USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 19
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TOWN OF BATAVIA.
Early merchants .- James Bisbane, the first merchant and postmaster on the Holland Purchase, was born in Philadelphia, October 12, 1776, of Irish parentage. At the the early age of 22 years he embarked from that city with stores for the supply of the large body of men then en- gaged in the survey of the Purchase, under Joseph Ellicott. Their first destination was Stafford, or the Transit storehouse, so called, where he remained a few months, or until January 2, 1800, when he, in company with Ellicott, returned to Philadelphia. In the spring of 1802 he opened the first stock of goods ever offered for sale in this village. The goods were shipped via Albany, the Mohawk, Lewiston, and Buffalo. His com- mission as postmaster was dated July 21, 1802, by Gideon Granger, P. M. G., and called for an office " in Batavia at the Genesee Court- House." This was the second postoffice west of the Genesee River, Lewiston being the first one. He hired the building erected by Sutherland and Geer, finished it, and opened up his stock. The building was located on the north- east corner of Main and Church streets. He soon afterwards purchased the building for $300. He had for his clerk one Tiffany, who was pro- ficient in the different languages spoken by the Indians, and thus brought trade from them. Rochester was an unknown place at that early day, and Mr. Brisbane's trade covered a large scope of ocuntry from the Gen- esee to the Niagara rivers and the lakes. Benjamin Dorman, of New Haven, was another clerk of his, and remained in his employ until 1821. when he went to Alabama. In 1806 Mr. Brisbane resigned the office of postmaster, sold his goods, and rented his store to Trumbull 'Cary. Eb- enezer Cary was appointed postmaster in his place. Mr. Brisbane went to New York, engaging in the book business for two years, when he re- turned to Batavia, and resumed business in 1808, upon the spot where he opened his first establishment. He continued his mercantile pursuits there until 1821, when the site was sold for church purposes, when he aban- doned them for more lucrative employment. His intimate relations with the Holland Land Co. enabled him to take advantage of the purchase of lands at low prices, and thus became the owner of large tracts of real estate, which in years were greatly enhanced in value by the settlement of the country.
During the agitation of the building of railroads, and particularly in 1833, he associated himself with others and built the Tonawanda Railroad, of which he was the largest shareholder and a director. It was to Mr. Bris- bane's house that Gen. Scott (wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane in 1812) was taken, and where he recovered before going to Geneva.
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In 1807 Mr. Brisbane married Mary Lucy Stevens, sister of Hon. James W. Stevens, judge of Genesee County. He died May 29, 1851, and at the time of his death had resided longer on the. Holland Purchase than any other man. He left two sons, Albert, born 1809, and George, born March 15, 1812. George Brisbane is the only direct descendant who lives on the original tract, or lot, located by the original settler. The number of the original lot is 16. It was located by James Brisbane in 1809, and has more historic events and interest centered upon it than any other place in Genesee County.
In 1803 Burt & Stoddard put up a small building, using it for a store, it being the second in the new settlement. It was located between Brisbane's and Rowe's (or Keyes's) tavern. When Mr. Brisbane resumed business, in 1808, Trumbull Cary removed his goods and postoffice to the Burt & Stoddard store, until his own store and dwelling were erected in 1809.
Brisbane and Cary continued the only merchants until 1810, when E. Hart built a store, and Clark Heacox managed the business for him. The growth of the village was very rapid from 1808 until the War of 1812. Dr. Dwight, in 1804, passed through the place, and states that "it contained from 20 to 30 houses, most of them built of logs, the rest small, chiefly one story. The court-house has three stories, the second of which is the county jail. When we were there that season so many persons were ill of diseases common to this region that those who re- mained well were scarcely able to nurse the sick."
