USA > New York > Orleans County > Pioneer history of Orleans County, New York, containing some account of the civil divisions of western New York > Part 1
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PIONEER HISTORY
OF
ORLEANS COUNTY,
NEW YORK.
CONTAINING
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK,
WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF EARLY SETTLERS, AND OF THE HARDSITIPS AND PRIVATIONS THEY ENDURED, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNS IN THE COUNTY, TOGETHER WITHI
LISTS OF TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICERS,
SINCE THE COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED,
WITH ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES, ILLUSTRATING THE
CHARACTER AND CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE,
.
BY
ARAD
THOMAS. 1.
ALBION, N. Y. : HI. A. BRUNER, ORLEANS AMERICAN STEAM PRESS PRINT. 1871
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by ARAD THOMAS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern District of New York.
F127 DATA
Dedication.
ΤΟ ΤΠΕ ORLEANS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION, BY REQUEST OF MANY OF WHOSE MEMBERS TIHIS WORK WAS UNDERTAKEN, BY WHOM THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN GREATLY AIDED IN PREPARING IT, AND TO WHOM HIE FEELS UNDER OBLIGATIONS FOR MANY PERSONAL FAVORS, THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE
AUTHOR.
·
PREFACE.
THE origin of this book is briefly this : The Orleans County Pioneer Association had collected a volume in: manuscript of local history of many of its members, written by themselves, which they desired to have published.
Some difficulty existed in getting out the work by the Association, and the author was requested by many of his friends to get up a book on his own ac- count, which should contain the substance of the his- tories referred to, and such other matter connected with the Pioneer History of Orleans County, as might. be'of general interest to readers.
The author has used the records of the Association, taking some histories of Pioneers in full, as written. by themselves ; and extracting and condensing. from others such parts as he thought of more general inter -. est, and as his space would allow.
Many of his facts he has collected from his own knowledge, and from the testimony of early settlers, and others acquainted with the matter.
To those who have so kindly aided him by such in- formation as they possessed, he returns his sincerest thanks, particularly to Messrs. Asa Sanford, Matthew Gregory and Hon. Robert Anderson, for their gener- ous contributions of material for this book.
The character of this book being local, many names, of persons, and events of private history have been in- troduced, of little interest perhaps out of the families. and neighborhood of the parties ; but with these the: author has endeavored to collect and preserve the
V
PREFACE.
memory of such events of a more public character, as marked the progress of settlement of this portion of the Holland Purchase, and as may be worthy of remembrance.
For this purpose O'Reiley's Sketches of Rochester, Turner's History of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, and of the Holland Purchase, and French's Gazetteer of New York, have been consulted, and such extracts and compilations made as could be found there.
It has been an object, kept in view, to collect as much personal reminiscence as possible, for the grat- ification of the older inhabitants of Orleans County, for whom the book was more particularly designed.
Errors in dates, events, names and narratives, no doubt may be found in the work. Such errors are unavoidable in giving details of statements of aged people, often conflicting in their character, and the in- telligent reader may sometimes regret that he finds no notice here of facts and incidents in the Pioneer His- tory of this region of country, which he may deem of more importance than much of the matter the book contains.
Some such facts and incidents may not have come to the notice of the author, and he has been compell- ed to omit much matter of interest, lest his work should be too large, beyond the plan proposed.
Much as apology may seem to be needed, the au- thor has little to make, more than to say he is not a professional book maker, and has no hope of found- ing a literary reputation on this work. He has little fear therefore of critics, and will be happy, if by this labor he has pleased the old settlers of Orleans County and done his part to save from oblivion, good matter for history, fast passing away ; for in the beautiful language of Whittier-
" Still from the hurrying train of life, fly backward far and fast, "The mile stones of the fathers,-the landmarks of the past."
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. The Indians of Western New-York-Their Traditionary History-An- cient Fortifications in Shelby-Their Friendship for the White Man in the War of 1812-Fishing and Hunting.
CHAPTER II.
Phelps and Gorham's Purchase-When made-Territory Included in -Consolidated Securities-Their Sale to Robert Morris-Divisions of their Purchase-The Triangle.
