Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 3

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Before Messrs. Phelps and Gorham had half paid for their purchase from Massachusetts the securities of the State had risen to par, and, find-

GENESEE COUNTY.

ing they should be unable to fulfill their agreement, they induced the State to resume. its right to that portion of New York which they had not yet obtained from the Indians, which the State of Massachusetts did; this left that State the preemption right to all Western New York west of the Genesee River and western boundary line of Phelps and Gorham's purchase; and this agreement was consummated March 10, 1791.

In March, 1791, Robert Morris contracted with Massachusetts for the preëmption right to all of the territory of New York west of the pur- chase of Phelps and Gorham, and it was not until after much difficulty and delay that he completed his title; he met a council of Indians at Geneseo in September, 1797, who surrendered their interest to the entire territory, except I I reservations for their own use, amounting to about 338 square miles. These, in brief, are the reservations, as it will be of inter- est to the younger readers of Genesee County : the Tuscarora reserva- tion, of one square mile, east of Lewiston ; the Tonawanda, of 17 square miles, both sides of the creek ; the Buffalo, of 130, both sides of the Buf- falo Creek ; the Cattaraugus, of 42 square miles, each side of that creek on Lake Erie; the Allegany, of 42 square miles, on each side of that river; the Oil Spring reservation, of one square mile, between Allegany and Cattaraugus counties ; the Canadea reservation, of 16 square miles, along the Genesee River; the Gardeau reservation, of 28 square miles, near Mt. Morris; the Squakie Hill reservation, of two square miles, north of Mt. Morris ; Little Beard's and Big Tree reservations, of four square miles, near Geneseo; and the Canawaugus reservation, of two square miles, west of Avon.

On the IIth of May, 1791, the State of Massachusetts deeded to Robert Morris the whole of said land in five deeds, briefly as follows :

Ist. A strip 12 miles wide, beginning on the Pennsylvania line 12 miles from Phelps and Gorham's southwest corner, and running north to Lake Ontario, containing about 500,000 acres.

2d. A strip 16 miles wide, beginning and running in the same manner to Lake Ontario.

3d. Another 16-mile strip, next west of the last, and to be run in same way.

4th. All the land contained within another line to be run 16 miles from the last due north to Lake Ontario.

5th. This last deed included all the land owned by Massachusetts, in this State, west of the last described tract.

The last four tracts were estimated to contain 3,300,000 acres, and

LAND OFFICE NOTES.

this concluded the title of all the available lands of Western New York, west of that of Phelps and Gorham, in Robert Morris. Mr. Morris re- tained the land set forth in the first deed to sell as he chose, and it was called the " Morris Reserve."

On December 24, 1792, Robert Morris and his wife deeded to Hermon Le Roy and John Linklaen 1,500,000 acres west of the strip 12 miles wide that Mr. Morris reserved. February 27, 1793, he gave a deed for 1,000,000 acres to these persons and Gerrit Boon. July 20, 1793, he conveyed to the same three parties 800,000 acres. July 20, 1793, he con- veyed to Hermon Le Roy, William Bayard, and Matthew Clarkson 300, - 000 acres, and these four deeds conveyed all the land west of the Morris Reserve, except the reservations previously mentioned. These individ- uals purchased for others who were aliens and could not hold real es- tate in this State; but the legislature of 1798 removed this restriction and the trustees turned over the property to the actual owners. There were several gentlemen who became the owners of this vast tract of ter- ritory, and who were known as the " Holland Land Company." The tract covered the present counties of Niagara (except the mile-strip along the river), Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, the two western ranges of towns in Allegany, and all of the counties of Wyoming, Genesee, and Orleans except the eastern ranges of towns in each, which are east of the " east transit line," and in the Morris Reserve.

LAND OFFICE NOTES.

OUR younger readers must learn that a land office is a place opened for the sale of the lands of any particular tract, and is called by the name of its territory ; there is always found the agent assisted by an efficient corps of clerks ; such offices are discontinued when the affairs connected with the tract are completed.

The land office of the Holland Purchase was opened at Batavia in 1801, and discontinued in 1837. It was opened at Ransom's Corners (now in Erie County), and in 1802 an office was built at Batavia, in the forks of the road and facing the east. This spot afterwards became the center of the flourishing village of Batavia, and Joseph Ellicott was its founder.