The War of 1812 retarded the growth of the village as well as the whole Purchase, so that accessions to the population, and the erection of buildings for business or residential purposes, was not rapid, and this state of things existed up to 1819, at which time, and up to 1830, we are enabled to record a few of the new comers, or merchants, that contributed to the business life of the place. There were in the mercan- tile trade from 1819 to 1830 James Brisbane, Trumbull Cary & Davis, Jonathan Lay, W. H. Wells, J. P. & A. Smith, W. S. Moore & Co., I. Norman Town, N. Loring, C. L. Swart, W. Davis, Rich & Allen, Finch & Moore, Foot & Ganson, Loring & Palmer, W. R. Thompson, Hanford & Filer, R. Henshaw, Cary & Grant, Platt & Stebbins, Blos- som & Swift, H. & E. C. Kimberly, Webster & Reynolds, S. Grant & Co., Hewett & Billings, H. Tisdale, R. Dibble, J. & L. B. Cotes, and Cotes & Seaver. Other trades were represented as follows: Capt. Hull and one Bedford were silversmiths; S. McCain and C. C. Church were watchmak-
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TOWN OF BATAVIA.
ers; and James Cochrane and Cochrane & Fisher were bell founders Simeon Cummings was a saddler and harnessmaker, and also postmaster, trustee, and county clerk. 3 In his business he was succeeded by W. Manley. Ephraim Towner kept a shoe and leather store, and was general of militia. O. Williams was a saddler, and located where the present Catholic Church now is. W. L. Graves kept a leather store, and Stone & Rice were tanners. Benjamin H. Stevens and N. Follett were hatters, and James Cawte, H. B. Pierpont, S. Mead, and Samuel Taylor were tailors. Bush & Pomeroy were millers and sold plows. Oran Follett kept a book store and started the Times. H. Stevenson was agent of the " old line of stages " to Albany. Thomas Bliss and John De Wolf were cabinetmakers, Amos P. Parker was a merchant and bookseller, and Miss Ann Forbes was a milliner and mantuamaker. Philo San- ford made carding machines. A Mr. Folsom kept a meat market in 1819, and a Mr. Hawkins in 1830, for whom Robert Fowler, who came in 1831, worked. Isaac Joslyn was a blacksmith, and Thomas McCully was a builder. Bookstores were kept by Abner Pratt, S. C. Steele, and J. P. & A. Smith, and as lotteries were licensed about the year 1827 drawings were advertised to be made at these stores.
In this connection we give a list of merchants in 1849, compiled from an article furnished by Col. William Seaver in The Spirit of the Times:
Forwarding and commission merchants: J. Foot, L. A. Smith, J. Ganson & Co. Dry goods ; Wells & Son, Smith & Warren, G. A. Lay, N. T. Smith, Thorn & Holden. Hardware : Belden, Otis & Co., R. Haney. Hotels : American, B. G. Tisdale ; Genesee, S. N. Bierce ; Western, I. Backus : Eagle, E. Hall ; Railroad Depot, S. Frost ; Dutch, A. Biechel. Livery stable : Ferren & McCormick. Cabinetmakers : C. Kirkham, C. T. Buxton, J. T. Buxton, O. Griffith. Carpenters : O. Dustin, R. Craig, D. Palmer, J. ยท Coleman, S. Tuttle, J. Gardner, Lowden, Knapp, Rice, Graham, Hart, and Barner. Blacksmiths : F. Baxter, A. Tyrrell, M. Kellogg, G. W. Miller, S. Lyon. J. Clark, I. Joslyn,. Trumbull & Son. Gunsmith : I. M. Joslyn. Saddles and harnesses : W. Manley, A. J. Ensign, J. T. Carr. Masons : T. McCulley, H. Murphey, J. Holton, D. Johnson, A. Wilcox. Stone cutters: Fellows & Co. Furnaces : T. Hurlburt, J. R. Smith. Bakers : B. C. & O. Page. Cradlemaker : H. Naramor. Cooper: Z. York. Brewer : E. H. Fish. Barbers: J. Leonard, D. Leonard. Butchers : R. Fowler, D. Winn. Druggists and booksellers: W. Seaver & Son, Fellows & Co. Grocers : C. A. Russell, J. C. Wilson, J. Kenyon, J. McCullant, S. A. Wilson, Wilson & Austin, G. Knowles, J. & R. Eager .. Jewelers : J. A. Clark, E. S. Dodge. Hatters : H. & E. McCormick, P. Warner. Boot and shoe stores : T. Yates, A. Joslyn, H. M. Warren, .M. Rupp, Spencer & Merrill, J. P. Phillips, J. Baker. Milliners : Mrs. Denslow, Blake Griffith, Showerman, and Hal- bert. Tailors : G. B. Hurlburt, D. Ferguson, J. Jordan, J. M. Royce, H. Smith, J. Allen, - Bissenger & Rebstock. Printers : W. Seaver & Son, D. D. Waite. Bookbinder: Gott- leib Kiesz. Painters : H. W. Ashling, Howe & Barnard, P. S. Moffett, E. Woolsey, O. N. Sanford, W. McIntyre. Carriagemakers : J. Clark, G. W. Miller, A. Peck.