CHAPTER III.
The 100,000 Acre Tract-Boundaries-Dr. Levi Ward-Levi A. Ward -Joseph Fellows-Transit Line.
CHAPTER IV.
The Holland Purchase-Names of Company-Location of Tract-Sur- veys-Ceded by Indians-Counties in New-York One Hundred Years Ago-Genesee Country-Genesee County and its Subdivisions-Jo- seph Ellicott and brother Benj., Surveyors-Agent of the Company -Land Office-Where Located-Practice in Locating Land-Arti- cles-Clemency of the Land Company-Deeding Lots for School Houses-Land Given to Religious Societies-Anecdote of Mr. Busti Rey. Andrew Rawson-Route of Travel to Orleans County-Oak Orchard Creek and Johnson's Creek-Why so Named-Kinds of l'orest Trees-Wild Animals-Salmon and other Fish-Rattlesnakes -Raccoons and Hedgehogs-Beaver Dams-Fruits-Effect of Clear- ing Land on Climate-The Tonawanda Swamps.
CHAPTER V.
The Log House -- Description-How Built -- Windows and Door-Walls Raised at a Bee-Chimneys-Ovens-Cellars-Double Log House- Copied after Indian Wigwam-Fires-Great Back Log-Lights.
CIIAPTER VI.
Log House Furniture-Beds and Bedding-Fire Place-Ilooks and Trammel-Bake Pan-Table-Chairs-Pewter Spoons-Blue Edged Plates-Black Earthen Tea Pots.
CHAPTER VII.
Clearing Land and First Crops-Cutting down the Trees-Black Salts -Slashing-Clearing-Fallow-Planting and Sowing-Harvesting and Cleaning Up-How Done.
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Hardships and Privations-Want of Breadstuff-Scarcity of Mills -- Difficulty of getting Grain Ground-Mill on a Stump-Fever and Ague-Quinine and Blue Pill-No Post Office-Keeping Cattle- Difficulty Keeping Fire-Instance of Fire Out-Want of Good Water -No Highways-Discouragement from Sickness-Social Amuse- ments-Hospitality-Early Merchants-Their Stores and Goods- Domestic Mannfactures-Post Offices and Mails.
CHAPTER IX.
The Erie Canal-When Begun-Effect-Rise in Price of Everything- Progress of Improvement-Carriages on Springs. ,
CHAPTER X.
Public Highways-The Ridge Road-When Laid Out-Appropriation -Oak Orchard Road-Opened by Holland Company-Road from Shelby to Oak Orchard in Barre-Salt Works Roads-State Road along Canal-Judge Porter's Account of first Tracing the Ridge Road.
CHAPTER XI.
Railroads-Medina and Darien-Medina and Lake Ontario-Roches- ter, Lockport and Niagara Falls.
CHAPTER XII.
State of Education-School Houses -- Description-Gaines Academy- Other Academies and Schools.
CHAPTER XIIL.
State of Religion-Religious Feeling among the People-Ministers and Missionaries-Meeting House in Gaines-First in County-Building.
CHAPTER XIV.
Burying Grounds-Mount Albion Cemetery-Boxwood Cemetery.
CHAPTER XV.
Town of Barre-First settled along Oak Orchard Road-Land Given by the Holland Company to Congregational Society-Congregational Church-Presbyterian Church in Albion-First Tavern-First Store -First Lawyer-First Doctor-First Deed of Land to Settler-Deeds of Land in Albion-First House in Albion-Death of Mrs. McCallis- ter-First Warehouse-First Saw Mill-First Grist Mill-Trade in Lumber-First Ball-First Town Meeting-Fourth of July, 1821- First Wedding in Albion-Story-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XVI.
Village of Albion-First Inhabitants-First Business Men-Strife with Gaines for Court House-Strategy used by Albion men to get Conrt House-First Court House-Second Court House -- County Jail- First Hotel-First Warehouse-Stone Flouring Mill-Lawyers-Drs. Nichoson and White-First Tanyard-First Blacksmiths-Name of the Village.
