History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 1

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Number of Pages: 391


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105


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1


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PRESENT COURT HOUSE OF ONTARIO COUNTY. ERECTED 1858.


THE FIRST COURT HOUSE, ERECTED 1784.


TOWN HALL. SECOND COURT HOUSE, ERECTED 1024


Digitized by


Google


1700


HISTORY OF


ONTARIO CO.,


NEW YORK,


With Illustrations


DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,


Palatial Poesidences,


Public Buildings, Fine Blochs, and Important Manufactories,


FROM ORIGINAL SKETCHES BY ARTISTS OF THE HIGHEST ABILITY.


PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS, ENSIGN & EVERTS, 716 FILBERT STREET.


1878


Press Of J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, Penn's. 1876.


Press Of W. E. Morrison & Co., Ovid, New York 1976.


Digitized by


Googl!


1


F 127 f.07 TABLE OF CONTENTS. M2 1976 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE


HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.


INTRODUCTION


PAGE 7


CHAPTER I .- Pre-Columbian Discovery-Rival Claims to Territory of New York- Bases of Claims-English Supremacy-French Rivalry


7-9


CHAPTER II .- The Antiquities of Ontario-Traditions of the Six Nations Their Civilisation, Character, Tribal Relations, Wars, Treaties, and Fate 9-11 CHAPTER III .- Character of the Country-Conflict of Jurisdiction-Land Titles- Phelps and Gorham Purchase-Indian Treaties . 11-14


CHAPTER IV .- Line of Organisation-Concurrent Events-Early Occupants Prior to Purchase-Progress of Settlement West-Reduction of Area-Local Selections and Acquisitions during 1789


14-17


CHAPTER V .- Continuation of Settlement in 1789-Influx of Population, and Events till 1794-Town Meeting of 1791-The State Road and Cayuga Bridge CHAPTER VI .- Proprietary Changes-Pre-Emption Lines-Williamson's Ideal and the Real _. CHAPTER VIL .- Indian Restlessness-Pioneer Apprehension-Treaty of 1794-Death of Chapin


17-19


..


Bristol


238-246


South Bristol


247-252


Canadice.


253-260


: Naples


261-269


Augustine Sackett.


125


George Hickox


125


John B. Cooley


126


J. E. Chase


126


Jerome Loomis


144


Luther Whitney


150


Cheeney Whitney


150


David Barron


150


H. E. Youngs


150


Isaac VanOstran, Jr.


151


Stephen Ferguson .


158


Joseph Brown Gates


Pamelia Bishop Gates


Emmons H. Gifford


Azel Throop


188


Danforth Booth


188


CHAPTER XVIII .- Agriculture: Grains, Stock, Buildings, and Farm Statistics-Fairs -Agricultural Society-Patrons of Husbandry-Nurseries .


47-50


CHAPTER XIX .- Geology of Ontario County


50, 51


CHAPTER XX .- Political History of Ontario-Her Officials, Population, and Popular Vote


51-54


CHAPTER XXI .- Traces, Roads, and Turnpikes-Stage Lines and Mail Routes -- Post- Offices and Canals .


54-56


CHAPTER XXII .- Railroads of Ontario County : Auburn and Rochester, Batavia Branch of N. Y. Central, Northern Central, Geneva and Ithaca, Sodus Point and Southern .


56-58


CHAPTER XXIII .- Ontario Banks: State, Individual, National, and Saving


58, 59


CHAPTER XXIV .- Early and Later Manufactories and Products


59, 60


CHAPTER XXV .- Religious Denominations and Church Statistics


60-63


CHAPTER XXVI .- Literary and Benevolent Societies and Institutions


63-66


CHAPTER XXVII .- The Press of Ontario, Past and Present


66-68


CHAPTER XXVIII .- The History of Hobart College, Geneva


68-76


CHAPTER XXIX .- The Ontario Female Seminary-The Geneva Union School-The Canandaigua Academy .


76-82


CHAPTER XXX .- Ontario in the War for the Union


82-100


Col. Melancton Lewis ( Plate XVIII.)


74


David K. Crooks ( Plate XXI.)


80


Shotwell Powell (Plate XXII.)


82


A. J. Robison (Plate LXIV.)


172


Gilbert Willson ( Plate XC.) .


