1834 ; Webster E., born June 29,
1837; Sullivan E., born April 8, 1842. Webster E., our subject, settled in Clarendon,
and with his brother, Sullivan, engaged in the nursery business for several years before
the war. He is now engaged in farming and cheesemaking, having factories at Holley
and East Kendall, the production being from 50,000 to 60,000 pounds annually. He is
an active Republican and has served as highway commissioner and supervisor. He is a
member of Holley Lodge I. 0. 0. R, F. & A. M., and the A. 0. U. W. In 1870 he
married Maude Williams, of Barre, and their children are: Eugene W., who married
Maude L. Gillis; Josiah C, FredG., who died young, and Otis E. Sullivan E., brother
of our subject, is a Republican, and was elected sheriff in 1883. After his term ex-
pired he returned to Holley and remained till 1890, then bought a farm near Hindsburg,
to which he removed. He is a Mason. In 1866 he married Phina R. Cole, of Barre,
and they have two children, William C. and Bessie J.
Lott, W. H., was born in Yates December 10, 1832. In 1856 he married Martha
Ann, daughter of Cornelius and Eliza Johnson, and they have two children : Frank F.
and Inez L., now Mrs. J. W. Breed, of Yates. Frank F. married a Miss Stockwell, of
Yates. Mr. Lott's father was William Lott, of Montgomery county, and one of the
pioneers of Orleans county. His mother was Ellen Tilton. Mr. Lott and his son are
prosperous farmers.
Webster, Henry, was born in Otsego countv July 14, 1835, and came to Orleans
county in 1850. In 1862 he married Hattie L." Hill, who died in 1877. In 1880 he
married Mrs. Lottie Bushnell, who died in 1885, leaving one daughter, Ethel. In 1887
he married Mrs. Henrietta N. Stone. Mr. Webster has been a very successful farmer
and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs. He has been supervisor of Ridge-
way and held other local offices. His father was Charles Webster and his mother
Sallie (Robbins) Webster, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of New
Hampshire.
Weld, Marson, was born in Reading, Vt., October 8, 1808, and came to Orleans
county when a boy. In 1851 he married Sarah L Tanner, daughter of William C. Tan-
ner, and they have three children : Esther, Marson E., and William T., all of whom
live at home with their mother. Mr. Weld died in 1878. His father was Thomas
Weld, who was born in Reading, Vt., and was one of the pioneers of Orleans county.
The Weld family own a large and productive farm near Ridgeway village. Marson
Weld was one of the leading men of the town, and was supervisor and filled other
Merrill, Lemuel E., was born in Bergen, Genesee county, August 9, 1816, a son of
Nathan, whose father Israel was a native of Connecticut. Three of his sons came to
this State in 1812, and during that war Nathan served as a soldier. He and his brother
Henry settled in Bergen, and Epephras, the other brother, in Barre. Nathan settled
in Clarendon in 1834, and married Nancy Taylor. Their children were: Henry, who
settled at Saratoga, and is alawyer ; William, who died at Elmira; Franklin, who died
in early manhood; Nathan R., a farmer in Clarendon, who married Rebecca Templeton;
Alvira, who married Ira Phillips; and Lemuel H. The latter taught school several
years in his younger days, and has since been a farmer, also part of the time a traveling
salesman. He married Eunice, daughter of Abner Hopkins, an early settler of Claren-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 125
don, and their children are: Abner, who graduated from West Point in 186G, and is a
captain of the 1st Heavy Artillery, U. S. A. ; Amy, who married Melville Brown, of
Byron ; Dr. A. C. Merrill, who is located in Harbor Springs, Mich. ; Adella E., who
married Warren Moore, of Michigan ; Lemuel H., jr. ; Florence, who married Merritt
Moore ; Eunice U. ; and Lydia J., who married Bradley Lawton, of Oakfield, N. Y.
Root, Warren A., is a descendant of Moses Root, who was one of the first settlers of
Carlton. Daniel Root, father of Warren, was born in Carlton and died in July, 188G,
aged ninety years. His wife was Annis Hastings, born in Canada and died in Carlton
December 3, 1865, aged sixty-two. The children of this marriage were : Warren, born
in Carlton May 6, 1822 ; Webster, Walter, and Eliza, all deceased ; Emily, Delilah,
Abigail, and Wallace. Warren was educated in the common schools of Carlton, and
began business for himself by hauling wheat and other grain from Carlton to Albion,
after which he worked land on shares. In 1847 he purchased the farm where he has
since resided. He married, April 15, 1847, Phoebe Ann Fuller, who was born October
19, 1827, and died August 13, 1886. They had five children : Mary Inez, born July
19. 1848; Lyman Victor, born May 21, 1852; Warren Ernest, born July 14, 1857;
Nathan W., born August 2G, 1862 ; Alta Roxana, born February 12, 1864. Mary Inez
married Benjamin Ticknor and they had four children : William Lewis, born November
1, 1871; Ethlen, born June 29, 1874; Almond, born November 13, 1876. Victor
Lyman married Libbie Ranshaw, deceased. Warren Ernest married Elizabeth Hayes,
born in Somerset, Niagara county, April 21, 1860, and they have five children : Everett
Victor, born April 10, 1879; Eva May, born November 29, 1882; Emma Alta, born
September 2, 1885; Phoebe Ann, born April 16, 1889; Ivan Morris, born June 18,
1892. Nathan W. married Ella Malloy, and they have two children : Francis, born
in July, 1891, and Gertrude, born February, 1893. Alta Roxana married William An-
derson.
Pratt. George L., was born in Orleans county June 29, 1830. He was educated at
Yates Academy and .began teaching at the age of sixteen. After he gave up teaching
he assisted his father, who was a farmer, and also engaged in the selling of plows and
lightning rods. He was subsequently engaged in the foundry business at Wilson, N. Y.
From 1860 to 1864 he traveled as a repairer of clocks, From 1864 to 1876 his prin-
cipal business was life and fire insurance for stock companies. In 1876 he organized
the Orleans and Niagara Mutual Fu-e Insurance Company, also the Dwelling House
Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1880. He also built a wine cellar in 1869 and car-
ried on the wine business successfully until it was destroyed by fire August 2, 1887,
and was a total loss. In 1851 he married Frances A. Bouta, and they have two chil-
dren, Mrs. F. H. Eritt and Gertrude C. Pratt. In June, 1894, he contracted to take
charge of the Shaker vineyards wine cellar at WicklifFe, Ohio, as superintendent.
Robbins, W. B., was born in Ripon,Wis., January 11, 1853. His first business was the
coal trade, in which he was engaged for eight years in Chicago. He then went to
Pittsburg, Pa., and was engaged in coal mining thirteen years. In 1892 he came to
Medina, having purchased a large amount of stock in the Bignall Manufacturing Com-
pany, of which he is secretary and treasurer. In 1877 Mr. Robbins married Rose,
daughter of L. C. Bignall, vice-president of the Bignall Manufacturing Company.
Bailey, John, was born in the town of Ovid, Seneca county, November 16, 1831.
His parents moved to Niagara county in 1834, and in 1856 he came to Ridgeway. In
1856 he married Malvina Hicks, and they have two daughters, Clara and Angelina.
Mr. Bailey's father was David Bailey, his grandfather Abner Bailey, and his mother
Annie Coovert.
Rice, Elisha R., Kendall. — Blisha Rice, sr., was born July 7, 1760, served in the Revo-
lutionary war, and came to Kendall with his family about 1817. Zebulon Rice, his son,
126 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
who was born in Vermont, July 4, 1793, settled in this town in LS15 on the ff.rm now
owned by his son Elisha R., who died May 11, 1884. He walked from Vermont,
bringing a hand-sickle, which is still in possession of the family. At the age of eighteen
he united with the Christian church and later with the Freewell Baptist society, and in
the early history of the town frequently officiated at funerals. Before the original
county of Genesee was subdivided aiA when the County Court was held at Batavia,
he was frequently called as a juror, and made his way there through the thick forest,
guided onl}' by marked trees; for every civil suit he received twenty-five cents and
boarded himself, and for crimmal trials he received nothing. He was overseer of the
poor many years and captain in the old State militia. On a corner of his farm was
opened the first cemetery in the west part of Kendall, and his daughter Ursula and his
mother were respectively the first and second persons buried therein, both in the fall of
1828. Of his brothers and sisters Elisha jr., Sarah (Mrs. Simeon Cowles), Mary (Mrs.
Green), and Roxana (Mrs. Ryan Barber) became residents of this town. Zebulon Rice
married, first, November 28, 1821, Wealthy Ripsome, who was born November 7, 1794,
and died February 13, 1851. Their children were Eli«ha R., born January 7, 1823;
Jasper, born August ."i, 1824, died July 29, 1859; Ursula, born January 3, 1827, died
September 15, 1828 ; Wealtha A. (Mrs. John Thomas), born January 2, 1829, died
April 10, 1853; Malinda, (Mrs. Abner Harris),- born January 19, 1832, died Octooer
12, 1854; and Theophilus, born April 16, 1835, died February 22, 1842. Mr. Rice
married second, May 9, 1852, Rilla A. Perry who was born November 2, 1795, and died
April 24, 1881. Elisha R. Rice married, January 10, 1844, Julia A., daughter of David
and Phebe Burnett, and their children are : Amelia U. (Mrs. J. C. Wing, and after-
ward Mrs. Thomas Armstrong), Alice E. (Mrs. William D. Groves), and Ellen M. (Mrs.
Aaron J. Warren). Mr. Rice has been highway commissioner, was an ensign in the
State militia, and is a member and vice-president of the Orleans County Pioneer Asso-
ciation. David Burnett and wife came to Western New York in 1832, settled in Mur-
ray about 1834, moved to Kendall in 1847, and finally went to Erie county, where they
died. From a local newspaper we take the following account of the celebration of the
" Golden Wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha R. Rice-^ " On January 10, 1844, Elisha
R. Rice was married to Miss Julia A. Burnett, by Rev. Mr Inman, now a resident of
Ohio. In accordance with this fact about eight}' friends and neighbors gathered at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Rice on their fiftieth anniversary day, January 10, 1894. Mr.
and Mrs. Rice began life together about one mile north of their present residence and
resided there one summer, while they were building a house of their own. Here, in
their first, own, and almost wilderness home, they lived until 1854. They then sold
their place to a brother and went to the then far west, Elkhart, Ind., but on account of
.sickness they returned to New York State the same year and again purchased a home
and remained in the vicinity of Mr. Rice's boyhood home till 1887. At the request of
his father, they removed to the old homestead where he was born, January 7, 1823,
and where he still resides. To them have been born three children, who are all living,
two of them being present on this anniversary. A peculiar feature of this anniversary
is that it is almost a combination of three in one: Birth of Mr Rice, January 7, 1823 ;
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, January 10, 1844 ; birth of the eldest daughter, Janu-
ary 13, 1815. A rare instance, in this fiftieth anniversary was the invitation of two
couples who had also sailed the sea of life and entered the golden harbor just a little
before Mr. and Mrs. Rice. A number of valuable and costly presents were given which
pleased the aged couple very much. All present enjoyed to the utmost t' e gen'al hos-
pitality of this respected couple, and after remarks by Revs. T. N. Tf. ner, of East
Kendall, and H. Hornsby, the company adjourned to tlie dining room am partocvit of a
bountiful repast of luxuries which was enjoyed by all. The following gi eting;- were
given by Mr. Rice's little granddaughter, Edith Groves, a solo and two rec „atiors. The
recitation, thus:
FAMILY SKETCHES. 127
Grandparents, dear, we've coine with joy to-night.
And blessings true and dear.
Twined with fond greetings, pure and bright.
To crown your fiftieth year.
. The wreath contains no costly gems,
No rare and fragrant flowers.
Fairer than buds or diadems,
This offering of ours.
For all your kindness, love and care.
Each generous, noble part.
Accept our gratitude, and wear
The tribute next your hearts.
These friends who circle here to-night,
The trusted and the true.
With us in happy wish unite.
And pledge their faith anew.
Thus will love's ministry, warm and deep.
With friendship's light enfold
Your lives, in holy charm, and keep.
Your hearts from growing old.
Gently, as down the slope of years
Your future footsteps tend.
We pray His hand, through smiles and tears.
May guide you to the end."
Fuller, Nathan R., is a grandson of Reuben, who with his brother Captain John
Fuller, came from Bradford county, Pa., and settled in Carlton in 1811, where they
purchased from the Holand Land Company about 128 acres. The father of our subject
was Lyman Fuller, born in Sheshequin, Bradford county. Pa., August 16, 1808, and
died on the farm taken up by his father, March 22, 1866. Lyman married Roxana Bar-
num, who was born in Hartland, Niagara county, February 25, 1810, and died May 24,
1875. They were mamed in Carlton in 1827, and their family consists of four children,
viz.: Phoebe Ann, '^orn in Carlton October 19, 1827, and was married to Warren Root,
April 15, 1847, and had five children, dying in August, 1886 ; Lyman Victor. Inez,
Ernest, Alta R.. Nath-au Wallace, and Charlotte and a twin sister born April 12, 1841,
and died in infancy. Nathan R. Fuller attended the common schools of Carlton till
nineteen years of age, when he attended Yates Academy where he finished his educa-
tion. He is a Republican and has represented his town as assessor. He is a member
of the A. 0. U. W. of Waterport Lodge 178, and has been a member of I. 0. 0. F. of
Eagle Harbor. Mr. Fuller was married September 18, 1859, to Abbie Root, who was
born in Orleans county. Her father, Daniel Root, was born March 23, 1797, in Otsego
county, and her mother, Annis Hastings, was a native of Canada. Moses Root, father
of Daniel, was one of the first settlers of Carlton, and landed at the mouth of Johnson's
Creek in 1804. Moses and his sons Reuben and Daniel took part in the war of 1812.
The children of Nathan and Abbie Fuller were : Alta, born in Carlton, February 5,
1862, and died March 24, 1862; Lottie D., born in Carlton, April 20, 1863, and married
Fred E. Willson, July 24, 1889, and they have one son, Glen F., born October 20, 1891;
Evart Lyman, born Mav 27, 1875, and died March 17, 1876; Newel C, born September
2, 1878; Willie F., born July 18, 1881, of Rochester. Daniel Cash, great-grandfather
of our subject, was born in New England in 1747, and in 1769 he and his wife, Mary
Tracey pash, >yere married, in the Warwick Baptist church of Orange county. In 1776
they emigra^j'^ to Pittston, Pa., at wich time occurred the troubles with the Indians,
Mr. Cash's tfmily being among tho-e who were obliged to take refuge in the fort for
safety irom J-Jne Wyoming massacre. The children of Daniel and Mary Cash were :
Isaac, NathfjU, Reuben, Mehittable, Ziphorah, Polly, Betsey, Phoebe, and Pamelia.
Polly was the grandmother of Nathan R. The father and mother of this family died in
1789 in Ora-ige county. Nathan R. Fuller owns the farm taken up by his grandfather
Reuben in 1811.
128 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
Tupper, John C, was born July 8, 1832, at Pine Hill, Genesee county, a son of
Menzus R. Tupper, who was a native of Tolland, Conn., and served in the war of 1812.
The latter married Amarilla Warren, and their children were : Nathan L., who moved
to Michigan and married Elizabeth G-oodes; Cordelia, who married Wilbur C. Moreau,
of Batavia; Sheldon, who settled at Indian Falls, and married Laura Bullock; Martha,
who married Frank Moore, of Indian Falls; and John C, who came to Clarendon in
1839. The latter resided with his uncle until 1844, then with Elizur Warren until he
was of age. From 1858 to 1865 he lived in Bergen, and with this exeption Clarendon
has been his home. He is a member of Holley Lodge I. 0. 0. F., and was for fifteen
3'ears its treasurer, having been a delegate to the Grand Lodge several times. He is
also a member of the Grange and the Alliance, and belongs to the Universalist church
of Clarendon. In 1858 he married Ann J., daughter of C. H. T. Cowles of this town.
She died in 1866, leaving one daughter, Emma A. He married second Jane A. Clark,
of Clarendon in 1868. Emma A. married Fred H. Brook, and died in 1893.
Brennan, J. D., was born in Medina May 22, 1857, and was educated in the academy
here. At seventeen years of age he entered the employ of Hauton Bros., and for
eighteen years was book-keeper for that firm. Mr. Brennan was trustee of the village
in 1891-92-93, and is the present postmaster, having been appointed by President
Cleveland November 26, 1893. He took charge of the oflice December 1, 1893. He is
the first Democratic postmaster in Medina for twenty-four years.
Walsh, Eugene, was born in Medina August 21, 1857, and was educated in the schools
of this place. He was first engaged in the United States mail service for one year and
then went into the liquor business, which he has since followed. Mr. Walsh is an
active Democrat and is highly popular with his party, being a man who always stands
by his friends. His father was William J. Walsh, a native of Ireland, who came to
America in 1840. His mother was Eliza (Reardon) Walsh. Both are living in
Medina.
White, A. H., was born in Cayuga county, September 21, 1849. His father was a
farmer and apprenticed A. H., to the butcher's trade, but after three years he left it and
went into the restaurant business in Auburn in 1876. He subsequently removed to
Rochester and continued in the restaurant business. He next moved to Canandaigua
and embarked in the hotel business. In 1886 he came to Medina and purchased
the Bancroft house, the name of which he changed to White's hotel, and by remod-
eling and conducting it as a first class hostelry, has made it one of the best houses
between Buffalo and Rochester. Mr. White is also the owner of the Cottage hotel
in Medina. He takes great interest in fine bred horses and breeds trotting stock.
September 28, 1867, Mr. White married Ella Morgan, of Savannah, Wayne county,
and they have had three children, all of whom are deceased.
Smith, John H., was born in Saratoga county October 14, 1849, and came to Orleans
county in 1861. His father was a manufacturer and he was connected with his father's
establishment before engaging in farming for himself. He makes a specialty of breed-
ing black-topped Spanish sheep and Poland China swine. In 1877 he married Jennie
Edison, cousin of Thomas Edison, the inventor. They have a family cf four, three
sons and one daughter, J. Alton, Percy, M. Leroy and Anita F. ^Ir. Smith's father
was Joseph Smith, of Saratoga county, and his mother Ehzabeth Hagedorn. His
grandfather was Ralphus Smith. Mr. Smith is one of the enterprising and liberal-
minded men of Orleans county.
Bidelman, Lorenzo D., was born in Shelby June 26, 1844, and has always lived in the
town of Shelby. In 1868 he married Alnieda Hill, and they have one daughter, Edith.
Mr. Bidelman's father was Abram Bidelman, of Herkimer county, and his mother Lu-
cinda Mikel. Abram Bidelman's father was Henry Bidelman. The family is of Mo-
hawk Dutch descent.
FAMILY SKETCFIES. 129
Savage, George H.,son of William H., was bom in Madison county in October,
1859. He learned the stonecutter's trade. In 1882 he came from Onondaga county
and settled in HoUey, and engaged in the marble and granite business, making a spe-
cialty of 6ne monumental work. He uses steam power and employs several men. Mr.
Savage is a member of the Baptist Church of Holley.
Hurd, C. F., was born in Ludlowville, Tompkins county, April 17, 1853. He was
educated at Yates Academy, and at the age of seventeen came to Medina and began his
trade of jeweler. He established himself in business in 1876, and is now the leading jew-
eler in Medina. In 1884 Mr. Hurd 'married Katie Brownell, and they have two sons,
Frank Brownell and Charles F. Hurd, jr. Mr. Hurd's father was Seymour A. Hurd,
and his mother Mary Frost. Seymour A. was the first white child born north of
Johnston's Creek. The Hurds originally came here from New Jersey.
Casey, Patrick, was born in Ireland March 15, 1850, and came to America in 1871.
He was engaged in the quarry business until a year ago. On April 1, 1894, he em-
barked in the boot and shoe business in Medina. In 1871 Mr. Casey married Hannah
O'Brien, and they have a family of two sons and three daughters. Mr. Casey is a
member of the A. 0. U. W. and is regarded as a liberal ard enterprising business man.
Babcock, W., was born in Cayuga county July 22, 1840. His first business experi-
ence was in a general store at Miller's Corners, Ontario county, where he was for five
years. He then conducted a similar store at Honeoye Falls, Monroe county, for three
years. For five years following he had a hotel in Fairport and then conducted a hotel
for one year in Clyde. In 1887 he went to Kansas City and remained five years. In
1892 he came to Medina as proprietor of the Hart House. In 1867 Mr. Babcock mar-
ried Emma L. Carpenter, and they have one son, Fred C, who is associated with his
father in business. Mr. Babcock is a fourteen degree Mason, Scottish rite. His father,
Lemuel, was a native of Cayuga county, in which his father was an early settler. His
mother was Polly (Owens) Babcock.
Stanton, Lawrence, was born in Ireland in 1854, and came to America in 1871. He
settled in Rochester and learned the trade of stonecutter. After remaining in that
city four years he went to Canada and worked at his trade on the Welland Canal three
years. He then went to Virginia and remained a short time. He next removed to
Rhode Island, and from there to Canada a second time, where he remained a year and
then returned to Albion. He shortly afterward came to Medina and worked at his
trade for two and one-half years, when he established himself in the grocery business
in 1883. He has been very successful as a business man and is ably assisted by his
wife, who is a thorough business women. Her maiden name was Kate Brennan, and
she is a native of Detroit, Mich. They were married in 1880. Mrs. Stanton was the
daughter of Patrick and Margaret (McMullen) Brennan. Our subject is a member of
the C. M. B. A., of the County Central Committee, and is not only an active politician,
but is a popular man in his party.
Buell, Joseph Hand, was born at Marietta, Ohio, February 22, 1809, and is a son of
Gen. Joseph, a native of Killingworth, Conn. He went to Ohio as a soldier in 1786,
and until 1788 was stationed at Fort Harmon. He settled at Marietta, 0., in 1789.
He was one of the prominent men of the State, being judge of the Court of Common
Pleas, and State Senator several years. In 1803 he was appointed one of the two ma-
jor generals of the State Militia of Ohio. Joseph H. removed from Ohio to Rochester
in 1828, and for several years was engaged as clerk in the dry goods establishment of
W. H. Ward on State street. In 1832 he removed to Holley and engaged in the mer-
cantile business. His brother, Hiram A., soon after became his partner, and they ac-
quired a large and prosperous trade, the partnership existing until the death of Hiram
A., in 1875. For over fifty years Mr. Buell was one of the most important business
130 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
men of Ilolley, and for several years bought grain and produce. He was postmaster of
Holley under Fillmore's administration. He married October 20, 1839. Sophia Church-
ill, a native of Litchfield, Conn., and they have had three children : Harry J., Frances,
and a son who died in infancy. Frances Buell married John B. Fuller of Buffalo, and
they had five children: Frances B., Jennie S., Julia C, Grace E., and William B , who
died in 1888. In 1885 Mr. Buell retired from business and was succeeded by his son,
Henry J., who has since continued it. He is one of the stirring business men of the
town, has been treasurer of the village ten years, was one of the organizers of the Hol-
ley Electric Co., is one of the trustees and secretary and manager. He is a member of
Murray Lodge 380 F. & A. M., and in 1890 organized the Glenwood Club, and is its
treasurer ; is also secretary of the Holley Business Men's Association. Mr. Buell mar-
ried in 1878, Mary, daughter of Alexander McCarge of Holley, and they have two
children : Fred C, and Bessie H.
Morton, Darius M. — Among the business men of Holley is D. M. Morton. His father
Richard, was a native of Canada. Coming to Orleans county in 1870 he settled in
Clarendon and engaged in farming. D. M. Morton first embarked in business in 1885
in the town of Hamlin, Monroe county, and for three years conducted a hardware busi-
ness there. In 1886 he came to Holley, and with T. D. Matson engaged in the same
business. This co-partnership existed until 1893, since which time Mr. Morton has
continued his business alone. He is a member of Murray Lodge 380 F. & A.M. He
married m 1878, Alice Elliott.
Henion, J. L., was born in Ontario county December 29, 1823, and in 1835 moved to
Orleans county, where he has ever since resided. He learned the trade of harness
maker and followed it for twenty-three years, but has also been engaged in the hotel
business. In 1857 he married Mary E. Parsons, and they have one son, Louis E., who
was born August 23, 1862. After a clerkship of seven years and five years in the ser-
vice of the American Express Co., he embarked in the grocery business in Medina in
1891. In 1886 he married Carrie B. Graves, and they have one daughter, Frances E.
Bidleman, Samuel, was born in Herkimer county in 1 806, and came to Shelby with
his father in 1817. Three years later he was bound out to learn tanning with Isaac
A. Bullard at Ridgeway Corners. Mr. Bullard soon died, and Samuel carried on the
business until 1835, then moved to Gaines, where he bought the historic tannery built
by James and Elihu Mather, which propert}' and its owners were conspicuous figures
during the period of Masonic excitement. Mr. Bidleman operated this tannery alone
until 1841, and then formed a five years partnership with Robert Ranney. From 1855
to 1866 Mr. Bidleman and his son Henry, were proprietors, but in the latter year Charles
Bidleman entered the firm, and under the style of S. Bidleman & Sons, the business
was continued until 1873, when the buildings were burned. Charles Bidleman took
the property in 1873, rebuilt the factory, and continued business until 1883, then selling
out. Subsequently Charles conducted a grocery store at Gaines, but in 1886 sold out
and came to Albion. Later he engaged in the hardware business for a time, but de-
votes his attention principally to his western investments. May 17, 1829, Samuel
married Eliza Prussia, and they have had six children : Leander, of Gaines; Henry 0.,
who died in 1877 ; Eli, of Lansing, Mich.; John, of Albion ; Harriet E., wife of Daniel
D. Hall, of Lansing, Mich., and Charles, of Albion. Charles Bidleman married, Janu-
ary 3, 1866, Elizabeth Weaver, of Albion, and they have had five children. Samuel
Bidleman, the pioneer, was a prominent man in Gaines for many years, and was elected
to a number of its principal offices, notably supervisor and justice of the peace.
Clark, Matthew T., was a native of Rensselaer county, born April 13, 1832, and
was the fourth of six children of William E., and Sally Clark. The father, who
was a farmer, came to Monroe county in 1845, and when Matthew was sixteen he
started out to make his own way in life. He worked several years as a farm hand,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 131
and then bousht a small farm in the northern part of Barre. From that until the
present time Mr. Clark has been a farmer mainly, yet has devoted some of his at-
tention to other pursuits. He changed his residence to Barre Centre, and for the
last five years has resided there continuously, being retired from active work. Mr.
Clerk is a staunch Republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He
was once collector of Barre. In 1856 Mr. Clark married Pamelia, daughter of Alva
and Orpha Mattison. They have one adoped daughter, Dora M. Pamella Clark
died December 3, 1893.
Bogers, William H., who is known as one of the best farmers in Barre, as well as one
of its most progressive citizens, was born in Le Roy, February 21, 1835. At the age of
thirteen he began for himself and has ever made his own way in life, and whatever of
success he has gained has been the result of his own and his wife's unaided eflbrts.
When a youth he went with his parents to Ohio, but returned to Spencer and worked
in a tannery four years. Later he did a large business at Elba making barrel hoops,
and still later, with his brother Joseph, he established a heading factory at Barre Center.
On selling out he bought the Weston Wetherbee farm, but now lives on the old Mix
homestead. December 1, 1859, Mr. Rogers married Harriet, daughter of Charles and
Philena (Salter) Mix. Five children have been born to them : Ella, wife of Eugene
Bragg ; Belle, who died at eighteen ; Florence, wife of Henry B. Jackson ; Hugh M.
and Arthur, both of whom are at home. In politics Mr. Rogers is a firm Republican.
The family are members of the M. E. church.
Slack, John, was born in Ireland April 2, 1838, and came to America with his parents
in 1850. He began work in this country as a water carrier and after being employed
in various capacities for twenty-one years, in 1871 he went into the grocery business
with his brother, Michael Slack. This business has been most successful from the first
and is to-day one of the best and soundest establishments in Orleans county. Mr. Slack
married Winfred O'Marrow in 1860. She died in 1870 leaving three children, one of
whom is dead. He married Mary Lester in 1876. He had seven children living and
two deceased. Of those living four are sons and three daughters. Mr. Slack is a prom-
inent member of the C. M. B. A. and the C. B. L. societies of Medina.
Wetherbee, Weston, was a native of Washington county, born June 14, 1801. He
settled after marriage in Onondaga county, and about 1837 came to Barre, where he
afterward lived, and where his parents, Micah and Patience Wetherbee, came later on.
Weston and Nicholas Wetherbee came on foot to the town. Micah's children were
Nicholas, Martha, Hannah. John W., Alma, Weston. William, Artilisse, Patience, and
Micah. Weston married first Anna Grinnell, and their children were Lyman, Albert,
and Ansel ; and Amelia A. and John H. who died in childhood. His second wife
was Mary Ann Smith, by whom he had these children: Weston, Clarence, L. D.,
and Eva L. Weston, the father, was a successful farmer and accumulated a good
property. He died March 8, 1874 and his widow still lives. Ansel Wetherbee was
born in SpafFord, Onondaga county, and came with his parents to Barre. He was
brought up and has always lived on a farm, and is now numbered among the
progressive and successful farmers of the town. In May, 1865, he married Mary E.
Sheldon, and they had four children : George A. ; Albert, who died at tweuty-one ;
Gertie, who died in childhood ; Walter A. Mr. Wetherbee's farm occupies 178 acres,
and is among the best in Barre. He is a strong Republican.
Shaw, Elijah, was born in the town of Smithfield, Northampton county, Pa.,
November 23, 1787 and with his father settled in Cayuga county in 1806. He was
married to Miss Lucy Freeman November 14, 1811, and the same year came to what
is now Orleans county with his brother-in-law, Gideon Freeman, where they together
took up about 1,000 acres of land in the towns of Albion and Gaines. This land after-
ward proved a burden to them, and not being able to pay for it, they were compelled
132 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
to give it up. Elijah did not settle here at this time, but returned to Cayuga, where he
enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, serving in the regiment of Colonel Bloom, and
for his service during the war he drew two land warrants. He removed with his family
to Orleans county in the year 18L>. They had nine children, as follows : Eunice, who
married Walter Holmes, of Orleans county, and afterward, Mr. Bliss, of Marshall,
Michigan, where they spent the remainder of their lives: Emma C, who married Peter
Pintler, and settled in Virginia, near Fairfax Court House, where they owned a good
farm when the rebellion broke out, they were strong for the Union, but that did not
save them from the ravages of the Union Army; they were forced to abandon their
home, and all their personal effects, and return to the North, never to return to their
home, only to view the ruins, their buildings were all burned to the ground, a beautiful
wood lot and orchard felled to the earth, all by the Union soldiers; Caroline, who
married Hugh Maxwell, and settled in Michigan where she died. Phoebe Ann, who
died young ; and two daughters who died in infancy ; Richard, who lives in Albion ;
and Giles, now living in Kent county, Mich. Of these children only Richard and Giles
are now living, the mother died August 28, 1840. Mr. Shaw married for his second
wife, May 8, 1845, Miss Ann Angus, of Geneva, N. Y., who died October 30, 1868.
Elijah Shaw died on his old farm in the western part of Albion, April 19, 1873. After
the War of 1812 Mr. Siiaw bought 200 acres of land in the town of Albion. He
recovered from his reverses and had a fair property at the time of his death. Richard
Shaw was born in Albion June 28, 1825, and with the exception of one year in Knowles-
ville and two in Albion Village, has always lived on the same farm. He helped his
father pay a part of the purchase price for the old farm, and is now its owner. Novem-
ber 23, 1862, Richard Shaw married Helen Jennette Gage, of the town of Barre, Orleans
county, and to them two children have been born; Jessie Leone, wife of Ellsworth
McGillivray of Ithaca, N. Y. ; and Melvin Elijah, of Albion. Richard Shaw came with
his family to Albion to reside in 1893.
Baker, Everett M., D. D. S.. was born in Cambria, Niagara county April 7, 1855.
He was educated in Lockport Union School and the Philadelphia Dental College, from
which he graduated in 1877. In that year he came to Medina, established an office and
enjoys a large practice. Dr. Baker is a prominent ma.son and is master of Lodge 336,
Medina. He is also a member of the Eighth District Dental Society. In 1877 Dr.
Baker married Helen Hill, and they have children, Ethel, Harold Jay, and Ralph Alden.
Dr. Baker's father was Alden D. Baker, and his mother Eliza A Blackmer.
Harwick, Jeremiah, was born in Mendon, Monroe county, January 30, 1816, a son
of Andrew Harwick, a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1820 he came to Barre, this
county, took up fifty acres, on which he erected a log house, and brought on his family
soon taking up fifty acres more. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed in
connection with farming. Andrew married Charlotte Kessler, and their children were:
Daniel, James, Elsie, Jeremiah, Lucinda. Jeremiah on arriving at manhood drove a
stage for several years from Rochester to Lockport, and later settled in Brockport,
where he died. His wife was Mary Proctor. James married Pamelia Orr, and died in
Kansas. Elsie married Ransom P. Orr, of Murray. Lucinda married Hermon L.
Salisbury. Jeremiah Harwick has always followed farming, living in Barre until 1878,
when he settled in Clarendon. He is a member of Albion Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. In 1843
he married Sarah C. Wood, and they have one son, Andrew C, a lawyer at Buffalo.
Keene, Frank M., was born in Mansfield, Cattaraugus county Jan. 21, 1829, and was
the fourth of eight children boin to Asa R. and Emily (Sprague) Keene of that town.
When Frank was seven years old his mother died, after which he was brought up in
the family of Heman Rich. He learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for many
years, chiefly until 1865. He first came to Orleans county to visit but was induced to
locate in Carlton where he worked a farm for eight years. In 187.'! he bought the Van
FAMILY SKETCHES. isn
Duzen farm at Rich's Corners where he has since Hved, although for the last five or six
years he has rented the farm and worked at his trade. In Cattaraugus county, Septem-
3, 1851, Mr. Keene married Ruth, daughter of Justus and Lurinda Dunning, of Brock-
port. Mr. Keene is a conservative Republican. He has been a hard worker and has
always been compelled to make his own way in life. His efforts in this direction have
been successful and he is now the owner of a good farm, and is a man much respected
in the town.
Tinkham. Relly M., was born in Onondaga county, in 1800, and married Chloe
Grinuell. In 1826 the family settled in the southwest part of Barre, where Mr. Tink-
ham died at the age of twenty-six. His widow reiurned to Onondaga county, remarried
and moved to Michigan, where she died. The children of Relly were: Stephen, who
died in Michigan, and Relly M., of Barre Center. Relly Madison Tinkham, jr., was
born March 5, 182G. He was brought up in the family of Weston Wetherbee, and at
the age of twelve began working. At twenty he began for himself as a farm hand, and
in 1849 married Lucina Adelaide Allis, of Barre. After working as farmer for a few
years, Mr. Tinkham came in 1853, to the Center and bought a saw mill, and this he
remodeled into a stave mill and run it till about 1864, through the period of the war,
although he was in the service. In July, 1862, he chiefly organized Co. C, 129th Regi-
ment Volunteer Infantry, enlisted as private himself, but was elected captain. After
nearly a year of active service, Captain Tinkham was discharged for disabilities, upon
which he returned to Barre and his milling interest, but after selling the latter managed
his farm until 1885. He has since lived in comfortable retirement. As a Republican,
Captain Tinkham held the offices town clerk and commissioner of highways, each about
eight years. Of late he has been identified with the Prohibition party.
Hill, Horatio N., who died on his excellent home farm in Barre, June 6, 1891, and
who is remembered as one of the most thorough and earnest farmers, as well as one of
the most straightforward men of Barre, was born in Shelby, in 1826, and was the son
of pioneers William and Clarissa Hill. When twenty-two, Horatio came to Barre, and
taught school, he having been educated in the old Millville Academy. In 1849 he mar-
ried Ilettie, daughter of Joseph Bodine, and they had ten children, viz : F. De Forest,
Fred D., LilHe E., William B., Clarissa A., Joseph H., Walter H. (the last two sons
being la^vyers in Rochester), Mary A., Lowe B., and Hettie E. Horatio N. Hill believed
in the thorough education of his children. He was a strong Republican and an earnest
and devoted member of the M. E. church at West Barre. Joseph Bodine was a native
of New Jersey as was his wife, whose former name was Elizabeth Creveling. They
had six children, three of whom were born in New Jersey and three m Oakfield, where
the family settled in 1833. Of their children only Hettie, Mary and Samuel C. came
to Barre. Abram Bodine lived many years in Barre and died about 1875, leaving no
children.
Keys Family, The. — This family trace their ancestry to Daniel Keys, of Connecticut,
a soldier in the Revolution. His son, Ezra, was the first to come to Orleans county,
about 1825, and he settled in Holley. He had a son, Horatio N., who was born m
1805 and died in 1887, and was a tailor by trade, and was in business in Holley for a
great many years. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and was appointed
postmaster of Holley, in 1861. and served through Lincoln's first administration. He
married first Marietta, daughter of P. Beebe, of Murray, and their children were :
Daniel H., Alma S., and Marietta, who died in infancy. He married second Althea
Beebe, who died in 1892 and their children were: Paphiras B., Marietta, Harlan P.,
Myra, Ezra, Clara, Burton, Eliza F., Silas D., Horace N., and William A. Daniel H.
settled in Cleveland, 0., Alma S. is unmarried, Paphiras settled in Chicago; Marietta
married T. F. Harwood and settled in Bloomington, 111. ; Harlan settled in St. John's,
Michigan ; Myra married John Q. Pierce and settled in St. John's. Michigan ; Ezra
enlisted in the 105th N. Y. Inf., was appointed sergeant and was killed at the second
134 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
battle of Fredericksburg; Clara died at the age of fifteen years ; Burton settled in Hol-
ley, and since 1874 he has been engaged in the furniture business, with undertaking,
and takes an active interest in politics, having served as village president and as trustee.
He served as supervisor during 1878-79 and 1880. He is secretary of the Hillside
Cemetery Association, and one of the stockholders in the Holley Electric Light Co.
Eliza married C. E. Jackson, and sett'ed in Ovid, Michigan ; Silas settled in East St.
Louis, and Horace at Ovid, Michigan. William A. is engaged in the stone quarry busi-
ness at Holley.
Pendry, William H., was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, November, 27, ISL'i.
At the age of fourteen, his mother having died, he left home and lived with his guardian
until he became of age. January 19. 1837, he married Julia Ann Hanna, and in 1838
came to Albion and bought the George and Edwin Rockwell farm of 125 acres. This
farm is now increased to 240 acres and is one of the best in the county, and Mr. Pendry
is known as one of the most successful farmers and stock dealers in the region. By his
marriage with Julia A. Hanna, these children were born: Eliza Jane, who married
George E. Howes ; Clark, who died young ; Augustus Sawyer, of Florida ; Mary A., of
Rochester; William Harrison, jr., who died at five years of age; and Julia, wife of H.
L. Bidleman. His first wife died June 23, 1873, and February 1, 1878, he married
Mary A. Lyman, of Barre. During the days of general training, Mr. Pendry was an
ensign in Ontario county, and after coming to Albion continued his former connection.
He was also a member of the general court martial. He is a strong Republican in poli-
tics, and for twelve years has been one of the elders of the Presbyterian church.
Edwards, Ira, was born in Shelby, Orleans county, N. Y., October 6, 1834. His father,
Edward Edwards, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., December 23, 1810 and in the
spring of 1819 came with his father, Ira Edwards, to what was then Genesee county
and purchased 100 acres of land in Shelby, Orleans county. This farm is still in posses-
sion of the family, and in 1825 was the first estate administered upon in Orleans county.
Edward Edwards was always a farmer, and was road commissioner of Shelby at one
time. The mother of our subject was Eliza Vrooman of Schoharie county. They were
the parents of four children. Mrs. Edwards died in September, 1841, and he married
second Anna Schafer, and they had three children. He died in December, 1886. The
boyhood of subject was spent in his native town, and after attending the district school
he entered Medina Academy. In 1860 he entered the State Normal School at Albany ;
and at twenty years of age began teaching, which he followed many years, having
been principal of Holley Public School, principal of Medina Academy, and also taught
in Albion. In 1870 Mr. Edwards moved to Holley and established a general hardware
store, which he has since conducted. A severe loss to him was^the burning of his store
July 23, 1874, but he rebuilt and has now one of the finest stores and most complete stock
of its class in the county. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, in 1882 was elected supervisor of
Murray, and in 1887 was elected member of assembly for Orleans county, and re-elected
in 1888. He was two years president of Holley, is a member of the Methodist church,
president of the Board of Trustees, and has been superintendent of the Sunday School
thirteen years. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W. He married October 22, 1852,
Jane, daughter of Alonzo Smith, a farmer of Knowlesville, and they have five children:
Lillian, teacher of English and Normal Methods in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at
Lima, N. Y., Frank, and Fred, who are with their father in the store ; Ella M. and
Jennie G., who are also teachers.
Dennis, James, was born at Dover Plains, N. Y., in 1802, and in 1833 removed from
there to Elba, Genesee county, and later to Sweden, Monroe county. He was always
a farmer. He settled in Holley in 1872. He married in 1844 Fanny Torpey, a native
of Cazenovia, Madison county, who came to Elba, Genesee county, where she resided
till her marriage. They had one son, Homer J., who died in 1868. James Dennis died
FAMILY SKETCHES. l.?5
in 1874 at HoUey, and his widow survives him. Mr. Dennis and wife first settled in
Sweden, Monroe county, and in 1870 came to HoUey.
Mosher, Harvey, with his wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca West, were passen-
gers>on the first boat to Albion in 1826. He came to make a home in this then new
country, and settled on a lOO-acre tract of land in the town of Barre (now Albion) on
which George W. Ferguson now lives. Here Mr. Mosher lived until 1855 when he
died. His wife died in 1889. Harvey Mosher was a successful farmer, and unlike
many of those who came to this region at an early date, he possessed enough money to
pay for his farm at the time of its purchase. His children were Eliza A., who married
Truman Gregory ; H. Maria, who married Henry Sloper ; Henry, who died in Michigan
in 1857; James H., now a farmer in Van Buren county, Mich.; Anzoretta, who died
in infancy ; Edward, of Albion, and Melvina, who married Chester Warner. Edward
Mosher was born September 12, 1835, and has always been a farmer. He was educated
in the district schools and at the old Albion Academy. His father died when Edward
was twenty years old, after which the latter took charge of the farm and worked it
successfully. He came to his present farm in 1869. In February, 1861, Mr. Mosher
married Ellen, daughter of Cyrus Thompson, of Carlton. Three children have been
born to them, viz: Gertrude, wife of W. Simmons; Harvey, now in Rochester, and
Ralph, at home with his parents.
Kilner, Charles, was born in Yorkshire, England, four miles from the city of York.
October 13, 1821, and was the youngest of eight children of William and Hannah Kil-
ner. In 1841. Charles came to this country with William Gibson and was to work on
a farm m bhelby, for Gibson, but Gibson not liking the country, returned to England.
At the same time when Char'es came, his oldest brother, John, who had been livmg in
what is now called East Shelby, for several years, had been home to England to make a
visit, and returned to this country with Charles, two married sisters and their families.
Charles made his home with his sister. His brother, being a cabinet maker, he worked
in the shop with him, occasionally working for the farmers in that vicinity by the day.
In July of the next year his father and family came to Shelby. That same season his
father bought forty acres in what is now called West Barre and moved on it. His
father being also a cabinet maker, Charles came with him to work the farm, his father
still working at his trade. March 25, 1852, Charles Kilner married Celia Stevenson, by
whom he had eight children, namely: Hannah E., died in infancy, Maurice is a farmer
living in Camoren, Madison county, Mont. ; Lydia, wife of Herman Bodine, lives in
Burlamont, Van Buren county, Mich. ; William, is a carpenter living in Barre ; Minnie,
wife of Bert Watson, lives in Shelby ; Etta died in infancy ; Jesse, the youngest son,
works on the farm with his father ; Kate died in infancy. Charles worked the farm
for his father until 1856 when he bought it, his father having moved to Shelby some
time before, and there Charles lived until 1872, when he bought the old Hallock farm
in West Barre. Here he has since lived having improved the property in every respect,
especially in the erection of fine buildings. Alfred Stevenson and Elizabeth Evans, his
wife, were natives of Sussex county, England. In 1836 the family came to Monroe
county, and in 1843 moved to West Barre. The children were as follows : Celia, wife
of Charles Kilner ; Albert, now in Adar, St. Clair county, Michigan ; Almira, widow of
Charles Burns ; Ann, widow of George Porter ; Agnes, widow of Horton Whiting ;
Alfred and Elba, of Portland, Mich., and Burton, who died when twelve weeks old.
Alfred Stevenson is now eighty-six years old, and Elizabeth, his wife, eighty-four.
They still live in Barre.
Hill, Asa C, son of William and Clarissa Miller Hill, was born on the homestead farm
of his parents, two miles south of Medina, in the township of Shelby, August 19, 1837,
which place he made his home during his life. He enlisted November 14, 1861, in Co.
D,_28th N. Y. Volunteers, and served bravely as a soldier until January 14, 1863, when
136 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
he received his discharge, on account of the loss of a hmb, caused by a wound received
in the battle at Cedar Mountain. Va., August 9, 1862, at which time he was captured
and taken to Libby prison. He was exchanged October 6, 1862, at Harrison's Landing,
after which he was confined in a hospital until his final discharge. Soon after his return
home from the war, he united with the Shelby Center Baptist church of which he
remained a faithful member until death (April 25, 1881) relieved him of great sufferings
which he bore patientl}' and cheerfully until the end, without a regret for the sacrifice
he had made for his country, ready to pass over the line, and join that great army
whose wounds and scars have all been healed by Him who is able to lead the world on
to victory. In 1878 he married Catharine, daughter of Peter and Susan (Le Foy)
Bodine, late of Clinton, N. J. To them was born one son, Asa Bodine Hill, who, with
the widowed mother still occupies the old homestead, July, 1894.
Hunt, A. B., was born in Ridgewa}-^, April 4, 1818. His father was a farmer and Mr.
Hunt has been engaged in that pursuit, and is still a large land owner. He taught school
a couple of terms, and has been extensively engaged in the stock business. Mr. Hunt
married Sarah M. G-roat, and they have one daughter, Mary K., now Mrs. Charles N.
Hood. Mr. Hunt was captain of the militia company years ago, and has been assessor
and collector in Medina. In every way his life has been a most successful and honor-
able one. His father was Daniel F. Hunt, and his mother Abigail Hunt.
Angevine, Stephen, was a pioneer in Barre, coming to that town from Mendon, about
1825, and purchasing the "betterments" of a previous occupant. He was a carpenter
during his younger days but turned farmer in Barre. His business life was successful
and he died comfortably well possessed. His first wife was Sophia Turner, and to them
were born four children : Alden, Ethan and Martha who went to Michigan, and Moses,
of Barre. Martha died in Michigan aged 28 years. The second wife of Stephen was
Marilla Bishop, by whom he had three children : Melissa, who married Henry Lock-
wood; Sophia, who died young, and Aurelia, who moved to Michigan. Moses Ange-
vine, who is known as one of the most successive and progressive farmers of Barre, and
as well one of its best citizens, was born July 27,. 1826, was brought up on, and now
owns the old home farm of his father. He was reared under the Democratic influence
of his father, but is himself a Republican. His wife, who he married in 1876, was
Catharine Whaling, of Barre. They have no children.
Warner, Jesse, and Elijah Warner, his son, came from Conway, Mass., and a pioneer
of Ontario county, of the year 1794, settled in the town of Phelps, took up land, lived
and died there in the year 1841. Chester Warner, second son of Elijah and Releife
Warner, came to the town of Barre, now Albion, Orleans county, in 1821, resided here
four years, then returned to Phelps, Ontario county, the old home, where he died in
1866 at the age of sixty-four years. In his family were eight children, one of them,
the third son, Sheldon E. Warner, has for many years been a successful farmer of the
town of Albion. He was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, October 8, 1832,
and at the age of twenty- one began for himself. He then came to what is now the
town of Albion and worked a farm for five years and then, in 1859 bought nmety acres
at Porter's corner, in Albion, upon which he was a resident thirty-three years, but
added thereto until over two hundred acres were owned. In 1886 Mr. Warner and
wife came to live in the village of Albion, corner of Main and Park streets. In Decem-
ber, 1853, Mr. Warner was married to Sarah J. Porter, daughter of Allen Porter of the
town of Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., and four children were born of this marriage :
Charlotte E., who died in infancy; George P. Warner, of Albion, Electa W. Peirson,
of Hudson, Mich., and Henry E. Warner, an attorney-at-law in North Tonawanda, N. Y.
Mr. Warner has lived a life of industry and steady habits and now is living on the fruits
of his labor.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 137
McCrillis, Henry, came from the north of Ireland and settled at Portsmouth, N. H.,
in 1742. The family is of Scotch descent. The first of the family to settle in Orleans
county, were George S. and Bowden McCrillis, (brothers) who came at an early date.
They were sons of Michael, Avho was a son of John, and he a son of John whose father
was' Henry McCrillis, referred to above. Michael McCrillis, born in 1778, was the father
of ten children. One son, Lafayette, was a colonel in the Union army during the
Rebellion and was brevetted brigadier general. He died at Washington, D. C, in 1876.
Geo. S. McCrillis was born in Northfield, N. H., January 2, 1801, and was a machinist
by trade. He purchased lands just south of Holley and became a farmer. He married
Jane Smith, and they had two daughters, Mary J., and Henrietta, who married Francis
D. Cogswell. George S. McCrillis died December 9. 1835. His brother, Bowden
McCrillis, was born in New Hampshire, February 22, 1805. On coming to this county
he settled at Clarendon where he became a farmer. He married Hannah Crain, of
Peterboro, N. H., and two of their children, George S. and John L., are still living.
The father died in Clarendon, October 21, 1826. John McCrillis, brother of George S.
and Bowden, came to Orleans county in 1834 fiom Boston. Soon after he purchased a
farm in Clarendon and lived there until 1847, then purchased a farm about a mile west
of Holley, where the remainder of his life was spent. John McCrillis married Elizabeth
Omans, daughter of Jacob Omans, of Clarendon. The children by this marriage were :
George S., who died in Connecticut; John D. and Frank, who settled in Missouri;
Charles, who died in early manhood, and Marcus M. Mrs. McCrillis died April 13, 1855,
and in 1856 Mr. McCrillis married Calista Kellogg, who died December 28, 1892. John
McCrillis died March 4, 1887. His son, Marcus M. McCrillis^ was born in Clarendon,
August 23, 1845. He is a farmer and resides on the old homestead. Mr. McCrillis is a
member of Holley Lodge I. 0. 0. F., and Murray Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1876 he mar-
ried Eliza Skehan, daughter of Matthew Skehan, and their children are: Charles M.,
March, Elizabeth C, and Edna G.
Tuttle, Wilson, was born in Onondaga county February 18, 1820, and died in Lyndon-
ville, August 24, 1889. He moved to Wilson, Niagara connty, in 1840, and in 1842
settled on the lake shore in Yates. After this, excepting four years in Somerset, he
always resided in this town, settling on the present Tuttle homestead in 1867. Septem-
ber 27, 1845, he was appointed a sergeant in the 179th Regiment, 53d Brigade, 23d
Division, N. Y. State Militia, under Lieut. Col. George C. Northrop. He married, Jan-
uary 24, 1850, Cornelia, daughter of Stephen B. Johnson, and their children were :
Sarah M., Cornelia, Mary E., Horace J., and Walter A Walter A. Tuttle was born
March 23, 1862, and March 12, 1884, married Came M Murdock, whose parents immi-
grated from Scotland before the war and settled in Carlton. They have one son, A.
Wilson, born November 24, 1884.
Onderdonk, Henry B., was born in Yates May 26, 1852, and was the son of Abram
and Eliza Onderdonk. He was brought up on a farm and also learned the carpenter's
trade, working at it, however, but a short time. His successful business life was begun
at Lyndonville, where he was a dealer in furniture and an undertaker for eighteen
months; but discovering an opportunity for a successful business at Albion, he came to
that village in 1879. From this time until his death, January 5, 1894, Mr. Onderdonk
was one of Albion's prominent merchants, and also one of its most popular citizens.
He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and was also connected with the temperance
societies of the village. He was also a devoted member of the Baptist church. On July
15, 1878, he married Ella M., daughter of George and Lydia Gray of Albion. The
present firm of Mathes & Onderdonk is a continuation of the furniture and undertaking
business established by Henry B. Onderdonk in 1879.
Waterman, John Hancock, a great-nephew of the famous signer of the Declaration
of American Independence, was a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., born February 15,
138 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
1814, and was one of the twelve children of John and Susan Waterman. He was
brought up on a farm, and in 1819 moved with his parents to Owasco, Cayuga county,
and still later to Wayne county. When eleven years old our subject went to work,
and from that time always made his own way in life. In Owasco, in 1839, Mr. Water-
man married Mary Bevier Nimmons, by whom he had six children : Geraldine, now
wife of Franklin D. Love, or Buffalo; James, of Barre ; George M., of Albion; Justus
D., of Albion; Kate M., of Albion; and Mary E., who died in infancy. In 1845 the
family moved to Barre and occupied the farm, which Mr. Waterman still owns. The
farm now comprises 200 acres, and is considered one of the best in the town. He began
life with no help from his parents, but has built up a comfortable fortune. In politics
he is a Republican.
Miller, John T., was born in the town of Barre, Orleans county, April 13, 1853, and
followed farming until 1890, when he came into Medina and established his prosperous
grocery business. In 1890 he married Rachel S. Gray, of Medina. Mr. Miller's father
was John Miller, a native of England, who came to America in 1851, and his mother
was Mary (Stanford) Miller.
Gilmore, George F., is a grandson of John Gilmore, who was born in Saratoga, and
died in Parma in 1842, aged seventy-two. He settled in Parma in 1810. Thf^ father
of our subject was John, born in Hadley, Saratoga county, April 21, 1800, and died in
Carlton, March 9, 1879. The latter married Delina Sutton, a native of Pittsfield, Otsego
county, born April 15, 1803, and their childred were: Estel, born April 17, 1825, died
March 26, 1879; Berentha E., born March 19, 1827 ; Julia D., born July 3, 1829; Mary
A., born January 21, 1832, died February 13, 1871 ; John W., born April 23, 1834;
George F., born October 30, 1836; Rhoda D., born January 5, 1840, died February 6,
1891 ; Sarah L., born June 4, 1845, died December 29, 1893. The boyhood of George
F. was spent upon the farm, and his education acquired in the public schools. He pur-
chased the homestead farm of eighty acres, which he now owns, in 1877. He was for
some time in Michigan, where he occupied the position of foreman in a sawmill at
Saginaw, the output of the mill being 125,000 shingles daily, with about thirty men
employed. This position he filled for twelve years. Mr. Gilmore is a member of the
I. O. 0. F., Buena Vista Lodge No. 182, Saginaw, Mich.
Luttenton, Joel H., is a grandson of Oliver, who was born in Herkimer county, and
removed from there into Murray in 1822, and died in Carlton February 13, 1849, aged
seventy-seven years. The father of Joel H. was Truman, born in the town of Salisbury,
Herkimer county, in 1801 and died in Carlton, July 27, 1888. His wife was Sarah
Eastman, born in the town of Bridgewater, Windsor county, Vt., in 1804, who died
July 23, 1882. Her parents came to Murray in 1816, when she was twelve years of
age. They were married in 1827, and lived in Murray, where Truman struck the first
blow on the Erie Canal in Orleans county. Settled in Carlton in 1831, where he bought
fiftj' acres of land in the wilderness, on which he afterward lived and died. Their chil-
dren were as follows : Nathaniel, Augusta, Ruth A., Sarah J., Amanda M., May E.,
Truman N., Joel H., who was born in Carlton October 22, 1843, and Rosamond E.
Joel H. married in Illinois, June 24, 1868, Frances M. Richey, born in Charlton, N. Y.,
June 2i5, 1846, daughter of James Richey, who was born in Saratoga county, and died
in Michigan, January 19, 1880, aged eighty-five. He was a captain in the War of 1812,
and married Elizabeth McLean, who died in Chicago in 1891, aged eighty-six. They
were the parents of ten children. Mr. and Mrs Luttenton have had these children :
Miles G., born June 24, 1869 ; Elvira J., born December 20, 1870, died in 1872, and
Florence N., born June 28, 1872 ; who is now a teacher.
Stuckey, William, jr., was born September 18, 1847, in Devonshire, England, a son
of William Stuckey, who came to America in 1851, and settled in Clarendon, where he
engaged in farming. In 1865 he bought a farm a half mile east of the village, and here
FAMILY SKETCHES. 139
he died December 25, 1886. In 1831 he married Mary Parkhouse, and tlieir children
were: Mary A., Martha, Thirza, Rebecca, Emily, William, and Millia. Mary married
David Wetherbee, of this town ; Martha died unmarried ; Thirza married Joseph Turner
of Clarendon ; Rebecca married Ernest Shaw ; Emily died unmarried ; Millia married
Orange Lawrence ; and William is unmarried and resides on the homestead, taking a
lively interest in town affairs. Mrs. Stuckey was born July 6, 1800 and is still living,
her mental faculties being unimpaired.
