USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Early history of Rochester. 1810 to 1827, with comparisons of its growth and progress to 1860 > Part 2
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Monroe County was erected by a law passed Feb. 20, 1821, and named in honour of James Monroe, then President of the United States; and organ- ized by holding the first term of the County Court, on the 8th of May, 1821.
It was taken from Ontario and Genesee coun- ties, viz : the towns of Brighton, Pittsford, Pen- field, Perinton, Henrietta, Mendon, and a part of Rush [that part of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, north of the Honeoye outlet,] lying east of the Genesee river, from the county of Ontario; and the towns of Gates, Parma, Clarkson, Sweden, Ogden, Riga and Wheatland, lying on the west side of Genesee river, from the county of Gene- see.
Since then, the town of Greece has been erect- ed from the north end of Gates; the town of Chili from the east end of Riga; and the south part of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, taken from Avon, in the county of Livingston, and added to Rush. The county now contains sixteen sizeable towns, and comprehends a territory of about 675 square miles, or 420,000 acres; bounded on the E. bo Wayne; on the S. E. by Ontario; and on the S. by Livingston; on the S. W. by Genesee ; on the W. by Orleans county; and on the north by the national and state territorial line in the middle of lake Ontario. When erected, it con- tained a population of 26,526, by the United States census of 1820.
The first county officers were, Elisha B. Strong, First Judge ; Timothy Barnard, sen. Levi H. Clarke, and John Bowman, Associate Judges. Na- thaniel Rochester, Clerk ; James Seymour, Sheriff; Timothy Childs, District Attorney ; and Elisha Ely, Surrogate.
The present officers are, Moses Chapin, First Judge ; Brooks Mason, Timothy Barnard, Jr. Wil- liam B. Brown, and Timothy Childs, Associate Judges. James Seymour, Sheriff ; Simon Stone, 2d Clerk ; Daniel D. Barnard, District Attorney : aad Orrin E. Gibbs, Surrogate.
THE VILLAGE OF ROCHESTER.
THE village of Rochester is situated on both the eastern and western banks of the Genesee river, seven miles from its mouth, at lake Ontario, and includes the third and fourth of the six several falls on the river: the third, or upper one, is a small fall of twelve feet, situated at the foot of the rapids, aud immediately above where the canal aqueduct is erected ; and the other is the great fall of 97 feet, situated 80 rods below. It is 23 miles south of where the alluviul way or celebrated Ridge Road intersects the river, and at the first bridging place south of the lake, with accessible and convenient banks for crossing it; and also for passing around the head of the Irondequoit, (or Teoronto bay, as Dr. Spafford calls it,) giving a continnation to the Ridge Road from east to west. It
three miles south
is also from Hanford's landing on the west side of the river and 2 miles from Carthage land- ing, the head of sloop navigation from the lake, on the east side; and about 35 miles by land, and 70 by water, from Mount Morris, to which place the river is navigable at all times ; and 50 miles by land, and 90 by water, from Gardean, or the second of the upper falls, which is the head of navigation during freshets. The two lower falls are at Carthage, 112 miles below the village.
The grand Erie Canal, after curving along the declivity of the mountain ridge from the N. W. passes through the middle of the village, crosses the river in a splendid aqueduct, and thence runs along the eastern bank up the stream about eighty rods to a small ravine, through which it resumes its course eastwardly.
This situation, together with the vast water power, conspire to give the village its command- ing position for trade, by the lake, the river, and the canal, as well for manufactures.
The canal, at this place, is 501 feet above the tide waters of the Hudson, 270 feet above Lake Ontario, and 64 feet below Lake Erie.
The village corporation contains about 720 acres on the west, and 430 on the east side of the river.
It is 218 miles west of Albany-28 northwest of Canandaigua-and 35 nearly northeast of Batavia.
It is situated in latitude 43º N. and about 40' W. longitude from the meridian of the city of Washington.
The Mill Lot, so called, lying in the centre of the village, on the west side of the river, and con- taining 100 acres, was a gift from Oliver Phelps to Ebenezer Allen, in 1789, in consideration of his building a grist-mill on it, for the accommodation of. the new settlers then moving into the country. But the settlement being mostly made along the main road leading through Canandaigua to Buffa- lo, left this section of the country to remain a wilderness for several years. Mr. Allen moved away, left his mill to go to decay, and sold his lot, which passed through several hands to the Pulte- ney estate.
