Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 1

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 1

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GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01177 0440

PART FIRST

GAZETTEER

AND

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

GENESEE COUNTY, N. Y.

1788-1890.

Edited by F. W. BEERS.

" He that hath much to do, will do something wrong, and of that wrong must suffer the consequences ; and if it were possible that he should always act rightly, yet when such numbers are to judge of his conduct, the bad will censure and obstruct him by malevolence, and the good sometimes by mistake."-SAMUEL JOHNSON.

1 SYRACUSE, N. Y. : J. W. VOSE & CO., PUBLISHERS. June, 1890.

D. MASON & Co., PRINTERS, SYRACUSE, N. Y.

1496986

INTRODUCTION.

IN presenting to the public the GAZETTEER, BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, AND DIRECTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY we desire to return our sin- cere thanks to all who have kindly aided in obtaining the information it contains, and thus rendered it possible to present it in the brief space of time in which it is essential such work should be completed. Espe- ·cially are our thanks due to the editors and managers of all the local pa- pers for their uniform kindness, and for granting the use of their files; to Judge Safford E. North for the valuable paper on the Bench and Bar; to Dr. William B. Sprague, of Pavilion, for the paper on the Medical Profession; to D. R. Bacon for history of the town of Le Roy; to J. Ly- man Crocker for assistance on the towns of Le Roy and Pavilion; to David Seaver, of New York, for valuable information pertaining to the Masonic history of the county ; to John R. Anderson, of Le Roy, for ad- ditional Masonic history ; to Charles E. Cook, of Byron, for the article on the fruit interests ; to the county clerk, Carlos A. Hull, for his assist- ance in the use of records in his office; and to many others throughout the county, who have rendered valuable aid.

That errors have occurred in so great a number of names is probable, and that names have been omitted which should have been inserted is ·quite certain. We can only say that we have exercised more than or- -dinary diligence and care in this difficult and complicated feature of book- making. Of such as feel aggrieved in consequence of errors or omis- sions we beg pardon, and ask the indulgence of the reader in noting such as have been observed in the subsequent reading of the proofs, and which are corrected at the close of this volume.

INTRODUCTION.

We would suggest that our patrons observe and become familiar with the explanations at the commencement of the Directory on page 3, part second. The names it embraces, and the information connected there- with, were obtained by actual canvass, and are as correct and reliable as the judgment of those from whom they were solicited renders possible. Each agent is furnished with a map of the town he is expected to can- vass, and he is required to pass over every road and call at every dwell- ing and place of business in the town in order to obtain the facts from the individuals concerned whenever possible.

The map, which has been engraved especially for this work, was compiled from latest existing plans in the county clerk's office, and shows all the new and old railroads, highways, and names of post- offices in the county.

We take this occasion to express the hope that the information found in the book will not prove devoid of interest and value, though we are fully conscious that the brief description of the county the scope of the work enables us to give is by no means an exhaustive one, and can only hope that it may prove an aid to future historians, who will be the bet- ter able to do full justice to the subject.

While thanking our patrons and friends generally for the cordiality with which our work has been seconded we leave the work to secure that fa- vor which earnest endeavor ever wins from a discriminating public, hoping they will bear in mind, should errors be noted, that "he who expects a perfect work to see, expects what ne'er was, is, nor yet shall be."

THE PUBLISHERS.

HISTORY

GENESEE COUNTY.

T O make a history of the importance of a proper one of Genesee County, in the Eden of the Empire State, it would be more com- plete in itself by introducing, briefly, the early history of the State, the foundation of the title of its territory, its early settlement, and the prominent position this particular county has and does at present sustain in the development of the first State of the Union.