The first treaty by Robert Morris with the Indians, which was to get their title to the lands he had sold to the Holland Land Company, was in 1797. Joseph Ellicott, the first occupant of the land office, was pres- ent. He came from Philadelphia on horseback, by Wilkesbarre, Tioga

GENESEE COUNTY.

Point, Elmira, Bath, Dansville, and down the Canaseraga Creek and Genesee River to Geneseo, where the treaty was held. While here in the Genesee country he made all the arrangements for the survey of the vast territory, returning the following February on horseback.

In May, 1798, Joseph Ellicott came into the Purchase to open up the lands and arrange for its sale in parcels; he came on horsecack to Avon, thence to Buffalo. The stores for the surveyors' and land office use were sent from Philadelphia in April, 1798, and were sent in bateaux to New York, up to Albany, up the Mohawk to Wood Creek, thence to Oswego River, down to Lake Ontario, thence to the mouth of Genesee River. Mr. Brisbane, who was in charge, went up the Genesee as far as he could with one load, and the remainder went to Lewiston. Mr. El- licott was really the founder of prosperity of Genesee County, and was land office and general agent until 1821, when he was succeeded by 4 Jacob S. Otto.

The original intention was first to divide the Holland Company's lands into townships of 16 sections, each one and one-half miles square, sub- dividing into lots each three quarters mile long and one-quarter wide, each lot being 120 acres. This plan, however, was abandoned, and finally the bulk of the tract was divided into lots three-quarters mile square, or 360 acres each.

The company had a traveling agent named Timothy Backus, who re- lates the fact that he came upon a man making staves from the com- pany's timber, and to his question, " What are you doing there ?" re- ceived the reply, " You will never catch me here again." About three months afterwards Mr. Backus passed that way again, and discovered the same trespasser, to whom he said, "I thought you told me, some time ago, that I'd never catch you here again." "Well, now, look here," said the stavemaker, "after you've heard my story you 'll never say a word. In the first place I steal my timber, contract with one man to let him have my staves, receive half pay from him, and when done sell them to another man and get full pay, and can't make a living at that !" He was left to do the best he could.

In the summer of 1819 two strong men came to the land office armed with very heavy, long-handled axes, and inquired for Mr. Ellicott. Upon stating their business it was learned that they had heard he had offered 100 acres of land to any two men who would cut down Big Tree. They were ready for the job. They were deeply chagrined to learn that .Big Tree was a noted Indian chief at Geneseo, and it was plain that some joker had imposed upon their credulity.

LAND OFFICE NOTES.

Many laughable scenes transpired that were no part of the land office records, but are handed down as pleasant recollections of the times. An Irishman came one day to purchase a piece of land, but had forgotten the lot and township; as he left the office he said, " Well, Mr. Landlord you will plaze kape it till I find out what land it is, wont you?"

Agencies were established about 1812 to accommodate settlers, where they could deliver wheat and cattle and have the amount endorsed on their debts for land ; this was a bad policy for the company, but very pleasing to settlers.

In 1802 a relative of Mr. Ellicott's from Maryland was very solicitous. about his social relations, and wrote thus :

" I observe thee says thou art living without society, that thy nearest neighbor is IO. miles. Pray, can a person be justifiable in spending the few years he has to live in a way that is not the most agreeable to him? Think on this and retire from that toil- some life thou hast pursued so long, and enjoy thy few remaining years to the fullest extent."

Mr. Ellicott borrowed a horse to go from Schlosser to Niagara while he was there on business, and in some manner the horse was missing. The owner, knowing he had a good customer, set an exorbitant price on the animal, which Mr. Ellicott had to pay after all efforts to recover the horse had proved ineffectual. He found afterwards that the Tonawanda Indians had need of the animal, and had " confiscated " him.