235


ILLUSTRATIONS.


VIEWS.


near or


Abbey, I. J., Residence of (Plate LXXXIV.)


facing page 225


..


228


Chase, James E., " XXXVIII.)


4


125


Antis, William,


XXVIII.)


94


Court-House of Ontario County (Frontispiece) First


title page 4


Arnold, Daniel,


LXX.) ·


190


Academy, Canandaigua


" IV.)


22


Canandaigua Academy (Plate IV.)


page 22


Betz & Nester's Brewery, Geneva ( Plate LXI.)


134, 135


Clifton Springs Sanitarium (Plate VI.)


30


Barron, David,


( " XLVI.) . ( " LI.)


=


179


Canandaigua Brewery, J. & A. MoKechnie (Plate XXV.)


=


87


Crooks, David H., Residence of (Plate XXI.)


80


Bare Hill, View of (Plate XCIII.)


247


DeGraff, John, Residence of ( " L.)


150


Case, Orestes, Residence and Stock of (Plate XCI.)


238


Doolittle, William 8., Residence of ( Plate XCV.) ( " LV.) Ellas, Mrs. A. D. L.,


158 179


Crane, George, Old Homestead ( Plate XCIV.)


250


First Court-House, erected 1794 (Frontispiece)


title page


Carriage Manufactory, M. Hayes (Plate LXXVII.)


¥


211


Ferguson, Stephen, Residence of (Plate LIV.)


page 156


Croquet Grounds, Seward French ( " LXXVIII.)


212


French, T. D., Residence of (Plate LXXV.) .


208


Chapinville Spoke-Bending and Wheel Factory (Plate LVII.) Canandaigua Lake, looking south (Plate XXXI.)


162


French, Seward, Residence of (Plate LXXVIII.) . Croquet-Grounds of (Plate LXXVIII.)


212


Cook's Point Glen, Glyph Falls


=


101


Geneva, from Seneca Lake (Plate XXXI.)


101


Coleman, Mrs. E. R., Residence of ( "


XXXII.)


107


Glyph Falls, Cook's Point Glen (Plate XXXI.)


..


101


Chamberlain, Frank O.,


XXXII.)


114


Gardner, Esq., E. W., Residence of (Plate XXXVIII.)


126


HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES.


PAGE


Canandaigua Village


. 101-113


Town of Canandaigua Geneva Village Town of Genevs


= Seneca


Gorbam


152-158


Hopewell


159-163


Phelps


. 164-175


Manchester


176-188 189-196


Farmington


Victor


197-205


East Bloomfield


206-215 216-224


CHAPTER VIII .- The Pioneer; his Journeys-Early Mills-A Pioneer Court-On- tario prior to 1800-Trial of "Stiff-Armed George," and his Defense by Red Jacket


24-27 27-29


CHAPTER X .- Clearing Lands-Crops-Markets-Distilleries-Salt Works-Climate in Early Days-An Ontario Hermit


29-31


CHAPTER XL .- Biography of Notable and Distinguished Pioneers of Ontario County : Proprietors, Agents, Superintendents, Attorneys, Merchants, Ministers, and others. CHAPTER XII .- The Jesuit Missionaries-Pioneer Preachers and Churches-Schools and Teachers-Marriages, Births, Deaths, and Cemeteries


33-35


CHAPTER XIII .- Adventure, Incident, and Reminiscence Illustrative of Early Times. CHAPTER XIV .- Organization, from Ontario, of other Counties-County Buildings- First Assessment of Taxes-First Case in Surrogate's Court-The State Arsenal - The Poor Farm-Ontario in 1810


35, 36


CHAPTER XV .- Town Meetings-Celebrations-La Fayette, Joseph Smith, and John Morgan


41-43


CHAPTER XVI .- Militia-Musters-War of 1812-Meetings for Defense and Relief . 43-45 CHAPTER XVII .- Geographical : Towns, Villages, Surface, Soil, Lakes, Streams, and Springs-Fish, Squirrels, and Reptiles-An Interesting and Able Letter 45-47


Daniel Arnold


196


Allen Payne


196 215 235


John Pennell


David A. Pierpont


235


Joshua Phillips


235


Noah Ashley


236 236


Peter P. Barnard .


236


George Johnson


237


Luther Stanley


237


Philip Reed .


