USA > New York > Livingston County > A history of Livingston County, New York: > Part 35
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The old building and eighteen acres of land on the south side of the road were sold at auction, on the 13th of December, 1850, to Dr. D. H. Bissell, of Gen- eseo, for the sum of $2,001.
The 58th Regiment, N. Y. S. M., had an encamp-
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
ment at Mount Morris commencing Aug. 25th, 1850, and continuing one week, which attracted thousands of people from all parts of the country "to witness the parades, reviews, etc., of the citizen soldiery of Old Livingston." The camp was located on a rising piece of ground near the village, and eight compa- pies had their quarters there in tents. These compa- nies were as follows : Rochester Union Grays, Mount Morris Union Blues, Canaseraga Light Infantry, ? company from Springwater, one from Livonia, one from Conesus, Groveland and Sparta, one from Avon and Lima, and the Big Tree Artillery from Geneseo. The encampment was under the command of Col. James Wood, Jr., Colonel of the 58th Regiment. A newspaper account of this encampment says : "Thursday was the great day of the week. The troops were reviewed by Generals Crouch and Fuller- ton, attended by a large and brilliant staff, and the affair passed off alike creditable to all. The grounds adjoining were densly covered with thousands of in- terested and pleased spectators of all ages and sexes. On Saturday afternoon the troops struck their tents and at about three o'clock departed for their respec- tive homes well pleased with their sojourn of a week at 'Camp Livingston.' To Col. Wood and his staff, much credit is due for the regularity, order and deco- rum with which the camp was conducted. The gen- tlemanly deportment and soldier-like bearing of all connected with it, was the subject of general remark, and reflected high honor upon the Regiment."
On the 25th of Angust of the following year the regiment went into camp at Geneseo, on grounds af the head of North street-a spot afterwards made memorable as the site of Camp Wadsworth, where, when the more serious business of actual war stared citizens and soldiers in the face, the Wadsworth
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Guards (104th Regt. N. Y. V.) were recruited for ser- vice in the field. Seven companies belonging to the 58th Regiment attended this encampment, and four Rochester companies, belonging to Major Swan's bat- talion, were also present. The companies were reviewed on Tuesday, the 26th inst., by Brig. Gen. W. S. Fullerton, and on Wednesday by Major-General Wool and staff, of the U. S. Army, who spoke of the troops in the highest terms, and pronounced them in point of discipline and thoroughness of drill, " su- perior to any he has witnessed in any agricultural county in the State."
Another encampment was held in Avon in 1855, under the command of Colonel Van Valkenburgh of Bath. This was the last military " training" of this character held in the county.
In December, 1850, Philo C. Fuller of Geneseo was appointed Comptroller of the State, vice Washington Hunt, who had been chosen Governor at the preced- ing election. This appointment gave great satisfaction, not only to the Whigs but to all his fellow-citizens of Livingston County, without regard to party. His administration of the duties of his office was an able and conscientious one, and he retired at the end of the year 1852 with the good opinion of all parties.
A favorite mode of traveling between Mount Morris and Rochester at this time was by the Genesee Valley Canal. R. Shackleton was running a daily line of packets between those places in 1851, as he had done for several years, and other persons were engaged in the same business. The packets were well built and comfortable boats, fitted with many conveniences, and afforded decidedly the most pleasant means of travel known until the advent of the modern railway sleep- ing coach.
Early in 1851 steps were taken for the organization
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of another bank at Geneseo, under the name of the Genesee Valley Bank. The charter of the old Liv- ingston County Bank had but a few years more to run, while the banking capital of the county was wholly inadequate to meet the wants of its business men. There was thus a good field for a new monied institu- tion, and the enterprise was pushed with such zeal that the capital was all subscribed within a few days, and at a meeting held April 21st, 1851, James S. Wadsworth, D. H. Fitzhugh, Alvenus Cone, Henry Chamberlain, D. H. Abell, Charles Colt, D. H. Bissell, Peter Miller and William Cushing were chosen directors. Mr. Wadsworth was made Pres- ident of the bank, and William H. Whiting ap- pointed Cashier. The local journal, in announcing the organization of the bank said: "The institution commences operations under the most auspicious and flattering circumstances." The bank was ready for business May 23d, 1851, and entered upon a career that has since proved uniformly successful and pros- perons, and ranking it as one of the most carefully managed institutions in the State.