In February, 1836, a party of anti-renters broke into the land office at Mayville, and purloined the records and burned them. The lands in the southern part of the Holland Purchase had been sold to a trust company, and an office opened there. Word was received at Batavia soon after that the men at Attica and Alexander were about to perpetrate a similar burglary upon the office there. Fifty men were posted in the land office after the records were removed to a place of safety ; the bells rang and citizens gathered well armed; the mob several hundred strong appeared in the street near the land office, and halted. The approach of Sheriff Townsend, with 120 men armed with bright, loaded mus- kets, added to the already formidable force, saved any open attack, and, probably, much bloodshed ; for it is a matter of record that if any at- tempt at violence had been made by the mob they would have been slain by scores at the delivery of the first fire from the sheriff's force and the citizens.

The old stone office is still intact, occupied as a dwelling, and it is hoped sufficient interest will soon be exhibited by the citizens of Bata-

GENESEE COUNTY.

via to purchase it, and preserve it as a pioneer building, devoted to the storing of relics of bygone days.

ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

IN early colonial days all of Western New York was called Tryon County, then Montgomery ; after 1788, when the preemption line was agreed upon, the territory west of that was called Ontario ; after the western bounds of the Phelps and Gorham purchase were determined the portion of the State west of it was called Genesee County. The county was established in 1802 as Genesee, embracing what is now eight coun- ties. In 1801 Joseph Ellicott erected the land office of the Holland Land Company at Batavia, and this became the center ; its judicious selection on the inain Indian trail, and in the direct path of emigration, with its natural advantages and surroundings, has rendered Batavia one of the wealthiest and most beautiful villages of Western New York.

Counties were erected from the original Genesee as follows :

Allegany, in 1806, with Angelica as capital.

Niagara, in 1808, with Buffalo as shire town ; Lockport county seat in 1821.

Chautauqua, in 1811, county seat at Maysville.

Cattaraugus, in 1817, jail and court-house at Ellicottsville.

Erie, in 1821, erected from Niagara with Buffalo for its shire.

Orleans, in 1821, county seat at Albion.

Wyoming, in 1841, with Warsaw for its shire.

Genesee, in its present organization, retains the original county seat,- Batavia,-with history and importance sufficient to almost render it clas- sical. It has been and is the beehive of industry and facts from which those counties and colonies have swarmed.

Prior to the erection of the counties named above Genesee was divided into four townships: Northampton, Leicester, Southampton, and Bata- via. Northampton embraced the northern portion of Morris Reserve, Leicester the central portion, and Southampton the southern; Batavia embraced the entire Holland Purchase.

PRESENT ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

THE name Genesee is of Seneca origin, signifying " pleasant valley." The county is divided into 13 townships bearing the names of Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, Le Roy,

COUNTY ORGANIZATION - EARLY SETTLERS.

Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke, and Stafford. The territory embraced in the towns of Byron, Bergen, Le Roy, Pavilion, and the eastern portion of Stafford is east of the "east transit line," consequently from the Morris Reserve ; and the greater and remaining western portion of the county is from the Holland Purchase. All previous history concerning title will apply equally to the Morris Reserve and Holland Purchase.

April 11, 1804, the town of Batavia, which, as has been described, in- cluded all the Purchase west of east transit line, was divided into four towns. The one farthest east retained the old name, and included all the terri- tory east of a meridian line from the lake southward that passed through the western part of the present Orleans County ; the next town was Willink, which included the territory between Batavia and the west transit line (running through Lockport) ; the next was Erie, which em- braced one tier of townships in the present county of Chautauqua ; and the next was Chautauqua, which included the remainder of old Batavia. This was Genesee County of that day ; but the rapid settlement of its vast territory, and the development of its unlimited resources, soon called for the formation of other counties and centers, so that in about 1825 the county of Genesee was greatly narrowed in its limits, being 36 miles north and south and 26 east and west, with its county site, Batavia, only nine miles from its northern boundary. The removal of the county seat to a geo- graphical center, or the formation of a new county, was urged, and the organization of Wyoming was the result. Its present well-chosen and clearly defined outlines will no doubt remain through many generations. It is now 18 miles by 26 east and west, and its county capital could not be removed in any direction to make it more central. .

The surface is rolling, generally sloping to the north, and lies prin- cipally in the second terrace with the south part in the central district. It was originally covered with heavy timber of every variety, and for salubrity of climate from its peculiar position and richness of soil it may be equalled, but not excelled, in the State. It contains about 219,520 acres.

EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.