237


Francis Mason


246


William Thomas


246


George Crane


252


Elam Crane


252 58


Col. Lanson Dewey (Plate XIII.) .


near or facing page


58


Seth Stanley (Plate XIV.)


62


LIST OF PATRONS


270-276


VIEWS.


Dear er facing page 122


Ashley, Nonb,


(


LXXXVII.)


Barden, H. V., Residence of ( Plate XLV.) .


146


Catholic Church, Stanley, St. Theresa's (Plate IX.) Canandaigua Hotel (Plate X.)


42


Bray, Cyrus,


151


46


Brown, H. L. & C. P., Drill Works ( Plate LXVIII.)


"


200


200


Dunning, Wm. B., Residence of ( " XXVII.) .


92


"


Case, Billings, Residence of (Plate XCII.)


242


Crane, George, Residence of ( Plate XCIV.)


250


Empire Grain Drill Works, Manchester (Plate LXVIII.)


212


101


Digitized by


Google


. 114-126


.127-137


138-144


145-151


West Bloomfield


Richmond


225-237


20-22


22, 23


PERSONAL SKETCHES.


CHAPTER IX .- Ontario in 1800-Timber-Animals-Furniture-Customs .


31-33


37-41


163 163 175


Elijah Hamlin


David L. Hamilton


L. B. Hotchkiss (Plate XIII.)


Canandaigua Public School Building (Plate V.)


26


145


Bonesteel, P. S., Residence of (Plate LXXII.) Bonesteel, P. S., Farm Buildings (Plate LXXII.)


256


Cooley, Capt. John B., Residence of (Plate XXXVII.)


+


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


ILLUSTRATIONS.


VIEWS.


VIEWS.


Gregory. Charles P., Residence of (Plate XLV.) .


facing page 145


View of Bare Hill (Plate XCIII.)


ngar or facing page 247


Gates, Joseph B., Residence of " LVL.)


160


Vandevort, Thomas, Residence of (Plate LXV.).


173


Giford, Emmons H., Residence of ( " LX.)


166


84 Van Ostran, Mrs. J. A., =


XLVIII.)


=


148


Hammond, Hon. S. H., Residence of (Plate XV.)


67


Valentine, late Samuel,


XXVIIL.)


94


Hickox, Capt. George, Residence of ( " XIX.)


76


Whitney, Ami,


" XV.)


=


86


Head of Canandaigua Lake (Plate XXXI.) .


101


Warth, Samuel, Store of (Plate XLIII.)


.


140


Wilson, John, Residence of ( Plate XLVII.)


147


Whitney, Cheeney, Old Home of (Plate L.)


150


Whitney, Luther, Former Home of (Plate LI.)


151


Warfield, William H., Residence of (Plate LXXI.)


194


Wheeler, S. R., Residence of (Plate LXXIV.)


207


Youngs, H. E., Residence and Mill of ( Plate XLIX.) .


149


Hemenway, Charles G., Residence of ( Plate XCV.)


256


Haff, Allen, Residence of (Plate XCV.)


256


Iron Works, New York Central ( Plate XLIII.)


140


Johnson, George,


2.30


Knapp, Henry F., Residence of ( " LVII.) '


162 74


PORTRAITS.


Dear er


Ashley, Noah


(Plate LXXXVII.)


facing page 228


Ashley, Mrs. Minerra (


228


Arnold, Daniel


LXX.) .


190


Arnold, Betsy P.


XXVIII.)


94


Barron, David


XLVI.)


..


146


Manufacturing View, Shortsville ( " XXXI.)


101


Cooley, Jobn B.


XXXVII.)


122


Marble and Granite Works, Geneva ( " XL.)


180


Chase, James R.


XXXVII.)


125


Case, Billings T.


XCII.)


242


Manufacturing View, Gorham (Plate LII.)


159


Crane, George


XCIV.) 1


250 58


Mason, W. G., Residence of (Plate LXXI.) .


194


Ferguson, Stephen


LIV.)


156


Miller, A. D.,


(Plate LXI.)


Gates, Joseph B.


LVI.)


160


Newman, A. 8.,


( " XXXII.)


Hotobkiss, L. B.


XIII.)


58


Hickox, Capt. George


XXVIII.)


94


Johnson, George


LXXXVIII.)