In 1802, Nathaniel Rochester, William Fitzhugh, and Charles Carroll, of Maryland, purchased the lot, and left it remaining unoccupied until 1812, when they surveyed it into village lots, opened it for sale, and gave it the name of Rochester, the family name of the senior proprietor.
The other lands now occupied as the village of Rochester, were farm-lots Nos. 47 to 54, in town- ships No. 1, short range, west of the Genesee riv- er, and now the town of Gates : and Nos. 3 and 10, with 36, and a lot called the Hatchet Piece, of the third division of township No. 13, of the 7th range, east of Genesee river, and now the town of Brighton:
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The lots on the west side, were a part of a tract of 20,000 acres, bought of Phelps and Gorham by a company of seven purchasers, in the ycar 1791, and partitioned between them by lot. Charles Harford, one of these, made the first improve- ment in the N. W. part of the village, about the year 1807, by building a small mill, with one run of stones, 212 feet in diameter : but it was not till 1812, when lots Nos. 48 and 49 were purchased by Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thomas Mumford, that this portion of the village was sur- veyed as building lots, and denominated Frankfort, after the christian name of Francis Brown.
The centre of the village east of the river, was a part of the farm of Enos Stone, a part also of a larger joint purchase from the Phelps and Gor- ham estate, in the year 1879, for 18 6/ New-Eng- land currency, per acre. A little clearing was made on this land-a log house built on the bank of the river, and a saw-mill erected near the ford- ing place, about 1808; but it was not till 1817, that this part of the village was much improved. At that time, Ellsha Johnson, having purchased 80 acres from the west side of Enos Stone's farm, surveyed and laid it ont into building lots.
James, son of Enos Stone, is believed to to have been the first child born in Rochester, May 4, 1810.
The N. E. part of the village, or lots Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7, were owned by Moses Atwater, and Sam- uel I. Andrews. Their first improvements began in 1813.
The first bridge at this place, (where the middle bridge now stands,) was commenced in the year 1810, and finished in 1812, at the joint expense of the counties of Ontario and Genesee, amounting to $12,000. Previous to this, the river was cross- ed by fording on the level rocky bottom, about twenty rods above where the canal aqueduct is now erected; the only bridge then on the river was where it is intersected by the Buffalo road at Avon, twenty miles distant from this place.
Hitherto, there was nothing in the appearance or prospects of the place where Rochester now stands, to indicate the unexampled growth which it has experienced since 1812. Its water-falls, in- deed, afforded the prospect of advantages for hy- dranliek machinery ; but the small productions of the surrounding country, and the superior pros- pects, as it then seemed, of other points in the vicinity for commercial purposes, were but little calculated to excite sanguine expectations.
In the month of January, 1810, Frederick Han- ford opened a store of goods, at what was then called the upper landing, or Fall- Town, (being the first merchant's store on the river below Avon,) and opened the way to the trade of the river and
lake. Hence, that place has since been called . income of the post offices on the route for its sup-
Handford's landing. The village, also, at the mouth of the river, attracted some attention, and promised to become a place of trade.
It may tend to give an idea of the commercial and civil importance of all those points at that time, to state that the mail was then carried from Canandaigua once a week, on horseback, and part of that time by a woman !
From the year 1812, which might be regarded as the birth year of Rochester, as a village, we shall note, in the form of annals, whatever events - taken-population, 331. contributed to its growth and increase up to the present time; and whatever else may seem wor- thy of being remembered, as connected with its history.
1812 .- The bridge across the Genesee river was finished. The proprietors of the Allen mill lot surveyed it into village lots, and opened it for sale and settlement.
Isaac W. Stone built a house and opened a tav- ern, opposite the place where the Methodist brick chapel now stands, on the east side of the river ; which was the only tavern in the place for two or three years. He also built a saw-mill near Enos Stone's log house.
Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thom- as Mumford, purchased lots Nos. 48 and 49, laid them out in village lots, and called it Frankfort. The only improvements then were Mr. Harford's grist and saw mills and two log houses.
Moses Atwater and Samuel I. Andrews purchas- ed lots Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, in the third division of lots, in township No. 13, in the 7th range, about the great falls, on the east side of the river, (which now forms the northeast section of the village,) and commenced their improvements. A Post-Office was established in the village. Its first quarterly income was $3,42 cts.
In July, of this year, the first merchant's store was opened, by Ira West.
1813 .- The Legislature granted $5,000, for cut- ting out the path and bridging the streams on the Ridge Road, between this place and Lewiston, which was then almost impassible.