Gaylord, John, was born December 25, 1813, in Somersetshire, England, and is a son
of William and Martha (Wakelee) Gaylord. In 1859 he went to South Africa, and for
several years was in the British army. During the civil war he was orderly to the
governor of Cape Town, and upon the Confederate cruiser Alabama dropping anchor in
that port he was commissioned to bear a message to her commander to leave the harbor
in two hours, or the ship would be blown up. In 1871 Mr. Gaylord came to America
and first settled in the town of Barre where he lived till 1884, then removed to Claren-
don, and bought the Guy Salisbury farm. Mr. Gaylord takes an active part in the politics
of the town. In 1891, he was elected excise commissioner of the town on the No License
ticket. He is a member of Holley Lodge I. 0. 0. F. In 1867 he married Mary Clark
of Grahamstown, South Africa, and they have three children : Clara, Addie and
Frances.
Warren Family, The. This family traces its ancestry back to the Pilgrims of the
Mayflower. David, the first to settle in Orleans county, came from Tolland, Conn., in
1819, and took up a farm in Clarendon cne and a half miles southeast of Holley. He
was a soldier in the War of 1812. His children were : Palmer, who settled in Batavia ;
Asaph and John, who died young ; Nathaniel, who first settled here and then in Bergen ;
Martha, Rachel, and Emeline, who died young; and James, who was born in 1817, and
died in 1878. He was a farmer, and settled in Clarendon. He married Loduskie
Woodmansee in 1850, and their children are: Wilbur, David, Fred, LeVantia, Lina
L., Charles, Ralph, and Grace. David Warren died in Clarendon in 1841.
Storms, George W., is a son of George Storms, who was born June 6, 1800, near
Johnstown, a son of David Storms. George came to Bergen in 1818, and the same
year moved to Clarendon and bought out a man by the name of Parker, later took up
eighty acres a little northeast, and in 1824 built the house now occupied by his daughter,
Mrs. Emily Wetherbee. In 1826 he took up forty acres more, and built the house on
the opposite side of the road, and here spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1879.
In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican, and was one of the prominent men
of his town. His wife was Eliza Stearns, and their children were: Willard, who
married Temperance North, and resides in Holley ; Sophronia, who married Daniel W.
Mitchel ; Emily, who married Charles Wetherbee ; Ellen, who married Horace Green ;
and George W., who, with the exception of a year spent west, has always resided in
Clarendon. He is a farmer, and for many years dealt in agricultural implements. He
has been a member of Holley Baptist church for over thirty years. In 1852 he married
Phoebe Humphrey, of Clarendon.
Botsford, B. H., is of New England descent, his father and mother being natives of
Vermont and Connecticut. The father, Ephraim Bennett Botsford, was born in Sharon,
Conn., and died in Arcade, Wyoming county, in 1858, aged seventy-four years, and the
mother was born in Vermont and died in Arcade in 1855, aged sixty-six, her maiden
name being Ruth Hatch. The children of Ephraim and Ruth (Hatch) Botsford were
as follows: Alva H., born in Chateaugay, Franklin county, in March, 1810, and died
at Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1879; Osro D., born in Franklin county in 1812, and died
m Iowa in 1884, married Abigail Hall, who died in Iowa in 1886; Lois and Louisa,
(twins) born in Franklin county in 1815, Louisa died at the age of three years, Lois
married Charles Hatch, and died in Michigan in 1892 ; Dahna, was born in Franklin
140 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
county in 1817, and married Samuel Lovel ; Barnabus H. (our subject), born in Arcade,
Wyoming county, in March, 1820; A. Bates, born in Arcade in 1823, and resides in
Grand Rapids, Mich.; Merit, born in Arcade in 1829, and died in Michigan. Ephraim
B. Botsford, the father, was a tanner, currier and shoemaker through life. Barnabus
H. was educated in the common schools of Arcade, after which he learned the trade of
tanner and currier, and the shoemaking business of his father at the age of eighteen,
and followed the business of shoemaking to the present time, in the village of Gaines.
He has been a Republican .since the party was formed in 1856, and has served as town
clerk of Gaines nine terms. Mr. Botsfoi'd, in 1844 married Elmira Truchel, who died
in 1849. They had one son, Albert W., now residmg in Tennessee, is married and had
four children, three living. In 1850 Mr. Botsford married his second wife, Mary C.
Bacon, born in 1813.
Chadwick, Thomas, was born in 1856 in Yorkshire, England, and is a son of Samuel
and Martha (Lund) Chadwick. Thomas Chadwick came to America in 1883 and settled
in Albion where he was engaged in the quarries. In 1885 he was a partner with
Thomas and Allen Chadwick in the quarries. He then purchased lands west of Hinds-
burg on the canal and opened a quarry and has since been engaged in business there.
He married in 1876 Sarah Knowles, and their children are: Lydia, Ethel, Martha,
Jennie M., Ada, Albert, and Fred.
Briggs, Phineas, a native of Massachusetts, came at an early date to Canastota, where
he married Rachel Van Camp, and in 1831, they settled at Rich's Corners. Their chil-
dren were : George Nelson, William Henry Harrison, Marion, Mary, Joseph, Fidelia,
Sarah, and Hersey. Phineas Briggs died in 1861, at the age of sixty-four. His wife
died aged eighty-five. Mr. Briggs took an interest in political affairs though he never
cared for office. He was a great reader of the Bible, a ready and fluent talker, and was
one of the founders of the Baptist church at Albion, though he died a Universalist.
George Nelson Briggs was born July 4, 1812, and his wife, Jane Hoag, was born in
1822. Their children were: Nelson "George, born 1842, died 1863; Mary, born May
12, 1843, married Orrin Osborn ; Alvinza M. ; Horace, who died in infancy ; Emory B.,
born April 14, 1850, now in Nevada ; Ida, born May 12, 1855, widow of George Webb.
George N. Briggs was a farmer, having ninety-four acres of land, and accumulated a
fair property. Like his father, he was a strong Whig and Republican, and a great
reader. He died September 16, 1861, and his wife August 8, 1869. Alvinza M. Briggs
was born March 25, 1845, and in October, 1867, married Sophia Puzey, of Barry. They
had one child, who died in infancy. In 1870, Mr. Briggs engaged in business in Albion,
and, though having been out of business for a year or two, has almost continuously
been engaged at the county seat in connection with mercantile interests. His store, one
of the best in the village, was erected in 1890.
Cary, John, was a pioneer of Kendall, having come to that town in 1817, from Oneida
county bringing his family. His children were : Susan, who married Andrew Stang-
land, and died in Indiana; Bela, who died in Illinois; Richard, who died in Hamlin,
Monroe county ; James, who died in Illinois; Benjamin, who died in Michigan ; John,
now living in Chicago; Isophena, who married first a Mr. Edwards and afterwards Mr.
Hakes; Ozro, who died in Albion; Cicero, now in Minnesota; Canute, who died in
Hamlin and was a clergyman of the Methodist church twenty-five years; Ira B., of
Clarkson : Alexander and Leander (twins), the latter of whom died at Grand Rapids,
Mich. John Cary cleared the farm on which he lived. From Holley to Kendall, he
found his road by marked trees, at that time there being only one house on the lake
shore. His first dwelling was a log cabin. His family came with an ox team to Holley,
thence were conducted to their wilderness home by a Mr. Hubbard. John Cary built
up a substantial property, and has one of the best farms in the county. For twenty-five
years he was connected with the Methodist church, of which he was a trustee. He
FAMILY SKETCHES. 141
died December, 10, 1863, and his wife in June, 1866. Alexander Gary, was born in
Kendall, November 7, 1830, and lived on the old home farm until he was fifty years
old. He was a farmer until he came to Albion, in 1881. In April, 185.0. he married
Sarah A., daughter of Russell Potter, of Carlton, by whom he had five children : Liliie,
deceased; Jennie A., wife of Anson Hutton ; Nellie I., wife of Charles T. Kerry, of
Reed City, Mich. ; Lydia E., wife of E. D. Hickox, of Gloversville, and Ira B., who
died in childhood. Since his residence in Albion he has become connected with the
Presbyterian church, and is now serving his third term as one of its deacons. He is a
Republican, was elected assessor in 1891, and again in 1894.
Whittleton, T. Edwin, is a grandson of Thomas, who was born in England, and died
in 1876, aged sixty-four years. Subject's father was George Whittleton, born in
England, June 29, 1835, and died in Carlton April IL 1894. He emigrated to this
country when eighteen years of age and settled at Medina, N. Y., where he remained
four years, and at which time he married Mary A. Stockwell, born in Lyndonville, N.
Y., December 10, 1838. They moved to Racine, Wis., where they remained two years,
then returned to Ridgeway and remained one year. He purchased a farm at Oak
Orchard of sixty acres, where he lived three years; then sold out and purchased the
farm where our subject now resides. The farm now contains 128 acres. They had
four children : Frank, born in Grant county, Wis., February 5, 1857 ; George, born in
Wisconsin February 12, 1858; T. Edwin, our subject, born in Medina, September 4,
1860; and Phoebe, born in Ridgeway, N. Y., June 21, 1864, died September 26, 1889.
Our subject was reared on a farm, and has always followed farming. He married at
Carlton, January 11, 1881, Libbie E. Groat, born in Jamesville, Onondaga county, N.
Y., May 1, 1860, and they had one son, Floyd C, born October 27, 1881, and died May
25, 1884. Frank L. Whittleton married Laura E. Baker, and has two children, [Mary A.,
born March 12, 1883 ; Myron B., born September 12, 1885. George Whittleton mar-
ried Emma C. Handy, and they have three children : Earl E., born Mav 30, 1881 ;
Daisy E., born January 11, 1883, and Harold Ray, born February 28, 1892. Phoebe
Whittleton, married Walter S. Shackelford, and they had two children : Albertie, born
June 13, 1885 ; and Ora G., born February 29, 1887, died June 26, 1889.
Church, Hon. George B., is the only son of Hon. Sanford E. Church (see Bench and
Bar), and was born July 23, 1842, in Albion. He had the benefit of the best instructors
in his education. He first attended the Albion Academy, and after several terms there
he became a pupil at the famous private school of D. Reed, at Geneva, slill la':er enter-
ing the Geneva Wesleyan Seminary, where he remained over a year. He then took a
course of instruction in the Buffalo Business College, where he finished his education.
In 18G5 at the age of twenty-three he accepted a position in New York city as book-
keeper in the Department of Public Works, which position he successfully filled for
over two years, leavmg his desk to fill a more responsible place. In the winter of 1870
he was appointed deputy superintendent of insurance for the State, which office he
acceptably filled until May 13, 1872, when, until November 22, of the same year, he
was acting superintendent of the department. January 1, 1890, Mr. Church was
appointed Deputy State Treasurer by Hon. Elliott Danforth, State treasurer, which
position he held with marked ability until the retirement of the State ticket in 1894.
In 1866, he married Florence, daughter of Orson Tousley, of Albion. She was born
December 5, 1841. Her mother's maiden name was Cook. Her father moved to Claren-
don with his parents when young, and in 1847 he bought the farm where our subject
now lives. He was a canal and railroad contractor, and was identified with many of
the leading events of his county. He died in 1863, aged sixty-three years. Mr. and
Mrs. Church have had one son, now twenty-six years of age, who, after finishing his
education in the academic lines, studied for the bar, and i>^ now a highly esteemed
young lawyer in his native village.
142 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Posson, Edward, was born in Schoharie county, August 2, 184L He was educated
in Genesee College, came to Ridgeway and followed farming some time, then studied
law in the office of Judge Childs three years and was admitted to the bar in 1874. In
1875 he was elected school commissioner and tilled the position nine years. He was
then a partner in the law firm of Pitts, Posson & Sherwood foi six years. In 1879
was again elected school commissioner for three years, since which time he has been
practicii^g law by himself. He was president of the village of Medina in 1876, 1880,
1881 and 1882, and president of the Board of Education many years. In 1862 Mr.
Posson married Helen Noble, who died in 1863. In 1864 he married Samantha A.
Williams, and they have three children : Neal F., Myra K., and Verna.
Bidwell, Daniel H., was born at Elba, Genesee county, April 23, 1852, and is a son of
Richard, who was a son of Eliphas. Eliphas came from Brunswick, N. Y., in 1835,
and settled two miles east of Albion village on the canal, where he purchased 130 acres
of land and engaged in farming. He was a wagon maker by trade and before coming
to Orleans county followed that business. He married Elizabeth Dubois, and their
children were as followg: Charity, who married Richard Rhodes; Cyrus, who married
Jerusha Hawley and settled in Albion; Richard, of Murray ; Eliphas, a farmer in Ken-
dall; Chester (deceased); Catherine, who married Stephen Webster; Phoebe, who
married George Kingsley ; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Root ; Henry, a soldier in the
War of the Rebellion, who married Mary Scofield and resides in Murray ; Abraham,
who married Mary Root and died at Albion. Richard Bidwell was born May 4, 1817,
in Rensselaer county, and has always been a farmer. He came to Albion with his
parents and resided there until 1852 when he settled in Kendall, and in 1865 removed
to Murray, purchasing the Baker farm on the Ridge road, west of Sandy Creek, where
with the exception of ten years spent in Albion, he has since resided. In 1848 he mar-
ried Rebecca Palmer, and they had one son, Daniel H. Mrs. Bidwell died in 1872, and
in 1874 Mr. Bidwell manied Caroline Ballard. Daniel H. Bidwell isafarmer. In 1872
he married Jane Spalding, daughter of Matthew Spaulding of Murray, and their children
are: Bert D., Arthur H., Florence D., Earl R., Roy F., and Clara J. Ephraim Spaul-
ding was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He came from Monroe
county to Mirray in 1828, and took up a farm on the Ridge road, west of Sandy Creek,
and cleared it. His children were : Erastus, Ephraim, Oliver, Lyman, Edwin, Florilla,
Abigail, Lydia J., and Mathew. Of these, Edwin and Mathew were all that settled in
Orleans county. Edwin was a farmer and died in Kendall. Mathew settled on the
old homestead and was always a farmer. He married Eliza Bain, and to them were
born these children : Jane, who married Daniel H. Bidwell, of Murray, and Alice,
who lived unmarried.
Starkweather, Arthur, is descended from Seth, his grandfather, who was born in
Saratoga county and died in 1855 at Gaines, aged eighty years. Seth Starkweather
settled in Gaines in 1830. The father of Arthur was John, born March ] 1, 1806, in
Saratoga county, and died in Gaines in 1850, and his mother was Alzina Taylor,
born in Saratoga county in 1809 and died in September, 1891. The children of John
and Alzina Starkweather were as follows: George, born in Gaines in 1831, married
Eunice Castle, born in 1834, and died February 22, 1894; Amanda J., born in Gaines
in 1833 and died November, 1853 ; Arthur T., born in Gaines in December 1835 ;
Marion E., born in Gaines in 1837, and died in 1869 ; John, born in Gaines in 1839,
married Anna resides in Brooklyn, and has one child (Fredia); Ray D., born in
Gaines in 1841, and died in 1869 ; Harriet, born at^ Gaines in 1843, died in 1869; Viola
A., born in Gaines in 1845, married John Green, and resides on Long Island ; Seth E.,
born in Gaines, June, 1853, married Sarah J. Johnson, and they have six children : Ray,
Mary (deceased), George, Fred, John, Frank, and Sarah. Arthur Starkweather received
his education from district schools at Long Ridge, after which he worked by the month
on a farm. He then worked as steersman on the Erie Canal for two years, when he
FAMILY SKETCHES. 143
bought a boat and ran it for eighteen years, and finally bought a farm in Gaines, known
as the Shelley farm, where he has since resided. He has served as excise commissioner
for twelve years and as assessor two terms. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.,
Danold's Lodge, Eagle Harbor, No. 224. January 1, 1863, Mr. Starkweather was mar-
ried to Amanda Shelley, born May 17, 1835. Her father. Nathan Shelley, was born in
Hartford, Washington county, March 17, 1798, and died September 23, 1879. He
settled in the town of Gaines with his parents in 1812, first locating on the farm now
owned by John Ferris, and then moved to West Gaines on farm now owned by Fred
Chaver on the Ridge road. It was at his house that the first dance in the town of
Gaines was held. They commenced dancing at three o'clock in the afternoon as was
then the custom, and the only one living who attended that party, is Miss Laura Shelley
of Eagle Harbor. Mr. Shelley married Dorcas Tallman May 21, 1820, and died in
Gaines, September 23, 1879. She was born in Thurman's Patent, Washington county,
August 4, 1795, and died in Gaines March 15, 1879. The children of Nathan and
Dorcas Shelley were : James Miller, born February 7, 1822 ; Diana Julia, born July 24,
1823 ; William Barnum, born March 17, 1825 ; Albert Nelson, born September 19,
1826; Ephraim Sanford, born July 15, 1828; Nathan Alonzo, born July 9, 1830;
Charles Wesley, born December 24, 1832 ; Amanda Melvina, born May 17, 1835. Mr.
Shelley resided on the farm on which he located in December, 1821, until his death.
Arthur T. and Amanda (Shelley) Starkweather are the parents of one child, William
Shelley, born October 1, 1875. When Nathan Shelley moved on his farm in 1821, he
cut down two trees to make a site for the house which he built. This frame house is
still standing.
Hitchcock, Daniel, was born in Columbia county, February 17, 1837. He taught
school several terms before engaging in the railway business. He came to Knowles-
vijle in 1863, and has been station agent here ever since. In 1860 he married Mary M.
Lewis, who died in 1877, leaving two sons and two daughters. In 1879 Mr. Hitchcock
married Mrs. Ella S. Reed. His father was Julius V. Hitchcock, and his mother, Delia
Hilt. Julius V. was a schoolmate and life friend of Samuel J. Tilden, and the Hitch-
cock family have been in America since the days of the Pilgrims.
Fuller, Reuben E., is a grandson of Capt. John Fuller, who died in Carlton in 1817.
Reuben, son of John, was born in Pennsylvania May 7, 1800, and died May 13, 1891.
He came to Carlton with his parents and settled in 1810 on the farm now owned by
his son, our subject. The children of Capt. John Fuller and his wife, Amy Shaw, were:
John, Stephen, Reuben, George, Thomas, Polly, Lorinda and Sally. The children of
Reuben, sr., and his wife, Fanny Morehouse, were: Norman, born in 1826; Harvey,
born in 1828, died in 1833 ; Fanny M., born in 1830 ; Reuben E., our subject, born
August 3, 1832; Joanna, born in 1834; Susan P., born in 1838, died in 1851; George
S., born in 1841 ; Harriet E., born in 1843, died in 1847 ; and Lewis D., born in 1845.
Mrs. Fanny Morehouse was born in Connecticut in 1804 and died in 1856. Reuben E.
was educated in the common schools of Carlton, and attended the Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary at Lima. He was given fifty acres of land by his father, and to this he has added
until his place now comprises 108 acres. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., Kuckville
Lodge No. 374, and also a member of the A. 0. U. W. of Waterport, No. 156. Septem-
ber 5, 1854, he married Delilah Williams, born in Carlton January 14, 1838, and died
August 19, 1856. She left one child, Perry E., born August 17, 1856, who died
December 16, 1860. Mr. Fuller married second, Celia Fuller, born November 4, 1834,
and they have had seven children: Lester S., born February J 9, 1858, died December
29, 1862 ; Hattie D., born September 21, 1860, married Zachary Thompson, and has
four children : Alvah A., born December 4, 1863, married Sadie E. Rice ; Vernon E.,
born October 14, 1867, married Susie M. Eckler ; Gertie A., born August 24, 1870,
married James H. Smith, and has one child: G. Ray, born February 13, 1872; and
Myron C, born September 28, 1876, died March 7, 1887. Reuben Fuller, father of our
144 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
subject, was three times married, his first wife, Joanna Strickland, having died without
issue. His third wife was Harriet St. John, who died October 27, 1889.
Hoagland, Abrara B., was born March 16, 1822 at Amsterdam, Montgomery county.
He is a son of Richard, whose father, Abram Hoagland, was a soldier in the War of
1812. Richard Hoagland, settled at Howard, Steuben county, and there the early life
of Abram B. was spent. In 1869 he settled at Hulburton, where he has since resided.
From 1843 to 1880 he was engaged in boating on the various canals of the State. He
opened a stone quarry at Hulburton, in 1889 and has since carried on that business.
Mr. Hoagland has been twice married. His first wife was Lovica Carr, of Steuben
county, and they were the parents of six children, none of whom are now living. His
second wife was a Mrs. Perry, of Alleghany county.
Simonds, Edwin B., was born in the town of Shelby, December 20, 1860, and is the
second son of Egbert B., and Arvilla L. Simonds. His education was obtained princi-
pally in the common schools and at the State Normal School at Brockport, N. Y. He
taught school for five years, read law in the office of Childs & Pitts at Medina two
years, and with Judge Hulett of Rochester one year, after which he took a course in
the Albany Law School from which he was graduated in 1884, and received the degree
of LL. B., from Union University, of which the Albany Law School is a part, and
immediately began the practice of his profession at Medina. In 1888 the present firm
of Simonds & L'Hommedieu was formed. Mr. Simonds takes an active mterest in
politics and is a staunch Republican. In 1892 he was elected district attorney, which
position he still fills.
Card, John W., was born in Berkshire county, Mass., February 27, 1829. He learned
the blacksmith trade and followed it thirteen years. He came to Medina in 1844 and
after giving up his trade engaged in the commission business, which he followed suc-
cessfully for many years. In connection with the forwarding and commission business,
Mr. Card also conducted an insurance office, and this special line he still continues. In
1884 Mr. Card and his son. Earl W., opened Card's Bank, in Medina, which is a well
managed and successful fiduciary institution. Mr. John W. Card married Mary E.
McKean in 1855 and they have one son. Earl W., who was born March 22, 1861. In
1888 Earl W. Card married Mary H. Clark, and they have two children : Marjory
W., and Robert Earl. Both gentlemen have held public office in Medina.
Acton, Edward, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1846, a son of John and
Frances (Lang) Acton. He came to America with his father in 1863, settling at Pater-
son, N. J., where they remained a short time, then his father returned to Ireland. In
1867 father again came to America, and settled in the southeast part of the town of
Clarendon with Edward and in 1873 Edward bought the Deacon Aughton farm. He
is a member of the West Sweden Free Methodist church. In 1867 he married Margaret
Strogen, and in 1887 he married second Anna Kenny. His children are: Robert E.
and Floyd H. His sister Sarah, married James Kane, and his lather, John, died in
Clarendon in 1893 at the age of ninety years.
Skinner, Ezra Delano, was born in Barre, July 21, 1845, one of the ten children of
Jarvis M., and Mary (Delano) Skinner, pioneers of the town. The young life of our
subject was spent on his father's farm and he was educated chiefly at the Lima Seminary,
and before his course was fully completed he taught winter school. After leaving the
seminary he taught eight years in Albion and elsewhere; at Gaines, Millville, Water-
port and Knowlesville. For about thirteen years he was more or less engaged in busi-
ness operations, and was in a great measure interested with his father's aft^airs, the latter
having practically retired from active work. The homestead (purchased in 1822) came
to him and he is still its owner, allhough principally occupied with extensive produce
and coal business at Albion, in which he became first interested in 1878. February 14,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 145
1877, he married Josephine M., daughter of Alonzo Porter, of Holley, and they have one
child, Ethel M. Mr. Skinner is an active Republican, and a member of the Albion M.
E. church, being one of its trustees and stewards.
Hatch, John Almerin, vp^as born in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, and settled in
Gaines in 1868. His grandfather, Jacob Hatch, was born in Barnstable county, Mass.,
and was killed at the battle of Sackett's Harbor in 1812, aged forty-eight years. John,
sr., father of our subject was born in Falmouth, Mass., in 1805 and died in Bloomfield,
Ontario county, December 25, 1883. He married Sarah P., daughter of Ambrose Grow.
Avho served seven years in the Revolutionary War. She was born in Springfield, Mass.,
in 1812, and is now living in Gaines village with her son. The children of John and
Sarah Hatch were: Edwin T., born in Fabius in 1838, and died in Denver, Col., in
1891; John A., born in East Bloomfield September 5, 1840; Sarah J., born in East
Bloomfield, March 4, 1842; Angeline F., born in East Bloomfield January 12, 1844;
Emeline N., born in East Bloomfield August 14. 1850, and died at the same place in
1882. John Almerin Hatch was educated in the common schools of East Bloom-
field and was graduated from the academy of that place in 1858. He learned the
blacksmith trade with Mumford Hayes, and in October, 1861, he enlisted in the 1st
N. Y. Volunteer Engineers, Co. G., which was recruited at Canandaigua. and was
discharged November 29, 1864. He was in nine engagements, and was three times
wounded. Mr. Hatch is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No.
58 of Albion, also a number of the G. A. R., Curtis Bates Post No. 114, of Albion.
In 1865 he married Jane Macomber, born December 13, 1840, and died in 1887. They
had three children as follows: Ralph H., born January 10, 1867, married Alice Palmer,
resides in Gaines, and has one child, Doris J. ; Eunice, born June 14, 1870, married
Charles W. Sisson, and they reside in Medina and have one child, Elsworth ; Minnie,
born in 1873. Mr. Hatch married for his second wife Mariette Beachtell, born in
1852, by whom he has one child, John G., born March 21, 1889.
Saunders, R. R., was born in Prince Edwards county, Ontario, May 18, 1853, and
came to the United States in 1870. He first engaged in the brick business, then for
three years was in the grocery business, and for twelve years was in the liquor business
in Medina. In 1884 he began farming in Shelby, where he owns a fine farm near
Shelby Centre. In 1893 he was elected highway commissioner for one year, and in
1894 re-elected for two years. In 1879 Mr. Saunders married Myra Lonnen, and they
have two children, Frank and Raymond. Mr. Saunders's father was Franklin Saunders,
and his mother Almina Merriett Saunders.
Glidden, Smith, the fourth son of Asa Glidden, was born in Stanstead, Canada, Sep-
tember 23, 1812. He came with his father in 1816 to Clarendon, where, until his death
in 1871, he lived a successful farmer, a man honored and loved. His wife was Cordelia
Wheeler and their children were : Edgar H., who married first S. Gertrude Hurd, and
second Mrs. Elizabeth Holden, and died in Holley in 1893 ; Louisa A., wife of J. E.
Miner, of Clarkson ; Melissa E., widow of W. H. Southworth, of Holley ; Edward W.,
who served four years in the Union army and afterward married Libbie Woolsey, of
Iowa, and settled in that State, where he died in 1880 ; Daniel S., of Sioux Falls, S.
Dakota, who married Josephine, daughter of Daniel Martin, of Clarendon ; Clarissa C,
wife of Fred H. Glidden, of Holley ; Alice R., wife of J. A. Jackson, of Clarendon ;
Susan M., wife of Charles B. Irish, of South Hero, Vermont; Frank W., of Buffalo,
who married Franc Holt, of Byron ; Frances A., wife of George O. D'Olier, of Rochester,
and Charles H., of Little Falls, who married Margaret Milne, of Holley.
Armstrong, E. R., M. D., Holley, N. Y.
Young, John H., was born September 3, 1842. His grandfather, Jacob, was born in
Germany, and came to America, and to Orleans county, locating first in Eastern, N. Y.,
140 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
where his sou John, father uf our subject, was born. The latter married Mary Ann,
daughter of EUhu Mather, a descendant of Cotton Mather. Tlie children of John and
Mary were: Eunice, Emily, Miller, Caroline, Martha, Mary, Henry, Mather, Malona,
John, born in Gaines, Ann Eliza, and Dwight. Our subject attended the common
schools, and later the Albion Academy. He first engaged in farming, and is now a
fruit raiser, in which he has been very successful. January 3, 1865, he married at
Frankfort, Herkimer county, Hannah Thomas, who was born in Frankfort, January ] 0,
1842. Her parents were natives of Wales, her father, Timothy, having died in Frankfort
in 1856, aged sixty-two years, and her mother, Mary (Williams) died in 1884, aged
eighty-seven. Our subject and wife have had five children : Frank D., born in 1865,
married Carrie Woodard, and has two children, Claud and Louis H., born in Clarendon,
in 1869, died in 1883; Hattie May, born in Gaines June 10, 1872, died in 1873; and
Daisy Bell, born in Gaines, February 3, 1876 ; Minnie E. carries on a dressmaking
business in Gaines.
Cook, George C, was born in Schenectady, N. Y., November 4, 1825. The principal
business of his life has been as dealer in stock, which he followed for twenty-eight
years. He also had charge of a cigar manufacturing business for three years. In 1847
he married Olive Comstook, who died in 1882. They have three children living: S. A.
Cook, of Medina ; Amos A. Cook, of Lancaster, and Mrs. George Alford, of Lincoln,
Neb. One son, George J. Cook, who died m 1892, was a singularly successful business
man and gave promise of a bright future. Mr. George C. Cook, the subject of this
sketch, is one of the best known and most honored citizens of Orleans county. Governor
Morgan in 1862 appointed the War Committee for Orleans county, composed of Sanford
E. Church, Noah Davis, jr., Edwin R. Reynolds, John Ryan, George C. Cook, George
T. Anthony, D. B. Abell, Aaron Beebe, David U. Hatch, and Ezra T. Coann, and they
were the leading citizens of the county, and Mr. Cook rendered efficient service on this
committee. Mr. Cook also was active in organizing the 17th N. Y. Battery and was
one of the first lieutenants and went to the front with the battery. Mr. Cook is now
living with his second wife, Mrs. Hannah Cook, to whom he was married October 23,
1882. Mrs. Cook was born in Outness, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1836, and at the
time of her marriage to Mr. Cook, was the widow of Mr. John Field. Mr. Cook has
been a successful business man and always held in high esteem by all his acquaintances.
Up to the time of his entering the army, he was in the enjoyment of excellent health,
but since that time he has suffered a great deal and has not been the man physically, he
was before. In politics Mr. Cook has always acted with the Democratic party and was
one of the trusted friends of that Democratic leader, Sanford E. Church. He is now
enjoying the competency secured by his own efforts and in the society of his children
and many friends lives happily. Genial and affable, it is a treat to listen to his recital
of the early times in Orleans county and the reminiscences of his pioneer life.
Matson, David, was the progenitor of the Matson family in Clarendon, the family
being of English descent. David was born October 31, 1778 at Stratford, Conn., and
died at Clarendon May 23, 1876. He came to Clarendon about 1814, and took up
a tract of land there, on which he erected a log house, and in 1815 brought his family.
He and his family endured all the hardships of pioneer life, went to Batavia for their
milling, that being the nearest mill, and he made the shoes for the whole family, his
wife doing the spinning and weaving. Mr. Matson became one of the prominent men
of his locality, and was one of the founders of the Uni\ersalist church in Clarendon.
He married Betsey Kelly, born August 4, 1784, who died November 21, 1872. Their
children were : Elizabeth, Asahel, Polly, David, jr., Julia Ann, Lyman, John M., Henry
Owen and Hollis. David Matson, jr., settled on the homestead and was one of the leading
farmers of the town. His educational privileges were limited, but being of a studious
turn of mind he succeeded in preparing himself for teaching, and taught school at Ben-
nett's Corners, Manning, Sweden, and Wheatland. He was an active Democrat, and a
FAMILY SKETCHES. 147
prominent and influential" member of the Universalist church, In 183G he married
Philinda C. Patterson, and their children were: Polowna, born in 1837; Edwin, born
in 1830; Edgar, born in 1843 ; Amasa, born in 1845 ; George 1., born in 1847 ; Lewis
E., born in 1849; Josephine, born in 1852, and Cora F. Mrs. Matson died in 1857
and he married second Mrs. Chanty A. Tasker, of Saco, Me., by whom he had one son,
Willis A., born in 1867, a lawyer who settled in Brockport, and married Rose Randall.
Randall, H. W., was born in Wheatfield, April 29, 1842. In 1869 he married Susan
Watts, and they have two children, Dora B. and Linus W. In 1880 Mr. Randall came
to Orleans county. His father, William Randall, was a native of New Hampshire.
His mother was Louisa Blanchard Randall, a native of New York State.
Scofield, Edward, was born in Monroe county May 27, 1849. He was educated for
an architect and has filled responsible positions in Chicago and other western cities. He
was engaged in the nursery business fifteen years and latterly has been engaged in
farming and giving attention to inventions, of which he has perfected half a dozen, the
most notable of which is his wire fence, pronounced to be the best in the market. His
father was Samuel Scofield, who was one of the leading men in Monroe county in his
day, and his mother, Jane H. (Cox) , Scofield. His father and mother's grandparents
were among the early settlers of Monroe county, arriving there about the same time.
The country was then a wilderness. Selecting what is now the town of Wheatland
for their future home, and on the mother's side, using a sleigh box to sleep in, and keep-
ing fires burning around them to keep o9^ the wolves, until they could build. Each had
laige tracts of land running from the rich bottom land of the Genesee west, and south
of and near the village of Scottsville; and many are the Indians who have slept in front
of the fireplace over night or had a meal of victuals from their board.
Rod well, George, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1837, and came to the
United States in 1856, settling in Riga, Monroe county, where he followed farming. In
1878 he moved to Clarendon, and bought a farm east of Bennett's Corners. He married
Elizabeth M., daughter of George and Rachel (Heffer) Bridgeman, of Greece, Monroe
county, and their children were : Sarah, who married Willis H. Warren; Cora, who
married Lewis D. Bartlett; James H., who married Cora E. Cheney; George H.,
Edward A., and Jessie E. George Rodwell died 1893.
Swartout, James H., was born in Albany county, March 2, 1834, and came to Orleans
county in 1852. In 1860 he married Cynthia Landers, daughter of Benjamin Landers,
and they have one daughter, Alice Barrett. Mr. Swartout's father was Cornelius
Swartout, and his mother Jane (Arnold) Swartout. His father was a native of Dutchess
county. Mr. Swartout has been a farmer all his life.
Robb, James W., was born in Holley, June 17, 1837, a son of Joseph W. Robb, who
was born at Dublin, N. H., October 18, 1807, and the father of the latter came from the
north of Ireland at an early date, settling in Dublin, N. H. Joseph W. was the first of
the family to come to Orleans county, where he traveled on the road with goods for a
time, and later was a prominent business man, grocer, owner of a market, etc., in Hol-
ley. He finally erected a store and took in his son James W. as partner, until it was
destroyed by fire, when his son rebuilt it, having bought the site from his father. James
W. was engaged in business at Churchville, for a time, and for several years was travel-
ing salesman. Mr. Robb has been burnt out several times, but has always rebuilt and
persevered in his business, in which he has met with success. He married Cameha,
daughter of Ephraim Thompson, of Kendall, and their children living are : Harriet,
Albert W., and Florence. Joseph W. Robb married Maria T. Pierce, of Clarendon, and
their children were : Agnes, Mary, Helen, Julia, and James W., all of whom grew to
maturity. One son and one daughter died young.
148 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY,
Wright, Leonard, was born in Glostershire, England, in 1841. His father, Thomas
Wright, was also a native of Glostershire, England, born March 25, 1814, and his wife,
Mary Ann Webb, was a native of the same place, born 1815. They emigrated to this
country in July, 1854, and settled in Canada. The father is still living in Canada, but
the mother died May 28, 1887. Their children were : Caroline, who died in 1889 aged
fifty-two ; Joseph, who resides in Canada; Leonard, our subject; Eliza, who resides in
Canada; Sarah, who died in March, 1870; Mary, who resides in Canada; Emily, who
resides in Canada.- Leonard Wright received his education in England before he was
nine years old. He came from Canada to Cattaraugus county in the spring of 1866.
He had previously learned the blacksmith trade in Barre, Canada, and worked at his
trade in Otto and East Otto until the fall of 1867, and then came to Kenyonville,
Orleans county, N. Y., in the fall of 1868. Here he carries on the blacksmith and
wagonraaking business, and deals in all kinds of agricultural implements. Mr. Wright
is a member of the I. 0. G-. T. Lodge, No. 591, Kenyonville. October 30, 1867, he
married Sarah Bailey, of Otto, Cattaraugus county, who was the daughter of Isaac D.
Bailey, and was born August 18, 1847. Isaac D. Bailey was born in 1818 and is still
living in Otto, and his wife, Rachel Popple, was born October 6, 1820, and died April
20, 1873. The children of Isaac and Rachel Bailey Avere : Sarah T., wife of our subject ;
Albert H., born June 3, 1849, and Annette, born October 19, 1854, and died December
12, 1864. The children of Leonard and Sarah (Bailey) Wright were : L. Eber Wright,
born December 17, 1870; Alice Edna, born June 8, 1873; Raymond Edward, born
August 29, 1879. Eber is a farmer by occupation.
L'Hommedieu, Wallace, was born in Shelby, September 8, 1833. In 1862 he married
Frances M. Berry, and their children are : Avis, (Mrs. H. D. Jump) ; Irving Marcus, a
leading lawyer of Medina; John B., a physician in Riverside Hospital, New York;
Jessie and A. Warren. Mr. L'Hommedieu is one of the leading men of Shelby, has
been supervisor three terms and member of assembly in 1890-91, besides holding other
local offices. His father, Henry L'Hommedieu, was born in Franklin county, Vermont,
January 13, 1799, and is still living. Subject's mother was Almira (Hathaway) L'Hom-
medieu.
Lum Family, The, in America, traces its lineage to Samuel Lum, born June 13, 1619,
died August 19, 1703, whose children were: Jonathan, Matthew, and Samuel, jr.
Jonathan Lum's children were John, Samuel, Joseph and Jonathan, jr. Matthew Lum's
children were: Matthew, jr., and Obadiah. Samuel Lum, jr.'s children were Samuel,
John, and David. The grandchildren of Jonathan Lum, sr., were Dr. Jonathan, son of
John ; Curtiss and a brother, sons of Samuel, who were killed in the Revolutionary
War; Reuben, son of Joseph; and John, Adam, Lemuel, Henry, and Jonathan, sons of
Jonathan jr. The grandchildren of Matthew Lum, sr., were : Matthew, son of Matthew,
jr. ; and James and Daniel, sons of Obadiah. ^The grandchildren of Samuel Lum, son of
Samuel, were a large number of descendants of Samuel, jr.; Stephen and John C., sons
of John ; and David, son of David. Adam Lum, had fourteen children, of whom James,
born July 6, 1782, married, September 1, 1806, Lucy Hawkins, and had five children :
Charles, Silas H., Lucy R., James, jr., and Chauncey H. He died November 9, 1843.
He came to County Line in 1819 and settled in the edge of Niagara county. He was a
scythe maker and his father was an iron worker. Charles Lum moved into Yates in
1833. Chauncey Harrison Lum, born November 6, 1822, married, January 30, 1850,
Phebe E. Fuller, who was born May 3, 1827, and died November 26, 1873. Their
children were: Eva H., Helen A., Willis C, and George F. He married, second,
November 19, 1874, Hattie Greeley, born May 20, 1845, died December 10, 1876, and
third, June 6, 1878, Mrs. Martha Kemp. xMr. Lum has been a justice of the peace of
Somerset and of Yates and was postmaster at County Line under President Polk. He
was supervisor of this town in 1859 and 1860, and is indefatigable m the research of
local histories, being a recognized authority in historical matters. He is also president
FAMILY SKETCHES. 149
of the Yates Pioneer Association. Curtis Lum, another son of Adam, was born Sep-
tember 17, 1779, came to Yates in 1826, and died March 23, 1852. In 1803 he married
Eunice Hawkins, born 1780, died September 26, 1846, and their children were:
Deforest, born February 18, 1804, died 1807 ; Isaac, born November 27, 1806 ; CaroHne,
born November 16, 1809; Deforest, 2d, born April 18,1812; Jane A., born May 23,
1814, died February 10, 1839 ; David, born March 25, 1817 ; and Chauncey, born May
26, 1821, died May 1, 1838. Deforest Lum, 2d, married, January 20, 1842, Betsey
Evans, and their only cliild was Helen E., born August 10, 1845. Mrs. Lum died May
13, 1877; Mr. Lum died November 13, 1880.
Rowley, Henry, is a descendant of WiUiam Rowley, who was born in France and
died in Palmyra, Wayne county. Subject's father was Stephen B. Rowley, born in
Wayne county, and died in Carlton in 1886, aged eighty-three years, and his mother
was Phoebe Wood. They had four children : Elizabeth, born in Wayne county in
1821 ; WilUam, born in Wayne county in 1823 ; Henry, born July 4, 1829 ; and Phoebe
Jane, born in Wayne county in 1831. Subject was reared on a farm, and m 1864
purchased the Hatch farm of eighty-three acres, where he now resides. He has held
the office of assessor six years, and is a member of the I. 0. G. T., of Kenyonville, No.
591. Mr. Rowley married at Carlton June 15, 1854, Eunice Hatch, born August 11,
1834, and died February 1, 1881. They had three children: Charles H., born April
23, 1863, who married Marion Robinson, by whom he has two children: Clayton,
born August 19, 1885, and Edith, born in March, 1887 ; Martha E., born April 28, 1858,
and died February 24, 1864; and Cora B., born September 16, 1869. Subject married
second Jennie E. McKennan April 3, 1883. She was born October 4, 1844, and they
have had one child, George Lincoln, born April 20, 1886.
Bingham, John P., was born in Porter, Niagara county, August 7, 1836. a son of
Randall Bingham, a native of Jefferson county, who settled in Niagara county about
1830, where he was a farmer. About 1846 he went to Mississippi and there engaged in
the lumber and mercantile business. He married Zilpha Griggs. John P. returned to
Niagara county in 1861 and in August, 1862, he enlisted in the 151st N. Y. Infantry,
serving till the close of the war. He was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek. In
1866 he returned to Mississippi, where he remained three years, and then came back to
Niagara countv, settling in Cambria. In 1886 he came to Clarendon. He is a mem-
ber of the I. 6. G. T. and I. 0. 0. F., also of the Clarendon M. E. Church. He mar-
ried Rachel H. Morris June 8, 1859, and they have two children living, Nell E., who
married Frank Tompkins, and M. Ora.
Reynolds, Hiram D., was born in Shelby, Orleans county, February 4, 1841. His oc-
cupation has always been that of a farmer, although he is also interested in the quarry
business. In 1864 he married Mary A. Dewey, and they have one daughter, Ella M.
Mr. Reynolds's father is Valentine Reynolds, a native of Vermont, who settled in Shel-
by in 1818, and is still living. His mother was Fauny McCormick, who died in 1880.
Curtis, William R., is a son of John, whose father, John, came from New Hampshire
in 1816 and settled at Bergen, but died at East Carlton in 1826, aged sixty years. He
had nine children: George, Lucetta, John, father of William R., born in 1808, and died
in 1885 : Sally, Charles, Ruth, Frederick, Francis and Moses. John, jr., married first
Charlotte B. Schofield. who was born in 1815. and died in 1849. Their children were :
Nancy, bom May 24, 1833; Mary Ann, born November 20, 1835; George, born Sep-
tember 4, 1837; Frederick, born May 8, 1839; John, jr. (deceased), born November 5,
1840; William R., born October 30, 1842 : John, jr. (deceased), born January 26,1844;
and Cynthia J., born May 4, 1847. His second wife was Caroline, by whom he had four
children, of whom only one is living now, Sanford H. Curtis, born January 8, 1859.
Caroline died May 8, 1863. William R. was educated in the common schools, finishing
at the Albion Academy. He has served as collector, assessor and supervisor, and is a
150 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
Republican. December 20, 1863, he enlisted in the 8th Heavy Artillery, Company K,
2d Corps, and was honorably discharojed in June, 1865. He participated in the battles
of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, where he was wounded. Mr. Curtis married ai Al-
bion June 7, 1866, Mary H. Reed, born March 31, 1844, a daughter of Reuben Reed.
The latter was born November 19, 1805, and died in 1879. He married Lucy Maria
Andrus, born September 9, 1819, died May 27, 1884, and they had nine children. Mr.
and Mrs. Curtis have had these children : William Reed Curtis, born June 23, 1867,
married Cora Kimball and has three children, Helen, Leon and Berenice; Grace L.,
born November 28, 1871, married George B. Murray, and has one child, Curtis; Adin
R., born October 9, 1880 ; and Bessie, born November 13, 1885. Mr. Curtis is a mem-
ber of Jones Post, G. A. R.
Mack, James Wolcott, was born in Brooklyn, Pa., March 2, 1831, and was the second
of seven children of Marvin L. and Emeline (Palmer) Mack, who were born in Con-
necticut and came with their parents to that then wilderness country, Brooklyn, in
1810-11 ; the first settlemf^nt was made in 1797. When of age he followed the trade of
his father, as builder, in Susquehanna county and elsewhere, and for a period of more
than twenty-two years he led an active and business life. In 1872 he came to this
county, where many of his friends and relatives were then living. He bought the Sill
farm, upon which he now lives and which is known among the best in Barre. Mr.
Mack married Carrie, daughter of Elijah P. and Minerva Sill, and they have two chil-
dren, Virgil S. and Carroll M. Mr. Mack is a strong Republican, but independent in
religious sentiment.
Lynch, Michael, was born in County Math, near Dublin, Ireland, emigrated to this
country when twelve years of age and settled in Ogden, Monroe county, where he re-
mained about twelve years. He removed to Gaines in 1862 and remained until 1867,
when he sold his property there and removed to the town of Carlton, where he bought
and sold four different farms. He now owns a farm at Carlton Station containing
eighty-four acres. Subject's father was William, born in Ireland and died in Holley in
1871, aged sixty-four years. His wife was Ann Bruton, born in Ireland and died in
Gaines in 1867, aged sixty-four years. They had eight children: James, Patrick, and
Thomas (deceased), Julia, John, William, Robert, and Michael. Our subject was born
March 29, 1836. Subject is a carpenter by trade, at which he worked in his younger
days, but he is now engaged in farming. He married, in 1859, at Brockport, N. Y.,
Mary Jane Kelly, who was born December 27, 1837, in Ireland. Their children are:
Mary Jane, born in Ogden, N. Y., October 1, 1860, and married Peter Roche, by whom
she has one child, Lewis Bernard, born February 9, 1891 ; William John, born July 27,
1862 ; Robert E., born October 19, 1864; Anna M., born August 15, 1866; Frank M.,
born November 18, 1868, died November 1, 1893 ; Mark P., born July 26, 1871 ; Julia
E., born October 7, 1873, and Joseph F., born May 8, 1875.
Cfilburn, F. E., born in Albion, October 30, 1858. He started out in life in the print-
ing business, and in 1876 embarked in the project of a portable printing office. He
sold out to his partner and went into the boot and shoe business with Henry Styles,
under the firm name of Colburn & Styles. In 1881 he sold out to Mr. Styles and went
into the boot and shoe business in Rochester, and two years later he became manager
for G. W. Ingalls & Co. of their Medina branch. In 1893 that house failed and Mr.
Colburn went into business for himself. June 15, 1881, he married Ida Louise Gris-
wold, and they have three children : Florence, Corinne, and Claribel. Mr. Colburn's
father is Caleb Colburn, and his mother Elizabeth (Hill) Colburn.
Thompson, John, a native of New York city, served one year in the war of 1812 as
fifer, moved to Cayuga county, and came thence to Gaines, where his son James was
born April 29, 1810. His other children were Annie, Betsey, Clara, Adna, Andrew,
and William. The family removed to the mouth of Johnson's Creek in Carlton about
FAMILY SKETCHES. 151
1820, where William was lost in the woods one night in the fall, his skeleton being
found in the spring about twenty rods from the house. James Thompson married, in
1830, Laura Cushman, who died in May, 1890, his death occurring in September, 1890.
Their children were John, Abner (died in the Civil War), Elias, Phoebe (Mrs. Hiram
Carpenter, of Yates). Harriet (Mrs. Christopher Edwards), Clara (Mrs. William Can-
ham), and Eleanor (Mrs. James Tichenor).
Carpenter, William, came to Yates in 1823 and settled on the farm now owned by
his son Hiram. In 1849 he moved to Michigan, where he died. He married Mrs.
Zilpha Mead, and his children were : Charles, Hiram, William H., Martin V. B., and
Susan (Mrs. Wilcox), and a step-daughter, Phoebe (Mrs. Homer Warner). Of these
Hiram is the only one living in Orleans county. William H. was highway commissioner
of Yates and a captam in the State militia. Hiram Carpenter was born November 7,
1821, married Phoebe, daughter of James Thompson, of Carlton, and their children are :
Eva and Charles (deceased), Martha, Hortense, James, Susan, Ruth M., and Maud S.
Chugg, George, was born in 1845, in Devonshire, England, and came to America in
1875, where he settled in Barre, this county, first, and a few months later came to
Clarendon, where he has since resided, and follows agriculture. He married, in 1867,
Mary J. Knott, and their children are as follows: Mary A., who married James Bird ;
Thomas W., Eliza, Maria, Rosa, Bessie, and George.
Hiram, Fargo, was one of the early and substantial settlers of Barre. He was born
in the town of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y. From there he moved to the town
of Henrietta, where he married Electa, daughter of Joel Clark. In 1827 they came to
Barre. Eleven children were born to them : Mary, who married James L. Culver ;
John A., now a resident of Spencerport, Monroe county ; Olive, who died in 1850 ;
Susan, who married Alfred Carpenter, and after his decease, F. A. Eaton ; 0. T., who
died in Illinois; Imogene, who died in Minnesota; Laura, who married W. H. Puzey ;
Almon B., of Clarendon, a soldier in Company D, 151st Regiment; Amelia E., who
married Charles H. Mattison ; Jeremiah C, living in the State of Washington, who was
in the 4th Heavy Artillery three years; and Antoinette, wife of F. Harvey, who died
in Kansas. Charles H. Mattison. who during his life-time was one of Barre's most
worthy citizens and who was honored equally with any man the town has ever pro-
duced, was born March 27, 1837. Until he went into service he lived on a farm. Sep-
tember 9, 1861, Mr. Mattison enlisted in Company D, 151st Regiment, and was elected
orderly ; was later promoted sergeant, and still later second lieutenant, but did not
accept a commission as such. He was subsequently examined before General Casey's
board and commissioned lieutenant, 26th U. S. Colored Troops, and later promoted
adjutant of the regiment. He acted as adjutant general under General Saxton and
served until the latter part of 1865, making an enviable record as a soldier and officer.
Returning home he purchased a wagon and blacksmith shop at Barre Center, which he
managed three years and then bought the old Fargo farm. Here he lived until his
death, March 23, 1883. He was a staunch Republican and a leader of his party in the
county. He was first elected town clerk, then supei visor, and later was elected to the
State Legislature, and in each capacity he proved himself a worthy public servant. On
January 8, 1861, he married Amelia E. Fargo, and they have three children: Walter, a
salesman ; Gertrude M., wife of Earl N. Fuller; and Alva G., of Barre Center.
Noble, William, was a native of Weathersfield, Conn., born May 9, 1803, and was
the son of Elnathan and Mary Noble. The family left Connecticut about 1805, and
.settled at Geneva. William Noble was educated at Albany and New York city, at the
latter in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed his medical education
at Castleton, Vt. He studied medicine in New York city under the direction of Dr.
Valentine Mott and other well known and equally distinguished physicians. He began
practicing in Albany, and thence moved to Hudson, Ohio, from the latter place coming
152 . LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
to Albion, in 1840. From this time until his death, Dr. Noble was in continuous prac-
tice in Orleans county, and was a physician of much prominence among the local prac-
titioners, while as a surgeon was perhaps unequaled in the country. Dr. Noble died in
Albion, April IS, 1878. His wife, whom he married at Albany. June 2, 1829, was
Amelia Stiles Denio. The children of this marriage were as follows: William Gray
Noble, born May 29, 1832, died February 21, 1835; Mary Weston Noble, born De-
cember 11, 1883, married Dr. Edward West, New York city, and died June 13, 1891 ;
Harriet Stiles, born September 15, 1835, married Henry B. Watson, January 30, 1895 ;
Francis Amelia, born February 17, 1839, married Dr. William H. Graves, the latter be-
ing a practicing physician in Albion for a short time, and who died in November, 1866;
Ella N., born Jmie'S, 1842, died in 1845; Annette Lucile, born July 12, 1844. Annette
Lucile Noble was educated at Phipps Union Seminary, and was graduated from that
institution. She began her well known literary career in writing f'^r such publications
as the Christian Union and the New York Independent, and later for Harper's Bazaar,
Frank L^^slie's periodicals and New York Graphic. She wrote children's stories as
early as 1870, and did other work as well. She was also employed in writing for the
Presbyterian and Temperance boards. About 1880 she began writing novels, and her
works have attracted much attention both at home and abroad. " Uncle Jack's Ex-
ecutor " has a large sale both in the United States and England ; " Eunice Lathrop " is
another of her best works. Some of her writings were .^o well received that they were
translated into Dutch and had a large sale in Holland. Miss Noble has been an ex-
tensive foreign traveler, having made seven long tours in Europe at different times,
visiting many different countries.
Blood, Harvey, who for many years was well known to the older residents of the
northern part of Orleans county as a minister of the gospel, and later as practicing phy-
sician, was a native of Conway, Mass., born about 1804. Coming to this State he lo-
cated at Broadalbin, where he taught school several years, then moved to Whitesboro
and Hamilton, at the latter attending Colgate Academy. He afterward engaged in
missionary work in Western New York under the direction of the Home Mission
Board, and in connection with his labors he came to Carlton in 1825. Here he bought
land and built a house, and although he was afterward stationed at various other places,
Carlton was considered the home of Mr. Blood and family. As the result of hard and
constant ministerial work, his voice failed, and he was compelled to change his avoca-
tion. He read medicine in Gaines, and was graduated from a medical institution at
Willoughby, Ohio. Dr. Blood practiced in Carlton and Yates about ten years, until
the time of his death, July 27, 1864. He married Eliza Cooley, and to them one child
was born, Adoniram Judson, who settled in Missouri and died there in 1892. After
the death of his wife, Mr. Blood married Gracilla, daughter of Anthony Miles, a pioneer
of the town. The children of this marriage were: Francis WayJand, Cornelia Ann and
Francis W. (all of whom died young), and Harvey, jr., of Albion. The latter was born
in Carlton, April 12, 1843, where he was brought up on the farm and educated in the
old Yates and Albion academies. At sixteen Harvey began working for himself, and
before he was twenty-one he owned a farm. Mr. Blood has always been a farmer,
and is now interested in that pursuit, both in this country and in the west. April 12,
1864, he married Mary J. Huff, of Carlton, by whom he had two children, Delia Way-
land and Clayton Converse, both of Albion. Mr. Harvey Blood, jr., is a Republican
and has held office as highway commissioner six years, and supervisor two years.
Anthony Miles was one of the pioneers of this region, and was one of the famous
"seven bachelors" who made the first improvements in Carlton. He was a native of
England, but came to this region from Stockbridge, Mass. He drove an ox team from
Massachusetts to Avon, thence came on foot to Oak Orchard on the lake. During the
War of 1812, Mr. Miles was in service ; was at Lundy's Lane and the burning of
Buffalo. After building his log house, Mr. Miles went east and brought his family to
the settlement. He then had three children: Mary Ann, who married Jerry Clark;
FAMILY SKETCHES. 153
Gracilla, who married Harvey Blood, and Henry O., now living in Carlton. Two chil-
dren were afterward born in Carlton, viz. : Priscilla, second wife of Jerry Clark, and
Edmnnd, who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Miles married
Jane Brown, and by her had five children : Sarah, who married George Miller; Edwin,
of Carlton ; Mary Ann, who married John Norris; Edmund and Cynthia, of Carlton;
Victoria, who married William Sutton. Anthony Miles died in Carlton in 1883, being
in his ninety-ninth year.
Petrie, William, M. D., was born near Mentz, Germany, in 1733, was educated in
medicine at the Manheim Medical College, served in the army of P>ederick the Great,
came to America in 1765, and was a surgeon in Fort Herkimer during the Revolution-
ary War. His son, Frederick, who was born in 1777 and died in 1851, had eleven
children, of whom Melchert was born October 24, 1813. Another son, Frederick, jr.,
came to Orleans county at an early day, remained one year, and now lives m Dakota.
Still another son, Simeon, is now a resident of this town. Melchert Petrie came to
Yates from Herkimer, N. Y., in the spring of 1842. He married, first, Mary Folts, and
second Mrs. Kate Wheeler. His children are : Mary (deceased), Charles A. (died in
1878), Albert, Irving, Willie (deceased), and George H. George H. Petrie was born
December 17, 1860, and December 10, 1885, married Effie G. Reynolds, of Yates. He
has two children, M. Earl and Clarence A. He has been town assessor one year.