The Portage riot, an affair which at one time prom- ised most serious results, and occasioned considerable excitement throughout the county, occurred early in July, 1851. A large number of the laborers engaged on the section of the New York and Erie Railroad running through Portage struck for higher wages, and as is generally the case, not only refused to work themselves, but would not permit others to do so. So annoying were the strikers in their efforts to prevent others from working, a requisition was made, on the 7th of July, on the civic authorities of this and Wy- oming counties, and six or eight officers repaired to the scene of the strike. A desperate encounter en- sued between the officers and the disaffected work-
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men, in which a number of the latter were shot, two, at least, fatally. Among the officers present were Constable Holland of Mount Morris, and Deputy Sheriff William Doty of Geneseo, who took an active and brave part in the encounter. On the same day a requisition was made on Captain Hamilton of Gene- 880, for the services of the Big Tree Artillery, and that organization started for the scene of conflict, ar- riving there about 4 o'clock A. M., of Tuesday, the 8th inst. The sight of the militia cowed the rioters, and without any serious opposition twenty of their number were arrested, twelve of whom were confined in the jail at Geneseo, and the others taken to Wy- oming county. Some of these were afterward released, while the principal offenders were properly punished.
At the fall election of 1851, Scott Lord was re- elected County Judge; John White, Jr., County Treasurer ; William J. Hamilton, Superintendent of the Poor; Alvin Chamberlain and Orrin D. Lake, Assemblymen ; and Myron H. Clark, Senator ; all being nominees of the Whig party. Their Democratic opponents were George Hosmer for County Judge; Daniel H. Bissell, County Treasurer ; Lucius War- ner, Superintendent of the Poor ; Lewis E. Smith and Hector Hitchcock, Assemblymen. The Whig major- ity at this election ranged from 1,289 to 1,760.
On the 12th of December, 1851, Harvey Hill, then Sheriff of the county, died after a short illness, and Norman Chappell, of Avon, wss appointed to fill the vacancy. Of Mr. Hill it was said that " he was a good oficer ; active, efficient and trusty."
The presidential campaign of 1852 was a warmly contested political battle. A desperate effort was made by the Democratic party to regain its lost power, and Hunkers, Barn-burners and all other factions laid aside their differences for awhile and united in the en-
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deavor to recover the old footing. The Whigs too, ignoring for a time the factional quarrels which had weakened them, united upon a common platform to repel the assaults of their foes. The nominees of the Democratic party were Franklin Pierce for President, and William R. King for Vice President. The Whigs nominated for these offices General Winfield Scott and William A. Graham, while the Anti-Slavery party supported John P. Hale and George W. Julian.
Nationally the Democrats were successful, as they were also in the State, electing their candidates by an overwhelming majority. Livingston county yet re- mained firm in its adhesion to Whig principles, how- ever, and gave the nominees of that party for county officers a heavy majority. The officers chosen were William Scott, Sheriff; James S. Orton, County Clerk ; Jacob B. Hall, Superintendent of the Poor : Amos A. Hendee and Abram Lozier, Assemblymen. The Whig candidate for Congress, William Irvine, of Steuben, was defeated by George Hastings, of Living- ston, the Democratic candidate. The Whig nominee for Presidential Elector, Samuel W. Smith, of Living- ston, was also defeated.
In the spring of 1853 the people of Mount Morris organized a bank, with a capital of $190,000, under the name of the Genesee River Bank. The directors chosen were John R. Murray, R. P. Wisner, Calvin Norton, Jesse Peterson, Henry Swan, John Vernam, Allen Ayrault, H. P. Mills, R. Sleeper, William Whitmore, and Lyman Turner. John Vernam was chosen President. The bank commenced business in November, 1853, and like the other chartered banks of the county it has been uniformly successful.
At the fall election of this year the Whig nominees were James Wood, Jr., for District Attorney ; James H. Vail, Superintendent of the Poor ; Amos A. Hen-
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dee and Abram Lozier, Members of Assembly ; Myron H. Clark, Senator. George Wilson of Canandaigua was an independent candidate for this office. The Democracy presented two tickets for popular ap- proval. The Hards nominated John A. VanDerlip for District Attorney ; Morton Reed, Superintendent of the Poor ; Leman Gibbs and Hector Hitchcock, Members of Assembly. The Softs nominated Samuel H. Northrop, Samuel Finley, Leman Gibbs and Wil- liam N. Alward for the several offices in the order named. The election resulted in the triumph of the Whig candidates, with the exception of Assemblyman in the first district, Mr. Hendee being defeated by Judge Gibbs.
