USA > New York > Livingston County > A history of Livingston County, New York: > Part 38
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Thomas Wiard was a native of Wolcott, Connecti- cut. In 1804 he emigrated with his family to the Gen- esee country and settled in the village of Geneseo, occupying a little log house which he built on the spot until recently occupied by the two small brown houses on Main Street, opposite the Genesee Valley Bank. In 1805 he removed to a farm half a mile from the village of East Avon, where he continued to re- side up to the time of his death. He took an active part in public affairs, was prominent in local politics and especially active in the memorable contest that terminated in the elevation of the younger Adams to the Presidency. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and was nine times elected Supervisor of the town. He was a man of very pos- itive character, and of the strictest integrity in all relations, public and private.
One family name among the pioneers of Avon, that of the Whalley brothers, calls up an eventful page of English history. In the latter part of the tumultuous reign of king Charles I, Richard Whalley appears among the notable actors in public affairs, sustaining, with his great leader, Cromwell, the cause of the com- monwealth against that of the recreant King and his vain-glorious cavaliers. Whalley's was one of the five regiments selected to guard the city of London. A few months later Whalley sat as one of the judges of that historic body, the High Court of Justice, to try the King. The trial was a speedy one, the King
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was beheaded, and Cromwell was not long in reaching the great office of Lord Protector for which nature had so perfectly fitted him.
When Charles II came to the throne the vindictive cavaliers clamored for the death of the judges, or reg- icides as they were then called. Some gave them- selves up, only to fall victims, suffering the penalty of death after the mockery of a trial ; others, know- ing too well the rancor of those surrounding the King, hid themselves or fled beyond the sea and were finally outlawed. Whalley and Goff came to America, where they remained in voluntary seclusion to the end of their days. Descendants of this man Richard Whal- ley were among the pioneers of Avon, and did much to reclaim the waste places.
The first school-house in the town was built of un- hewn logs a few rods north of Zion church. There, on Sabbath days, Judge Hosmer read the beautiful and impressive service of the Episcopal church to a body of devout listeners. These were the first relig- ious services held in the town.
The first saw-mill in Avon was erected by Judge Hosmer on Conesus outlet at Littleville in 1796. It was situated directly opposite the Glen Avon mill, on the south side.
In 1813 the town contained 5 saw-mills, one grist- mill, 6 distilleries and one carding and cloth dressing establishment. There were 76 looms in families, the yearly product of which was 21,325 yards of woolen, linen and cotton cloths.
"The famous Hosmer stand," says Colonel Hosmer, "was built by James Wadsworth and was first occupied by Nathan Perry as lessee. Soon after Finley and Lovejoy became proprietors. At the death of one of the partners, the brothers Algernon Sydney and Wil- liam T. Hosmer, purchased the property. The host
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and hostess who gave the place its enviable reputation, however, were Timothy Hosmer and lady. 'Jo-win- sta-ga,' 'Big Fire,' was the" apt name by which my beloved uncle was known to the Senecas, referring to the capacious hearth, with its immense back-log and formidable fore-stick, on which were high piled the flaming faggots in winter. The roar of the chimney, ' the wind-pipe of grateful hospitality,' was sweeter than the music of summer birds to the chilled Indian and belated traveler. Generals Jacob Brown, Scott, Ripley, Hall and their military found rest and refresh- ment under its ample roof, and Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain, Louis Phillipe, Commodore Perry, the exiled hero of Hohenlinden, General Moreau, and Marshal Grouchy, the marplot of the Waterloo cam- paign, were among the distinguished names inscribed on its moth-eaten register."
"The first town election for Avon was held at the house of Peter Shaefer. The vote was taken by Gad Wadsworth." At the election for Governor in April, 1800, George Clinton received 25 votes and his oppo- nent, Stephen Van Rensselaer, received 41 votes. In 1803 the board of excise of the town granted licenses to Polly Berry, Joseph Pearson, John Pearson and Benjamin Pearson.