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Physicians .- We give here the names of other than regular physi- cians, who have been residents of Batavia :
Reuben Town, came 1803, died 1807 ; William L. Horton, came 1803, removed ; Abel Turtlelot, came 1809, removed ; George Anderson, came 1826, died in Ohio, 1834; Abra- ham Van Tayl and James Winne, came 1835; Sanford Emory, came 1858, died 1880; Richard A. Wells, came 1866, removed to Missouri ; Maxwell G. Walkinshaw, came 1872, died 1887 ; Theron K. Nolton, son of Dr. Josiah, came 1854, died in Oakfield, 1863.
The following were of different schools of practice:
Eleazer Bingham, came 1826, removed ; Charles A. Northrup, came 1850, died 1861 ; S. H. McCall, (had a water cure), came. 1854, removed ; L. D. Stone (botanic), came 1847, removed; Jacob Delamater (botanic), came 1848, removed ; John C. Mckenzie (eclectic), came 1851; Henry W. Wadsworth (eclectic), came 1854 ; J. G. Fross (eclectic) ; Conrad Backer (eclectic) ; Henry R. Foote, came 1848, removed ; Henry Sheffield, came 1852, removed ; J. M. Blakeslee, came 1852, removed ; George F. Foote, came 1852, removed ; Harvey Hutchins, died 1871.
Educational .- The public as well as private education of the young was well attended to, and in addition to the chapter of the " History of Union School District.No. 2" we are enabled to give the names of some of those who opened and taught schools of a private character, with the years engaged in such occupation.
Thomas Layton, who settled in Batavia in 1801, was a teacher of the young prior to 1810. Mrs. Rachel Stevens, wife of Benjamin H. Stevens, a hatter, came in 1822 and taught a private school for 27 years, a part of the time on Liberty street. Her daughter, aged over 80 years, is still living. From that time until 1825 information is meagre regarding times. In that year we learn that the Rev. James Cochran and a Miss Gardner taught private schools. In 1826 Messrs. Nixon and Stearns opened what was termed the "Batavia Academy," and the same year a Mrs. Aikin, Mrs. Winchester, a number of maiden ladies, Miss L. Starr, Plumb, Colton, and Deshon were advertisers; and the query is, where did all the children come from, with the then small population, to furnish a livelihood for so many instructors ?
There were in 1827 M. W. Fletcher and a Mr. Hovey. Horace U. Soper taught in 1828; Miss Blanchard (successor to Miss Colton) in' 1829; Miss H. H. North and R. Hogue, Jr., in 1831 ; Miss Burnham in 1832-33 ; Mrs. Ford and H. H. Smead in 1833 ; and E. C. Porter and Lester Cross in 1835. A High school was taught in 1836 and 1837 by E. A. Hopkins and C. W. Wilson. S. E. Hollister had a school in 1840, and Mrs. J. F. Ernst a boarding school, at what is now 422 East Main street, in 1841-44. C. N. Chandler taught in 1841; Mrs. Rathbun in
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TOWN OF BATAVIA.