PREVIOUS to the war of the Revolution the tide of emigration had commenced its flow from New England, but was arrested by the fear of hostile Indians. After peace was declared the tide again set in for this section. We are told by competent authority that Charles Wilbur settled in Le Roy as early as 1792 and the Gansons in 1798, but the be- ginning of the present century must be given as the date of the first high tide of immigration.

GENESEE COUNTY.

Perhaps it is some times thought by those living in the older settled sections, where comfort and luxury abounds, where refined society and the best educational advantages are clustered, that the pioneer who would enter the dense wilderness to build himself a home, for a long time de- priving himself of the pleasures of life, must be an inferior being ; but they were of the most determined, independent class, and such spirits in a few years had for themselves the foundation laid for future wealth and greatness. A small log house in some well- selected spot would be rolled up and made comfortable ; the furniture scanty, but sufficient; the fare simple, but wholesome.

The first settlements in Genesee County were along the Indian trails, now the course of the principal thoroughfares ; but the more enterpris- ing would strike off into the heavy timber, where the sound of his axe could not be heard. Some had bid adieu for a time to the young wife at home, who watched for the return of the sturdy pioneer ; after months of solicitude he returns to spend a short time and the better prepared to occupy the cabin in the wilderness with all its discomforts, but cheered by the presence of the wife. The forest now begins to fall under his blows; a patch is burned off and the crop of corn for the next winter's use is planted.

The improvements must be made in the cabin, also, as necessity and health demand ; a door must take the place of a blanket, and with axe, nails, hammer, auger and knife, a rude one is made to swing upon its heavy wooden hinges ; the wooden latch, with a leather string attached and hanging outside, has given rise to the homely but hospitable saying; " The latch-string is out." A bedstead must be made, too. Holes were bored into the logs in one corner of the cabin, at sufficient height, one end of a stake or pole placed therein, the other supported by a crotch, then poles cut and placed across these, and then thickly covered with a mattress of hemlock boughs; upon blankets over this soft, fragrant, clean bedding our first pioneers and their wives slept the sleep of health and prosperity. Chairs were composed of blocks hewn from basswood, and the legs added to it by the inevitable axe and auger. Tables were often made in the same manner, and with the axe a floor to the cabin when they needed one. The utensils for cooking were rude and few; plates and trenches of wood often served the early pioneers. The ancient "bake kettle " used by the pioneer, an indispensable article of the time, now forgotten nearly, should be perpetuated through all time, in story at least. It was a shallow iron vessel, with legs to raise it the desired

EARLY SETTLERS.

height, so a mass of coals could be put under it ; then with a cover with turned-up edge to hold the hot coals over the food to be cooked ; and it was wonderful how nicely the corn-cake and other bakings could be done. In place of a crane a pole with hooks did service.

This was kitchen, dining room, sitting room, parlor, and bedroom, this one cosy room ; and was very often the workshop for making ox-bows and rude sleds preparatory to the logging and summer fallowing for the first crop of winter wheat, a large patch for which had been felled by the industrious pioneer. The rudy blaze of the fire furnished heat and light for culinary and evening work, and the usual rag in a small dish of oil from some wild animal served upon special occasions. Soon a few sheep could pick their living, and the hand-cards and spinning-wheel were heard preparing the cloth for garments. The barks for coloring cloths were well known to the housewife, and the old " dye-tub " that graced every hearth corner in olden time is not forgotten by some of our elder readers to this day.

Nor were the social enjoyments of life entirely ignored, for soon neigh- bors a mile away, each with his clearing and his family in the woods learned to visit and assist each other; and the settlement with its little store, a few miles away, situated on some main trail, was to be visited occasionally for simple necessaries, and to learn the news that may have been left by passing emigrants. The anticipations of the future was the incentive for all this seeming hardship.