"Captain Asa Nowlen was a native of New London, Connecticut. In youth and early manhood he followed a sea-faring life and rose, step by step, to the com- mand of a merchantman. He was a thorough seaman and intrepid officer, acquainted with nautical tactics, and with every rope and bolt of a ship. In our quasi war with France, he was taken by an armed cruiser with a valuable cargo on board the prize and suffered with fellow captives the horrors of long imprisonment in the West Indies. His life was colored with the hues of romance. Far and wide in the days of the
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Old Line he was known as a stage proprietor and mail contractor, and became, at a later period, the pur- chaser of Avon Springs. 'To the frank bearing of a bluff sailor he united the liberal soul. He was truly a remarkable man. When too infirm to walk the tramp of his old horse 'Pomp,' a general favorite like his master, announced that the captain was abroad on some enterprise for the public good or errand of mercy. In business affairs he was marked by enlarged views and keen, intelligent foresight. A vein of native humor enriched his playful discourses. Among my boyhood's pleasant memories are the sea-songs he sung so well. He played a prominent part in the great masonic excitement."
Avon took a prominent part in the second war with Great Britain, and her record is a proud one. Colo- nel Hosmer, from whom I have already largely quo- ted says : "With pride permit me to mention as a bright page in the annals of my native town that in our war with Great Britain Avon lost more men in de- fense of our invaded frontier than the county of Ni- agara. Black Rock will ever be associated with the heroic name of my townsman Colonel Samuel Blakes- ley, who led the 'Silver Grays.' Their gallant con- duct extorted praise from foes, being mentioned in General Drummond's official report. After a vain at- tempt on a wounded horse to rally the fugitives, the late George Hosmer, who was aid to General Hall, rode side by side with Colonel Seymour Boughton from a lost field. In breaking through the Indian lines, the latter was killed by a pipe tomahawk that smote him fatally on the temple. Captain Ezekial Wadsworth, brother of Richard, late proprietor of our mineral spring, behaved with signal intrepidity and was one of the last to leave the field of Black Rock.
George Hosmer was a native of Farmington, Con-
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necticut, and was 12 years old when his father re- moved to Avon. He pursued his early studies under the tuition of the Rev. Ebenezer Johnson of Lima. In 1799 he entered the law office of Nathaniel W. Howell of Canandaigua, and in 1802 was admitted to practice, opening his office in Avon. He was then the only lawyer west of Canandaigua. His family had signaled themselves in the legal profession. A great uncle, Titus Hosmer, was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation and was a member of the First Congress, and at the time of his death was a judge of the Maratime Court of Appeals of the Uni- ted States.
George Hosmer was more than ordinarily gifted as an advocate, and as his loyalty to a client could never be doubted, his professional business was quite large.
Heman J. Redfield says : "I was the attorney for the plaintiff in an action founded upon a note. A jury had been empanneled, and I had stated the case to them. Turning to my papers for the note it was not to be found. I had left it in my office in Le Roy. I intimated to Mr. Hosmer, who was the attorney for the defendant, that I supposed I must submit to a non-suit. He instantly rose and, addressing the court, said, 'I scorn to take advantage of my friend under such circumstances ; let a juror be withdrawn and let the panel be discharged.'"
He was not only associated in all the important trials of this portion of the State, but was in the habit of attending the courts from Albany to Buffalo. On the organization of the county he was appointed Dis- trict Attorney, and held the office until January 27th, 1824, when he was succeeded by Orlando Hastings. On the 29th of May of the same year he again as- sumed the duties of the office. He was also a member of the Assembly in 1824. Here he distinguished him-
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self by his readiness in debate, felicitous choice of words, impressive delivery and earnestness of purpose. Indeed, he possessed, in an eminent degree, the requi- sites of an orator. A retentive memory, brilliant im- agination, with an exhaustless wardrobe of imagery, impassioned manner and a powerful voice, melodious in its inflections. His miscellaneous reading was ex- tensive, and he had at his tongue's end the rarest and richest utterances of the poets, ancient and modern.
In 1812 he served on the frontier as the aid of Major General Amos Hall. In his official report of the battle of Black Rock, General Hall bears this testimony to the meritorious services of Mr. Hosmer. He says : "To my two aids-de-camp, Majors George Hosmer and Norton, I cannot withhold my warmest thanks for their cool, deliberate bravery and the alacrity with which they executed my orders from the first move- ment of the troops in the morning to the close of the day."