Within the scope of a work of this character the discovery of the con- tinent, and the exploration of its vast territory, need not enter minutely, except so far as relates to our portion of it; the history of its discovery by Columbus, in 1492, is a fact too well known to be repeated, and the dis- covery of the northern portion by Lief, the son of Eric a Norwegian, who came across the straits from Greenland to Labrador in the year 1000, was only followed by Thorfinn in 1007, who sailed along the same course down the eastern coast to Narragansett Bay, in Rhode Island; this land is called Vinland, and the record of his discoveries is still extant. After quite five centuries had elapsed the intrepid voyager and scholar, Christopher Columbus, by sailing west from Palos, across a then unknown ocean, dis- covered the Bahama Islands, and was followed by various adventurers from other nations of the Old World who sent them for mercenary mo- tives. In 1497 Henry VII. commissioned John Cabot to sail to this con- tinent, and take possession of it for the Crown of England; and this was successfully accomplished in 1498, on the second voyage by his son, Se- bastian Cabot.

GENESEE COUNTY.

In 1524 John Verazzani, in the service of Francis I. of France, sailed along the coast from Georgia to about latitude 41, north, and entered a harbor, which from his description is said to be New York Bay ; he re- mained there 15 days, and is believed to be the first European that landed on the soil of New York; he proceeded northerly as far as Labrador, and, naming the territory New France, took possession for France so far as he could by his rights of discovery. In 1607 Samuel Champlain sailed up the River St. Lawrence in the interest of the French nation; he explored the tributaries of that [mighty river, and discovered Lake Champlain, which still bears his name. He also took possession of the "New France," and that nation assumed still greater rights in the new territory.

In 1609 Henry Hudson, an English navigator of note, offered his serv- ices to the Dutch East India Company, of Holland, a wealthy corpora- tion formed for trade and colonization, which was accepted ; and with a suitable outfit he arrived on the eastern coast of this continent at or near what is now Portland, Me., whence he sailed southward along the coast as far as Chesapeake Bay; from thence he sailed northward again, dis- covering Delaware Bay, and on the 3d of September anchored off Sandy Hook; he entered New York Bay on the 12th of the same month, and sailed up the river which was given his name, and has been since so called. He anchored just above where the city of Hudson now stands, and sent a boat with a portion of his crew still further up the river on a voyage of exploration ; it is supposed, from his description, that the crew ascended above where Albany is now situated. On the 23d of September Hudson descended to the Bay of New York and set sail for home. Holland now claimed the territory from the same right of discovery and exploration, and it will be seen that the three nations mentioned claimed the same; and also that New York State was a part.

It will be no wonder after reading the foregoing that the authority of the different nations should clash somewhat The Dutch sent out other trading vessels in 1612; these were followed by still more, and Manhattan Island was made the chief depot for trade; the States General granted a charter to the merchants for exclusive jurisdiction over "New Nether- lands," as it was denominated, and it included all the territory between 40° and 45° north latitude.

In 1621 James I. granted to Ferdinando Gorges and his mercantile as- sociates all lands between the 40th and 48th parallels of latitude, and from ocean to ocean ; claim was made of the Dutch for the territory, which was refused, and the subject of title was already becoming important. Both

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.

had grants of the territory from the highest authority of their respective nations.

In 1638 William Kieft was made governor of New Amsterdam for the Dutch. He by his acts was plunged into war with the Indians, which lasted till 1645, when a treaty of peace was made, and Peter Stuyvesant was ap- pointed governor in 1647. To settle the controversy between the Eng- lish and Dutch settlements arbitrators were appointed to adjust their re- spective claims; this tribunal assigned the eastern part of Long Island to the English, and a division line specified the boundary between the Dutch New Netherlands and the English Connecticut colonies.

In 1664 Charles II. of England, regardless of the claims of the Dutch or any previous agreement, granted to his brother, Duke of York and Al- bany,-afterwards James II.,-the whole country from the Connecticut to the Delaware River, which included the entire Dutch possessions. The Duke claimed the territory, which was so strongly to be enforced, if re- fused, that Governor Stuyvesant surrendered the province September 3, 1664. Thus the possession of New Netherlands passed into the hands of the English, and at once the Duke changed the name to New York, and Fort Orange to Albany. The Dutch attempted to regain the possession of the territory, and nearly succeeded through the treachery of the cap- tain of the fort at New York. Peace was declared between the rival fac- tions in 1674, leaving the English in full possession, but the Duke of York, for his own safety, applied for and received from the Crown a new patent.

