USA > New York > Livingston County > A history of Livingston County, New York: > Part 31
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In this county action was early taken to express the sentiment of the community. A call appeared in the local journals for a meeting to be held at the Court House in Geneseo on the 12th day of January, 1827, "for the purpose of expressing their sentiments in regard to the outrage committed upon William Mor- gan, and of adopting such measures as may be deemed advisable to discover his fate, and to prevent a recur- rence of such detestable transactions." The call was signed by C. H. Bryan, P. C. Fuller, J. Wright, R. Austin, E. N. Buell, S. F. Butler, Charles Colt, Campbell Harris, and J. Percival. At this meeting Judge Jones (a prominent free-mason), was made chairman, and Philo C. Fuller secretary. Mr. Bryan
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gave a brief review of the transaction which had given occasion for this meeting, and referred to the fact that there was no statutory prohibition of the kidnapping of white persons, although there was a statute to pre- vent the abduction of people of color. Several affida- vits relating to various facts connected with the abduction, and a report of the recent trial at Canan- daigua of persons implicated in it, were read, and a committee consisting of P. C. Fuller, C. H. Bryan, J. Clute, H. D. Mason and J. Almy, was appointed to report resolutions for the consideration of the meeting. The resolutions thus reported and adopted condemned in the severest terms the kidnapping of Morgan, "a procedure so obviously repugnant, not only to the laws of the land, but to the first principles of civil liberty,"-"we view the transaction as one calculated to excite alarm-one which no considera- tion can justify ; and one which as intelligent and watchful citizens, we are bound to reprobate in decided terms." A suggestion was made that a law should be passed forbidding " the kidnapping of free white citizens," and a committee, consisting of the chair- man, secretary, and Mr. Clute, was appointed to "correspond with other committees in neighboring counties, and to receive contributions to be used in endeavoring to discover the fate of Morgan, and in detecting and bringing his abductors to condign pun- ishment ; and that a contribution for these purposes be taken up at this meeting."
The people of the several towns followed the exam- ple thus set by this county gathering, and meetings were held in a large number of places. A local jour- nal * gives an account of a large meeting held in Sparta on the 17th of March, 1827, to give expression
* Livingston Register.
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to the sentiments of that community. Benjamin Roberts presided, and William D. McNair officiated as secretary. The resolutions passed expressed in ringing tones the abhorrence with which the people viewed the outrage. "The history of the last six months," the resolutions read, "has disclosed facts which make every individual tremble for his own safety ; our liberties have been invaded, -the majesty of our laws has been trampled upon with impunity- our citizens have been arrested, robbed, kidnapped, and murdered without the shadow of a crime, or any legal pretense whatever." The press, it was averred, had been generally silenced, free-masonry had become . a stepping-stone to office, "and the principal posts of honor, trust or profit, from the President of the Uni- ted States, down to the petty magistrates of our towns and villages, are generally held by masons." The meeting pledged itself to oppose the election of any one to any office of honor or trust who was a member of the order of free-masonry, and appointed Russell Day, Hiram Kellogg, S. W. Smith, James McNair and Benjamin Wheeler a committee of vigilance and correspondence for the town of Sparta.
These accounts serve to show how thoroughly the people were aroused, and the deep, earnest and deter- mined spirit with which they entered upon this war- fare on an institution they deemed so dangerous to individual liberty and popular government. The most intense feeling was generated, and probably no question of public interest in this country ever more thoroughly engaged the attention of the people, was made the theme of more earnest discussion, or gave rise to a warmer political canvass than this popular uprising against masonry.
In the elections of 1827, however, the influence of this opposition was but little felt. The forces were
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but gathering then, that afterward for several years controlled the politics of the "infected district," and exerted a powerful influence in State councils. Never- theless, it behooved candidates for office, even at this time, that they be able to show a clear record on this question, and probably the election of Calvin H. Bryan to the Assembly in November, 1827, was due to the fact that he was not only a Jackson man, but also a decided anti-mason. At the same time William Janes, another vehement opposer of masonry, was also elected to the Assembly, the majority of both himself and his colleague being about 500.
