USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 38
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Ebenezer Allen, known as Indian Allen, the first miller of Rochester, a monster of wickedness, settled here soon after the revolution, but in a few years removed.
The principal founders and benefactors of the county were William and James Wadsworth, who emigrated from Connec- ticut in 1790. They purchased large tracts of land, which, by the rapid tide of immigration, soon became very valuable. Many of the early settlers were from Connecticut, and their enterprise and industry has made them wealthy.
VILLAGES. GENESEO, in the town of the same name, is the seat of justice for the county. It is pleasantly situated, about a mile from the river, on the terrace back of the flats. It is well built, and has considerable trade. The Geneseo academy, for- merly the Livingston county high school, of which Mr. Wads- worth was the chief benefactor, is located here. It has a spa- cious building, and is well endowed.
In this town are situated the Wadsworth farms, located on the broad alluvial flats of the Genesee, and celebrated for their fertility and superior cultivation. The mansion of the late James Wadsworth is, perhaps, unsurpassed in the state for the beauty of its location. Population 1600.
Avon, in the town of the same name, has become a favorite resort of late for invalids and pleasure seekers, from all sec- tions of the country. The healing virtues of its justly cele- brated springs were known to the Senecas, long before the country was visited by the whites. Red Jacket, a distinguished Seneca chief, was accustomed to resort to them. Population 800.
Upon the Genesee flats in this town, the Mechoacan, wild potatoe vine, or man of the ground, (Convolvulus panduratus,) is found abundantly. It has a large bulbous root, three or four feet in length, and frequently six or eight inches in di- ameter. It is a mild cathartic, resembling rhubarb in its effects.
There is a pond on the flats irregularly circular in forin, a neck of land runs into it and expands within the circle, and upon this are remains of Indian fortifications.
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Lima, situated in the town of the same name, is a beautiful village, remarkable for the neatness of its dwellings. The Gen- esce Wesleyan seminary, located here, is under the control of the Methodists. It was incorporated in 1834, and placed under the visitation of the Regents of the University in 1836. It is well endowed, and in a highly flourishing condition. Popula- tion 600.
Mount Morris, in the town of the same name, is a finely sit- uated, thriving village, settled in 1804, by emigrants from Con- necticut. It is considerably engaged in manufactures. Popula- tion 1400.
Dansville, in the town of North Dansville, at the head of the Genesee valley, forty-five miles from Rochester, is a large, thriving and busy village. It is extensively engaged in manu- factures, and has an abundant supply of hydraulic power. Pa- per, flour, leather, iron, cloth, and lumber, in large quantities, are among its principal manufactures. A branch of the Genesee Valley canal extends to this village. Population 1800.
Nunda, in the town of the same name, on the proposed line of the Genesee Valley canal, is a place of considerable business. It has a flourishing academy, and several manu- factories. The town in which it is situated was annexed to Livingston county, by the legislature, in 1846. Population 1100.
Portageville is in the town of Portage, on the west bank of the Genesee river, where it enters the gorge, and is surrounded by beautiful and picturesque scenery. It has great facilities for manufacturing. This town, like the preceding, was taken from Allegany in 1846. The falls and tunnel here are worthy of notice. Population about 1000.
LII. MONROE COUNTY.
Square miles, 607. Organized, 1821.
Population, 70,899. Valuation, 1845, $14,351,436.
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TOWNS.
1. Chili, 1802.
2. Gates, 1802.
3. Greece, 1802.
13. Rochester, 1817.
4. Parma, 1808.
14. Henrietta, 1818.
5. Riga, 1808.
15. Rush, 1818.
16. Clarkson, 1819.
7. Mendon, 1812.
8. Perrinton, 1812.
9. Sweden, 1913.
10. Brighton, 1814.
11. Pittsford, 1814.
12. Ogden, 1817.
17. Wheatland, 1821.
18. Irondequoit, 1837.
19. Webster, 1838.
Rivers. N. Genesee. a. Sandy Creek. b. Black Creek. C. Allen. d. Honeoye. e Salmon. f. Little Salmon, h. Irondequoit. Falls. p. Genesee Falls. Honeoye Falls.
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Lakes and Bays. J. Ontario. i. Teoronto, or Irondequoit Bay. j. Braddock's Bay. k. Duck Pond. 1. Long Pond.
Cities and Villages. ROCHESTER. Pittsford. Brockport.
BOUNDARIES. North by Lake Ontario; East by Wayne coun- ty ; South by Ontario and Livingston counties, and West by Genesee and Orleans counties.
