USA > New York > Livingston County > A history of Livingston County, New York: > Part 34
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* Jenkins' Lives of the Governors of New York.
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was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and again and again was responded to with rapturous applause. Hamilton Fish, of New York, was then nominated for Lieutenant Governor, and nominations were also made for the minor offices.
The Democratic party renominated Silas Wright and Addison Gardner, then Governor and Lieuten- ant Governor, while the Abolitionists and the new Native American party, which first appeared in 1843, each made separate nominations. The anti-renters endorsed the nominations of Youngs and Gardiner.
The nomination of Mr. Young was received with every demonstration of joy by the people of Living- ston county. A special express from Rochester brought the news to Geneseo on the evening of the 23d, and "one universal shout of approbation rent the air, which was repeated and re-echoed long and loud in cheers and huzzas, such as are made only in the height of unbounded joy." The intelligence spread rapidly through the village, and in a very short time a large crowd assembled at the American Hotel, where an impromptu meeting was held. Ogden M. Willey was made chairman, and J. M. Campbell secretary. A committee consisting of W. J. Hamil- ton, Judge Endress and J. M. Campbell was appoint- ed to wait upon Mr. Young and inform him of his nomination. These gentlemen soon returned and reported that "Mr. Young was found enjoying a fine flow of spirits, and received the announcement of the committee in the spirit of a true Whig. Mr. Young requested the committee to present to it his accept- tance of the nomination, and his kindest regards for their renewed demonstrations of friendship and par- tiality toward him." Upon receiving this report the meeting adjourned to the front of Mr. Youngs' house, where the firing of cannon and the shouts of the peo-
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ple rent the air "after the most approved example of '44." After this demonstration the procession moved down the street, made light as noon-day by the numer- ous bon-fires, to the Eagle Tavern. "The Whig houses were opened for the night, and for once the quiet village of Geneseo gave free reins to the expres- sion and demonstration of joy .*
The Whig local nominations were early made as fol- lows : For Congress, Robert L. Rose of Ontario ; Senator, Samuel H. P. Hall of Broome ; Sheriff, Wil- liam Scott ; County Clerk, William H. Whiting, re- nominated ; Members of Assembly, William S. Fuller- ton, Andrew Sill. The Democratic nominations were, . for Congress, Peter Mitchel ; Senator, William M. Hawley ; Assembly, Napoleon B. Jones, Morgan Hammond ; Sheriff, Ira Godfrey ; County Clerk, George A. Fuller.
The campaign was a warm one, both parties labor- ing hard to secure success. In the State, however, a variety of causes weakened the Democratic party, while the Whig strength in the county was too great to leave any hope of their defeat. Nevertheless, the result of the election was a surprise to both parties. Mr. Young was chosen Governor by a majority ex- ceeding eleven thousand, and the Whigs secured the legislature and twenty-two of . the thirty-four Con- gressmen. Mr. Fish, the Whig candidate for Lieu- tenant Governor, was defeated, however, by Judge Gardner, the Democratic candidate thus demonstrating that the Anti-Rent organization at that election held the balance of power in the State. The result in Livingston County was particularly gratifying to Mr. Youngs' friends. His majority was 1,450, while Mr. Fillmore's majority in 1844 had been only 1,029. The
* Livingston Republican.
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majority for Mr. Young in the "Old Eighth " district was nearly eleven thousand, an increase of nearly three thousand over that of 1844. This flattering vote shows in what estimation Mr. Young was held by those who knew him best, and justified the claim made for him, that he was a man of the people.
Intelligence of the success of the Whig cause was not long in reaching the towns of this county, and was the signal for general rejoicing. The special ex- press from Rochester arrived in Geneseo on the eve- ning of the 4th of November, and announced the election of Mr. Young, which was " truly.acceptable to a large number of people from various parts of the county who were present. A procession was formed, on the spur of the moment, which moved amid the roar of cannon, and the blazing of bonfires, to the residence of Mr. Young. He was called out and con- gratulated upon his triumphant election, in an eloquent and appropriate speech by Hon. C. H. Car- roll. Mr. Young replied by making a few but very eloquent remarks. The crowd then gave three times three for Young and Fish, after the most approved examples of '40 and '44. Other speeches full of spirit and animation were made by A. Ayrault, Esq .; B. F. Harwood, Esq .; A. A. Hendee, Esq., and Mr. Kersh- ner. The firing of cannon and other rejoicings were kept up until a late hour, and the 'home of Mr. Young' presented a scene of joyful enthusiasm which was em- phatically gratifying to every true Whig heart."*
The Attica and Hornellsville railroad project engag- ed a large share of public attention in 1846 and the following year. This road was intenden to run be- tween the two places named, and to make a conneo- tion with the New York and Erie railroad (now the
* Livingston Republican, Nov. 10, 1846.