There were three houses built and occupied on the west side of the river. The land where the publick buildings now stand, was cleared, sown with wheat, and afterwards used as a pasture. The mill race, south of Buffalo-street, was opened by Rochester & Co. [There is now in the same place a large and commodious canal, which sup- plies water for three flouring mills, five saw-mills, a trip hammer and nail factory, and considerable other machinery ]
1814 .- On the 14th of May, Sir James L. Yeo, admiral of the British fleet on Lake Ontario, an- chored off the harbour at the mouth of the river, with five large and eight smaller vessels of war; when all the male inhabitants of the village, ca- pable of bearing arms, (being 33,) turned out with the militia of the neighboring towns, to prevent his landiog, leaving only two men to take the wo- men and children into the woods, in case he sho'd land and send a detachment of troops, as had been threatened, to burn the bridge across the river.
The first mercantile operations of any impor- tance in the village commenced this year.
1815-Elisha Ely, Hervey Ely, and Josiah Bis- sell, Jr. finished the red mill, with four run of stones, now owned by Ebenezer S. Beach.
Samuel Hildreth, of Pittsford, commenced run- ning a stage and carrying the mail, twice a week, between this place and Canandaigua.
A private weekly mail route was established be- tween this place and Lewiston-dependent on the port.
M. Brown, Jr. F. Brown, and T. Mumford, com- menced their mill canal, at the head of the great falls, and finished it in 1816. The building of the cotton factory, in Frankfort, was commenced by an incorporated company.
Abelard Reynolds opened the first tavern on the west side of the river, on Buffalo-street.
In December, the first census of the village was
Aug. 22-The first religious society in the place was organized, consisting of 16 members, 14 of whom are still alive.
The purchase of produce in any considerable quantity, from the surrounding country, com- menced this year.
1816 .- Caleb Lyon commenced the settlement of Carthage.
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January 17-Rev. Comfort Williams was in- stalled pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, being the first clergyman settled in the village.
Dauby & Sheldon established a weekly newspa- per, entitled the Rochester Gazette ;- [now pub- lished by Edwin Scrantom, and called the Monroe Republican.]
Matthew and Francis Brown finished a mill ca- nal on the west side of the river, at the head of the great falls, 84 rods in length, 30 feet wide, and 3 feet in depth, through a rock-which forms the mill race for their mills, the cotton factory, and many other establishments, and from which the water falls down the bank ninety-six feet.
Buffalo road was surveyed and laid out to Ba- tavia.
1817 .- By an act of the Legislature, passed in April, the village was incorporated by the name of Rochesterville, and on the first of May the first village election was held, for five trustees-when Francis Brown, Daniel Mack, William Cobb, Eve- rard Peck, and Jehiel Barnard, were elected. Francis Brown was chosen president of the board, and Hastings R. Bender clerk.
The first house for publick worship was built on Carroll-street,-[now occupied by the second Presbyterian society.]
Elisha Johnson purchased of Enos Stone, from the west side of his farm, 80 acres, adjoining the river, and surveyed the same into a village plat- constructed a dam across the river, above the old fording place, and excavated a large mill canal from thence to the bridge, 60 or 70 rods in length, 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep; opening ex- tensive water privileges, at an expense of $12,000. Orson Seymour and others, in the course of the year, became jointly interested with Mr. Johnson, in his purchase, the back land of which was yet a forest.
The price of wheat, during the early part of this year, was from $1,75 to $2,25 per bushel. The loss sustained by the millers and merchants was very considerable.
William Atkinson built the yellow mill, on Johnson's mill canal, containing three run of stones.
This year, the steam-boat Ontario commenced running from Sackett's Harbour to Lewiston, touching at the Port of Genesee.
1818 .- Gilman & Sibley built a paper-mill, near Atkinson's flouring-mill.
Strong & Albright built their mill at Carthage, containing four run of stones-[now owned by Elisha B. Strong & Co.]
Carthage bridge was commenced, by Strong, Norton & Co.
July 7th-Everard Peck & Co. established the second weekly newspaper, entitled the Rochester. Telegraph ;- [now published semi-weekly, by Weed & Martin.]
In September, the second census of the village was taken-population, 1049.
The exports, from the Genesee river down the lake to the Canada market, during the season of navigation, were, 26,000 bbls. flour-3,653 bbls. pot and pearl ashes-1,173 bbls. pork-190 bbls. whiskey-214,000 double butt staves-together with small quantities of sundry other articles- valued at $380,000.
