USA > New York > Ontario County > A history of Ontario County, New York and its people, Volume I > Part 32
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What happened? Later it developed that "The Gore" as it came to be called, i. e., the wedge-shaped tract between the two Pre-emption lines-for these two lines beginning at the same point in the boundary line between New York and Pennsylvania ended several miles apart at Lake Ontario-embraced not only the much coveted 2,400 acres more or less of the future city of Geneva, but a
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grand total of 85,896 acres in one of the most desirable portions of the State. "The Gore" was, therefore, from any point of view, a valuable property, and as it belonged to the Pulteney Purchase, immediately Captain Williamson, as agent of the principality, proceeded to reclaim it. There was consternation now in the camps of the Lessee company and in the hearts of all who held titles in "The Gore," since their titles as previously pointed out had become void. But in becoming void, the titles had not become worthless, for the titles rested on patents granted by the State of New York, and the great State of New York did not close its eyes to its duty, but honorably met the exigency with generous grants of "compensation lands" in the unassigned territory of the State, east of the Pre-emption line, for west of that line all territory belonged to Massachusetts and its proprietaries. On his part, Captain Williamson, recognizing the poignancy of the financial situation, handled it not merely with the irresistible promptitude habitual to him, but with masterly fairness and liberality and skill, and the war of "The Gore" ended amicably, if not to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In 1796, the State formally adopted and ratified the new Pre-emption line and thenceforth Geneva's claim to be part of the "Genesee tract" was never assailed.
Meanwhile, history had been making, and among other occur- rences, in 1792, the first school was taught by Samuel Wheaton. In 1793 the town of Seneca was organized and Ezra Patterson was elected supervisor, thus becoming not only the first supervisor of the civic province to which Geneva belonged, but the first public official therein acquiring authority by local election. This first local election was held in the house of Joshua Fairbanks, inn keeper. The full list of officers elected is preserved in the first record book of the town of Seneca. Also, in this year (1793), the first Court of Oyer and Terminer in Ontario county was held in Geneva, Judge John Sloss Hobart presiding, and one of Geneva's first manufac- tories, a saw mill, is supposed to have been erected on the banks of Castle creek, though as it is said to have been erected by Polydore B. Wisner, probably it is more correct to say that it was erected in 1798, the year of Mr. Wisner's coming, which happens to be quite certainly the year in which the first grist mill was erected by Cor- nelius Roberts. It is to be noted, however, that the natural home of the grist mill and the saw mill in this region was Kashong creek and lake Keuka outlet, and that the existence in those sections of the
VILLAGE AND CITY OF GENEVA. 349
twain foundation stones of civilization antedates their appearance within Geneva's limits. But most notable of all, in this year, 1793, Captain Williamson took formal possession of the Reed and Ryckman reservation, and by his direction a survey and plotting of the southern half of Geneva into lots and tracts was made by Joseph Annin, which became the basis of titles for this portion of Geneva, just as the Hart survey and plotting made in 1790 became the basis for titles in the northern portion of Geneva, as already described.
A Year of Events.
The year 1796, the Pre-emption line having been settled, fairly bristles with events, and in a way is the true beginning for Geneva of individuality and of its claims to distinction. In this year the village was laid out under the eye of Captain Williamson, and in particular Main street, the just pride of our hearts and the envy, not perhaps of the world, but of our neighbors, sprang into existence with its promise of residences on the west side only and on the east side gardens dropping in terraces to the lake. The Geneva hotel, in its day the wonder and admiration of all travelers, preserved as a part of what is now known as the Hygienic Institute Sanitarium, was built and equipped at an expense of little less than $10,000, an enormous sum at that early date. The Mile Point house, intended for the residence of Captain Williamson's brother, a private mansion as notable in its way as the Geneva hotel itself, and costing when completed $5,000 nearly, was begun, though not finished till three or four years later. The first sloop ever built at Geneva to sail the "silver Seneca," a vessel of thirty-eight and one- half tons burthen, constructed by Brown & Sheffield, was launched with great ceremony before a vast crowd drawn from all over the Genesee country and the vicinage, and with shoutings was baptized "Alexander." In the launching of the "Alexander," there was a moment of dramatic intensity worth preserving in its integrity. Just as the blocks were broke, unnoticed a hardy mariner sped to the top of the towering mast, and as the "Alexander" shot down the ways and took the water, immediately she began to sway violently and the hardy mariner was whipped through the air from side to side. A cry of horror went up from the assembled thousands, some closed their eyes that they might not see a dire tragedy enacted, while others for the opposite reason kept their eyes wide open, but fortune ever favors the brave and at last amid huzzas the
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doughty tar slid down to the deck unharmed and the land lubbers went below to ponder the terrors of the sea.