At the spring elections of 1828 the anti-masons were largely in the ascendancy, the issue being for the first time brought directly before the people. A newspa- per of that day said of the result: "Intelligence received from the several towns in this county, of the result of the late town elections, furnishes the best evi- dence that anti-masonry still flows in a 'natural and healthful channel,' notwithstanding the great exertions made use of by royal arch politicians to direct its course." The anti-masons elected the whole, or the greater part, of their tickets in nie out of the twelve towns comprising the county. In Groveland, Leices- ter and Lima the masons elected their candidates for the office of Supervisor by small majorities.
In the spring of 1828, Charles H. Carroll, who was then one of the Senators from this district, resigned his seat for the purpose of devoting his whole time to his private affairs. He had served during 1827 and the winter session of 1828, with great acceptability to his constituents and credit to himself, but his large personal interests demanded that he should forego, for a time at least, any further political honors. In his letter of resignation to the Hon. Peter R. Living- ston, President, pro tem. of the Senate, he said :
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"The unusual time occupied by the sessions of our legislature for the last two years, compel me to tender you the resignation of my seat in the Senate of this State. In years of ordinary legislation it would have afforded me much satisfaction to have served my con- stituents the four years for which they elected me. My own affairs, however, oblige me to resign this honor for the residue of the term ; and to do it at this time that my place may be supplied at the ensuing election, and my constituents saved the expense of a special one." The resignation was accepted, although it was said that "his retirement at this time is a source of regret to his friends, while the public will lose the services of a worthy and useful legislator."
It becoming necessary to supply the vacancy caused by Judge Carroll's resignation at the November elec- tion, an anti-masonic convention was held at Rush Oct. 20th, 1828, which nominated James Wadsworth for this position. Mr. Wadsworth, however, although a decided anti-mason, declined to be a candidate. He was absent from home when the convention met, but William Wadsworth, his brother, on learning of the action taken, addressed a letter to the anti-masonic central committee of Livingston county, in which he said : "This nomination was contrary to his [James'] wishes and his express declarations will appear from the following letter from him addressed and read to the convention. I am induced to ask a publication of this letter from a thorough conviction that my brother will not in any event suffer himself to be con- sidered a candidate. His absence will prevent his declining publicly in time to permit another nomina- tion. Under these circumstances, as it is the unques- tionable right of Livingston county, I take the liberty to suggest to you gentlemen the propriety of recom- mending some other person without loss of time."
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Following out this suggestion, a meeting of anti- masonic electors of the county was held in Geneseo on the evening of the 20th. James Percival acted as chairman, and Philo C. Fuller as secretary, and a resolution was unanimously adopted that Moses Hay- den of York be recommended to the electors of the district as a candidate for the office of Senator.