230


Map of (Plate II.)


page 7


Lincoln, William E.


« XCIIL.) .


247


Lincoln, Mrs. W. E.


XVIII.)


74 96


Phelps and Gorham Purchase, Map of ( Plate III.)


pago 18 26


Loomis, Mrs. Hannab H. (Plate LV.)


158


Martin, Mra. Lucinda 8. Pierpont, David A.


XII.) .


..


XXII.)


82


Potter's Marble Works, Geneva (Plate XL.)


130


Powell, I. M.


XXIII.)


1


83


Pennell, John, Residence of (Plato LXXXIX.)


Payne, Mrs. Allen


4


LXXXIX.)


232 232 154, 155


Randall, N. W., .


" XXX.)


98


Robeon, Phoebe


154, 155


Roy, Isaao,


" LXIII.) .


171


Roy, Isaso


LXIII.)


171


Robison, A. J.,


( " LXIV.)


172 227


Reed, Mra. Philia G.


..


227


&t. Theresa's Catholic Church, Stanley (Plate IX.)


Smokett, Col. Augustine


XVIL)


.€


72 72


Seskett, Col. Augustine, Residence of ( Plate XVII.)


72


Stanley, Mrs. Lydia


226


Smith's Blook, William (XXVII.)


92


Thomas, William


XXIX.)


XLII.)


138


Smith & Co.'s Store, Geneva, Interior of (Plate XL.)


130


Throop, Asel


LXVIL)


176 148


Spoke-Bending Factory, Chapinville ( Plate L'VII.)


162


Van Ostran, Julia A.


163


Vandevort, Thomas


LXV.)


173


Sherman, E. W., "


( " LXII.)


Salisbury, B. F., ( " LXVI.)


Whorrall, Mrs. Jas.


126


Sheldon, Gardner L., Residence of (Plate LXXI.)


194


Wilson, Joba


XLVII.)


147


Soldiers' Monument, East Bloom field (Plate 1,XXIII.)


206


147


Simmons, Col. Sardis, Residence of (Plate LXXXIII.) Button, Req., S. H., " XCVI.)


222 264


Town Hall, Erected 1824 (Frontispiece)


title page


Whitney, Cheeney


L.)


150


Tillotson, L. H.,


1 XXXII.)


Tooker, Brastas,


( " XLII.)


..


138


Whitney, Hannah L.


151


Throop & Sons, Asel, : " LXVII.)


176


Youngs, H. R.


149


Tobey, F. N.,


( " LXXX.) .


«


215


Youngs, Mrs. M.


149


7


Mason, Francis, Residence of (Plate XVI.) .


70


MoKechnie, J. & A., Brewery of (Plate XXV.) James, Residence of ( " XXIV.) 4


RR


Barron, Mrs. Sarah


Crooks, David H.


XXI.)


50


Maltman, Esq., John, Residence of (Plate XXXV.)


118


Cooley, Mrs. Catherine(


122


Martin, Jacob, Residence of (Plate LVII.) .


162


Martin, Mrs. L. 8., Residence of (Plate LXXXV.)


226


Case, Mrs. B. T.


242


Mansfeld, Alonso, Residence of ( Plate LXXXI.)


216


Crane, Mrs. G.


Dewey, Col. Lanson


XIII.)


Maple Grove, T. D. French (Plate LXXV.)


208


Ferguson, Mri. S.


4


156


Miller, Silas,


«


( " LXXXIL.)


220


Gatos, Mrs. J. B.


160


New York Central Iron Works (Plate XLIII.)


Ontario County Court-House, Present (Frontispiece) 4


" First 1


Oaks, Nathan, Residence of ( Plate XXVI.) .


Olmsted, Sophia L., Residence of (Plate LVLI.)


162


Present Court-House of Ontario County (Frontispiece)


title page


1


XXIX.)


Public School Building, Canandaigua ( " V.)


38


LXXXV.)


226 54


Powell, I. M.,


1 i


XXIII.) XXXVI.)


120


Powell, Mrs. 8.


82


Pritchard, Dr. G. C., Residence of (Plate LIX.) Payne, late Allen, Residence of ( Plate LXIX.)


Payne, Allen


LXIX.)


189 189


Quick & Co., J. A., Flouring Mill of ( Plate XLIII.)