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
Town of Carlton-Name-Lumber Trade-First Settlement of White Men in County-James Walsworth-Village of Manilla-Names of Persons who took Articles of Land in Carlton in 1803, 1804 and 1805 -Matthew Dunham-Curious Mill to Pound Corn-Dunham's Saw Mill and Grist Mill-First in County-First Frame Barn-The Union Company-Death of Elijah Brown-First Children Born in Town- First Store-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Town of Clarendon-Difficulty in getting Titles from Pultney Estate- Eldredge Farwell-Farwell's Mills-First School-First Merchants -J. and D. Sturgess-First Postmaster-First Physician-Presbyte- rian Church-First Town Meeting-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XIX.
Town of Gaines-First Settlers-Case of Getting Fire-Noah Burgess -Mrs. Burgess-Cutting Logs for a House-First Orchard-First School House-Drake's Mill Dam and Saw Mill-Organization of McCarty's Militia Company-Their Scout after British and Indians -Dr. Jesse Beach-Orange Butler-First Marriage-First Birth- First Newspaper in Orleans County-First Tayern-Store-Grist Mill-First Merchants-James Mather Dealing in Black Salts, &c .- Business at Gaines Basin-Village of Gaines-Gaines Academy-Ef- forts to Locate Court House Here-Trade in Other Localities-Biog- raphies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XX.
Town of Kendall-Partitioned between State of Connecticut and Pult- ney Estate-First Settler-First Marriage-First Birth-First Tav- ern-First Death-First Store-First School-First Saw Mill-First Public Religious Service-First Physician-First Highway from Kendall Corners to Ridge-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXI.
Town of Murray-Towns Set Off-First Tavern-First Marriage-First Birth-First Death-First Store-First Grist Mill-First School- First Church-Sandy Creek-McCall & Perry's Mill-Sickness at Sandy Creek-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXII.
Village of Holley-Arcovester Hamlin-First Store-Post Office- Frisbie & Seymour-Early Merchants-First Sawmill-Lawyer- Tavern-Justice of the Peace-Salt Brine-Mammoth Tooth-Salt Port-Presbyterian Church-Salt Spring.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Village of Hulberton-Joseph Budd-Canal Basin-First Warehouse -First Grocery-First Tavern-I. H. S. Hulbert-First Named Scio -Methodist Society-Abijah Reed and Sons.
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Village of Hindsburgh-Jacob Luttenton-Jacob Hinds and Brothers -First Warehouse-Jabez Allison-First Hotel.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Town of Ridgeway-Formed from Batavia-First Town Meeting -Turner & White's Grist Mill-First Saw Mill-Dr. White-Salt Works-First School-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Village of Medina-Saw Mill by Land Company-Evan's Grist Mill- Canal Feeder-Nixon's Brewery-Coan's Store-First Tavern-First Merchants-Physician -- Attorney-Quarries -- Justus Ingersoll-Bap- tist Meeting House ..
CHAPTER XXVII.
Village of Knowlesville-Wm. Knowles, Founder and First Settler- First Clearing-First Framed House-First Tavern-First Ware- house-First Boat Load of Wheat-First Ashery-First School House-Post Office-First Religious Society.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Town of Shelby-Jo. Ellicott Locating Land-Ellicott's Mills-Road from Oak Orchard Road to Shelby-Salt Works Road-Anecdote of Luther Porter-Col. A. A. Ellicott-Ball in Ellicott's Mill-Abner Hunt-Fiddler Hackett-First Physician-Post Office-Iron Foun- dry-Tannery-Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Town of Yates-Formerly Northton-George Houseman-Discourage- ment to Early Settlement-First Deed-Tappan's Tavern-Liquor Sold-First Marriage-First Death-First Store-First School-Bi- ographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXX.
Biographical Notices of Joseph Ellicott and Ebenezer Mix
APPENDIX.