Meanwhile an anti-masonic State convention had been held at Utica on the 4th of August, which had nominated for Governor, Francis Granger of Ontario, and for Lieut .- Governor, John Crary of Washington. In this convention James Wadsworth's name had been frequently mentioned in connection with the nomination for Governor. "Great unanimity of sen- · timent prevailed among the members of this body, although met from remote parts of the State. But two candidates for Governor were mentioned on the first attempt to obtain the mind of the delegates, when each one named the individual of his choice. These two were James Wadsworth and Francis Granger, Esquires. As no member present was able to answer for the acceptance of the former gentleman, his name was reluctantly withdrawn by his friends, yet not- withstanding the propriety of unanimity at the final balloting, some few could not be prevailed upon to relinquish what they deemed a fit opportunity of ex- pressing their preference for a man who is so eminently qualified to discharge the duties of the high and im- portant office for which he had been named by those who knew his worth, and are acquainted with his sentiments on the particular subject which then en- gaged the attention of the convention." Mr. Gran- ger, however, declined the nomination for political reasons, although he was a decided anti-mason, and Solomon Southwick of Albany was substituted. Anti- masonic nominations had also been made for all the
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offices to be filled at the coming election. These were as follows: For Congress, Timothy Childs ; State Senators, George H. Boughton, Moses Hayden ; As- sembly, Philo C. Fuller, Titus Goodman, Jr .; Sheriff, Russell Austin ; County Clerk, Chauncey R. Bond. Each of the other political parties also had a full ticket in the field, and the canvass was one of the most closely contested political campaigns ever wit- nessed in the county. Much feeling was engendered, and the discussion was heated and bitter. All oppo- sition to the new political movement was, however, useless. The people, regardless of all former political ties, of the ridicule of their opponents, the reasoning and entreaties of politicians or the unconcern of the two great parties, were deeply in earnest in their de- termination to crush out, by the power of the ballot, what they conceived to be the great wrong of the age, freemasonry. The result was astonishing to party leaders, and even to the people themselves. A canvass of the votes cast at the election showed that South- wick for Governor had received 1963 votes, to 1257 for Van Buren (Jackson candidate), and 867 for Thomp- son (Adams man), while the anti-masonic candidates for Congressman, State Senators, Assemblymen, Sher- iff and Clerk were elected by overwhelming majorities.
This was the first great triumph of the anti-masonic party, to which it added others in successive years until it was finally wholly absorbed by the Whig party about the year 1832.
Early in the spring of 1827 the citizens of Mount Morris commenced an important public work, which has since added largely to the commercial importance and prosperity of that beautiful village. This was the construction of the race-way extending along the hillside, below the village, from the Genesee river to a point near the center of the village, from whence its
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waters are again returned to the river by means of a small stream emptying into the Canaseraga creek. The plan proposed embraced a strong timber dam at the river to raise the water to the proper level to carry it through the race-way, and a lock and apron to facilitate the passage of boats. The work was done for the purpose of providing an extensive water-power, which it has answered admirably, a large number of flouring mills, saw-mills, wood and iron working es- tablishments, etc., being driven by the power which it furnishes. The present dam is substantially built of stone, and maintains the level requisite both to supply the race-way and the canal which here crosses the river ..
The board of supervisors gave notice in December, 1828, that "a farm is wanted for the accommodation of the poor of the county. It must be within six miles of the Court House in the village of Geneseo, and must contain about one hundred acres of land; the land must be of good quality, well timbered, and well supplied with good water. Any person having a farm for sale that will answer the purpose for which it is wanted, is requested to deliver a particular de- scription of the same to William H. Spencer, before the 15th of December ensuing, stating the quality and quantity of land, how much is in timber, what kind of timber," etc., and "the ready cash price asked for the farm."
At the November session of the board in the follow- ing year, the Superintendents of the Poor reported that they had purchased, under direction of the board, "a farm one mile and a half from the village of Gen- eseo ; containing about 136 acres, for the sum of $5,- 440, payable in annual installments." The Superin- tendents erected an addition to the dwelling house already on the premises, 48 feet in length by 36 feet in
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width, and two stories high. Other improvements were made, and on the 10th of June, 1829, they com- menced to receive paupers into the house; receiving up to Nov. 7th of that year thirty-four persons, of whom twenty were males and fourteen females.
Quite a formidable movement was made in 1830 for the erection of a new county, out of portions of Alle- gany, Genesee, and "so much of Mount Morris in Livingston county, as would lie south of a continua- tion of the north line of the town of Sparta to the Genesee river." The project appears to have origin- ated in Allegany county, and was there pushed with remarkable pertinacity. Outside of that county, how- ever, few were found to favor it. At a meeting of the citizens of that portion of Mount Morris which it was proposed to include in the new shire, it appearing "by the legislative reports that petitions purporting to be 'from Allegany, Genesee and Livingston ' have actu- ally been presented in furtherance of the said appli- cation," a protest was entered against this or any other project that contemplated the separation of all or any part of said town from the county to which it is now attached. The people said that while they conceded the right of their neighbors to "cut and carve" up their own county to suit their local or per- sonal interests, they were " constrained to express the belief that the people of this section are unanimously opposed to the extension of the 'gerrymandering sys- tem' to this town or county."