140


Reference Map of Ontario County (Plate II.)


7


Pennell, Mrs. Sarah


Robson, William


4 LIII.) . 1.


LXIV.)


172


Reed, Col. Wheeler


LXXXVI.)


227


Sanitarium, Clifton Springs ( " VI.)


30


Stanley, Seth


XIV.) .


62


Smith, W. T., Home Grounds of (Plate XI.) Stanley, Seth, Residence of (Plate XIV.)


Backett, Mrs. Augustine Stanley, Luther


LXXXV.)


.. 226


Salisbury, Joseph F., Residence of (Plate XXVI.)


90


Sutton, 8. H.


4 XCVI.)


264 96


Shortsville, Manufacturing View ( Plate XXXI.)


101 116


Tucker, Mrs. Erastus


138


Stekoe & Wilson, Gorham, Manufactories of (Plate LIL.)


152


Van Ostran, Issao


XLVIIL.)


148


Smith, Lucas, Residence of ( Plate LVIII.)


163


Vandevort, Mrs. Ella Whorrall, James


XXXIX.) 1


) 5


xc.) ·


235


Thomas, William, Residence of (Plate XXIX.)


page


Whitney, Mrs. Olive Whitney, Luther


")


150


107


LI.)


151


XLIX.)


179


Hygienic Institute, Geneva (Plate VII.)


Van Sickle, G.,


=


" LXVIIL)


=


Herendeen, W. A., Residence of (Plate XXX.)


98


Willow Bruok, Residence of Jas. MoKechnie (Plate XXIV.) Whorrall, Jaunes,


(Plate XXXIX.)


126


Holbrook, Lewis, Residence of (Plate LXI.)


168


170


210


211


214


Hamlin, Philo, « " LXXX.)


215


Hamilton, D. L., Residence of (Plate LXXXIV.)


225


Johnson, William, Residence of (Plate LXVI.) (" LXXXVIII.)


Lewis, Col. Melanoton, " ( " XVIII.)


Loomis, Heirs of Jerome, Residence of (Plate XXIX.)


96


Latting, Jacob, Residence of (Plate LVIII.)


163


Lincoln, William E.," ( " XCIII.)


247


Map of Phelps and Gorham Purchase (Plate III.)


18


190


Booth, Danforth


87


146


: Alex., 4


Means, late Joseph, Residence of (Plate XLIV.).


142


107 140 title page


Johnson, Mra. George (


280


Lewis, Col. Melanoton ( Loomis, Jerome


Loomis, Judge Chester (Plate LV.)


168


Presbyterian Church and Parsonage, Seneca (Plate VIII.) Pierpont, D. A., Residence of (Plate XII.) . Potter, Dr. John W., " XX.)


78


Phillips, Capt. Joshua


83


Powell, Shotwell


Padelford, H.,


"


14


83


164


Powell, Mrs. Edith


189


232


Rogers, II. B., Residence of (Plate XXVII.)


Robson, William,


LIII.) .


154, 155


Robison, A. J.


Reed, Wheeler,


"


" LXXXVI.)


42 50, 51


Tucker, Erastus


Beckett, F. A., Residence of ( Plate XXXIV.)


Smith & Son, Hopewell, Flour- and Grist-Mill (Plate LVIII.)


170 174


126


Wilson, Mrs. Sarab C. Wilson, Mrs. Jane Wilson, Gilbert


147


Digitized by


Google


67


Howe, M.D., John Q., Residence of ( Plate LXIL) Holcomb, H., Residence of (Plate LXXVI.)


Hayes, M., Residence and Carriage Manufactory (Plate LXXVII.) Hodge, H. L., Residence of (Plate LXXIX.)


174


Map of Ontario County (Plate II.)


..


250


148


90


247


54


Pennell, John


)


178


4


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GIVING TOWNS,VILLAGES, POST OFFICES, ROADS


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PLATE II.


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Lil O ROE


HISTORY


OF


ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


BY PROF. W. H. McINTOSH.


History is the ledger of human existence; an epitome of individual and social progress; a letterea pano- rams of the past. It credits established fact, gives permanence to valuable knowledge, and preserves the foot-prints of a transitory age. Authentic in the main, it is glorious in its object-to preserve for future generations a knowledge of obligations to their predecessors.