December 16 of this memorable year, Lucius Carey published at Geneva the first number of the "Ontario Gazette or Western Chronicle," Geneva's first newspaper, later removed to Canan- daigua. Also a postoffice was opened with. Walter Grieve, afterward General Grieve, as postmaster; and School Commissioners were appointed, James Rice, Oliver Whitmore, and Phineas Pierce, who were empowered to receive the money granted by the State for the use of schools under the act of 1795. Further, the Geneva Water Works Company, destined to last under one form or another till 1896, just one hundred years, was organized. And to close the year with eclat, the Geneva hotel being finished, Geneva's first notable bail was given in celebration of the event, and thereto came all the wealth and beauty of the Genesee country.
In 1797 the work of laying the foundation of the city went merrily on. A brewery, in the interests of temperance, was opened at Mile point, by John Moffat, a Scotchman; the Pulteney street cemetery was laid out and the first burial therein was made, being that of a child of Polydore B. Wisner. A fairly good road from Utica to the Genesee, known as the great Genesee road, was perfected through funds obtained principally by a lottery, and the Genesee Mail stage, Utica to Geneva, once a week, commenced September 30th. In 1798 the formative work continued, and Geneva's first library association was created, the creation of public libraries being counted in the "Genesee tract" an object of prime importance deserving the earliest possible attention. Among those in Geneva who interested themselves in promoting this public utility, the leading spirit was Polydore B. Wisner, already mentioned, a lawyer, who from this time till his sudden and deeply mourned death in 1814 continued instant in all movements for benefiting Geneva. In the same year the Presbyterian church was organized and the first step taken toward the establishment of religious bodies, a movement destined to be continued with conspicuous zeal.
The Passing of Captain Williamson.
At last the time was come when the man who had been back of all this rapid and wonderful development was to disappear from the scene. In 1800 differences of opinion, which had been develop- ing between the Pulteney Associates and their agent, Captain
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Williamson, as to certain details of administration, especially the lavishness of expenditure demanded by his plans, culminated, and on May 16th, 1801, Captain Williamson, deeding to the Pulteney Associates, as already mentioned, the princely estate which he had held in his own name since April 11th, 1792, retired. This is not the place to discuss the merits of the differences, but the sober second thought of the Genesee country has substantially approved the administration of Captain Williamson, for the rapidity of settle- ment it engendered and the high character of the settlers it so abundantly attracted, and without reservation is pleased to remember and applaud the manliness and honesty, the geniality, the unquenchable enthusiasm, the faculty for organization, and the marvelous industry of Captain Charles Williamson.
The successors in Geneva of Captain Williamson in the agency of the Pulteney estate, an ever lessening estate and now near extinction, have all been men of high character: Colonel Robert Troup, 1801-1832; Joseph Fellows, 1832-1871; Edward A. Kings- land, 1871-1894; and 1894 to 1900, Mason and Rose, and since the lamented death of Judge Mason in 1900, Mr. Rose alone. Colonel Robert Troup, appointed general agent in 1801, was not able to assume the duties of the office in person till 1814, and in the interim was represented worthily by John Johnstone, John Heslop, and Robert Scott, successively, as sub-agents.
Growth during Williamson Period.
During the longer formative period, that is during the reign of Captain Williamson, Geneva made substantial progress. There is a dearth of exact figures, but there are estimates which even if not exact give a satisfactory idea of Geneva's growth and development during that interesting period. At the beginning of the period, the population of Geneva was estimated as we have seen at ten or twelve families. Mrs. Bradford, in her careful history, written in 1862, speaks of Geneva's population in 1798 as about thirty families, too small an estimate perhaps. In 1800, the English traveler Maude, makes the number of families sixty, probably a somewhat generous estimate, for evidently Mr. Maude was not a little fascinated with the splendid "Geneva hotel" and the manner in which he was treated there by Captain Williamson and the Genevans, and possi- bly Geneva looked to him larger than it was. A recension made in 1805, the year before the incorporation of the village, showed
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sixty-eight houses and three hundred and twenty-five inhabitants. In any view, however, the growth made under Captain Williamson was substantial and can with difficulty be measured by figures.