The French had not been idle, and in the meantime settlements had been made in New France,-the region north of the great lakes and along the St. Lawrence River,-and had allied themselves with the Algonquins in victories against the Iroquois, which embittered the latter against the French; but a peace was concluded in 1667 by the intercession of the Duke of York.

Trade was successfully prosecuted by the French and English in their respective territories for a few years, but artful advantages, instigated by the Catholic missionaries, disrupted the friendly relations between the Iroquois and English, which resulted in a conference, at Albany, of the governors of New York and Virginia and chiefs of the Iroquois, in 1684, and at which harmony was restored. No sooner was peace restored in this direction than discontent arose in another. De la Barre, French gov- ernor of Canada, made complaint that the Senecas,-a nation of the Iro- quois,-by their hostilities against the Miamas,-a tribe beyond Lake

GENESEE COUNTY.

Erie, with whom the French were allied,-interrupted their trade. In 1687 the French overrun the country of the Senecas,-Western New York,-and erected a fort at the mouth of Niagara River. The Five Na- tions flew to arms, descended upon the French, and the settlements south of the lake were abandoned by that nation. This gave the English the government of the territory embraced within the limits of the State of New York.

The revolution in England that placed William and Mary upon the throne was followed in 1669 by war between France and England, which involved, also, their colonies in the New World. Count Frontenac, gov- ernor of Canada, endeavored to alienate the fealty of the Iroquois from the English, and in other ways harrassed the latter, even sending an ex- pedition, in February, 1690, to massacre the people at Schenectady. To allay this feeling among the allies Major Schuyler called a council at Al- bany and secured a renewal of friendship. After several invasions and a long, bloody war the peace of Ryswick, in 1697, terminated the barbarous hostilities between the two nations.

In 1710 it was thought necessary by England to subdue or repay Can- ada for many depredations and hostilities on the part of the French, and an expedition was sent the following year for her reduction, but failed to make an attack. The treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, terminated the war, and the supremacy of the English over the Iroquois, or Five Nations, was con- ceded. About this date the Tuscaroras, from the south, joined the Five Nations, and the confederation was thenceforth called the " Six Nations."

A trading post was erected in 1722, at Oswego, by the English, which so displeased the French that they erected one at Niagara to intercept the trade of the western tribes; this led to a chain of forts and trading posts along west and south of the lakes, and the French then claimed posses- sion of the territory west of the Alleghanies. The emmissaries of the French again alienated the Six Nations in their allegiance to the English, and, notwithstanding the existing nominal terms of peace, let loose hordes of Indians on the English frontiers, besides many other overt acts of hos- tility committed. Early in 1755 England sent over vast armies, and four decisive campaigns were inaugurated against the French in all their pos- sessions, viz .:

First, to subjugate their power in Nova Scotia.

Second, against Fort Duquesne for the recovery of power west of the Alleghanies.

Third, against Fort Niagara.

Fourth, against Crown Point at the head of Lake Champlain.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

The varied success of these expeditions may be learned in more gen- eral histories, but suffice to say that in 1758 and '59 the French were glad to arrange terms of peace, which was consummated February 10, 1763, by the cession of all possessions in Canada to the English.

During this year the boundary line between the provinces of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut was fixed ; the line as agreed was to extend north and south, and to be 20 miles east of the Hudson River. The State of New York was now an English province, with no counter claims from the Dutch and French who had so long endeavored to ob- tain the ascendency on her soil.

The representatives of the provinces now began to remonstrate against various acts of oppression placed upon them by the British Parliament- taxes that abridged their trade and liberties, and the exaction of duties that were unbecoming to a lawful subject. The burden of the late war with France, by which England acquired vast territory, was yet onerous to the provinces, and the arbitrary enforcement of unwholesome collec- tions created a feeling of resistance and revolt. Petitions to King and Parliament were unheeded; the stamp act in 1765 led the colonies to open revolt; its repeal followed in 1767, but in its stead a heavy duty was placed upon tea, glass, lead, paper, etc., that should be brought for the use of their subjects in America; and this led to establishing custom- houses, revenue officers, and arbitrary arrests; collisions occurred be- tween British troops in 1770 in New York and in Boston; blood was shed; the tea act followed; the Crown closed the ports of Boston; public meet- ings were held in all the colonies, and strong resolutions were passed to combine and resist the aggressions of the mother country.