A large meeting of citizens of the whole town was held in the village of Mount Morris Jan. 11th, 1831, for the purpose of taking steps to oppose the efforts of those who were seeking a division of the town. Wil- liam A. Mills was called to the chair, and W. H. Stanley acted as secretary. A committee consisting of William A. Mills, W. H. Stanley, Moses Marvin,
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Humphrey Hunt and James Miller, was appointed to report resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting. In the resolutions thus adopted the citizens said, "While we are willing our more prosperous brethren of Allegany and Genesee should impose on themselves any amount of taxes which they may de- sire, for their own exclusive convenience, we have not sufficient disinterested benevolence to induce us to 'go over and help' them ; nor can we think it a gen- erous attempt on their part, without consulting our feelings, to force us into a measure which we can have no possible interest to advance." And a local jour- nal, in commenting on this action, expressed the prev- alent feeling in saying that it was "sincerely to be hoped that the wishes of the inhabitants of Mount Morris would not be unheeded," while it was kind enough to say of the instigators of the new county movement that in advocating a division they were "suspected of being influenced more by considera- tions of private interest than by a proper regard for the good of the public." Owing, probably, to the determined and persistent opposition which it met, the new county project failed of success, and the peo- ple of the county were not called upon to discuss the question for several years.
Up to this time all efforts to secure the establish- ment of a bank in the county had proved futile, although such a monetary institution was imperatively demanded by the commercial necessities of the com- munity. Avon had made several attempts to secure a bank charter, and so also had Geneseo, Mount Mor- ris and York, but at this time the legislature was chary of its favors in this direction, and the desire of the people was ungratified. At the session of the legislature of 1830, however, the. bill to incorporate the Livingston County Bank was passed, and the
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long wished for measure was secured. Naturally the people of the county were much elated, and especially so as this was the only charter west of Syracuse granted at this session. In May of the same year the commissioners appointed to distribute the stock of the bank announced that the subscription books would be opened in Geneseo May 31st, at the house of C. Hamilton, and that a payment of $1 on each share of $25 was required by the act of incorporation. The notice was signed by William H. Spencer, Allen Ayrault, W. H. Smith, D. H. Fitzhugh and William Lyman. Such was the public desire for the bank, and the confidence felt in its financial success, that in three days the entire capital stock, $100,000, was sub- scribed and the payment of $1 per share made. On the 25th of June the stockholders met for the purpose of completing the organization, when the following gentlemen were elected directors for the ensuing year : John Greig, H. B. Gibson, Nathaniel W. Howell, Abraham M. Schermerhorn, James K. Guernsey, Charles H. Carroll, Hezekiah D. Mason, Felix Tracy, Owen P. Olmsted, Eli Hill, William Lyman, William H. Stanley and Allen Ayrault. Subsequently Allen Ayrault was chosen President, Watts Sherman* cash- ier. Eben N. Buell, James Percival and David C. Stewart were appointed inspectors of the next elec- tion.
Work was immediately commenced on a new bank- ing house, and in the Register of Sept. 8, 1830, we find the following reference to the bank and its build- ing : "The capital stock of this bank ($100,000) was promptly paid in on the 1st inst. and everything is now in readiness for the transaction of business. A
* Afterward a member of the well known firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co., Bankers, New York.