SURFACE. This county, like Orleans and' Niagara, is divided into terraces by the Ridge-Road, and the mountain ridge, which cross it from east to west. The surface as a whole declines gradually towards the lake. The terrace, at Rochester, is 270 feet above Lake Ontario, and sixty-four feet below the upper terrace, which is nearly on a level with Lake Erie.
On the shores of Irondequoit bay, and Irondequoit creek, are numerous conical sand hills, sometimes single, at others united, and rising to an average height of 200 feet.
RIVERS. The Genesee is the principal stream. Its tribu- taries are the Honeoye creek, from the east, and Black, and Allen's creeks, from the West.
Sandy, Salmon, Little Salmon, Ru h and Irondequoit creeks, flow directly into the lake.
BAYS. Teoronto or Irondequoit Bay, Duck Pond, Long Pond, and Braddock's, or Bradlow's Bay, are the principal of the nu- merous inlets of' e lake, upon the coast of this county.
The name of the first (Teoronto) is of Indian origin, and signifies "the place where the waves gasp and expire."
CLIMATE. The climate of this county, influenced by the near- ness to the lake, is mild and equable, and the thermometer has a less average range, than in most parts of the state. Pul- monary affections are, however, becoming increasingly preva- lent.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The basis rock of the county is the Medina sandstone, which is widely expanded, and makes its ap- pearance at the surface along the shore of the lake. Above this lies the Clinton group, thinner than in Wayne; next the Niag- ara group, abounding in fossils ; next the Onondaga salt group, which is well developed in some parts of the county, and con- tains numerous beds of gypsum.
There are several salt springs in the county, but the brine is not sufficiently strong to render them valuable. Sulphur springs are numerous, but few of them are visited. The Monroe springs, five miles from Rochester, are the most cele- brated. There are also springs strongly impregnated with sulphur in the town of Ogden. There is a mineral spring at Riga containing iron.
Marl is abundant in Wheatland, Chili, and Riga. Gypsum occurs in large quantities in Wheatland. A bed of argillaceous iron ore extends from the Gen- esee river to the eastern limit of the county, but it is little worked.
Blende and galena, the sulphurets of lead and zinc, are also found in the county in small quantities. Fire stone, a magnesian earth used for lining stoves and
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fire-places, is found abundantly in Ogden and Sweden. There is some limestone suitable for building.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is gravelly loam, usually of great depth, and by the aid of disintegrated limestone, is rendered perpetually fertile.
The timber is mainly oak, beech, and maple, frequently very dense, but in the oak openings more sparse. In the swamps are black oak, pine, and tamarack.
The Genesee wheat, so abundantly raised in this county, is found, on analysis, to contain more saccharine matter than that of the southern states, and to com- bine with less water in the composition of bread. The superiority of is flour is too well known to need remark.
PURSUITS. Agriculture holds a ligh rank among the pur- suits of the people of this county. It is the largest grain county in the state. In 1845, there were raised in the county 1,338,000 bushels of wheat, besides large quantities of other grains.
Manufactures are also in a highly flourishing condition. The county contains, perhaps, the largest flouring mills in the world, and produces flour annually to the value of more than two and a half millions of dollars. Lumber, cloths, iron, pa- per, and leather are also extensively manufactured.
Commerce. A steamer plies on tie Genesee, between Ro- chester and Avon, in Livingston county. Steamers from the lake ascend the Genesee to Carthage, which is the port of Ro- chester ; the Erie canal receives a large portion of its immense freights from this county. There are no mines of importance.
THE STAPLE PRODUCTION is wheat. Considerable quantities of butter, wool, and pork are also produced.
SCHOOLS. There are in the county 240 school-houses. The schools were taught, during the year 1846, an average period of nine months. 19,448 children received instruction, at a cost of $33,994. The libraries of the districts contained 34,468 vol- umes.
There were sixteen private schools in the county, attended by 297 children, and eight academies and female seminaries, with 432 pupils.
The organization of the Rochester city schools has been described at page 125. The Rochester university was incorporated in 1846.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Presby- terians, Congregationalists, Friends, Universalists, Episcopa- lians, Roman Catholics, Unitarians, Dutch Reformed, and Lu- therans.
HISTORY. This county was settled principally by emigrants from New England, with a few from other states, and other sections of New York,
In 1726, a station was established at Teoronto or Ironde- quoit bay, to secure the Indian trade.