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Erie Railway) then in course of construction. Two routes were proposed, one through the counties of Wyoming and Allegany ; the other known as the Northern or Valley route, traversing the western and southern portions of Livingston county. Allegany favored the former, and Livingston, for equally obvi- ous reasons, the latter route ; and, although the Val- ley route was the longer one of the two, yet such was the earnestness and determination with which its friends urged its adoption, that they nearly succeeded in their efforts. Public meetings were held in vari- ous places, and liberal subscriptions made to the stock of the company. At a meeting held in Mount Morris Feb. 20th, 1846, $20,000 were subscribed, con- ditionally, within an hour after the books were opened, but the liberal subscriptions and untiring energy of the friends of the Southern route, coupled with the fact that that was the shortest one, combined to defeat the Livingston project, and the former route was selected, with the crossing at Portage.
Contemporaneous with this railroad movement, was one in behalf of a plank-road from Rochester to some point in Allegany or Steuben county, passing through Avon, Geneseo, Mount Morris and Dansville. A meeting to further this object was held in Geneseo Jan. 25th, 1847, of which Allen Ayrault, of Geneseo, was chairman, and Amos Dann, of Avon, and Isaac L. Endress, of Dansville, secretaries. The object of the meeting was explained by B. F. Angel, of Gene- seo, and papers were read showing the estimated cost of the work. A committee consisting of Mr. B. F. Angel and James Wadsworth, of Geneseo, Asa Now- len, of Avon, G. T. Olyphant, of Mount Morris, and S. W. Smith, of Dansville, was appointed to co-ope- rate with the citizens of Rochester and other places on the line of the proposed road, in furthering the enter-
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prise. A few years later it was partially successful, as will subsequently appear.
In 1849 the people were agitating the question of locating the New York and Erie railroad through the Cohocton instead of the Canisteo valley, and a public meeting, favorable to this action, was held in Geneseo August 11th. At this meeting James S. Wadsworth, Allen Ayrault, John Vernam, Philip Woodruff, Les- ter Bradner, W. T. Cuyler, Hiram Boyd, Jerediah Horsford, W. S. Fullerton, B. F. Angel, Luther C. Peck, Charles Colt, Andrew Sill, C. H. Bryan, H. G. Dyer and George Pratt were appointed "a corres- ponding and business committee to carry into effect the object of this meeting." A meeting in behalf of the same object was held in Dansville on the 8th of August. In 1850 this project was modified to a propo- sition to construct another line of road from Corning through the Cohocton valley to Rochester. A meet- ing was held in Bath Jan. 10, 1850, to consider this question, which recommended that a general meeting be held in Geneseo on the 24th of January, "of those interested in the entire proposed route." In accord- ance with this recommendation the meeting was held in Geneseo, and called together a large number of the enterprising men of Western New York. Delegations were present from Buffalo, Attica, Batavia, Mount Morris, Dansville, and all parts of Steuben county. "The convention was addressed by several gentlemen from abroad, well versed in the conduction of railroad matters, and many encouraging inducements were held out. Among them was an offer from three exten- sive iron manufacturers to furnish the amount of iron necessary for the construction of the road, and take stock in payment."
During the summer of this year an engineer was employed to make the preliminary surveys. The cit-
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izens of Steuben county, with commendable enter- prise, proposed to build on their own responsibility, the road from Corning to Bath, a distance of eighteen miles. From that point the engineer reported two feasible routes to the Genesee river.
The first of these, called the Honeoye route, was described as follows: "Commences at Blood's Cor- ners, north, near Naples, along west bank of Hunt's Hollow and Honeoye lake to Richmond Centre, cross- ing the outlet of Hemlock lake at Frost's Hollow, thence, one mile east of Lima, one mile west from Honeoye Falls, to the village of West Rush, crossing the Genesee river on Judge Sibley's farm, about four- teen miles south of Rochester, thence up Dugan's creek to Caledonia village, passing on the south side of the State road, through Le Roy, Stafford and Ba- tavia-thence direct to Buffalo." The distance by this route was 134 miles.