But the crops of the second year are quite extensive ; the clearings broaden, the stock has increased; the neighbors are plentier; and the deprivations are far less onerous. If the pioneer was a single man he has passed the winter in his old home with parents, brothers, and sisters, and perfected the arrangements for a companion in the new home. An outfit can be taken to the western home now that a road is cut, and the ox-team and a few household utensils to improve the convenience of the the former year. The garden seeds are properly planted, a larger and better prepared piece of corn is planted, many improvements are made, fences are built, and the virgin soil yields abundant harvests. Another cabin has been built for the animals ; a mill to do coarse grinding has been erected on the creek three miles away ; and the settler finds much time to still clear away the forest even during the winter months, to en- able his animals to brouse. The pigs and fowls are fed at the door daily by the wife. The echo of the husband's axe during the day, and the hum of the wife's wheel during the evening, was a happy chorus that was

GENESEE COUNTY.

sure to bring prosperity and wealth. Other settlers had come; social evenings passed ; no conventionalities were needed ; more could be pres- ent at logging bees and house raisings ; no criticisms ; no jealousies nor bickerings.

Stick chimnies plastered with mud have been built; a glass window has taken the place of the greased paper; a log bridge spans the creek near by ; a better and more spacious log barn has been prepared for the largely increased stock; the prattle of the first-born gladdens the wife and mother. Still the forest falls, the fields broaden, and plenty abounds.

* *

* * *

The tide of immigration has continued ; the curling smoke from the " clearings " can be seen near together throughout the vast wilderness ; roads have been opened ; fences have appeared around the verdant fields and meadows ; shouts of merry children are heard ; and the once pioneer settlement assumes the high niche of a " rural neighborhood."

TWENTY YEARS' CHANGES.

STILL greater changes have taken place in the time. The old house is the wing of a large, hewed log house, with paneled door and glazed win- dows. A lawn is in front; a growing, fruitful orchard in the rear; a large barn occupies the site of the log shanty; forests of waving grain stand where the forests of trees were. In sight stands the comfortable log school-house; the peculiar noise of a saw-mill is heard on the stream above; a good bridge spans the stream in place of the logs; the first- born in the full vigor of manhood has driven by to the barn with a load of hay, driving a spirited team in place of the oxen ; the matronly lady at the well and the middle-aged, strong man coming from the mill are the young, hopeful couple who dared breast the privations of pioneer life over 20 years ago.

Another 20 years has passed. An elegant mansion stands on the site of the old log house. Its entire surroundings show the wealth and refinement of its owners. The saw-mill has gone; the stream passes un- der a stone-arched bridge. Only patches of wood land can be seen, and elegant farm houses dot the landscape. In the distance a train of cars speeds over the plain. A tall spire of a church is plainly discerned in the little village beyond. An elderly gentleman is busy with the cattle near the barn ; a motherly lady is knitting and listening to the plays of grand- children. These are the worthy husband and wife, who, over 40 years ago,

CHANGES IN TRADE.

came to this very spot, and with hopeful hearts engaged to " make the wilderness blossom as the rose." One of the sons manages the farm, and two others have gone West to start in life as their father did.

This, dear reader, is a fair, not overdrawn, painting of the average set- tler in Genesee County at the commencement of the present century.

CHANGES IN TRADE.

THE vast difference between the trade and value of products from the first settlement to the present should be noted. Now, all products have a cash value and a cash market; then, there was not sufficient money or a market for such ; now, all the necessaries and luxuries of life are based upon the cash value; then, the potash manufactured from ashes was the only cash article. The little stores of the early day kept only the bare necessaries for the settlers, and at high prices because of transportation : yarn and log chains, pork and tea, tar and molasses, pins and crowbars- everything was kept in a grand chaos. Now, our readers know what a store is without explanation.

Teams hauled the products of this county-after it had been converted into saleable compounds by the old-time asheries and distilleries-to Al- bany during the first years of trade, bringing in return the goods for the frontier store. In after years the canal opened up new changes, other markets, more and cheaper goods, and better prices for products ; and still greater changes have been produced by the railroads. This change, plain to be seen, has been equally operative and beneficial to all branches of trade, and has only kept contemporaneous with the improvements of the settlers of Genesee as they developed the howling wilderness into fruitful fields and thriving villages. All honor to the pioneer settlers of Genesee County of four-score years ago!

Prices sixty years ago.1-" An account book of 1826, or 60 years ago, shows up some of the prices of our ancestors, and gives us food for thought in comparing with the prices of to-day.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 3

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co. Number of Pages: 920

Author: Beers, F. W. (Frederick W.), ed. 1n; Vose, J.W., and Co
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : J.W. Vose & Co.
Number of Pages: 920