Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890, Part 4

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 4

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).

" The location was Rochester, N. Y., and the accounts were of a general character. As ladies should always come first I will begin on their goods : Calico, 31 cents per yard; ginghams, 40 cents ; flannels, 50 cents ; dress silks were from $1 to $3 per yard ; ladies' shoes, $1.50 per pair ; men's boots from $3 to $5 per pair ; ladies' bonnets were then seldom changed in style or fashion, and prices ranged from $1 to $8. Elias Howe. the inventor of sewing machines, was then unheard of, and tailors received for making, coats from 75 cents to $3 each. Pants and vests were each got up in the then pre- vailing style for from 25 to 50 cents each. The hero of these accounts was then a bachelor some 30 years of age, and several enteries show where 50 cents per dozen

1 From the National Weekly.

GENESEE COUNTY.

was the price paid for laundry work, Old folks will remember "dickies," a sort of false shirt front, which are in several places charged 40 cents each.

"Of building material, bricks are quoted at $9 per M .; nails, 12 cents per pound ; glass, 8 x 10 light, 15 cents ; lime per bushel, 15 cents ; hauling with team per day, $.75. Laborers' wages were 40 to 60 cents per day. Stone masons, brick layers, and carpenters are in several places, in the book, credited with work at $1.50 per day Board for workingmen nine cents per meal, or $1.75 per week. Smoked hams were seven cents per pound, fresh beef four cents, fresh pork three and one-half cents ; mut- ton by the quarter, 22 cents ; butter, 15 cents ; eggs, 12} cents per dozen ; potatoes, 25 cents per bushel ; coffee, 20 cents ; tea, Young Hyson, $1.40 per pound ; rice, six cents ; sugar, seven cents ; molasses, 40 cents per gallon ; maple molasses and sugar were quoted at about the same price ; salt, 70 cents per bushel ; 'locofoco' matches, 25 cents per box, for about as many as are now sold for three cents, and very few ap- peared to be sold as tinder and steel were relied on for fire. Why the matches were called 'locofoco' I have never understood, but presume some of our old grandsires could tell. Coal for fuel was not then used, and four-foot cord wood is in several places charged for at $I per cord. Cooking stoves were then just coming in use of the ' horseblock ' pattern, and cost $18 each. Corn was 65 cents per bushel. Flour fluctuated from $4 to $10 per barrel, but the average was nearer the former price. To- bacco sold at 40 cents per pound, and cigars appear to have been unknown, at least none are charged. Whisky-not our modern tanglefoot, but good-was 35 cents per gallon. Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Porto Rico, and various kinds of rum were from 50 to $I per gallon. 'Black strap,' a favorite old-time beverage, commanded $1 per gallon, and was the favorite tipple for ' general training day,' as the day for general muster of State militia was called, and which in those days was a roaring farce. Among the items of the spring of 1827 is one as follows : 'Rev. William Patterson, Cr .: By serv- ice at wedding, $5,' and about the same time Mr. Patterson is charged 'One hat, $5,' from which it is presumed that these were the ruling prices for these necessaries of life. Money was of gold, silver, and paper as to-day, but was very scarce, and · barter or trade' was mostly used in traffic. Only the larger cities and towns had their own newspapers, and news was stale. Postage on letters was 123, 184, or 55 cents per letter, according to the distance carried, and stamps were unknown for nearly 20 years after. At the option of the sender postage on letters could be prepaid or not ; and right here one of the most highly esteemed old ladies of this country one day received notice of a letter with '25 cents due,' that was held in the postoffice for her. Not having the money she herself killed and skinned a calf, selling the hide to a tanner for 25 cents to redeem the letter."

WAR OF 1812.

T HE State of New York, particularly the middle and western por- tions, after the treaty of peace in 1783 had become settled ; the Indian title had been extinguished ; villages, settlements, and post roads had become established, which will be fully taken up further on. The War of 1812 was of vital importance to the State of New York, for its northern borders were the frontiers, and its settlers were compelled to defend their homes, and especially were the occupants of the Holland Purchase.

WAR OF 1812.

The aggressions of Great Britain, for years after peace was declared, was a subject of anxiety to our government, and notwithstanding the strict neutrality observed by the States during the war between England and France the British government was guilty of many overt acts ; but not until American vessels were searched by British men-of-war, and American subjects forced into service regardless of law and justice, did the States remonstrate. The continuation of such indignities caused the declaration of war against Great Britain, June 19, 1812. This measure was not fully sanctioned by the people; the Federal party were opposed to it, and but a small portion of the Democratic party favored it; it was not from political prejudice so much, they claimed, but because the country was so poorly prepared.

The invasion of Canada was deemed expedient by the administration, and preparations were made accordingly by posting forces along the frontier from Plattsburgh to Detroit.