Mr. Hosmer died at Chicago in March, 1861, while on a visit to his daughter, in the eightieth year of his age. His large circle of friends was wholly unpre- pared for the sorrowful intelligence. He had retired at night in his usual health, after spending a cheerful evening, in the family circle. Soon after lying down his little grand-daughter noticed that he breathed with difficulty and alarmed her father, John Sears, who, on entering the room was requested by Mr. Hosmer to raise his head from the pillow. Scarcely was this done when in a clear and audible voice he said, "This is the last of me," and expired.
Avon was a favorite region for the Indians, drawn thither by the natural beauty of its groves and forests, as well as by the healing properties of its mineral springs. In more modern times their village lay on the western side of the river, but it was the water of
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the springs that gave it name-Can-no-wau-gus- fœtid water.
Colonel Hosmer is of the opinion, as I have else- where stated, that one of the decisive battles between the French under De Nonville, and the Senecas under old Cannehoot, a name made classical by his exalted muse, took place near the eastern bank of the river, not far from the railroad bridge crossing the Genesee. In cutting through the sandy knolls at this spot, workmen flung to the surface arms, fragments of green uniforms and skeletons that crumbled on exposure to the air, obviously the remains of a hurried military burial .*
In the extreme northeast part of the town, on the old Hurlbut farm, the site of an Indian village was plainly discoverable, and curious implements are still found there. When first plowed burnt corn, bone crosses, lance-heads of horn, and other articles were found.
In 1820 the number of scholars in the town entitled to public money was 654. The vote on the constitu- tion of 1821 was as follows : yes, 265 ; no, 35.
The healing quality of the springs was known to the Indians long before any authentic account of this re- gion had been gathered by the whites, and frequent visits to the "fetid" waters were paid by the red men. Later, when the country had become settled by white men, the latter also made excursions to the healing waters, but without finding the excellent accommoda- tions for guests now afforded by the widely known hostelries of the village. William Scott, of Scotts-
"Not far from this spot," says Colonel Hosmer, " when for the first time the virgin soil was upturned by the plow, my father picked up a French coteau de chasse, with the arms of France upon the blade. Military buttons, Jesuit crosses and other similar mementoes are often picked up here after rain."
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burgh, writing of a visit he made at an early day to the springs, says, "With my wife and some friends I visited the springs in the woods, and where the upper spring now is for a number of rods around was a per- fect bog filled with logs and brush. By stepping from log to log I managed to make my way to near the center of the marsh, and found a place where I could lie down and get my face near the sparkling fluid, which I did and took my first drink of Avon water." The principal spring " occurs in a valley which runs nearly north and south," and distant about half a mile from the river. An extensive marsh years ago covered the site of the bath-house and pleasure grounds adjacent.
CALEDONIA.
Area, 26,199 acres; population in 1875, 1,981; Boundaries : North by Wheatland (Monroe Co.); east by Rush (Monroe Co.); south by Avon and York ; west by LeRoy (Genesee county).
As an agricultural town, Caledonia is found in the front rank of her sister towns, and latterly is gaining prominence in mercantile and manufacturing enter- prises. Northampton, from which Caledonia was formed, was made a town in 1797. On the 30th of March, 1802, three towns were set off from North- hampton, and named Batavia, Leicester and South- hampton. The Caledonia settlement then lay in the town of Southampton, and it was not long before the name of the town was changed by vote to Caledonia. This was done April 4th, 1806.
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The surface of the town is moderately uneven, ex- cept in the northern part, where it is quite uneven and broken. The Genesee river runs along its east- ern border, while Allan's creek winds across it. Cal- edonia Spring, in the northern part, covers an area of about six acres. There are ten or twelve springs in all, (lying near together. The water, which is very cold, and yet never freezes in winter, commences to rise in October, and continues rising until April ; keeps two months even ; and then commence lower- ing until October. The outlet forms a good water power a few rods north of the spring, which drives a grist-mill, saw-mill and machine shop. The body of water formed by the springs is one of the finest trout ponds in America. A species of insect which breeds about the springs feeds the trout, which are raised here in large numbers.