1819 .- Matthew and Francis Brown rebuilt their flouring mill, containing four run of stones, on the site where the former mill was burnt down in March, 1818.
Solomon Cleveland built his mill on the east wing of the great falls, containing two run of stones.
Atwater, Andrews and Mumford, built a toll bridge, a few rods above Cleveland's mill. This was the second bridge across the Genesee river in the village.
The famous bridge at Carthage, was finished this year.
The Royal Arch Chapter of Free Masons was installed, March 23d.
The title of the village corporation was changed by an act of the legislature, from Rochesterville to Rochester.
September 28th, the state engineers made a sur- vey of a route for the canal through the village.
The exports from the port of Genesee to Cana- da for the year, were 23,648 bbls. flour; 8,673 bbis. pot and pearl ashes; 1,451 bbls. pork; 500,000 staves; 50,000 feet of square timber; which, to- gether with sundry smaller articles, were valued at 400,000 dollars.
1820-By the United States census of August 1st, the village was found to contain 1502 inhabitants.
September 21st, the Hon. Roger Skinner held a session of the United States District Court, which was the first Court of Record held in the village.
The second house for publick worship in the village, was built by the Episcopalians-[now the old building standing in the rear of the Episcopal church.]
The exports from the port of Genesee to Cana- da for the year, were 67,468 bbls. flour; 5,310 bbls. pot and pearl ashes ; 2,643 bbls. beef and pork ; 709 hbls. whiskey; 179,000 staves; togeth- er with small quantities of corn, oil, lard, ham, butter, cider, &c .- valued at $375,000. The prices of produce had fallen greatly-the general price of flour, was $2,25, to $2,50 per barrel ; of wheat, 3712 cents per bushel, and corn, from 20 to 25 cents.
1821 .- February 20th, a law passed in the state legislature, erecting the county of Monroe.
Morris S. Miller, Robert S. Rose, and Nathan Williams, the commissioners appointed by law, located the county buildings for Monroe, in the village of Rochester, on a lot given for the pur- pose, by Rochester, Fitzhugh and Carroll.
September 4th, the corner stone of the Court- House was laid.
A Female Charity School was opened for the gratuitous instruction of poor children.
In May, the first County Court for Monroe was held.
In August, William Britton commenced build- ing the Canal Aqueduct, with 30 convicts from the State Prison, at Auburn.
November 20th, the price of wheat was 50 cents per bushel.
The price of produce having fallen so low in Canada, and the canal having beeu partly finished, to favour the shipment of it to Albany, so mate- rially reduced the quantities shipped for the Can- ada market, that no subsequent account of the an- nual exports there, has been taken.
1822 .- February 5th, 7000 bushels of wheat were taken in this day, at the mills in Rochester and Carthage.
October 29th, the first canal boat left the village for Little Falls, laden with flour.
The third house for publick worship was built by the Friends, or Quakers.
And the fourth commenced, being the Metho- dist brick chapel, on the east side of the river.
·In Sept. the 4th census of the village was taken -permanent population, 2700; and 3130, includ- ing labourers on the publick works.
Hervey Ely built his mill, adjoining William At- kinson's, containing four run of stones.
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1823 .- In ten days preceding May 6th, there were 10,000 bbls. of flour shipped at this village on the Erie canal, for Albany and New-York.
October 7th, the completion of the canal aque- duct across the Genesee river, was celebrated by the passage of boats, escorted by the military companies, masonic societies, and citizens of the village. [A description of the aqueduct will be found in a subsequent page.]
The fifth house for publick worship was built, being the Roman Catholick chapel.
Roebester and Montgomery built their mill near E. S. Beech's, containing three run of stones.
1824 .- The law for incorporating the Bank of Rochester, passed the legislature.
The first Presbyterian society built a stone church near the court-house.
The Episcopal society moved their old building, and erected a stone church on the same ground.
The bridge, beginning to decay, was rebuilt by the county of Monroe, for $6,000. Samuel Works, commissioner ; Elisha Johnson, contractor.
1825 .- The fifth census of the village was taken in Feb .- population, 4274.
H. N. & A. B. Curtis built their large stone building at the east end of the bridge, containing two run of stones, and extensive machinery for manufactures.
In October, Marshall, Spalding & IIunt estab- lisbed the Rochester Album-[now published by Elihu F. Marsball. ]
The sixth census of the village was takeu under the state census, August 1st-population, 5273.