The proclamation of President Madison was announced June 19, 1812. Express riders carried the news which reached Gen. Lewis at Fort Ni- agara and Col. Swift at Black Rock on the 26th of June. The news was not long in reaching the various settlements of the pioneers on the Pur- chase. Up to this time their struggle to make a home had been a se- vere one, but now all preparations of clearing the farm and raising crops were suspended ; some prepared to leave their homes and bent their faces eastward.

As there were at this time not 1,000 men under arms on the Niagara frontier, in pursuance of an act of Congress the governor of the State ordered a draft of militia, but generally the military force was composed of volunteers. On the 10th of July there were about 3,000 men com- prising the force on the frontier. Gen. Amos Hall was placed in com- mand, and in the spring of 1813 the force was augmented somewhat by the assistance of Red Jacket (who for once cast his influence in favor of the United States) and his warriors.

We do not intend to enter into detail all the transactions of this war ; only to make such references to it as most directly concerns the territory comprised within the then settlements of the Holland Purchase.

As a result of the disasters to our forces by the capture of Fort Ni- agara the Niagara frontier was desolated. Those Indians ( who had allied themselves with the English ) plundered, burned, and massacred without restraint. The towns of Niagara and Lewiston, and the vil- lage of the friendly Indians at Tuscarora, were laid in ashes. Governor

GENESEE COUNTY.

Tompkins, on being informed of the removal of the regular troups from the Niagara frontier, on the 27th of November gave orders for the assembling of sufficient bodies of militia to supply the places of those under General McClure, who had charge of the defense of the Niagara frontier. Owing to delays incident to such operations they failed of arriving until after the capture of Niagara, and the destruction of the frontier below the falls. General Hall, commanding the west- ern division of militia, had assembled at Buffalo and Black Rock 2,000 men. The enemy attacked on the night of the 29th ; the militia were ordered out to repel the attack, but they fled at the approach of the enemy without firing a gun. One small regiment alone attempted to cope with the British, but without avail. Thus the flourishing villages of Black Rock and Buffalo, as well as the neighboring settlements, were deserted, and fell a prey to the British and Indians. General Hall retired with the remains of his dispersed militia to Eleven Mile Creek, where he was able to collect only about 300 troups. With these he preserved a show of resistance, to cover the flying inhabitants and check the advances of the enemy. All the flourishing villages and settlements on the Niagara, between the lakes, and to a considerable distance in the rear, were laid in ashes ; the Indians were let loose upon the flying in- habitants, and hundreds of them were overtaken and massacred. The frontier presented one scene of universal desolation. The miserable in- habitants who escaped the Indian tomahawk fled to the interior, without shelter or means of support, in the depth of winter, and subsisted on the charity of their friends. More than 200 houses, with an immense value of property, were pillaged and destroyed, and the wretched inhab- itants and owners reduced to poverty. General Hall retired to Batavia, 50 miles in the rear of Niagara, where he was enabled to collect 1,800 militia for the protection of the public stores and the defense of those settlements which had escaped desolation.

Turner says :

" Batavia became the headquarters, the final rallying point, of small remnants of an army ; a halting-place for the fleeing, homeless, houseless citizens of the frontier, to the extent of the capacity of all the tenements in the village and neighborhood. The most valuable effects of the land office were taken beyond the Genesee River; the house of Mr. Ellicott was converted into quarters for army officers and his office a hos- pital ; private houses were thrown open, barns and sheds occupied ; families that were separated in the hasty departure from Buffalo became united there, their scattered members. male and female, dropping in one after another. All along the Buffalo road, as far as the Genesee River, there had been deserted houses, which did not fail to have new occupants soon after the flight from the frontier commenced."

WAR AND PENSIONERS OF 1812.

Very high credit was given to Gen. Peter B. Porter, who took part in the war, both for his eloquence in engaging the volunteers and his skill and valor in leading them. The press sounded his praises; the citizens of Batavia tendered him a dinner; the governor breveted him a major- general; and Congress voted him a gold medal, he being the only officer of volunteers to whom that honor was awarded during the War of 1812.

Pensioners of 1812 -By reference to records at the court-house we find the following persons were entitled to pensions, recorded in 1819: Lieut. Darius Howe, $20 per month ; Sergt .- Maj. Samuel Huntington, Sergt. Nathan Parker, Privates Jacob Annis, Timothy Baker, Joseph Riddle, Levi Vinton, William Kelly, B. Potts, John Lyman, Nathan Sherwood, Samuel Camp, Peter Truman, and John C. Calhoun (then Secretary of War), each $8 per month.

A treaty of peace was concluded at Ghent, December 24, 1814, but the good news did not reach here until Gen. Jackson had fought and won the battle of New Orleans. 1496986

We have given a concise history of all the wars that have affected the Holland Purchase except the late Rebellion, which will be given in its proper place. The Holland Purchase, in its settlement and prosperity, was greatly retarded by the War of 1812, as its borders were the scenes of many battles and skirmishes ; its pioneer settlers were compelled or volunteered to go " upon the lines" in defense of their homes; con- stant fear of invasions by the foe, especially Indians, caused many to. abandon their settlements and flee east of the Genesee River.