In 1796, the first permanent settlement was made at Han- ford's landing, where was erected the first house in this county,
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west of Genesce river. Indian Allen, so notorious in the his- tory of this region, erected a grist mill and saw mill on the hundred acre lot on which part of the city of Rochester now stands, in 1789, receiving a deed of a hundred acres of land ad- joining, from Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, the proprietors, for his encouragement.
In a few years, these decayed and were abandoned. Roches- ter was not settled till 1811, and was laid out as a village in 1812.
In 1813, the Seneca Indians held a great sacrifice and thanks- giving of several days continuance, on the present site of Ro- chester.
The terror inspired by the incursions of the British and their savage allies, during the late war, prevented the rapid settle- ment of the county .* After the close of that war, however, its growth was astonishingly rapid. The completion of the Erie canal, by opening a market for the productions of its fertile soil, gave a new impulse to its prosperity, and it is now one of the most populous counties in the state.
CITIES AND VILLAGES. ROCHESTER city lies on both sides of the Genesee river, seven miles from Lake Ontario. It is finely situated and handsomely built. The streets are generally wide and well paved. The two sections of the city are connected by several bridges, and by the splendid aqueduct of the Erie canal. It has many fine edifices, among its churches and public build- ings.
* In 1814, Sir James Yeo, with thirteen vessels of various sizes, appeared off the mouth of the Genesee river, threatening the destruction of the infant settlement. There were but thirty-three people in Rochester capable of bearing arıns. They assembled, together with the few who could be gathered from the other settlements, and hurried down to the mouth of the river. The militia were undisciplined and not in uniform, but they were brave and determined. They were marched and counter-marched through the woods, in order to deceive the eneiny in regard to their numbers. Presently an officer was sent from the British fleet with a flag of truce. He was received by ten of the most soldier like of the militia, who, in order to be ready for action. kept fast hold of the triggers of their muskets. The Brit- ish officer expressing his surprise at this, the officer, to rectify his mistake, order- ed his men to ground arms. This astonished the British officer still more, and believing their ignorance to be feigned, he hurried back to the fleet, fully satisfied that a plot was laid for them.
In the afternoon of the same day another officer was sent with a flag of truce, the object of the enemy being, if possible, to obtain the provisions stored there, without endangering their own safety. Captain Francis Brown was deputed with a guard to receive the flag. The officer was still suspicious, and finally asked that the military stores and provisions should be given up, on the condition that the set- tlements were spared by Sir James Yeo. "No," was the prompt reply of the patriotic Brown, " Blood knee deep first." While this parley was in progress, an American officer with his staff, on their return from Fort Niagara, were accident- ally seen, passing from one wooded point to another. This confirmed the suspi- cions of the British officer, and on his return to the fleet, a vigorous attack was Inade upon the woods with bomb shells and balls, which were returned with some effect by a rusty old six pounder, which had been furbished and remounted for the occasion.
After a few hours, Admiral Yeo slipped his cables and ran down to Pulteneyville, where, to his mortification, he learned how he had been outwitted by a handful of militia.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
This city owes its rapid growth to the vast hydraulic power created by the falls of the Genesee river, which amount to 268 feet within the bounds of the city, there being three falls of ninety-six, twenty, and 105 feet, besides rapids. The passage of the Erie canal through the city, and the navigability of the Genesee river, above and below the falls, render it a central point for the immense trade of the fertile counties by which it is surounded.
ester was laid out in 1812 by Nathaniel Rochester, Charles Carrol and William Fitzhugh, and received the name of the senior proprietor. In 1816 it numbered but 331 inhabit- ants ; and in 1817 it was incorporated as a village, under the name of Rochesterville. In 1834 it received a charter as a city, and now (1846) has a population of more than 25,000 inhab- itants .*
The quantity, as well as the quality of the flour manufactured here, entitle the city to rank among the first flour markets in the world. Between one and two millions of dollars are invested in this business.
Brockport, a village in the town of Sweden, is pleasantly sit- uated on the line of the canal. It has a large trade, particularly in grain. The collegiate school edifice, erected by the citizens at an expense of $25,000, is a noble stone building, five stories high. Population 2000.
Wheatland is appropriately named; the fertility of its soil and its adaptation to the culture of grain is such as to render it the granary of the county. It is rich also in gypsum and marl.
Scottsville, in this town, was founded by Isaac Scott, in 1800. It is a thriving village, and has some manufactures. Popula- tion 600.
Mumfordsville and Garbellsmills are small villages in the town.