In September, 1774, delegates met in Congress at Philadelphia ; a bill of rights was passed and petitions were sent to the Crown for the removal of these grievances ; but again they met with disdain. The aggressions of the British troops at Boston in 1775 hastened the call "To arms !" After the British were driven from Boston, in March, 1776, the battle of Long Island was fought, and the British gained the occupancy of New York city.

The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the long war, the many scenes, and active part assumed by New York are more minutely related in general histories.

The struggle lasted until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., October 19, 1781 ; a primitive treaty was signed November 30, 1782; and the final, definite treaty was completed and signed September 3,

GENESEE COUNTY.

1783, by which these colonies were free and independent. On the 25th of November following the British troops left New York and sailed for · home.

The short, condensed relation of the discovery of the continent; the several grants of the territory comprising the State of New York; the gradual condensation of that title into English possession ; and their final quit-claim of all right, title, and interest to the States that gave grants to the original purchasers, has been concisely shown with dates from the best authorities. Nations and provinces, as has been demonstrated, by aggressions in times of peace cause bloodshed ; we will mention the last war between our people and Great Britain, and how the latter again at- tempted to grapple her lost possessions.

THE SENECA INDIANS.

A LTHOUGH much has previously been said in connection with title to the Holland Purchase, concerning the Indians denominated the " Five Nations," it will be well to speak more minutely of the Senecas-the western tribe of this confederacy, and who, by their simple rights, occupied the territory of the "Holland Purchase," and particularly that of Genesee County.

The dim ages of the past offer no rational origin to the aboriginal in- habitants of this territory, and with the shadowy light of their traditions the enlightened world can only speculate as to the beginning. Indeed, it is proven by the only records of the Indians-tradition, from genera- tion to generation-that the territory of Genesee County contains works of which the Indians, who dwelt here when the first white man visited it, have no tradition, showing that at still earlier periods yet another and perhaps more enlightened people may have occupied these same lands. Some mounds seem to have been used as burial-places, and some for de- fense ; they certainly present evidence of no little skill and knowledge of engineering. Without conjecturing as to any earlier people we will re- turn to the Senecas, as found here by the first Europeans. They were muscular, reddish brown, black, straight hair, and beardless. They lived in huts made of barks fastened to poles by withes and thongs, many fam- ilies often living in one cabin. One of the early Jesuits speaks of find- ing cabins 40 to 60 feet long " in the Genesee," in which 12 or 14 fami- lies were domiciled. They were clothed scantily, with skins; their food was game and fish, and the corn that was raised by the feinale portion of

THE SENECA INDIANS.

he tribe; their weapons were the bow and arrow, and tomahawk. Their fondness for paints and gaudy ornaments upon their persons was only equalled by their showy rites and ceremonies.

The chiefs seemed to be the law-makers, and their office was inherited or constituted by supreme acts of daring. Polygamy existed, but among the Senecas was not so common as among other tribes. No public pun- ishment for crime seemed to be enforced by their ideas of law, but jus- tice was meted out by private vengeance, and if the ends of justice were met retaliation stopped. Their religious ceremonies were simple and full of reverence ; they worshiped a great spirit, feared the evil spirit (which was a less powerful brother of the good spirit), and strove to go to the "Happy Hunting-Grounds " after death ; when the burial took place food and weapons were buried with the remains to help the dead on their way.

In war the Senecas were of the bravest, and tradition tells of their con- quests among the Eries, Miamas, and tribes of the southwest; it is thought that the "Five Nations," of which the Senecas held the western door, had carried their conquests to the Gulf of Mexico. They scalped their dead enemies, which was done by seizing the hair on the top of the head with the left hand, cutting the scalp around in a circle with the right, and suddenly jerking the skin from the skull. The greatness of the warrior's exploits was measured by the number of the scalps in his wigwam.