The powers granted to the village Trustees by the charter of incorporation, were found to be in- adequate to a good police regulation, and the question was agitated during the fall, whether they should apply for a city charter, while apply- ing for an increase of power to the old corpora- tion ; but after considerable discussion, the sub- jeet of a city charter was declined, and the village charter was amended by vesting more ample pow- ers in the board of trustees.
1826 .- Brown & Whitney built their mill at the lower end of Brown's mill canal, containing two run of stones, and designed for four.
The Dissenting Methodists began to build their meeting house, being the seventh house for pub- lick worship.
A company of land proprietors, and other in- dividuals, began to build the third bridge across the Genesee river, at this place, in a line with the Pittsford state road, by subscription.
In October, Luther Tueker & Co. established the Rochester Daily Advertiser.
In December, the 7th census of the village was taken-population, 7669.
INSTITUTIONS.
I .- THE POLICE.
The government of the village is conducted, ac- cording to its present charter, by a board of five trustees, who, with a treasurer, collector, two con- stables, five assessors, and ten fire-wardens, are annually elected, by the qualified inhabitants, on the first Monday in May. The chief engineer of the fire department is elected by the fire-wardens and firemen only, on the second Monday of May, annually. A clerk of the board is appointed by the trustees.
The powers of the board of trustees are believed to comprehend every thing necessary to secure and enforce neatness, regularity, good order, and safety by night and by day, within the precincts of the corporation, and efficiently to restrain what-
ever may be offensive, or detrimental to decency, good morals, or religion.
The following is a list of regulations, with the fines or penalties attached to them respectively, now in force by ordinance of the trustees, agree- ably to their chartered powers.
Householders must clean and keep clear the sidewalks and streets opposite their premises, ex- cept in specified cases .- Fine, for neglect, $5.
No person may injure any walk, street, sewer, drain, well, or other article for publick use .- Fine, for each offence, $10.
Householders must sweep and clean the side- walks, opposite their dwellings, every Saturday, from the first day of April till the first day of No- vember .- Fine, for each neglect, $1.
No householders or others are permitted to throw any offensive matter whatever into the streets or lanes .- Fine, $2.
Immoderate riding or driving, in the streets, is forbidden .- Fine, for each offence, $5.
Hucksters must not occupy any place in the streets or lanes of the village, for the sale of fruit, &c., without a license for the same .- Fine, for each offence, $3.
No person may stop his horse or team on any cross or side-walk, so as to hinder or endanger any person passing thereon .- Fine, for each of- fence, $2.
No auctioneer, constable, or other person, may hold any sale so as to collect a crowd on any side or eross.walk .- Fine, for each offence, $5.
Fireplaces, of every description, to be kept in good repair so as to be safe .- Fine for neglect, $10. The same to be cleaned, as directed, once every three months .- Fine for neglect, $5.
No person may keep above 12 lbs. of gunpow- der in any house within the village, nor even that quantity, except in elose canisters .- Fine, tor ev- ery day this ordinance is transgressed, $20.
No candle nor fire to be kept, or carried in an exposed manuer, in livery stables .- Fine, for each offence, $5.
Householders shall have a place of safe deposit for ashes, and in no ease suffer them to be put into wooden vessels .- Fine, $5.
For constructing insecure chimneys to any house or manufactory .- Fine, $10.
Fire wardens, to inspeet houses and yards once in each month .- Fine, for neglect, $2.
Householders shall obey the directions of fire wardens, in things relating to security against fire .- Fine, for non-compliance, each offence, $10.
Each house must have a seuttle in the roof, and stairs in the same .- Fine on the occupant, for ne- glect, $5.
Fire buckets, to be kept in each house-for one or two fireplaces or stoves, one bueket : for 3 or 4 fireplaces, or stoves, 2 buckets ; for more than four, 3 buckets .- Fine, for neglect in any particu- lar of the ordinance, $5.
Fire buckets must be produced at fires, when they occur .- Fine, for refusal or neglect, $2.
The inhabitants must obey the orders of the chief engineer and fire-wardens, at fires .- Fine, for disobedience of orders, $5.
The chief engineer and fire-wardens to give prompt and regular attention to their duties, in cases of fire .- Fine, for negleet, $10. The chief engineer to inspect their engines, &c., once in three months, and report to the trustees.
It is the duty of the president, trustees, or fire- wardens, to remove idle and disobedient persons from fires .- Fine, for disobedience to their orders, $5. Sueb persons may also be put into custody, till after the extinguishment of the fire.
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