Towns in Orleans County-Their Organization-Villages in Orleans County-Table of Elevations-Members of Assembly Elected from Orleans County since its Organization-County Clerks of Orleans County-County Treasurers-County Superintendents of Common Schools-First Judges of Orleans County Courts-District Attorneys of Orleans County-Sheriffs of Orleans County-Surrogates of Or- leans County-First Courts of Record-Supervisors of the Different Towns in Orleans County since their Organization-The Orleans County Pioneer Association-First Annual Address, Delivered be- fore the Orleans County Pioneer Association, Sept. 10, 1859, by Arad Thomas. .
.
INTRODUCTION.
AFTER the discovery of America by Columbus, the first settlement on the Atlantic coast by Europeans was made by English and Dutch, on the south, and by French on the extreme north. Ascending the great river St. Lawrence, the French founded the cities of Quebec and Montreal ; and following the river and the lakes westward, they established the settlements at Pittsburgh and Detroit, many years before the En- glish settled Western New-York.
The Algonquins and Hurons inhabited Canada East at the coming of the French. With these, from mo- tives of policy, they formed an alliance. These Cana- dian Indians, and the Iroquois of Western New York .. were at war with each other. The French joined their Indian allies in this war, and thus incurred the invet- orate hostility of the Iroquois.
Many desperate battles were fought between the French and these Indians with various success. The Algonquins and Hurons were driven out of their coun- try, or destroyed, and the Iroquois came near exter- minating the French settlements in Canada. They effectually prevented their locating themselves in New York, although they claimed this whole territory. A few French missionaries only of their people were tol- erated by the Iroquois within their country, except at the mouth of the Niagara River, where the French established a trading post in 1678. This was taken by the English under Sir William Johnson, in 1759, and retained by them until it was surrendered to the United States in 1796.
xi
INTRODUCTION.
In 1722, a trading house was built at Oswego, under the direction of the Colonial government of New-York ; and in 1727, this was strengthened by a fort.
The French protested against this eneroachment up- on the territory they claimed, by the English, and sev- eral times sent military expeditions to drive them out.
These English establishments at Oswego were taken by the French in 1756, and destroyed. They were rebuilt by the English in 1758, and continued in their possession until 1796 ; they were surrendered to the United States under Jay's treaty.
The French kept up communication through Lake Ontario, between their western settlements and Que- bec, but made no other location within the bounds of New-York, being kept back by the power of the In- dians.
In 1760, a powerful army of British, Indians, and Provincial Americans, was sent into Canada, under Gen. Amherst. To these forces the French surrender- ed Canada and all their western possessions, which included their claim to Western New York.
The Iroquois, or Six Nations, having early entered into relations of amity and friendship with the English, remained true to their engagements after the overthrow of the French in America, and so down to the time of the Revolution.
At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, Gen. Philip Schuyler, in a council with the chiefs of the Six Nations, at German Flats, in June, 1776, had ob- tained their promise to remain neutral in that war .- After the war had been some time in progress, howev- er, Sir John Johnson, Brant, Col. John Butler and other tories of that day, prevailed on the Indians to violate their pledge, and take up arms against the Americans ; and with the exception of the Tuscaroras and Oneidas, they remained the firm friends of the British through that war.
xii
INTRODUCTION.
Under the influence of the Johnsons, a large pro- portion of the white inhabitants in the Valley of the Mohawk were tories; these uniting with the hostile Indians, led by Butler, Brant and others made incur- sions, carrying murder and devastation along the fron- tier settlements of the Colonies, and retreating with their prisoners and plunder to the British strongholds at Niagara and Oswego, where they were safe.
This predatory warfare continued at intervals, from 1775 to 1779, along the Mohawk and Susquehanna rivers more especially.
In 1779, Gen. Sullivan, with an army of five thou- sand men, was sent by Gen. Washington to punish the Indians and tories of New-York, for their conduct in the war. He encountered them in force in a forti- fied camp near Elmira, where they were defeated with great loss. The army of Gen. Sullivan pursued the enemy to Canandaigua, thence through their villages in Livingston County, destroying everything belong- ing to the Indians on their route. But few of the In- dians were killed after the battle at Elmira ; but they were thoroughly frightened, wasted and vanquished, and never afterwards resumed the occupancy of their settlements east of the Genesee river, but on their re- turn from flight before Sullivan, they located near Geneseo, Gardeau, Mount Morris and other places in the western part of the State. The Oneidas not hay- ing engaged in the war, were not disturbed in their homes.