The taste shown by Captain Williamson in laying out the future city and particularly his provision of a grand avenue, Main street, along the banks of the lake, and the erection by him of two such advanced and imposing buildings for their time as the Geneva hotel and the Mile Point mansion, the latter to be approached through rows of Lombardy poplars, whether profitable to the Pulteney Associates or not, at once lifted Geneva out of the commonplace and invested it with an "imperial air" which it was destined never to lose. In the presence of fame, figures become voiceless. The rights of local history demand that it be noted that although of Geneva's first two great buildings the name of the architect has not survived, the carpenter work was cared for by David Abbey and the mason work by John Woods, while the materials and supplies were furnished chiefly by Grieve and Moffatt, the leading mercantile firm of the second formative period-chiefly by Grieve and Moffatt, not exclusively, for Captain Williamson dispensed the patronage of his principality with princely impartiality.
Again it is largely due to Captain Williamson that during this period, almost completely controlled by him, Geneva's population was so augmented by settlers of a really desirable character, and that so many gentlemen of social importance and of professional or business capacity made Geneva their home and became founders of families destined to render Geneva noteworthy and some of them to continue to the present time. Examples are: Judge Jacob W. Hallett, whose descendants are by connection members of many of Geneva's leading families of today, one daughter having married a Rees, another a Rose, and another a Colt: Major James Rees, who first came into the Genesee country as the private secretary and representative of Robert Morris, one of the proprietaries, Caroline C. Rees, his daughter, later marrying Baron William Steuben De Zeng. one of whose daughters in turn married a De Lancey and a second a Seward: Herman H. Bogert, lawyer, whose youngest daughter was afterward married to Godfrey J. Grosvenor, a talented and distinguished lawyer in Geneva: Judge Elijah H. Gorden, Robert W. Stoddard, Daniel W. Lewis, David Hudson, John Collins, Henry Beekman, all lawyers and all promi- nent in the history of Geneva; John Hemiup, born in Strassburg,
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Germany, who, a warm friend and admirer of Lafayette, crossed the ocean with him and took part under him in the war of the Revolution, and came to Geneva in 1799, grandfather of the well known brothers, Morris and Charles L. Hemiup; Dr. John Henry and Dr. Daniel Goodwin, Geneva's first permanent physicians ; Samuel Colt, Thomas Goundry, Nathaniel Merrill, Colonel Walter Grieve, W. Houten (Houghton?), Thomas and James Barden, Richard M. Williams, William Tappan, Colonel Richard M. Bailey, John Moffatt, Richard Larzalere, John and Abram Hall, business men; Isaac Mullender, land owner; John Johnstone and Charles Cameron, assistants to Captain Williamson, who came over with him in 1791; and Thomas Powell, long connected with the celebrated "Thatched Cottage" in London, the resort of "statesmen, politicians and wits," but after his coming to this country induced by Captain Williamson to take charge of the Geneva hotel, which he conducted with honor and success. an esteemed citizen with varied interests other than the hotel and one of the first vestrymen of Trinity church. To this list must be added the names of the following gentlemen, first trustees of the Presbyterian church of Geneva, elected 1798: Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, Septimus Evans, Ezra Patterson, Samuel Latta, William Smith, Jr., and Polydore B. Wisner, though Ezra Patterson was an influential citizen before Captain Williamson came upon the scene.