The Conesus route run "from Blood's Corners west six miles to Tuttle's Inn (six miles east of Dansville), thence along the west bank of the Springwater valley, through Conesus Center, along the east bank of Cone- sus lake to Lakeville at its foot (six miles east of Geneseo), thence down the outlet through Littleville and Avon Spring, crossing the Genesee river north of the bridge at Avon-thence up White Creek to inter- sect with Honeoye line at Caledonia village." The length of this route was 132 miles, a trifle less than that of the Honeoye line.
Another railroad was projected in 1851, "the Gen- esee Valley line," which was designed to extend from Rochester to Pittsburgh, passing through the towns of Avon, Geneseo, Groveland, Mount Morris, Nunda and Portage.
Here, then, were railroad and plank-road enter- prises enough to engage the entire attention of the
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people, and with so many to divide attention and re- sources, it is surprising that any were successful. Added to these was a proposed telegraph line through the Genesee valley, which was receiving great encour- agement, and was soon afterwards constructed.
The Buffalo and Cohocton road was early put under contract, the Conesus route having been selected, and Buffalo, instead of Rochester, fixed upon as the west- ern terminus. The company met with less delay and embarrassment than usually fall to the lot of such enterprises, and in July, 1853, regular trains were running between Caledonia and Corning ; the remain- der of the road was completed soon after.
The Attica and Hornellsville railroad was so far completed that trains were running in January, 1852, between Portage and Hornellsville, and thus the county had now, crossing its borders, two railroads in actual operation.
The Genesee Valley Railroad, unlike the Cohocton road, furnishes a long history of delays, failures, embarrassments and disappointments. The line was put under contract from Rochester to Mount Morris in 1852 and 1853, and work on the road from the former place to Avon was prosecuted with reasonable vigor. South of Avon, however, but little was done beyond a small amount of grading, and the people along the line early began to have fears that the enterprise would prove a failure. Indeed, it was plainly evident that the company directors viewed with indifference the completion of the road beyond Avon, and was ex- pending its energies in completing the northern por- tion. The company did, however, make a contract in 1854 for the completion of the road from Avon to Mount Morris, and it was proposed to issue bonds to the amount of $300,000 to meet this expense. The directors were suddenly stopped, however, by an in-
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junction procured by two or three stockholders resid- ing in Geneseo and Mount Morris, restraining them from issuing the bonds. This proved the death blow to the enterprise, so far as the southern portion of the line was concerned. The line from Avon to Roches- ter was completed, and regular trains running in October, 1854.
The Genesee Valley Telegraph line was completed and in operation in the summer of 1851, the line extending from Rochester to Dansvllle, and the plank road from Piffardinia to Mount Morris, via Geneseo, was finished in the fall of the same year. Both were constructed and owned by stock companies, and each proved a fairly remunerative investment.
The previous political record of this chapter ended with 1846. In the following year, the new constitution having gone into effect, an election was held in June to fill the offices of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, and also to choose a County Judge, District Attorney, and a Sessions Justice. The Whig nomi- nees in this county were elected. Scott Lord, for County Judge, receiving a majority of 34 over Judge W. H. Smith, the then incumbent ; and A. A. Hen- dee, for District Attorney, a majority over R. P. Wisner of 502.
At the election in the fall of this year the Whig State and County nominees were elected by large majorities. Allen Ayrault, of Geneseo, was chosen Senator, and Gurdon Nowlen, of Geneseo, and Nathaniel Coe of Nunda, Assemblymen. Mr. Ayrault served as Senator during the session of 1848, and resigned June 2d. The vacancy was filled at the fall election of 1848 by the choice of Charles Colt, of Geneseo,. who served during the years 1849 to 1851, inclusive.
The presidential election of 1848, although an im-
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portant one, was not a very exciting campaign .. The Democratic party nominated Lewis Cass for President, and William O. Butler for Vice President. The nom- inees of the Whig party were General Zacharia Tay- lor and Millard Fillmore. The Free Soil party also entered the field with a ticket composed of Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams. The elec- tion resulted in the triumph of the Whig cause, in the nation and State, and Livingston shared largely in the honors of the occasion. The Vice President elect had spent a portion of his boyhood days here, and the Lieutenant Governor of the State, George W. Patterson of Chautauqua, had for a long term of years been one of its most prominent citizens. The local officers chosen were Charles Colt, Senator ; Archibald H. McLean and Phillip Woodruff, Assemblymen ; Chauncey Metcalf, County Treasurer; Ogden M. Willey, William J. Hamilton and James H. Vail, Superintendents of the Poor.