Albert Petrie, born March 22, 1849, married December 23, 1875, Emma A. Fisk, of
Yates. His brother, Irving, was born July 11, 1852. The two reside on the home-
stead farm west of Yates Centre. Simeon Petrie, son of Frederick, sr., and grandson
of Dr. William Petrie, was born in Herkimer county, February 7, 1821, and settled in
Yates in 1844. December 26, 1849, he married Laura, daughter of Jeremiah Miller,
who came to this town about 1824. She was born June 11, 1824. Their children are :
Jennie, born Februaiy 6, 1851; Cornelia, born July 3, 1854; Myron Frederick, born
February 24, 1856; William, born December 6, 1859; and Hattie, born February 16,
1862 ; and an adopted daughter, Mary E., born March 23, 1869. Mr. Petrie is a re-
tired farmer living west of Yates Centre.
Cottrell, S. R. D., was born in Rochester, August 24, 1862. Both his parents died
when he was an infant and he was reared by his father's uncle. His early days were
spent, first in Erie county, and then in the town of Ridgeway. He followed farming
until 1888, when he worked in a stone quarry until 1891. He then went into John-
son's paper pail factory, and May 10, 1892, bought it out and has since conducted it
successfully. In 1887 Mr. Cottrell married Hannora O'Brien, of Victor, Ontario county,
N. Y. The Cottrells trace their ancestry back to the Pilgrims of the Mayflower.
Hanlon, James Ardell and Edward, were born in Lockport, N. Y., the former on
November 16, 1841, and the latter on March 6, 1845. When James was four years
old their parents moved to Medina. His early life was spent at farming, attending the
district school during the winter months. The most of his education was acquired at
the Medina Academy under the principalship of Professor Butts. At the age of
twenty-one he left school and was employed by the hardware firm of Whedon & Al-
len. After six years, as a result of his industrious habits, he was received into the firm
as junior partner. His brother Edward, at the same time, was employed as clerk in this
establishment. This firm continued seven years. In 1876 James withdrew, and the
brothers formed a new partnership under the name of Hanlon Bros., which exists at
the present time. They occupy more tioor room than any other hardware house be-
tween Buffalo and Rochester. Mr. Edward Hanlon has devoted himself closely to the
business, and to his keen eye and unusual talent as a salesman are due much of the suc-
cess which this firm has achieved. They deal extensively in hardware, tinware, agri-
cultural implements, buggies, lumber wagons, bicycles, sewing machines and all concom-
itants of the business. Messrs. Hanlon Bros, can count many friends among the citi-
zens of Medina, and they have earned the respect and friendship which they now enjoy.
154 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Brown, Mrs. Sarah J., is the widow of Ralph R. Brown. She was born in Carlton
February 28, 1834, and was a daughter of Truman Luttenton, who was born in Her-
kimer county May 14, 1801, and died in Carlton in 1889. His wife was Sally East-
man, born m Vermont February 28, 1828. She died in 1882. They had seven chil-
dren; Augusta J., born December 16, 1828; Nathaniel 0., born February 11, 1830;
Ruth A., born May 20, 1832; Sarah J., born February 28, 1834; Amanda M.. born
May 25, 1836; MaryE., born December 25, 1839; Truman N., born July 28, 1841;
Joel H., born October 22, 1843; Rosamond E., born February 13, 1848. The husband
of our subject, Ralph R., was born October 29, 1828, and died October 8. 1893. They
had three children : Clara J., Harry L. and Anna West.
Stork, Joseph, was born in England March 13, 1849, and came to America in 1856.
He learned the trade of stonecutter and has been engaged in the quarry business all his
life. He conducted Howell's quarry four years. In 1888 he formed a partnership with
Thomas Gatts, which still exists. In 1889 he was elected supervisor of the town of
RidgeAvay, which office he held two years. In 1894 he also formed a partnership with
Charles A. Gorman. In 1870 he married Anna S. Courtman, and they have five chil-
dren living, three girls and two boys.
Ough, George W., was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego county, February 12, 1827
and was the youngest of nine children of Peter and Mary Ough. George lived on the
farm until he was fourteen, then went to Fort Plain and for the next seven years was
employed as a clerk. He went to Lockport, Avhere he remained for a time, then came
to Albion a«d started a crockery store. This he afterwards sold and bought out the
furniture business formery carried on by George M. Pullman. Mr. Ough was in busi-
ness in Albion from 1850 until 1892. In local affairs he has ever been an active Demo-
crat, and for several years held the office of town auditor, also member of the Board
of Education. In 1850 Mr. Ough married Anna Weeks, by whom he had two chil-
dren: Anna, wife of^C. M. C. Reynolds, and Louie M., wife of Franklin Clark. Mrs.
Ough died March 29, 1862.
Scott, Allen P., was born in the town of Barre, January 31, 1826. He settled on his
present farm in Ridgeway in 1832, was educated at Yates Academy, and for some time
was town superintendent of schools. In 1850 he married Cornelia Howe, and they
have two sons : Harry and Mark. Harry is a farmer in Ridgeway, and Mark is a clerk
in the railway mail service. Mr. Scott has been supervisor of Ridgeway for five terms,
a life-long Democrat, with the only one political ambition, to go to the State Legisla-
ture, but his generous friends said no ! His ambition quietly subsided, and ever after
he has been content. His father was Harry Scott, and his mother Amy (Billings)
Scott. The former lived to be seventy-nine, and the latter eighty-four years of age.
Williams, Mrs. Arabella, is the widow of Chester Williams, who was born in Argile,
WashingtoB county, August 25, 1803, and died September 30, 1889. He settled on
the farm where his widow resides in 1826, and took an article of Holland land company
farm of 112 acres. His first wife was Margaret Teachout, born in Manchester, Febru-
ary 15, 1808, and died May 13, 1875, and they had nine children as follows: Sarah M.,
born May 1, 1827, died in 1890; Lydia R., born September 24, 1859 ; Betsey J., born
January 14, 1832, died April 11, 1854; Marriette, born September 9, 1834; Delilah,
born January 14, 1838, and died ; Clark 0,, born October 5, 1839, died August
16, 1840; Harriet, born August 3, 1840, died August 18, 1840; Benjamin F., born July
22, 1842, died September, 1866 ; Cassius M. C, born September 9, 1845, and died Feb-
ruary 15, 1894. Mr. Williams married for his second wife Arabella Brown Gilmore,
born in Sweden, Monroe county, September 11,1825. Mrs. Arabella Williams' first
husband was Aaron Gilmore, born May 13, 1813, and died July, 1876, and they had
two children: George, born September 10, 1849, died an infant; and Alida, born May
16, 1862. Mrs. Williams' father was Luther Brown, born in New Hampshire, Dec«m-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 155
ber 18, 1777, and died in Gaines, April 15, 1862. He settled in Carlton in 1830. His
wife was Anna Burke, born in Vermont, September 28, 1785, and died February 1,
1836. They had five children: Luther-Brown, jr., born January 21, 1814, and died
July 27, 1892; George, born March 19, 1816, died July 25, 1889; Harrison B., born
July 28, 1818, died January 29, 1856 ; Mary Ann, born September 21, 1822 ; Arabella,
born September 11, 1825. Aaron Gilmore settled in Albion about 1846, where he was
well and favorably known. He was in the drug business nine years, and sold out his
business to H. W. Lewis, M.D., after which he went west, where he was a railroad con-
tractor on several railroads. He died suddenly of apoplexy at Chicago, 111., July 4,
1870.
Coon, Thomas J., born in an old log house on the farm where he nov? resides, August
6, 1832, son of Alexander and Betsey (Weatherwax) Coon. Educated in schools of the
township, worked as a boy on his father's farm, where he has ever since resided. In
religious association he is a member of the Baptist Church, he has been trustee for a
number of years, has served the people as assessor and road commissioner for a number
of years; has also served many years as school trustee. He was married, April 5, 1855,
to Miss Elizabeth Eckerson, daughter of John and Hannah Eckerson, who was born in
Schoharie county, and came thence when four weeks old, was born June 18, 1835.
Children are: John A., born November 21, 1858 ; Albert C, born November 27, 1864;
Merrill C, born February 2, 1868. Mr. Coon's father, Alexander Coon, was born in
Rensselaer county, N. Y., 1794, and was the son of Alexander Coon, who was killed
by the limb of a tree falling upon him in 1812. They came to what is now Shelby
township in 1810. and were the first white settlers in the region. Alexander Coon took
strong interest m the Baptist Church, and in 1861 contributed largely to the erection of
the present structure (brick) of the First Baptist Church at Shelby Center.
Reynolds, W. B., was born in the town of Shelby, January 14, 1843, a son of Valen-
tine and Fannie (McCormick) Reynolds, pioneers of Shelby. His parents moved to
Genesee county while he was still young, and there he remained until of age. He then
spent a couple of years in Wisconsin and a year at Jackson, Mich., then came to Medina
and after clerking two years, embarked in the tobacco and confectionery business, to
which he soon added a livery and sale stable. In March, 1878, he married Mary Rice,
and they have one son, Ernest B. The grandfather, Joshua Reynolds, was born in
Wells, Rutland county, Vt., in 1783 and died November 29, 1843 at West Shelby, N.
Y. He married Susan Mosher, born in Vermont in March, 1785, who died July 5,
1876. at South Haven, Mich. Their children were: Emeline McDowell, born in 1807,
died in 1891 ; Valentine, born in 1809; Mary Sleight, born in 1815, died in 1844;
James, born in 1818, died in 1819; Carlow, born in 1819, died in 1863; Harlow, born
in 1819, died in 1874; William B., born in 1821, died in 1878; Hiram and Myron,
twins, born in 1828, of whom Hiram died aged four months, and Myron in 1829. Valen-
tine and Fannie Reynolds were the parents of these children: James E., born in 1834;
Mary C. Howland, born 1838; Daniel C, born in 1839; Hiram D., born in 1841;
William B., as above; Cassius M. C, born in 1844; Helen R. Lyman, born in 1846;
Francis F., born in 1849 ; Almina R. Griswold, born in 1846 ; Charles M., born in 1854;
Jefferson D., born in 1856; and Henry W., born in 1858. John McCormick, maternal
grandfather of our subject, was born December 17, 1790, and died June 3, 1889 in this
county. He married Nancy Alvord, and had these children : Fannie Reynolds, born
September 20, 1815, died June 9, 1880, the mother of our subject ; Daniel, born in
1818, died in 1890: James, born 1820; Nelson, born in 1822 ; Clara, born in 1825 ;
Benjamin J., born in 1803 ; Nancv Cox, born in 1830, died in 1889; Chauncey, born in
1838; and John, jr., born in 1828"
Miller, Fred G., was grandson of Timothy, a native of Genesee county, who settled
in Carlton about 1844 and married Lucy Law, by whom he had these children: James,
156 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
born in 1824; George, born in 1825; Julia, born in 1827; Mary, born in 1829; riiilo
W., born in 1830 ; Martha, born in 1832; Eliza, born in 1834; Betsey Ann, born in
1836; Harrison, born in 1838; Oliver, born in 1840; Amanda F., born in 1842, and
Julia F., born in 1844. The mother of our subject, Harriet L. Wright, died in 1875, aged
forty-three years. The children of George and Harriet were : Emily J., born in 1850;
Fred G., born August 14, 1852; Adelbert, born in 1857; Ellen E., born 'in 1854; EmmaE.,
born in 1860; Benjamin D., born in 1863 ; Olin in 1865 ; Carrie, in 1868, and Hattie M. in
1870. Subject was educated in the common schools of Carlton and finished at the
Albion Academy, where he attended three terms. He has always follow^ed farming,
purchased the S. B. Fuller farm containing forty acres, and added to it until it now
contains 100 acres. He has been overseer of the poor six years. Subject married first
December 19, 1878, Nannie L. Wilder, born April IS, 1853, and died October 15, 1888.
They had five children : Hattie J., born December 6, 1879 ; Cora E., born October 20,
1882; George W., born April 20, 1884; Ward E., born June 20, 1886; BeulahE., born
July 3, 1888. He married second, November 20, 1891, Helena Pettit, who was born in
February, 1851.
Dawson, Alfred was born in England, April 18, 1833, and came to America in 1855.
He learned the trade of boot and shoe maker in England but scarcely followed it in this
country, as he soon embarked in the fruit and produce business in Medina, and made a
great success of it. He shipped five years ago over 63,000 barrels of apples, pears and
quinces. Mr. Dawson's first wife was Maria Pfeifer, who died two years ago. His
second wife is Mary Knapp. Mr. Dawson is one of the substantial men of Medina, and
is much respected by all classes.
Tripp, Anthony, was a native of Providence, R. I., and came at a very early day to
Columbia county, Avhere he grew up and married ; later on his family moved to Dela-
ware county, and there a number of his children were born. In 1811 Anthony Tripp
made a purchase from the Holland Land Co. of a farm tract in Barre. In 1817 Samuel
Tripp, son of Anthony, cleared up the land, and in 1824 it was first occupied perma-
nently by the family. Almeron, son of Anthony, was born in Delaware county, June
24, 1815. On February 28, 1840, he married Sylvia Burns, by whom he had four chil-
dren, viz.: James B., born November 9, 1840; Charles A., born July 26. 1845; John
Quincy, born January 2, 1849, and Edwin Wmslow, born June 25, 1854. Of these
children Charles enlisted in Company D, of the 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served
to end of the war. He married Julia Hollister, of Barre, and afterward moved to Mis-
souri, thence to Dakota, where he now lives. The wife of Almeron Tripp died, Novem-
ber 24, 1887. John Q. Tripp, whose farm is located on the principal highway leading
south from the village of Albion to the town of Barre, was born in the latter town, January
2, 1849. He was educated at the district schools and the old academy, and began for •
himself at the age of twenty-one. For ten or twelve years he was a school teacher in
this county. In 1887 he went to Michigan, and carried on a store at Eden, Ingham
county, where he did a successful business for three years, and at the end of that time
returned to Albion at his father's request. On April 16, 1890, Mr. Tripp married Dora,
daughter of William J. and Margaret Hanington. They have two children : William
Hanington, and James Almeron. Edwnn W. Tripp was born June 24, 1854, and, like
his brother just mentioned, spent several years in teaching school. On October \8,
1878, he married Anna F. Latta. They have two children : Evelyn S., and Miriam E.
Weld, John, was born in Roxbury, Mass. (a suburb of Boston), in 1788, a son of
Ebenezer Weld, who was a descendant of Captain Joseph Weld, who came to America
in 1633 and settled in Roxbury. A brother of the latter. Rev. Thomas Weld, came to
America in 1632, and was the first of the family to cross the ocean. He was settled
over a church in Roxbury, and was a colleague and assistant of Father Eliot, the great
Indian missionary. He returned to England in 1639. John first came to Western
New York in 1815 to Cattaraugus county, returning however, after a short lime to
FAMILY SKETCHES. 157
Roxbury. In 1816 he came to the town of Ridgeway, which was then in Genesee
county, invested in land, set a man to clearing it up, and returned to Roxbury, where
remained until 1819. In the latter year he married Sally Cook, widow of Benjamin
Hall, and they came to the town of Ridgeway to reside Their children were : Sally
Ann, who married Deacon James Summer ; Lucy Maria, who married James S. Mc-
Cormick; Mary Rebecca, who married Albert Breed; Joseph Mayo, who married Caro-
line M. Hart ; and John Milo, who married Fidelia E. Hart, sister of Caroline M. John
Weld lived upon the farm he first bought until a few years before his death, when he
went to reside with his daughter in Medina.
Stokes, J. T., M.D., was born in Lyudonville, October 14, 1851. He was educated
at the Yates Academy, and the Buffalo Medical College, from which he graduated in
1879. After a practice of fourteen years at Eagle Harbor, he settled in Medina in the
spring of 1894. He is a member of the Orleans County Medical Society. In 1874 he
married E. Josephine Lamb, and they have three children: Louis E., Harry DeForrest,
and George Moshier. Dr. Stokes' father Avas James 0. Stokes ; his grandfather was a
native of England, and an Episcopal clergyman, who came to America in 1832. Mrs.
Stokes' father was Seth Lamb ; her mother Phoebe Moshier. The Moshiers were of
English descent, and Mrs. Stokes is the seventh generation in America.
Matthews, Edward, who for for forty years has been amone the progressive and
successful business men of Orleans county, was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1827,
and came to this country in 1852 with his brother, Henry. For three years Edward
worked in a mill at Eagle Harbor, after which he turned his attention to farming. In
1856 he married Cornelia Chubb, and for some years worked the Chubb farm. His
wife having died in 1868, Mr. Matthews married Adelia, widow of William Davie
and daughter of Henry R. Loomis. Henry R. Loomis' parents were Russell and Lydia
Loomis, Mrs. L. being one of the first six pioneer Baptists of Albion, N. Y. One child
has been born of this last marriage, M. Gertrude L. Harry Loomis was one of the pioneers
of this country. He was born in Conway, Massachusetts, in 1799, and came with his
father to this region. He married Savilla Parker and had four children : Austin, Adelia
L., William and Sarah. Mr. Loomis was killed by an accident at thirty-seven years of
age, and after his death his widow married Dimmick Houghton, and lived and died in
Barre. Mr. and Mrs. Horton had one daughter, who married Andrew Hale, and lives
in Orleans, Mich. Mr. Loomis was a farmer on the location now occupied by Edward
Matthews.
Snyder, Henry E., was born in Rensselaer county, June 11, 1845, a son of Simon G.
Snyder, born in 1816, who married Sarah M. Dubois, born in 1825. Their children
were: Henry E., Sarah, born in 1847, who married Henry Ruger; George A., born in
1859, who married Frances Elliott, and Ida, born in 1860. who married Marcus C.
Church. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Hamlin and the Albion
High Bchool, which he left for the war, enlisting in the 2d N. Y. Mounted Rilles, Com-
pany L, in February, 1864. He participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Shady
Grove, Wilderness, etc., and was honorably discharged at the close. He has served as
collector for the town and deputy collector of customs at Oak Orchard Harbor. Oc-
tober 11, 1866, he married Caroline R. Schoonover, born at Barre, November 24, 1849.
Her father was Ammon Schoonover, a native of Chili, Monroe county, born in 1812,
and died January 14, 1894. He married Anna Van Ocker, born in 1810, who died in
1853. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had three children : Ammon G., born in Kendall,
February 7, 1868, who married Gertrude F. Gentle, a native of England, and has one
son, Fred H., born April 5, 1891 ; George E., born October 6, 1871, and married Luella
V. Hoag, June 29, 1892 ; and Fred H.,"born September 9, 1873, who is now in the
employ of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad as stenographer at Rochester.
A. G. was a teacher for some time in the Business University at Sandusky, 0., and is
158 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
now teaching in Sawyer. George G. taught for several terms also, filling a position at
the Clinton Liberal Institute at Fort Plain, and has since taught at Terre Haute Com-
mercial College.
Beckwith, N. Ely, is a son of Charles G. Beckwith, who was born in Great Barring-
ton, Mass., November 3, 1820, and married Emily Kuck, of Carlton, born June 14,
1823, and died August 28, 1861. Her father, George Kuck, was born in London, Eng-
land, 1816 (see sketch of Edwin Beckwith). The "children of Charles G. and Emily
were: George, Edwin, Charles E., Willis (deceased), and N. Ely. The latter was born
December 25, 1853, and began work for himself in the flouring mill atWaterport.
where he remained one and a half years, then worked at carpentry. December 9, 1875,
he married Alice R. Clark, daughter of William Clark. She was born October 1, 1857,
and their children were: Willis C, born December 21, 1879, and Gladys A., born
October 12, 1891.
Wilson, Benjamin S., was the son of Henry Wilson, who was born m Dutchess
county, August 5, 1807, and died in Carlton, January 24, 1871.- Henry Wilson settled
in Carlton in 1835, coming from Saratoga county. His wife was Catherine Ann Shear,
born in Dutchess county, August 10, 1808, and died December 24, 1884. The children
of Henry and Catherine Ann Wilson were as follows: Mary Wilson, born March 5,
1829; Benjamin S., born May 10, 1831; John C, born December 11, 1832; Cynthia,
born February 17, 1836; George H., born August 31, 1838; Ellen, born August 15,
1840; Margaret, born January 4, 1843 ; Wilber F., born April 23,1845; H. Seaver,
born January 13, 1847; Philo B., born January 20, 1851; Sarah E, born August 31,
1855; Clark G., born March 3, 1855. George H. Wilson died January 11. 1877, and
H. Seaver, May 23, 1888. Benjamin S. Wilson came to this county with his parents
when four years of age and resided in Albion and vicinity until thirty years of age.
He was educated in the common schools of Albion and spent his boyhood days on the
farm. In 1861 he purchased the farm of 118 acres, where he now resides, and also
owns the adjoining farm of 115 acres. He is a Republican and has held office as
assessor three years and was supervisor of the town of Carlton in 1879 and 1880. He
is a member of the A. O. U. W. at Two Bridges. In 1862 Benjamin S. Wilson married
Almira L. Grow, who was born in Carlton, February 8, 1834, and was the daughter of
Jasper M. Grow, born in Wayne county, August 6, 1808, who is still living. The wife
of Jasper M. Grow was Betsey Jane Clark, born in Wayne county, December 5, 1809,
and died December 15, 1887. Benjamin S. and Almira Wilson were the parents of six
children : Schuyler S., born October 15, 1863 ; Louise, born January 4, 1866; Henry J.,
born April 22, 1868; Catherine Jane, born March 20, 1870; Benjamin G., born May
15, 1875; Mary Ellen, born November 25, 1875.
Gillette, Willis A., was born in Ridgeway, September 4, 1841. He is one of the lead-
ing farmers and fruit growers of Ridgeway. In 1864 he married Amanda Tanner
His father is Parley Gillette, who is now eighty-nine years of age, and has lived in
Ridgeway since 1820, a longer residence than that of any other man in town. His
mother was Emeline Bottom. Mr. Gillette's grandfather, Levi Gillette, and Parley
Gillette walked to Ridgeway from Dansville in 1820, when this part of tlae State was
still a wilderness.
Breed, Albert C, was born in Truxton, Cortland county, N. Y., July 27, 1827,
and came to Orleans county with his parents in 1829. Pie married Sarah J. Winches-
ter, and they have three children, Estelle, Nellie, and George W. Estelle is now Mrs.
Lutz, of Lockport, and Nellie is Mrs. Shaw, of Buffalo. Mr. Breed's father was
William Breed, and his mother Sophia Hedger.
Pratt, John, was born in Oneida county, February 28, 1816. and is a descendant of
Nehemiah, who was born in Massachusetts, and later removed to Oneida county, his
FAMILY SKETCEIES. 159
family consisting of four children: Lydia, Judith, Abi<?ail, and Neheiniah, father of our
subject. The latter was born in Massachusetts in 1783, and died in Gaines in 1865,
aged seventy-two. He reared a family of five sons and three daughters, who grew to
maturity, as follows: Winslow, born in 1808, died aged seventy ; Reuben, born in 1810,
died aged fifty-two; Lydia, born 1812, died aged eighteen ; Nehemiah, born 1814, died
aged thirty-six; John, born in 1816; Judith, born in 1818, died in 1892, aged
seventy-four; Mary, born in 1823, died in 1887; Alvin, born in 1820, lives in
Flint, Mich. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and taught for
nine terms, and later bought his first farm in Yates, containing 200 acres Mr. Pratt
married in 1848, at Gaines, Hannah A., daughter of Macey Pratt, born April 19, 1826,
and they have had one daughter, Sarah, born in Carlton, February 14, 18o3, wlio died
November 12, 1885. She married Charles English, who died in 1881.
Acer, H. A., was born in the town of Shelby, ,Tuly 19, 1858. His father is V A
Acer, one of the best known men of Shelby. In the fall of 1880 Mr. H. A. Acer em-
barked in the hardware business in Medina, where he now runs a very extensive
establishment. He is a thorough and highly successful business man. In 1880 he
married Ella, daughter of Oscar Whedon and they have three sons.
Achilles, Fred H., was born at Oak Orchard, May 10, 1854, and in 1887 he married
Sarah, daughter of J. Whitney Howes. He is extensively engaged in farming, having
also a large peach orchard. Alfred Achilles, grandfather of our subject, came from
Oneida county in 1830, located at Oak Orchard, and died in 1841, leaving a widow and
seven children : Morriw W., Albert H., Henry L., Charles, George R., Charlotte and
Edward. Morroiw W., father of Fred H., married Diana Turner (who is still living),
and died in 1860. Their children were: Lucy A., Fred H., and Jennie. Mason
Turner, father ofjMrs. Diana Achilles, came from Connecticut to Genesee county in 1811
and enlisted in the war of 1812, where he was wounded and lost the use of an arm. In
1835 he moved to Oak Orchard, and was postmaster there for many years. He died in
1861, leaving a wife and four children : Lois McCracken, Mary Ralph, Lucy Nichols,
and Diana Achilles Wait.
Anderson, Mrs. Lucy, was born in Gaines, April 3, 1827. Subject's father was
Brigadier Bullard, who settled in Gaines in 1811, being one of the first settlers. Her
mother was Lovina Parker. Their children were: Lucy, who Mathew T. Anderson,
born September 8, 1824, died November 28, 1870. They had one child, Lucy Jane,
born May 23, 1848. She married Nahum W. Fish, born July 25, 1837, died in May,
1888. They had three children : Mattie A., born February 5, 1869, died in July 1871;
Hattie L.. born July 30, 1873 ; Tracy A., born May 12, 1876. Subject's husband,
Mathew T., was born in Barre, Orleans county. His father was Mathew, born in Rut-
land, Vt. He died on the farm where our subject now resides in 1864. Mathew T., '
husband of our subject, was elected supervisor of Gaines for three terms.
Allen, Edward, was born in Norfolk, England, in 1815, and came to America in
1847. He settled in Barre, where he resided till 1867, and then purchased a farm in
the town of Clarendon, where he has since resided. In 1837 he married Sarah Amos,
and their children were: Caroline, who married William Thorp of Barre; Agnes, who
married Samuel Williams, of Clarendon; Vashti, who married George Bowen, of Barre;
and John, a farmer of this town. The latter married Elizabeth Hall, by whom he has
six children : Eva, Caroline, Rosa, Edward, Cora and Sarah.
Allen, Heniy E., was born in Medina February 14, 1854, and has been in the meat
business since fifteen years of age. He is well known throughout Orleans county, is a
staunch Republican, and is filling the office of poormaster for the second term. He is
a member of the order of Odd Fellows and also of the Knights of Honor. In 1876 he
married Ella Wooden, and they have three children : WiUiam, Edith and Orra. Mr.
160 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
Allen's father was Gideon Allen. His grandfather, Jonah Allen, was a pioneer in this
county.];
Allen, Charles S., came from Phelps, Ontario county, in 1848 and located near Barre
Centre. Two years later his father, Caleb Allen, came to the town and was afterward
and until his death a carpenter and builder in this vicinity. Charles S. Allen was a
farmer and surveyor, and at the latter avocation has ever since been almost constantly
employed. He was for twenty-three years one of the ditch commissioners of the
county. Mr. Allen married Edna Robinson, of Phelps, Ontario county, and to them
these children were born : Alvin R., Josephus W., Dr. A. J., James G., Dr. C. W.,
and Frank M., all of whom, save one, grew to maturity. Mr. Allen and wife are still
living. Mr. Charles Allen is a Republican and has held the office of assessor in Barre
for nine years. He was also one of the organizers of the Orleans County Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, and for some years one of its directors. Alvin R. Allen was born
March 6, 1839 : was brought up on the farm and educated in the common schools.
He taught school ten winter terms, and at the age of twenty-one began farming for
himself and continued in that occupation until 1890, when he came to Albion to reside,
he having been elected clerk of the county. In November, 1892, he was re-elected.
In April, 1862, Mr. Allen married Anna D., daughter of Hiram Shell, of Barre. They
have had six children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Allen and family are members
of the Baptist Church of Albion.
Allis, Myron G., the oldest of the children of pioneer Lucius and Fanny Allis, was
born June 18, 1826, and during his many years of residence in Barre, became as well
known and as much respected as almost any man in the town. He was a good farmer,
his lands embracing 110 acres, and was successful in his business endeavors. He was a
strong Republican, and equally strong in his religious life, being an earnest Methodist.
On July 11, 1851, Mr. Allis was married to Rachel M. Van Buren. Two children were
born of this marriage, viz: Viola J., wife of M. J. Grinnell, and Lucius E., who married
Anna Atwell. Myron G. Allis died February 13, 1894.
Alderson, William, was born in the north of England in 1811 anc came to America
about 1835 and settled at Hulburton. He was a mason by trade and also engaged in
farming. He married Mary Kerr, and they were the parents of the following children :
Rosetta, who married George Royston, and settled in Michigan ; William, who settled
in Michigan ; Jennette, who died unmarried ; Esther, who is a teacher in Albion
Academy; Anna, who married Chauncy Hart of Kendall, and John. John Alderson
was born at Hulberton, in 1840, and arriving at manhood learned the cooper's trade and
since 1805 has carried on a cooper shop at Hulburton. Mr. Alderson is a strong Demo-
crat and has held numerous oflices in the town, being supervisor in 1888-89, assessor
for six years, and collector. In 1806 he married Emma Poole, daughter of Alrinza
Poole of Murray, and their children are : Frank, Bert, and Alfred. William Anderson,
sr., died at Hulburton, January 7, 1894. His wife survives him.
Andrews, Richard, was born in the town of Wheatland, Monroe county, July 5, 1837.
His grandfather was John Andrews, a native of England and for many years a sailor.
The father of Richard was Richard, sr., born in Monroe county and died in Gaines in
A. gust, 1881, aged seventy-two. Richard sr., came to Gaines in 1840 and followed
the business of a veterinary surgeon. He married Hannah Straight, born in Monroe
county, and died in January, 1882, aged seventy-five years. The children of Richard
and Hannah Andrews were : Mercy M., born in Rush, Monroe county, February 3,
1828; Lyman B., born in Rush, March 17, 1829, and died in 1888; Augustus A., born
in Riga in 1831 and died in 1878; Richard ; Alexis C, born in Gaines in 1840, and mar-
ried Alva Fuller; Frances, born in Gaines in 1845, married Ransom C. Rice, and they
have one chi^d, Sadie. Richard, jr., was educated in the common school of Gaines, after
which he learned the harness trade with George A. Hoyt, and has since been in that
FAMILY SKETCHES. 161
business. He has always been a Republican and has served as town clerk and is now
highway commissioner of the town of Gaines. He is a member of the Good Templars
Lodge of this town and has always been a consistent temperance man. Mr. Andrews
was married at Elkhocn, Wis., in July, 1858, to Caroline Golden, who was born in
Poughkeepsie in 1838, and died in Gaines November 27, 186L They were the parents
of one child, Rosepha C, born in Eagle Harbor, December 16, 1860, and married Robert
C. Whaling, and now reside in Gaines. They have the following children: Winnifred,
born in Gaines, May 8, 1882 ; Edna, born in Gaines May 15, 1884 ; Hazel, born in
Gaines March 20, 1886; Mabel, born in Gaines April 28, 1888 and died in August, 1888;
David, born April 16, 1891 and died February 25, 1891; Robert, born January 15, 1894,
and died in infancy. Mr. Andrews married for his second wife Julia Parker, born in
Gaines, and died September 19, 1890, aged fifty-four year. They had one child, Hellen
E., born June 21, 1867. Mr. Andrews's third wife was Orpha P. Briggs, born in Ken-
dall, Orleans county.
Boranizer, Paul, was born in the town of Clarkson, Monroe county, in 1861. His
father, Peter, was a native of Ireland and came to America in 1854, settling in Clarkson.
He married Mary Welch. Subject settled in the town of Murray in 1885, purchasing a
farm two miles west of Holley. He married in 1882 Lizzie, daughter of Hubert Strogen,
of Clarendon, and they have two children : Charles and Florence.
Bowen, S. C, was born in the town of Yates, March 27, 1828. He grew up on a farm
and after a three years' clerkship started a general store in Lyndonville in 1854. He
came to Medina and after three years in the dry goods business embarked in the produce
trade, and has been engaged in it ever since. His fine stone warehouse is one of the
most substantial buildings in the village, and was erected in 1890. Mr. Bowen has been
trustee of the village, police justice, collector, town supervisor and county treasurer, and
held a seat on the School Board. He married Catherine Jackson December 30, 1852 ;
they have three children living : Wilbor A., Lena G., and Mrs. F. J. Squires. Wilbor A.
has been prominently connected with the Young Men's Christian Association. He was
for seven years assistant State secretary of the association for Pennsylvania, and during
a portion of the year 1882, State secretary for the association in Maine. (For ancestors
of Bowen family see Judge Thomas's history).
Bidelman, Leander, is a grandson of Henry, who was born in Germany and came to
the town of Ridgeway, Orleans county, in 1817, and died in 1860, aged eighty-two
years. Samuel Bidelman, the father of Leander, was born in Manheim, Herkimer
county, June, 29, 1806, and came with his parents to Orleans county in 1817. May
20, 1820, he went to Ridgeway to learn the trade of tanner and currier, and the shoe-
making business with Isaac A. Bullard. Mr. Bullard soon died, after which Samuel
bought the establishment and carried on the business for himself. May 17, 1829, he
married Eliza Prussia, born in Lancaster county. Pa., of German parentage. In 1835
he sold his business there and moved to Gaines in October where he bought the tan-
yard of James Mather and carried on the business for several years, taking into part-
nership with him his two sons, Henry and Charles. Mr. Bidelman was elected super-
visor of Gaines in 1842-1845-1846-1853-1854-1857. He died July 18, 1879. The
children of Samuel and Eliza Bidelman were as follows: Leander, born in Ridgeway
March 29, 1830 ; Henry 0., born March 20, 1832 ; Eli, born in 1834 ; John, born
March 30, 1837 ; Harriett, born May 17, 1841; Charles, born in 1843. Leander, our
subject, was educated in the cammon schools of Gaines and then engaged in farming.
He was formerly a Republican and is now excise commis-sioner of Gaines (no license).
He is a member of the Royal Templars of Albion No. 16, and of the Good Templars
No. 984 of Fairhaven Lodge. He married December 15, 1858, Elizabeth Popple, who
was born in Cattaraugus county in 1836. Her father was Henry Popple, born in 1805
in Herkimer county, and died in 1880. Her mother was Sarah Dunning, born in Ham-
162 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
ilton county in 1815, and died in 1862. The children of Leander and Elizabeth Bidel-
man are two sons, Clayton H. and Howard L. Clayton H., born in Gaines August 11,
1860, married Lily F. Lafler, by whom he had one child, Hazel E., who died m 1887.
aged five months. Howard L. was born in Gaines August 29. 1862, married Julia E.
Pendry, and they have one child, W. Pendry, born May 15, 1892.
Blanchard, Alva S., was born December 16, 1829, in Barre (now Albion) and is a son
of ,'Willard, whose father Nehemiah, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans
county. He came from New Hampshire at an early day and took up 100 acres two
miles east of Albion village, which he cleared up and engaged in farming. His chil-
dren were : Cummings, who spent the greater part of his life in the county, later re-
moved to Cleveland, O., and died there; Chandler, who settled in Barre and died there;
Lewis, who settled in Michigan and died there; Harbard, who settled in Murray and
afterward removed to Michigan ; Almond, who settled in Clarendon and later in Mich-
igan; William, Orrin and Ira all settled in Michigan; Livonia married Alanson Lud-
ington ; Julia married first a Mr. Nichols, and second Rufus Davis ; Willard was a shoe-
maker and always followed that business for thirty-five years in Albion. He married
Lois Smith and their children were ; Harriett, Albert and Electa, who died in child-
hood ; Clarissa, who married Franklin Wilson ; Cassius M., who settled in Leavenworth,
Kan.; Daniel L., who resides in Albion and married Sarah McGuire; David, who
settled in Albion and died there. Six of the sons, Lewis N., Daniel L., Lyman P.,
Cassius M., George D., and Orrin L., served in the Civil war. Orrin and Lewis
were killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. Lyman was killed at Petersburg, and George
died in the field of fever. Alva S. Blanchard, with the exception of eight years spent
in Kansas, has always lived in Orleans county. He has always been a farmer and
settled in Clarendon in 1859. He has been collector and is a member of Holiey Lodge
I. 0. O. F. He married in 1850 Amanda J. Freer, and their children are: Kirk S.,
who settled in Albion and married Sabina Darrow ; Judd A., who resides in Albion
and married Nettie Benton ; Alva W., also of Albion, who married Lucy G. Stevens ;
and Carrie, who married Day Wilcox of Albion.
Beckwith, Edwin K., is a grandson of Allen Beckwith, who was born August 12,
1786, and died in Great Barrington, Mass., in 1835. The father of Edwin K. is
Charles G., also born in that town November 3, 1820. He married Emily M. Kuck,
born in Kuckville June 14, 1823, and died August '8, 1861, her father being an early
settler of Kuckville. The children of Charles and Emily Beckwith were : George,
born in 1847 died in infancy ; Edwin K., born January 12, 1850 ; Charles E., who
died in 1857; N. Ely, born in 1853 ; Willis F., born in 1859, died in 1872. Our sub-
ject began his education in the common schools, then attended the Albion Academy,
the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, finishing at the Brockport Normal School.
Returning home, he took up farming, which he has followed in connection with sur-
veying, etc. November 20, 1878, he married at Warsaw, Julia M. Deer, a native of
Millville, this county, born October 6, 1855, and they have had these children :
Bertha E., born August 11, 1883 ; George D., born October 26, 1884 ; and Charles H.,
born November 10, 1891. George Kuck, maternal grandfather of Mr. Beckwith, was
born in London, England, December 23, 1791, where he was educated at King's Col-
lege. He crossed the ocean in 1806, settled in Canada, and served in the war of 1812,
as heutenant in the Canadian militia. In 1815 he removed to Carlton, and bought 500
acres of land part of which now comprises the village of Kuckville. Here he erected
a grist mill on Johnson's Creek, opened a store, built a warehouse, and became a man
of prominence in the community. He married Electa Fuller in 1819, by whom he had
nine children. He served as postmaster at West Carlton (now Kuckville) thirty
years.
Brackett, Martin E., was born in Clarendon, just west of Manning, April 1, 1842, a
son of John, born in Sweden, Monroe county, in 1815. He was a son of Daniel
FAMILY SKETCHES. 163
Brackett, whose father came in the early days from England, settling in New Eng-
land. Daniel, the grandfather, was a native of Maine, born March 14, 1784. About
1830 he came to Orleans couniy, and took up a farm in Clarendon, where our sub-
ject now lives. He was a Christian minister, gave land for the church site, and was
one of the prime movers in its erection. He died in 1865. He married Lydia, daugh-
ter of Rev. Eiias Whitney of Maine, and they had nine children : Levi, Reuben, Polly,
Daniel, Lydia, John, Rufus, Betsey and Josiah. John Brackeit, father of our subject,
was engaged in farming in Niagara county for a time, and later in Clarendon, and
about 1864 he engaged in the hardware trade at Holley, which he conducted several
years. In 1890 he returned to Clarendon, where he died in 1893. In 1839 he mar-
ried Luciuda Burnham, and their children were : Martin E.. William A., Charlotte S.,
who diedyonng; Ella and Elm^^r, who died in early manhood. Martin E. was edu-
cated in the public schools and Clarendon Academy and Holley Academy later study-
ing medicine with Dr. J. L. Curtis, of Pine Hill, Genesee county. He is a graduate
of the Buffalo Medical College, and settled in Clarendon in the spring of 1867, where
he has since practiced his profession. He has built up a large and remunerative prac-
tice, and a reputation of which he may justly feel proud, never refusing his assis-
tance to the poor. Dr. Brackett is a Republican, and has served as town clerk several
years. He is a member of Holley Lodge I. 0. 0. F. and the Maccabees. In 1867 he
married Almina Ranney, of Niagara county who died October 14, 1872. December
12, 1889, he married Mary Goodnow.
Billings, Clinton, is a son of Joseph, who was born in Chenango county (see sketch
of J. D. Billings). Clinton was born in Gaines, February 28, 1827, and married, July
4, 1850, Esther W. Murdock, who was born in Carlton July 19, 1829. Her father was
John Murdock, a native of Vermont, who died in Gaines in 1866, aged seventy-eight.
He settled in Carlton on the farm now owned by Benjamin B. S. Wilson, and here all
children were born. His wife was Betsey Wood, who was born in Gaines in 1853, and
they had eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Billings have had three children : Florence C,
born July 29, 1891, who married George J. Reed (deceased), and has one child. Burton
S., born November 4, 1872 ; Jennie N., born April 29, 1859, who died February 28,
1861 ; and Sanford C, born February 16, 1862, who married Lottie Webster, by whom
he has two children, Geneveive, born November 2, 1885, and Webster S., born August
19, 1887. Mr. Billings owns a farm of 200 acres.
Bickle, John, was born in Medina April 9. 1875. He is one of the enterprising
young men of the place and is much respected. He conducts the leading barber shop
in the village, which he opened April 11, 1893. His father is Thomas Bickle, an
Englishman by birth, who has been with the Davey Carriage Company twenty-three
years. His mother was Martha (Gerry) Bickle. She died July 18, 1893.
Boots, Benjamin, was born in Potter, Yates county, October 1, 1837, son of Joseph,
born in 1810, who was a son of Benjamin. The family came from Holland. Benjamin
came from Maryland to Seneca county m an early day and afterward settled at Potter,
Yates county. He married Susan Bazam. Joseph, his son, came to Barre in 1850, and
purchased a farm on the transit. He married Lucy Stebbins, and their children are:
Sarah, who married Peter Stottle, of Riga, N. Y.; Emily, who married J. F. Clark, of
Clarendon ; Horace died young; Hiram, who died in 1890, he was a farmer and mar-
ried Adeline Sanderson ; John settled in Clarendon and was a farmer, removing later to
Holley, he married Helen Mead ; Benjamin, who is a farmer in Clarendon ; he married
Judith Tipple, and their children are: LilHan 0., who married V, J. Hollister ; Lucy
E,, who married George Barbour; May A., who married Charles Wilson; Mary A.,
married Edwin Babbage ; Frank B., and Joseph J.
Benton Family, The,. — The first of this name to settle in Orleans county was Thomas,
son of Isaac Benton, who came from England in 1836. Thomas settled in Byron, and
I
164 LANDMARKS OP ORLEANS COUNTY.
about 1856 removed to Clarendon, where he bought a farm and resided until his death
in 1886. He was a devoted churchman and a member of the Free Will Baptist church
of Sweden. He married Sarah Shipp, and their children were : Rebecca, Phoebe,
Sarah, Hannah, Thomas H., Mary, Elizabeth, and Louise. Of these children, Rebecca
married Walter Holt; Phoebe married John Brown; Sarah married John Miller;
Hannah married William Brown ; Mary married Charles Brown, and all reside in Byron.
Elizabeth married John Coward, of Sweden, and Louise is unmarried. Thomas H. re-
moved from Byron to Clarendon in 1856, where, with the exception of a year spent in
Colorado and two years in Byron, he has ever since lived, and follows farming. In
1862 he married Elvira Mann, and they have two children : Maurice H., and Nellie S.
Maurice resides on the old homestead, and married Minnie Warboy, by whom he has
one child, Helen E. Nellie became the wife of J. A. Blanchard, of Albion.
Bromley, Daniel D., was born in Attica, Wyoming county, a grandson of John, a
native of Maryland, who died there about 1805. The father of Daniel D. was John,
born in Maryland about 1800, and died in Bennington, Wyoming county, aged sixty-
five years. He participated in the war of 1812-15, driving from Batavia to Lewiston
with ammunition and provisions for the union troops. Our subject's mother was Laura
Weaver, Avho was born in Wilmington, Conn., and died in Bennington, Wyoming
county, October 23, 1892, aged eighty-seven years. Her father was Thomas Weaver,
and she was the grandchild of Gen. Thomas Lee, of Revolutionary fame. The children
of John and Laura Bromley were: John, jr. (deceased); William, Mary (deceased);
Almira L., Sarah, Emily E., Daniel D., born in Attica October 28, 1836; Cynthia (de-
ceased ) ; Charles, Fanny and Thomas. Our subject attended the common schools of
Darien, Genesee county, and later the Alexander Academy, where he completed his
studies at the age of nineteen. His boyhood days were spent on the farm. After
working a farm on shares for five years he bought the Warren farm of 166 acres, which
he still owns, and in 1887 purchased the Waterport foundry, which he has since con-
ducted, manufacturing the Waterport chilled plow, cultivators, harrows, etc., etc. Mr.
Bromley is a Democrat and a member of East Carlton Lodge No. 187, I. 0. G. T. Oc-
tober 23, 1866, he married Adelphia Warren, born in Carlton September 24, 1849, a
daughter of Reuben Warren, whose father Silas settled in Carlton in an early day,
clearing the place now owned by Daniel D. The children of our subject are: Estella,
born April 9, 1869, married Albery M. Ives, by whcm she has two children, Eunice
and Roy D. ; Warren T. Bromley, born December 19, 1871 ; and Arthur Ward, born
April 11, 1879.
Bamber, Benjamin A., traces his ancestry back four generations. His grandfather,
Robert Bamber, was born in Ireland and died about 1840 at Grand Rapids, O., near
Toledo. He settled with four brothers in Boonville, Oneida county, about 1812. His
son Thomas, father of our subject, was born in Boonville in 1817, and settled in Carlton
in 1862. He practiced medicine in this county for over forty years, and died in Carl-
ton January 14, 1892. He married Raneveline Ward, born in Stark, Herkimer county,
in 1820, and now resides with Benjamin A., her son. Her father was Richard Wood,
born in Kinderhook, Albany county. He died at Stark. The children of Thomas and
Raneveline Bamber were: Benjamin A., born in Boonville April 10, 1859; Richard W.,
born November 6, 1853; D. Wallace, born in 1856. died in 1881; Ella, born December
2, 1857, died m 1868 ; Neddie, born in 1863, died in 1868. Benjamin A. was educated
in the district schools and attended the Albion Academy under Oliver Morehouse three
terms, and he earned the money for his own tuition. He taught school three terms,
and was agent for Gould Brothers, of Rochester, and traveled extensively in Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland and Virginia four years, after which he bought a stereopticon and
traveled four more years, giving views of the Centennial Exposition and lecturing
1,000 times. From 1880 tol890 he dealt in evaporated fruits, and since 1890 has been
engaged in the mercantile business at Two Bridges. Our subject is a Republican, and
FAMILY SKETCHES. 165
has served as justice of the peace, town clerk, etc. Tie is a member of Renovation
LodgfeNo. 97, F. & A. M. April 11, 1893, he married Edith Ferdun, born in Carlton
in 1860, and they have one son, Ward, born March 28, 1894.
Bragg, Leonard, was a native of Massachusetts, born September 21, 1788, and came
from Parma, Monroe county, to Orleans county in 1833. He purchased a farm three-
fourths of a mile square in East Carlton and other property in the vicinity. He after-
ward sold this property and bought a farm of 100 acres one-half mile south of Carlton
station, where he lived until his death February 1, 18G0. He was a brickmaker. a ma-
son, and contractor and builder of considerable note. He built the brick church on the
Ridge road in Greece, Monroe county, known as the Baptist Church, the brick church
at Parma Center, and several other buildings. His wife was Philinda Gidmore, born
in Cambridge, N. Y., May 28, 1892, and died in Brockport, N. Y. They were married
July 13, 1809, and their children were as follows: Charlotte, born May 12, 1810, at
Saratoga; Harmon, born June 23, 1812, in Monroe county, and died December 13,
1813; Justin, born November 13, 1814. and died November 29, 1814; Phoebe, born
January 16, 1816, at Livingston county; John, born May 17, 1818, in Monroe county;
Phabritus, born October 29, 1820; Polly, born November 16, 1822, in Monroe county;
Leonard, born August 19, 3829, m Parma, Monroe county; Philinda, born March 20,
1832. John Bragg, our subject, was educated in the common schools of Parma and
Carlton. His first business was making brick and clearing land in the eastern part of
Carlton and finally purchase;! the farm one-half mile south of Carlton Station in 1844,
on which he now resides, only ten acres being cleared at that time. December 30,
1841, John Bragg married Mary Jane Phillips, of Carlton, who was born September 4,
1824, and died February 14, 1878. They had two children, Theda V., born January 4,
1846, married Lewis Jordan (and they have one son, Warren B., born June — , 1877),
and Celestia V., born February 16, 1848. Mr. Bragg married for his second wife, No-
vember 19, 1879, Olive H. Gray, born November 19, 1842, in Barre Orleans county.
Lewis J. Jordan is descended from Isaac Jordan, his grandfather, who was born in
Hartford, Conn., and died in 1872, at Carlton Station, aged sixty-two years. Philo M.
Jordan, father of Lewis, was born February 15, 1823, at Newtown, Conn. He came
to Murray in 1854 and purchased a place and remained until 1875, thence to Kendall,
where he purchased a place and remained until 1886, then moved to Carlton Station,
where he remained five years, and finally returned to Falls Village, Conn., where he
now resides. His wife was Julia Chase, born on Quaker Hill, Dutchess county, in
1827, and they are the parents of Lewis J. Jordan, who was born in Sharon, Litchfield
county, April 29. 1848. and came to Carlton when eight years of age. He was edu-
cated in the common schools of Murray, and since then has followed farming and pro-
duce business, and has sold nursery stock and dry goods for Frank D. La Sanna, of
Philadelphia. February 17, 1869, Mr. Jordan married Theda Y. Bragg, born January
4, 1846. They have one son, Warren B., born June, 1877.
Baker, Calvin, who settled in Carlton about 1849, was a native of Massachusetts, and
before coming to this county had lived for a time in Onondaga and later in Genesee
county. In his family were four daughters and two sons, and of these children John
Baker, was the oldest. He was born in 1828, and was a farmer by occupation. He be-
gan with small means, but industry and preseverance were rewarded, and he died the
owner of a good and well earned property. He died March 16, 1890. His wife, whom
he married in 1851, was Sarah E. Crane, of Carlton, and their children were as follows:
John C, of Albion; Adella, who died at twenty-nine; Emma, who died at five, and
Charles L., who died at one year of age. During the last year of his life John Baker
was justice of the peace in Albion, to which town he removed from Carlton. He was
a strong Republican, and was also interested in temperance work. He was a member,
trustee and steward of the M. E. Church. John Baker, jr., was born in Carlton, June
10, 1852, and came to Albion with his father in 1862. In May, 1890, he married Mena
A. Bateman, of Carlton, -and they have two children.
166 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Bidwell, C. H., was born in the town of Albion, Orleans county, April 10, 1848, and
after spending the earlier years of his life in farming finally took up manufacturing and
designing. He started in a modest way in Albion, but came to Medina in 1889 and
formed a stock company. He has since, however, bought out all the other share
holders, and is now sole proprietor. He manufactures bean threshers extensively, and
sells them all over the bean growing districts of this country, employing from fifteen to
twenty-five workmen. In 1873 Mr. Bidwell married Lewella Albin, and they have
four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Bidwell's machines are sold under a
warranty to >^e well made, finished, stronger and capable of doing more work well, on
all kinds of beans, than any other thresher.
Butler, Frederick W., was born on the Isle of Wight (England), June 21, 1844, and
was the second of six children of John and Anna Butler. The father, who was a shoe-
maker by trade, came with his family to the United States in 1852 and settled at Brock-
port, where he died a year or two afterward. Upon the death of the father the family
became somewhat scattered, Fred working on a farm in Clarkson until he attained his
majority. In 1863 he came to Albion and found employment in the store of Hiram
W. Preston, and with him learned the jeweler's trade and became a practical and ef-
ficient workman. Mr. Butler was in Mr. Preston's employ for seventeen years, after
which, in 1882, he came proprietor of a jewelry store in Albion, succeeding in business
J. T Brown. From then until the present time Mr. Butler has been numbered among
the substantial merchants of the county seat, and one whose business life has been de-
servedly successful. In May, 1882 Frederick W. Butler was married to Sarah, daugh-
ter of the late Andrew Wall. Three children have been born of this marriage. In
politics Mr. Butler is a Democrat, yet takes no active part therein. He and his family
are members of Christ's Church.
Barrett, James Edwin, was born in county Limerick (Ireland), October 4, 1837, and
was the son of James and Ellen (Bagley) Barrett. The father died when James was
four years old, and in 1849 the mother came with her family to this country and located at
Medina. James E. Barrett learned the trade of carriage blacksmith and then went west.
At the outbreak of the civil war returned home, thence came to Albion, and has since
been a resident of that village. For a period of seven years Mr. Barrett was a faithful
employee of Mr. Sears, once well known in the wagon trade at the county seat, and
was also an employee of Mr. Curtis, and still later with the^Curtis Manufacturing Com-
pany. In February, 1873, in company with Edward Wilson, Mr. Barrett purchased a
wholesale liquor business, and after the death of Mr. Wilson a similar partnership was
formed with Horan Flanders, which continued till 1891, when Mr. Barrett retired from
the firm. In April, 1891, he was appointed to the charge of canal repairs between
Medina and Brockport, and the following May was made general patrolman of the same
section. Both of these positions he still holds. Mr. Barrett is a strong Democrat, and
as such was one of the first village trustees elected under the new charter, and served
in that capacity three years; was one of the original sewer commissioners of the vil-
lage, and is still a member of that body. He has also been for seventeen years one of the
assessors of Albion. In 1862 James E. Barrett married Maggie Lyons, of which union
two daughters have been born: Ella T. and Anna F., both graduates of Cornell Uni-
versity. The latter is now a teacher of languages in a noted private institution near
Wheeling, W. Va. Ellen Bagley Barrett, mother of James E., died in Albion.
Bullard, George, was born in Gaines, April 26, 1828, and was the oldest of six chil-
dren of David and Eliza (Merwin) Bullard, the parents being pioneers in this county.
George was brought up on the farm and educated at the Yates and Albion academies.
He read law with Cole Sawyer, and was admitted to practice in 1857. He began prac-
tice as partner to the late Judge Bessac, which was followed by partnerships with Henry
A. Glidden and Judge Sawyer in succession. Recently, however, Mr. ]>ullard has retired
from active practice and devotes his attention to farming interests. In 1859 Mr. Bui-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 1G7
lard married Janette, daughter of Amos Clift, of Gaines. Two children have been born
to them, Daniel and Frederick, both of Rochester. Hezikiah, Oliver, Amos, and Wells
Clift, natives of Vermont, settled at Gaines about 1816, hence vi^ere among the pioneers
of that town. Hezikiah married Betsey Hutchinson, and both died in the town.
Ohver never married and also died in Gaines. Wells married and had a family of six
children, three of whom are now living. Amos married Charlotte Cross and had seven
children, viz: Harriet, now Mrs Cox; Jasper, of Oregon; Janette, wife of George
Bullard, of Albion ; and Mary, widow of John Anderson, late of Gaines. Amos, the
pioneer, lived and died in Gaines. He was was a successful farmer, a good citizen, and
a m.an much respected in the county. Of the Bullard family in Gaines, William and
Brigadier were the pioneers in this region and the others came later on. David Bullard,
father of George, the lawyer, was one of ten children, viz. : William, Brigadier, David,
Betsey, Nancy, Polly, Sally, Ransom, and one other now forgotten. David married
Eliza Merwin and had six children as follows : George, Gilbert, Huldah, Judah, Levi,
and one who died in infancy.
Burch, Theodore, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, August 23, 1833, and was the
youngest but one of the seven children of William and Zilpha Burch. The father died
when Theodore was a child, and after a widowhood of twelve years, his mother married
Asa Paine, and soon after settled in Barre. Theodore was sent to learn the blacksmith
trade when he was but sixteen years old. He continued this business for eleven years,
then became a farmer, and this is his present occupation, although he practices as a
vetermary surgeon somewhat extensively in Barre. On March 1, 1865, he married
Laura Wolcott, and after seven years she died, and he married Maria H., daughter of
the late Rev. Trenck Mason. They had two children, Jerome, who died at two years
of age, and Harriet M.
Bedell, George W., was born at Marcellus, January 26, 1813, and was the son of
John and Polly Bedell. Norman Bedell, one of the children in the family, was an early
resident in this region, and one of the organizers of the village of Albion. He came
here in 1827 and started a furnace opposite the present Bordwell block, and later was
one of the firm of " Bedell & Berry," stove founders of Albion. George W. Bedell
first came to Albion in 1831 and finished learning the hat making trade with Hiram
Sickles, whom he succeeded in business. He was unfortunate, however, and afterward
worked for Deacon Goodrich, cutting and selling hats and caps. He contmued in this
employment until 1850 when he was appointed collector of canal tolls at Albion, hold-
ing that position two years. In 1847 Mr. Bedell was elected superintendent of the
poor for the county and served three years. In 1854 he was appointed P. M. of the
Assembly, and the following year sergeant at arms and P. M. of the Senate. In 1856
he was nominated and elected sheriff of Orleans county. At the outbreak of the war
he went to Washington and was appointed special inspector of customs at Suspension
Bridge, serving until 1863. During the period of drafts he was appointed provost mar-
shal, but resigned and was appointed inspector for Monroe and Niagara counties. Mr.