Of the mechanics attracted to Geneva during the Williamson period, a word is to be said of one of the most prominent of them, Moses Hall. It was to him that Geneva owed its first iron foundry; which he established on the north side of Castle street, a little west of Exchange street. Before his establishment of his foundry on Castle street, Mr. Hall had maintained for years a blacksmith's shop on the east side of Main street, opposite the south end of the park, for though now the center of Geneva's activities is the corner of Seneca and Exchange streets, at the level of the lake, in the beginning the center of activities was around Pulteney park, eighty or ninety feet above the level of the lake, and Mr. Hall's change of site was an early instance of what Geneva's forefathers picturesquely styled the "Hill" going to the "Bottom," "Hill" and "Bottom" being the popular designations of the rival sections of the village. Mr. Hall was born in 1776 and died in 1867. It is not known when he first came to Geneva, but by Abraham Dox he was spoken of as an "old resident" in 1805. In her history of Geneva, Mrs. Bradford
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records of him that he was "one of the earliest and most respectable settlers of Geneva," always esteemed as "an honest man and a faithful Christian."
Quite in a class by himself, but belonging to the Williamson period, is Major James Cochran, "who fiddled his way into Congress," as he with great zest stated in speaking of the impromptu but indescribably valuable and deeply appreciated services he rendered at Geneva's famous ball in 1796. This list, imperfect as it is, attests the interest that Geneva should feel in the character and career of Captain Williamson.
Geneva's happenings since 1800 constitute a century of events, of exits and of entrances of persons and of families, so numerous and so deserving of remembrance here that, were an attempt made to do them all that even and exact justice which would make them real to the mind, the result would be not a brief chronicle such as this work requires, but a ponderous volume meet only for coteries of men and women of endless leisure, so that apparently the one course left is to run lightly along the mountain tops of Geneva's story as it reveals itself in the successive decades of the century.
Decade, 1800-1810.
The principal events of the decade, 1800-1810, are in a way, nearly all of them, monumental. 1802: The Mile Point mansion was occupied for the first and last time. 1803: The two great farms, "The White Springs Farm" and "The Rose Hill Farm," were established, the one by Judge John Nicholas, the other by the Hon. Robert L. Rose, two men who were of signal prominence in the early development of Geneva, men whose cultured influence has happily been continued to the place to this day through their many descendants. They were sons-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Lawson, who built and resided in what is now known as "The Pillars."
1804: The first regular passenger stage line, Utica to Canan- daigua, was opened, the first stages used thereon being the coaches in which Mr. Lawson and his sons-in-law with their families journeyed to Geneva from "Hampstead," their plantation in Virginia where these coaches were made by their own workmen. 1806: Three events present themselves for record :- the village was incorporated; Trinity church was organized; and the "Exposi- tor," the first permanent village paper, was established by Colonel
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James Bogert, who first came to Geneva this year. Three years later, Colonel Bogert changed the name of his paper to "Geneva Gazette," which as such has survived to the present time, but since 1902 under the title "Geneva Advertiser-Gazette."
1807: The first secret society organization was formed, Ark lodge, No. 33 of Free and Accepted Masons, the lodge finding its first home in the splendid old Colonial building on Exchange (then Water) street, erected in 1804 by Colonel Pearly Phillips, which some years later, 1813, be- came the home of the Tillman family and the scene of many bril- liant social affairs. January 30 of this year (1807), twenty-three free-holders of Geneva petitioned the Regents of the University of the State of New York for the in- corporation of Geneva Academy, but the petition was not granted and the Academy remained with- out a charter till 1813. August 5, 1807, in anticipation of a war with England, Captain Walter Grieve's company of artillery and Captain Septimus Evans's troop of horse tendered their services to the commander-in-chief to be held in STEPHEN H. PARKER. readiness for active service. De- Stephen H. Parker, for many years prom- inent as a newspaper publisher in Geneva, was born in the town of Hector, Seneca county, October 29, 1822; became editor and proprietor of the Geneva Gazette, the Demo- cratic organ of Eastern Ontario, in 1844; and continued at its head until his death; postmaster of Geneva under President Bu- chanan, 1856-60; State Canal Commissioner, 1861-65; served also as President of the Village of Geneva; died at Geneva, October 25, 1901. cember 29, 1807, at 2 A. M., oc- curred the first fire of any im- portance of which there is record, being the still-houses of Daniel Benton and the Messrs. Reed; loss, eighteen hundred dollars; origin, incendiary.