The fall election of 1849 resulted in the choice of Harvey Hill for Sheriff, Israel D. Root County Clerk, and the re-election of Mr. McLean and Mr. Woodruff to the Assembly.
In the summer of 1849 Ex-Governor Young was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New York, and entered upon the discharge of his duties in July of that year. The bondsmen of Mr. Young were Allen Ayrault and James S. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, of whom the New York Express said : "The security is ample. Mr. A. was lately a State Senator, and is an honorable Whig. Mr. W. is & Democrat, whose friendship outweighs all political prejudices." Mr. Young remained in this position until his early and lamented death on the 23d of April,. 1852.
In 1850 the Whigs elected the following officers :
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Congressman, Jerediah Horsford ; District Attorney,: William H. Kelsey ; Superintendent of the Poor, James H. Vail ; besides their candidates for the minor offices, Alvin Chamberlin and Orrin D. Lake were chosen Assemblymen.
The review of the newspaper history of this period is of special interest. In a previous chapter this his- tory was brought down to 1840. In 1846 Mr. S. P. Allen sold the Livingston Republican establishment, at Geneseo, to John M. Campbell, who took possession Sept. 1, 1846. On the 10th of September, 1847, Mr. Campbell transferred his interest to Joseph Kershner, then a prominent lawyer at Geneseo, who wore the editorial harness until the 5th of July of the following year, when he gave place to Charles E. Bronson. During the period from 1846 to 1849, the paper met with many reverses and vicissitudes, and proved an unsuccessful financial venture. On the 27th of De- cember, 1849, the paper passed into the hands of James T. Norton, who published it with marked suc- cess until his death in 1865. It is now published by James W. Clement. In 1843 the Geneseo Democrat was started by Gilbert F. Shankland. After a check- ered existence, it was removed to Nunda in 1847, and in the following year was discontinued.
The Western New York was established in Dans- ville Jan. 13th, 1841, by George W. Stevens. The name was soon changed to the Dansville Whig, with Mr. Stevens as the publisher. He was succeeded by Charles W. Dibble, who published the paper about one year, when it again passed into the hands of Mr. Stevens. In 1848 the name was changed to the Dans- ville Courier. In 1849 it was published by H. D. Smead, under the name of the Dansville Democrat, and subsequently the paper passed into the hands of George A. Sanders. This gentleman moved the office
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to Geneseo in 1855, and issued the first number of the Geneseo Democrat April 4th, 1855. In 1857 the paper was discontinued. In 1848 Richardson & Co. started the Dansville Chronicle, which was suspended in 1851. The Dansville Herald was started in 1850 by E. C. Daugherty & Co., and was afterward published By H. L. & L. H. Rann, and George A. Sanders. The Herald was subsequently purchased by Messrs. Rob- bins & Poore, and the name changed to the Dansville Express, which is now published by F. J. Robbins.
In 1858 the Sentinel was established by H. C. Page. The Daily Times was started in 1859, by W. J. LaRue, and in June of the same year was changed to the Daily Register, with Mr. LaRue as publisher and H. C. Page editor. It suspended in 1860.
The Dansville Advertiser was started August 2d, 1860, by A. O. Bunnell, by whom it is still published.
The Mount Morris Spectator was started in that vil- lage in 1834. In 1848 Geo. B. Phelps commenced the publication of the Livingston County Whig. In about six months it passed into the hands of James T. Norton who had been its printer under Mr. Phelps. In 1846 Mr. Norton published in connection with it a daily edition, giving the latest news each morning "by canal packet." The daily was continued but three months, and then was discontinued as an unprofitable venture. On the 2d' of February, 1848, Mr. Norton and Mr. Hugh Harding, the publisher of the Specta- tor, united their publications under the name of the Livingston Union, with Harding & Norton as publish- ers. Mr. Norton retired in 1849 to assume charge of the Livingston Republican of Geneseo. The former journal is now published as the Union and Constitu- tion, by William Harding, a son of one of its founders.