Bedell was also at one time special agent for the treasury department. In 1834 he
married Betsey Townsend, of Attica, and to them one child was born, Copeland Town-
send Bedell. In politics, Mr. Bedell is a Republican, and in religion, a Methodist.
Mrs. Bedell died in Albion in 1891. Copeland Bedell was born May 14, 1846, and with
the exception of one year in Buffalo, has always been in business in Albion. In 1893
he bought the Main street bakery and is now its proprietor. In 1891 Mr. Bedell mar-
ried Pruella E. Helhgass. They have one child.
Baldwin, George, was born in Lyndonville, Orleans county, in 1861, and is a son of
James Baldwin. He was a native of England, came to America in 1856, settled at
Lyndonville and engaged in farming. He afterward removed to Knowlesville and
finally to Barre Center, where he died December 13, 1889. He married Eliza Goodey,
and their children were : Anna, Hattie, George, Benjamin, Fred, Lizzie, Carrie and
168 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Adrian. Anna married Frank Knickerbocker, Hattie married Charles Ferris, Benjamin
married Lillian Mitchell and settled in Texas. The others, with the exception of George
are unmarried, who was a farmer for several years. He settled in Murray in 1881 and
in 1889 with Fred N. Hinds, engaged in the stone business at Hindsburg. He married
in 1883 Alice M. Fooley, and their children are : Jane, Edith, Jessie and Mable.
Ballou, James, was born in the town of Oppenheim, Fulton county, April 6, 1848,
and is a son of Abner and 'Elizabeth (Kegg) Ballou. James Ballou came to Orleans
county in 1876 and engaged in farming in Murray. During the year 1883, he carried
on a store at Hindsburg, and for three years was in the coal busmessat Murray Station.
He is an active member of the Democratic party, and was elected hisfhway commissioner
in 1885 and again in 1893. In 18G9 Mr. Ballou married Eliza Rhodes, daughter of
Nathaniel P, Rhodes of Murray.
Baruum, Zebulon, born December 19, 1773, came to Hartland, N. Y., in 1804, moved
thence to Carlton in 1817, and died in Michigan November 28, 1848. July 31, 1798,
he married Betsey Ferster (born November 17, 1779)^ and their children were Abel S.,
born Jaunary 12, 1800, died October 8, 1877; John, born February 8, 1801, deceased;
Polly (Mrs. Harmon Fuller), born May 22, 1803, died February 24, 1872; Nancy (Mrs.
Benjamin Tuttle), born March 24, 1805, deceased ; Lucinda (Mrs. Nelson Sprague), born
September 28, 1807, died November 27. 1886 ; Roxana (Mrs. Lyman Fuller, born
February 25, 1810, died May 24, 1875), Philo, born August 23, 1812, died March 9;
1834; Almina (Mrs. Hiram Abbey), born June 17, 1814, died January 13, 1867 ; Israel
born June 15, 1816, deceased ; Melvin, born November 8, 1818, died January 29, 1885;
Nelson, born October 15, 1824, died November 13, 1824 ; and Henry, born November
18, 1825. Abel S. Barnum married Mrs. Lucy Munion, daughter of Noah Greely, and
their children were Truman P., born December 15, 1823 ; Noah G., born August 25,
1825; Lucinda J., born February 21, 1827 ; Clifton G., born February 26, 1830, en-
listed in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, and died of fever at Fairfax, Va., April 18, 1863
Dustin, born July 23, 1833; Arab I., born November 18, 1834; Elisha F., born January
15, 1836, enlisted August 11, 1862, in 4th New York H. A. ; and Larah L. (Mrs. Lyman
(C. Fuller), born July 10, 1838. Lowell H. Barnum, who was born on and still oc-
cupies the old homestead, married, first, Nancy A., daughter of William A. Spaulding,
and second Mrs. Oliver Coon, daughter of Lewis Root. His children are Nellie J.,
Mrs. Frederick Johnson), born Augusts], 1858; Willie H., born July 1, 1861 ; Alton
G., and Cora, deceased; T. Eddie, born August 13, 1866; and Earle S., born Septem-
ber 16, 1872.
Bamber, Richard W., M. D., Kendall, is a son of Dr. Thomas R. Bamber, who set-
tled as a physician in Carlton in May 1862, where he died January 14, 1892. Dr. Bam-
ber, sr., was born in Oneida county in 1817, studied medicine at the old Willoughby
Medical College in Ohio, and practiced m that State and in St. Lawrence county, N. Y.
He was town clerk of Carlton from 1862 to 1872, and president of the Orleans County
Medical Society, of which he was a member and a licenciate. He married, first, Harriet
Pratt, of Grand Rapids, Ohio, by whom he had one child, William P., deceased, who
served three years in Company E., 151st N. Y. Vols. Dr. Bamber's second wife was
Ranaveline M. Ward, and their children were : Benjamin A., of Carlton ; Dr. Richard
W.; and David W., Mary E. and Edward E.,all deceased. Dr. Richard W. Bamber, born in
Sterlingville, N. Y., November 6, 1853, attended the Albion Academy when Oliver More-
house was the principal, the Brockport Normal School, and Eastman's Business College
at Poughkeepsie, and was graduated as M. D. from the medical department of the
University of Bufii'alo. In 1883 he began practice in Carlton, of which he was town
clerk one year. In 1885 he was praotifing medicine in Dakota, but soon returned to
Carlton, and in 1887 located in Kendall village. In the fall of 1887 Dr. Bamber was
elected county coroner and served three years. He is a member and has been a
FAMILY SKETCHES. 169
censor of the Orleans County Medical Society, was once elected delegate to the State
Medical Society, has been three times a delegate to the Central New York Medical
Society, a; d is a member of Social Lodge, No. 713, F. & A. M. February 25, 1886, he
married Mary H. Rallou,. of Carlton.
Burns, Lewis G., was born October 27, 1826, in the town of Murray. He is a son
of Chauncy Burns whose father, John Burns, came from Onondaga at an early date to
Sweden, ' Monroe county, afterward settling about two miles west of HoUey in the
town of Murray where he was a farmer. John Burns married Ruth Willy, and their
children were : Dennis, who settled in Genesee county ; Andrew, who settled in Mur-
ray and died at Carlton; Chauncy; Blake, who settled in Murray; Polly, who mar-
ried William Knight ; Thirza, who married Peleg Burrows and for her second husband
Torrey Winslow ; Betsy, who married John IBaker ; Alanson, who married Esther
Smith and settled in Murray ; Walter, who married Hannah Smith and settled in
Murray; Henry, who settled in Illmois. Chauncey Burns settled in Murray and was
a farmer. In politics he was a strong Democrat. He married Nancy, daughter of Rev.
Robinson Smith of Murray, and their children Avere : Lewis G., James D., Elias P.,
and Emily M., who died young. Elias P. settled in Michigan early in life and after-
ward returned to Murray where he remained for a time, and finally settled in Missouri.
Lewis G. and James D. Burns kept a hotel at Hindsburg for several years and from
1857 to 1862 were in the mercantile trade together in Hindsburg, James D. then kept
hotel at Fairhaven for a time and then engaged in boating on the canal. Lewis G.
Burns was engaged in farming until 1857 and since that date has been in the mercantile
trade at Hindsburg. Lewis Burns is a Democrat and for many years he has held the office
of justice of the peace, and during Cleveland's administration he was appointed post-
master of Hindsburg. In 1847 he married Eleanor, daughter of Jacob Oman, one of
the pioneers of Clarendon. Their children are: Lewis 0., James R., Eleanor V., and
Emily E. Mrs. Burns died in 1859, and in 1861 Mr. Burns married Jane Morris of
Murray, and they had one daughter, Lillian. His second wife died in 1865 and in 1867
Mr. Burns married his third wife, Samantha Smith, of Wheatland, Monroe county, and
they have one son, Ernest D. Burns. Ernest D. was appointed postmaster at Hinds-
burgh in 1893. He married Mary E. Golden. Lillian Burns married Frederick A.
Clough ; Emily married D. L. Peck ; Eleanor V. married Robert Wilson ; Leris 0. mar-
ried Dell Dorchey, and James R. married Cora Ackerman.
Bennett. Albert L., descended from Jeremiah, his great-grandfather, who wag a native
of England, and settled in America. Albert's father was Albert, who was the son of
George Bennett. Albert Bennett was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, in 1789,
and came to Gaines in 1829, and died in Michigan in 1862. He married Rachael
Warner, born at Williamson, Mass., in 1790, and died at Fhnt, Mich., in 1887. They
had these children : Alexander, born at Sand Lake in 1813, and died in infancy ; Albert
L., born at Sand Lake April 18, 1815; Emma and Emily (twins), born June 11, 1817,
in Virginia ; Fannie, born April 19, 1819, in Ohio ; George Washington, born July 5,
1821, in Ohio, and resides in Saginaw ; Daniel Miller, born June 5, 1823, Ohio, now a
resident of Port Huron, Mich.; Mary, born May 9, 1825, in Ohio ; Lewis N., born in
1827, in Parma, Monroe county, and resides at Omaha, Neb.; Willard J., born in Gaines
June 15, 1829, and resides in Flint, Mich.; Mary, born in 1831, in Gaines; Louise, born
in Holley, Mich., in 1833; Phoebe Ann, born at Holley, Mich., in 1835, is a soldier's
widow and resides at Lowell, Mich.; James, born February 14, 1834, in Albion, now a
resident of Omaha, Neb. Albert Bennett, father of our subject, started out as a clock
peddler for a Connecticut firm, which business he followed for many years. He after-
ward bought a farm in Huntington for $400, and subsequently sold out for $600. He
was educated in the common schools of Ohio and afterward at Gaines, attended Kirk-
ham's lectures and made a study of grammar, and then taught school for several terms
in Kendall and Carlton. Albert L. Bennett worked on a farm summers and taught
170 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
school winters. He subsequently went into a dry goods store at Albion, where he was
confidential clerk one year for Freeman Butts. The next year he went into the Bank
of Orleans as bookkeeper, after which he was made teller of the same bank and held
this position four years. In 1854 he went to Buffalo and took the position of general
bookkeeper in the International Bank. This position he afterward resigned to accept
that of financial manager of the Buffalo Steam Engine Works, which he held until
1857. He then went into the Clinton Bank at Buffalo as general bookkeeper and re-
mained until 1861, after which he ran the Tonawanda distillery for fourteen months,
and went from here to Oil City, Pa., where he remained seven years as cashier of the
First National Bank of Buffalo, which he helped to form, on a salary of $4,000 per
annum. On account of poor health he was obliged to resign and came to Eagle
Harbor, Orleans county, where he bought a farm of 134 acres and has since lived in
retirement. Mr. Bennett was a member of Albion I. 0. of 0. F. and passed all the
chairs in the lodge and encampment. Januaiy 31, 1835 he married Adeline Farr, who
was born in Gaines, December, 1818, The children of this union were: Chester W.,
born December 2, 1836, and died in infancy; Emma, born March 8, 1838, died at the
age of nineteen years; William W., born in July, 1840, and was drowned in the canal
at Albion when seven years old ; Louise, born in September, 1846, married Jerome B.
Gumaer, and they have two sons, Albert L. B., born September 17, 1878, and Edward,
born October 24, 1883.
Castle, T. 0., was born in Parma, Monroe county, April 2, 1826. After teaching
school two years and clerking at Shelby Centre, he came to Medina in the fall of 1849.
The same year he established his present business in Millville, which he has since con-
ducted. In December, 1850, Mr. Castle married Mary A. Timmerman, and they have
three children, Catherine M., Lillie, now Mrs. Abel C. Root, of Topeka, Kan., and
George D. Mr. Castle's parents were Jehiel and Nancy (Willey) Castle, natives of
Connecticut. Mr. Castle has always been more or less active in political affairs. At
the age of twenty-four he was a justice of the peace, and has been notary public
many years. He was a justice of Sessions a couple of terms, and has held the office
of postmaster since October 7, 1878. He has been twice married, his present wife
was Anna Biglow.
Cooper, Michael, was born in Ireland September 3, 1839, and came to America in
1847. He learned the blacksmith trade and followed it successfully thirty- five years.
He has resided in Medina for over forty years. Fourteen years ago he established his
present grocery business, which has grown to be one of the leading stores in Medina.
Mr. Cooper has been a member of the Board of Education nine years, and trustee of
the village eight years. In 1861 he married Catherine Maloney, and they have two
sons, John W., and George E. Cooper. John W. is the present clerk of the village.
He was elected in March, 1892. While he has always assisted his father in the grocery
business, he also conducts an electrical business. Michael Cooper is a large real estate
owner in Medina, He built the Cooper block containing the Cooper hall and the post-
office buildmg at Medina. He also built and owns the block in which he carries on his
grocery business. John W. Cooper married Kate A. Sutter in 1892.
Curry, W. R., was born in Buffalo January 6, 1861. He first started in the meat
business, and then spent some time in the oil country. He then acted as salesman for
the Harris Soap Company for a time, and then went to Waukegan, 111., in the livery
business. He returned to Buffalo, after some experience as clerk in a Clifton hotel. He
then went to Rochester and worked for the Citizens' Gas Company and subsequently
for the Municipal Gas Company. In 1883 he came to Medina as superintendent of the
Medina Gas and Electric Light Comi)any, which position he has since held. He is also
superintendent of the Albion Gas Company. In 1880 Mr. Curry married Maggie Bur-
rus, and they have two sons and one daughter. His father was Richard Curry, and his
mother Diana (Bickerstalf) Curry.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 171
Culver, William C, was born August 21, 1853, and is a carpenter and joiner by trade.
He spent twelve years in the -«hops of S. B. Van Duzee, of Gouverneur, N. Y., and three
years with C. H. BidwelJ, of Medina. In 1876 he married Roxana Pierson, and they
have three children, one son and two daughters. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Culver
entered into partnership with Mr. H. J. Hopkins in the lumber and planing business.
Clement, Joseph H., w^as born in Stratford, Fulton county, November 16, 1824.
His grandfather was Lambert Clement, who was born June 4, 1757 and married
Mary Vedder, by whom he had these children : Rachel, Seth, John, Harmonious,
Joseph, Derrick, Lewis, and William B. The father of this family was a Revolutionary
soldier and died at Coventry, 0., in 1842, and his wife in 1848. John, father of our
subject, was born March 10, 1794, and died July 7, 1847. His wife was Hannah Madi-
son, born February 28, 1797, and died May 8, 1885. Their children were: Eleanor,
born in 1814, died in 1871; Setb, born in 1818, died in 1888; Joseph H. ; and John G-.,
born in 1827, died in 1853. Joseph H. came with his parents from Herkimer county
in a covered wagon in 1839, and settled in East Carlton, where he has ever since lived.
His first business venture was the building of a steam saw mill on Marsh Creek, and he
also built one at the month of Oak Orchard Creek, one at West Summerville, Niagara
county, one south of Carlton Station, and in 1867 he rebuilt the mill on the farm where
he lives. He also built the shingle and stone mill in 1868, and has been the inventor of
many labor-saving machines, among them being a bean planter, of which he has sold
300; a bean harvester, which is being manufactured at Albion by Clark & Willyoung;
etc. Mr. Clement has served as highway commissioner of Carlton nine years. August
13, 1868, he married Mary A. Sutton, born in Woodchurch, Kent county, England, May
18, 1846. They have one daughter, Mary E., born in Carlton, March 1, 1871, wife of
Heabert L. Madison, M. D., who resides at Burhngton, la. They have one daughter,
Frances M., born May 1 7, 1893.
Culver, Orange, came from Cayuga county in 1828, and settled in Barre. He married
Elizabeth Andrews, and their son, Ebenezer, settled in Barre and engaged in farming
until 1865, when he came to Clarendon and here spent the remainder of his days. He
was a man of strong intellect and of sound judgment, and was an active politician. He
married first Laura Richardson, and their children were : Julia, who married Zebina
M. Hunt and settled in Dakota ; Mary E., unmarried ; and Edgar B., who enlisted in
the Union Army and died at Vicksburg. Ebenezer married second Mrs. James C. Hal-
lock.
Cohoon, Francis B., was born in Cleveland, 0., December 5, 1842, a son of Edwin,
born in Windham, Conn, in 1319, who now resides in Albion. He married Julia
Backus, also born in Windham, Conn., in 1821, who is now living. Their children were :
Francis E., Adah, barn in Brighton, Monroe county, in 1844, died in 1892 ; Emma, also
born in Brighton in 1846 ; Elihu, born in Brighton in 1848 ; Ida, born in Brighton in 1853.
Our subject moved to Brighton with his parents when in infancy, and here spent his boy-
hood, clerking in a store and assisting his father who was a painter. At the age of eighteen
he enlisted in Co. F, 3d N. Y. Cavalry, September 2, 1861, and was honorahly discharged at
Suffolk, Va., July 12, 1865, as sergeant. He held various town offices, having served as
inspector of election and town clerk. He is a member of Renovation Lodge, No. 97, of
Albion. January 19, 1870, Mr. Cohoon married, at Carlton, KateL. Wilcox, born in Carl-
ton, September 15, 1851, and their children are : Ella M., born November 13, 1871 ; George
F., born April 12, 1876; Fred W., born December 3, 1879 ; and Harry L., born Decem-
ber 16, 1885. Mr. Cohoon is a member of Jones Post, G. A. R.
Culver, W. J., was born in Medina September 18, 1856. In his younger days he was
a farmer and quarryman, but went into the ice business twelve years ago and for the
last five years has been in business for himself. He handles from 1,000, to 1,500 tons
172 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
annually. Mr. Culver is a member of the K. 0. T. M., of the Gorman Hose Company,
and of the Rebeccas. He was elected postmaster of Shelby three successive terras, and
has been a delegate to several conventions. In 1884 Mr. Culver married Hattie Bidel-
man, and they have tAvo children, Iva May and Pearl.
Conley Brothers, Medina. — The firm of Conley Brothers is composed of Frank E. and
James H. Conley. They established their fine grocery business in Medina October
25, 1890. Frank E. Conley vi'as born in Shelby Center December 27, 1862, and was m
the employ of the N. Y. C. Railroad for seven years prior to starting the grocery busi-
ness. James H. Conley was born February 1, 1864, and was a clerk for M. & J.
Slack for seven years prior to the formation of the firm of Conley Brothers. Both gen-
tlemen are members of the C. M. B. A., and the Celtic Club. Their father was Edward
Conley, an engineer who died November 13, 1893.
Cook, S. A., was born in the town of Yates July 12, 1851. After some farming ex-
perience he embarked in the tobacco manufacturing business, which he has followed
ever since. He began it in 1873. July 10. 1802, the firm of S. A. Cook & Tinham
Brothers was formed. In 1876 Mr. Cook married Adelaide Thorpe, and they have two
daughters : Pearl A., and Olive I. Mr. Cook's father was George Cook, a farmer in
Ridgeway. His mother was Olive (Comstock) Cook.
' Chapman, C. R., M. D., was born in Medina June 6, 1886. He was educated at the
Medina Academy, the University of Vermont, and the University of New York city,
from which latter he graduated March 25, 1890. He was then appointed to Bellevue
Hospital as a reward for his high proficiency, and spent twelve years there as junior as-
sistant, senior assistant, and house surgeon. He subsequently took a course on throat,
eye and ear diseases, and in 1892 commenced practice in Medina.
Cummings, B. J., was born at Johnson's Creek October 21, 1864. He first engaged as
clerk in a store in Yates. In 1882 he came to Medina and clerked for J. H. Geballe for
eight years, when he purchased his present business of confectioner and dealer in cigars,
tobacco, etc. In 1893 Mr. Cummings was elected town clerk of Ridgeway by a ma-
jority of 114, and was elected in 1894 for two years by a majority of 226. He is a
member of the Odd Fellows and the Protective Hose Company. In 1890 he married
Minnie M. Mead. His father was Jefferson A. Cummings, his mother Eliza M. Leonard.
Chadwick, John, was a native of England, born in Yorkshire, where his early life was
speni and where he was a stone cutter by trade. To this occupation John also brought
up his sons. The family came to this country in 1859, and the father thereafter lived
and worked in Buffalo and Medina, but eventually moved to Wisconsin. Thomas
Chadwick, son of John, was born in Yorkshire May 1, 1845, and eame to this country
with his father. In 1871 he went to Medina where he was employed for ten years as
foreman in the McCormick quarries, after which he was for three years in business for
himself in Lockport. In 1885 Mr. Chadwick came to Albion and with his brother,
Allen, bought twenty-five acres of quarry land in the eastern part of the town. This
tract has since been increased to forty -seven acres, and the stone producing firm of
Chadwick Brothers, is regarded as one of the substantial and successful business con-
cerns of the stone belt. In England, in 1870, Thomas Chadwick married Anna Pyrah,
by whom he has three children : James, Elizabeth and Joseph, the daughter being now
deceased. Allen Chadwick was born in Yorkshire, England, June 13, 1855, and his
business life has been much like that of his brother, whose partner he now is. He mar-
ried Emma Rinker, of Ridgeway, and has five children : Ira, Lena, Libbie, Marion and
Henry. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. Thomas Chadwick is a Republican in
politics.
Cole, Dan H., was a native of Auburn, N. Y., born June 16, 1811, and was the son of
Dr. Joseph Cole of that place, but formerly of Sharon, Conn. Dan H. came to Albion
FAMILY SKETCHES. 173
in 1830, and studied law with his brother, A. Hyde Cole, the latter then and for many
years a leader of the bar of the county. After admission Dan H. became partner to his
brother. In 1840 subject was appointed by Governor Seward to the office of surrogate,
and in 1846-49 was elected county clerk. In 1855 he was appointed county judge and
surrogate, and in the following fall was elected to the Assembly. In 1863 he was
elected senator, and re-elected in 1873-75. May 4, 1836, be married Frances M. El-
liott, of Lockport, and they had these children: Mary J., Joseph and Dan H., jr. Judo-e
Cole died November 8, 1881, and his wife May 19, 1893. Dan H. Cole, jr., was born m
Albion February 2, 1851, and was educated at the Albion Academy. He was brought
up to work on his father's farm. In 1878 the grocery firm of Cole & Flintham was
formed, and in 1892 Mr. Cole became sole proprietor of the business, i^fay 13, 1873, he
married Mary L., daughter of John and Maria Flintham, and by whom he has three
children.
Castaldi, John, was born at Fiacanza, Italy, November 28, 1834. His father was a
merchant, and at the age of fifteen John was sent to college. For three years he studied
philosophy and then attended College Alberroni, and still later was at Genoa at the
Propaganda. Having completed a very thorough e«lucation, our subject entered the
priesthood, and in September, 1859, came to Buffalo as assistant priest at the Cathedral.
Later he was at Corning and Batavia, and in January, 1862, was appointed to St.
Joseph's at Albion. He also attended the parish at Holley about thirteen years.
Coming to Albion, Father Castaldi found about 100 families in his parish ; it now
numbers 200. He also attended the Polish people in Albion for a time. In 1870,
through his own efforts, and at his own expense, Father Castaldi established the ''Holy
Name" convent now in charge of the Sisters of Mercy, and we may add that this insti-
tution has ever been supported by the worthy priest.
Culver, Daniel D., the oldest of the children of Oli er P., and Jane (Delano) Culver,
was born in Barre, October 3, 1847, and has always lived in the immediate locality of
his present farm until his recent removal to Barre Centre. January 17, 1871, he mar-
ried Phoebe A., daughter of Dr. James A. and Nancy M. Wood. No children have
been born of this marriage, though Harry K. Culver is their son by adoption.
Wood, James A., was born in Bloomingburg, Sullivan County, and acquired his ele-
mentary and medical education in that region. He read medicine under the direction
of Dr. Bottsford, a well known physician of Sullivan county, after which he attended
and was graduated from the Geneva Medical College. Dr. Wood first came to Barre
Centre about 1842, and from that time until his death he occupied a prominent posi-
tion in the medical profession in this county, having a large and successful practice.
He died of apoplexy in 1858. In 1847 Dr. Wood married Nancy M., daughter of
Alva Mattison, of Barre, and they have had thre.e children : Alva H., who died, aged
fifteen; Phoebe A., wife of Daniel D. Culver, and James C, who died in infancy.
Coe, Stephen, was born December 15, 1787. July 1, 1809, he married Leah Henion,
who was born October 25, 1791. In 1836 the family came to Yates from Gorham,
N. Y., and settled three miles east of Lyndonville, where Mr. Coe died November 21,
1838. Mrs. Coe survived until November, 1879. Their children were: M. Daniel,
Tunis H., Eugene M., Catharine A., Caroline E., Martha M., M. Jane, John S., and Eli
G. Tunis H. Coe was born in Benton, N. Y,. June 4, 1818, and died in this town, De-
cember 31, 1890. March 30, 1850, he married Lucy C. Kennedy, of Yates, and their
children were Stephen A., Frank L., born December 18, 1852; Electa L. (Mrs. C. M.
Garlock), born December 25, 1854, died September 26, 1889; Delia A. (Mrs. George
H. Rolffe); and Charles B., born February 26, 1863. Mr. Coe was a prominent mem-
ber of the Baptist Church, was long a trustee and patron of Yates Academy, held sev-
eral minor town offices, and served as supervisor in 1862-63. He was also one of the
first to introduce the bean growing industry in Orleans county. Stephen A. Coe was
174 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
born December 16, 1850. He married Mary, daughter of Eli Clark, and has three chil-
dren, InaM., Dan D., and L. Clare. He is a merchant and postmaster at Yates Centre,
and holds the office of town clerk.
Clark, George F., was born in Murray in 1849, and is a son of George W. Clark,
whose father, Asa, was a son of Asa Clark. Asa Clark, sr., was the first of the family to
come to Orleans county. He came from Connecticut and settled at Avon and then re-
moved to Sandy Creek. Asa Clark, his son, engaged in the mercantile trade there and
became one of the prominent men of the town. He was one of the leaders of the Dem-
ocratic party in that town and for many years was justice of the peace. He was super-
visor in the years 1831, '32, '33, and '34, and has also been elected member of the As-
sembly. His children were: George W., Charles, Harriett and Mary. Mary married
Melora Leonard of Murray ; Harriet married Benjamin F. Van Dyke of Murray; Charles
Clark was engaged in the mercantile trade at Clarkson, Monroe county, for several
years, and also spent some time in the west. He married Mary Steele. Charles Clark
died at Sandy Creek. George W. Clark carried on a store at Sandy Creek for a short
time and then settled in Chicago, where he engaged in business. He died in Buffalo.
He married Marina Waddams of Clarkson, and their only child living is George F. Clark.
George F. Clark has lived most of his life in Murray. January 1, 1893, he purchased
the interest of George W. Arnold in the general store of " Arnold & Fuller " at Sandy
Creek, the firm becoming " Fuller & Clark." In 1889 Mr. Clark married Hattie C.
Wood of Murray.
Cole, Nerville L., born in 1855 in the town of Clarendon, is the son of Ira C, who
was a son of Lewis Cole, a native of Broome county. Ira Cole was born in 1831 and
came to Orleans county in 1848, settling in Clarendon, where he learned the carpenter's
trade, which he still follows. In 1871 he removed from Clarendon to Holley, and in
1880 he added coal and lumber to his other business. In 1887 his son, Nerville L.,
purchased a half interest in the business and the following year purchased his father's
interest. He is known to-day as one of the largest contractors and builders in Orleans
county. He is a Republican, and was elected supervisor of the town of Murray in
1894. Ira C. Cole married Violetta, daughter of Jeremiah Palmer, of Clarendon in
1853. There children were Jane L., Helen, Charles I., Arthur and Nerville L. Jane
L. married in 1880 Charles W. Clough. Helen married in 1883 Charles R. Aggas.
Nerville L. married in 1884 Kate M., daughter of Nelson Hatch, of Murray. They
have three children, Vida, Kirk N., and Edna H.
Clough, Charles W., was born in Kendall July 30, 1859. His father, Obed W., was
a son of Wesley, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier. Wesley was the first of
the family to settle in Orleans county. He was a native of Unity, N. H., but came
here at an early date and settled in Kendall, purchasing 100 acres, which he cleared.
He was a musician. He married Rachel Speaker, and had seven children : Harriet,
George, Obed W., Esther, Jerry, Wyan E. and Baird. Harriet married a Mr. Thomp-
son, of Kendall ; Esther died unmarried ; Jerry was a cooper by trade and spent the
early part of his life in the country, afterward settling in Michigan, where he died. He
married Helen Perigo, of Murray. Wyan E. prepared himself for a teacher and for sev-
eral years made that his business. He came to Holley later, and was for a time en-
gaged in the produce business with Obed W. Afterward he returned to Michigan,
where he is a teacher. Baird came to Holley in 1860, and with the exception of twelve
years spent in Micliigan, has resided there. He carried on a meat market for several
years in Holley. He married Julia, daughter of Joseph W. Robb, of Holley. Obed
W. and George learned the cooper's trade, and for several years were in business at
Kendall. George afterward removed to Michigan and in 1864 Obed W. came to Hol-
ley, and with his brother, Wyan E., engaged in the produce business. The firm exist-
ed until 1807, when Wyan removed to Michigan. Obed W. continued the business un-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 175
til 1869, when he retired from the produce business and opened a flonr and feed store.
He was a Democrat. He married in 1856 Ann A., daughter of Nathaniel Re Qua, of
Kendall, and had three children; Hattie A., Charles W., and Fred A. He died No-
vember 5, 1870. Hattie A. married W. T. Bush, of Kendall. Fred A. married Lillian
Burns, of Murray, and resides at Hmdsburg. He is a farmer. Charles W. learned the
carpenter's trade, which has since been his business. He is a member of the Presby-
terian Church, superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is a member of Holley Lodge
L 0. 0. F. He married in 1880 Jennie L., daughter of Ira G. Cole, of Holley.
Cogswell, Francis D., born in 1830 in Peterboro. N. H., is of English descent, his an-
cestors having settled in New England in 1635. The father of our subject, William D.,
was a native of Marlboro, Mass. During the fifties Mr. Cogswell settled in Murray,
and engaged in farming. He married in 1855 Henrietta McCrillis, of Murray, and they
had four children, three of whom are living, Frank L., who resides in St. Paul, Minn.,
Mrs. Watson F. Barry, of Medina, and Mrs. B. F. McDonald, of Holley.
Cornwell, La Fayette, was born March 11, 1856, in Canada. His father, Joseph M.,
was a son of Moses Cornwell, who came from Albany county to Lewiston, and later to
Lockport, and at an early date settled in Yates, Orleans county. He married a Miss Mc-
Cullom, and their children were: Joseph M., John, who settled in Yates; "V' illiam D.,
who settled at Oakfield, Genesee county, and married a Miss Rosencrans ; Mary, who
died unmarried ; Jane, who married a Mr. Handy ; and Rebecca, who married John
Barrin. Joseph was a farmer and resided in Orleans county until 1891, when he removed
to Michigan. He enlisted in 1862 in Company A, 151st N. Y. Vol., and served until the
close of the war. He married Elizabeth Bain, of Yates, and their children are ; La Fay-
ette, Morton and Florence. Morton is a miller and resides in Rochester ; Florence mar-
ried George Cliff. La Fayette Cornwell has always lived in Orleans county, and since
1872 in the town of Murray. He has been engaged in the stone business since 1871. In
1893 he became a partner with E. Fancher in a quarry west of Hulberton. He married
in 1885 Alice A., daughter of Harrj^ H. Darrow, of Murray, and they have three chil-
dren : Eugenia, Clark L., and Bert.
Cole, David, was born in Eagle Harbor, March 22, 1860, a son of Aaron Cole, born
in England in 1834, who came to this country in 1854 and settled at Eagle Harbor,
where he was in the boot and shoe trade for many years, and later took up other
branches of mercantile life. He died in 1883. He was also postmaster at Eagle Har-
bor fourteen years. Our subject's mother was Jane Stinson, born in Ireland "in 1832,
who came to America in 1850, and settled at Albion, where she married Aaron Cole in
1856. Their children were: Samuel, born in 1858, died in 1866; David, our subject;
James, born in 1862 ; Samuel, born in 1865, died in 1868. David attended the district
school at Eagle Harbor, then took a course at the Rochester Business University.
He first engaged in business with his brother in the canal supply store, which they
conducted two years. They also ran a grocery wagon on the road. About 1885 they
left the canal store, then opened a general store for a year, and then David bought
his brother's interest and conducted the business alone for four years. He was
postmaster at Eagle Harbor from 1883 to 1885. In the spring of 1891 he closed out
his grocery business and bought the farm where he now lives, a mile and a half west
of Eagle Harbor, the place comprising 100 acres. Mr. Cole is a member of the A. O.
U. W. at Eagle Harbor, Daniels Lodge No. 224. March 23, 1892, he married Minnie
L., daughter of Leonard Wells. She was born April 28, 1869.
Dibble, J. Marshall, is descended from James, his grandfather, who was born in
Granby, Conn., and died there. Sherman Dibble, father of J. Marshall, was born in
Granby, Conn., March 16, 1807, and died in Gaines August 17, 1867. In 1830 he
settled in the town of Gaines and kept a hotel at East Gaines. He soon after pur-
chased the farm where his son, Marshall, now resides. The farm consists of eighty
176 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
acres situated on the transit. Sherman Dibble has held office as assessor and high-
way commissioner for several times. He married Caroline Holcomb, born in Granby,
January 2S, 1829, and their children are as follows: John A., born in Granby, Conn.,
July 13, 1832, resides in Gaines; Thomas P., born in Murray February 8, 1839, and
died October 6, 1879, in Murray ; James S., born in Murray June 8, 1843, and resides
in Murray ; J. Marshall, born in Gaines November 25, 1848. Sherman Dibble
was a member of the Gaines and Murray Baptist church, of which he was a
deacon for many years. Mrs. Dibble is still living at the age of eighty-five. J. Marshall
Dibble first attended the district school near where he was born, after which he at-
tended the Albion Academy for one year. His father died when he was eighteen years
of age and Ihefarm was carried on by Marshall. He has dealt extensively in fruit, buy-
ing and selling apples, pears, quinces, and has raised on his farm as many as 1,000
bushels in one season. He has always been a Republican and has represented the
county of Orleans in the assembly in the years 1884 and 1885. January 13, 1869, he
married Mina Smith, of Albion, who was born in Saratoga county in 1850, and died
May 18, 1890. They have one child, Gertrude H., born April 19, 1876, and is now
attending the Brockport Normal School. J. Marshall Dibble, while in the assembly,
was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and at the time the Legislature
was Republican in both branches, with a Democratic governor, Mr. Dibble introduced
as many as twenty-five bills. Among others he introduced the bill for building a bridge
over the canal at Medina, which was signed by Governor Cleveland.
Douglas, John, is a lineal descendant of Dominie Douglas, of New England, who
was of Scotch descent. John's father, Israel, was born m Vermont, and settled in
Ridgeway, Orleans county, in 1803, dying in 1864, aged eighty-eight. He built the
first grist mill and saw mill at Ridgeway. and when he settled in the latter town the
nearest mill was at Rochester, a distance of forty-five miles. Israel was the first jus-
tice of the peace in that town, and was a man of local prominence. He married Lucy
Brooks, of Massachusetts who died in 1863, a^ed eighty-eight. Their children weie :
Beeman, born in 1802, died in 1892 ; Edmund, ^born in 1804, died in 1817 ; Theda, born
in 1806,diedin 1862; Wright, born in 1809 ; Irena, born in 1811, died in 1836 ; John K,
born in 1814; Lucy, born in 1817 died in 1842 ; Lucy, born in 1818, died in 1847; and
Israel, born in 1821, died in infancy. Our subject has followed farming and cooper-
ing. He married, in 1843, Calista Parker, born in Watertown in 1826, and their children
are: Calista, born in 1844, died 1846; Harvey, born in 1846, who married Fidelia
Lyon, resides in Ridgeway, and has one child, Leon ; Ellen, born in 1852, married James
Stinson, resides in Ridgeway, and has four children, John D., Calista, Charles, and Ida;
Rush, born in 1862, married Alice Harwick, resides in Cleveland, O.. and has four chil-
dren, Kirk, Willis, Flossie, and Claude; and Burrell, born in 1867, resides in Cleveland, 0.
Donovan, Daniel, was born in Ireland March 1, 1870, and came to America in 1877.
He followed various avocations prior to coming to Ridgeway in 1894, when he pur-
chased the hotel there and conducts a first-class hostelry in every respect. In 1893 he
married Effa Nichols, daughter of Harry Nichols, who is associated with him in busi-
ness. Mr. Donovan is an enterprising and successful business man.
Didama, John E., was born in Madison county September 1, 1820. In 1855 he
he moved to Tioga county, Pa., where he resided six j^ears and then went to Ovid,
Seneca county, for four years. He next removed to Le Roy and remained four years,
after which he went to Jackson county, Mich., for one year. He came to Ridgeway in
1868 and has lived here since. In 1848 he married Eliza Ann Brett, and they have
three children : Justice E., Emery A., and Edith A. Mr. Didama has been connected
with the Niagara Insurance Company seventeen years, has been assessor six years and
notary public sixteen years. His father was John Didama and his mother Lucinda Gay-
lord.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 177
Dirksen, Gr. H., was born in Buffalo, January 9, 1861, and learned tlie cigarmaker's
trade in that city. He was for a time assistant chemist in the Grape Sugar Works in
Toronto, Ontario, and in 1881 came to Medina. In 1887 he established his present
flourishing business, making the finest brands of cigars as well as dealing in confectionery,
etc. Mr. Dirksen is a member of the Odd Fellows, A. O. U. W., and of the Republican
District Committee. In 1883 he married Catherine E. Herlan. His father was Jacob
Dirksen, and his mother Maagaret (Fisher) Dirksen.
Danolds, A. A., was born at Eagle Harbor, May 12, 1853, and has been a farmer
sinc3 seventeen years of age. In 1884 he married Hattie A. Potter. Mr. Danolds's father
was Truman W. Danolds, a merchant of Eagle Harbor and a native of Livingston
county. His mother was Hannah E. Andrews. Mr. Danolds is a justice of the peace
and president of Maple Ridge Lodge No. 498, Farmers' Alliance. He is a large land
owner, and one of the leading farmers of the county.
Daum, George Peter, whose excellent farms comprising an aggregate of 175 acres
in the eastern part of Barre. are among ihe best in the county, was a native of Ger-
many, born March 9, 1828. His parents were Henry and Mary Daum, and of their
five children, George Peter was the youngest but one. While George was a youth his
parents died, upon which, in 1849, he came to this country and proceeded to the Gene-
see region in search of an acquaintance for whom he had a letter. This quest brought
him in this vicinity, but for some years he had no fixed residence, and his time was em-
ployed in working as a tailor, that being his trade, and at such other work as he could
find to do. Six years of work brought him $600, money saved, and with it he bought
seventy acres in Barre and came to live in the town in 1862, though he had pre-
viously lived in Gaines where he also worked at farming. In 1854 Mr. Daum married
Rosa Bender, a native of Badew, but then living in Murray. His life as a farmer has
been abundantly successful, and as a result of hard and earnest work he is now pos-
sessed of a competency. The children of George P. and Rose (Bender) Daum are as
follows: Frank, a farmer in Barre; Caroline, wife of Edward Bender ; Frederick of
Rich's Corners ; Henry, of Albion ; Emma, wife of WiUiam Tripp, of Albion ; Daniel
ann Rose, both at home ; Kate, wife of Henry Bender, and Elizabeth, George, and
Arthur, who are at home with their parents.
Davis, John, was born in Peru, Clinton county, in 1810, a son of Gardiner and
Elizabeth (Rickertson) Davis. His parents removed to the town of Lawrence, St. Law-
rence county, and there he grew to manhood. In the spring of 1832 he came to Holley
and a few months later went to Albion, where he remained two years, working at his
trade (blacksmithing). In 1835 he went to Alabama, Wyoming county, where he re-
mained for a year, then returned to Orleans county and remained until 1841, when he
again went to Wyoming county, remaining until 1844. He then located at Sandy
Creek, and carried on a blacksmith shop until 1849, when he bought the Elisha
Blodgett farm on the east side of the Ridge road, east of Sandy Creek, and
in 1852 purchased the Judge James farm on the south side of the Ridge, where
he has since resided. Mr. Davis has always taken an interest in public affairs.
He is a Democrat and for nine years was highway commissioner of Murray, and sev-
eral years excise commissioner. He married in 1836 Delight Merrill, and they have had
one son, who resides in Kendall and who married Maria Turner. Mrs. Davis died in
1846 and in 1847 Mr. Davis married Sarah A., daughter of James Weed, one of the
pioneers of Kendall. They have had these children : Charles J., who resides in Mur-
ray, and married Helen Burch ; John H., deceased; and Agnes, who married William
Hudson. Mrs. Davis died in 1888.
Dietsch. William H., was born in 1860 at Newark, Wayne county, N. Y. He is a
son of Frederick Dietsch, who was a native of Germany. He married Dortha Heitz.
William H. came to Holley in 1884 and purchased the bakery of Walter Brockway,
178 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
and has since carried on that business. He is a member of HoUey Lodge I. 0. 0. F.
In 1885 he married Ella Wineburg of Holley, and they have two daughters, Viola and
Grrace.
Evarts, Oman, who is known throughout Barre and as well in Clarendon and Albion,
as one of the most enterprising, thrifty, and successful farmers of the county, was born
June 20, 1845. His father, Dennis Evarts, was a Vermonter, and with his parents
came west at a very early day, settling in Genesee county. In 1816 Dennis came to
Clarendon, and about 1830 located permanently in the northeast part of Barre, and
there he died in 1885 and his wife in 1886. Dennis Evarts cleared a hundred acre farm,
and afterward increased his property to 175 acres. His wife was Susan Omans, by
whom he had seven children: Sophronia, who married J. R. Love; Elizabeth, who
married Jerome Treat; Eli W., now deceased ; Orcelia, wife of George Mathes; Oman,
Serepta S., and Martha J., both of Holley. Oman Evarts, like his father, has been a
successful farmer, and he is now the owner of 225 acres of good farm land. He has
been somewhat active in local politics, was assessor in the town eight years, and super-
visor one term. He is a strong Repubhcan. His wife, whom he married February 22,
1872, was Augusta A. Glidden, and they have three children : Letta G., Edna E., and
Ogden M.
Egelston, Alonzo. — Asa Bgelston, son of Benjamin, was born in Half Moon, Sara-
toga county, August 8, 1775, and married, December 31, 1795, Sarah Widger, who was
born August 28, 1777. Of their sixteen children, Alexander and Benjamin came to
Kendall in 1842, Nathan and Washington came shortly after, and Joseph came in still
later, and all spent the remainder of their lives here. Washington died February 18,
1851; Benjamin died January 22, 1876; Nathan died May 22, 1876; and Joseph died
November 2, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Asa Egelston also came to Kendall late in life and
died here, the former January 7, 1857, and the latter January 23, 1866. All settled in
the western part of the town and were exemplary farmers and honored citizens.
Alexander Egelston, born in Duanesburg, N. Y., October 2, 1808, settled upon his pres-
ent farm in 1842, which he bought of Seth L. King in 1841. Mr. Egelston is the oldest
man residing in the town. December 1, 1831, he married Eunice Ketcham, who was
born February 20, 1810, and who died March 16, 1891. Their children were: Marshia,
born November 25, 1832, died September 13, 1833 ; Alonzo, born March 17, 1834 ;
Marshia B. (Mrs. Nathan Chester, of Illinois), born December 9, 1836 ; and Emma
(Mrs. Ezra Kendrick), born May 26, 1839. Mr. Egelston has been highway commis-
sioner four years and assessor one term. Alonzo Egelston settled on his present farm
in 1874, has served his town as assessor, and was a charter member of Social Lodge,
No. 713 F. & A. M., of Kendall. February 11, 1858, he married Lucy E., daughter of
John W. Crandall, sr.
Ely, Benjamin, was born in Clarendon, Orleans county, in 1842. His father. George,
came from Springfield, Mass., in 1830, and settled in Clarendon. He was a farmer and
a member of the Free Will Baptist Church, of Clarendon. About 1855 he settled in
Murray, where he resided till his death in 1874. He married Maria Cummings, and
they were the parents of seven children : James, Ann M., William, George, Benjamin,
Harriet, and Abigail. James Ely settled in Indiana and died there. He married Vic-
toria Sackett. Ann M. married Wallace Grace and settled in Pennsylvania ; Abigail
died unmarried ; William, George, Benjamin and Harriet are unmarried. Benjamin
has always been engaged in farming in Murray.
Everitt, Cornelius C, is descended from Isaac, who was born on Long Island and
died in Dutchess county about 1860, and his grandfathei' on his mother's side was Cor-
nelius Cornell, born on Long Island, and died in Dutchess county. George H. Everitt.
father of subject, was born in Dutchess county in 1805 and died at Fair Haven, Orleans
county, in August, 1885. He married Sarah Cornell, who was born in Dutchess
FAMILY SKETCHES. 179
county in 1811, and is still living. After their marriage in 1833 they settled in Fair
Haven in the spring of 1834. The children of this union were: Isaac C, born in
Gaines in 1833, died in 1840; Cornelius C, born in Gaines October 13, 1830; George
P. born in Gaines in 1841 and resides in Canada ; John E., born in Gaines in 1843 and
resides in Gaines; Sarah N., born in Gaines in 1845 and resides in Gaines; Charles E.,
born in Gaines and resides in Canada ; Fred B., born in Gaines and resides in Montana ;
Franklin, born in Gaines in 1851, died in 1856. Cornelius C. Everitt attended the dis-
trict school at Fair Haven, after which he went one year to the Albion Academy. He
is a member of the A. 0. U. W., called A. S. Warner Lodge, of Murray. His two
brothers George P. and George E., both served in the late war; the former enlisting in
Company A, 151st Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, served two years and was discharged
for disabilities ; and the latter enlisted in the 17th Battery of Artillery and served till
the close of the war. Cornehus C. married Cornelia, daughter of Benjamin and Eveline
Worden Thatcher on March 26, 1863. Benjamin Thatcher was born in Oxford, N. H.,
in 1809 and died in Murray in 1868. He came to Brockport with his brother, who was
Dr. Ralph Thatcher, when a young man. Benjamm married Eveline Worden in 1836 at
Clarkson, and she died in Brockport in 1844, aged thirty-one. Mrs. Everitt, wife of
subject, traces her genealogy back, to Rev. Peter Thatcher, rector of St. Edmond's
Church, Salisbury, Eng., in 1622. It is a fact worthy of notice that nearly all the
Thatcher family were preachers or doctors. The children of Cornelius and Cornelia
Thatcher Everett were as follows: Franklin T., born February 12, 1864, and married
Anna D. Bookey, and they reside in Rochester, where he is a conductor on the N. Y. C.
R R ; Dora, born August 16, 1868, married W. S. Nelson, reside in Murray and have
three children (Lottie, born in 1888; Everitt, born August 19, 1888; and Harry, born
December 25. 1890); Chailes, born October 2, 1870, died October 19, 1872; Cornelius
C, jr., born June 10, 1872 ; Arthur E., born May 29, 1875.
Florey, James, was born in England in 1844, and came to America when twenty-one
years of age. He settled in Medina, where he has since resided. He first engaged in
farming, but ten years ac;o started his greenhouse and floral business, in which he has
been very successful. He invariably carries off prizes at the shows, and has a large
patronage in Buffalo and Rochester. In 1874 he married Esther Hagerman. Her an-
cestors were of Dutch descent and were old settlers in Orleans county. Mr. Florey is
an enterprising and successful man, and his splendid green-houses are among the best
features of Medina.
Fuller, Russell N., was born in Yates, Orleans county, July 26, 1842. He was en-
gaged in railroading for fifteen years, and has since been farming. He spent several
years in the West, where he died a great deal of work sinking wells, partially in Kansas.
Mr. Fuller is a prominent Mason, and an enterprising man. His father was Ezra Fuller,
a native of New England, and his mother Mary (Godfrey) Fuller.
Field, Norman S., was born in the old historic town of Dorset, Vt., on the 25th of
May, 1818, and was the fourth of eight children of SpofFord and Sarah (Cummings)
Field. Spoff"ord Field was a tanner, currier, and shoemaker, and became a resident of
Cayuga county in 1822, where he worked chiefly at making shoes. In 1828 the
family came to Albion, and here Mr. Field established a marble shop, having been familiar
withthat calling in Vermont. He became a well-known businessman in Albion and
continued his residence in the county until his death in 1869. Norman S. Field was
brought up in tl e marble business started in Albion by his father. He attended Lima
Seminary two years and a like time at the noted Burr Seminary at Manchester, Yt. In
1844 he went to Lockport and established a marble shop, continuing there nine years,
but retaining an interest in the business for a longer period. In 1853 he purchased
the Fitch farm of 100 acres, now largely within the corporation limits of Albion
village, upon which he has since resided. In connection with farming prior to his
180 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
father's death, Mr. Field took charge of the marble business of the former in this
locality. From 1872 to 1875 he was interested in the hardware business in Albion.
Mr. Field's first wife was the daughter of Col. William Baker of Fort Ann, and after
her death he married Mary E. Baker, also a daughter of Col. Baker. Four children
were born of this marriage, viz. ; William S. Field of Mankato, Kan. ; Kirk Hart, of
Red Bank, Cal. ; Sarah D., wife of George T. S. Foote, of Albion; and John W.,
who died in infancy. In June 1885, Mary E. Baker Field died, and in November,
1877, Mr. Field married Mary W. xUcott, of Lockport. Mr. Field is an active Republi-
can and has been elected to three terms in the Board of Supervisors. In church associ-
ation he is a Presbyterian.
Frost, H. F., was born in Ridgeway, June 11, 1832, and excepting twelve years of
mercantile life, in Knowlesvilie, has followed farming with much success. In 1857 he
married Emily Grover, and they have two children, William G., and Harry S. Mr.
Frost's father was Franklin Frost, a native of Vermont, who came to Orleans county
in 1822. His mother was Fannie Smith.
Fowler, Richard R., a son of Gilbert, was born at White Plains, Westchester county,
in 1802. He came to Orleans county m 1853 and settled in Murray, engaged in
farming, which he followed until 1874, when he removed to Holley and engaged
in the grocery business, conducting the same until it was destroyed by fire three years
later. From that date until his death, Septembers, 1886, he led a retired life. He was
a Democrat, and was road commissioner of the town at one time. He married Charity
Halstead, of Westchester county, and they had four children : Thomas H., Edward R.,
Addie J., and Sarah A. Thomas married Sarah Churchill. Abbie J. married Watson
Bloomer, and Sarah A. married George Garfield. Edward R. is unmarried.
Foster, Cyrus, was born in Clarendon, September 5, 1835. His father, Michael, was
a son of Talcott, a native of Massachusetts, and came to Penfield, Monroe county, in
1810. Michael settled in Byron in 1818 and came to Clarendon, and here lived till
1857, when he removed to Marilla, Erie county, and died there in 1864. He married
Mehitable Jennison of Gainesville, Wyoming county, and their children were: Artlissa,
Ursula, Elizabeth, Alvira, Miranda, Leroy, Orrin, Cyrus, Henry, Gustavus, Adelaide and
Ellen, all of whom arrived at maturity. Artlissa married Isaac Swan of Clarendon,
and settled in Michigan ; Ursula married Ambrose Warren, and settled in Illinois ;
Elizabeth married Henry Rice, and settled in Illinois"; Alvira, married Charles James of
Byron; Miranda married Jerome Brewer of Clarendon; Leroy settled in Erie county
and married Maria Olds; Orrin settled in Michigan and married Sarah Rich ; Henry
enlisted in the Union army in 1863 and was killed at the battle of Petersburg, June 18,
1864; Gustavus married Jane Olds and settled in Erie county. Adelaide married first,
DelosKelsey, and second, David Ford, and for her third husband she married Charles
Cook of Clarendon, and settled in Byron ; Ellen married Richard Ikens and settled in
Michigan. Cyrus Foster has always resided in Clarendon, and follows agriculture. In
1860 he married Melinda Webster of Clarendon.
Asahel Fitch was a native of Connecticut and an early settler in Seneca county. He
was a wool carder and cloth dresser and in Seneca carried on a large business. He mar-
ried Charlotte Squier, after which he went on foot to Ohio in search of a suitable place for
permanent location. Returning he decided to locate at Eagle Harbor, and in 1819 he
purchased the betterments of a former occupant and in 1821 took the deed direct from
ihe land company. The children in this family were : Emily M., who lives on the old
home farm; Harriet, who married Miller P. Collins, and died in Albion ; Caroline, who
died in infancy; Pulaski S., of Albion, and Asahel W., who died on the old homestead.
Asahel Fitch, the pioneer, died of measles in July, 1826. His widow kept the family
together for several years, after which she married William Penniman, and to them two
children were born, viz. : Julia, who married Hiram Crego, and Amelia C, of Eagle
FAMILY SKETCHES. 181
Harbor. Pulaski S. Fitch, the subject of this sketch, was born November 24, 1824. At
the age of eighteen he began as a clerk for Collins & Waters, with whom he worked
two years, followed by alike term in the servi^^e of his stepfather on the farm. He
was next employed in the mill in 1846, where he worked about three years. In 1848,
with Albert Collins, he bought a boat and went on the canal, remaining about three
years, after which he returned to the mill. Later on he was on the canal for his brother
one season. About 1850 he went to farming, and in that year built the house where he
now lives. Mr. Fitch married Phoebe A. Hoag, daughter of Andrene Hoag. of Niag-
ara county. Their children were: Isaac Henry, who died in infancy; Emma C, a
music teacher of prominence in the county ; Alice M., wife of William A. Ayres, and
Charlotte, wife of Charles A. Phipps. Pulaski S. Fitch has always been a hard worker
and has always made his own way in life. He began with no means and has succeeded
in accumulating a comfortable property. He is a Democrat and the son of a Demo-
crat, but takes no active interest in political affairs.
Ferguson, George W., was born near Grand Haven, Mich., August 23, 1852, and was
the son of Edwin P. and Mary (Derriraean) Ferguson. Edwin was a native of this
region and one of a family of pioneers in the southeast part of Albion. He afterward
moved to Michigan. George W. was brought up in the family of his uncle, also George
W. Ferguson, of Eagle Harbor, and was a member of his family until aboi.t 1886, when
he bought his interest in the old Mosher farm, on which our subject now lives. April
15, 1885, Mr. Ferguson married Marj'^, daughter of John Stockton, of Albion, and they
have had one child, John Stockton Ferguson.
Henry W. Fox was a native of Prussia, born October 20, 1840. and was the son of
Julius Fox. The family came to America in 1852 and located at Canajoharie, where the
father was a merchant tailor. Henry learned the same trade with his father and
worked with him for a time, but in 1863 came to Albion and was for three years era-
ployed as a cutter. In 1866 he went into business with Simon Adler, the firm then
being Simon Adler & Co. In 1872 William B. Dye became a partner, and the firm
changed to Adler, Dye & Co. In 1883 the present firm of Dye & Fox was formed.
On January 22. 1866, Mr. Fox married Louise Gardinier. They have two children,
Harry W. and Helen A. Mr. Fox has been a successful business man. In politics he
is a strong Democrat yet has no political aspirations.
Eraser, David S., M. D., was born in Canada October 31, 1847. Educated in the
Dundas Grammar School and Toronto University, he entered the Bellevue Medical Hos-
pital in New York city and was graduated as an M. D. in 1868, and the next year be-
gan the practice of his profession in Lyndonville, where he has since resided. Hugh
Eraser, his father, was born in Biggar, Scotland, and died in Canada March 17, 1882.
April 25, 1877, Dr. Fraser married Jessie N., daughter of Morris and ^[ary Colt, of
Yates, and his children are Hugh, David B., Kenneth D., Keith, and Donald M. He
has held the medical offices of the town and is an active member of the Orleans County
Medical Society. In addition to his practice he conducts a drug store in a building
erected by the Free Methodists for a church edifice.
Fenner,Cornelius. — Daniel Fenner,.son of Joseph was born in Tompkins county in April
1803. married Margaret Peck, and came to Kendall in May 1841, settling where his son
Cornelius now resides, where he died April 9, 1863. He was a blacksmith by trade, but
after locating here he followed farming. His only child, Cornelius Fenner, was born,
March 24, 1837 and married Helen, daughter of Jonathan Webster. She died December
2,1889. Mr. Webster settled in the western part of Kendall in 1842, and died there in
February 1881. Cornelius Fenner has taken a prominent part in town affairs, having
served several years as justice of the peace and collector, and in 1887-88 represented Ken-
dall on the Board of Supervisors. Like his father he is a progressive farmer and sub-
stantial farmer.