About the year 1798 one L. Peterson, a Dane, be- came a squatter near the big spring, and there built a little log house which he opened as a tavern. This man was, as near as I can learn, the first white settler in this place. An Englishman named Burks settled here soon after, and David Fuller came in 1798. The Senecas had a village at Caledonia Spring, which was the general rendezvous of the tribe during the fishing season.
Captain Williamson early conceived the notion of planting a colony of Scotch people here. "His plan," says Dr. McLaren, "like almost the plans he cher- ished, was somewhat magnificent, and bore the traces of his old country aristocratic prejudices." One hundred acres were to be appropriated as a glebe lot for the support of the minister, and about sixty acres for the school. Provision was made for ten gentle- men, each of whom was to have a farm of 500 acres. There were to be ten farmers holding 100 acres each,
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and forty holding 78 acres. A village was projected containing sixty lots of 12 acres each. It was ex- pected that Caledonia would become one of the most important places in this part of the country. Though the good Captain's expectations were not realized, yet it was so far carried out that his countrymen settled here, and they and their descendants have continued to occupy this fine town. Of the causes which led the Scotch to quit their birth-places, endeared to them by centuries of tradition, and bid good-bye to crag and glen and loch, to find a home in this far-off region, we are informed that there were two. The great land holders of the Highlands of Scotland began to turn their attention more largely to sheep-raising, the small farms were thrown together into great sheep farms, and the number of the tenantry was thus largely diminished. Many families were thus thrown out of the homes they had occupied for generations, and hundreds were driven thus to find new homes here. But another cause also contributed to this result. The British government was then engaged in war with France, and the most strenuous efforts were necessary to keep the ranks full. Impressment was resorted to, especially to fill the Highland regiments, and the constant fear of being thus forced into the army sent many young men out of the country. Dr. W. T. Mc- Laren relates a case in point : "One day a Highland farmer, on his return from market, informed his wife with great concern, that he had seen a recruiting off- cer at the market town, and that, as he had heard, it was his intention on the next day to visit their neigh- borhood in search of men. As they had a son of suit- able size and age for the army, they feared he would be laid hold of as a recruit. They immediately de- cided to send him at once to America. With such sor- row as only parents under these circumstances can feel,
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they gathered his little all together, and giving him their blessing, with many tears, bade him farewell, and long before the gray light of morning had revealed the rugged profile of the eastern mountains he was far on his way to Greenoch and the land of the West. His parents, his home among the heather-clad hills he never saw again. His days were spent here where he became an elder in the A. R. church. He died here, and on the tombstone you may read the name of William Frazer."
The first company of settlers in Caledonia belonged chiefly to Perthshire. They left their homes in the spring of 1798, and sailing from Greenoch about the 1st of March, they reached New York about the last of April. Delaying as little as possible they went by boat to Albany, and thence on foot to Johnstown, where many of them had friends residing. Here they would have settled, but their scanty means had been exhausted by their long journey, and for a while mat- ters looked dark indeed to them. "But Providence," says Dr. McLaren, "soon opened up the way before them."
" As soon as Mr. Williamson heard of their arrival in Johnstown he made a journey to see them, and, if possible, to induce them to locate in his projected township at the Big Spring. He found them poor in purse, with nothing to pay for lands, and but little even for present subsistence. He held out every in- ducement to take up their residence on his estate, offering them lands at three dollars an acre, payable as they were able, in wheat, at seventy-five cents per bushel. He engaged to furnish them with provisions until they could help themselves, and promised them a lot of two acres near the spring as a site for a meet- ing-house, a hundred and fifty acres to aid in support- ing a minister, and fifty acres for school purposes.
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He would moreover lend them what money they might need in moving from Johnstown to their farms.