The Nunda Gazette was started in 1841, Ira G. Wis- ner publisher. In about one year it was removed to
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Mount Morris, where it was published until 1843 as the Genesee Valley Recorder. The Democrat was the next newspaper venture in Nunda. It was started in 1848 by Milo D. Chamberlain, but was soon discon- tinued. In 1850 the Telegraph was started by Charles Atwood, and lived about a year. In January, 1852, N. T. Hackstaff commenced the publication of the Times. A fire in July of the same year brought this venture to an untimely end. The Nunda News was established in 1859 by Chauncey K. Sanders, who still remains its publisher.
The Cuylerville Telegraph was started in 1847, in that then thriving canal village, by Franklin Cowdery, who years before had worked in the first printing office established in the county. In 1848 Peter Law- rence became the proprietor, and soon after the paper was discontinued.
In Lima but one newspaper venture had been made during the period covered by this history. The Weekly Visitor was started in 1853 by A. H. Tilton and M. C. Miller. Subsequently it was published by Raymond & Graham, and by S. M. Raymond alone under the name of the Genesee Valley Gazette. In 1856 the paper suspended publication.
. At the end of the year 1850 the County had reached the thirtieth year since its organization, and the heighth of its prosperity. Its population, as shown by the census of 1850, was 40,875 ; or, including Os- sian, which was afterward annexed, 42,144. This was more than double the population of the county when formed, and larger by nearly three thousand than it was ten years later. This falling off is explained by the fact that, like all eastern sections, Livingston county supplied a large number of those who swelled the tide of emigration to the great West, and settled
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those now thriving States with a sober, industrious and progressive people.
The Genesee Valley Canal was now in full opera- tion, several railroad enterprises gave promise of speedy success, and telegraph and plank-roads lines were in process of construction The well-directed efforts of the people in industrial pursuits were uni- formly rewarded with success, and on all sides peace and prosperity prevailed.
Such was the condition of the county at the end of the century's fifth decade, and there was but little in- dication of the coming storm, which ten years later broke upon the country, rousing Livingston, as well as other sections, to deeds of patriotic valor.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
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THE DECADE FROM 1850 TO 1860.
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The county alms-house, originally a private dwell- ing-house, was early found too small to accommodate the large class of persons who sought its shelter. When purchased by the county, the building was modi- fied and somewhat enlarged, but even with these im- provements it was inadaquate to the purpose, and it was found impossible to properly care for its inmates in accordance with the ordinary requirements of sanitary laws. It thus became necessary to provide new and larger quarters, and for this purpose the question was first considered at the annual meeting of the board of supervisors in 1849. The result of these deliberations was that the board appropriated the sum of $6,000 for the purpose of erecting a new building, and appointed as a building committee, Allen Ayrault, William J. Hamilton and Russell Austin, who were also directed to sell the old building. The committee immediately entered upon the discharge of its duties, and early in the following year had decided upon the plans of the building. The contract for its construction was then made with S. A. Hooper, of Geneseo, who pushed the work with such vigor that it was completed about the first of December, 1850, and the inmates were moved from the old house to the new and more comfortable edifice before the vigorous winter had fully set in.
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The committee, in making their report to the board of supervisors, announced that they had exceeded the appropriation by $250.94, although, as they said, they were "aware of the caution of the supervisors, and of their instructions extended to us [them] not to exceed the sum of $6,000." "But," added the committee, "it may not be improper for us to say, that we are satisfied the building in some respects has cost Mr. Hooper, the builder, more money than the contract price, and while the consideration of an allowance to him by us is inadmissible, we understand Mr. Hooper intends applying to your board for relief, and in view of his great economy and fidelity in the execution of his job, we cannot forbear expressing the hope that his application will meet with favor." Mr. Hooper did apply for relief, which was granted to the amount of $1,101.46, making the total cost of the new alms- honse, exclusive of heating apparatus and furniture, $7,956.40.
The building is situated on the north side of the road leading from Geneseo to Lakeville, about a mile east of the former village. It has a front of 108 feet, and a depth of 36 feet, with two wings each 53 feet in depth. The building is three stories high, without including the basement, and the internal arrangement has been found well adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. Recently an insane asylum has been completed, at a cost of about $20,000, adjacent to the . alms-house, which for its convenient arrangement and relative cost, will compare favorably with any in the State.
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