182 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Fancher, Edward was born January 6, 1854, in the town of Durham, Greene county,
and is a son of John Fancher. Edward Fancher came to Orleans county in 1872 and re-
sided at Carlton until 1878, then removed to Gaines and the following year to Murray.
Here he was engaged in farming until the spring of 1887, when he engaged in the quarry
business with C. F. Gwynne, and in the fall of that year purchased a property west of
Hulburton on the north side of the canal and opened a quarry. In 1893 he purchased a
half interest in the Lockport Sandstone Co., and is its manager. In the same year he
with Lafayette Cornwell, purchased the George Hebner quarry, and is to-day one of
the largest producers in the stone busmess in Orleans county. Mr. Fancher is a stock-
holder and director in the Northern Ohio Paving and Construction Co., of Cleveland.
In 1874 he married Lucy Smith, daughter of Henry Smith of Yates, and their children
are: Edward, Eliza, Eva and Mary. Mrs. Fancher died in 1892, and in 1893, Mr.
Fancher married Ida, daughter of DeWitt C. Baldwin of Murray. Mr. Fancher began
life as a poor boy and three times during his career has been overtaken by misfortune
and lost all he had, but each time he has gone to work with renewed energy and by
untiring industry has become one of the successful business men of the town.
Fuller, Alvah A., is a lineal descendant of Reuben, whowas born in Wilmington, Pa.,
May 7, 1800, and came to the town of Carlton, then a part of Genesee county, in 1812,
and purchased a tract of land containing 300 acres, where his son, Reuben E., father of
Alvah, now n sides. Reuben E. was born on this farm August 3, 1832, and his wife
was Celia Fuller, born November 4, 1834, in Carlton. The children of Reuben E. and
Celia Fuller were as follows: Lester S., born February 19, 1853, died December 29,
1862; Hattie D., born September 21. 1860, married December 24, 1879, to Zachary
Thompson, and they have these children (Mabel F., born June 30, 1881 ; Bertha C,
born January 12, 1883 ; Lester E., born March 12, 1885 ;) Alvah A., born December 4,
1863, married January 28, 1891 ; Sadie E. Rice, born April 12, 1868 ; Vernon E., born
October 14, 1867, married February 14, 1889, Susan Eckler, and resides in Carlton;
Gertie A., born August 24, 1870, m'arried March 23, 1893, James Smith; G. Ray, born
February 13, 1872; Myron, born September 28, 1876, died March 7, 1877. Alvah A.
Fuller was educated in the common schools of Carlton and attended a select school
taught by Miss P. A. Foster at Albion. He commenced to work by the month on a
farm, and after three years went west as far as Washington State, where he remained
two years, and was foreman on a ranch of 800 acres. In 1889 he returned to Carlton
and worked on his father's farm two years, and in 1891 moved to the village of Gaines,
where he has carried on a mercantile business up to the present time. Mr. Fuller is
now town clerk of Gaines, having been elected in the spring of 1891 on the Republican
ticket.
Gotts, Thomas, was born in England, but has resided nearly all his life in America.
He has been in the quarry business the greater part of his life, and for the last fourteen
years for himself. In 1888 the firm of Cotts & Stork was formed and they do a large
business. In 1871 Mr. Cotts married Harriet Pans. They have a family of three sons
and five daughters. Mr. Gotts is an energetic and successful business man.
Gotts, G. W., was born in England January 1, 1834, and came to America in 1851.
He started in the quarry business with the Eolloways November 15, 1851, has been
their general agent since 1869, and for several years previous to that was assistant fore-
man m the quarries. In 1857 Mr. Gotts married Annie E. Courtman, and they have
three children : Albert G., Julia M., and Innis Myra. Mr. Gotts is also largely inter-
ested in farming, and owns three farms aggregating 263 acres.
Gambell, John, born in Vermont, where he was a first lieutenant in the State militia
in 1768, came to Syracuse and worked in the salt works, taught school one winter in
Warsaw, N. Y., removed to Ridgeway in 1826, and settled in Yates in 1832, where he
died in February, 1873. March 4, 1828, he married Hannah I., daughter of John
FAMILY SKETCHES. 183
Knapp, who survives him and resides on the homestead. (John Knapp, a native of
Connecticut, settled in ]\[edina in February, 1821, and is credited with cutting the first
tree where that village now stands. He married Mamre Ilotchkiss, had eight children,
and died in 1875. He is said to have set out the first apple and peach orchards in
Medina about 1823. His father, John, was a Revolutionary soldier.) Mr. Gambell's
children were: John C, born August 10, 1829; Willard P., born December 6, 1831,
deceased : Mary E. (Mrs. Charles Fairman), born February 22, 1834 ; Edward R., born
January 31, 1836, deceased; Amos, born May 9, 1838; Mamre K., born September 2,
1840, deceased; Susan F. (Mrs. I. J. Wheeler), born January 29, 1843 ; Julia C. (widow
of Dr. John D. Warren), born January 6, 1845 ; and Orren W., born June 6, 1847.
Groak, Stephen, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1817, July 29, and came to
this country in 1845, settling at Gaines, on the Ridge road for a while, then went to
Carlton. He took the farm where he now resides, to work on shares, the place being
then owned by Mrs. Sally Crippen, a widow, whom he married in 1848. She was born
in 1816, and died October 1, 1887. She had two daughters by her first husband :
Betsey A., who married Robert Wilson and lives in Kendall; and Caroline, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Groak have had one son, Charles E., born January 1, 1856, who married
Ida Dewey, born May 2, 1863, by whom he has five children : May L., born May 22,
1885; Stella B., born January 7, 1888; Lelen L., born June 4, 1890; George S. and
Elmer C. (twins), born February 3, 1893.
Gregory, Arnold, was born in Shelby, October 22, 1826, and was the oldest of two
children of pioneer Norman and Hylura (Rice) Gregory. Arnold was given a good
education at the Millville Academy and when nineteen his father gave him his time, on
which he started out on what has since proven a very successful business life. He began
farming in 1846, although he made a good start in business with a threshing machine.
In 1848 he married Almira, daughter of Sylvester Kneeland, and they had these chil-
dren Charles K., who died at twenty-five ; Willis, of Ridgeway ; Sarah S., wife of Don
Root ; Grace E., who died at fourteen, and Catherine I., wife of Edward E. Hill. His
wife died in 1881 and in 1884 Mr. Gregory married Ella K. Kneeland. Arnold Gregory
is not orlly one of the most successful business men of Albion, but not an office seeker.
He voted first for Zachary Taylor and developed into a strong Republican ; was supervisor
of Barre one year ; was enrolling officer during the war, and has been otherwise identified
with the best interest of the county. He is a member of the Knowlesville Baptist
church, and has been its trustee, also superintendent of its Sunday-school.
Goodrich, David L., who for over twenty years has been closely identified with the
famous quarrying interests of Orleans county, was a native of Connecticut, born at
Bridgeport September 20, 1836. His father was a clothier, but David was brought up
on a farm. November 27, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, 72d Ohio Vols ,
but throughout the greater part of his service acted as orderly. Mr. Goodrich was
commissioned as second lieutenant, but on account of the law regarding the number of
men in the command he could not hold the office. Retiring from the service, Mr.
Goodrich engaged for five years in the lumber business at Liverpool, Ohio, then sold
out and went to Cleveland, where he became foreman for a firm of contractors and
pavement builders. In connection with his work for this firm Mr. Goodrich came to
Medina in June, 1872, and for the next three years was inspector in the quarries. In
1875 he acquired an active interest with Henry M. Claflin, of Cleveland, and served as
superintendent and general manager until 1885. In that year the Goodrich & Clark
Stone Company was organized, the most extensive in its quarrying operations of the
several firms doing business in the stone belt. Since the formation of the company Mr.
Goodrich has been a resident of Albion. August 1, 1862, Mr. Goodrich married Char-
lotte A., daughter of Harris T. Warner, of Liverpool, Ohio,
184 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Grustin, William Henry, was born at Lockport, May 6, 1844, and was the son of
Jonathan Gr. and Mary Ann (Mudge) Gustin. His father was a contractor and builder
and first came to Western New York in connection with the constructionof the canal. He
settled in Lockport and there he afterward lived and died. William Henry Gustin, our
subject, worked four or five years with his father as carpenter, and afterward took up
tinsmithing in Lockport with John Van Horn. He worked as a journeyman until
about 1886 wheq he started in business for himself. He first came to Albion in 1870,
remaining about a year, after which he went to the oil region and thence returned to
Lockport about 1883. He returned permanently to the county seat of Orleans county
and became proprietor of a tinsmithing business May 1, 1887, and is now regarded as
one of the enterprising men of Albion. Mr. Gustin has taken an active interest in
some of the most useful institutions in the county seat. He was at one time vice-pres-
ident of the Y. M. C. A., and has been engaged in active missionary work among the
employees of the quarries. He was brought up in the M. E. Cliurch but for the last
several years has been connected with the Baptist, taking a special interest in Sunday-
school work. About 1886 Mr. Gustin began collecting coins, and is now the possessor
of one of the most valuable and interesting collections in Western New York. In
Lockport on May 7, 1871, William H. Gustin was married to Catharine McClusky.
They have one child, Mary Alice Gustin.
Goff, Stilman, was for many years a successful farmer in Barre and a man of un-
doubted worth in the county. He was a native of Monroe county, and the son of
Squire Goff, the latter one of the pioneers of Western New York. Stilman Goff lived
in Monroe county until after his marriage, and about 1835 he came to Barre, and ten
years before his death he moved to Albion. His first wife was Sophia Rowley, who
bore him seven children : Adeline, who married A. Schoonover ; Jane, who died in
Carlton ; Marquis, who died m Michigan : Edward, now in Indiana ; Hannah, who
died at the age of sixteen ; Squire, of Barre, and William H. H., of Clarendon. The
second wife of Stilman Goff was Martha Sanderson, who still lives in Holley. He
died in 1885. Squire Goff was born December 29, 1838, and began business for him-
self at the age of twenty-one years, and has always been a farmer in Clarendon and
Barre, except during the perod of his army service. He purchased his father's old
home farm in 1868. In August, 1862, Squire Goff enlisted as a private in Company
D, 151st Regt. Vol. Inf., and was mustered into service September of that year, and
was discharged for disabilities May 2, 1864. In December, 1863, Mr. Goff was stricken
ill with typhoid fever and was sick and in the hospital, and at home until long after
his discharge. When able he resumed work on the farm, and is now numbered among
the best farmers in Barre. In politics Mr. Goff is a Democrat and has frequently been
called upon to be his party's candidate for important offices in the town. In March,
1860, Squire Goff married Harriet E. CreAvell, and to them these children have been born :
Julia, wife of Weston Wetherbee ; William S., of Batavia, and Burton, Marquis, and
Frederick, all of Barre.
Garrison, Daniel, a native of Ulster county, was the first of the family to settle in
Orleans county. He came to Murray in 1853 and engaged in farming. He married
Mary Bodine, and their children were: Isaac, Charles H., John B., Sally J., Deborah,
and Margaret. Daniel afterward removed to Hamlin, Monroe count}^, where he died.
Charles H. settled in Ulster county ; Sally J. married Isaac Van Sickler; Deborah mar-
ried John Geer; Margaret died unmarried. John B. Garrison was a farmer and settled
in East Holley where he was one of the prosperous and successful farmers of the town.
He married Emeline Torrey, and their children were : Hannah, Nancy, Isaac D., and
Maggie. Nancy married Adam M. Terry. Isaac D. Garrison was born in 1848, and
has always been a farmer. He married Mary L. Fowler in 1873, and their children are:
Abraham C, John B., and Harry L.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 185
Gibson, Newell, was born inBarre in 1850. He is a son of Hosea W., and grandson
of Newell Gibson, who settled in Mendon, Monroe county, at an early date, and about
1850 removed to Barre Center. He was a cooper by trade, and in early life was en-
gaged ill that trade. He married Emily Westcott, and their children were: Henry M.,
Hosea W., Delia, Marietta, Orchester, Lawton H., Emily, Sarah, and two others who
died in infancy. Henry married Sophia Wainwright, and is a farmer m Barre. He
was a Republican supervisor of Barre, road commissioner, town clerk and justice of the
peace two years. Delia married John French and settled in Ontario county. Marietta
married Lyman W. Benson and also settled in Ontario county. Orchester was twice
married, first to Albert Angevine, and second to Samuel Stafford. Lawton H., settled
in Mendon, N. Y., and married Sarah Oney. Emily married William Hallock of
Albion, and Sarah married Stephen Hallock of the same place. Hosea W. Gibson set-
tled in Albion and was a farmer. He was a Republican, and was highway commis-
sioner one term. He married Phoebe J., daughter of Reuben Darrow of Albion, and
their children were: Newell, Mary, Frank and Jerome. Mary married Jerome Wol-
from and settled in Elba, N. Y. ; Frank is unmarried; Jerome married Carrie Collison
and resides in Albion. Newell has always been a farmer and resided in Albion until
1877, when he removed to Murray and purchased the Daniel Young farm. He married
in 1875 Clara Wilkinson of Barre, and they have one daughter Jennie E.
Gibbs, Artemus, was born in Phelps, June 27, 1823, a son of Joseph Gibbs, born in
England (Buckinghamshire) July 16, 1786. He came to America July 12, 1802, and
moved to Port Gibson, and married Rhoda Adams, who was born February 17, 1791
and died August 22, 1859, at Watertown. Joseph, the father, died December 26, 1864,
at Buffalo. Their children were : Artemus ; Laura, born September 10, 1825, married
Harry Spencer and had two children. He died and she married second Alanson Park-
man, bv whom she has three chtldren : Burdett C, born October 30, 1827, died May
9, 1862; Linus N., born May 23, 1830, died January 8, 1888, having married Mary
Langely, who resides in Michigan ; Joseph C, born December 15, 1832, resides in
Buffalo. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Palmyra, and learned the
joiner's trade, which he followed about twenty-three years, working in Buffalo and
Albion. He also followed the grocery business in Buffalo for thirteen years, then
moved to Gaines in 1876, where he now lives. In 1845 he married, in Buffalo. Eachel
Porter, by whom he had two children : Louise P., born August 8, 1848, who married
Richard Johnson first, and after his death, became the wife of D. R. Brown, and resides
in Southern California ; and James P., born in Buffalo, September 10, 1854, who died
February 25, 1876. Mrs. Gibbs died, and he married second Sarah R. Gibbs, at Ala-
bama, Genesee county, December 30, 1873. Her father was James Gibbs, born in
Barre, August 7, 1832.
Gallett, Fenimore T., was the son of Charles Gallett, born in Jerusalem, Yates county,
and died in Carlton. Mr. Charles Gallett was a blacksmith by trade and a hotel-
keeper in Otsego county. His wife was Laura Ladocia Tucker, born in Hartwick,
Otsego county, January 24, 1815, and died January 18, 1892. Their children were :
Fenimore T., born August 5, 1837, in Hartwick, and Isaac T , born in Hartwick July
25, 1839. Isaac T. married Hannah Peffers, of New York city, and they had one child.
Isaac Gallett died in Chicago July 3, 1891. Fenimore T. Gallett was educated in the
district schools of Hartwick, afterward attending school at Davenport one year, the
Hartwick Seminary, the Cooperstown Seminary, and then took a special course at a
select school taught by a Mr. Bangs. At the age of seventeen he worked in a machine
shop at Rochester for the N. Y. Central R. R., where he remained two years and then
worked in Buffalo at stone- boat repairing. He afterward took charge of the delivery
of locomotives and cars, and also followed railroading as engineer for eight years. Sep-
tember 18, 1861, Mr. Gallett raised a company in Orleans and Wayne counties of 112
men, and was captain of the regiment, known as the 8th N. Y. Cavalry, Company F.
186 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
He resigned his commission as captain July 5, 1862. In 1858 he married Matilda L.
Wilcox, born in Carlton and died September 22, 1860, aged twenty-two years. They
had one daughter, Amber L. Gallett, born in Carlton July 23, 1860, and died September
30, 1860. Mr. Grallett married for his second wife Seraphina Acker, in July, 1862. She
died in 1869 without children. He married his present wife at Carlton December 10,
1880. His wife, Mary Cliff, was born at Ogdensburg December 29, 1846. Her father
was John Cliff, born in England November 28, 1815, and died August 16, 1880, in
Carlton. His wife was Margaret Dazell, born in Ireland May 1, 1823, is still living and
resides in Carlton.
Hibbard, H. G., was born in Onondaga county and came to Orleans county in 1883.
In 1842 he married Harriet Sophia Mason, and they had three children : Harriet Sophia,
Mary J., and Hamilton, who is associated with his father in farming. Subject's father
was Robert Hibbard, and his mother Nancy Sisson. Mr. Hibbard has lived a long
and successful life in Ridgeway.
Horan, John, was born in Medina June 22, 1855. He lived here all his life and has
been engaged in the quarry business. His father, Patrick Horan, opened the first
quarry in Orleans county, and it is to-day one of the great quarries of this section.
He died March 29, 1892. A force of eighty men are employed in these quarries, and
Mr. John Horan has been manager of the quarries for twelve years.
Hopkins & Culver, dealers in lumber, sash doors, blinds, etc., Medina, N. Y. This
firm was established in the spring of 1894. They fitted up their mill with new and im-
proved machinery, and have spacious yards, being in every way admirably equipped
for carrying on all lines of their business. H. J. Hopkins was born in Shelby Novem-
ber 27, 1867, and after farming a time, took up painting, which he followed for seven
years. In February, 1894, he married Bertha Ferris, of Knowlesville. In the spring
of 1894 he entered into partership with William C. Culver in the lumber and planing
mill business.
Holdredge, D. D., was born in Niagara county June 21, 1849, and lived on a farm
until twenty-five years of age. He came to Medina in 1874 and entered into partner-
ship with James McCormick in the furniture and general household goods business. In
1877 he purchased the entire business, and has made his one of the finest establishments
between Buffalo and Rochester. In 1880 he married Ida W. Decker, and they have
four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Holdredge's father was W. 0. Hold-
redge. His mother was Jane (Fuller) Holdredge. They are residents of Medina.
Hoag, Bruce S., is of Welsh descent. His grandfather was Isaac Hoag, born in
Dutchess county and died in Laurens, Otsego county. Four generations of the family
were born in Dutchess county, and the ancestors of these generations were Quakers,
born in Connecticut. The father of Bruce S. was Henry Hoag, born in Otsego county
and died in Niagara county in August, 1880, aged sixty-one. He Avas a farmer and
fruit grower of considerable note. His wife was Gulielma Shove, born in Otsego
county in March, 1814. Henry and Gulielma Hoag were the parents of two children,
Sarah M. and Bruce S. Hoag. Sarah M. was born in Otsego county in 1844, and now
resides at Ridgeway. She married L. H. Hoag, a native of Orleans county, and they
have four children : Irving, Celia, Arthur and Emma. Bruce S. Hoag was born in Ot-
sego county September 22, 1847. He was educated at Lockport Union School and took
a preparatory course at the Rochester Collegiate Institute. He inherited a fondness
for flowers from his mother and in his younger days cultivated fruit and flowers. In
1882 Mr. Bruce Hoag purchased the peninsula at the mouth of Johnson's Creek, front-
ing on Lake Ontario and containing forty-two acres. On this he erected a commodious
hotel, cottages, paviUions, rinks, etc., and the place is now known as Lakeside. The
hotel is capable of accommodating 150 guests and the resort is widely known. There
FAMILY SKETCHES. 187
are sixteen cottages situated near the hotel owned by private parties, residing in Wash-
ington, D. C, Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland, O., and Albion, besides six cottages owned
by Mr. Hoag himself.
Harris, Robert W., was born in Arcadia, Wayne county, and the family are of En-
glish origin. His father, Alfred Harris, was born in Dutchess county in 1810, and is
still living and resides in Sodus, Wayne county. Alfred Harris married Electa T. Childs,
who was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, in October, 1820, and died in October,
1845. Their children were John, Austine, who died young, and Robert. Alfred Har-
ris married for his second wife Louisa Kanouse, who was born in Manchester, Ontario
county, and by her had two children, John and Louisa (deceased.). John resides in
Sodus. Robert Harris was educated in the common schools of his native town and his
boyhood days were spent on the farm. At the age of twenty-five he worked the farm
of his father-in-law, John Milham, of Carlton, on shares for two years. He then pur-
chased a stock of merchandise of 0. M. Hill, carrying on a grocery business for two
years, and afterward added hardware and notions, which business he continued eight
years, when he built a new store and carried on a general country store, January 1,
1894, He bought and sold coal for five years and in the summer of 1893 he erected a
commodious warehouse at Waterport Station, where he buys all kinds of produce and
fruit. Mr. Harris is a Republican and has held the ofiice of justice of the peace for
eighteen years continuously, and has been postmaster of Waterford under Garfield's,
Arthur's and Harrison's administrations for twelve years. In the fall of 1864 he enlist-
ed in the 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery and served till the close of the war; was wounded
at the battle of Cedar Creek, and now draws a pension. Mr. Harris is a member of
Renovation Lodge No. 97, of Albion, and of Curtis Post, G. A . R., of Albion. In 1869
he married Mary Milham, of Carlton, who was born April 12, 1848, in Sodus, Wayne
county, and whose father, John Milham, was born in Columbia county September 29,
1811. He is still living and resides in Waterport. His wife was Catherine Miller,
born in Columbia county March 11, 1819. Their children were Edmund G., born Jan-
uary 25, 1844, and Mary, the wife of our subject. The children of Robert W. and
Mary Harris were Frank M., born December 18, 1871, and John A., born June 16,
1873. John A. is a graduate of Rogers & Williams' Business College, Rochester, in
March, 1891, in the short-hand course.
Handy, Sheldon H., is a son of Thomas Handy, born in Montgomery county in 1794,
who was drowned at the canal bridge disaster, at Albion. He married Ruth TefFt, a
native of Onondaga county, who died in 1878, aged seventy-five years. Their children
were: Harriet, born in 1819; George, born in 1821 ; James, born 1823; Sheldon H.,
our subject, born in Yates November 18, 1826; Renech N., born in 1828; Harry E.,
born in 1830 ; Milo, born in 1832 ; Lavancha, born in 1834. Sheldon married in Yates,
November 20, 1850, Candace R. Heath, born in Barre February 16, 1826, and their
children are : Frank W., born July 9, 1852, married Nettie L. Johnson, deceased ;
George G., born June 20, 1855, died March 9, 1859; Burrell M., born June 6, 1859,
died September 18, 1863. The father of Mrs. Candace Handy was Zebediah Heath,
born in Vermont December 8, 1785, died February 26, 1857. He married Isabel Henry,
born in New Hampshire February 19, 1791, and died April 14, 1861.
Higgerson, John A., was born in Geddes, Onondaga county, October 17, 1845, and
was the son of John and Mary Ann Higgerson. His father, who was a blacksmith by
trade, died when our subject was but three years old, after which his mother was
married again. When about fourteen years of age John went to Middleport, Niagara
county, where he learned the butchers' trade, but since he was nine years old he has
practically made his own way in life. lu 1862 Mr. Higgerson came to Albion and was
employed in the market of S. H. Taylor, with whom he had learned the trade. After
seven years in his employ Mr. Higgerson started a shoe business in Albion, in which he
188 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
was engaged for eighteen years. He sold out about 138G, after which he went to Chi-
cago, where he was also in business. He returned to Albion in 1891, and soon entered
into partnership with Mr. McGaffick. This firm was soon dissolved and Mr. Higgerson
has since been the proprietor of the meat market in Albion. In 1868 John A. Higger-
son married Susan Augusta Grrover, of Oneida county. One child was born to them,
but who died in infancy. Mr. Higgerson is a conservative Democrat and has held the
ofSce of village trustee and assessor. He was once the candidate for the office of
county treasurer, and was beaten by only a small majority. Mr. Higgerson is regarded
as one of the successful merchants of the county seat.
Hallock, Rufas was born in Chittenden county, Vt., November 7, 1802, and wan the
son of John Hallock. The latter settled in Murray, Orleans county, in 1815, and in
1823 moved to St. Lawrence county. Later on the family moved to Woodstock,
Canada, and there the pioneer, John Hallock, died. He had seven children, five sons
and two daughters. One of these sons, Calvin, lived many years in Genesee
county, and eventually moved to Michigan, where he died. Rufas Hallock hved for
two years with his parents in St. Lawrence county, but in 1825 came to Barre and
located, and there he lived until his death in 1870. ' He began life with no means, but
proved an enterprising and determined farmer and his later years found him possessed
of a good property and home. July 3, 1826. he married Susan Tucker, daughter of
John Tucker of Shelby. Susan Hallock died in Barre May 16, 1868. Their children
were as follows: Isaac, now of Chicago; Stephen and William, both of Albion; Mary,
wife of Harvey Gregory of Coldwater, Mich.; Sarah Ann, wife of Charles Standish of
Barre; Lyman, who died, aged two years, and Adeline, who died at twenty-eight.
Stephen Hallock was born in Barre, March 17, 1830. Until he attained his majority he
lived with his parents, and then started out upon a long and active business life, one at-
tended with many viscissitudes, but which, ou the whole, has been rewarded with an
abundant degree of success. He worked by the month and later with his brother,
Isaac, bought and operated a threshing machine. Still later these brothers bought
land and managed a farm, but Isaac finally went to Chicago, while Stephen remained
in Barre, where he has been the owner of many farming tracts, and where he still
lives. With farming he has combined stock dealing and gratifying success has been
the result of his labors. In I860 Stephen Hallock married Sarah E., daughter of Newell
Gibson of Barre. They have no children. William Hallock was born in Barre January
14, 1836, and like his brother was brought up on the farm. When of age he began by
working his father's farm, but after three years he went to Barre Centre and worked
in a blacksmith and wagon shop. He was neither blacksmith nor wagon maker, yet
these interests he carried along for seven years with excellent financial success. He
then bought a 200 acre farm in Monroe county, stocked it and paid for it ($16,000) all
within two years. Selling his farm Mr. Hallock went to Rochester, thence to Canada,
at the latter place dealing in horses. Later he bought a farm in Gaines, where he
lived one year and then settled in Albion. Here he built his present large and sub-
stantial residence, and is still in active business, dealing extensively in stock in ad-
dition to his farming interests. Mr. Hallock is a Republican and has held ofl&ce as
highway commissioner and supervisor. In 18 — he married Emily 0., daughter of
Newell Gibson. They have no children.
Hartwell, Solomon, came from Ontario county about 1812 and occupied lands taken
by his father (also Solomon Hartwell), from the Holland Land Co. Solomon, the son,
died in 1888, and his wife in 1886. The latter's maiden name was Laura Olmstead,
and they had seven children : Lucy, who married Valentine Smith ; Lorlnda, who died
unmarried ; Philinda, also married Lysander Richardson and died in Barre ; Mary of
Albion ; Laura, who married Orson Willard and is now dead ; Solomon D., of Barre ;
and Adeline, who married ' William Wright and moved to Michigan. Solomon D.
Hartwell was born March 30, 1841, and has always been a farmer. He is a prominent
FAMILY SKETCHES. 189
Democrat in Barre, and has been frequently been nominated as the strongest man for
leading offices in a Republican town. He married Florence, daugtiter of Ezekiel Root
of Albion, and has had four children : Alice E., Kirk D., Fanny C., and Ethel M.
Hinds, Jacob and Alanson, natives ot Vermont, were the pioneers of the family in
Orleans county, and were sons of Adam and Catherine (Felthouse) Hinds. Jacob
was born in the year 1800, and came to Murray in 1830, locating on the farm he had
purchased the summer before, on the south side of the canal at Hindsburg. In 1831
he bulk a hotel at Hmdsburg, also a warehouse and store and engaged in the produce
business, and for several years was in the mercantile trade. He was canal superinten-
dent for three years and from 1850 to 1856 was canal commissioner. He married
Almira Waldron, and they were the parents of two sons and three daughters, of whom
two daughters are living. Jacob Hinds died October 20, 1873. Alanson Hinds was
born in 1810 and came to Murray about 1830, settling at what is Hindsburg where he
has since lived. He kept a hotel at Hindsburg for several years and afterward was en-
gaged in boating on the canal, with these exceptions, his business has been farming.
In 1843 Alanson Hinds married Sarah S. Noble, and their children are: Marion, who
married Fred Hinkley of Barre ; Jacob, who settled in Michigan a"d married a Miss
McClelland; Fred N. The last mentioned. Fred N. Hinds, was a farmer until 1889,
when with George Baldwin he engaged in the stone business, opening quarries at
Hindsburg. In ]892 he married Jennie, daughter of Hiram Brown of Albion, and they
have one daughter, Madge Hinds.
Hoyt, Ralph, is a descendent of D. J. B. Hoyt, who died at Eagle Harbor in 1879,
aged seventy-three years. D. J. B. Hoyt was a Methodist Episcopal minister for many
years, after which he preached in the Congregational Church of Gaines from 1852 to
1858. His wife was Eunice Frye, born in Dansville, Livingston county, and died in
Eagle Harbor, aged seventy-eight. Capt. George A. Hoyt, father of Ralph, was born
in Dansville in 1830, and came to Gaines in the spring of 1855, where he carried on an
extensive harness business, and was well and favorably known. In June, 1862, he re-
ceived a commission of first lieutenant in the 129th Regt. Infantry, N. Y. Vols., which
was recruited at Lockport. He went to the front soon after and was promoted to
captain of Co. C. 8th Heavy Artillery. He took part in all the general battles up to
the battle of Petersburg, where he was wounded in the ankle, and came home and
lived but a week, dying with the lock-jaw July 5, 1864. Capt. George A. Hoyt mar-
ried Julia Macomber, born in Gaines November 27, 1831. Her father, Asa, is still liv-
ing at the age of ninety years. He is a native of Saratoga count)^ George A. and
Julia Hoyt had three children as follows: Marilla, born June 7, 1858, married Charles
De Mange, of Denver, Cal. ; Ralph; and Octavia A., born January 15, 1863, married
Martin F. Clapp, reside in Chicago, and have two sons, Howard and Allen. Ralph Hoyt
was born in and was educated in the common schools of his native town and in
the Albion Academy. After leaving school he was a student in the office of Dr. H. B.
Doolittle of Albion, for three and one-half years, and then took a regular course in the
dental department of the Ann Arbor University, Michigan, from which he was gradu-
ated with the degree of D. D. S. in 1886. He commenced the practice of dentistry in
the village of Gaines, where he has continued to practice his profession to the present
time. Mr. Ralph Hoyt has always been a Republican and was elected town clerk in
1891 and 1892. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans of Albion. April 7, 1887, he
married Margaret Hines, daughter of Alexander Hines of Buffalo. She was born in
Buffalo, February 4, 1870. They are the parents of three children : Mildred B., born
October 15, 1889; George A., born April 11, 1891, and James Martin, born March
26, 1892.
Jones, Seth and David L. — The Jones family in Kendall traces its ancestry to one
John Jones, originally named Shon David Shon Thomas Shon Roderick, who
190 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
was born in Wales in the 18th century, was a lineal descendant of the celebrated
Welchman, Roderick Dhu. Possessed of sterling patriotism and great ancestral pride
he keenly felt the humiliation of his race when Wales, through treachery and oppression,
was permanently united to the English crown, and with characteristic loyalty to nati e
traditions he petitioned for a legal change of name, which was granted, and ever since
he and his descendants have borne the name of Jones. The family sprung from brave,
honest ancestors, whose allegiance to their country was defended and upheld by deeds
of blood. Large in stature aud strong in phy.sique, pursuing quiet but respected call-
ings, they always evinced a strong public spirit, great intellectual development, and
strong personality. The first to come to America Avas John Jones, Dolepult, a son of
the John above mentioned, who embarked with his wife and seven children on the
ship Yelvedear, Captain White, and landed at Perth Amboy on June 18, 1801. He
settled at Tuckertown, N. J., where his wife died in 1803. aged thirty-seven. Then for
a time he lived at Bloomfield, N. Y., but returned and died in Philadelphia, Pa., Janu-
ary 20, 1819. In religion both were Baptists. David Jones, their son, was born in
Pembrokeshire, Wales July, 17, 1792, and when eighteen came to Ontario county, where
he was bound out to a wheelwright. Not liking this he started westward, and for two
years he worked near Sodus, N. Y. He served three months in the war of 1812. In
the fall of 1814 he came to Kendall and the following spring settled permanently on
the farm now owned by his son Soth, where he died January 26, 18G9. He was the
first settler in the west part of the town. He bought his land on credit, cleared it, and
became wealthy. February 24, 1824, he married Cynthia, daughter of Major General
Bascom Whitney, and their children were Claudius (who married Harriet Weed),
Thomas, Almiretta S. (Mrs. C. G. Root), Seth, Cynthia Ann (Mrs. James R. Whitney),
and David L. Seth Jones was born April 30, 1832, on lot 45, on which his father set-
tled in 1815, and which he still owns. December 6, 1860, he married Sylvia A. Shelley,
of Gaines, who was born June 26, 1835. Their children are Eliza J., George S., who
married Florence Crowder ; Fred T., who married Helen M. Balcom ; Sylvia N., and
William G. Mr. Jones now resides on lot 33, which was settled by his uncle, Ethan
Graham, in 1817. The latter died on this farm September 2, 1861. Mr. Jones owns
400 acres of land in the town of Kendall. David L. Jones married Lucy A., daughter
of Julius S. Chase, of Kendall. He was supervisor in 1889 and 1890.
Johnson, Sarah A., was born on Lake George July 16, 1815. In 1833 she married
William H. Johnson, a mason by trade, who lived a successful and honorable life and
died in 1888. They had three sons : Edwin, Merritt and Daniel. Edwin and Daniel
enlisted and served during the war of the Rebellion and Merritt received a wound be-
fore Washington, from which he died. Edwin and Daniel lived in Indiana. Mrs.
Johnson's ancestors were Connecticut people.
Johnson, B. S,, was born in Niagara county July 8, 1864. He has been a resident
of Orleans county since 1890. In 1891 he married Angle S. Paddock, and they have
one daughter, Alida Johnson. Mr. Johnson has established a fine creamery on his
farm between Medina and Shel'^y Centre, where he manufactures a superior quality of
creamery butter. He has equipped his factory with all the most modern and improved
devices for the manufacture and purifying of butter and his products are eagerly sought
after. He is an expert butter and cheese maker. His factory has a capacity for hand-
ling the milk of 125 cows.
James, H. L., M. D., was born in Medina March 12, 1857, and was educated in
Medina Academy and the Bufialo Medical University, from which he graduated in
1881. He then located in Shelby Centre and has since been the leading physician of
the town. He is a member of the Orleans County Medical Society, of the Central New
York State Medical Society, and of the Knights of Maccabees. Dr. James's father was
John C. James, and his mother Cornelia Russell. John C. James was a soldier in the
FAMILY SKETCHES. 191
Civil war, and died in 1868 of wounds received in battle. Mr. James married Minnie
Snell in 1890, and they have two children : Lina Armenia, and Revenue C. Ed.
Kelley, John S., was born in Medina September 20, 1866. He worked in the Swett
and also in the Bignall foundry for several years, and spent some time at his trade in
Buffalo. He was then engaged in making patterns for bean pickers in Middleport for
some time. April 1, 1893, he purchased the Medina Hotel, of which he is now the
proprietor. Mr. Kelley is a member of the A. 0 H., and of the C. B. L. He is active
in politics, and is a member of the County Central Committee. He married Lizzie
Mackey April 26, 1893. His father was Michael Kelley, and his mother Eliza (Smith;
Kelley,
Kidder, Morrill W. — John Kidder, born in New Hampshire in 1804, became a resi-
dent of Vermont, moved to Genesee county in 1836, to Niagara county in 1837, to
Murray in 1839, and to Kendall in 1846, where he died August 6, 1850. He was a
substantial farmer and active in local enterprises. By his first wife, Charlotte Eliza
Woodworth, he had one child, Morrill W., who was born in Enosburgh, Vt., March 20,
1832. His second wife, Aurelia, daughter of Dr. Thomas G. Hooker, of Murray, bore
him children : Esther M., Sarah E., and Mary L. Morrill W. Kidder was enrolled in
Company F., 147th N. Y. Infy., August 14, 1863, and soon after was promoted scout
of 2d Brigade 1st Division 1st Army Corps. In the spring of 1864 the corps was at-
tached to the 5th Corps, forming the 4th Division, and on May 6th Mr. Kidder was
made chief of the scouts of this division, being brevetted second lieutenant by General
James S. Wadsworth. He served in this capacity until June 18, when, in front of
Petersburg, he was severely wounded in the shoulder joint of the right arm, which he
was obliged to have amputated, and was honorably discharged November 30, 1864.
Mr. Kidder is the only survivor of a party of six soldiers who attempted to break
through the Confederate ranks on May 6th, at the battle of the Wilderness, when Gen-
eral Wadsworth was killed, to secure the body of that brave officer. In local affairs
Mr. Kidder has been very active, serving as justice of the peace twelve years, collector
nine years, and deputy sheriff one term, and was a charter member and organizer of
David Jones Post, No. 298, G. A. R., in 1882, which he has continually served as com-
mander or as senior vice-commander. At the formation of the Orleans County Veteran
Regiment he was elected its major, serving one term, and since then until 1893 was its
lieutenant colonel. In June, 1893, that organization became the Orleans County Veteran
Association and Mr. Kidder was elected its president. October 27, 1857, he married
Emma A., daughter of Edson Wilson, and granddaughter of Captain Daniel Wilson,
who commanded a body of troops which prevented the British from landing at Char-
lotte in 1812. Their children are Mary E. (Mrs. H. J. Merrill) and Etta A. (Mrs. W.
P. Whitney).
Knickerbocker. Harmon, is a descendant of Philip and Polly Knickerbocker, his
grandparents being natives of Dutchess county, who removed to Saratoga Springs in
1805, where they died, Philip in 1852 and Polly in 1853. Our subject's father, Peter,
was born in Dutchess county March 29, 1802, died September 24, 1846. His mother's
maiden name was Violette Tompkins, born March 13, 1805, in Saratoga county, died
January 7, 1871. Peter and Violette had ten children, four now living. Subject was
born October 10, 1828, in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, and came to Gaines in
1849. In 1853 he engaged in the mercantile business and has continued the business
until the present time, keeping a general store. Subject was educated in the common
schools. He married in Gaines in March, 1851, Marian McOmber, of Gaines, born
August 6, 1829, by whom he had one child, Gates M., born May 1, 1852. He married
Clara Barras, by whom he had one child, Violette, born February 16, 1879. Gates M.
resides in Gaines and carries on the jeweler's business.
l'J2 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Lake, James H., was born in Ridgeway September 28, 1853. and has made farming
the occupation of his life. December 9, 1874, he married Sarah Hare, and they have
four children : William, George, Mabel and Maud. Mr. Lake is one of the assessors of
Ridgeway, and is trustee and member of the official Board of the Methodist Church at
LindenviUe. His mother was Ann (Bacon) Lake, and his father Christopher Lake.
Lake, John W., was born in England June 25, 1843. and came to America in 1852.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, 151st N. Y. Infantry, and served until the close of
the war. He was with the army of the Potomac and participated in all its engage-
ments. He is a member of the Gr. A. R. and has been quartermaster and commander
of the Hood Post. In 1865 Mr. Lake married Anna E. Thorn. His father was Chris-
topher Lake, and his mother Ann (Bacon) Lake.
Lipple, Watson H. W., was born in Monroe county February 10, 1859, but has lived
in Orleans county since he was five years of age. His occupation has been farming.
In 1881 he married Ella M. Stanley, daughter of Andrew Stanley, and they have one
son, William Stanley Whipple. Mr. Whipple is a son of William and Catherine (Wat-
son) Whipple. Mrs. Whipple's mother was Laura (Burbeck) Stanley. Mr. Whipple is
a prominent member of the Republican County Committee.
Lambert, Lewis A., was born in Greece, Monroe county, in 1834, and came to
Clarendon in 1846, where he has since lived, with the exception of from 1856 to
1865, which he spent in California. Farming has been his occupation chiefly. He has
been active in the political affairs of his town, having served as collector two years and
highway commissioner for the same length of lime. He is a member of the Univer-
salist Church of Clarendon, and member of Holley Lodge. I. 0. O. F. ; Orleans Encamp-
ment of Albion, and of Marrny Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1860 he married Emma P.,
daughter of Thomas Glidden, of Clarendon. Thomas Glidden was born in 1803 in Ver-
mont, and came to Clarendon, where he died in 1889. He was a son of Jacob Glidden,
who came from Vermont in 1816 and settled in this town. Thomas was a prominent
man in local affairs, was assessor, commissioner of highways, etc., and a prominent Uni-
versalist. He married Betsey Matson, by whom he had these children: Ethan, Smith,
Jefferson, Julia M., and Emma.
Joseph A. Lattin was a native of Dutchess county and was a farmer in that region.
In June, 1832, he came to the town of Barre (now Albion), and occupied the farm now
owned by his son, William H. Lattin. The wife of Joseph A. Lattin was Polly Wright,
to whom he was married in Dutchess county. Six of their children came to this county
and were as follows : Sarah Maria, who marrit-d William R. Launt, and is now dead ;
V' illiam Holmes, of Albion ; Joseph Wright, of Barre; John Henry, of Carlton; Elijah
B., of Gaines, and Mary Naomi, who married William R. Launt (his second wife).
Joseph Lattin died in Barre in 1875, aged 73 years. His wife died in 1861. William
Holmes Lattin was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, July 10, 1824, and was
eight years old when his father settled in Barre. He lived at home until his marriage
and then moved to Gaines where he was a farmer for ten years. At the end of that
time he moved to the old home farm which he purchased from his father and upon which
he has ever since lived. On December 26, 1853, Mr. Lattin was married to Mary Eliza-
beth Wilson, of Gaines. They have three children : Henry Wihon, a physician ; Mary
Louise, and Naomi. Solomon Wihon was a native of Orange county and came when a
young man to the town of Gaines. He was a miller, and purchased from John Proctor
the old grist mill on Otter creek. Mr. Wilson was an energetic man, and was poor
when he came to this locality. Besides the mill he purchased 100 acres of land ; and
still later another hundred acres; but he was taken away during young manhood, dying
at the age of thirty-three. His wife, whom he married in Gaines, was Clarissa Drake,
and by her he had four children : Mortimer, who died at twenty ; Mary E., who mar-
ried William H. Lattin : Henry Drake, who died at seventeen, and Edwin, who died in
Albion.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 193
Lee, John, was born in Barre, Mass., in 1763. In 1892 he moved to Madison county,
N. Y., and from there in 1816 came to North Barre, and located where his grandson,
Ora Lee, now resides on lot 47, range 2. His family came the next year. He was an
influential, energetic and public-spirited man, and his house was always open for the
reception of new settlers. He was one the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of
Genesee county, and the town of Barre was named by him in allusion to his native
place. He died in 1823. His children were Dancey, who married Benjamin Goddard ;
Submit, wife of Judge Eldridge Farwell ; Charles; Ora; Asa; Sallie, wife of Gen.
William E. Tanner ; John B. ; Clarissa, wife of John Proctor ; and Cynthia, who mar-
ried William Mudgett, and after his death, John Proctor. Charles and Ora Lee passed
their lives on the original Lee purchase ; John B. became an active business man in
Albion and was known as General Lee in connection with the State militia. Ora Lee
returned to Madison county and married Abbie Wells, and they had seven children, six
of whom grew to maturity, viz: Calista, who married Philo A. Hooper ; Jane, who
married Thomas Mudgett ; Laura, who married B. F. Freeman ; Jeanette, who married
Byron Berry ; Carrie, who married Carlos D. Porter ; and Ora, of North Barre. Ora
Lee was a Free Mason from the time he became of age until his death in 1873. He
was interested in public aflairs, though not active in politics, and was captain of a militia
company. Ora Lee, jr., was born July 9, 1839, in the house where he now lives. In
1863 he married Sarah Gordon, and they have four children, two of whom, Ida, wife of
Fred Humphrey, and Ora are still living.
McCormick, A. J., was born in Ridgeway December 16, 1845, and was educated at
Medina Academy. He then taught school for many terms, beginning at the age of six-
teen. After having taught for some time he took a course in the Rochester University
and afterward continued teaching. In 1872 he went into the quarry business, which he
has since followed with great success. Mr. McCormick has been active in politics, has
been four times supervisor of Ridgeway, and held a seat in the State Assembly in
1892-93. In 1869 he married Ella S. Abbott, and they have three children : Charles
Nelson, Elva L., and Carl L. Mr. McCormick's father was Nelson McCormick.
Mack, Alfred Wolcott, was born in Lyme, Conn., December 2, 1807. In early life
he was a successful teacher, and later became a carpenter and master builder, his efforts
in business being rewarded with a substantial competency. His parents moved to
Susquehanna county. Pa., about 1810, and the early years of Alfred were spent in
Brooklyn. He became a resident of Barre in 1843, coming to Western New York at
the suggestion of friends. In this town Mr. Mack was a farmer. He was a strong
Republican in politics, and a non-sectarian Christian in religious sentiment. His wife,
whom he married in Brooklyn, September 13, 1834, was Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan
and Electa (Fox) Jewett. Their children were : Ellen Elizabeth, wife of Eugene Ster-
ling, of West Gaines; Lavina Jewett, wife of Stephen Skinner; and Caroline Electa,
who*lives at home with her mother. Alfred .W. Mack died August 15, 1884.
Maher Brothers. — The firm consists of the four brothers, John, Francis, Joseph, and
Robert. They were natives of Hamilton, Ont., but came to Buffalo in 1867. There
the eldest brother, John, learned the trade of manufacturing furniture. They first
started their business in Medina as a retail furniture store, but soon branched out into
manufacturing in 1887, and have rapidly grown into a very large and important concern.
They manufacture pailor furniture and employ on an average 135 expert workmen.
They are all practical men themselves, and supervise all the work done in their large
establishment, which covers an area of about five acres of ground.
Mather, Mrs. Mary A., was born in Barre, Orleans county, in May, 1828. Mrs.
Mather's maiden name was Crane, her father being Orrin D. Crane, born in Connecticut
and died in Albion October 21, 1878, aged eighty years ; and her mother was Sarah
y
l'J4 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Warner, who died December 12, 1852, aged forty-eight. The children of Orrin and
Sarah Crane were: Mary A., born May 28, 1828; Caroline, born August 6, 1830, and
Charlotte, born in 1835. Caroline married Stephen Parker, by whom she had one child,
Ella, and after his death married William Pettengill. She died in January, 1891.
Charlotte married Brockway Day, and they had one child, Carrie B. Mary A. (our
subject), married George Mather, born in Gaines September 16, 1824, and died July 1,
1893. His father was James, born in Marlborough, Vt., July 3, 1784, and died in
Gaines August 28, 1853, aged seventy-one years. James Mather was one of the first
settlers of Gaines and prominently identified with its leading interests for many years.
He married Fanny Bryant, born in Marlborough, Vt., October 28, 1788, and died in
Albion July 14, 1881. The children of James and Fanny Mather were: Louisa, born
November 17, 1814, and died July 27, 1829; Adeline, born November 5, 1819, and
died January 16, 1890 ; Eunice, born September 12, 1821 ; George, born September 16,
1824, and died July 1, 1893; Ellen, born June 2, 1826; Harry Cotton, born Augu.«t
15, 1828, and died March 30, 1830; Mary B., born March 17, 1831. The children of
Mary A. Crane and George Mather were as follows ; Orrin C, born in Gaines August
26, 1853 ; Sarah C, born August 9, 1855, and died June 14, 1858; Clara J., born July
16, 1858, ^married George M. Sanens January 25, 1883,- and they have one child
Charles, born April 7, 1886. George Mather was a member of Albion Lodge No. 97 of
F. and A. M., and was one of the founders of the chapter 175 Alpha Omega Lodge of
Albion. He was descended from a long line of worthy men, who were free masons,
George being the tenth generation. For a more extended account of the Mather
family see History of Gaines.
McCarthy, John E., was the son of John, who was born in Ireland and died in Carl-
ton in 1866, aged fifty-six. His wife was Mary Hayes, born in Ireland in 1824. The
children of John and Mary (Hayes) McCarthy were as follows: Joanna, born in Orange
county, and died in Rochester in 1892, aged fifty-four; Mary Ann, born in Orange
county in 1842, and resides in Chicago, 111. ; John B., born in Albion December 3,
1844; Catherine, born in Albion m 1846 and resides in Gaines; Charles, born in Albion
in 1848, and resides in Greenville, Mich. ; Margaret, born in Albion in 1850, and resides
in Carlton; Alice, born in Albion in 1852, and resides in Carlton; Elizabeth, born in
Albion in 1854, and died in Carlton in 1861 ; William, born in Albion in 1858, and died
in Carlton in 1862. John E. McCarthy attended the district schools of Albion and the
Albion Academy.^ He has been mspector of election for many years and has held office
as town collector one term. He enlisted in the First N. Y. Sharp Shooters August
14, 1862, at Rochester, and was discharged June 3, 18G5. He took part in the battles
of Suffolk, Black water, Deep Bottom, Haymarket, Rappahannock and Wilderness, where
he was taken prisoner and confined at Andersonville and Florence eight months ; was
paroled thirty days and joined the company April 1, 1865. He took part in the battles
of Five Forks and Appomattox. Mr. McCarthy is a member of Curtis and Bates Post,
G. A. R.,No. 114,' of Albion.
McOormick, James S., was born in Fulton county September 28, 1820. He came to
Orleans county with his parents when fourteen years of age and followed farming for a
number of years. In 1866 he settled in Medina where he still resides. He was en-
gaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Medina for many years. In 1843 he
married Lucy M. Weld, daughter of John Weld. Mr. McCormick's father was John
McCormick. a native of New Jersey, and his mother was Nancy Alvord.
McGurn, Edward, was born in Medina October 24, 1864. He spent the early years
of his life as a painter and a foundryman, and lived in Ohio six years. In May, ] 893,
he embarked in the liquor business, in which he is now engaged. His father was Ed-
ward McGurn, and his mother Johanna Hallisey. Both of his parents were natives of
Ireland.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 195
Moore, John, was born in the town of Shelby July 29, 1844. He followed farming
until twenty-seven years of age, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Wheat-
ville, Genesee county. After two years there he sold out and began buying stock in
Shelby. He followed the stock business eighteen years, during eight of which he also
conducted a store at West Shelby. He then entered into partnership with R. W. Post
in 1892. Mr. Moore is a Mason and was justice of the peace of Shelby for twelve
years. In 1866 he married Augusta McWhorter, and they have two daughters: M.
Laura and M. Florence. Mr. Moore's father was Asa B. Mo'ore, who came to Shelby in
1840 from New Hampshire. His mother was Laura A. (Potter) Moore, of Berkshire,
Mass.
Maioney Brothers, Medina. — The firm of Maloney Brothers is composed of Edward
and Thomas Maloney. The firm was formed in April 1882. They manufacture
plumbers' supplies. Both gentlemen are practical moulders. Edward was born Sep-
tember 3, 1853, and has been in Medina twenty-two years. He is one of the village
trustees and is a member of the C. AI. B. A. In 1882 he married Mary Hickey, and
they have two children, John and Annie. Thomas Maloney was born October 15,
1867. Both brothers learned their trade with the Bignall Manufacturing Company.
Their parents were Thomas and Ellen (Ford) Maloney.
Moore, Charles Henry, was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, September 5, 1818,
the son of Dr. Henry B., and Nancy (Ewers) Moore. At the age of fourteen Charles
left home and went to live with his grandfather, the latter then being a prominent
contractor on the Genesee Valley Canal. About 1843 Mr. Moore came to Albion and
for about two years engaged in mercantile pursuits, but his former connection with
contracting work soon impelled him in that direction, and with such enterprises he was
afterward identified during his long and successful business career. He built the Cen-
tral road through Orleans county, and later was engaged in the widening of the Erie
Canal. He was on the Great Western Railroad in Canada, and also on the Ohio, Mis-
sissippi and Missouri. Mr. Moore was a successful and extensive contractor. In 1859
he was associated with George M. Pullman in moving buildings along the canal and to-
gether they went to Chicago, and engaged in raising buildings for several years. He
also carried on mining operations in Colorado for a time. After an active business life
Charles H. Moore died in Albion August 4, 1893. His wife whom he married Septem-
ber 11, 1841, was Marcia, daughter of Micah Harrington, and they had two children:
Julia Louise, who married Lorenzo Burrows October 11, 1864 ; Alice Kidder, who died
in 1862. Mr. Moore was a conservative Democrat, and a regular attendant and sup-
porter of the Episcopal Church. Lorenzo Burrows and wife had four children : Charles
Moore, a physician of Chicago ; Lorenzo, jr., a physician and eye specialist of Saginaw,
Mich. ; Henry Lord, who died at four years, and Lynn Moore. .^
Mann, Mrs. Nancy, widow of Jesse Mann, was born in Benson, Vt., May 19, 1811,
and came with her parents to Gaines in 1816. Her father was William Standish, a
native of Williamstown, Mass., born in 1784, who died at Eagle Harbor December 25,
1807. He is a lineal descendant of Miles Standish. His wife was Hannah Rich, born
in the same town in 1784 and died September 28, 1869. They had eight children:
Homer E., Harriet, Nancy, John, Asa, Norman, Surviah and EH. Jesse Mann was
born September 4, 1803, and died August 22, 1878. In 1831 he married Nancy Stand-
ish, by whom he had nine children: Mercy A., born November 12, 1832, who married
John Ferden and has three children ; Silas C, Edith B., and John E. ; William born
November 20, 1834, died December 15, 1874; Gad J., born July 22, 1837, who married
Helen Powers (deceased) and had two daughters, Libbie J., and Lennie M. ; Hannah,
born March 31, 1841 ; Jane, born December 13, 1843, married George Odell (deceased)
and had two children, Clara S. and Burt; Carohne, born June 22, 1846, married Frank
Grear, and has two children, Clara S. and Matilda ; Armilla, born April 14, 1849, mar-
196 LANDMARKS OV ORLEANS COUNTY.
ried Lafayette Bills, and has three children, Jesse, Frank and Edith ; and Fred, born
July 8, 1852, married Louisa Stockton, and has two children, Clayton and Anna B.
Merrick, William Dewitt, is a grandson of Moses Merrick, who was born in Wales,
dying in Carlton, this county in 1845, aged nearly ninety. William M., son of Moses,
and father of our subject, was born in Chenango county, and died in Rochester in 1888,
aged eighty-seven. He came to Carlton in 1838 and bought the farm where his son
now lives, comprising 185 acres. He married Mary Jarvis, born in Chenango county
in 1808 and died in 1868. Their children were: Eldridge J., Cordelia F., Calista
Amarintha William D., our subject, who was born in Nunda, Livingston county. May
2, 1835 ; Eliza J., Marion C, Maria L., Susan L. and Mary S. William D. was educated
in the district schools near Oak Orchard, and finished at Yates Academy. He moved to
his present farm with his parents when three years of age, and after reaching manhood
he bought a farm in Waterport, where he remained four years, then sold out and re-
moved to Rochester, remaining ten years, and engaging in maiket gaideniug. Re-
turning to the old homestead, took up farming on the old place, and has since resided here.
He married in Kendall Millicent E. Whitney, February 5, 1862. She was born in Ken-
dall in 1840. Their children are: Charles W., born September 18, 1864, died April
19, 1865 ; Star K., born July 5, 1866 ; Florence Grace, born in Rochester January 19,
1871. Mr. Merrick married first Elizabeth S. Gray, born in Scottsville in 1835, and had
by her one child, Wallace G., born in Carlton December 20, 1857, who resides in
Yates. Our subject is a Republican.
Morgan William Pitt, was a native of Groton, Conn., and became a settler in Gaines
in 1832. Mr. Morgan, with Benjamin and Eldridge Chester, his brother-in-law, bought
adjoining farms and followed farming. The wife of Mr. Morgan was Eunice W.
Chester, by whom he had twelve children. Of those who grew to maturity Julia mar-
ried A. J. Paddelford ; Mary and Francis died at the age of thirteen and fifteen re-
spectively ; William P. settled at Saginaw, Mich. ; Benjamin F. is a coal and produce
dealer at Albion. William P. Morgan, the pioneer, died on the home farm in 1881,
and his wife in 1881. He accumulated a good fortune, was deacon in the Baptist church,
and a strong Republican in politics. Benjamin Franklin Morgan was born in Gaines in
1848, lived on his father's farm until 1887, and is now its owner. In 1887 he came to
Albion and engaged in the coal and produce business. The present firm of Morgan &
Linson was established in 1890. September 26, 1876, he married Emma G., daughter
of William Louisa Linson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they have had one child, Emma
Louise, who died April 7, 1891. Mr. Morgan is a strong Republican, and for three years
was supervisor of the town of Gaines.