In May, 1853, Benjamin F. Angel, of Geneseo, was appointed Consul to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, and in the latter part of June sailed for that port. The Senate failed to confirm his nomination, and after discharging the duties of the office for eighteen months he was succeeded by Darius A. Ogden, of Penn Yan. Mr. Angel went from Honolulu to China, on a com- mission from the United States Government, to exam- ine into and if practicable negotiate the settlement of a troublesome controversy between the Chinese custom authorities and the American merchants in China, growing out of the unjust and arbitrary imposition of exorbitant export duties, when it was claimed that the Chinese authorities utterly failed to protect our com- merce on the coast and in Chinese waters against the depredations of Chinese pirates. In this mission Mr. Angel was entirely successful, and he returned to the United States by way of the East Indies, Egypt and Europe in the fall of 1855.
Reference has already been made to the fine stock of the Genesee Valley. In 1853 an important step was taken, having for its object the further improve-
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ment of the large herds of the Valley. For this pur- pose a meeting was held at the close of the Annual Fair on the 29th of Sept. 1853, which appointed a committee to mature a plan of organization, and to call a future meeting. In accordance with this ar- rangement a meeting was held at the American Hotel in Geneseo on the 22d of Oct. following, of which C. R. Bond was chairman and S. L. Fuller Secretary. The deliberations of this meeting resulted in the for- mation of the "Livingston County Association for the Importation and Improvement of Stock," with a cap- ital of $8,000, to be increased to $12,000 if deemed nec- essary. Any person was permitted to become a member on the payment of fifty dollars. The officers chosen were : President, Jas. S. Wadsworth ; Secre- tary, Daniel H. Fitzhugh ; Treasurer, Allen Ayrault ; Directors, Charles H. Carroll, Aaron Barber, Wm. A. Mills, Robert Rome, Geo. W. Root, Richard Peck. Agents were to be sent to Europe to select and pur- chase stock from the celebrated herds of the Old World, and these animals were to be sold at public auction, under the conditions that the purchasers should retain them in the county for at least three years from the time of sale, and that the stockholders of the company should have preference in the use of the animals, upon complying with the owners' terms.
The amount of stock was early taken by the pro- gressive farmers of Livingston, and in December David Brooks of Avon and Samuel L. Fuller of Con- esus were selected to proceed to Europe and purchase the stock. These gentlemen sailed Jan. 21st, 1854, and early in the spring returned with selections, from the best foreign herds. The company suffered the loss of some animals, however, and when the sale was held June 27th, 1854, but twelve animals were sold. The highest price paid was $1,075 for the bull Usurper,
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by C. H. Carroll, and the lowest $350 for the heifer Damsel. The average price was nearly $600 per head. The purchasers were Homer Sackett and others, Cale- donia ; C. H. Carroll, Groveland ; J. S. Wadsworth, Geneseo ; Richard Peck, Lima ; N. Chappell, Avon ; D. H. Albertson, Avon ; and D. H. McHardy, Avon. This importation resulted in a small loss to the Asso- ciation, owing to the death of several animals, but that it proved largely remunerative to the stock breed- ers of the county is shown by the fine herds which now graze in its rich fields, and which, it is no exag- geration to say, have a national reputation. In this respect Livingston has for years occupied a leading position among the stock-raising counties of the State.
Late in the year 1853 a movement was set on foot for the formation of a new county, from parts of Living- ston, Ontario, Steuben and Allegany. Dansville was proposed as the county seat. The plan contemplated subtracting from Livingston's fair proportions the towns of Springwater, Sparta, Dansville, West Sparta, Nunda and Portage. Naples and Canadice were to be taken from Ontario, Cohocton, Wayland and South Dansville from Steuben, and Burns and Ossian from Allegany. The project was the subject of considera- ble discussion, and was urged with great zeal upon the attention of the legislature. It does not seem to have received a very general support from the south- ern towns, however, and was early abandoned. As a sort of compensating measure, a bill was introduced in the Assembly in March, 1854, dividing the county into two jury districts, making Dansville a shire town, and providing for the erection of a jail in that place. The bill failed to pass, however, and the question of division has several times since agitated the people of the county, but without any great strength being developed in its favor.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The Whigs entered the fall political campaign of 1854 with Myron H. Clark as their candidate for Gov- ernor, and Henry J. Raymond for Lieutenant Gov- ernor, while on the county ticket were John White, Jr., for County Treasurer ; Lyman Turner, Superintend- ent of the Poor ; David H. Abell and John S. Wiley for the Assembly. William H. Kelsey was the Whig nominee for Congress. The Democrats put in nomi- nation the following county ticket : County Treasurer, Chauncey R. Bond ; Superintendent of the Poor, Ebenezer Leach ; Members of Assembly, Lyman Odell, McNiel Seymour. The temperance men also made an independent nomination for the Assembly, supporting John B. Crosby and Sidney Sweet.