1842; D. E. Walker in 1843-44 ; and Yound and Oliphant in 1844. A Batavia female seminary was taught by Misses Beardsley and Smith in 1844, and Mrs. William G. Bryan, whom nearly all the present residents will remember, had her noted school in 1848, where David E. Evans used to reside, and conducted it with skill and energy until a very few years ago. Miss E. G. Thrall taught in the same place from 1875 to 1889, and now teaches at East Pembroke. There was a collegiate insti- tute in 1864, taught by E. Wildman, and a Miss McCully taught a school in 1864. This brings us down to the present time. Miss Ellen K. Hooker established, in 1883, " Park Place School," conducting the same for four years, or until about 1887, when the present highly talented and and Christian lady, Miss Mary J. Stephens, took the school and has had charge of it since. There are accommodations for 12 boarding pupils and 50 day scholars. The musical department is under the charge of Herve D. Wilkins, A. M., of Rochester. The rooms are large, airy, and pleasant, heated by furnace, and lighted by gas, The grounds areshady, large, and spacious, with a lawn-tennis court.
Batavia village .- The village of Batavia is 300 feet higher than Buffalo, 400 feet higher than Rochester, and 685 feet above Lake Ontario. Thehigh- est point of- land on the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad west of Albany is two miles west of Batavia, called the Summit, it being 923 feet above the ocean. The village is surrounded by a very wealthy agricultural region, and its railroad facilities are being constantly recognized by manufacturers who are seeking locations for pursuing their business. It has, also (more than one ordinarily sees), a tasty and desirable class of residences, built on the finest streets to be seen, and no other village in Western New York can compete with it for beauty and cleanliness.
In 1825, soon after the village was incorporated, there were only about 1,400 inhabitants. At that time land was comparatively cheap. The lot and one adjoining where the Holden store now is was sold for $150 in 1830. The site now occupied by St. James's Episcopal Church was bought in 1820 for $450. In 1811 James Cochrane paid $100 for 18 acres, the land lying on Bank street and fronting on Main street, one-half the distance to State street. In 1802 D. McCracken paid $170 for 34 acres now bounded by Jackson, Main, and Liberty streets. Bank street was called, in old times, " Dingle Alley," it being but a lane, wherein cows were driven to pasture, and the old fashioned cow-bell being at- tached to them in order to find them.
The early settlers of Genesee County were not wanting in patriotism.
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Their diversions and holidays were few, and they made much of the re- turn of the only National holiday. The custom then was to listen to the reading of the " Declaration of Independence " and, as many as could, . retire to the tavern for dinner, at which toasts were drank. We give herewith the programme in 1826 :
NATIONAL JUBILEE.
" THE following are the regular toasts which were drank at the celebration in this village on Tuesday last (July 4, 1826):
" Ist .- The Fiftieth Anniversary of American Independence ! ' And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof, and it shall be a Jubilee unto you.'
" 2d .- Our Common Country ! . May the blessings we enjoy under its happy form of government descend unimpaired to the latest posterity.' 3 cheers, I gun.
" 3d. - The State of New York ! 'Without an equal in resources and enterprise : may union at home render her respectable abroad.' 3 cheers, I gun.
" 4th .- George Washington ! (Drunk standing with solemn music playing.)
" 5th .- The Heroes and Patriots of the two wars of Independence ! 'Honor to the living and tears of gratitude to the memory of the dead.'
" 6th .- The Militia ! 'Bunker Hill and New Orleans, the commencement of the first and the close of the second war of Independence have proved them a sure defense in the hour of trial.' 9 cheers, I gun.
" 7th .- The Army and Navy of the United States ! 'The guardians of our National defense and the protectors of our National nights.' 9 cheers, I gun.
" 8th .- The youth of our country ! 'Let them remember that virtue and intelligence is the life of liberty.' 3 cheers, I gun.
"9th .- Agriculture, commerce, and manufactures ! ' The true source of a country's glory and happiness : let them have equal encouragement.' 3 cheers, I gun.
" 10th .- Party Spirit ! 'Under the dominim of honor and virtue, a ministering spirit in the temple of freemen.' 6 cheers, I gun.
" 11th .- Election of President and Vice-President of the United States ! 'Let the people act for themselves ; may the present Congress remember from whom they de- rived their authority.' 6 cheers, I gun.