INTRODUCTION.


" WHERE once frowned a forest, a garden is smiling; the meadow and moor- land are marshes no more," and the agencies by which these changes have been accomplished within the recollection of a few venerable men, sole survivors of a former generation, form the subject of our investigation. Although a brief period of time has elapsed since the first intrepid settlers made their appearance in the Genesee country, a vast change has remained unchronicled, and there is little ex- tant to inform the people to whom they are under obligations for many privileges. The present year revives the dormant pride of origin, and pulpit and press are active in supplying popular demand. But these efforts are ephemeral ; the address is forgotten, the paper is destroyed, and only by systematized effort in book form can the history of Ontario be preserved. Sources of information are various ; many different fountains have contributed to enlarge the current of record from its origin in vague traditions to the known and established events of the present.


Again, the nations of the old world, adventuring in frail barks upon the broad Atlantic, are seen exploring the bays and rivers of another continent, eager for treasure, and patient in search of a water route to the commerce of the Indies. The aboriginal meets them at the threshold of his forest domain, imbibes their vices, feels their power, and bars their progress westward. The Iroquois, in coun- cils of the tribe and league, foreshadow a republic by a coming race of mingled nations, and, repelling invasion, roll back the tide of war, and sweep a province, with torch and knife, well-nigh from existence.


England asserts supremacy upon the Hudson, becomes the victor in the struggle for ascendency with France, and inaugurates oppression upon her colonies, re- sulting in the War of Independence. The Six Nations ally themselves with the royal governors against the treacherous French, and lay waste with many a foray the fringe of colonial settlement. The massacres of Cherry Valley and Wyoming are followed by the famous march of Sullivan, whose cannon warned the villagers of the confederacy of his approach, whose soldiery destroyed their fields and habitations. States and General Government raise conflicting claims to lands they do not own. Vast tracts are purchased and offered to settlement at nominal rates. A tide of immigration is received ; a county is formed with the area of a State, and a town with the territory of a county. Villages spring up, and farms are surveyed and occupied. The machinery of local government is instituted by town meetings, treaties are held, and the foundation of educational institutions laid. Roads are cut through the foresta, and taverns established on their route. Led by a spirit of adventure, or earnest in seeking a home, hundreds of New England and Eastern New York people make the journey to the Phelps and Gorham pur- chase, and, delighted with the soil and climate, landscape, and future prospect, buy them homes, and thereon pass their days. As population increases, by the for- mation of new counties, area diminishes. Rude public buildings are superseded by others commensurate with progress. Newspapers are founded, and banks chartered, stage lines organized, and postal facilities afforded. Great Britain usurps authority, and the Republic, declaring war, brings home to the people engaged in clearing their lands the terrors of civilized and savage warfare. Buffalo is burned, and by regiments the aroused people rally to repel the foe. Sickness, and lack of markets, discourage some, but do not daunt the many. An exodus to Michigan is more than supplied by arrivals from the East. The Erie Canal is projected and completed. The Albany and Rochester Railroad marks the advent of rapid trans-


portation, and, having passed the pioneer and settler periods, the population had turned attention to what pursuit best entertained their fancy, when the storm of civil war darkened the land, and threatened dissolution. The men of Ontario were no laggards at Lincoln's call, and none more brave than they upon the battle- field.


To fill the outline given; to delineate the forest-life; to call the roll of early settlers, and to render them the meed of well-won honor, are objects worthy of labor,-pleasurable for perusal.


In a region rich in romance, once abounding in game, and occupied by a per- tially civilized race; in a land of beautiful hill-encircled lakes, noble foresta, and alluvial soil; and in a State whose wealth, commerce, and political power have been acknowledged in the appellation of the " Empire State," are yet living scores of the sons and daughters of the old pioneers, who have witnessed the gradations from log cabin to stately mansion ; from poverty to opulence; from a savage wild, traversed only by the Indian path, to an enlightened community, diversified by farm and village, stream and lake, and eminently noted for the culture and social rank of its citizens. Relics from the battle-field-a broken musket, a battered canteen, the fragment of a shell-are valued from association, and the lives of those who felled the original forest, gave boundaries and organization to towns, established initial enterprise, and fostered the interests of school and church, are an heir-loom to those following them. Every department of labor presents a field for investigation. Success is seen to have been evolved from failure, and retro- gression from neglect. Not a century has transpired since the first white man's cabin was erected in the forest west of the capital; no evidence exists to-day but that the country has been inhabited for ages. The study of Ontario, comprising a lordly domain, and giving of her lands to establish other and rival counties, while holding her own in generous rivalry, is a theme of no ordinary interest to her citizens; it traces no rise from obscurity of individual or community to arro- gant dominion and lawless rapine, but the gradual changes wrought by industry, whereby a sturdy yeomanry, descendants of exiles for religious freedom, sought homes in a distant forest, there endured hardships, reared their families, and lived to see their wildest fancies realised.