For the first time in many years the Whig party of Livingston met with defeat. The proud boast of the Whigs that this county, no matter what might befal the party elsewhere, always "stood firm and immov- able," and that "her unwavering host could not be moved from the path of duty and right," had become an idle one, and defeat sat upon the banners where so often victory had perched. The Democrats elected their candidates for the Assembly and for Superin- tendent of the Poor, while the Whigs secured the remaining offices. Mr. Kelsey, the whig candidate for Congress was elected by a majority of about 6, 000, he having secured the votes of those calling them- selves Americana, at this time a party without & definite organization.
The country at this time was in a condition of political chaos. Old parties were losing their strength, and party cohesiveness was fast disappearing. The discussion of the slavery question, and the growing power of the foreign elements infused into our national life, forced new issues upon the people, and gave rise to new organizations. The Democratic party, notwith-
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standing its numerous factions and its manifest mis- takes, managed to preserve its party organization, and to a great degree its former strength. 'The Whigs, however, were less fortunate. After the fall election of 1854 Mr. Greeley declared that the Whig party was dead, and the little it had achieved in this elec- tion seemed, certainly, to justify his [assertion. To add to the political confusion, a new party made its appearance, whose influence, although exerted some- what secretly at first, was strangely powerful. Other organizations seemed to waver before it, and proclaim- ing high purposes, appealing to the patriotism of men, their religious and social prejudices and passions, many men of sound judgment and unquestioned in- tegrity were drawn into its ranks, which swelled until the party wielded a powerful influence in political affairs.
In this county the influence of the wide-spread dis- organization in the political parties was first felt at the special election held for this Senatorial district Jan. 30th, 1855, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Myron H. Clark Governor of the State. The Whig nominating convention met at Lima Jan. 22d, when a resolution was adopted " that the members of this convention approve of the nomination by the Peoples' convention, of Hon. Charles Loomis, as this day made at Canandaigua." This action proved un- satisfactory to a large number of the Whigs, especially in this county, and William H. Goodwin was also nominated. The election resulted in the triumph of the anti-fusionists, or American party, Mr. Goodwin's majority being over 2,000.
The spring town meetings of this year were also carried by the Americans, against a fusion of all other elements. In but one or two towns were regular Whig or Democratic nominations made.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The first county convention of the American party was held in Geneseo July 9th, 1855. S. J. Crooks of Nunda called the convention to order, and permanent officers were chosen as follows : Chairman, Lyman Odell ; Secretaries, H. L. Janes and James Faulkner, Jr. A committee was appointed to report resolutions expressive of the views of the convention, consisting of S. J. Crooks, W. A. Mills, J. Kershner, John Shepard, L. Williams, Jr., J. Faulkner, Jr., J. S. Wiley, Robert Grant, L. Odell, R. Olney, N. Chap- pell, B. Payne, Scott Lord, H. McCartney, A. C. Campbell, A. Conkey and Francis Hull. The resolu- tions reported approved the declarations of the na- tional American party-" hostility to public and party corruption, and the means by which the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon us our rulers and our political creed-a determined resistance to the aggres- sive policy of the papal church-the right of every man to the uncontrolled and peaceful enjoyment of his religious opinions and worship, yet asserting that christianity is an element of our political system, and that the Holy Bible is the repository of all civil and religious freedom, and therefore condemning every attempt to exclude it from the schools."
Meanwhile elements opposed to the Democratic party on account of its attitude on the slavery ques- tion, and to the American party because of its secret and proscriptive character, were crystalizing to form the Republican party, which a few years later was destined to enter upon a long career of success and power.