"These proposals of Captain Williamson were as attractive as they were reasonable, but before the peo- ple would answer them they, with characteristic pru- dence asked time to reflect upon them. To satisfy themselves that the offered lands were safe from the much dreaded Indians, and suitable for farming pur- poses, they sent five of their number to view them. These five, Malcolm and James McLaren, Hugh Mc- Dermid, Donald McPherson and John McVean made the journey, more than two hundred miles, on foot, following the road which had, by extraordinary exer- tions, been opened the year before from Fort Schuyler (Utica) to the Genesee river. Before entering Geneva, where they expected to meet Captain Williamson, they stopped under the shade of a bridge that crossed the outlet of the lake, and there using their pocket knives as razors, and in other rude and primitive ways, made their toilet. They were highly pleased with the lands that had been offered them. On their return they met Mr. Williamson on the way from Geneva to Canandaigua and signified to him their ac- ceptance of his proposals. The papers requisite to the bargain were drawn up on the road. On returning to Johnstown they made the hearts of their companions glad by their report. In March of the following year (1799) while there was yet sleighing, a part of the com- pany, consisting of about twenty persons, came up to their new homes, the remainder following them in the succeeding spring. John McVean says they found here a public house, kept by a Mr. Fowler.
Among the first comers were Peter Campbell, Mal- com and James McLaren, and John McNaughton, with their wives, and Donald McVean, a single man. Peter Campbell settled near the springs, and when the
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church was formed he took an active part in its affairs, and was made an elder. His hospitality and kindli- ness to the new comers in after years were unbounded, and as long as he lived the poor found in him a liberal and helping friend. Malcolm McLaren very soon died, and was buried in the lot upon which Mr. Denoon's church was afterward built. His was the first death in the settlement. John McNaughton located on Allen's creek. His house, also, was one where the latch-string was never drawn. Donald McVean set- tled south of the springs, on what was called the Leicester road.
In planning the survey of the land, Mr. Williamson endeavored so to arrange it that as many lots as pos- sible should have a front upon the streams. These lots were generally chosen first ; and it was not until these were all taken up that the settlers began to lo- cate upon the uplands. The result proved, however, that the first comers had chosen the poorest land.
Very shortly after the first settlers came in, during the same spring, Mr. Williamson began the erection of a mill. It was built under the superintendence of Jonathan Baker, and was finished in about three years. It had but one run of stones, which were brought from Albany at an expense of $35 for trans- portation. It stood just at the outlet of the Big Spring, not far from where John McKay's saw-mill now stands. After a number of years its stones were taken out, and it was turned into a woolen factory. Until this mill was finished the grain used by the peo- ple was ground generally at the Messrs. Wadsworths' mill on the outlet of Conesus lake.
The support of the first settlers, until they were able to raise their own supply, was furnished them by Mr. Williamson from his store at Williamsburgh. Alexander McDonald, his agent and clerk there, had
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orders to provide them with cows and provisions, and in fact everything that they required, taking only their notes in payment.
Among the many privations endured by the first settlers, that which they felt most severely was the want of church privileges and the preaching of the gospel. There were among them many truly godly people who had hungered for the bread of life. Hence the question of having a church was soon agitated, and as early as 1802, on the 15th day of November, a meeting of the people "was held at the house of Peter Campbell in order to incorporate and establish themselves into a religious society conformable to an act of the Legislature of the State of New York." Alexander McDonald and John McNaughton presid- ed. "It was unanimously voted that the name or title of the society shall be. the 'Caledonia Presbyterian Religious Society.' Thomas Irvine, Duncan McPher- son, Peter Campbell, John Christy and Peter Anderson were elected trustees." Caledonia was the name given by Mr. Williamson to the settlement ; but the township in which it was situated was still called Northampton. At this period the nearest post-office was at Canandaigua.
There came in now a very important company of settlers from Inverness Shire, Scotland. They started from their Highland homes in July, 1803, and were a . week in reaching Greenock. There being at that time little trade with America, they were obliged to remain there five weeks waiting for an American ship, then in port, to get ready for sea. This was the "Trapper," Captain William Taylor. After a voyage of a little more than six weeks, they arrived in New York. They found that city desolate and almost deserted, in consequence of the yellow fever, which had made great havoc that season. After a delay of two days
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