" 12th .- Greece ! 'The votaries of liberty throughout the world behold her sorrows and are afflicted ; may they soon rally to her standard and wrest the iron sceptre from the " mindless Ottoman." '
" 13th .- The Independent States of South America ! 'They followed our example and have triumphed ; with liberty for their object may they reach the goal of their highest ambition.' 5 cheers, I gun."
As early as 1827 the traveling showman was around; but we are not informed as to the extent and capacity of the house he drew. The weekly paper of June, 1827, calls attention to a troupe as follows :
" Theatre .- Messrs. Gilbert & Trowbridge are now in this village with their theatrical corps. They have already performed three nights to respectable houses. We would recommend the propriety of stationing someone in the back seats to preserve order. We
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have witnessed it ourselves, and have heard it complained of by others, that the boys on the back seats were too noisy. The bill of fare for this evening is rich and worthy of the attention of those who are fond of the theatrical profession. The pieces consist of 'The Soldier's Daughter ' and 'Poor Soldier.'"
Imprisonment for debt was in order, as is shown by a notice taken from a paper dated June 25, 1826 :
"A gentleman confined in Batavia jaol, on strong suspicion of debt, offers his services to lawyers, Printers, Merchants, Tavern-keepers, Mechanics, in drafting or copying dec- larations, making up rolls, wrighting deeds, Mortgages, Bonds, &c. Posting books of every description. Apply at this office for further particulars."
In 1822 a Mr. Farnsworth was convicted of forging United States land warrants, and sentenced to be hanged on the 20th of September. A large crowd assembled to witness the execution, when, to their great disgust, the President granted a reprieve for six months. The murmurings of the disappointed multitude were loud and deep, and before the expiration of the six months' respite he was pardoned, as it appeared that he had com- mitted no crime against the government. The first execution was one McLean, in 1807, who had committed murder in 1807, and was hanged the same year in Batavia. November 5, 1830, James Gray was executed for the murder of Samuel Davis, a tavern-keeper, of Le Roy. It is esti- mated there were over 5,000 persons present to witness the hanging. The execution took place south of where the railroad is, near the creek.
Batavia library .- In April, 1796, an act was passed by the legislature for the purpose of encouraging the formation of public libraries. Under that act the citizens of the new Genesee country vied with each other in organizing libraries. The first one established on the Holland Purchase was in November, 1804, when a meeting was convened at the house of Abel Rowe (tavern-keeper). Joseph Ellicott was chairman. The trustees were Richard Smith, William Rumsey, John Branan, Reuben Town, and Nathaniel Coleman.
Village incorporation .- Soon after the fire of 1821 a meeting of the citizens was held and a committee appointed to petition the legislature for an act of incorporation, which was granted April 23, 1823. The first meet- ing (to carry out this act) was held at Ganson's tavern, June 3, 1823. C. Carpenter and D. Tisdale (justices) presided; and the following persons were chosen as trustees : D. H. Chandler, D. E. Evans, N. Follett, S. Cum- mings, S. Finch, Trumbull Cary, treasurer; and Parley Paine, collector. Subsequently D. H. Chandler was chosen president of the village. The present village officers are George Burt, president ; John Quirk, collector ; George Roth, treasurer ; and John Glade, assessor. Measures were also
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adopted in regard to fires, but no company was formed until the 20th of April, 1824, composed of the following persons: William Seaver, Jr., captain ; Hinman Holden, D. H. Chandier, Frederick Follett, William Purcell, Parley Paine, Oran Follett, William Platt, Daniel Gates, Ralph Stiles, Hezekiah D. Platt, William Dickinson, C. C. Church, Nathan Fol- lett, W. M. Seymour, I. Norman Town, William R. Thompson, Benjamin Allen, Stephen Grant, Nahum, Loring, John S. Moore, Jonathan Lay, Horace Gibbs, David M. Gardiner, and Rufus Burnham. The first en- gine-house was under the old jail in the court-house. The Holland Land Co. gave the village the lot on Jackson street (now a blacksmith shop), which was to be a fire engine-house. Later they took it back and gave in return the quarters under the jail, the building being raised upon a high foundation, to admit of an engine being run under.