CHAPTER L


PRE-COLUMBIAN DISCOVERY-RIVAL CLAIMS TO TERRITORY OF NEW YORK -BASES OF CLAIMS-ENGLISH SUPREMACY-FRENCH RIVALRY.


EMPIRES had arisen, matured, and fallen, and other empires followed them. Ages had passed away, and the broad Atlantic was a dreaded barrier, and the con- tinent to the west an unknown region. Then, as now, the Falls of Niagara poured their masses of water over the precipice of the ever-lengthening canon with solemn reverberations amid the unbroken forest, and the noble Hudson swept past the Palisades on its way to the ocean; but the people who traversed these regions have left behind them little to indicate their existence, save the mounds which cover the bones of their dead. Believing in the common origin of man, the thoughtful can but ruminate upon the problem of Indian occupation. When and how came they upon this continent ? What was their progress in arts and civili- sation ? Had no advance been made by successive generations, or had they risen and then fallen to the savage state ? Nature asserts her sway in contest with cul- tivation, and the highest state of civilisation may have been extinguished by the leveling influences of time. Leaving origin to conjecture, races were found


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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


ranging from savage to civilized state, and Aztecs of Mexico, Peruvians of South America, and, far later, the Iroquois of New York, were seen as tillers of soil, architects of village hut to city temple, and numbered by thousands.


Various claims are put forth regarding the honors of first discovery of America. Eric, a Northman, emigrating from Iceland, settled in Greenland in 986. Various voyages were subsequently made by his descendants to a country they called Vinland, but, if true, resulted in no permanent effectual possession. Spanish Arabians date a discovery by them in 1140; the Venetians, in 1436; but not till 1492 do we enter upon the authentic and substantiated. During that year Christopher Columbus, while in the service of Spain, sailing westward, discovered land off the east coast of Florida, and opened a highway over the broad Atlantic. "Confining exploration and conquest to the regions of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi, Spain left the barren and unprofitable northward coast to the investi- gation of other powers.


Three nations claimed an ownership in the territory embraced in part by the present State of New York. They founded their title in the rights of discovery and occupation, and severally yielded only to the supremacy acquired by force of arms. That heterogeneous and hostile colonies should eventually unite to form part of such a nation as the United States, may well cause the most thoughtless to ponder upon our present and our future. Authorized by letters patent from Henry VII., John Cabot, a Venetian, accompanied by his son Sebastian, set out on a voyage of discovery. He touched the coast on June 24, 1497, and called the country Newfoundland. To him is ascribed the honor of being the first to see the continent of North America. Sailing southward, with occasional land- ings, Cabot reached the capes of Chesapeake Bay, and then returned to England. In 1498, Sebastian Cabot, returning, explored the coast from Newfoundland to Florida, and hence the English claim to territory eleven degrees in width, and extending from ocean to ocean. Francis I., of France, emulating the enterprise of Spain and England, sent out upon a voyage of discovery John Verrazzani, a Florentine, who thrice visited America, coursed along the coast a distance of over two thousand miles, in frail vessels, trafficked with the natives, and was the first European whose feet trod the soil of New Netherlands. Returning in safety, he gave an account of his exploration, and although he failed in finding a northwest route to the East Indies, he established for France a claim in the New World. To Holland we are indebted for the germ of New York. This nation, essentially commercial, formed a company for purposes of traffic and colonization in Africa and America, to which association was given the name of East India Company. This company engaged Henry Hudson, an adventurous navigator, to seek a northern passage to India. Two voyages were fruitless, yet, in the service of the Dutch East India Company, he made a third, which has rendered his name im- mortal.




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