1809: The first church edifices, the Presbyterian and the Episcopalian, were erected, Jonathan Doane, the father of the late Bishop Doane of New Jersey, builder. Of the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Jedediah Chapman was the first permanent pastor, 1800- 1812; and of the Episcopal church, the Rev. Davenport Phelps was
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missionary, 1803-1806, and first permanent rector, 1806-1813. June 10 of this year (1809), Geneva celebrated with grand enthusiasm the restoration of commercial relations between Great Britain and America, the last gun of the Federal salute fired on that occasion being wadded with "The Non-importation Act, Jefferson's Procla- mation, Embargo Act, Supplementary Embargo Act, and Enforcing Act." The orator for the day was Daniel W. Lewis, Esq., "a sound and learned lawyer." In this same year (1809), the first horse races were held, October 11th and 12th, in connection with the Genesee Semi-annual Fair on the Colt meadows, which were situated west of Genesee street and north of Castle street, and for many years were the scene of the annual military festival, or "General Training." 1810: A dancing school, the first probably of note, was opened by Alexis de St. Felix, and about this time, or more exactly, February 6th, 1811, a Mr. Moore advertises a military school at Powell's hotel, for broad-sword exercise, for thus in these early days mili- tarism and the dance, as may be observed, held the scene hand in hand.
In this year, 1810, Geneva's first important manufacturing interest, the Ontario glass factory, lending distinction to the names of De Zeng and Dox as founders, was established, capital $100,- 000, and to this day an interesting specimen of its work remains in the glass of exquisite amber hue to be seen in the older windows of Trinity church. The charter of the company, bearing the great seal of the State and the masterful signature of Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor, is extant, having been presented to Hobart college library by the late Henry Lawrence De Zeng.
The Honorable Abraham Dox, the largest stockholder of the Ontario glass factory, was from his coming to Geneva in 1805 till his death at Hopeton in 1862, a conspicuous figure in the life of Geneva. His business interests were large and varied and appreci- ably promoted the prosperity of the place. He was a leader in religious and educational undertakings, a liberal contributor to the funds for the erection of the first church buildings of both the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches, and also to the establish- ing funds of the Geneva Academy and of Geneva (now Hobart) College, and was made a member of the first board of trustees of the college. He served as an officer in the war of 1812, was the aid of General Stephen Van Rensselaer at the battle of Queenstown, and was the bearer of that General's dispatches to the headquarters of
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the army at Albany. Also, he served one time as a member of the Legislature of the State, and was a stockholder and director of the old Ontario bank of Canandaigua, whose charter he helped to procure. The Ontario bank of Canandaigua was the first bank chartered west of Utica.
Incorporation of Village.
Some of the events of this decade call for more than mere mention. In its act of incorporation, 1806, Geneva antedates all neighboring villages and cities, the dates of its neighbors being : Buffalo, 1813; Canandaigua, 1815; Bath, 1816; Rochester, 1817; Auburn, 1815; Elmira, 1815; Syracuse, 1825. The corporate life of Geneva, both as village, 1806-1898, and as city, 1898 to the pres- ent time, has consistently and continuously been of the most advanced type.
The Two Historic Farms.
The White Springs and The Rose Hill farms, Geneva's two famous farms, originally 1,600 acres each in extent, but now by creation of smaller farms only about 400 acres each, have from the beginning been of more than local interest. Both came to be known all over the State as centers of advanced or scientific farming.
In the fifties and sixties both attained remarkable distinction. The Rose Hill farm, under the intelligent and painstaking direction of Robert J. Swan, who acquired it by purchase in 1850, was hon- ored with the award of both the famous prizes offered by the State Agricultural Society, the one in 1853, for the most perfect drainage, the other in 1858, for the best farm.
Under James O. Sheldon, the White Springs farm, purchased bv him in 1857, became more widely known if possible than the Rose Hill farm, not, however, so much for improved methods of farm- ing, as for the herd of Short Horn Durhams collected by him, the finest and most celebrated herd in the world. The prices brought by some animals of the herd seem incredible, the 8th Duchess of Geneva selling for $40,600.
Both the owners of these farms during this period, Mr. Swan and Mr. Sheldon, had the honor to be elected to the presidency of the New York State Agricultural Society. In the beginning both farms maintained each a flock of sheep numbering about 1,200, and in 1808 or 1809, on the White Springs farm, a
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