The Indians were terribly beaten and humbled by this expedition of Gen. Sullivan, and from that time forward remained peaceful toward the whites.
PIONEER HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
THE INDIANS OF WESTERN NEW-YORK.
Their Traditionary History-Ancient Fortification in Shelby-Their Friendship for the White Men in the War of 1812-Fishing and Hunting.
HISTORY of the Indians, who inhabited Western New-York at the coming of the white men to reside among them, is compar- atively unknown. Their own traditionary accounts go back but little more than a century, but the nu- merous relics and "ruins" and the marks of ancient fortifications, upon which no doubt human labor and skill have been employed, which are found scattered over all this region of country, seem to prove conclu- sively that here men have lived for many centuries past.
All these traces of former habitations of men are found within the bounds of Orleans County. When they were made, and by whom, seems to be as inex- plicable to the Indian of the present day as to his white brother. The commonly entertained opinion, of those who have investigated the subject most, is that this country has been inhabited by a people of higher civilization and more skilled in the arts than those found here and known as the Six Nations, who have become long since extinct.
The most considerable of these "ancient fortifica- tions" to be found in Orleans County is thus described in Turner's History :
14
PIONEER HISTORY
" About one and one-half miles west of Shelby Cen- ter, in Orleans County, is an ancient work. A broad ditch eneloses in a form nearly circular, about three acres of land. The ditch is at this day well defined several feet deep. Adjoining the spot on the south is a swamp, about a mile in width, by two in length .- This swamp was once doubtless, if not a lake, an im- passable morass. From the interior of the enclosure made by the ditch, there is what appears to have been a passage way on the side next to the swamp. No other breach occurs in the entire circuit of the em- bankment. There are accumulated, within and near this fort, large piles of small stones of a size conveni- ent to be thrown by the hand or with a sling. Arrow heads of flint are found in or near the enclosure, in great abundance, stones, axes, &c. Trees of four hundred years growth stand upon the embankment, and underneath them have been found earthen wares, pieces of plates or dishes wrought with skill, present- ing ornaments in relief of various patterns. Some skeletons almost entire have been exhumed ; many of giant size, not less than seven or eight feet in lengthi. The skulls are large and well developed in the anteri- or lobe, broad between the ears, and flattened in the coronal region.
Half a mile west of the fort is a sand hill. Here a large number of human skeletons have been exhumed, in a perfect state. Great numbers appear to have been buried in the same grave. Many of the skulls appear to have been broken in with clubs or stones."
The Indians found actually occupying this part of the country when white men began to settle here were the Senecas, a tribe of the Six Nations. They had no village or permanent settlement within Orleans Coun- ty ; but they counted this as part of their territory, and occupied it as their hunting and fishing grounds, and were accustomed to follow these pursuits here .-
1
15
OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Their places of residence were their villages in Genesee and Niagara Counties. These Indians were friendly to the whites, and the pioneer settlers of Orleans County never feared their hostility. In the war of 1812, with Great Britain, they took up arms on the side of the United States, and made themselves use- ful to us in checking the invasions of the hostile In- dians from Canada, who acted with the British.
These Indians had formerly been favorably dispos- ed to the British Government, and it was a source of alarm at the breaking out of the war lest they should be found with their ancient allies. Their great chief, Red Jacket, counseled them to maintain neutrality. This neutral state was construed unfavorably by the pioneers, and rumors of contemplated Indian atroci- ties were circulated from time to time, until the Sene- cas had resolved to take up the hatchet with us.
The rapid settlement of the county by white men had the effect to diminish the number of wild game animals, which the Indians had been accustomed to hunt ; and fishing in the Oak Orchard and Johnson's Creeks, with seines and nets, soon exterminated the salmon and drove away other kinds of fish that had formerly come up these streams from Lake Ontario in abundance, until the Indians found their occupation worthless and ceased to come here.
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