West Mendon, in the town of Mendon, is a manufacturing village of some importance.
Port Genesee, at the mouth of the Genesee river, in the town of Greece, has a customhouse, lighthouse, several large warehouses, &c. Its harbor is good, having thirty feet water within the bar. It has some trade.
Pittsford, in the town of the same name, is a thriving village on the canal. Population 800.
# About the commencement of the present century, it was proposed in the leg- islature of New York, to build a bridge across the Genesee river, at the present site of Rochester. The project was strongly opposed, and one member remarked that it was "a God forsaken place, inhabited only by muskrats, and visited only by straggling trappers, through which neither man nor beast could gallop without fear of starvation, or fever and ague."'
LIII. YATES COUNTY.
Square miles, 320. Organized, 1823.
Population, 20,777. Valuation, $4,207,936.
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TOWNS
1. Jerusalem, 1759.
2. Middlesex, 1789.
3. Benton, 1803.
4. Italy, 1815.
5. Milo, 1818.
6. Barrington, 1822.
7. Starkey, 1824.
8. Potter, 1832.
Rivers. a. Crooked Lake Outlet. c. Big Stream. e. Flint Creek. f. West.
Lakes. BB. Seneca. h. Canandaigua. m. Crooked.
Villages. PENN YAN. Rushville. Bellona. Dresden. -
BOUNDARIES. North by Ontario county ; East by Seneca lake ; South by Steuben county, and West by Crooked and Cananda- igua lakes, and Ontario county.
SURFACE. The surface of this county is greatly elevated. It lies on the northern declivity of t e ridge which separates the waters of the Susquehanna from those flowing into the lakes and the St. Lawrence. The southern extremity of the county is elevated from 1200 to 1300 feet above tide water, and in the town of Barrington attains the height of 1600 feet. From this height it descends to the surface of the Canandaigua and Sen- eca lakes-the former of which is 670, and the latter about 420 feet above the level of the ocean.
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The hills, however, are never abrupt, but generally gently waving, and rounded at their summits.
RIVERS AND CREEKS. The principal streams of the county are Flint creek, Crooked lake outlet, connecting Crooked and Sen- eca lakes; West river, a tributary of Canandaigua lake, and Big and Rock streams flowing into Seneca lake. The Crooked lake canal follows the course of the outlet.
LAKES. Seneca lake forms the entire eastern boundary of the county. Two-thirds of Crooked lake lie within its limits, and Canandaigua lake forms its northwestern boundary.
CLIMATE. The climate is temperate and healthful, and for the cultivation of fruit is not surpassed by that of any county in the state.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The Ludlowville shale is the pre- vailing rock, and approaches the surface in the southern part of the county. The soil above this is a marly clay, highly fertile, and particularly favorable to grass crops. The northern portion of the county belongs to the great central limestone for - mation, but the limestone alternates with slate.
Sulphate of iron (copperas) is found native in the eastern part of the county. There is a valuable sulphur spring near the foot of Crooked lake. An inflamma- ble gas spring has been discovered near Rushville, and a very productive brine spring has been found at the Big stream falls, near Dundee, in the town of Starkey.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The timber of the county is large, but not so dense as in some other sections. It consists of oak, hickory, chestnut, black and white walnut, wild cherry, maple, beech, linden, poplar, ash, &c. The apple, pear, plum, cherry, melons and grapes, are all very successfully cultivated here.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the pursuit of a majority of the in- habitants-the elevated and diversified surface of the county renders it well adapted to grazing. In portions of it, however, grain is successfully cultivated.
Manufactures are attracting some attention. The principal articles manufactured are flour, lumber, woollen cloths, oil, dis- tilled liquors and leather.
The commerce of the county is confined to lake and canal nav- igation, and is not very extensive. There are no mines of im- portance.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Wheat, oats, corn, barley, butter, wool and pork.
SCHOOLS. There are in the county 106 public school houses. In these, schools were taught an average period of seven months, in 1846. The number of volumes in the district libraries is 13,644 ; 6536 children were instructed during the year, at an expense of $8789.
There were in the county eighteen private schools, with 218 pupils, and one academy, with twenty-six scholars.
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RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodlists, Baptists, Presbyte- ians, Episcopalians, Congregationalists and Dutch Reformed. There are forty-five churches, and forty-one clergymen, of all denominations, in the county.
HISTORY. This county was entirely included in the Massa- chusetts grant, and formed a portion of the Pulteney estate. The first inhabitants were from New England and Pennsylvania.