Morse, Joseph, was born July 2, 1806, and was the son of Daniel Morse, the latter a
pioneer of Genesee county. April 6, 1830, Joseph married Amanda Tuller, and in 1844
settled in Barre where Ansel Wetherbee now lives. Joseph was a large and successful
farmer, buying and selling lands, and was also a noted auctioneer. He was a well in-
formed man and could pettifog in justice court far better than many lawyers. For
some time Mr. Morse kept a store and hotel at Barre Center. He died May 7, 1871,
His children by his first marriage were : Susan Amanda, Lewis and Loren, all of
whom died young. His second wife was Sally Shed, and their children were : Loren
and Joseph. His third wife was Sarah Hicks, by whom he had two children, Morris of
Barre, and Major of Valentine, Neb. Morris Morse was born August 22, 1845, and has
always been a farmer, though like his father he has speculated in whatever has promised
good returns. His farm consists of 105 acres and is devoted largely to stock raising,
in which Mr. Morse has been successful. November 2, 1809, Morris Morse married
Mary Tobias, and to them three children have been born, viz. : Sarah E., Alice, and
Joseph, the latter dying in infancy.
Munn, Oscar, Kendall. — Abner Munn was born in Bethlehem, N. Y., June 7, 1797,
came to Clarkson, Monroe county, April 8, 1834, and moved thence to Kendall in De-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 197
cember, 1845, settling on the farm now owned by his son Oscar, where he died Septem-
ber 20, 1872. He was a captain m the State militia and his father, Abner, sr., served
in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Munn married Laura Wright and they had these chil-
dren: Emily (Mrs. A. U. Elliott), Cecelia (Mrs. George B. Leonard), Adelia (Mrs. D. S.
Mead), Jane (Mrs. William C. Warren), Oscar. Amanda E. (Mrs. H. A. Balcom), Ozro
L. and William Wallace. Oscar Munn was born February 20, 1829, and married,' first,
Helen M. Balcom, by whom he had six children : Mary L., Ella H., Laura L., Amanda
F,. Oscar F. (deceased), and Wilber B. His second wife is Catharine C, daughter of
William R. Bassett. Mr. Munn is a member and pastmaster of Social Lodge, No. 713,
F. & A. M., was highway commissioner three years, supervisorof Kendall in 1868, 1869,
1870 and 1872, and in the fall of 1878 was elected sheriff of Orleans county, serving one
full term. He has always been a progressive farmer, was active in securing the railroad
through the town, and has ever taken a prominent part in local enterprises.
Mosher, Lorenzo D., was born March 7, 1850, m Yates, Orleans county. His father,
Asa, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county. He came from Amster-
dam, N. Y., and settled west of Lyndonville, where he engaged in farming. Pie mar-
ried Rosalinda Lyon, and they had eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity :
Orrin, Levi, Hiram, Asa L., Rose J., John H., Loretta and Lorenzo D. Isaac, Rosa-
lind and William A. died young. Ornn Mosher married Orlina Smith. He spent sev-
eral years in the West, and was in the mercantile trade at Buffalo for a time. He died
in Ridgeway. Levi resides in Yates and is a farmer. He married Emily Nicholls.
Hirara married Maria Madison, and died in Ohio in 1891. Asa L. resides at Maysville,
N. Y., and married Jennie M. Madison. Rose J. married Amos Gramble, of Yates.
John H. resides in Lockport. He married Anna Ogden. Loretta was twice married,
first to Albert Johnson and second to Charles Spencer, both of Yates. Lorenzo D.
has always been engaged in farming, settling first at Ridgeway and four years later at
Kendall Corners, wbere he remained until 1892, when he purchased a farm in Murray
at the junction of Ridge and Hulberton roads. He married in 1870 Emma Clark, of
Ridgeway, and they have one daughter, Nina Belle.
McCarthy, Jerome S., was born August 31, 1855, in the town of Murray. Mortimer
McCarthy, his father, was a native of Ireland and was born in the year 1800. He came
to America in 1824 and spent the following year at Quebec, Cannda, in the employ of
the Hudson Bay Company. In 1825 he went to Vermont and for three and one-half
years was employed in the manganese mines near Brattleboro. In the fall of 1829 he
returned to his native country, remaining until the spring of 1834, when he returned to
this country, landing at Eastport, Me., with two brothers. They journeyed to Boston
on foot, and not finding employment there set out for Brattleboro, Vt. He remained
there until the spring of 1845, when he went to Springfield, Mass., and entered the
employ of the B. &;A. R. R. as assistant engineer in the construction of the bridge over
the Connecticut River. He remained in their employ until the spring of 1853, at which
time he accepted the position of assistant traveling engineer of the N. Y., L. E. & W.
R. R.,with headquarters at Clean, N. Y. In the fall of the same year he was trans-
ferred to Rochester and remained there until the spring of 1855, and on May 9 of that
year removed his family to Holley. He was awarded the contracts for widening the
canal of sections 291 and 292 of the western division, and was engaged as a contractor
on the canal until 1863. In 1859 he purchased a farm just north of the village of Hol-
ley, and here he resided until his death, which occurred May 2, 1881. In politics he
was a Democrat but never aspired to political office. Mr. McCarthy was twice married, the
first time in Ireland to Margaret Harrington. They were the parents of three children,
none of whom are living. He married for his second wife Mrs. Eleanor Stuart May 24,
1848. They had three children, two daughters, both dead, and Jerome S. McCarthy, the
subject of this sketch, whose life has been spent in his native town. He is a Democrat
and has been honored with positions of trust by his party. He was collector of tolls on
198 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
the canal at Rochester in 1876, and for a period of nearly seven years, begfinning in the
fall of 1885, was in the railway mail service. In the years 1891 and '92 he carried on a
meat market at Holley, and is at present engaged in the stone business and farming.
Mr. McCarthy was married in 1879 to Miss Margaret Kelley, of Warren county, N. Y.
Their children are : Anna E., James, Julia E., Mary A. and John P.
McCargo, Robert, was born in St. Andrews, Canada, in 1847, his father, Alexander,
being a son of Robert McCargo, who was a native of Scotland, and by trade a ship
builder. Robert McCargo came to British America and married the daughter of a Mr.
McKay, who was a prominent member of the Hudson Bay Fur Company for many
years, Alexander McCargo, himself, being connected with this company for many
years, Alexander McCargo, on arriving at manhood, came to this State and for several
years carried on a meat market in Holley. He then removed to Berlin, Canada, re-
turning again to this State about 1860, and settled in the town of Greece, Monroe
county, removing to Holley in 1865, where he was engaged in the meat business for a
time. He had five children, James Annie, Mary, Alexander and Robert. Robert Mc-
Cargo in 1863, at the age of sixteen, enlisted in the Eighth N. Y. Cavalry. He was
wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor and taken prisoner, but was recaptured soon
after. In 1871 he settled in Holley and engaged in the meat business, and with the
exception of brief intervals has followed it to the present time. He was elected super-
visor of the town of Murray in 1880 by the Democratic party. He is a member of the
Eighth N. Y. Cavalry organization, the I. O. 0. F., and Murray Lodge 380, F. & A. M.
Mr. McCargo is a member and trustee of the Presbyterian Church. He married Ori
Morgan, and they have five children.
Nelson, John S. ("deceased), was born June 19, 1822, a son of John, who was a son
of James Nelson, a soldier in the Revolution. The latter married Hannah Post, and re-
moved from near Poughkeepsie to Romulus, Seneca county, in 1811, thence to Greece,
Monroe county, and later to Murray, this county, where he bought a farm near the
Transit. Late in life he removed to Somerset, Niagara county, where he died. His
children were : John, Abraham, James, Peter, George, Jane, Elizabeth, Richard and
Elijah. John, our subject's father, came from Ovid at an early day and took up a'^^farm
in this town, which he sold later to Joseph Pratt. He died on the farm where he first
settled in Clarendon. He married Elizabeth Brink, and they had nine children, of
whom six grew to maturity : John S., Sarah, who married Orville Bennett; Abigail,
who married John B. French ; James, Daniel, Ann, who married Ira J. French. W th
the exception of a short residence in Michigan and Holley, John S. has always lived in
Clarendon, his chief occupation being farming. He kept a hotel at Holley for several
years, and was in that business in Clarendon for a time. He was a member of Holley
Lodge I. 0. 0. F., and also of the Masons. Mr. Nelson's first wife was Lucinda
Fletcher, by whom he had two sons, J. Pratt and Lyman. In 1889 he married second
Mrs. M. E. Matson of this town. His death occurred December 29, 1890.
Pugh, John, was born in the north of Wales, March 23, 1821, and came to America
in 1847, settling in Canajoharie, where he resided till 1854. He then came to Orleans
county and settled a mile south of Holley, in the town of Clarendon, where he soon
))urchased a small farm, and five years later bought a farm on the Hulberton road in the
town of Clarendon, and here lived for five years, building barns and making many im-
provements on his place. In 1864 he bought of A. L. Salisbury the farm where he has
since resided, in the southwest part of the town. Here he erected a substantial house
and otherwise improved the property and by economy and untiring industry has ac-
quired a competency. For several years Mr. Pugh owned a boat, and was engaged on
the canal. He is a member of the United Brethren, and also contributed towards the
building of the church in Clarendon in 1869. In 1847 he married Elizabeth Goff, who
died in 1890.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 199
Post, Roswell W., was born in Monroe county October 11, 1832, and lived on the
farm till 19 years of age. He then went west and was employed as brakeman, bag-
gageman and conductor, successively on the Michigan Central. In 18G1 he went out
to the far west and saw a great deal of western life as it was in the earlier frontier days.
He returned east and settled in Shelby in 1868, and in 1880 came to Medina engaging
in the hay and general produce business. In September in 1892 he formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Moore, his brother-m-law. Mr. Post has been a town assessor and is a
member of the Board of Education in Medina. In 1869 he married Vesta Moore, and
their children are: Myron A., Grover and Mary L.
Parmaly, Sylvester, was a native of Manlius, Oneida county, and was a blacksmith.
He settled in Albion, where in 1852, he began farming. His first wife was Isabella
Carr, by whom he had one child, Milton K., born at Enfield, Tompkins county, where
the family lived a few years. In 183.5 they settled in Albion, where these children
were born : Jane and William A., of Albion. The second wife of Sylvester Parmaly
was Mary J. Buxton, by whom he had one child, Sarah Louise, now Mrs. Todd of Al-
bion. Mr. Parmaly died February 9, 1882. His first wife died in 1844, and his second
in 1892. He was a strong Abolitionist, a Republican, and was one of the deacons of
the Baptist Church. Warren S. Slawson was a native of Delaware, and a resident of
Albion about seven years. In Tompkins county, in 1860, he married Jane Ann Parm-
aly and came to Albion m 1868. He died August 3, 1876. His children were Mary
Isabella, John W., and Emma Louise, wife of A. E. Hatch. September 18, 1883, his
widow married Myron J. Sexton, a native of Madison county, who came to Albion in
1883. Mrs. Sexton has been prominently connected with the W. C. T. U., was one of
its founders, and has always been one of its most active members. William A. Parm-
aly was born in Albion September 13, 1839. At the age of sixteen he went to Mar-
cellus where he was clerk in a store, after which he occupied a similar position in Syra-
cuse. Later on at Buffalo, he was connected with a wholesale and retail store. At
the beginning of the oil excitement he visited that region and became an extensive
operator, after which he returned to Buffalo. August 26, 1868, he married Cynthia,
daughter of Ephraim Hill of Knowlesville. After several years he went to New Mexico
to look after business interests, and during his absence his father died. Returning
home, Mr. Parmaly remained in Albion for a time, then received an appointment in the
custom house at Rochester. During his four years of service in that place he received
two well merited promotions. Returning home he became proprietor of the Baker-
Rose Cold Cure, with which he has since been connected.
Potter, Capt. Albert J., was born in Crawford county, Pa., December 13, 1832. The
family is of English descent, and Job, the father, was a native of Hamden, Conn. He
married Amelia Ford, of that place. Job Potter went from Hamden, Conn., to Penn-
sylvania in 1816 and was engaged in the milling business there until' 1846, when he
removed to Orleans county and settled in Clarendon, where he was a farmer. He
was a Whig and held the oflice of justice of peace in Clarendon. In 1856 he settled
in Albion, where he spent the remainder of his life. Job and Amelia Potter were the
parents of eight children : Thomas was a merchant at Erie, Pa., and died there ; Esther
E. died in Batavia. She married Israel Harmon; Lydia A. married Greorge C. Ken-
dall of Pennsylvania and died in Ohio ; Job L. was inspector in the New York Custom
House for several years, and died at Rochester; Eunice P. married Fortunatus Hubbard
and died in Clarendon ; Mary A. married Thomas Parker and resides in Gaines. Albert
J. is a farmer, and with the exception of a short period has resided in Clarendon
since 1846. He was first a Whig, and then a Democrat in polities, was justice of the
peace four years and supervisor in 1877. He was appointed enumerator for the census
of 1890. He was commissioned a recruiting officer in the fall of 1861, and in August,
1862, enlisted in Co. G, 151st N. Y. Inf., and was commissioned captain of the com-
pany serving until October 31, 1863. Captain Potter married in 1856 Laura, daughter
200 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
of Col. N. E. Dariow of Clarendon, and their children are: Alfred M., Anna L., Fi-ed E.,
and Mary E. Alfred M. is a farmer in Clarendon, and married Bertha Root.
Pollay, William C, was born in Elmira, N. Y., September 18, 1837. He learned his
trade of candy maker in Ithaca, and came to Medina in 1870 where he has since car-
ried on a successful business. He is a Mason, a member of the A. O. U. W., and of
the Protective Legion. He married Esther Porter, and they have one daughter, Addie.
Mr. Pollay is the only life member of the Masonic Blue Lodge in Orleans county. His
father was Miles Pollay, and his mother Adeline (Eaton) Pollay.
Poler, A. H., was born in Shelby in 1846, and was educated at the Medina Acadeiny.
He has followed farming all his life, and is a noted raiser of Poland China hogs, Plym-
outh Rock poultry, etc. He was supervisor of the town in 1893. He married Flor-
ence Stoddart. Mr. Poler's parents were Simon and Fannie (Sales) Poler, who settled
in the town of Shelby in pioneer days.
Podgers, Philip, is a son of James, born in Devonshire, England, who came to
America in 1864 and settled in Carlton, where he died June 5, 1881, aged seventy-
eight. He married Mary A. Somers, of his native town, and she died in 1885, aged
eighty-two. Their children were: Mary, born in 1824. John, born in 1830, Ann, born
in 1832, James, born in 1833, William, born in 1835, Henry, born in 1836, Philip, born
in 1837, Elizabeth J., born in 1839. Our subject came to this county at the age of
eighteen, and settled in Middleport, where he worked for Jeremiah Colton at the black-
smith trade. After four years he removed to Two Bridges, this county, and worked at
his trade for himself until 1891, when he bought the Two Bridges Hotel, of which he
is now proprietor and owner, owning besides this a blacksmith shop, and a house and
lot in fine condition. Mr. Podgers is a member of the A. O. U. W., of Two Bridges,
No. 247. In 1860 he married at Middleport, Harriet Mortimer, who was born in Dev-
onshire, England in 1844, a daughter of Thomas Mortimer, who was born in 1807 and
is still living, having served in the late war, and losing an eye at Gettysburg. He mar-
ried Mary Pratt, who was born in Devonshire, England, and died in Middleport, in
1856, aged fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Podgers have had four children: John J., born
March 26, 1861, married Sarah Stone ; Mary E., born August 6, 1863; Henry Eugene,
born November 14, 1871, married Ellen Bailey, and has one child, Philip, born Febru-
ary 17, 1894; and Flora J., born June 13, 1874.
Proctor, Carlton S., was born in Barre July 3, 1826, and was the son of Gershom
Proctor by his marriage with Emily Holland. Gershom Proctor came to this region a
few years after the settlement made by his pioneer brother, John Proctor, who came
and settled in Gaines in 1811. The children of Gershom and Emily were as follows:
Carlton S. ; Emily, who married Walter Balcom and died in Murray ; Maria, who was
the second wife of Walter Balcom; John N. ; Elvira S., wife of Delphi Thompson; and
Milton G., who met an accidental death in Michigan. Gershom Proctor was a tanner
in Gaines for about fifteen years. He died in the town about 1844. Carlton S. Proctor,
our subject, was brought up in the family of his grandfather, his own father having died
when Carlton was a boy. At the age of fourteen he began for himself, working at
whatever employment he could find. In 1852 he married Jane M. Beebe, the latter
dying one year after their marriage. On August 26, 1858, Mr. Proctor married Mary
Achor, who was a native of Albany county, and who came to Fairhaven with the Tyler
family. Of his second marriage three children were born, viz : Emily May, wife of
Fred Wells, of Albion; Julia M., a teacher in the Albion district school, and John C,
who died in infancy. Carlton S. Proctor came to his present farm in 1872. At the
beginning of his business life he had some small assistance from John Proctor, but gener-
ally his success has been the result of his own personal efi"orts. When a young man he
had a thrashing machine and with it worked all through this region of the country. In
politics he was formerly a Wliig but now is a Republican. He takes no active part in
FAMILY SKETCHES. 201
public affairs yet has held the office of pathmaster in the town of Albion for the past
twenty years.
Paine, Christopher, was a Rhode Islander, born Augusts, 1787, and was a peddler on
the Ridge as early as 1812. In 1814 he settled where Albert H. Paine now lives.
Laura, wife of Christopher Paine, was born July 2, 1802. Their children were : Celinda,
who married John Lewis; Albert H., of Albion ; Orville, who died young; Christopher,
who went to Canada; William, who went in the army and died in the hospital ; Phoebe
Cornelia, who married William Hale, and John W., of Albion. Christopher Paine took
an article for 100 acres and cleared up a fine farm. He died December 13, 1855, and
his widow January 27, 1874. Albert H. was born July 23, 1824. December 24, 1845,
he married Irene H. Hubbard, and they had three children : Mary, who married Jerome
Warner and died in 1888 ; Nettie, who married C. E. Fox and lives in Kansas City ;
and Emehne, who died young. Allen Hubbard came to Livingston county from Con-
necticut and in 1844 came to Albion and occupied the farm now owned by A. H.
Paine. The children in the Hubbard family were : Esther, who married William Carr ;
Irene, who married A. H. Paine and Ebenezer, who is now dead. Allen Hubbard died
in February, 1875, and his wife in 1877.
Paine, Carlton A., whose excellent farm property is located on the main road leading
from Albion to Bar re Center, and which is known as one of the best farms in this sec-
tion, was born in Barre April 2, 1834, and was one of six children of Angel Paine, the
latter the pioneer of the region. At twenty-one Carlton began for himself and earned
his first money teaching school. Later on he worked his father's farm on shares for
five years, and from that until the present time he has been a successful farmer. Jan-
uary 2G, 1860, he married Martha E. Wolcott, and soon after bought the "Society lot"
from Eldridge Hubbard, where he now resides. In politics Mr. Paine is a strong
Republican. The children of Carlton A. and Martha E. Paine were : Oliver A., and
Carlton Jerome, the latter of whom died in infancy.
Plummer, Abel, born in Londonderry, N. H., June 8, 1804, came to Carlton in 1837
and settled on the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Platten, of Yates.
He died January 1, 1886. February 4, 1833, he married Sophia Sargent, who was born
May 25, 1810, and died April 20, 1887. Their children were: Alfred, born August
12, 1834; Reuben L., born September 14, 1835; Clarissa, born September 21, 1838,
died young ; Zenas, deceased ; John W., born September 17, 1843 ; Arley F., born
November 5, 1846; Mary E. (Mrs. Thomas Platten), born December 9, 1849; and
Calista, born October 25, 1851, deceased. Reuben S. Plummer married Rosalia A.
Ferris and has four children; Anna S., Cora R., Leon R., and Isabel. He has lived on
his present farm in Yates twenty-two years, and upon it he has the most modern house
and barns in town. August 12, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 151st N. Y. Vol. Inf., his
comoany being equipped as sharpshooters, and served till June, 1865, in the Army of
the Potomac. He was promoted corporal, and was wounded at Monocacy Junction, hit
by a shell at Cold Harbor, taken prisoner after the battle of Gettysburg, and paroled.
During his entire service he kept a diary.
Pratt, Capt. James B., was born in the city of Rochester, March 18, 1818. He is a
son of Barney, who was a native of Taunton, Mass., and came to Rochester during the
early part of the present century. He was a carpenter and builder, and was deputy
sherift" of Monroe county many years. He married Hannah Blake of his native place.
When Captain Pratt was only six months old his mother died and he was taken by his
father to Taunton, Mass., they making the entire journey in a wagon. He was left in
his grandmother's care, his father returning to Rochester, where he married a Mrs. Shaw
of that city. When Mr. Pratt was eight years old he joined his father in Rochester.
Leaving Rochester when about sixteen years of age he came to Clarendon, Orleans
county, where he resided with an uncle until he was twenty-one, since which time he
202 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
has been principally engaged in public works. He had charge of the building of the
embankment on the old canal at Holley. He left his men at the breaking out of the
war, enlisted in Co. K, 129th Inf., under Colonel Porter, and was stationed at Baltimore
for a time. In August, 1862. he was appointed captain of his company. When Grant
assumed command of the army his regiment was transferred to the 8th Heavy Artillery.
He was in the battle of Cold Harbor. May 2, 1864, the 8th was transferred to the
Second Brigade, General Tyler's Division, under General Hancock. Captain Pi-att,
served until the fall of 1864, when he was discharged on account of failing health. Upon
his recovery he went to Cleveland, 0., and had charge of the building of the reservoir of
the Cleveland Water Works, where he was employed eight years. He was foreman on
the Mahoning railroad for two years, and was one year conductor on the Beloit & Mil-
waukee Railroad. In 1875 Captain Pratt purchased a steamboat on Green Lake near
Whitewater, Wis., erected a hotel and opened a summer resort. In 1880 he exchanged
this property for a farm in Ridgeway, Orleans county, and since 1881 has resided in
Holley. Captain Pratt is a Republican, has been village trustee, highway commissioner,
and is a trustee of the Hillside Cemetery Association. He married in 1882 Mrs. M. A.
Ray, of Holley.
Pierce, Joseph B., was born May 25, 1836, in Murray. His father, Aretus, was a son
of Aretus, who was a native of St. Johnsburg, Vt., and came with his family to Orleans
county in 1815, settled in Murray, and took up 100 acres of land two miles west of
Holley. He married Rebecca Blood, and their children were ; Betsey, Aretus, Daniel,
Jerusha, Rebecca, Amanda, Joseph, and Casper. Betsey married Isaac Cady and set-
tled in Clarendon ; Daniel settled first in Murray and afterward in Monroe county, and
died there. He married Mary Daggett; Jerusha married a Mr. Chapman, settled m
Michigan, where she died : Rebecca married Charles Farnsworth, and settled in
Niagara county; Amanda married Hunt Farnsworth and also settled in Niagara
county ; Joseph settled in Michigan ; Casper settled in Holley, and married Louisa
Warren. Aretus Pierce lived and died in Murray. He was always a farmer, and took
an active interest in political affairs He was originally a Whig and later a Republican,
was highway commissioner, and was several times a candidate for supervisor. Was a
member of the Holley Presbyterian Church, and married Matilda Steadman. Their
children were: Sophronia, George W., John Z., Maria, Joseph B., and Caroline A., all
of whom are living. Joseph B. Pierce has always lived in Murray, and has always
been engaged in farming. He married in 1860 Emily, daughter of Solomon Brown, cf
Murray, and their children are : Edith, who married Elmer Hamilton ; Fannie, who died
in 1887; Florence E., and Nettie M., who married Howard Handy.
Pratt, John H., is a lineal descendant of Nehemiah, who was born in Whitestown'
Oneida county, and settled in the town of Gaines in 1816. He died in Eagle Harbor
in 1859. He married Demis Rowley, by whom he had these children : Winslow, father
of our subject, was born in Oneida county in 1809, and died in Gaines in 1879 ; Reuben,
Judith, John, Mary, Nehemiah, Alvin. Of these children, Winslow married Harriet N.
Gunn, born in Auburn. N. Y., and died in Gaines in 1890. , Their children were : Fan-
nie, born in 1834; Sylvia, born in 1838; Eliza, born in 1843; John N., our subject,
born in Gaines in 1846 ; Mary, born in 1849 ; Willis, born in 1851 ; and Hattie N., born
in Gaines in 1859. John H. attended the public schools at West Gaines, then attended
Albion Academy three terms, also the high school at Olcott, Niagara county, after
which he took up farming. He now owns over 900 acres and has dealt in real estate
quite extensively, having owned more than thirty farms in this county at diflerent
times. He also is largely interested in the wool trade, and is a dealer in sheep. Mr.
Pratt is prominent in town affairs, having served on the board of supervisors four years,
and has been assessor four years. February 17, 1878, he married Mary E. Britt, of
Perryville, Madison county, born November 13, 1852, and they have had two children :
Florence H., born October 27, 1886 ; and John Howard, born August 15, 1890. Mrs.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 203
Pratt's father, Cortis Britt, was born in Madison county, and married Loretta Davis, of
Chautauqua county. They now reside in Ridgeway.
Prusia, William J., was born in Henrietta, Monroe county, January 11, 1824, a son
of Jacob, born in Lancaster county. Pa., who died in Gaines in 1859, aged sixty-nine
years. Jacob married Elizabeth Maurer, born in Lancaster county, I'a., who died m
Pennsylvania in 1857, aged sixty- seven years. They had ten children: Eliza B., born
ir 1810; John, born in 1812, died in J833; David, born in 1814; Maria, born m'lSlG,
died in 1845; Harriet S., born in 1822; William J., born in 1824; Samuel G., and
Sarah (twins), born in 1826, Samuel dying in 1864; Lucinda S., born in 1828, died in
1861 ; Angehne, born in 1831, and Daniel M., born in 1834, (who was a soldier in the
late war). William S. attended the public schools of Ridgeway, and later in Crawford
county, Pa., and has followed farming and dealing in cattle. He is a Republican, and
has served as commissioner of highways, overseer of the poor, and for thn-teen years
has been director of the Farmers' Mutual Life Insurance Company. December 14,
1847, he married Louisa Parker, who was born March 1, 1824, a daughter of Samuel
Parker of Delaware county, who died in 1862, aged sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Prusia
have children as follows: Frank J., born July 7, 1849, married Rachael Crandall, and
died in 1892; Gertrude L.. born August 2, 1850, married William R. Lattin (deceased),
by whom she had three children; and Charlie, born December 31, 1858, married Ida
Fellows, and had three children.
Ross, Captain S. A., was born in Medina, August 21, 1863, and learned the trade of
jeweler here. He went into business for himself in 1886, which he sold out in 1893.
He was elected captain of the 29th Separate Company December 28, 1891, on which
date the company mustered in. They were accepted by the State November 28, 1892.
Captain Ross received his commission October 28, 1892, with rank from December 28,
1891. The company aggregates sixty-two men rank and file, the officers being: First
lieutenant, Seymour J. Brainard; second lieutenant, Lewis L. Bacon; first sergeant, T.
H. Agnew ; second sergeant, A. B. Shattock ; third sergeant, T. H. Owens; fourth
sergeant, A. B. Eddy ; fifth sergeant, A. E. Reynolds ; corporals, G. H. Shattock, H.
K. Burnim. F. M. Smith, George Wilcox, and J. Cunningham.
Ryan, Patrick, was born in Ireland in 1852 and came to America in 1872. He
worked at quarrying four years, and then went into the liquor business. He has been
in his present stand nine years, and has also been in the grocery business. Mr. Ryan
is a member of the C. B. L., and C. M. B. A. In 1878 he married Mary Colhns, and
they have three sons and five daughters.
The Root Family. — The grandfather of Tliomas was born in Massachusetts, and died
in Carlton, and his father, Reuben, was born in Massachusetts and died in Yates in 1876,
aged eighty-two years. The wife of Reuben Root was Betsey Hastings, who was born
in Toronto, Can., and died in Yates, and their children were: Mary, born in Yates in
1822, and resides in Barry county, Mich. ; Annice, born in Yates in 1824, and died
in St. Louis, Mo., in 1882; Nathaniel, born in Yates and died in Lapeer county,
Mich., in 1867, and was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion ; Rosanna, Reuben of Van
Buren county, Mich., Thomas (our subject) born in Yates June 24. 1832 ; Edward, Eliza
Jane, George. Thomas Root was educated in the common schools of Yates and then
engaged in farming, owning seventy-two acres. He Avas a member of the I. O. G. T.
of Fountain Lodge. October 10, 1853, he married Johanna Fuller, daughter of Reuben
Fuller. She was born October 29, 1834. Reuben Fuller was born in 1800 and his
wife, Fannie Moorehouse, was boru in 1806. Reuben died May 14, 1891, and his wife
September 17, 1854. The children of Thomas and Joanna Root were ; Reuben Marion,
born September 20, 1854, married Jessy Very, of Buffalo, and they reside in Buffalo;
Frank Eugene, born November 10, 1856, married Addie Robinson, and they have one
son, Fred ; Lewis T., born April 23, 1859, married Clara Weaver ; William R., born
204 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
November 28, 1862, and died April 22, 1865. The children of Reuben and Jessy Root
are Jessie Elizabeth and R. Vary. Reuben Marion Root is a physician and was edu-
cated in Albion Academy, Lima Wesleyan Seminary, and was graduated from the Buf-
falo College in 1883. He is practicing his profession in Buffalo.
Reed, Edward L., was born August 22, 1849. His grandfather, Reuben Reed, mar-
ried Hannah Marks, a native of Rensselaer county, and their children were: Jeremiah,
Lucinda, Polly, Phoebe. Abner, Reuben (father of our subject) and Hannah. Reuben
was born November 19, 1805, and died in 1879. His wife was Lucy M. Andrews, born
September 9, 1819, and died March 27, 1884. Their children were: Lorenzo, born July
30, 1837; Benejah, born February 4, 1839, died March 25. 1840; Ambrosell A., born
September 23, 1840, died Jacuary 27, 1870, a soldier of the late war; Benoni M., born
March 25, 1842 ; Mary H., born March 31, 1844 ; Adelbert, born March 27, 1846 ;
Edward L., our subject ; Kate A., born October 31, 1854; Clara, born October 31,
1856, died December 22, 1859. Our subject was educated in the common schools of
Carlton, where he has followed farming, now OAvning two farms, of which the home-
stead contains ninety-three acres, and the other 150. Mr. Reed has served as supervisor
two terms, being a Republican in politics. He married at Holley July, 1872, Julia A.
Chase born in Barre, August 25, 1849. Her father was Julius Chase, born in Con-
necticut April 6, 1823, who married Calista Nickerson, born in Connecticut in 1829.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had four children : Royce, born in Carlton August 23. 1874 ;
who died in September, 1875; Paul J., born in Carlton April 2, 1877; Ralph 0., born
in Carlton February 23, 1879, and E. Cliflford, born m Carlton April 18, 1881.
Root was a native of Coventry, Conn., whose first settlement in this State was
at Whitestown, Oneida county. From there he moved to Jefferson county, and from
the latter removed to Genesee county, locating eight miles south of Batavia. In 1820
he came to Barre (now Albion) and bought eighty acres from the land company at $6
per acre. He lived in a log house until 1833 and then built the stone residence now oc
cupied by his son Henry. The children of Joseph Root were as follows : Levi, Polly,
Sally, Clarissa, William, Henry, Chester, Ellura, Nathan, and one other who died un-
named. Joseph Root, the pioneer, was a blacksmith as well as a farmer, and as a
mechanic could make almost any kind of a tool used on a farm. He made a number of
mill stones from the native stones of this locality, which in pioneer days did very good
service. As his boys grew to maturity they did the work on the farm, and it was
through their efforts their father was enabled to make his way comfortable in life. He
died on the old home farm August 21, 1846, and his wife, whose maiden name was
Fannie West, died March 31, 1849. Henry Root was born in Jefferson county De-
cember 27, 1806, and came with his father to Barre in 1820. He worked in his father's
shop, but was determined to become a farmer and possessed a like determination to ac-
cumulate a good property. In this he has been successful and is now the owner of 375
acres of good farm land in the town. On November 29, 1835, Henry Root married
Amanda W. Ferguson, by whom he has had one child, Floyd Ferguson Root, of Albion.
Mrs. Root died March 10, 1873. Floyd F. Root was born May 20, 1841. On May 1,
1867, he married Henrietta, daughter of Joshua and Esther D. Kendall, of Ontario
county. They have five children ; Henry K., Alma, Levi F., Gertrude D. and John
Irving Hartwell.
Rogers, Lewis, is a grandson of George M., who was born in Rhode Island, and died
in Windsor county, Vt., in 1866, aged seventy years. He married Betsey Stoodley, who
died in 1864, aged sixty-eight. Their children were: Jeremiah, father of our subject,
who was born in Vermont in 1820; Louis, WiUiam, Nancy, and Tl omas. Jeremiah
married Lucy Goodenow, born in Vermont in 1819, and their children are : Lestina,
Julia, Sarah, Lewis, who was born in Brandon, Rutland county, Vt., March 10, 1842 ;
and Frank. Lewis was educated in the common schools of Brandon, worked on a farm,
and at the age of sixteen went to Bloomington, Til, and engaged with the American
FAMILY SKETCHES. 205
Express Company. At the end of one year he returned to Bethel, Yt., 1867, and be-
came clerk and manager of the Eagle Hotel at \Yoodstock, Yt., where lie remained ten
years then bought a half interest in a grocery store, which he conducted two years.
Selling out his share he came to Bitavia, N. Y., and conducted tne Central House a
year, and then bought the Point Breeze Hotel, situated at Oak Orchard Harbor, this
county, in 1882, where he has since remained. He has a first-class hotel, makes a point
of the best service and reasonable rates, and has also a boat livery, which is at the
disposal of his guests without charge. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Woodstock
Lodge, No. 31, F. & A. M. September 9, 1869, he married at Bridgewater, Yt., Emma
K Chamberlin, born August 14, 1843, daughter of Sylvanus Chamberlin, who was born
in 1813, and now lives iu Sherburne, Yt. The parents of our subject are both living,
and reside in Brattleboro.
Root, Thomas, was born in Yates June 24, 1832. His grandfather died in Carlton,
and his father, Reuben, was born in Massachusetts and died in Yates in 1876, aged
eighty-two years. The wife of Reuben was Betsey Hastings, born in Toronto, Canada,
and died in Yates. Their children were: Mary, born in 1822, Annice, who died in
1882, Nathaniel, died in 1867, a soldier in the war of the Rebellion ; Rosanna, Reuben,
Thomas, Edward, Eliza and George. Thomas Root was educated in the common schools
and engaged in farming, owning seventy-two acres. He was a member of the L 0. G.
T., Fountain Lodge. On October 19, 1853, he married Johanna, daughter of Reuben
Fuller. She was born October 29, 1834. Reuben Fuller was born in 1800, and his
wife, Fannie Moorhouse, was born in 1806. Reuben died May 14, 1891, and his wife
September 17, 1854. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Root were: Reuben, born September
20, 1S54, married Jessie Yary of Buffalo; Frank, born November 10, 1856, married
Addie Robinson, and they have one son, Fred; Lewis T., born April 23, 1859, married
Clara Weaver; Willie R., born November 28, 1862, died April 22, 1865. The children
of Reuben and Jessie Root are Jessie and R. Yary. Reuben Root is a physician, and
was educated in Albion Academy, Lima Wesleyan Seminary, and graduated from the
Buffalo College in 1883. He is practicing in Buffalo.
Reed, Lorenzo, is a son of Reuben Reed, who was born in Otsego county, and married
Lucy Andrews of Coxsackie. Reuben settled in Carlton in 1846 and bought 156 anres
in Hulberton. Their children were : Lorenzo, born in Cherry Yalley July 30,1837;
Benejah, born in the same place, as were also Amorsell, Benoni, Mary H. and Adelbert;
Catharine and Clara B. were born in Carlton. Our subject was educated in the district
schools of Carlton, and has followed farming for his chief occupation. For two years
he was engaged in the commission produce business in Chicago, and was in Michigan
two years, moving to Carlton in 1865. In 1867 he bought the farm where he now
lives, consisting of 62 acres. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W. of Two Bridges. In
1863, while in Chicago, he married Anna D. Lowell, who was born at Gates July 26,
1842. Her father, John Lowell, was born in Allegany county, and died in Yates. He
married Polly Reed, a native of Cherry Yalley, who died in 1851. Lorenzo and Anna
Reed have had six children : Fred A. born June 15, 1865, married Jennie Schoonover ;
Clara B,, born March 22, 1867, married Dr, Edward Whittier, and has one child, Edward
L. ; Lowell W., born June 24, 1871; Mary, born in 1874, died in 1877; Jervis C,
born in 1876; Adelbert, born October 15, 1879, and Lillian, born February 10, 1884.
Root, Nathan (deceased), was born in Connecticut in 1798, and died in Clarendon in
1882. His father, Jehiel, was the first of the family to settle in Orleans county, com-
ing from Connecticut to Clarendon about 1814. He married Rachel Hedgeton, by
whom he had one son, Nathan, and four daughters: Eliza, Asenath, Anna and Arvilla.
Ehza married John Stone; Asenath married Ziba Hill, and both .settled in Steuben
county ; Anna died unmarried ; Arvilla married William Bolton and settled in Claren-
don. Nathan Root followed agriculture, and died on the old homestead. He was a
206 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Baptist in his religious views, and married Sally A. Bishop, by whom he had three
children : George W., Rachel A., and Mary J. George settled on the homestead, and
later removed to Byron. Rachel married Frank Herrick and settled in Barre. Mary
J. married first Albert D. Turner, and second David N. Pettingill.
Root, Ezekiel, who for many years was one of the progressive farmers of Albion,
and who died in 1851, was a native and former resident of the Hudson region. He first
visited this locahty in 1825 or 1830, but returned east after some years. Later on he
became a permanent resident in the town of Albion. He married Cynthia Wright,
daughter of pioneer William Wright, and by her had seven children, several of whom
died m infancy. Among them may be recalled the names of Rosetta, Mary, Phoebe,
Alice, Florence (wife of Sol. D. Hartwell), and Ezekiel W. of Albion. After the death
of Mr. Root his widow married a second time in 1860. Ezekiel W. Root was born
September 18, 1819, and was two years old when his father died. When his mother
married again, Ezekiel and two sisters remained on the farm and carried it on for them-
selves. December 13, 1871, Mr. Root married Mary M. Hudson, of Murray. They
have three children: Zada, William and Sarah. E. W. Root is a successful farmer,
having about 125 acres of good land in the eastern part of Albion.
Rice, John Garrison, the present sheriflF of Orleans county, was a native of Rens-
selaer county, born November 24, 1848. He was brought up as a farmer, and followed
that pursuit both in his native county and Orleans, and in the fall of 1872 was appointed
deputy to Sheriff Van Camp. This brought him to the county seat, and for nineteen
years following he was a deputy under Sheriffs Van Camp, Parker, Munn, Howard,
Searles and Shelby. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Rice was elected sheriff of the county. He is a
strong Republican, and a factor in local politics. He is connected with Restoration Lodge,
F. & A. M., a member of Orleans Chapter, and also of Albion Lodge No. 58, I. 0. O. F.
Randall, James Walter, who for nearly forty years was a practicing physician in Or-
leans county, was born in Kendall April 21, 1823, and was the son of Amos Randall, a
farmer of that town. James was brought up on a farm and at eighteen went to Brock-
port to vschool. Later on he went to Kentucky and taught school, and at the same
time studied medicine. Returning to the north he entered the University of Vermont
at Burlington, and was graduated with the degree of M. D., June 23, 1848. Dr. Ran-
dall practiced medicine at Oak Orchard one year, and then located permanently at the
county seat. He was for many years a leading i)hysician in Albion. His practice was
successful and much was due to the efficient assistance of his wife, who not only cared
for the office calls, but as well visited the sick and administered timely relief in many
cases. Ill health, however, compelled his retirement from active life. Travel at home
and abroad failed to restore his broken health, and he died February 14, 1884. His
wife, whom he married November 16, 1850, was Adaline L., daughter of Zachariah and
Nancy (Miles) Spencer, of Oak Orchard. Dr. Randall was one of the organizers of and
earnest workers in the County Medical Society, and for several terms its president.
He was an active Republican, and was one of the Board of Pension Examiners in the
county.
Reisch, Joseph, was born at Althausen, Saulgan, Wurtemburg, February 27, 1847.
His early life in Germany was spent on his father's farm, but at the age of fourteen he
began to learn shoemaking, and worked at that trade until 1867 when he came so this
country. After a time Mr. Reisch became a barber, at which trade he worked in New
York city and in Hartford and Norwalk, Conn., for several years, coming from the
latter place to Rochester in 1871. Six months after, in 1872, he came to Albion, and
started a barber shop and for the next seventeen years he was a leading barber at the
county seat. In 1889 failing eyesight compelled him to leave the shop, upon which he
purchased the Albion House, a good hotel near the depot, of which he has ever since
been the proprietor. On December 20, 1870, in Hartford, Conn., he married Amelia
FAMILY SKETCHES. 207
Klett, and they have one child, Mary, born January 25, 1877. Mr. Reisch is a popular
landlord in Albion, and a man generally reputed in the county. He is a member of the
Renovation Lodge, F. and A. M. and also prommently connected with the A. 0. U. W.
Russell, Thomas, was born in Ireland April 14, 1840, and came to America in 1871,
and settled in Orleans county, where he has since resided. He lived in Medina and
Yates until 1880, when he removed to Eagle Harbor and until 1893 was engaged in
farming. In November of that year became to Hulberton and purchased the interest
of Patrick Scanlon in the firm of Scanlon & Kir win, and has since been engaged in the
mercantile trade. He married in 1872, Anna Kirwin, and they have one son, Philip
J. Russell.
Ruger, Alfred, was the first of his family to settle in Orleans county. His father,
Joshua Ruger, was a soldier in the war of 1812. The family are of German descent. Alfred
Ruger was a native of Dutchess county and came from there in 1835 and purchased a
farm in the town of Gaines. Four years later he removed to the town of Newfane,
Niagara county, where he remained for four years then returned to Gaines. In 1851
he removed to the town of Murray, purchasing the Oliver Van Kirk farm on the Ridge
road just east of the transit, where he lived the remainder of his life. His death oc-
curred in 1878. He married Sarah Hoffman of Dutchess county, and their children
were as follows : Margaret, who married Henry Gillette and resides in Iowa ; Mary J,
(deceased); HotTman; Henry ; Lyman, who married Lucinda Rich, was in the employ
of theN. Y. C. R. R., and died at Syracuse. Hoffman Ruger was born June 19, 1841, in
Newfane, Niagara county. He is a farmer and resides on the homestead in Murray.
He is a Democrat and has held office as collector, assessor twelve years, and supervisor.
He was appointed vinegar inspector September 1889, and has since held that office.
He is a member of the Renovation Lodge No, 97 F. and A. M. of Albion, Albion Lodge
No. 58, 1. 0. 0. F. and A. S. Warner Lodge A. 0. U. W. of Murray. In 1864 Hoff-
man Ruger married Henrietta, daughter of Walter Wilkinson of Carlton, and their
children are : Cora, who married C. H. Bartlett of Holley, Geraldine, Kirk A., and Jud-
son. Henry Ruger was born September 26, 1843, and settled in Murray where he has
been a farmer. August 8, 1862, he enlisted in the 151st N. Y. Infantry and was com-
missioned corporal. He is a member of A. S. Warner Lodge, A. 0. U. W. of Murray.
In 1866 Henry Ruger married Sarah Snyder, and they have two children, Grace, who
married George Elliott, and Silas.
Spoor, H. G., was born in Hartland, Niagara county, April 24, 1854, and followed
farming until twenty-eight years of age. He then went to Saginaw and was engaged
in different kinds of business three years. He came to Medma in 1884 and in 1888
estabhshed his present produce, flour and feed busmes.s. Mr. Spoor is a member of the
Odd Fellows, Good Templars and Knights of Maccabees. July 4, 1878, he married
Clara E. Bathrick, and they have one daughter, Hattie. Mr. Spoor's father was Garrett
Spoor, and his mother Roxy (Alvord) Spoor. Garrett was a pioneer in Niagara county.
Simmonds, C. M., was born in Stockbridge, Mass., May 23, 1843. His father was an
engineer, and moved to Utica and thence to Medina in 1846, and the life of our subject
has been, therefore, spent entirely in this place. He has been engaged in the stave busi-
ness over thirty years, was the originator and promoter of the Electric Light Company
m Medina, is the oldest fireman in the village, and was chief of the brigade. He is an
enterprising and zealous man and has always succeeded in everything he undertook.
He is liberal in his support of church work, and of the Y. M. C. A. Mr. Simmonds'
father was William Simmonds, a native of Roxbury, Mass., 'and has been dead seven
years. His mother, who is still living, was Caroline (Card) Simmonds.
Sherwood, Guy, was born in Vermont January 9, 1815, and came to Orleans county
in 1819. He is therefore one of the early pioneers, and few men have resided so long
'208 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
in the county. He is a member of the Pioneers' Society and is a prosperous farmer.
His father was John Sherwood and his mother Lucy Sherwood, both natives of Ver-
mont. Mr. Sherwood is a vice-president of the Pioneer Society. He has been mar-
ried three times, 6rst to Electa Zuiller, second to Maria Hayden, and third to Maria
Sanford.
Scott, Frank D., was born in Ridgeway March 30, 1851, and came to the farm he
now resides on in 1861. In December, 1873. he married Martha J. Coon, and they
have three children, Charles Dennis, Harry Lee and Clarence Fremont. Mr. Scott's
father was Dennis W. Scott, and his mother Elmira Mears. His grandfather Scott set-
tled in Ridgeway at an early date.
Scott, Fremont W., M. D. — F. W. Scott was born in Ridgeway, Orleans county, June
20, 1856. He was educated in Yates Academy and Hahnneman Homtropathic Col-
lege, Philadelphia, Pa., from which he graduated in 1880. He began practice in Gene-
see county and remained there five years. In 1885 he came to Medina and has built
up a large practice here. Dr. Scott has been physician to the Board of -Health in Me-
dina, and is United States pension examiner and coroner at present. His father is
Harvey G, Scott, born m 1828, and is still living. His mother was Jane Weld.
Schmolle, Alphonse Bernard, was born in London, England, June 29, 1868, came to
America, and in 1886 settled in Carlton, this county. His father was Leonce Bernard
Schmolle, born in Nantes, France, in 1824, and married Susan Mustill, born near Eli,
Cambridgeshire, in 1828. Their children were : Eugene, Gustave, Louise, Susan, Will-
iam, Alphonse B., Aline and Martha. Our subject was educated in the Corporation
School in London, from which he graduated in 1881. His first business was as an ac-
countant's clerk, and next was amanuensis to a merchant. Since his residence in Carl-
ton he has been a traveling agent for Durafort et Fils, of Paris, France, handling min-
eral water bottle supplies. Mr. Schmolle is a K. of P., and marrieJ. in 1890, at Gaines,
Eva Hinckley, who was born in 1866 in Brighton, Monroe county.
Skinner, Stephen D., is a grandson of Henry, a native of New England, and a son of
Jarvis M., who was born in Ballston, Saratoga county June 8, 1799, and died in Albion
in 1881. He settled in Barre at the age of twenty-one, and bought 100 acres of the
Holland Land Company. He was a harness maker by trade. His wife was Mary
Delano, born Ddceraber 25, 1800, at Balston, and died in Barre in 1876. Their chil-
dren were: Jonathan D., born in 1825, died in 1857; Polly, born in 1828; Nancy P,
born in 1827 (?) ; Susan B., born in 1832; Henry, born in 1834; Jarvis, born in 1836;
Sarah E., born in 1838; Stephen D., born November 4, 1841; and Ezra D., born in
1843. Stephen D. was educated in the district schools of Barre, and later the Millville
Academy, Albion Academy, and the Medina Academy. He has followed farming
chiefly, and has also dealt somewhat largely in grain and produce. He is a Republican,
and has served as supervisor. In 18G6 he married Lavinia S. Mack, born in Brooklyn,
Pa., May 3'\ 1840. She traces her ancestry back to Thomas Lord, born in England m
1585, who came to America in 1635. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have had two children:
Alfred J., born November 16, 1873; and Charles D., born December 27, 1875. Mrs.
Skinner's parents were Alfred W. Mack, born at Lynn. Conn., December 2, 1807, and
Elizabeth (Jewett) Mack.
Sherwood, Leon M., was born in Medina, December 28, 1851. He spent his early
days on his father's farm and was educated at the Medina Academy and the University
of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1883, He studied law with Child & Pitts and
was admitted to the bar in 1S95. He began practice in partnership with E. Posson
and in 1888 formed a partnership with Mr. Pitts under the firm name of Pitts & Sher-
wood. Mr. Sherwood's father was John Sherwood. His mother was Mary (Murdock)
Sherwood. Both parents are living.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 209
Stevens, Frank L., was born in Ridgeway June 2, 1848. He was engaged in the
produce business six years, and has since followed farming. Tn 18G9 he married Rosa
Lewis. Mr. Stevens is a member of the A. O. U. W. His father was Charles L. Ste-
vens, who was the first child born within four miles of Knowlesville. His mother was
Sarah (Eaton) Stevens. His grandfather was the second man to settle in Knowlesville.
Smith, Andrew A., was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, and died in Kendall
in 1854, aged sixty years. He married Rachel Hovey born in Sand Lake who died in
Kendall in 1874, aged seventy-two. Their children were; James C, Major A., Lewis
L., father of our subject, who was born in 1824 and lives in Kendall; Emily, John,
Sarah A., Alonzo, Catharine, Martin, and William. Lewis L. married Abby Jane Miller,
of Sand Lake, born in 182G, who lives in Kendall, and their children are: James A.,
our subject, born in Sand Lake April 13, 1846; Emma A., born April 15, 1848; Mary
E., born in August, 1850; Rachel A., born in 1853, died in January, 1891; Adelbert
A., born in 1854, died in March, 1856 ; Andrew A., born in 1859, died in January, 1885 ;
Dora C, born in 1862, died in 1882; Lillie, born in 1863, died in 1882; AlHe, born in
1864; Lola, born in 1868, died in January, 1887; James A., was educated in the com-
mon schools of Kendall, and his boyhood was spent on the farm. He came to Kendall
with his parents in 1850, and since the war has worked at the carpenter's trade. He
has served as collector of Carlton. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Co. B, 14th N. Y.
Heavy Artillery, and received his discharge at Rochester September 5, 1865. He served
at the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Walnut Grove Church,
Cold Harbor, Front of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, the Mine Disaster, Fort Steadman,
etc. At the latter place he was taken prisoner, but made his escape, and participated at
Appomattox and the evacuation of Petersburgh. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W.,
Carlton Lodge No. 247, also of the G. A. R., No. 114 of Albion. January 1, 1868, he
married at Kendall Alice Jeffrey, a native of England, born March 15, 1840. They
have one child, Minnie C, born in Kendall April 18, 1871, who married Harry A. Weaver,
and lives at Carlton Station.
Sill, Russell D., came from Otsego county to Barre about 1824, and in company with
his brother, Elijah, engaged in making guns. After three years Russell married Delilah
Wirt and moved to Yates, where he died March 23, 1879. His wife died January 19,
1893. Their children were : William, John, Andrew, Jackson, Mary and Anna. Rus-
sell S. Sill was a successful farmer and accumulated a large estate. Andrew J. was
born in Yates June 10, 1837. He has always been a farmer, and one whose efforts
have been successful. In 1864 he bought the Colonel Daniels farm in Albion, near
Eagle Harbor, where he now resides. In Yates he married Emeline P. Royce, by
whom he has had two children, Nellie and HattieL., the latter the wife of Frank Hath-
away, of Eagle Harbor. Mr. Sill is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at
Eagle Harbor, and has been its trustee for many years.
Stevens, Herbert R., was a resident and business man in Albion from 1872 to 1879,
and during that period gained an extensive acquaintance in the town and vicinity, and
was looked upon as one of the most enterprising merchants of the county. He was a
native of Oakfield, born in 1846, and was the younger of two sons of Richard and
Elizabeth Stevens of that town. He lived on a farm until he was eighteen, and then
became clerk in a hardware store in Oakfield. Later on he engaged in business for him-
.self, and was also in business in Iowa three years. He returned from the West and
finding an opportunity for business at Albion, he moved to the village and became part-
ner to George M. Waterman. This relation was maintamed until the death of Mr.
Stevens in November, 1879. In Oakfield August 9, 1868, our subject married Ettie G.,
adopted daughter of Asa R. Woodruff. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens had four children, two of
whom are still living.
210 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Slater, Giles, was a native of Tyringham, Mass., born in 1787. In his native State
he vi'as a farmer. He was one of the seven bachelors who settled in the town of Carl-
ton in 1811 where he took up 124 acres of land. He died in the town in 1831. In
1812 Mr. Slater returned to Massachusetts and married Parmelia Ray, whom he brought
to his then western home. Four children were born to them, only one of whom grew
to maturity, viz.: Susan L., who became the wife of George F. Beckwith. Giles Sla-
ter was a good farmer. He cleared his land, was its original settler, and had he lived
would undoubtedly have been numbered among the most progressive men of the town.
George F. Beckwith was a native of Great Barrington, Mass., born in the year 1817.
He was a merchant before coming to this locality, and when he came to Medina in 1838
he was employed as clerk in the store of Colonel Burrows. In 1840 Mr. Beckwith mar-
ried Susan L. Slater, daughter of pioneer Giles Slater, and then moved to Carlton,
where he continued, to live until his death in 1850. In this town he was a farmer, hav-
ing abandoned mercantile life at the time of his marriage. These children were born
to them: Dwight Slater, a business man of Albion; Giles, who died at twenty-four;
George Edwin, who died in childhood, and Emma P., living at home with her mother.
George F. Beckwith was a successful business man, although he died comparatively
young. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and for nearly ten
years was one of its deacons.
Standish, Charles LeRoy, was born in Newfane, Niagara county, February 4, 1845,
and was the second of eight children of Solomon M. and Sarah (Munson) Standish. At
the age of nine years Charles went to live in the family of Jeremiah Bailey, and was
with him on the farm until he went into the army. In October, 1863, young Standish
enlisted in Company K, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, as a musician, and continued in the
service until November, 1865, when he was mustered out. Returning home he worked
two years on a farm and then bought a fifty-acre tract from the Rufus Hallock estate,
and here Mr. Standish has ever since resided. November 10, 1867, he married Sarah,
daughter of pioneer Rufus Hallock, and of this marriage two children have been born,
viz. : Flora, wife of Clark Northrup, and Alta. In politics Mr. Standish is an earnest
Democrat, and as such has frequently been called upon to stand as his party's candidate
for town office.
Storaker, Samuel, was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, in 1849. He came to
America in 1868, and after a short residence at Rondout, N. Y., came to Medina and
for six years was engaged in quarries there. He then came to Albion and for several
years was in the same business there. In 1884 he purchased a tract of land about a
mile east of Hulberton on the north side of the canal, and opened a stone quarry. In
1885 William Sullivan became a partner, and they have since continued the business.
Sahsbury, Harmon L., was born in Sweden, Monroe county, June 8, 1812, and was a
son of Joseph, whose father came from England. Harmon L. came to Orleans county
in 1857 and settled in Murray about a mile east of the Transit, purchasing the Richard
Rhodes farm. He married Lucinda Harwick of Barre, and their children were:
Miranda, William A., J. Willard, J. H. Leroy, Emma A., Milford E., and George S.
Mr. Salisbury married, second, Mary D. Peterson. He resided in Murray until 1877
when he removed to Kansas, and later to Wyoming. He died in Le Roy, N. Y.,
November 29, 1893. William Salisbury resides at Fairport, N. Y. He married Amelia
Peterson. J. Willard settled in Roohester, and is engaged in the real estate business.
He married IdaE. Prosser. J. H. Leroy settled in the State of Wyoming, and married
Jane Leonard. George S. is a farmer and resides on the homestead in Murray. He
married in 1892, Lizzie B., daughter of Noble Stockham of Murray.