The earthworks, still visible within the limits of the county, are thought to be the fortifications of a race earlier than the Senecas, who held un- disturbed possession of the virgin soil when first visited by the whites; still they may have been thrown up by their ancestors, generations be- fore, and the tradition lost by vicissitudes of war. Oakfield has an an- cient enclosure, and it has been the most distinctly preserved through the lapse of time of any in the county ; northeast of this is another called by writers " bone fort," for it seemed to be the receptacle of the bones of their slain; plenty of arrowheads and simple instruments of war and for domestic uses have been found in and around these works. Two miles north of Le Roy, at Fort Hill, upon a peninsula formed by Ford- ham's Brook and Allen's Creek,-high land, and most advantageous for defense,-are the remains of another earthwork of mound and ditch, in- dicating that in generations past the aborigines were necessarily skilled in war. They were implacable in war and generous in friendship, tor- turing by the most barbarous cruelties a portion of their captives, and

GENESEE COUNTY.

adopting others with every evidence of family and tribal affection. Mary Jemison, whose history is so familiar to the citizens of the whole Hol- land Purchase as a captive member of the Senecas, would not return to her white relatives when urged by her brother. The trails of the Sene- cas were the chosen routes for public roads in later days, evincing un- doubted taste in civil engineering.

As is stated in the general history the Senecas quit-claimed their right, title, and interest to the lands of the Holland Purchase and Mor- ris Reserve, and in return received stipulated sums and annuities ; they also reserved lands sufficient for their habits of life, which is also men- tioned and described, and to these they retired where the remnant of the once powerful tribe resides. What is true of the Senecas applies to other tribes of the confederacy. They have degenerated from their savagery, have become more or less imbued with ideas of civilization, are pro- tected by the laws, and in time will live only in the "white man's writ- ten history."

Red Jacket .- "This great orator was always bitter against everything pertaining to the white race, except whisky, and never became reconciled to the criminal law of the white man. He could not understand the justice of the law that would punish an offender by as long an imprison- ment for stealing a trifling article as a larger one. It happened that an Indian was indicted at Batavia for burglary in breaking and entering the house of Joseph Ellicott, and stealing some article of trifling value, the punishment for which was a sentence of imprisonment for life. At the same time a white man, who had stolen a larger amount than the Indian, but without the accompaniment of burglary, was sentenced to only a few years imprisonment. Red Jacket with his chiefs attended the trial, for the purpose of rendering what aid he could to his unfortunate brother. The proof was clear and a verdict of guilty followed the trial. When the prisoner was arraigned for sentence, and the usual question pro- pounded, why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced, Red Jacket, who had been watching the proceedings with intense interest, asked permission to speak in behalf of the prisoner. 'The request being granted, he rose with his usual dignity, and boldly questioned the juris- diction of the court, and asserted the independence of his nation. He contended that the Senecas were allies, not the subjects, of the whites; that his nation had laws for the punishment of theft; and that the of- fender in the present case ought to be delivered up to them, to be tried according to the usages and suffer according to the laws of his own peo- ple.

RED JACKET - INDIAN BURIAL-GROUNDS.

" His manner on the occasion was particularly fine for him, but his ar- gument was not sufficiently powerful to avert the sentence, which was pronounced in due form. The orator was dissatisfied with the result. Estimating the measure of delinquency by the pecuniary loss he could not perceive the justice of incarcerating a man for life, who had stolen a few spoons of small value, when another offender, who had stolen a horse, was sentenced to but a few years imprisonment.

" After the proceedings were over, in passing from the court-house to the inn, in company with a group of lawyers, Red Jacket discerned upon the sign of a printing office the arms of the State, with the emblematical representation of Liberty and Justice emblazoned in large figures and characters. The chieftain stopped, and pointing to the figure of Liberty asked in broken English, 'What him call?' He was answered, 'Liberty." ' Ugh!' was the significant and truly aboriginal response. Then point- ing to the other figure he inquired, 'What him call ?' He was answered, ' Justice,' to which, with a kindling eye, he instantly replied, by asking, ' Where him live now ?'"

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Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 1

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co. Number of Pages: 920

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920