In the midst of this political confusion came the fall election of 1855. The American party in this county supported Sidney Sweet for Senator ; Scott Lord for County Judge; Hugh McCartney for Sheriff ; James T. Norton for County Clerk ; Harvey Armstrong for
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Superintendent of the Poor ; Lyman Odell and Sam- uel J. Crooks for Members of Assembly. Opposed to these men was the Republican or fusion ticket, as follows : Senator, John Wiley ; Sheriff, John N. Hurlburt ; County Judge, George Hastings; County Clerk, Charles Root; Superintendent of the Poor, Lyman Turner : Members of Assembly, John H. Jones, Alonzo Bradner. The Democrats made an in- dependent nomination of Chauncey Loomis for Sher- iff, and the temperance people supported John B. Crosby for the Assembly in the first district.
The campaign was a lamentably bitter one, and one of the most closely contested political battles ever fought in the county. The result was a decided vic- tory for neither party, although in the State the Americans had a large majority. The American can- didates for Sheriff, Member of Assembly in the first district, and also the nominee of that party for Sena- tor, were elected, and a majority of about 450 given for the American State ticket. The other offices were, however, secured by the fusion candidates, by small majorities.
Following this was the presidential election of 1856, when three great parties marshalled their forces and contended for the mastery. The Democrats entered the field with James Buchanan and John C. Brecken- ridge as their nominees for President and Vice Presi- dent. The Republicans presented the names of John C. Fremont and William L. Dayton for these offices, and the American party supported Millard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donelson. The county nominations of the Republican party were Amos A. Hendee for District Attorney ; Chauncey R. Bond, County Treas- urer ;* Daniel. H. Bissell, Coroner ; David Gray, Ses-
* The defalcation of John White, Jr., and his removal from the office of County Treasurer, having left a vacancy to be filled at this election.
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sions Justice ; Lyman Hawes and Alfred Bell, Mem- bers of Assembly. William H. Kelsey was nominated for Congress, James S. Wadsworth, Presidential Elector at large, and Isaac L. Endress, elector for this county. The Americans nominated Scott Lord for District Attorney ; Edward R. Hammatt, County Treasurer ; Orson Walbridge, Sessions Justice ; Wil- liam H. Thomas, Coroner ; Alvin Chamberlain and Orville Tousey, Members of Assembly. Samuel Hallett of Steuben was the American nominee for Congress. The Democratic nominations were, for District Attorney, John A. VanDerlip ; County Treas- urer, Walter E. Lauderdale ; Coroner, Arnold Gray ; Sessions Justice, Clark B. Adams; Congress, Benja- min F. Angel ; Assembly, John H. Jones, Utley Spencer.
The Democrats achieved a national victory, but in Livingston county the new Republican party devel- oped a strength which neither its friends nor its oppo- nents supposed it to possess, and the election resulted in an overwhelming victory for its nominees. The Republican vote polled nearly equalled the combined vote of the two opposing parties, and gave it the as- cendancy which it maintained for a long period there- after.
In 1857 the Republicans were again successful, but lost the Assemblyman in the first district. The off- cers elected were John B. Halsted, Senator; John H. Jones and Alfred Bell, Assemblymen ; Levi P. Gro- ver and Harvey Farley, School Commissioners.
In July, 1857, Benjamin F. Angel, of Geneseo, who had twice before been honored with foreign appoint- ments by the administration, was appointed Minister Resident.to Sweden. The people of Geneseo where his residence had been from early boyhood, and where he occupied a prominent position as a lawyer and po-
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litical leader, improved the occasion to show their respect and esteem for him, by inviting him to a pub- lic entertainment, to be given in his honor. The invitation was signed by all the leading citizens of Geneseo, without regard to party, but Mr. Angel was compelled to decline it on account of his early de- parture. He remained at Stockholm until the change of administration in 1861.
The Genesee Valley Railroad was now open from Rochester to Avon, but all efforts to complete it to Mount Morris had proved unsuccessful." It had early become evident that the directors of the company did not intend, or did not have the ability, to complete the road ; and the feeling was very general that the former was the true solution of the question. There had been much in the management of the company's affairs to create suspicion and distrust, and to justify the dissatisfaction which existed among the people, which were not allayed when the company attempted to enforce the collection of subscriptions against citi- zens of Geneseo and Mount Morris, without giving any assurance that this portion of the road would ever be completed. The people of Geneseo were also displeased with the location of the road, through that town, the line of which, against their earnest protest, had been run along the lower plateau, nearly half a mile below the village, when surveys had shown an equally practicable route along the upper plateau, and much nearer the business center.
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