Smith, Capt. Henry E., was born in the town of Sweden, Monroe county, Janu-
ary 25, 1823, and is a son of Perry Smith. He served in the war of 1812, and mar-
ried Mariella Perrin. Her father, Daniel Perrin, was a soldier in the Revolutionary
FAMILY SKETCHES. 211
war. In 1849 Captain Smith settled in the southeast part of Murray on the county Hne
road, and purchasing a farm engaged in farming. On the breaking out of the war in
1861 he raised a company and entered the service, his company becoming a part of the
105th Regiment N. Y. Inf. He was commissioned captain and served until the fall of
1862, when he was compelled to resign on account of ill-health. Captain Smith
participated in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. In politics
he is a Democrat, and for several years was assessor of Murray. He is also a member
of the Baptist Church of Holley. He married in 1844 Clarissa B. Morgan, and they are
the parents of four children : Mrs. Helen Vallance, Mrs. Cora A. Boyce, Mrs. Alice
M. Sprague and Dayton H., superintendent of Morgan Reaper Works of Brockport.
Sunderland, John, was born in Yorkshire, Leeds, England, in 1821, emigrated to
America in 1842, settled in Gaines, Orleans county, and in 1854 purchased the farm at
Fairhaven, where he now resides. Mr. Sunderland had two brothers and one sister
who emigrated to this country, Thomas, James and Sarah. Subject was educated in
the common schools, is a prominent member of the I. 0. G. T. of Fairhaven, and has
been excise commissioner of Gaines three years. He married in Carlton in 1853 Mrs.
Ann Knapp, born in 1807 in Oneida county, and died in 1893 in Fairhaven. Mrs. Sun-
derland's maiden name was Hadstead, and her first husband was Caleb Knapp, by whom
she had thirteen children : Oris, deceased, Amoret, Charles, George, deceased ; Gaines,
deceased ; Jenette, deceased ; Ellen, born in Gaines in 1828, and Frances Kittle.
Shelley, A. W., is a descendant of Aaron, who was a native of Washington county,
and settled in Gaines in 1811, where he built the first house on the Ridge road, and
also kept the first hotel in the town. His son, Amasa, father of our subject, was born
in 1801 and died in 1869 in Gaines. He married Ann Wilson, born in Orange county
in 1810, and died in Gaines in 1892, Their children were: Silva, born in 1835 ; Aaron
W., born in 1837; Solomon A., born in 1840; George W., born in 1845; William H.,
born in 1849. Our subject attended the common schools, and finished at the Albion
Academy, which he left before graduation, and went to Pike's Peak during the gold
excitement. He has chiefly followed farming, has always been a Republican, and
was elected sheriff of Orleans county in 1889, which office he held three years. In
September, 1862. he enlisted in the 151st N. Y. Vols., and served two years and eight
months. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, was wounded at Cold
Harbor, fought at Locust Grove, and was discharged m December, 1864, for honorable
service. Mr. Shelley is a member of Renovation Lodge No. 97 of Albion. F. &A. M.,
also of the G. A. R., and of the A. 0. U. W., No. 67 of Albion. . September 16, 1872,
he married Marietta Broadwell, born December 16, 1839, in Gaines, a daughter of
Moses Broadwell, born in Plattsburg in 1812, and died in 1883 in Gaines. Her mother
was Marietta Dolley, born in Fonda in 1815, and died in 1867 in Gaines.
Stanley, D. Fred, is a descendant of David, who was born in Haverhill, N. H., in
1810, and died in West Gaines in 1866. David married Betsey Lyman, born in Marl-
borough, Vt., in 1820, and is still living, and is a daughter of William Lyman, born in
Marlborough, Vt., and settled in Gaines in 1826. Here he purchased a farm of 100
acres on the Gaines Basin road, the farm now owned by the Bacon brothers, which he
afterward sold to a Mr. Cornell and bought the farm at West Gaines now owned by
John H. Pratt. In 1842 he bought the place on the opposite side of the road. Wilham
Lyman died in 1875, aged eighty-seven years. He married Betsey Swan, born in Halifax,
Vt., and died in 1835, aged seventy-one years. Their family consisted of the following
children: Electa, Milicent S., Lucy H., Betsey C, William H., Alice W., and Martha P.
The children of David and Betsey (Lyman) Stanley were : Lucy E., born in West
Gaines in 1849, married W. Rood De Forest, resides in Ridgeway, and have two chil-
dren (Walter and Bessie) ; David Fred (our subject), born in West Gaines in 1853 ;
Lyman M., born in 1856, died in infancy. David Fred Stanley was educated in the
212 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
district school of West Gaines, after which he followed farming as an occupation. In
pohtics he is a Republican. March 19, 1879, he married Jennie Whipple of West
Gaines. She was born in 1850, and was a daughter of Samuel Whipple, who was the
son of Spencer, a soldier in the war of 1812. Her mother was Jane James The
Whipples were among the first settlers in Gaines. David Fred and Jennie (Whipple)
Stanley are the parents of one child, Ruth J., born in 1880, at West Gaines.
Tompkins, E. M., M. D., was born in Knowlesville February 25, 1854, and was edu-
cated at Albion and Medina Academies, preparatory to taking a medical course in Buf-
falo University, from which he graduated in 1878. He also took a course in the College
of Physicians & Surgeons in New York. In 1882 he married Hattie Eggleston, and
they have two children : Hartwell E., and Albert E. Dr. Tompkins is a son of Dr. H.
C. Tompkins, of Knowlesville, and is a partner with his father.
Thomas, Morris, was born in Swansea, Wales, May 23, 1815, and died in Carl-
ton, where his widow now resides, in 1880. He was a man of sterling qualities,
emigrating to this country when a mere boy. He purchased the farm where his widow
and daughter, Mrs. Ann Eliza Dean, now resides about 1845, the most of which he
cleared with his own hands. December 1, 1844, he married Mary Hoadley, who was
born in Alleghany county March 18, 1826, and they had these children: William Edgar,
born December '3, 1847, and died October 22, 1887. He married Eliza McCarthy;
James M., born December 4, 1849, and died January 5, 1880 ; Ann Eliza, born October
24, 1852, who married Sanford Dean, born August 14, 1852, and died October 21, 1886.
They had two children: Nelson M., born November 21, 1873, who is being educated at
the Brockport Normal School; and James M., born September 17, 1880 ; Cora B., born
June 20, 1860, and married Orris Knapp, by whom she has one child, Clark, born Sep-
tember 29, 1884; and Henry Jay, born March 29, 1863. He married Belle W. Love-
land, who was born in Albion October 23, I860. She is a graduate 'of Albion Union
High School. Her father was Wells A. Loveland, a thirty-third degree Mason.
Thomas, Elam, was a native and former resident of Onondaga county, brought his
family to Albion in 1867 and purchased the old Ferguson farm. Here he died in 1883,
his wife preceding him by two years. In his family were seven sons, five of them were
in the army. Horace enlisted in Phoenix ; Edgar from Van Buren ; Abner from Cook
county. 111. ; Elam in Onondaga county ; and William in Chicago. Elam Thomas, jr.,
was born August 10, 1842, and was brought up on a farm. In 1864 he enlisted in
Company F., 2d N. Y. Cavalry, and served nine months in the Shenandoah Valley.
After the war he returned to Onondaga county and thence came with his father to
Albion, where he has since lived. He owns the old farm and has increased its size from
fifty-four to seventy- eight acres. He is a successful farmer. In 1870 Mr. Thomas
married Rhoda M. Hart, and has four children : Irene, Gertrude, Arthur and Charles.
Taylor, Samuel, was one of the pioneers of Yates, and was a former resident of Con-
necticut. His wife, whose maiden name was Bill, was also from Connecticut and a de-
scendant of a noted family. In their family were eleven children, their names being
Samuel B., who died in New York city in 1877, and who was formerly connected with
a Marine Mutual Insurance Company ; Rodman, of Michigan; Alfred, who died about
1868 (a Baptist clergyman) ; John, who died in Michigan In 1877; Maria, who married
Edwin St. John and died about 1848 ; Mary Ann, who married Horatio Parker of Ridg-
way and died in Michigan in 1891 ; Gurdon Bill of Milan, Mich.; Henry, who died in
1849; Elizabeth, who died at the age of five; James H., who died in New York city
in 1862; and Julius of New York city. Gurdon Bill Taylor married Mary Morris,
daughter of one of the pioneers of Yates, but who moved to Michigan in 1874. The
children of Gurdon B. and Mary Taylor, were Orville H., Herbert and Albert. The
last named died in 1893 and Mary, wife of Gurdon B., died in 1848. Herbert Taylor
FAMILY SKETCHES. 213
was a volunteer in the Eighth N. Y. Heavy Art., enlisted in August, 1862, and served
through the vpar. He afterward located and now lives in Milan, Mich. Orville H.
Taylor, was born in Yates, December 17, 1842, and lived in his native town till 1860,
when he came to Albion and found employment as clerk. He enlisted in the war and
with his brother Herbert was assigned to the Eighth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Herbert as
a private, while Orville was on the colonel's staff. He served in thirteen general en-
gagements besides numerous skirmishes. Returning from the war Orville resumed the
life of clerk, but in 1869 was appointed deputy postmaster under Joseph M. Cornell.
In 1872 he was in the canal collector's office, after which he bought out and succeeded
J. H. Longknecht, a former boot and shoe dealer of Albion. From that time until the
present Mr. Taylor has been one of Albion's successful business men. He is a strong
Republican and was elected town collector of old Barre in 1869. On June 27, 1866,
he married EmmaF., daughter of George G. Rogers of Albion, and they are the parents
of three children ; William G., Mary, who died in infancy, and Kittie May.
Thorp, William, was born in Lincolnshire, England, more than sixty years ago, and
for more than forty years he has lived in this country. He was brought up to farming
and was the son of John Thorp, a farmer. On coming to this country William started
west, and when he reached Albion on the canal he had but three cents remaining. He
then began working out, and being industrious soon accumulated a snug sum of money.
With this he bought twenty-two acres in the northeast part of Barre, but his present
farm includes 100 acres and cost Mr. Thorp a total of $10,000. Besides this, he and his
son Charles, bought an additional 160 acres, and the latter received from his father $1,000
to make a start in business as a farmer. Our subject had but a limited education, but
by careful reading has become a well informed man. By his marriage with Caroline,
Mr. Thorp had three children : Charles, Julia and Janette. His second wife was Eliz-
abeth Seager, and his third Hannah Hardtackle, and his fourth Sarah Jane Marsden.
Tent, Samuel, was born in Cattaraugus county May 31, 1834, and was the son of
Samuel and Lydia Tent of Machias. The family came to the " ridge" in 1842, but later
moved to Clarkson. At the a^e of thirteen Samuel went to work as hall boy in a
Rochester hotel, and for the next several years was employed in hotel work in various
places. He next went to school at Lima Seminary one term, and then went to Michi-
gan and was teamster between Hastings and Battle Creek. In 1852 he came to Barre
Center and went to work for his uncle, Charles Morey, a shoemaker, then worked on a
farm, followed by a clerkship in a store. Still later he drove team for a time, then
bought and cleared timber lands, and had much to do with building the roads of Barre.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 151st Regiment, as private; was promoted at
Albion; at the front was appointed right general guide of the regiment; promoted
color-bearer, and finally promoted first Heutenant in February, 1864. At Monocacy,
Md., July 9, 1864, he was wounded and was in the hospital six months, and while there
acted as hospital steward ; was mustered out July 1, 1865. Returning to Barre, Mr.
Tent engaged in stave and heading manufacture, and was in active business until eight
years ago, when he retired, and gives his attention to farming. He was also four years
a merchant at Barre Center. Samuel married first January 1, 1855, Emma Bigelow,
who bore him two children, Hattie and Emma, both of whom are dead. His wife died
in 1861, and in 1862 he married Ellen Gates, by whom he had one child, Lvdia Belle,
wife of Cubit Miller. She died in 1888 and March 1, 1889, he married Marietta
Petrie. He is a Republican, and for seven years has been overseer of the poor in Barre.
Van Stone, James, was born in Devonshire, England, December 21, 1832, and came
to America in 1853. He spent twenty-five years in the pursuit of dry wall building, at
which he was very successful. He then began farming and became one of the most
noted stock raisers in this part of the State. He breeds Jersey cattle, Oxford sheep,
Victoria swine and a dozen varieties of poultry, and takes many of the premiums at the
214 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
fairs. In LS59 Mr. Van Stone married Mary Axtell, and they have two children, Jay
C, and Mrs. George Anderson.
Wilson, A. B., was born in Kendall August 18, 1849, and has made farming the oc-
cupation of his life. He married twice, first in 1867 Rose Jefferson, who died leaving
one son, William A., and second Florence 0. Ross. They have five children : Ross
Randall, Horace, Ray, Rose and Florence. His parents were Andrew W. and Harriet
Ann (Nichols) Wilson. His ancestors came from London, Eng., and settled m Massa-
chusetts in 1718. Mr. Wilson is a member of the A. 0. U. W., No. 67, and of the
Farmers' Alliance, No. 498, Maple Ridge.
Waite, T. A., was born in Millville January 27, 1864, and has since been engaged in
the mercantile business, established by his father in Millville. His parents were Hiram
and Fanny (Hart) Waite. In 1886 Mr. Waite married Anna Gillette, and they have
one son, Albert Waite, and one daughter, Loraine E. Waite. Mr. Waite is a member of
the Masonic Fraternity, and takes an active part in political affairs. He is is a mem-
ber of the County Central Committee, and has been a delegate to many county conven-
tions. The Waite family are descendents of Thomas Waite, a Puritan, who landed at
Portsmouth in 1639.
Walsh, Michael, was born in the South of Ireland and came to America during the
troublesome times of 1848. He has resided in Medina for forty-four years, and is one
of the substantial men of the village. He has a family of one son and three daughters.
Weaver, Savina J., is the widow of Harris Weaver, who was born in Schenectady,
county September 7, 1819, and died in Carlton May 11, 1892. He bought the farm
where our subject now lives in 1852. His father, Asa, was a native of Vermont, who
died in Otsego county, and his mother was Mary Griffith, of Schenectady county. The
children of Asa and Mary were as follows: Jehiel, Eunice, Stephen, Harris, George and
David, of whom George is the only survivor, and resides in Canada. Harris married
Savina J. Hoag in 1852, she being a native of Montgomery coui.ty, born July 17, 1833.
Their children were : Florence A., born in Carlton February 27, 1854, who married
Maro Freeman, and has two children, Harris H. and Clayton ; Electa A., born June 7,
1857, who married Arthur J. Weed, and has two children, Mark D. and Clyre R. ; Wil-
lis, born August 10, 1863, died October 19, 1865; and Charley A., born June 3, 1867,
who married Georgette Williams, and has one child, Willis C. Mrs. Weaver's father
was Mark Hoag, born in Charlestown, Montgomery county, in 1796, and died in Root,
Montgomery county, in 1853. He married Susan Campbell, born in Charlestown in
1795, and died in Root in 1843. Their children were: Ira, born in 1815, died in 1858;
Lydia, born in 1817, died in 1848; Eliza A., born in 1818, died in 1819; Rebecca A.,
born in 1819 ; Paris, born in 1822. died in 1876 ; Louisa, born in 1824, died in 1851;
William, born in 1828, died in 1891 ; Job, born in 1830, died in 1880; and Savina J.,
our subject. Her grandfather, Nathaniel Hoag, was born in Dutchess county and died
in 1864, aged ninety-three years. His wife was Betsey Dual.
Warren, Reuben N., is a descendant of Jonas Warren, a native of Fitzwilliam, Ches-
hire county, N. H., whose wife was a Miss Gilchrist of Scotch descent, and their
family consisted of seven sons and two daughters : Betsey, Sally, William, Philip,
Jonas, Noah, Wright, Silas and Luther. Silas Warren, the father of our subject, was
born in 1794, in New Hampshire. He had a farm of 234 acres, and was a man of
prominence, having served as justice of the peace and was deacon of the Baptist Church
of East Carlton for many years. In 1820 he married Lucinda Reed, who was born
August 23, 1797, in Nassau, Rensselaer county. Mrs. Warren's father was Reuben
Reed and her mother was a Miss Marks, who died at the age of ninety-four in 1867.
Silas Warren died July 25, 1875, in Carlton on the farm he purchased in 1838. Silas
and Lucinda (Reed) Warren were the parents of the following children : Reuben Nel-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 215
son, boru in Nunda, Livingston county, May 24, 1821 ; Willard F., born in Niinda June
6, 1824, and died in 1888; William Clinton bom in Nunda September 18, 1825, and
resides in Chicago; Washington and Wellington (twins) born in Nunda May 27, 1820,
the former dying in 1879 and the latter in 1887, and these twin brothers married twin
sisters, Sarah and Mary Palmer, of Brockport, born in 1830; Silas L., born in Nunda
February 8, 1835, and died in Milwaukee, Wis., December 19, 1893. Reuben N. War-
ren attended the district school at East Carlton, and subsequently the Albion Academy.
He taught school for two terms and then followed farming at East Carlton till 1877,
when he moved to Waterportand took charge until the same was sold to Mr. Bromley
in 1886. He is a Republican and has served as supervisor of the town of Carlton.
May 21, 1846, he mairied Emma Joy, who was born in Carlton February 5, 1819, and
died September 17, 1886. The children of this marriage were : Adelaide, born in Carl-
ton June 20, 1847, married Palmer D. Anderson, who was l^orn in Richmond, Ontario
county, October 19, 1830, and died April 9, 1885 (and their children were Harry S. ,
born in Carlton January 26, 1872, died October 26, 1874, WilHs P., born in Carlton
March 2, 1876, and Belle, born in Carlton March 2, 1876); Adelphia J., born September
24, 1848, and married Daniel D. Bromley; Mary Alice, born in Carlton May 23, 1857,
and married Melvin Garrett, of East Carlton. The children of Jonas Warren, grand-
father of our subject, with their births are as follows : Betsey, born March 19, 1786, in
Townsend, Mass. ; William, born April 10, 1787, in Townsend ; Philip, born July 16,
1788; Jonas, jr., born January 8, 1791, in Fitzwilliam, N. H. ; Noah, born July 27,
1793, at Fitzwilliam; Silas, born December 1, 1794, at Fitzwilliam; Sally, born March
6, 1796, at Belchertown, Mass.; Luther, born August 1, 1801, at Cheshire, Mass,
Wilson, Valentine A., is a son of Alexander Wilson, who was born in Wilson, Nif
county, and died there in 1831, aged thirty-one. The mother of Valentine was
Catherine Efner, born in Canada in 1809 and died in 1892. Alexander and Catherine
Wilson were the parents of two children : Almarion Wilson, born January 25, 1829,
and resides in Alichigan; Valentine A., born in Nelson, Niagara county, March 29, 1830.
Valentine A. Wilson married Susan A. Phelps, January 12, 1857, in Carlton. She was
born September 27, 1838, in Parma, Monroe county. They had these children : Nellie
M., born in Carlton, October 4, 1857, and died March 14, 1881; Frederick E., born De-
cember 7, 1859. and married Lottie Fuller (they have one child, Glenn F., born October
20, 1891) ; Henry V., born in Carlton July 25, 1867, and married L-ene S. Hard ;
Walter W. Wilson, born in Carlton November 2, 1876. The father of Mrs. Valentine
A. Wilson was Lyman D. Phelps, born October 10, 1809, and died January 22, 1890,
and his wife, Sophronia A. Wright, was born April 5, 1808, and still lives. Valentine
Wilson was educated in the common schools of his native town and attended the Wis-
son Collegiate Institute where he finished his education. He has followed farming and
the mercantile business, and in 1874 he moved to Kuckvllle where he has since resided.
August 11, 1862, he enlisted in the 151st Regt. N. Y. Vol., Co. A, and was discharged
June 26, 1865. He enlisted as private and was promoted to corporal and sergeant.
He took part in the battles of Locust Grove and Manassas Gap, Wilderness eight days '
battle, Spotsylvania, Hanovertown, Cold Harbor, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek,
and McLaine's Ford. Mr. Wilson was postmaster at Kuckville ten years.
Welch, George M., was a son of John R., who was born inPittsford, Monroe county,
in 1828. His wife, Jane A. Sargent, was born in New Hamp.shire in 1836, and they
had three children : George M., born m Carlton April 12, 1854; John, born August 28,
18.59 ; Nelson C, born September 16, 1864. Our subject was brought up on a farm,
and at the age of sixteen learned the cigarmaker's trade, which he followed thirteen
years. In 1893 he purchased the stock of goods of W. J. Hise, and subsequently pur-
chased the store at Carlton- He was appointed postmaster at Carlton November 16,
1893. Mr. Welch married at Kuckville in November, ISSO, Jennie E. Nicholson, who
was born August 13, 1859, by whom he has had one son, Harry H., born August 31,
1881.
216 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Wright, William was a native of Columbia county, and was a farmer in that region
prior to 1816. In that year he came to what is now Orleans county, settling in the
west part of the town of Barre (now Albion), where he lived and died. In his family
were nine children, two of whom were born previo is to his settlement in this county.
They were Cynthia, who married Bzekiel Root, and after his death Thomas Tracy ; and
Daniel G. of Albion. The children born in the town were Lewis, who died in Michigan;
Hannah, who married Warren Chase, and died in Minnesota; Phebe, who married
Philip Beeman and died in Michigan ; Amanda, who married Warren Smith of Albion ;
Amy, who died at sixteen; Fannie, who died at seven; Sarah, who married James
Parmele, and Justus W. of Albion. William Wright, the pioneer, came a poor man to
this region but accumulated a good property before his death. Daniel G.
Wright was born in Columbia CDunty, November 21, 1814, and was brought up
and always lived on a farm. On reaching age he began work for his father, then rented
a farm and finally became the owner of one. A life of industry has brought to him a
deserved competence and he is now one of the foremost farmers of the town. In 1838
he married Lucy Lord, who bore him six children : Albert, who died in Boston ; the
second child died in infancy; Edgar, now in Kansas; Jennie, who married James Allen
and died in Albion ; Coville P. of Albion, and Lottie, who married Truman Clark. Mr.
Wright has engaged extensively in dealing in apples and was the pioneer of that busi-
ness in the county Plis lands comprise about 360 acres. He began life sixty dollars
in debt. His wife died in 1892. Justus W. Wright was born July 7, 1837, and was
the youngest of the children of pioneer William Wright. In 1860 he married Delia A.
Lord, by whom he had five children, viz. : Alfred Ellsworth, a prominent Universalist
clergyman now m Brooklyn ; Alma Estelle, wife of George Caswell of Albion ; Myrtle
Belle, wife of Daniel K. Smith, of Clarendon ; William, who died an infant, and one
other who died unnamed. Justus W. Wright is a prominent farmer in the eastern part
of Albion where he has always lived. In politics he is a strong Republican and has
been twice elected justice of the peace. He was appointed justice of sessions in 1893.
Coville P. Wright, son of Daniel G. Wright, was born in Albion February 12, 1850.
He has alwas been a farmer since old enough to work. On January 6, 1873, he mar-
ried Belle, daughter of Pliny E. Hudson, of Murray. Two children were born of this
marriage. His wife died December 26, 1877, and in January, 1880, Mr. Wright mar-
ried Jessie Thatcher. Of this marriage five children, all boys, have been born. In 1873
Mr. Wright located on his present farm. He is somewhat active in local politics, has
always been a Democrat though in no sense a politician. He was elected supervisor of
the town in 1893 and re-elected in 1894.
Samuel Willyoung was a native of Erie county, born March 3, 1848, and was the
fifth of seven children born to John and Eva Willyoung. His father was a farmer, a
native of Germany, and came to the United States in 1840. Samuel was brought up
on the farm, educated in the common schools, and attended three months at the Bry-
ant & Stratton Business College of Buffalo. He went to farming before he was of age,
and in 1871 started out as a salesman of the old Cayuga Chief mowing machine. This
business he followed until 1880 when he was appointed deputy sheriff of Erie county
and served in that capacity for one year. Soon afterward he came to Albion and be-
came connected with the " Curtis Machine Works " in the capacity of superintendent
and secretary. These works afterwards became known as the Curtis Manufacturing
Co., which, after a life of vicissitudes, ceased doing business and is now owned by Mr.
Willyoung and Franklin Clark. In September, 1892, Mr. Willyoung started a hardware
and stove store in Albion, of which he is still proprietor. In Erie county our subjcet
was a member of old Company H. 198th Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y. He served with this
company three years, and although never in service the regiment was held in readiness
for any emergency that might arise. The lieutenant-colonel of the regiment and also
the captain of Company H were brothers-in-law of Mr. Willyoung. In Erie county
Samuel Willyoung was married to Matilda Summer, and to them these children were
FAMILY SKETCHES. 217
born: Eugene S., in business with his father; Lester E., a prominent veterinary surgeon
formerly of Albion, now of Buffalo ; C. Alfred, of Albion ; Eva, who died at eleven ;
Margaret and Thekla.
Wilson, Robert. — The Wilson Family are of Scotch-Irish descent, and for generations
back had one member named Robert. Robert Wilson, son of Robert, was born in 1783
in the north of Ireland, where he married Martha Morrow. They came to America in
1834 and settled in Kendall, on Norway street, on the farm now owned by their son
Thomas, a bachelor, where both died, Mr. Wilson's death occurring in March, 1844.
Their children were: Mary, Nancy, Robert, jr., Martha, Thomas, Margaret, and Eliza
(Mrs. W. H. Porter), all born in Ireland, and Charlotte, born in Kendall. Robert Wil-
son, jr., was born October 18, 1825, was reared a farmer, and settled on his present
place in April, 1868. January 4, 1860, he married Betsey A., daughter of Lebbeus Cri[)-
pen, of Carlton, and their children are : Charlotte, who married Harry S. Burnett
December 12, 1891 ; Elizabeth S., who married George Hoffman November 12, 1885;
Carrie H., who married E. A. Smith February 10, 1892, and died June 18, 1893 ; Mary
A., who married William W. Jenkins June 20, 1891; and Robert L., and Augusta,
at home. Lebbeus Crippen, Carlton, was born in Penfield, N. Y., September 11, 1810,
and settled in Carlton in 1841. where he died May 24, 1845. April 19, 1837, he married
Sally Au Tisdale, who was born August 27, 1815. Their children were : Betsey A.
(Mrs. Robert Wilson) and Caroline H. The latter was born August 15, 1841, and died
August 15, 1882. Mrs. Crippen married, second, December 2, 1849, Stephen Groak, of
Carlton, by whom she had one son, Charles E. Mrs. Groak died October 1, 1886.
Webster, Myron H. — Ose Webster was born in August, 1763. He came to Kendall
Mills about 1819 and erected there, on Sandy creek, one of the 6rst if not the first
grist mills in Orleans county. He was the pioneer settler in that locality, which was
long known by his family name. Near his grist mill he also built a saw mill, and sub-
sequently erected several other saw mills at different points on Sandy Creek both above
and below, whicii are noticed on a previous page of this volume. In November, 1773,
he married Ruth King, who died May 17, 1864. He died near Kendall Mills August
15, 1840. He had seven sons and four daughters, of whom Ebenezer K., Solomon,
Luther H., and a daughter lived and died in Kendall ; the others moved to Michigan.
Ebenezer K. Webster was born in Saratoga county January 1, 1795, and died Decem-
ber 1 9, 1878 ; his wife, Chloe Perry, was born December 15, 1796, and died August 2, 1877.
Their children were: Myron H., born May 16, 1824; Caroline, born October 30, 1825,
died January 23, 1839 ; Mark A., born June 28, 1827, died March 15, 1832 ; Simon P., born
September 10, 1829, died April 7, 1891 ; John, born December 12, 1831 ; Ruth A. (Mrs. A.
J. Eaton), born February 15. 1834; Malinda (Mrs. Edwin Downs), born February 20,
1836; and Chloe (Mrs. Clinton Perry), born December 14, 1840. Mr. Webster came to
Arnold's Mills in 1825 and bought of David Arnold a one-half interest in a saw-mill, all
being located on the line on Sandy Creek between Kendall and Murray. He finally sold
out to Mr. Arnold and removed to Kendall Mills, where he formed a partnership with his
brother Solomon to conduct the saw and grist mills erected by their father. The firm built
the present grist mill of M. H. Webster & Son in 1840, and for many years was prominently
identified with the businesss of the place. Solomon died in April, 1865. Ebenezer K.
was active in town affairs and one of the founders of the M. P. cliurch in his village.
Myron H. Webster, his oldest child, married, January 6, 1854, Mary Ailis, and has had
two children: Rome, born September 16, 1854, died January 16, 1865, and Orson A.,
born July 17, 1857. The latter is in partnership with his father and represents the
fourth generation in the direct ownership and operation of the saw and grist mill inter-
ests at Kendall Mills.
Wellman, Harry E. — Reuben Wellman, born in Vermont, served as a drummer in the
War of 1812, married his wife in Massachusetts, and came to Kendall about 1819, set-
bb
218 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
tling on a farm now owned by Mrs. Almeretta Root, but eventually removed to Michi-
gan, where he died. Of his eleven children, Cyrenus, born November 12, 1808, married
October 13, 1836, Susan, daughter of James Weed who survives him. He died Novem-
ber 16, 1882. Their children were: Lving E., born April 27, 1841; James K. P.,
born August 10, 1844, died January 18, 1879 ; Annis (Mrs. James Griswold), born May
22, 1849, died May 8, 1883 ; and Lewis C, born January 16, 1861, who married in 18&o,
Flora B. Manley. Mr. Wellman was a prominent farmer, public spirited, and enter-
prising, and inherited many characteristics of the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock, from
whom the family are lineal descendants. Irving E. Wellman married Jane, daughter of
Noah Elwell, of Kendall, and has had three children, of whom only one, Harry E., is
living. He has held several local offices and was supervisor in 1883-4 and 1891. He
settled on his present farm in April, 1865. Harry E. Wellman married Carrie, daughter
of Andrew B, Townsend, of Kendall, and has two daughters. He has been prominent
in local temperance affairs, has been chief templar of Orleans County Lodge, and is one
of the foremost members of Kendall Lodge No. 538 I. 0. 0. T.
Warner, De Witt Clintpn, was born in Phelps, but early in life went to Alleghany
county where he was a lumberman, and from there he came to Ridgeway about 1835.
Three years later he moved to Barre and in this town was a successful farmer and left
a good estate. His children were : America, wife of Alphonzo Starkweather ; Justin ;
Mary Jane; Austin; William A.; De Witt C. ; Electa, wife of W. W. Phipps, and
Charles. Mr. Warner, the pioneer, and also his wife died during the same week.
Justin Warner was born March 21, 1831, and has always been a farmer. In April,
I860, he married Esther M. Whiting, by whom he had three children : Hattie, wife of
Frederick Raymond; Electa, and Dewitt C, both of whom died in infancy. Mr.
Warner is a substantial farmer in the southern part of Barre, and his success in life has
been due to his own efforts. Thomas Stephen Whiting came from Connecticut and
settled first in Alleghany county, then came to Ridgeway in 1843. His wife was Polly
Crane, and of their twelve children, eight grew to maturity. They were Eliza Ann,
Almira, Lucinda, Horton, Samuel, Esth'er M., Philo, Ellen. Thomas S. Whiting died
March 14, 1889, aged ninety-one years. His wife died in 1878. Prior to his residence
in this county, Mr. Whiting was a blacksmith, but in Ridgway he was a farmer.
Warren, Aaron, was born in Murray, and is the fourth generation of that name. The
family are of English descent. Aaron Warren, grandfather of our subject, was a native
of Vermont and was a captain in the Revolutionary War and served in the War of 1812.
He came from Vermont to Orleans county in 1814, and took up a tract of land near
Balcom's Mills, paying seven dollars per acre. He built a log house and shortly after
(being a miller) built a grist mill at Sandy Creek, south of the Ridge Road and on the
west side of the road where the present mill now stands. This is said to be the first
grist mill built in the town. He carried on this business for a considerable time, and
died in Murray in 1849, aged eighty-nine years. He had five children: Joel, George,
Da id, Aaron, and Polly, who married a Mr. Palmer and removed to Michigan. Joel
and George settled in Michigan ; David settled in Vermont and in 1868 removed to Or-
leans county and settled iu Clarendon, where he died. Aaron Warren was born in
Moatpelier, Vt, in 1803, and spent his life in Murray where he was always a farmer,
and a man honored and respected by his fellow townsmen. In 1846 Mr. Warren set-
tled on the Ridge west of Sandy Cre'ek, where he resided until his death in 1891. He
married Dorcas Williams, daughter of Henry Williams, a native of Vermont who came
to Murray at an early day and settled on what was afterward the Daniel Young farm.
The children of Aaron and Dorcas Warren were: Chauncey, Henry, Laura, Lucy A.,
Maria, John, Marietta, and Aaron, jr. Chauncey settled in Michigan. He was twice
rnarried, first to Catherine Bloomingdale, and the second time to Jane Paimer. He
died at Albion, and one son, Hermon, survives hira. Henry died unmarried ; Laura
married Isaac Downey of Murray; Lucy A. married Charles Bartlett of Gaines; Maria
FAMILY SKETCHES. 219
married Oscar Frisbie ; John died unmarried ; Marietta married James Beck. Aaron
Warren, jr., with the exception of five years, has always Hved in Murray. In 1869 he
married Ellen M. Rice, and they have one daughter, Mary Warren.
Weller Hiram, was born near Washington, N. J., in 1818, and is a son of Peter R.
Weiler, whose father came from Germany during the latter part of the eighteenth cen-
tury and settled in New Jersey, where he was a farmer. Peter R. Wefler was a tan-
ner and currier and about 1825 he settled in Livingston county. He married Betsey
Potts, and they were the parents of nineteen children. One son, Jacob, settled in
Holley about 1850 and is a blacksmith. Hiram Weller came to Mt. Morris, Livingston
county, with his father and was a farmer there. He spent twelve years in Ohio and
^n 1874 came to Orleans county and settled near Holley, where, with the exception of
a residence of seven years in Kendall, he has since lived. In 1874 Mr. Weller married
Anna J., daughter of Levi Hard of Kendall, and they have one son, Levi H. Weller.
Youngs, John, was born in Norfolk, England, in 1828 and in 1852 came to America
and settled in Orleans county. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that busi-
ness until 1872, when he purchased a farm in Murray, and was engaged in farming
until he died November 22, 1891. He married in 1848 Susan Youngs, and their chil-
dren were: Salina, who married Henry Staines ; Susan, who married Joseph Carleton ;
Lucretia, who married Jasper Robertson ; Mary, married Morgan Michener ; and Jennie
married Henry Michener. John Youngs is a farmer, and married Oldma Slater.
Inraan, Thomas, was born in Providence, R. L, and belonged to a family of eleven
children, seven sons and four daughters. His father and six brothers served in the war
of the Revolution; he offered his services but was not accepted, being too young. He
married Amy Ellis, of that town; they soon moved to Windham county. Conn., living
there till 1801; then changing his residence to Newport, Herkimer county, and re-
mained several years. He came to Farmington, Ontario county, thence to Murray, Or-
leans county, in March, 1821. He died in Clarendon, aged 90 years and one month.
His family con^sted of a daughter and three sons. Earl, the oldest, was married to
Huldah Sanders, a sister of Charles W. Sanders, the author ; and died in Murray at the
ao^e of thirty-five years, leaving a wife, two sons and one daughter. His oldest son,
Darius, is a Baptist minister. Thomas E., the youngest son of Thomas Inman, was a
Baptist minister at the age of twenty years and preached in the town of Carlton for
awhile, then located at Canton, Ohio, where he was pastor for several years. In 1855,
with his family, he removed to St. Cloud, Minn., preaching there and in that vicinity
until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he was chosen chaplain of the
1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers and served one year. He then received a captain's
commission and served two years in the 4th Minnesota Infantry. At the close of the
war he returned to St. Cloud and resumed his pastoral duties. His son, John B., a lad
of fourteen, enlisted in the army as a drummer. At the close of the war he led the re-
maining remnant of his regiment as they marched into St. Paul. Philip Inman, son of
Thomas and Amy (Ellis) Inman, was born in Killingly, Windham county, Conn., July
4, 1800. At the age of twenty he came with his father's family to the town of Mur-
ray. September 5, 1824, he married Anna Thompson, a native of Wells, Rutland
county, Vt,, with whom he lived nearly fifty years and had seven children. Previous
to coming to Orleans county with her parents she had taught two terms of school in
Vermont and one term in Nunda, N. Y. One day while rinsing clothes at a spring
near their house in Murray she heard a noise in a tree near by, and looking above her
saw a young bear on one of the branches of the tree. She died in Clarendon August
10, 1874. Soon after their marriage he purchased fifty acres in West Clarendon and
lived on that and an adjoining 110 acres, which he afterward purchased, for several
years. He then bought a farm one-half mile west of Clarendon village, on which he lived
till the time of his death January 6, 1887. He actively engaged in changing the forest
220 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY,
into productive fields of grain, and bore his part of the burden in the improvcnnents of
liis time. He was a member of the Baptist Church fifty-five years. Life to him was
not a burden, but he seemed as anxious to live on as though in the vigor of youth. Fol-
lowing are the names of their seven children: Melissa A., who died aged one year;
Mary Ann, wlio married at the age of eighteen Jerit W. Hopkins, and died when nine-
teen, leavmg one son, who died aged three years ; Orrilla received a certificate for
teaching when thirteen years old and taught her first term at the age of fourteen in
Carlton, afterward taught in Clarendon and Barre, and later taught several terms at
Muscatine, Iowa, and St. Cloud, Minn. She received her education at the district
schools and Fairfield Seminary, and now resides in Clarendon ; Philip Clark, who died
in infancy ; Emelme L., died aged five years; Darwin M. received a certificate to teach
school when fourteen years of age. He taught several terms in Clarendon, Barre and
Carkon. He received his education at the district schools, Albion Academy, and grad-
uated at Rochester University. In 1874 he married Adele Lewis, of Columbus.jWis.,
and removed to Vermillion, Dak., where he has since resided. He has three times been
elected to the Territorial Legislature and once elected to the State Legislature of South
Dakota. He is now president of the First National Bank of Vermillion. William H.,
now a resident of Clarendon, taught two terms of school in Barre, has twice been
elected supervisor of Clarendon, and is a farmer by occupation.
O'Brien, Timothy, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to Orleans
county, in 1847, settling at Medina, where for a few years he was employed in the
quarries of John Ryan. He then began business for himself, operating quarries at
Medina, Shelby and Brockville. In 1881 he removed to HoUey and purchased a quarry
of the late Luther D. Hurd, which has since been carried on by Mr. O'Brien and his
sons. In politics he was a Democrat, was trustee of Medina several years during his
residence there, was also trustee of Holley and for one one year was president of the
village. He was also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Holley. He married
in 1853, Mary Lahey, and they have had seven children: Mary, William, Richard G.,
Margaret, Anna, Thomas and James P., all now living except Thomas and James. The
latter was for several years a student at Niagara University and later at Albany Law
School where he received his diploma and was admitted to the bar in 1890. He was
greatly esteemed, and his loss deeply felt by a wide circle of friends. He was appointed
postmaster of Holley, N. Y. in March, 1894, and his appointment was confirmed August
8th. He died at Holley August 9, 1894. William O'Brien married Charlotte Bodkin,
of Holley, in 1890. He was trustee of Holley four years, is a member of the C. M. B.
A., Branch 75 of Holley since its organization, was representative to the Grand Council
held at Auburn in 1888, and was also representative in 1890 at Binghamton. Richard
O'Brien married Ellen Ryan, of Medina, N. Y., in 1884. He is member of the C. M.
B. A. also, and was representative at the Grand Council held in Rochester in 1892.
Timothy O'Brien died November, 1887. Since his death the business has been carried
on by his sons.
Hakes, John S., traces his ancestry back to Solomon, who was probably born in Eng-
land. John is the sixth generation, and his grandfather, Perez, was born in 1777 in
Stonington, Conn., where the first of the family were found, and died at Pitcher, Che-
nango county, in 1822. Col. Perez, father of John, was born April 11, 1806, in Che-
nango county and is still living and resides at Albion. His wife was Lucy Ann
Baldwin, born in Stonington, Conn., September 15, 1809, and died in Gaines in 1879.
Their children areas follows: Perez H., jr., born May 28, 1828; Elisha B., born April
2, 1830; Rufus B., born May 14, 1832; Lucinda B., born September 24, 1834; John
S., born November 30, 183G; Lucy A., born April 12, 1841, and died October 1, 1843;
Altania, born June 22, 1844; Deborah, born March 3, 1847; Mary E., born May 14,
1849; Willi.am B., born January 27, 1852, and died October 18, 1890, in Murray. John
S. Hakes was educated in the common school at Pitcher after which he attended the
FAMILY SKETCHES. 221
at Cincinnatus for about eight years, and since then has engaged in farming.
He and his family are members of the Baptist Church of Albion. At Lisle April 20,
1869, Mr. Hakes married Mary A. Wheeler, who was born in Solon May 10, 1838.
Her father, Lyman Wheeler, was a colonel in the militia, born in Solon November 20.
1899, and died in 1858. Mrs. Hakes' mother was Mary Murcli, born m New Hampshire
and died at Cincinnatus in 1876, aged seventy-four. John S. and Mary Hakes, have
resided continuously in Gaines since their marriage. They have three sons : Milford
L., born ^larch 25, 1872, and now a student af, Colgate Academy; Louis A., born April
16, 1874; Carl P., born October 21, 1877 ; and a daughter, Mamie S.. born in 1883.
Henry Sears, who for more than half a century was identified with the best business
and social interests of Albion, was a native of old historic Bennmgton county, Vt. He
was born November 8, 1810, and was the son of Ira Sears, the latter one of Vermont's
most reputed early sons. In a family of ten children, Henry Sears, was the last surviv-
ing son. In 1826 he left Bennington county and went to Broadalbin, Fulton county,
N. Y., where he learned carriage making in all its branches, and where he continued to
reside until 1840, when he came to Albion. In Broadalbin, Mr. Sears united with the
Presbyterian Church and was a prominent member of that society. Removing to
Albion in 1840, he erected the building on Main street, in which he has ever smce car-
ried on the carriage business. Probably no one who has ever lived in Albion has
remained in one business for a longer continuous time than Mr. Sears, and his wagons
and carriages have an extensive sale in Western New York. Honest and upright in
his dealings he has been an honor to our village. Alive to all its interests he was
repeatedly elected to the office of trustee, and for several terms was president of the
village. In politics he was an old time Whig, afterwards a zealous Republican. A
descendant of the Pilgrims, he was a Puritan in the best sense of the word. Inheriting
the noble physique and strong character of his Cushman ancestry, he possessed in addi-
tion a peculiarly winning and sunshiny nature that endeared him to all with whom he
came in contact. Soon after coming to Albion he with Mrs. Sears united with the First
Presbyterian church of Albion, and he served many terms as trustee of the society.
He was elected ruling elder of this church March 6, 1853. During the forty years he
held the office he was associated with twenty- five different brethren in the session, of
whom seven have removed from the place or retired from office, and eleven have died.
Almost the entire present membership of the church were received during his term of
office. No wonder that he was called " Father Sears." During the later years he had
been laid aside from active duties by infirmities of body, yet his thoughts were of the
cause and the church he loved. Beloved and respected by all, his counsel was especially
sought by the session of which he was for many years the central figure. Positive and
tenacious, yet quiet in manner, he could stand alone in a matter of conscience. He was
often selected to represent the church in Presbytery and Synod, and has represented
the Presbytery in general assembly. In Fulton county, September 20, 1832, Henry
Sears married Harriet Alvord and to them the following children were born : Alpheus
H.. Sarah H., (died in 1854), William Alvord, and Anna Emmons. Henry Sears died
February 18, 1893, and his wife June 28, 1882. Alpheus H. Sears married (August 25,
1880) Laura McEwen, of Broadalbin. They have one child. Henry Paul Sears. After
the death of Mr. Sears, the carriage factory, which had been carried on by him so many
years in Albion, was transferred to his .sons, Alpheus H. and William Sears, and by
them the business is still conducted. In fact they were brought up in the business and
were associated with their father previous to his death.
Brockway, Isaac W. was born February 28, 1834, and is a son of Nathan, whose
father, Joseph Brockway, came from New Hampshire about 1816 and settled in the
town of Murray, south of Hindsburg, and engaged in farming and blacksmithing.
Joseph Brockway married Chloe Blanchard and to them were born these children :
Chloe, born March 1, 1787 ; Isaac, born July 19, 1799, married Esther Thayer, and
'222 . LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
died November 25, 1833 ; Rosepha, born November 23, 1801, died May 2, 1825 ; Roxey,
born March 30, 1803, married Herbert Blanchard ; and Nathan, born March 16, 1806.
Joseph Brockway died February 20, T840, and his wife February 17, 1820. Nathan
Brockway settled west of Hulburton, and engaged in farming and the blacksmith busi-
ness. He married Rachael Thayer, daughter of Artiraus Thayer of Murray, and their
children were: Rhodemia M. and Rosepha S. (twins) born February 20 1832, Rhodemia
died, July 26. 1833 ; Isaac W., born in 1834 ; Rhodemia A., born February 22, 1836
and died August 21, 1859 ; Elenora, born January H, 1838 and died May 13,1841;
Malvina M., born February 10, 1841 and died February 11, 1858; Artimus, born Feb-
ruary 5, 1843, and died March 21, 1844; Washington T., born July 20, 1845, and died
August 15, 1845 ; 1845; Charles N., born April 1, 1847. Rosepha S. married John
Moore, and Charles N. married Emma Bird and resides at Hulburton. Nathan Brock-
way died November 24, 1866. Isaac W. Brockway from 1857 to 1865 was engaged on
public works on the canal, and in 1865 he purchased a boat and was engaged in boating
on the canal until 1879. In the latter year he went into the coal business at Hulbur-
ton and has continued it since. March 15, 1864, Mr. Brockway married Marion C.
Peggs, and their children are: Anna C, born February 11, 1865, and died August 14,
1865; Mabel A., born January 2, 1869; Fred W., born June 27, 1872; Archie N..
born December 28, 1873. Mrs. Brockway died January 10, 1878, and March 30, 1879,
Mr. Brockway married Emma L. Hooker, and they have one child, Edwin H. Fred
W. Brockway married Melissa Owen August 20, 1892.
Brennan. Lawrence, was born in Ireland in 1832, and came to America in 1854. He
landed in Lockport, went to Niagara Falls, and worked on the old Suspension Bridge.
He came to Medina in 1854 and learned the blacksmithing trade which he has success-
fully carried on a business in this line adding to it the carriage making and he has also
accommodations for 100 horses. These stalls are in the basement of the three story
brick building devoted to his extensive business. In 1856 he married Miss Catherine
Degnan. They had ten children. Three are living: John D., the present postmaster;
Mary, an accomplished pianist, and Emma. His first wife died in 1870 and in 1872 he
married Miss Margaret Hanlon, who had been a successful teacher for several years in
our public schools. Mr. Brennan has also been trustee of the village for several terms.
Burke, Thomas A., was born in Albany December 15, 1839, and graduated from the
Albany Academy. He was assistant reporter for the Associated Press three years, and
then in company with A. C. Davis, the then attorney-general of Kansas, he went to
Kansas and resided for some time in the then young village of Wyandotte, Kansas. At
the outbreak of the rebellion he was in St. Louis, Mo., and was connected with the
press there for several years. He returned east and from 1865, until 1868, acted as
special traveling agent for the National Insurance Co. of New York. In 1868 he set-
tled in Medina. After a short period in the boot and shoe business, he bought stock in
the Bignall Mfg. Co., of which he was president and manager thirteen years. In Jan-
uary, 1890, he resigned on account of ill health, and spent two and a half years travel-
ing in Europe. On his return to Medina he opened a broker's office, to which he now
devotes most of his time. Mr. Burke married Adelaide Freeman December 25, 1867,
and they have five children, Thomas A. jr., Lillian F., Lena May, Maude H. and,
Addie L.
Montrose, Mrs. Louisa M., was born on Staten Island, March 25, 1821. Her father
George Brown, was born in London, England, August 30, 1788, and died in Barre in
1838. He married Lucy Hebarts, also born in London, who died in Toledo, 0. Their
children were as follov/s : George, Charles R., William 0., John H., Samuel H., Alfred,
Mary Ann, Louisa M., Emma. Of these, Louisa M., our subject, married Abraham A.
Montrose March 8, 1843. He was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county, January 30,
1800 and came to West Gaines April 28, 1836, where he lived until his death, October
FAMILY SKETCHES. 223
20, 1852. He belonged to the Masonic order. Thecliildien of our subject are ; Crome-
line D., born in Gaines July 29,1845; Mary L., born February 25, 1847; Lucy 11.,
born June 26, 1851. Cromeline D. marrried Helen Clark, and resides in Detroit, Mich.
Lucy H. married Pratt Howes, and they have two children, Jennie B. and John. Our
subject came to Orleans county with her father at the age of seventeen. She is a mem-
ber of the Episcopal Church at Albion.
Tuthill, William, was born at Newbury, N. Y., in 1796 and on reachmg his ma-
jority went to Michigan, where he remamed until 1834. He then settled in Orleans
county and purchased of Thomas Plews a farm of 350 acres in the town of Gaines. He
was a strong Democrat and one of the leading farmers in that town. In 1858 his build-
ings were destroyed by fire and he Avas a heavy loser. He then sold out and pur-
chased a farm in Murray. He married January 12, 1826, E'izabeth Paul, of Rutland,
Vt., a very estimable lady, and their children were: William, jr., Elizabeth, Eliza A.,
Deborah A. (twins), and Daniel, all of whom are living except Eliza and Deborah.
William, jr., settled at Binghamton, and married Helen Coswell, of Albion ; Daniel lives
in Murray, and married Jennette Davidson, of Indiana. Elizabeth has been a teacher
in the public schools of Buft'alo, and was afterward a teacher at Joliet, III, has also filled
other important positions as teacher, numbering in all about twenty five years in the
service, and now lives in the homestead with her brother William. William Tuthill. sr.,
died in Murray January 17, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Hill, A. L., was born in Saratoga county March 7, 1833, and came to Ridgeway with
his parents in 1838. In 1882 he married Sabra Russell, and they have three children :
Edward E., Catharine B., and Harvey. Mr. Hill's father was Ephraim Hill, of Sarato-
ga, and his mother was Amanda Smith, of Galway, his grandfather was Aaron Hill,
born in 1755, who was in the Revolutionary war. Our subject is an active member of
the Baptist Church, and long-time member of the Knowlesville Union School Board ;
and is also active in reform movements of the day.
Leonard, Jefferson F., was born in Gaines January 26, 1844. His grandfather was
Ephraim, sr., who was born in Rome, where he died about 1815. His son, Ephraim, jr.,
Avas born in Lansingburg December 24, 1794, and died in Albion, N. Y., December 30,
1868. December 17, 1823, he married Mercy Wickham, born in Ontario, Can., June
25, 1801, and died November 2, 1882. Their children were: Isaac M., born September
4, 1824, married Susan A. Upson, has three children, and resides in Texas; Susan, born
February 5, 1826; Ephraim C, born January 24, 1828, married Betsey J. Lewis; John
H., born December 15, 1829, married Anna Iden November 15, 1865, and has three
children; Phoebe, born December 18, 1831, married Richard Ferris, and resides in
Gaines, they have two children, Lucy, born February 28, 1837, died March 30, 1891,
she married Chauncey Bullard ; Mercy W., born February 21, 1840, died November 5,
1849, and Jefferson F., our subject, who was educated in the common schools and Albion
Academy. He has followed general farming and fruit growing.
McNab Rev. William J., was born in New York, February 18, 1844. He received
his classical education at St. Francis Xavier College (Jesuit) in New York and his the-
ological education in Montreal and Niagara University. He was ordained a priest Jan-
uary 20, 1867. He then took the position of first assistant in the Cathedral at Buffalo
and was subsequpntly pastor at Java Center. He then became secretary to Bishop
Ryan and with the Bishop went to Rome to the Vatican council held in 1869. He re-
mained in Rome till May, 1870, when he returned to America and was appointed pas-
tor at Hornellsville, N. Y., where he remained until August, 1873, when he came to
Medina where he has since officiated. During his incumbency the Catholic church in
Medina has prospered greatly, and now embraces about 350 families, numbering 1400
souls. Of these seventy families are Poles. The cemetery has been beautified and the
parochial residence built by Father McNab. The residence was built under his own
224 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
supervision and was completed in 1887. Father McNab is a member of the Board of
Education of Medma and has been since 1884, when all the schools came under the
management of tiie Board, and are, it is pleasing to record, all working harmoniously
and without any sacrifice of principle on either side. Father McNab is a genial,
attractive man, very popular with the public and much beloved by his people.
Bartlett, Charles William, is grandson of James Bartlett of Vermont, his maternal
grandfather having been David Bullard, born in Vermont, who was a soldier of the
Revolution, going into the army when very young as a musician and afterward carried
a musket. The father of Charles was James Bartlett, born in Oneida county, and his
mother was Olive Bullard, born in Vermont and died in 1850, at Gaines, aged fifty
years. The children of James and Olive Bartlett were born in Oneida county from
whence they moved to this town, on the first canal boat making the trip to Buffalo,
and they settled in a log house near the five corners three-quarters of a mile north of
Albion. Their children were: James, born December 24, 1825, married Sarah Chap-
man and by her had four children (William, Nellie, Olive and George) ; Amanda, born
in February, 1826, and married Charles Coney and they had two children (Delphine and
Emogene) ; Charles W., born February 28, 1828. Charles W. Bartlett was educated in
the common schools of Gaines, after which he learned the mason's trade and followed
that busine.ss for fifteen years. He then purchased a farm in Murray which he still
owns. Octobers, 1853, he married Lncy A. Warren, daughter of Aaron Warren. Lucy
was born in Murray March 24, 1834. The children of Charles W. and Lucy Bartlett
are as follows: Charles H., born in Carlton May 10, 1855 ; Frank, born in Murray June
10, 1858, married Irene McClew, reside at Kendall, and have two children (Lena and
Mildredge) ; Olive, born in Murray March 12, 1861, married Norman B. Pike, and have
one child (Anna Maude) ; Fred, born in Murray June 21, 1867, who is a boat engineer
between New York and Philadelphia.
Breed, Charles H., was born in the town of Barre July 19, 1836, and has been en-
gaged in farming all his life. Latterly he has given most of his attention to his brok-
ing business. He married Sena Barry of Yates, and they have three children Carl
Breed, Mrs. Irving L'Hommedieu and Mrs. Thomas H. Agnew. Mr. Breed's father
was William Breed, one of the early settlers in Barre, and his mother Sophia (Hedger)
Breed.
Miles, Edmond B., is the grandson of Anthony and the son of Anthony, jr., who was
born in Suffolk, England, in 1784, and died June 6, 1883, aged ninety-nine years. His
wife was Jane Brown, daughter of Elijah Brown, who was the first actual settler of
Orleans county, settling near Two Bridges, town of Carlton, in 1804. and was the
father of thirteen children. Mr. Edmond B. Miles traces his genealogy on his mother's
side (the Brown family) back to the fourteenth century, he being the thirteenth gener-
ation. He has in his po.ssession the portraits of eight English nobles, representing
eight generations of Sheffields, the maiden name of his grandmother. The mother of
Edmond Miles was Jane Brown, the youngest of the family. The children of An-
thony and Jane (Brown) Miles were as follows: Sarah, Edwin, Mary Ann, Edmond B.,
Cynthia, and Victoria. Edmond B. Miles was born in Carlton September 29, 1835, and
was educated in the common schools of Carlton and the Kendall Union School. At
the age of seventeen he learned the painter's trade, and has followed that business prin-
cipally up to the present time. Mr. Miles has always been a Republican and has held
the office of inspector of elections. He is a member of the I. 0. 6. T. of Lodge No.
374, of Kuekville. November 21, 1866, he married Addie E. Greeley, born in Carlton
in 1843. The children of this marriage were: Georgiana, born in Yates February 25,
1870, and died November 25, 1870, and Georee A., born in Carlton December 20, 1876.
Miles, Henry 0., is the grandson of Anthony Miles, who was born and died in En-
gland, and a son of Anthony, jr., born in Suffolk, England, August 11, 1784, who came
FAMILY SKETCHES. 225
to America at the age of twenty-one. He married first, in Enirlancl. Rebecca Benja-
min, who died in Carlton January 2, 1825, aged thirty-.'^even. i3y her he had the fol-
lowing children : Mary A., Grace, Henry 0., Triscilla, Edmund. Mrs. Miles died and
he married a Miss Jane Brown, by whom he had these children : Sarah J., Edwin W..
Mary A., Col. Edmund B., Cynthia C, Victoria J. At the end of eleven years the sec-
ond wife died, and Mr. Miles married third Martha Jones. He died June 6, 1883, aged
nearly 100 years. Henry O. was born October 31, 1811, has followed farming, and has
served as commissioner of highways and school in.spector of Carlton. He was a lieu-
tenant in the State militia. In 1836 he married, at Palmvra, Hannah Clark, born Feb-
ruary 14, 1812, who died January 18, 1892. They had" three children: Harlan P.,
born September 30, 1837, who married first Marietta Greeley, and second Elsenia Bragg,
and has one son, Howard C. ; Willard Ward, born October 23, 1843, who married
Sarah E. Wilson, and has four children: Henry W., Clark, Almina L., and Sanford ;
Sarah K., born December 15, 1854, who married Truman Ackerman.