This county was the residence of the celebrated Jemima Wil- kinson, during the latter part of her life .*
VILLAGES, &c. PENN YAN, the seat of justice for the county, is a village in the town of Milo. It is pleasantly situated at the foot of Crooked lake, and received its name from the circum- stance that its original inhabitants were Pennsylvanians and Yankees, in equal numbers. Population 2500.
Jerusalem, one of the earliest settled towns in the county, is fertile and well cultivated. Bluff point is a high bold tongue of land extending between the arms of Crooked lake. The landscape, which spreads itself before the beholder, from this lofty headland, is one of the most picturesque and beautiful afforded by the scenery of the smaller lakes.
Starkey is a hilly but well watered town. The falls of Big stream, in this town, are worthy of the attention, both of the ge- ologist and traveller. The stream, after dashing over a rapid half a mile in length, leaps down 140 feet, into a basin eight or ten rods in diameter, from whence its foaming waters find their way to the lake, by a channel some eighty rods in length.
Dundee is a busy and thriving village in the town of Starkey. It has some manufactures. Population 1000.
* Jemima Wilkinson, or as she styled herself. the " Universal Friend," was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island, about the year 1753. She was educated among the Friends. When about twenty-three years of age, she was taken sick, and during her illness an apparent suspension of life occurred. After her recov- ery she professed to have been raised from the dead, and to have been invested with divine attributes, and authority to instruct mankind in religion. She also pre- tended to foretell future events, and to possess the power to heal the sick and to work miracles ; and if any person who made application to her was not healed, she ascribed it to a want of faith. She asserted that those who refused to believe her claims, would be forever punished for their incredulity. She possessed ex- traordinary beauty, and though illiterate, discovered great tact in maintaining her extraordinary pretensions. Iler memory was said to be very retentive. She set- tled at Milo, in this county, with her followers, in 1790, and subsequently removed to Bluff Point, where she died, in IS19. The settlement at Milo numbered about forty familes, and was then the largest in the whole Genesee country. A few of her disciples still remain at Bluff Point.
LIV. WAYNE COUNTY.
Square miles, 572.
Population. 42,515.
Organized, 1823.
Valuation, 1845, $6,818,533.
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TOWNS.
1. Palmyra, 1789.
2. Sodus, 1789.
3. Williamson, 1802.
4. Ontario, 1807.
5. Wolcott, 1807.
6. Lyons, 1811.
14. Rose, 1826.
7. Galen, 1812.
8. Macedon, 1823.
9. Savannah, 1824.
10. Arcadia, 1825.
11. Marion, 1825.
12. Butler, 1826.
13. Huron, 1826.
15. Walworth, 1829.
Rivers, &c. a. Mud Creek. b. Canandaigua River. c. Clyde.
Lakes and Bays. J. Ontario. d. Sodus Bay. e. Port Bay. f. East Bay. h. Crusoe Lake.
Villages. LYONS. Palmyra. Newark. Clyde. Pulteneyville.
BOUNDARIES. North by Lake Ontario; East by Cayuga county ; South by Seneca and Ontario, and West by Monroe.
SURFACE. The surface is much diversified. The Ridge Road extends through the county, from east to west, at a distance of from four to eight miles from the shore of Lake Ontario, and at an elevation of 140 feet above it. North of this road, the descent to the lake is gradual and nearly uniform; south of it, and ex- tending to the mountain ridge, the surface is raised into low hills of gravel and sand, seemingly by the action of the waves of the lake, which, perhaps, at some remote period, covered this whole region.
The mountain ridge forms, here, the watershed of the county,
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dividing the waters which flow into the lake from those which run southerly.
RIVERS. The principal streams of the county are Mud creek and the Canandaigua river or outlet. The length of each of these streams is about fifty miles. They unite in the town of Lyons and form the Clyde, a tributary of the Seneca river.
BAYS. The lake coast is indented by three considerable bays, viz: Sodus bay, Port bay and East bay. The first of these af- fords a very good harbor for vessels of light draft.
Crusoe lake, in the town of Savannah, is a shallow pond, one and a half miles in circumference.
CLIMATE. The temperature is rendered agreeable by the ex- tent of surface exposed to the lake. The county is generally considered healthy.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The Medina sandstone appears on the surface along the shore of the lake. As the land rises, this is succeeded by the Clinton, Niagara and Onondaga groups-all limestones. South of the Ridge-Road, the county is traversed by numerous long, narrow, parallel ridges of sand and gravel, from twenty-five to thirty feet high.
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