Batavia has had its share of destructive fires. The first one, on the night of December 22, 1821, originated in Mr. Baker's silversmith shop, north side of Main street, destroying buildings owned or occupied by the following persons: Moore & Finch, L. Baker, J. P. Smith, C. C. Church, and D. C. Miller's printing office. The amount of property destroyed was estimated at $10,000.
In April, 1833, fire was discovered in a building nearly opposite the Eagle tavern. It burned nearly the whole row of buildings on Main street, from Jackson to the Arcade block. In 1834 the Eagle tavern was burned, together with all the buildings from the corner of Big Tree (Ellicott) street around upon Genesee (Main) street, involving a loss of $30,000. In 1850 a fire destroyed the north side of Main street, from Bank street west from where the American Hotel stood. In January, 1884, a large portion of the harvester works was burned, involving a loss of over $40,000.
The Genesee County mills were built by Mr. Ellicott in 1803, enlarged to 60 x 150 feet in 1825, and were owned by Ellicott, Evans, Macomber, Jennison, Pierson & Randall, Olmstead, and others. They were de- stroyed by fire August 22, 1884, after which the land and property was purchased by the village authorities for the purpose of building water works, which purpose was carried out, resulting in the erection of a sub- stantial brick structure, in which is machinery supplying all the power needed for water for fire and village purposes.
Cemeteries .- The Indians had a burial-place on a chestnut knoll on the Dr. Josiah Nolton place, or farm, on Jackson street road, south of the vil- lage, as numerous bones and glass beads were found there when the soil
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TOWN OF BATAVIA.
was removed to furnish material for a road. The earliest known place for burial within the village was the ground on the bank of the creek, sit- uated nearly back of the brick school-house on West Main street. It was deeded by Benjamin Ellicott, August 10, 1820. Not many interments, however, were made there, owing to the liability of the high water from the creek washing out the soil. The only evidence of burials remaining is the graves of the wives of Oliver Wilcox, one of whom died in 1807, the other in 1824, and the graves of Richard Buell, who died in 1819, and W. T. Stark, who died in 1822, and Wheaton Mason, who died in 1825. Many bodies from this ground were transferred to the new cemetery on Harvester avenue, formerly Cemetery street, between the railroads, on lot 43, purchased October 29, 1823, and laid out by Ebenezer Mix into 88 plats. As is often customary with such enterprises a general apathy and indifference was manifested in caring for the plat, and from 1824 to 1840 it was in a very neglected condition. The latter year a fence was built around the grounds, so that the graves and shrubbery were protected from the invasion of animals. From 1840 to 1867 but little attention was given to the grounds, and the appearance was forbidding. In 1867 a sub- scription was raised and a large fund directed towards repair of fences and improving the walks and drives, and up to 1875 small subscriptions (under the superintendence of the late William S. Mallory) were devoted to the care of the grounds.
In May, 1880, a number of lot-owners organized under the State laws and the "Batavia Cemetery Association " assumed practical shape, and a systematic effort resulted in plans to purchase land, sell lots, levy and collect assessments on lot-owners for the maintenance and care of the grounds, and the community now has a resting-place for their dead that they may well be proud of. The officers of the association are Gad B. Worthington, president; J. F. Lay, vice-president; L. C. McIntyre, treas- urer; J. B. Crosby, secretary ; and Jacob Miller, sexton.
Elmwood Cemetery is located on Harvester avenue, south of the Ba- tavia Cemetery. It contains about 12 acres of ground In the spring of 1872 Edward P. Morse opened up the grounds (having become the owner one year previous), and commenced grading and setting out trees and shrubbery. In the spring of 1889 an organization was formed through the efforts of Mr. Morse, and called the Elmwood Cemetery Association of Batavia. William C. Simpson was president ; John B. Crosby, secretary ; and Joseph C. Barnes, treasurer. In April, 1890, it was decided to incor- porate. The present trustees are T. F. Woodward, J. C. Barnes, George
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