Forbes, Dr. Gilbert, was born in the city of New York in 1773. In his youth he
studied medicine and passed seven years of his life in active service as a marine surgeon.
He then married Mary Acker Croton, of New York, and engaged in the practice of his
profession at Tarrytovvn, N. Y. In 18.)5 he abandoned practice and removed to Ken-
dall, locating about two and one- half miles northwest from Kendall village, where he
followed farming during the rest of his life. He died in 1862 ; his wife died in 1868.
They reared to adult age nine children.
Pratt, B. J., was born in Hartland, Niagara county, October 9, 1862. He has resid-
ed in Ridgeway for seven years, and has been engaged in the mercantile business since
April, 1891, conducting a wholesale and jobbing business in flours and feeds, Minnesota
and Dakota products and manufactures a specialty, also a retail general merchandise
store at Ridgeway. He was appointed postmaster of Ridgeway in April, 1892. In
1886 he married Flora Welcher, of Hartland His father was W. L. Pratt, and his
mother Leanette (Jennings) Pratt. Mr Pratt is also a notary public. His ancestors
came from Connecticut.
Goodwin, Frank E., was born in the town of Ridgeway, Orleans county, N. Y., July
1, 1853. He is son of Elias M. Goodwin, who came to this town in 1840. Frank is
next to the youngest of a family of six boys, Ossian D., of the town of Yates; Egbert
B., a private in the late civil war, now deceased ; Elbert C, deceased ; George S., who
died in 1871, was a member of the junior class of Rochester University at the time of
his death, and Charles W., now an engineer of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Mr. G.
spent several terms of school in Medina and Lockport, but completed his education at
the Rochester Free Academy. Mr. G. has followed farming and teaching until the last
few years he has been engaged in cyclopaedia work.
Baker, John H., was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, and is a descendant
from Clark Baker of Rhode Island. The father of our subject was John, born in
Petersburg, N. Y., who died in 1839, aged sixty-four years. He married Rebecca
Bristol of Sand Lake, a Methodist minister of some note. She died in Carlton in 1854.
aged .sixty-four years. After the death of her husband she moved in 1840, to Carlton
with her six children and settled on the farm just north of where John H. now lives.
The children were Edward C, who married Eliza Warner of Albion, and died in 1890.
Sarah M. who married Samuel H. Wood, of Sand Lake, and died in 1887. Mar-
garet A., who married Lewis Warner of Albion and died in 1874. Inson, who mar-
ried Orin Holman and died in 1874, and Elizabeth, who died in 1852. John H. was
educated in the public schools of Sand Lake and Carlton, until about twenty years of
age, when he began working land on shares and subsequently bought a log house, and
two acres of land, later purchasing 45 acres where Carlton Station now stands, sold
this and bought 100 acres, sold again, and in 1855 bought 150 acres, where he now re-
226 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
sides. Mr. Baker has filled various town offices with credit, is a member of the I. 0.
G. T., Fair Haven Lodge, No. 984. In 1852 he married at Albion Hannah Ette Lake,
born in Portland, N. Y., daughter of Nicholas Lake, who died in Albion in 1854. Mr.
and Mrs. Baker have had four children : Edward W., who married Kate McCullough,
of Lima, Ohio, where he now resides. Harriet J., who married Myron E. Eggleston ;
Ross M. who married Harry B. Lattin, and John L. who is now in business in Chicago.
Moore, Charles Henry, was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, N.Y., September 5,
1818, was the son of Dr. Henry B. and Nancy (Ewers) Moore. At an early age he
left home to live witli his grandfather, Elihu Ewers, a prominent contractor of public
works. He began his business life with his grandfather, on the Genesee Valley Canal,
Home to Albion in 1843, and for a short time, with his brother-in-law, Charles A.
Harrington, was engaged in a mercantile business, but soon resumed his former occupa-
tion with public works, and with such enterprise was afterward identified during a
long and successful business career. He built the Central railroad through Orleans
county, a part of the Great Western of Canada, and many others, in several of which
he associated with John B. Lee and Orson Tousley, also of Albion. He also twice
widened the Erie Canal through the county. Li 1859 he, with George M.Pullman,
who had been associated with him in moving buildings necessary to widening the canal,
went to Chicago, where for some time they were engaged in the raising of the city,
much of the work being the raising of entire blocks of brick dwellings. In 1862 they
engaged in extensive mining operations in Colorado, in which he was interested for
many years. He had been is no active business for some twenty-five years before
his death, which occurred in Albion August 4, 1893. Mr. Moore in former years held
many village offices; was one of the founders of the Albion Union School, and from
its foundation to his death one of the Board of Education. He was over thirty years a
commissioner of Mt. Albion Cerretery, in which work he took intense interest and pride ;
and to his unceasing work we are indebted for the buildings and the buying and laying
out of the larger part of the grounds. For many years he was .secretary and treas-
urer of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, which offices
he still held at the time of his death. He was a man of the soundest judgment and of
unusual business ability. He was a conservative Democrat and a regular attendant and
supporter of the Episcopal church. In 1841 he married Miss Marcia Harrington,
daughter of Micah Harrington, by whom he he had two children : Julia Louise, who
married Lorenzo Burrows, jr., October 11, 1864; and Alice Kidder, who died in 1842.
Lorenzo Burrows and wife have had four children : Charles Moore, a physician of
Chicago; Lorenzo, jr., a physician of Saginaw, Mich.; Henry Lord, who died at the age
of four; and Lynn Moore.
Florey, James, was born in England in 1844, and came to America when twenty-
one years of age. He settled in Medina, where he has since resided. He first engaged
in farming, but twenty years ago started his green-house and floral business, in which
he has been very successful. He invariably carries off prizes at the shows, and has a
lary;e patronage in Buffalo and Rochester. In 1874 he married Esther Hagarman. Her
ancestors were of Dutch descent and were old settlers in Orleans count3^ Mr. Florey
is an enterprising and successful man, and his splendid green-houses are among the best
features of Medina.
Bowen, Samuel C, was born in the town of Yates, March 27, 1828. Fle grew up
on a farm and after a three years clerkship started a general store in Lyndonville m
1854. He came to Medina and after three years in the dry goods business embarked
in the produce trade, and has been engaged in it ever since. His fine stone warehouse
is one of the most substantial buildings in the village, and was erected in 1890. Mr.
Bowen has been trustee of the village, police justice, collector, town supervisor and
county treasurer, and held a seat on the School Board. He married Catherine Jackson
FAMILY SKETCHES. 227
December 30, 1852, and they have three children Hving: Wilbur A., Lena G.,. and Mrs.
F. J. Squires. Wilbur A. has been prornuiently connected with the Y. M. C. A. He
was for eight years assistant State secretary of the order for Pennsylvania, and one
year State secretary for the order in Maine. (For ancestors of Bowen family see Jnd^e
Thomas's History.)
Page, Frank E., born in Lockport Anousi 23, 1871, son of Frank J. Page, a respected
farmer. The son was educated in the Lockport schools, worked on his father's farm
until he was nineteen years old, when he came to Medina and learned the moulder's
trade with A. L. Swet'. From 1891 to 1893 he was with S. A Cook, wholesale tobacco
and confectionery, as sliipping clerk. In 1893 he established his present machine shop,
and has made a specialty of bicycle work.
O'Grady, Bros.— This enterprising young business firm is made up of William P.
O'Grady. born in Medina April 5, 1865, and Frank M. O'Grady, born in 1867. They
are sons of Patrick and Kate O'Grady, who came to this country from Ireland about
1860 and located in Medina. Patrick O'Grady was a mason and builder, and to his
handiwork very many of the business blocks, churches, etc.. of Albion and Medina are
due to him. He was much respected by all with whom he had business relations.
William P. O'Grady received a business education in Rochester and Buffalo, and with
his brother opened, first, a liquor store, and in August, 1892, established their present
tobacco and confectionery business. They are among the enterprising and successful
business men of Medina.
Skinner, Ezra Delano, was born in Barre, July 21, 1845, one of ten children of Jarvis
M. and Mary (Delano) Skinner, pioneers of the town. The young life of the subject
was spent on his father's farm, and he was educated chiefly at the Lima Seminary: and
before his course was fully completed he taught winter school. After leaving the
seminary he taught eight years in Albion and elsewhere ; at Gaines, Millville, Waterport
and Knowlesville. For about thirteen years he was more or less engaged in business
operations, and was in a great measure entrusted with kis father's affairs, the latter
having practically retired from active work. The homestead, purchased in 1822, came
to him. and he is still its owner, although principally occupiel with an extensive produce
and coal business at Albion, in which he first became interested in 1878. February 14,
1877, he married Josephine M., daughter of Alonzo Porter, of Holley, and they have
one child, Ethel M. Mr. Skinner is an active Republican, and a member of the Albion
M. E. church, being one of its trustees and stewards.
Dietsch, William H., was born in 1860 at Newark, Wayne county, N. Y. He is a
son of Frederick Dietsch, who was a native of Germany. He married Dor'ha Heitz.
William H. came to Holley in 1884, and purchased the bakery of Walter Brockway, and
has since carried on that business. He is a member of Holley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. In
1885 he married Ella Winegard, of Holley, and they have two daughters, Viola and
Grace.
Jones, Seth. — The Jones family in Kendall traces its ancestry to one John Jones,
originally named Shon David Shon Thomas Shon Roderick, who was born in Wales
early in the eighteenth century, was a lineal descendant of that celebrated Welchman,
Roderick Dhu. Possessed of sterling patriotism and great ancestral pride he keenly felt
the humiliation of his race when Wales, through treachery and oppression, was per-
manently united to the British crown, and with characteristic loyalty to native tradi-
tions he petitioned for a legal change of name, which was granted, and ever since he
and his descendants have borne the surname of Jones. The family spring from brave,
honest ancestors, whose allegiance to their country was defended and upheld in deeds
of blood. Large in stature and strong in physique, pursuing quiet but respected call-
ings, they always evinced a strong public spirit, great intellectual development, and
'228 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
strong personality. The first to come to America was John Jones, Dolepult, a son of
John, above mentioned, who embarked with his wife and seven children on the ship
7elvedear, Captain White, and landed at Perth Amboy on June 18, 1801. He settled
at Tuckertown, N. J., where his wife died in 1803, aged thirty-seven. Then for a time
he lived in Bioomfield, N. Y., but returned, and died in Philadelphia, Pa., January 20,
1819. In religion both were Baptists. David Jones, their son, was born in Pembroke-
shire, Wales, July 17, 1702, and when eighteen came to Ontario county, where he was
bound out to a wheelwright. Not liking this he started westward, and for two years
worked near Sodus, N.Y. He served three months in the war of 1812. In the fall of
1814 he came to Kendall and the following spring settled on the farm now owned by
his son, Seth. He subsequently removed to the place now owned by D. L. Jbnes,
where he died January 26, 18G9. He was the first settler in the west part of the town.
He bought his land on time, cleared it and became wealthy. February 24, 1824, he
married Cynthia, daughter of Major-General Bascom Whitney, and their children
were : Susan Jane (died July 28, 1841), Claudius, who married Harriet Weed ; Thomas
(deceased), Almiretta S. (Mrs. C. G. Root), Seth, Cynthia Ann (Mrs. James R. Whit-
dey), Eliza (died February 5, 1835), and D. L. Mrs. Jones died October 30, 1871.
Seth Jones was born April 30, 1832, on lot 45, on which his father settled in 1815, and
which he still owns. December 6. 1860, he married Sylvia A. Shelley, of Gaines, who
was born June 26, 1835. Their children are: Eliza J., George S., who married Florence
Crowder; Fred T., who married Helen M. Balcom ; Sylvia N., and William G. Mr.
Jones now resides on lot 33. which was settled by his uncle, Ethan Graham, in 1817.
The latter died on this farm September 2, 1861. Seth Jones owns 400 acres of land in
the town of Kendall.
Ballou. Hosea M., was born in Plymouth, N. Y., January 27, 1825, and is a son of
Nahum and Ann (Phelps) Ballou, who came to Carlton in 1832 and settled in the south-
west part of the town, where the father died August 5, 1833. Mrs. Ballou afterward
married Selah B. Beardslee and died in Carlton March 11, 1866. Mr. Beardslee's death
also occurred here. The children of Nahum Ballou were Dr. Nahum E., deceased;
Hosea M. ; Caroline J. (Mrs. Henry Munn and subsequently Mrs. Levi Miller) ; and
Daniel R., deceased. Hosea M. Ballou has been a life-long resident of Carlton and has
lived on his present farm near Two Bridges since 1851. He has been constable and
collector, was for fourteen years deputy collector of customs at Oak Orchard Harbor,
and is prominently identified with the town. December 16, 1847, he married Sarah H.,
daughter of Robert M. Brown. They have four children : Ralph L., boin March 18,
1856, of Rochester; Mary H. (Mrs. R. W. Bamber, of Kendall), born November 17,
1858; George P., born June 11, 186 J, of South Prairie, Washington; and Harry G.,
born January 15, 1869, of Seattle, Washington. The family belongs to the branch of
the name of which the mother of President Garfield and the eminent divine, Rev.
Hosea Ballou, are members. Daniel R. Ballou was a captain in the Civil War.
Farwell, Eldredge, the founder of Clarendon, Orleans county, N. Y., one of ten chil-
dren of William and Bethiah Eldredge Farwell, was born in Carlton, New Hampshire,
March 6, 1870. He was fifth in descent from Henry Farwell, who came from England
early in colonial times. September 25, 1799, in Franklin county, Vermont, Eldredge
Farwell married Polly, daughter of John Richardson. Their older children were born
in New England: Susannah, January, 1801 ; William, August, 1802 ; Mary Ann, May,
1804. While migrating from New England to Western New York, March 25, 1806,
Harry was born at Half Moon, N. Y. ; George Washington, February 1, 1809, and
Eldredge Farwell, jr., February 24, 1811, were born in Clarkson, Monroe county, N.Y.
March, 1811, the family left "The Ridge" for their new home in the woods, mother
and baby making the journey on horseback. Here, Elisha (the first boy born in what
is now the village of Clarendon), was born October 1, 1814, and Horace, August 11,
1816. In 1821 the brave wife and mother, aged thirty-nine, was laid to rest. The
FAMILY SKETCHES. 229
brown stone with its quaint inscription still marks her s^rave in the cemetery west of
the viilao;e. Mrs. Submit Andrus, a daughter of Judge Lee, of Barre, became the wife
of Mr. Farwell, and the faithful mother of his children ; as " Aunt Mitty," she was
pleasantly known throughout the country. She died at the home of her only child,
Mrs. Caroline Andrus Kirby. She was buried in Clarendon. Judge Eldredge Farwell
died October, 1843. Of his children only William did not marry; he died in 1838.
Mary Ann also died early. She was the wife of Amos Glidden, and she left a daughter,
who died young. Susannah lived in Clarendon until after the death of her husband, Remick
Knowles, in 1854. She died in the West. Her children were : Setli, who had a daughter ;
Polly, who married Mortmier Tanner, and had one son, Samuel ; Lucy, who married Delos
Piatt, and had cliildren, Harriette and Theron ; Eldredge and Albert were unmarried.
Harry Farwell married Hannah Glidden and removed from Clarendon to the town of Yates,
there he died. His children were: Sarah, who married Homer Gould, and had a
daughter and granddaughter; Fidelia, who married Miner Cartwright and had one
daughter. Henry, now living in Dowagiac, Micnigan, was a soldier in the late Civil
War. He has two sons. George Washington Farwell married Betsev Merriman. In
1858 he removed from Clarendon to North Chili, N.Y., where he died in 1892. His chil-
dren are Frances, who married Robert Caswell, and had Ida Caswell, Peckham, Will
and George; and George Selwyn Farwell. who served in the army. He married and
had one daughter. His home is in North Chili, New York. Eldredge Farwell, jr.,
married Laura M. Baldwin. Their six children are: Laura Ellen, who married Thomas
K. Young, who has a son, Thomas Farwell ; Gertrude, who is a physician ; Fowler B..
whose son is Fred ; Susan, who married Robert Milliman, and has Florence, Gertrude,
and Layton Farwell; Florence, who married Rev. Henry C. Milliman, and is the
mother of Charles Farwell. Horace Eldredge, whose children are, Laura, Marion,
Louise and Horace Eldredge, jr. Eldredge Farwell, jr., removed from Clarendon to
Holley. N. Y., October 1, 1852. He died November 15. 1863, aged fifty-two. Elisha
Farwell married Sarah Ann Goddard. Their children, Eldredge Lee and Clara, died
unmarried. Elisha is the only person bearing the name of Farwell in the whole town
of Clarendon. He was eighty years old October 1, 1894. Horace, the eighth and
youngest child of Eldredge and Polly Farwell, niarried Frances Wood of Hulberton.
He died in 1856 on his fortieth birthday, leaving three motherless children, Theresa,
Ella and Juliette, all of whom married and have children. ''The Pioneer History of
the Phelps and Gorham' Purchase " mentions Eldredge Farwell as buying land on '' The
Triangle " in 1808. His brothers, John and Isaac, lived on " The Ridge ' farther west,
in what is now Murray. Clarendon village is built on land formerly owned by Judge
Farwell. Here he built mills, gave land for the first school house. He was the first
supervisor, postmaster, librarian, and on the first bench of county judge.«. Of those
bearing his name at the present time are his son Elisha and his daughter in law, Mrs.
Eldredge Farwell, jr., his grandson, Henry, with his sons, his grandson, Selwyn, and
his wife, his granddaughter. Dr. Gertrude A. Farwell of Holley, and her brothers.
Fowler B. (Chinese Inspector at Niagara Falls), and his son, Fred, and Horace
Eldredge and his wife and four children, of Holley.
Farwell, Gertrude A., second daughter of the late Eldredge Farwell, jr., matriculated
at the "The Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary'" (a college second
only to Harvard in estabhshmg a four years' graded course of study), in October, 1874,
and was graduated May 27. 1878, receiving one of the two honors given her class. Be-
s'des the final examination given students by the college faculty a second is compulsory
from men ranking high in the profession. This gave her a second diploma, bearing the
names of Willard Parker. M.D., Austin Flint, sr. M.D., Alfred L. Loomis, M.D.. Stephen
Smith, M.D., Isaac E. Taylor, M.D., Charles F. Chandler, Ph.D., M.D., B. W. McCready,
M.D., E. H. Janes, M.D. During her junior year of study she received the appoint-
ment of assistant in the New York Infant Asylum, where, as resident fifteen months,
she received unlimit,ed practical instruction in obstetrics. At graduation she was made
230 LANDMARKS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
interne at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, accessory to this year's
work. She spent three months on the continent visiting hospitals in Paris, Vienna,
Zurich, Geneva, Dresden, Munich. Hamburg, on her return to America she was urged
to accept a position in the State Hospital, Pontiac, Mich., with the promise that a good
salary would soon be increased, but declined in favor of general practice in which she
was established in New York city January, 1880, where she was instructor to the chair
of practice, Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary (her cousin, the late
E. Darwin Hudson, professor), assistant to practice clinic, conducted a children's clinic
five days in the week at the same institution, visiting physician to the I. T. H. Home,
and in 1882, when the New York Post Grad:;ate Medical School and Hospital selected
its faculty, was made assistant clinician to tl e department of pediatrics. The opening
of this pioneer school gave opportunity for three years of post graduate study. She
retained all of these positions until October, 1885, when she temporarily went to Hol-
ley. Here she had a large clientelage, expecting each year to return to New York ; she
however, remained until September, 1890, when being proffered the professorship of
physiology and hygiene and resident physician at Vassar College. Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
she accepted the same, filling the chair until September, 1892, when she returned to
HoUey, where she has a large practice. During the winters of 1880-81, 1881-82,
1882-83, 1883-84, 1884-85, she gave courses of lectures before the Y. M. C. A. and
other organizations. She is a member of the New York County Medical Society.
Stafford, W. P. L., was born near Deansville. N. Y., June 20, 1856. His father,
David P. Stafford, was a prominent farmer and bop grower there. He attended the
Deansville Academy and Clinton Grammar School, and later entered Whitestown
Seminary, where he was graduated with high honors in 1872. That year he went to
Hamilton College and was graduated on his twentieth birthday in the class of '70.
Freshman year Mr. Stafford took an essay prize ; sophomore year a declamation prize ;
junior year a classical prize; and senior year the Kellog prize of fifty dollars for best
written and delivered oration commencement day. He was appointed one of the prize
debaters, and was salutatorian of his class. The two years subsequent to his graduation
he was teacher of Latin, Greek and Elocution in the Union School and Academy at
Westfield, N. Y. In 1877 the degree of A.M. was conferred on him by Hamilton Col-
lege. While teaching at Westfield he spent his evenings in the study of tlie law, and
was admitted to the bar upon passing the examination at the Hamilton College Law
School in 1878. He thereupon removed to Rochester, and entered as a clerk the law
office the distinguished lawyers, Selden, Bacon and Macomber. In the fall he was
induced to accept the position of assistant principal in the Albion Union Free School,
where he remained two years. In October, 1880, at Albion, he formed a law partner-
ship with Hon. E. R. Reynolds. The following year he formed a new partnership with
D. F. Currie and C. J. Church. For several years he has practiced his profession alone.
In 1881 he married Miss Clara F. Proctor, only child of John N. Proctor. In 1886 he
was elected District Attorney of Orleans County, which office he held six years, being
re-elected in 1889. As district attorney he prosecuted an unusual number of important
cases. That of the People vs. Wilson for wife murder attracted wide attention. This
was the only instance in the history of the county where the death penalty wa'-- finally
inflicted. In 1889 he was a member of the Republican State Committee, and one of the
committee on credentials. In 1891 he was delegate to the Republican State League
Convention, and the next year to the Republican National League Convention. In
1893 he was chairman of the Orleans County delegation in the Republican State Con-
vention. Mr. Stafford is a member of the Masonic order, and of the A. 0. U. W., in
the last of which he has occupied all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and been a
representative in the Grand Lodge, and has acted as its attorney. He takes an aclive
interest in political affairs and rarely inissc'* a State convention. In February, 1893, while
on a visit to the Pacific coast with his wife and little daughter Frances, he met with the
sudden death of the child, who was in her seventh year. A son, Newton Proctor, died
several years before at the age of two years.
INDEXES.
PART I.
Accident, terrible, at Albion, 6!)
Acts of the Legislature, early, od
Albion Academj', 189 et seq.
boundaries of, 217
early settlers in, 230 et seq.
Elrctric Light Company, 270
Free Lance, the, 149
Gaslight Company, 269
Historical Conversation Club, 272
Historical Society, 271
Holland Land Company's sales in,
218 et seq.
libraries, 208
Library Association, 271
Literary Association, 209
newspapers of, 146
statistics of, 250
town otficersof, first, 217
Union Free School, 201 et seq.
village, 251 et seq.
banks of, 275
boards of trustees and presidents
of, 265
business interests of, 276 et seq.
chronological record of, 256
churches of, 279
fire department of, 268
incorporation of, 255
in 1836, 256
Ladies Union Charitable Society
of, 274
volunteers from, in war of the Rebel-
hon, 248
Water Works Company, 269
Anderson, Robert, 132
Ancient fortification, 27
Attorneys, list of present. 111
Babbitt, WiUiam J., 119
Balcom's Mills, 407
Bank, Coann's, 276
Exchange, of HoUey, 401
Medina National, 358 v
Bank, Orleans County National, 275
Union, of Medina, 357
Bar Association, 111
Barre Center, 504
churches of, 506 et seq.
Holland Land Company's sales in,
464 et seq.
location and boundaries of, 462
peat and petroleum in, 502
pioneers of, 485 et seq.
statistics of, 501
supervisors of, 468
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 500
Battery, the Seventeenth Independent, 82
Beach, Lafayette L., 148
Beech, Jesse, Dr., 134
John H., Dr., 135
Bessac, Benjamin I^., 117
Bidwell Bean Thresher, 365
Bignall Manufacturing Company, 362
Blood, Hervev, Dr., 137
Bowen, Abiel^ Dr., 143
Adna, 130
Elisha, Dr., 136
M. A., 151
Brockville, 408
Brown, Joseph B., Dr., 139
Robert H., 121
Bruner, Henry A. . 146
Bryant, Reuben, 120
Burroughs, Silas M., 130
Business since the war, 90
Cantine, Abraham, 131
Carlton, erection of, 623
land titles in, 624 et seq.
pioneers of, 635 et seq.
Station, 654
supervisors of, 624
the Union Company of, 640
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 650
232
INDEX.
Carl}' on, 654
Cholera and boards of health, 67
Church, Sanford E., 112
Churches of Albion, 279 et seq.
of Barre, 506 et seq.
of Carlton. 656 et seq.
of Clarendon, 585 et seq.
of Gaines, 456 et seq.
of Kendall, 681 et seq.
of Murray, 408 et seq.
of Ridgeway, 342, 367
of Shelby, 550 et seq.
of Yates, 619 et seq.
Civil list, 93
Clarendon, erection of, 556
land titles of, 558
pioneers of, 564 et seq.
statistics of, 582
supervisors of, 557
village, 583
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 581
Clinton group, the, 12
Coann, Pearl, 149
Cole, Alraeron H., 118
Counties, original, and their subdivi-
sions, 1
County clerk's and surrogate's office, 110
Line, 617
seat, location of the, 7
supervision of common schools, ' 11
Court, County, 104
house, 108, 256
of Appeals, 100
Special Sessions, 106
Supreme, 101
Surrogate's 105
Courts, evolution of the, 98
Currie, Dean F., 125
Curtis, Henry R., 114
Cushing. Thomas, Dr., 31, 141
Davis, Noah, 113
Day, Austin, 132
De Puy, James, 130
District attorneys, 107
Drainage, 17
Eagle Harbor, 250, 454
Eaman, William P., Dr., 144
Early district schools, 212 et seq.
schools, 186
East Carlton, 654
Gaines, 455
Shelby, 549
Eaton, Andrew J., Dr., 145
Eddy, A. M., 149
Orange A., 129
Empire Manufacturing Comixmy, 365
Erie canal, the, 62 et seq.
Fairhaven, 456
Pairman, Charles E., Dr., 141
Parwell, Eldridge, 132
Field, Ben, 120
Filkins, Stanley E., 130
Financial cri.sis of 1837, 67
Fitch, Gurdon W., 131
WillardR., Dr., 136
Five Corners, 56
Fruit culture, 92
Gaines Academy, 188
Holland Land Company's sales in,
417
location of, 416
pioneers of, 428, et seq.
supervi-sors of, 417
village, 450
volunteers from, in the war of the Re-
bellion, 447
Garter, Ephraim, 130
Goff, Hiram S., 121
Grand Army of the Republic; 189
Graves, John W., 129
Hard, Gideon, 114
Hayden, C. C, 151
Hindsburg, 407
Hobby, WilUam E., 131
Holland Land Company, the, 38 et seq.
dissatisfaction with the, 46
donation of lands by for re-
ligious purposes, 45
policy of, 43 et seq.
Holland Land Companv's sales in Albion,
218
sales m Ridgeway, 293
Holley, 398
Academy, 197
pioneers of, 299
Standard, the, 151
Holmes, Charles H., 126
Hughes, Thomas L., 125
Hulberton, 406
Hundred thousand acre tract, the, 36
Hurd. Prank H., 150
Indian trails, 50
Indians, 26 et seq.
Ives Paper Pail Companv, the, 363
Jeddo, 340
Johnson-Nichols Paper Pail Factory, 364
Jones, Harry O., 130
Judges County, 105
Supreme Court, 104
Kendall, erection of, 659
(Kendall Corners), 679
land titles in, 661
Mills, 68
pioneers of, 667 et seq.
supervisors of, 661
INDEX.
233
Kendall, volunteers from, in the war of
the Rebellion, (i~7
Kenvonville, 654
Kirb'y, Thomas A., 126
Knowlesville, 339
Union School, 209
Kuckville, 653
Lakeside, 656
Land titles, original, 31 et seq.
Lattin, Frank H., 149
Lee, John, 131
Lewis, Hiram W., Dr., 143
L'Hommedieu, Irving, 128
Lyndonville, 616
Union Free School, 210
McKennan, William, Dr., 140
Maher Bro's Furniture Manufactor5^ 364
Manning, 585
Map of Central and Western New York
in 1809, 54
Genesee county, 40
original county of Genesee, 6
sectional, of strata at Oak Orchard
Creek, 10
showing present lake shore and origi-
nal shore line, 9
Masonic, 161 et seq.
Gaines Chapter, 164
Orleans Chapter, 175
Alph-Omega Council R. S. M., 176
Alluvion Lodge, 162
Charity Lodge, 164
Fredonia Lodge, 161
Genesee Union Lodge, 163
Medina Lodge, 173
Murray Lodge, 174
Renovation Lodge, 171
Social Lodge, 174
Yates Lodge, 174
Medina Academy, 195
banks of, 357
business interests of, 358
cemeteries, 366
drainage of, 356
fire department of, 352
Gas Light Company, 354
hotels of, 357
location of, 344
Manufacturing Company, 363
officers of, from date of organization,
348
Register, the, 150
sandstone, 10
Tribune, the, 149
Water Works Company, 355
Millville, 547
Academy, 192
"Morganism in Orleans county," 166
Morris reserve, the 36
Morton, 680
Mount Albion Cemetery, 272
Murray, churches of, 408 et seq.
location of, 378
pioneers of, 385 et seq.
record of land sales in, 379
Station, 408
statistics of, 396
supervisors of, 384
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 395
Newspaper, the first, 145
Newspapers in Albion, 146
in Medina, 149
Niagara limestone, the, 12
Nichoson, Orson, Dr., 134
Noble, William, Dr., 138
Oak Orchard, 341
acid spring, 15
on-the-Lake, 655
Odd Fellows, 177 et seq.
Medina Encampment, 182
Orleans Encampment, 181
Abeel Rebekah Lodge, 182
Albion Lodge, 179
Charity Rebekah Lodge, 182
Eagle Harbor Lodge, 181
Holley Lodge, 180
Orleans Lodge, 178
Ridgeway Lodge, 180
Welcome Rebekah Lodge, 183
Oologist, the, 149
Orleans American, the, 146
county, act erecting, 2
Agricultural Society, 183
first courts in, 107
Herald, the, 149
in the civil war, 70 et seq.
Medical Society, 133
physical characteristics of, 8
Pioneer and Historical Associa-
tion, 97
Poorhouse, 184
survey of, 39
vote of, for principal officers, 95
Republican, the, 147
Osborn, Ben A.. 149
Penniman, William, 115
Phelps & Gorham purchase, 33 et seq.
Phipany, Horace, Dr., 137
PhippsL^nion Seminar}^ 199
Plank roads, 69
Point Breeze, 655
Porter, Edwin, 121
Quarries, early, 153
Quarrying industry, the, 152 et seq.
Railroads, 66, 68
234
INDEX.
Ramsdale, W. Crawford, 124
Real and personal valuation in IS'J;}, Dl
Regiment, the First Light Artillery, SO
Second Mounted Rifles, 75
Third Cavah-y, 74
Fourth Artillery, 81
Eighth Cavalry 74
Eighth Heavy Artillery, 77
Eleventh, 73
Twenty-seventh, 78
Twenty-eighth, 72
One Hundred and Fifty-tirst, 78
Reynolds, Edwin R., 116
Rich's Corners, 251
"Ridge," the, 8 et seq.
Ridgeway, churches of, 342 et seq.
(Corners), 341
Holland Land Company's sales in,
293
organization of town of, 292
pioneers of, 311 et seq.
statistics of, 321
supervisors of, 293
tax roll of, in 1813, 310
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 333
Road, the Ridge, 51
Ruggles, William W., 120
Salt springs, 14
Sandy Creek, 397
Sanford, Walter R., Dr., 140
Sawyer, 654
John G., 123
Servoss, Archibald, 130
Settlers, condition of early, 49
early, character of the, 57
Settlements in 1792, 55
Shaw, Dana, Dr., 143
Shelby Basin, 550
Center, 545
Holland Land Company's sales in,
509 et seq.
organization of, 508
pioneers of, 524
statistics of, 544
supervisors of, 509
voliinteers from in the war of the
Rebellion, 541
Sickels, Hiram E., 129
Signer, Isaac S., 127
Simonds, John Jacob, Dr., 139
Simons, Edwin B., 129
Soldiers, list of, who died in the service,
84 et seq.
South Barre, 505
Spencer, Seth S., 123
Streams, principal, 16
Supervisors, first meeting of, 5
Surrogates, 106
Swett & Card Manufacturing Companv,
365
Taylor, John Hale, Dr., 143
Thomas, Arad, 115 *
Thomas's History, citations from, 7, .'8,
65, 134, 212, 254, 311, 346, 390,397, 398,
434, 453, 530, 531, 534, 637, 638, 639,
648
Thompson, Irving M., 124
Tonawanda swamp, 14
Trade in 1804, 48
Transportation in early years, 61
Troutburg, 681
Two Bridges, 653
Union Company, the, 640
Wage, Edwin L., 127
War of 1812, 58
Ward, Alexis, 114
Waterport, 653
Union School, 210
Watson, Harriet Noble, Dr., 138
Weekly News, the, 149
West Barre, 506
Gaines, 456
Kendall, 681
Shelby, 549
Western House of Refuge for Women,
185
Whaley, Christopher, Dr., 136
White, John Hull, 122
William, Dr., 135
Wood, Elijah W., 132
Yates Academy, 193
Center, 615
erection of, 588
land titles of, 590
Masonic lodge, 618
Pioneer Association, 618
pioneers of. 599 et seq.
supervisors of, 613
volunteers from, in the war of the
Rebellion, 611
Young, William B., 149
INDEX.
235
PART II.
Acer, H. Augustus, 8
Acer, Volnej' A,, 83
Allen, Charles S., 36
Berr}-, Col. John, l»
Bidwell, Charles H., 12
Bignall, Lemuel C, 25
Bowen, Morton A., 21
Brown, Ralph R., 18
Bruuer. Henry A., 29
Childs, Henry, Augustine, 23
Davey, Edward, 28
Downs, Fred L., 14
Edwards, Ira, 35
Eraser, David S., M.D., 6
Garter, Adam, 20
Hanlon, James Ardell, 34
Hard, Hon. Henrv AL, 15
Hart, Elizur, 40
Hart, Hon. E. Kirke, 41
Hart, John AVells, 39
Jones, D. L., 10
L'Hommedieu, Hon. Wallace, 44
Maher Brothers, 22
Miles W. Ward, 6
Miller, Ogden S. , 8
Newell, George A., 19
Parker, Myron L. 5,
Phillips, Hon. Marcus H., 45
Pitts, Hon. Edmund L., 20
Pratt, Joseph, 39
Proctor, John Newton, 38
Rogers, Lewis, 7
Shelley, A. Wilson, 30
Signor, Hon. Isaac S., 13
Simpson, Enos Throop, 3
Swan, William G., 47
Swett, Albert L., 11
Taylor, John Hale, M.D., 13
Tinkham. Capt. Rellv M., 31
Wage, Edwin L., 48
White, John Hull, 4
Williams, Chester, 17
PART III.
ALBION.
Allen, Charles S., 160
Allis, Myron G., 160
Bailey, Jeremiah, 12
Baker, Calvin, 165
Barker, James Madison, 13
Barrett, James Edwin, 166
Bedell, George W., 167
Bennett, Charles, 14
Bidleman, Samuel, 130
Blair, Henry A., 19
Blake, Ashley, 13
Bliss, Clement Porter, 18
Blott, Jonathan, 14
Bordwell, Joseph, 6
Bi-agg, Solomon, 54 _
Briggs, Phineas, 140
BuUard, George, 166
Burrows, Lorenzo, 5
Butler, Frederick W., 166
Carlton, S. Proctor, 200
Gary, John, 140
Castaldi, John, 173
Chadwick, John, 172
Christie, James, 32
Church, Hon. George B., ]
Clark, Orra, 26
Clark, Robert, 25
Clark, Zephaniah, 29
Coann, Ezra T., 26
Cole, Dan H., 172
Cole, Sands, 24
Cole, William, 25
Cornell, Joseph M. , 29
Culver, Orange, 82
Darem, George Peter, 177
Day, Austin, 84
Denio, John, 35
Dye, William, 35
Ferguson, George W^., 181
Field, Norman S., 179
Fitch, Asahel, 180
Flint, Williams., 38
Fox, Henry W., 181
Gage, William, 50
Getty, James H., 41
Goflf, Stillman, 184
236
INDEX.
Goodrich, David L.,183
Green, Rhodes, 41
Greene, Abram C, 42
Gregory, Arnold, 183
Grinnell, Charles E., 44
Gustin, William Henry, 184
Hallock, Rufas, 188
Harrington, Charles A., 47
Hart Family, the, 46
Hawes, Peter S , 49
Hawes, William H., 49
Higgerson, John A., 187
Horton, Joseph H...48
Howland, George, 47
Ingalls, Lewis, 59
Kast, John T., 60
Keene, Frank M., 132
Landauer, Moritz, 63
Lattin, Joseph A., 192
Lawrence, William, 62
Love, Major William. 61
Luther, Ira M., 25
Mathes, George, 67
Matthews, Edward. 157
Moore, Charles Henry, 226
Morgan, WiUiam Pitt, 196
Morse, Joseph, 196
Mosher, Harvey, 135
Mustill, James John, 67
Nichols, Charles, 72
Noble, William, 151
Onderdonk, Henry B., 137
Ough, George W., 153
Paine, Christopher, 201
Parker, Thomas, 79
Parmaly, Sylvester, 199
Parsons, Catherine M., 78
Pendrv, Wilham H., 134
Phipps, Joseph, 80
Porter, Joshua, 82
Potter, Russell, 80
Preston, Hiram W., 83
Pullman, George M., 76
Randall, James W., 206
Reed, Reuben Rodney, 90
Reed, William, 89
Reisch, Joseph, 206
Rice, Enos, 89
Rice, John G., 206
Roberts, Thomas, 91
Root, Ezekiel, 206
Root, James, 204
Root, Joseph, 91
Ross, John H., 89
Royce Family, the, 88
Salisbury, Guv S., 99
Sears, Henry,' 221
Shaw, Elijah, 131
Sheldon, Jonathan, 99
Sickels, Hiram, 99
Sill, Russell D., 209
Skinner, Ezra Delano, 227
Skinner, Jarvis M., 98
Slater, Giles, 210
Spaulding, W^illiam A., 97
Stafford, W. P. L.. 230
Standish, Charles Lerov, 210
Starkweather, Averv M'. , 100
Stevens, Herbert R.", 209
Swan, William Gere, 97
Tanner, Samuel N., 101
Taylor, Samuel. 212
Thomas, Elam, 212
Thurston, Caleb C, 102
Tripp, Anthonv. 156
Van Stone. Robert White, 103
Warner, Dewitt C, 218
Warner, Jesse, 136
Waterman, John Hancock, 137
Wilkins, Robert O., 105
Williams, Samuel, 110
Willyoung, Samuel, 216
Wiltsie, Andrew, 20
Wright, Joseph A., 110
Wright, WilHam, 216
BARRE.
Avery, Albert, 54
Batchellor, Anson, 7
Best, John M., 7
Burch, Theodore, 167
Clark, Mathew T., 130
Crandall, Christopher, 24
Culver, Daniel D., 173
Evarts, Oman, 178
Fargo, Hiram, 151
Gibson, John A., 44
Goodwin, James, 44
Grinnell Family, the, 43
Hartwell, Solomon, 188
Hill, Horatio N., 138
Kilner, Charles, 135
Lee, John, 193
Mack, Alfred Wolcott, 193
Mack, James Wolcott, 150
Moore, Charles H., 195
Paine, Carlton A. , 201
Paine, Eli, 74
Posson, George Warner, 95
Rogers, William H., 131
Shorey, J. L., 94
INDEX.
237
Staines, Robert, 94
Tent, Samuel, 218
Thorp, William, 2] 3
Tinkham, Relly M., 13:5
Allen, Daniel B., 4
Baker, John H., 225
Ballon, Rosea M., 228
Bamber, Benjamin A., 164
Barnum, Noah G.,19
Beardslev, H. Spencer, 11
Beekwitli, Edwin K., 162
Beckwith, N. Ely, 158
Bidwell, Anna G., 116
Bihings, Clinton, 163
Billings, Joseph Drake, 10
Blood, Harvey, 152
Bolton, Henry M., 20
Bragg, Leonard, 165
Bromley, Daniel D. , 164
Brown, Mrs. Sarah J., 153
Clark, Alonzo, 28
Clark, Jerry, 23
Clement, Joseph H., 171
Clement, Newton P., 22
Cohoon, Francis E., 171
Curtis, William R., 149
Dean, William N., 37
Eccleston, Marion M., 38
Fuller, George, 40
Fuller, Nathan R., 127
Fuller, Reuben E. , 143
Gallett, FenimoreT., 185
Garrett, Daniel F., 43
Gilmore, George F., 138
Groak, Stephen, 183
Handy, Sheldon H., 187
Hard, Joseph, 50
Harris, Robert W., 187
Hoag, Bruce S., 186
Jerome, Norman, 123
Kelly, John Rtis.sell, 61
Luttenton, Joel H., 138
Lynch, Michael, 150
Wetherbee, Weston, 131
Wood, James A., 173
Wright. Col. Elisha, 106
CARLTON.
McCarthy, John E., 194
McKendry, Thomas, 66
Mann, Mrs. Nancy, 195
Merrick, William D., 196
Miles, Edmond B., 224
Miles, Edwin Wade, 71
Miles, Henry O., 224
Miles, W. Ward, 71
Miller, FredG., 155
Miller, OlinB.. 70
Podgers, Philip, 200
Praft, John, 158
Reed, Edward L., 204
Reed, Lorenzo, 205
Rogers, Lewis, 204
Root Family, the, 203
Root, Thomas, 205
Root, Warren A., 125
Rowley, Flenrv, 149
Sargent, Alfred, 100
Schmolle, Alphonse B., 208
Simpson, Mrs. E. Throop, 96
Skinner, Stephen D., 208
Smith, Andrew A., 209
SuA'der, Henry E., 157
Ste'bbins, Isaa'c N., 93
Thomas, Morris, 212
Thompson, John, 150
Warren, Reuben N.,214
Weaver, Savina J. , 214
Welch, George M., 215
Whittleton, T. Edwin, 141
Wilcox, Harry S., 107
Williams, James S., 107
Williams, Mrs. Arabella, 153
Wilson, Benjamin S., 158
Wilson, Valentine A., 215
Wright, Leonard, 148
CLARENDON.
Acton, Edward, 144
Allen, Edward, 159
Benton Family, the, 163
Bingham, John P., 149
Blanchard, AlvaS., 162
Boots, Benjamin, 163
Brackett, Martin E., 162
Chugg, George, 151
Cowles, Henry T., 122
Crossett, Eugene, 121
Culver, Orange, 171
Darrow, Col. Nicholas E.,
Farweh, Eldredge, 228
Foster, Cvrus, 180
Gaylord, John, 139
Glidden, Smith, 145
238
INDEX.
Goff, William H. H., 43^
Harwick, Jeremiah, 132~
Howard Family, the, 128
Inman, Thomas. 219
Jackson, James A., 60
Kennedy, Michael, 131
Lambert, Lewis A., 193
Lusk, Charles, 65
Lyman, William, 115
Matson, David, 146
Merrill, Lemuel H.. 124
Nelson, John S., 198
Pratt, Joseph, 115
Pugh, John, 198
Rodwell, George, 147
Root, Elijah, 115
Root, Nathan, 305
Salisbury, Alexander C, 114
Stevens, John J., 93
Storms, George W., 139
Stiickey, jr., William, 138
Tupper, John C, 128
Wadsworth, Adelbert A., 112
Warren, Elizur, 104
Warren Family, the, 139
GAINES.
Anderson, George G., 3
Anderson, Mrs. Lucy, 159
Andrews, Richard, 160
Baldwin, Benjamin F. , 8
Bartlett, Charles William, 224
Bennett, Albert L., 169
Bidelman, Leander, 161
Botsford, B. H., 139
Bullard, Chancv, 9
Bui lard, David', 21
Burbank, William H., 21
Burns, Mrs. Lorette Wheeler, 121
Calkins, David, 33
Chester, Courtland M., 123
Cole, David, 175
Danolds, C. A., 36
Dibble, J. Marshall, 175
Douglas, John, 176
Everitt, Cornelius C, 178
Fuller, Alvah A., 182
Gibbs, Artemus, 185
Hakes, John S., 220
Hall, John O., 50
Hatch, John Almeriu, 145
Hoyt, Ralph, 189
Hutchinson, George S., 51
Knickerbocker, Harmon, 191
Lattin, Frank H., 64
Leonard, Jefferson F., 223
Leonard, John H., 62
Mather, Mrs. Mary A., 193
Montrose, Mrs. Loui.saM., 222
Pratt, John H., 202
Prusia, William J., 203
Shelley, A. W., 211
Stacy, Benjamin, 95
Stanley, D. Fred, 211
Starkweather, Arthur, 142
Sunderland, John, 211
Webster, Eli, 105
Wood, WiUiam, 106
Young, John, 113
Young, John H., 145
KENDALL
Bamber, Dr. R. W., 168
Bassett, William R., 15
Bates, IraB., 17
Behnke, William H., 13
Bennett, Nathaniel S., 16
Blake, Edward M., 7
Bridgeman, Charles S., 15
Burt, Jo.seph H., 16
Butler, Menzo W. , 4
Chase, Julius S., 27
Crandall, John M., 30
Egelston, Alonzo, 178
Fenner, Cornelius, 181
Forbes Dr., Gilbert, 225
Hornsby, Rev. Henry, 53
Jones, Seth and David L., 227
Kidder, Morrill W., 191
Mulford, Fred B., 68
Munn, Oscar, 196
Re Qua Familv, the, 87
Rice, Elisha R., 125
Webster, Myron H. , 217
Weed, James, 111
Wellman, Harry E., 217
Williams, Thomas R., Ill
Wilson, Robert, 217
INDEX.
239
MURRAY
Alderman, Horace, 4
Alderson, William, 1(JU
Armstrong, Dr. E. R., 145
Baldwin, George, 167
Ballou, James, 168
Bartlett, John R., 13
Beck, Richard, 9
Beranizer, Paul, 161
Berry, Col. John, 74
Bidwell, Daniel H., 142
Bishop, Francis M., 14
Bliss, Edwin, 9
Blodgett, Elisha, 36
Bowman, George N., T)
Brockway, Isaac W. , 321
Bronson, Hosea, 55
Buell, Joseph Hand, 139
Buell, Miles S., 11
Burnham, William, 55
Burns, Lewis G., 169
Chadwick, Thomas, 140
Clark, George F., 174
Clough, Charles W., 174
Cogswell, Francis D., 175
Cole, Isaac U., 32
Cole, Nerville L., 174
Cook, Ely H., 23
Cook, George H., 56
Copeland, Samuel D., 31
Cornwell Lafayette, 175
Crego, Walter S., 121
Davis, John, 177
Dennis, James, 134
Dietsch, William H., 337
DowTis, John, 33
Edwards, Ira, 134
Ely, Benjamin, 178
Fancher, Edwatd, 183
Farwell, Gertrude A., 239
Ferry, Medad, 39
Ford, Albert H., 39
Fowler, Richard R., 180
Frisbie, Hiram, 119
Garrison, Daniel, 184
Gibson, Newell, 185
Gwjmne, Richard, 43
Hatch, David N., 49
Hebner Family, the, 53
Hill, Ezra N., 45
Hill, Lewis J.; 51
Hinds, Jacob and Alanson, 189
Hoaglaiid, Abram B., 144
Hurd, Luther Dean, 45
Keyes Family, the, 133
Lockwood, Henry C, 64
Ludington, Howard, 61
McCargo, Robert, 198
McCarthy, Jerome S., 197
McCrillis, Henry, 137
McDonald, B. Frank, 68
Mansfield, Harvey, 66
Millener, Wm. S.^ jr., 70
Miller, Ogden S. , 65
Milliken, Fayette A., 69
Moore, David, 69
Morton, Darius M., 130
Mosher, Lorenzo D., 197
Mulford, Samuel H., 68
O'Brien, Timothy, 330
O'Reilly. Bernard, 73
Palmer^ Mortimer C, 115
Partridge, David H., 73
Perry, Williams, 81
Pettengill, Walter T., 75
Pierce, Joseph B., 302
Potter, Albert, 74
Potter, Albert J., 199
Pratt, James B., 301
Reed, Daniel, 86
Rhodes, Nathaniel P., 86
Robb, James W., 147
Roraback, Henry, 93
Rowe, Harry C, 130
Ruger, Alfred, 407
Russell, Thomas, 307
Salisbury, Harmon L., 310
Savage, George H., 139
Seeley, John R., 93
Smith, Henry E., 310
Squire George, 95
vStoraker, Samuel, 310
Storms, Frank A., 94
Tuthill, William. 333
Von York, Constantin, 103
Warren, Aaron, 318
Weller, Hiram. 319
Westcott, William H., 108
Young, Daniel, 113
Youngs, John, 319
RIDGE WAY.
Acer, H. A., 159
Achilles, Fred H., 159
Agnew, Thomas H., 131
Allen, Henry E., 159
Andrews, J. A., 54
Babcock, W., 129
240
NDEX.
Bailev, John, 125
Baker, Everett M., 132
Berrv, Albert M., 56
Bickle, John, 163
Bidwell, C. H., 166
Blakely, H. H., 76
Blood, S. P., 55
Bowen, S. C, 226
Breed, Albert C, 158
Breed, Charles H., 224
Brennan, J. D., 128
Brennan, Lawrence, 222
Brown, J. B. , 55
Burke, Thomas A., 222
Card, John W., 144
Casey, Patrick, 129
Castle, Reuben S., 46
Chapman, Dr. C. R.. 172
Churchill, Wellington, 121
Colburn, F. E., 150
Colby, M. H., 119
Cook, George C, 146
Cook, S. A., 172
Cooper, Michael, 170
Conley Bros., 172
Cottrell, S. R. D., 158
Culver, William C, 171
Cummings, B. J., 172
Curry, R. W., 170
Davey, Edward, 116
Dawson, Alfred, 156
Didama, John E., 176
Dirksen, G. H., 177
Donovan, Daniel, 176
Filer, John H., 57
Florey, James, 226
Frost, H. F., 180
Fuller, Edmund, 119
Fuller, Russell N., 179
Geballe, I. H., 58
Gillett, Willis a;, 158
Goodwin, Elias M., 118
Goodwin, Frank E., 225
Gorman, Charles A., 57
Gotts, G. W., 182
Gotts, Thomas, 182
Gray, William, 120
Groat, John A., 123
Hanlon, James A. and Edward, 153
Henion, J. L.. 130
Hetsler, Frederick G., 58
Hibbard, H. G., 186
Hill, A. L., 223
Hill, AsaC, 135
Hitchcock, Daniel, 143
Holdredge, D. D., 186
Hood, Mrs. EmmaL., 58
Hood, Silas M., 59
Hopkins & Culver, 186
Horan, John, 186
Howell, H. B., 58
Hunt, A. B., 136
Hunt, Daniel F., 59
Hunt, Edmund L., 59
Hurd, C. F., 129
Johnson, Sarah A., 190
Kelley, John S., 191
Lake, James H., 192
Lake, John W., 192
Lee, William U., 117
Le Valley, John, 2d, 118
Lipple, Watson H. W., 192
Lott, W. H., 124
McCormick, A. J., 193
McCormick, James S., 194
McGurn, Edward, 194
McNab, Rev. William J., 223
Maher Bros., 198
Maloney Bros., 195
Marshall, Edward, 117
Mason, W. E., 119
Miller, John T., 138
Moore, John, 195
Munson, Edward, M. D., 65
O' Grady Brothers. 227
Ostrander, H. S., 114
Owens, George L., 72
Page, Frank E., 227
Parker Family, the, 83
Pease, Henr3^ 73
Perry, Frederick, 76
Platts, John, 78
Platts, Thomas, 73
Poler, A. H., 200
Polley, WiUiam C, 200
Posson, Edward, 142
Post, Roswell W., 199
Pratt, B. J., 225
Pratt, George L., 125
Randall, H. W., 147
Remde, William, 85
Reynolds, Hiram D., 149
Reynolds, W. B., 155
Robbins, W. B., 125
Ross, S. A., 203
Rourke, M., 118
Rowley, Seth G. , 88
R van, John J., 85
Ryan, Patrick, 208
Scofield, Edward, 147
Scott, Allen P., 153
Scott, Dr. Fremont W., 208
Scott, Frank D., 208
Sherwood, Leon M. , 208
Simonds, Edwin B., 144
Simmonds, C. M., 207
INDEX.
241
Slack, John, 131
Slack, Michael, !I2
Spoor, H. G., 207
Stanton, Lawrence, V2'.i
Stevens, Frank L., 209
Stevens, John H., 118
Stokes, Dr. J. T., 15T
Stork, Jo.seph, loo
Swartout, Jame.s H., 147
Swett, Albert L., 117
Tanner, William, 118
Timmerman, George R., 101
Tompkins, Dr. M., 2\2
Van Stone, James. 21:}
Walsh, Eugene, 128
Walsh, Michael, 214
Webster, Henry, 124
Weld, John, 15(3
Weld, Marson, 124
Whipple, F. H., 104
Whipple, William, 112
White, A. H,. 128
Wood, Jay, 105
Zimmerman, L. F., 112
SHELBY
Bidelman, Lorenzo D., 128
Brace, Joseph N., 56
Castle, T. O., 170
Coon, Thomas J., 155
Culver, W. J., 171
Danolds, A. A., 177
Grennell, Paul, 57
James, Dr. H. L., 190
Johnson, B. S., 190
L'Hommedieu, Wallace, 148
Posson, Nelson, 73
Roberts, Ziba, 85
Ryan, James, 120
Sanderson, Clinton, 100
Saunders, R. R., 145
Sherwood, Gu}-, '^07
Smith, John H., 128
Waite, T. A., 214
Wiedrich, George J. , IK
Wilson, A. B., 214
Wormouth, R. W., 104
YATES.
Barnum, Zebulon, 168
Barry, Benjamin, 17
Carpenter, William, 151
Church, Samuel, 27
Clark, Harvey, 27
Coe. Stephen, 173
Frazer, Dr. David S., 181
Gambell, John, 182
Hard, Merritt, 52
Johnson, James, 60
Johnson, Stephen, 53
Lum Family, The, 148
McKennan, Dr. Hugh, 28
Martin, George W., 70
Mason, Anthony, 70
Parker, Livonia, 84
Parmelee, James, 85
Parsons, Joel C, 83
Petrie, Dr. Wilham, 153
Plummer, Abel, 201
Rolffe, CnarlesC .,92
Tuttle, Wilson, 137
Weld, Thomas, 109
Wickham, Jeremiah, 112
Woolston, Edward F., Ill
PORTRAITS.
Acer, Volney A. , facing 546, Part I
Allen, Charles S., facing 36, Part II
Berry, Col. John, facing 9, Part II
Bidwell, C. H., facing 365, Part I
Bignell, Lemuel C, facing 25, Part H
Bowen, Morton A., facing 151, Part I
Brown, Ralph R., facing 18, Part II
Bruuer. Henrv A., facing 146. Part I
Childs, Henry A., facing 104, Part I
Davey, Edward, facing 366, Part I
Downs, Fred L. , facing 352, Part I
Edwards, Ira, facing 398, Part I
Frazer, Dr. David S., facing 6, Part II
Garter, Adam, facing 20, Part II
242
INDEX.
Hanlon, James A., facing 34, Part II
Hard, Henry M., facing 94, Part I
Hart, Elizur, facing 280, Part I
Hart, E. Kirke, facing 275, Part I
Hart, John Wells, facing 277, Part I
Jones, D. L., facing 16, Part II
L'Hornmedieu, Wallace, facing 44, Part II
Maher Brothers, facing 364, Part I
Miles, W. Ward, facing 632, Part I
Miller, Ogden S., facing 403, Part I
Newell, George A., facing 358, Part I
Parker, Mja-on L. , facing 588, Part I
PhilJiiDS, Marcus H., facing 406, Part I
Pitts, Edmund L., facing 26, Part II
Pratt, Joseph, facing 577, Part I
Proctor, John W. , facing 38, Part II
Rogers, Lewis, facing 655, Part I
Shelley, A. Wilson, facing 435, Part I
Signor, Isaac S., facing 127, Part I
Simpson, Enos T. , facing 624, Part I
Swan, William G., facing 252, Part I
Swett, Albert L., facing 363, Part I
Taylor, John Hale, facing 13, Part II
Tinkham, Relly M., facing 505, Part I
Wage, Edwin L., facing 128, Part I
White, John Hull, 4, Part II
Williams, Chester, facing 648, Part I
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