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very neat banking house, well calculated both for convenience and security, has been erected since the first of June. The building is of brick, situated about the centre of the village ; and will, as we under- stand, be completed in a few days ; until which time the business of the bank will be transacted in an office appropriate for this purpose." The same paper indulges in a congratulatory strain over this event. It says: "Thus have the untired exertions of the inhab- itants of this place been rewarded with success. Their perseverance for the last six years has resulted in the establishment of an institution which has long been needed, and the lack of which has placed this section of the country under some disadvantages which we hope will now be no more felt. We confidently look forward to the fulfillment of all the predictions we have heretofore made in relation to the benefits to be derived from this bank, and have still good reason to believe that with proper management, such as it will undoubtedly receive, that both stock holders and those who have occasion to transact business with the bank will find an ample reciprocity of benefit and favor."*
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The end of the century's third decade found the county, in the ninth year of its existence, in a highly prosperous condition. Its population had increased from 19,800 in 1821 to 27,719 in 1830, its territory was dotted with numerous enterprising and growing
* The expectations of the editor were fully realized. During the twenty- five years of its existence as a corporation it paid in dividends to its stock- holders, $379,500, and then returned to them every cent of the capital stock. An eminent banker, speaking of its management, wrote : " In refer- ence to the closing of the operations of the Livingston County Bank, after its existence of a quarter of a century under your management-a Bank managed better as well for the good of the country, as for the benefit of the stockholders, I do not think exista, or has existed in the country."
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villages, and its active population was rapidly devel- oping the resources of this rich and fertile region.
As a fitting close to this period of our history, a brief sketch of the pioneer press of the county will be interesting. The first newspaper printed in the county, the "Moscow Advertiser and Genesee Farmer," has already been mentioned in a previous chapter. Mr. Percival, after his purchase of the office and its removal to Geneseo, gave his paper an enlarged form, new type and other marked improve- ments, and espoused the Bucktail cause. The Liv- ingston Journal, started in Geneseo in 1822 by Chauncy Morse, represented the Clintonian and "National Republican" party. The Morgan excitement brought a change in parties, however, and the Register became the organ of the anti-masonic party and afterward that of the Whigs, while the Journal became the Jackson organ, to which party it remained attached until it was discontinued in 1834. In 1829 the Regis- ter changed hands, Anson M. Weed and Allen War- ner becoming the proprietors. The Journal also changed owners during this period. Ashel Harvey was for a short time associated with Mr. Morse in the publication of the paper, and both of these gentle- men were succeeded in 1829 by Levi Hovey. Both of these early newspapers were small sheets, well filled with foreign news but almost wholly devoid of local intelligence. They were fair specimens, however, of the weekly county papers of that period, and in some respects were ably conducted. It was the day of party organs, and as such they were successful jour- nals, and were liberally sustained, considering the early period of their existence.
Moses Hayden, while serving his second year in the Senate, sickened and died Feb. 14, 1830. His death was a surprise to his constituents, and caused a feel-
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ing of deep and wide-spread regret. His public ser- vices had been rendered with marked ability and a sincere purpose to secure the public good, while his private character was one of singular purity and integ- rity. He consequently enjoined the confidence and esteem not only of his own party, but of the people generally, and his unexpected death was the cause of sincere sorrow. His remains were brought from Albany in May of the game year, and re-interred near his late residence in York. Philo C. Fuller was chosen to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by Mr. Hayden's death.
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CHAPTER XVI.
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THE DECADE FROM 1830 TO 1840.
Notwithstanding the fact that the question of a canal along the valley of the Genesee to Olean had now been before the people for fully six years, and the measure urged year after year with great deter- mination upon the attention of the legislature, nothing had as yet been done by that body to further this object. Discouraged by their attempts to secure the needed measure, the people of this and Monroe coun- ties turned their attention to other plans for improv- ing the transportation facilities of the valley.
About this period the attention of the country was directed to the subject of railroads, which were then just coming into use, and the people of the Valley naturally concluded that a railroad would solve the difficulties under which they labored.
On the 15th of November, 1831, a meeting of citi- zens of this county was held at C. Hamilton's house in Geneseo, for the purpose of taking measures to call a general meeting of the inhabitants of the coun- ties of Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, Allegany and Steuben, who felt an interest in the construction of the " Rochester and Dansville Railroad," along the
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