The roads and improvements of the Holland Purchase were of much importance in the success of the war in this part of the State. The pop- ulation of the tract at this time was about 25,000, and the influx of settlers had made some quite compact settlements, especially along the road to Buffalo.

The noted Ridge road was not in operation until after the War of 1812. Soldiers were marched from Rochester to Clarkson, thence to Le Roy, thence to Buffalo and Lewiston, because there were no other land routes. Batavia was at one time the halting-place-the rallying point-of fleeing soldiers and citizens of Buffalo and the frontier ; the back settlements of the Holland Purchase were deserted, and Buffalo and the western frontiers were a blackened ruin of desolation. It is said by historians cotemporary with those times that there were no better sol- diers " on the lines " than those from the Holland Purchase.

After peace was declared aid was generously advanced by the legisla-

GENESEE COUNTY.

ture of the State, the common councils of New York and Albany, and the subscriptions of individuals in those cities, as well as Canandaigua and other older towns, for the building up and relief of Buffalo and the settlers of the Holland Purchase. The amount of $63,000 was judi- ciously distributed among the sufferers, and the wilderness commenced " to blossom as the rose."

HOLLAND PURCHASE LAND TITLES.

AVING shown the absolute title of the colony of New York to the Duke of York, and the severance of all allegiance to the mother country, we will enter minutely into the title of the lands of Western New York, particularly those of the Holland Purchase and of Genesee County.

Prior to the advent of the white man to the State of New York nothing was known of its occupants, but the habits of the aborigines, their customs and history, have been defined since. The present terri- tory of the State was occupied by the "Five Nations," as the English called the confederacy of the five tribes, and "Iroquois," as they were denominated by the French. This confederacy extended through the center of the State, east and west, with the Mohawks at the eastern ex- tremity, the Senecas at the western, and the Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas between. The Senecas occupied the lands of the Holland Pur- chase, and more especially the lands of the " Genesee."

The superiority of the Iroquois-the confederacy- has been conceded by all writers. It was shown by the original, strong organization of the league, the conception of their campaigns, forms of government, and wisdom and oratory in council. Their origin, or that of any of the In- · dian races, has not been satisfactorily given, and the opinions are almost as numerous as the tribes. With no written language the traditions of generations past was perverted or lost. The Senecas who occupied the western part of the State,-from Geneva to Buffalo,-and whose moc- casined feet had so long trodden the lands of the county of Genesee, were the highest in the confederacy. Red Jacket and other notable braves conducted their councils, but of the origin of the Senecas nothing was known. Their traditions told that the tribe, or its progenitors, issued from the large hill near the head of Canandaigua Lake, called by them Genundewah, and that is its present name. The same hill was used for the annual gatherings of the Senecas in some of their rites within the

COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.

memory of the first settlers. Mary Jemeson, who lived so long on the Gardeau Reservation of the Holland Purchase, has given the most com- plete history of the " great hill " people.

FIRST LANDLORDS AND TAVERNS.

THE original survey of this section, begun by Joseph and Benjamin Elli- cott in 1798, wascompleted in 1799, so far, at least, as running the township and range lines. No settlements having been made, inducements were made to such parties as would locate and erect taverns for accommodations of would-be settlers. Accordingly three lots were sold, with that end in view, first, to Asa Ransom, who settled in what is now the town of Clar- ence (Erie County), the condition being " on or before January 1, 1800, he should erect on the lot a messuage fit for the habitation of man, not less than 18 feet square, and should live and reside, or cause a family to live and reside, therein during the term of five years next ensuing, and that before the Ist day of July next not less than eight acres of land should be cleared and fenced." Asa Ransom died in Buffalo in 1835. The second lot sold was to Garret Davis, on the Lewiston road, about five miles from Batavia (now in Oakfield), and was known for years as the old Erastus Wolcott stand, where a tavern was erected and kept for years. The contract was dated September 16, 1799, located on Lot 13, Sec. 5, Tp. 13, Range 2, and called for 150 acres at 120 pounds (New York currency), or $2.00 per acre, with like conditions as to Ran- som's. Garret Davis died in November, 1801. The third lot was sold to Frederick Walther, October 1, 1799, in Tp. 12, Range I, “ beginning in the Transit Meridian line, being the Eastern boundary of the aforesaid Township, 13 ch. 38 L., S. of the 68 Mile Stone from the North boundary of Pennsylvania, containing 150 acres." This lot embraced all the pres- ent village of Stafford that lies west of the transit line. The tavern house was built on the north side of the old Genesee road, near the creek on the west side. Walther only remained a year or two, then went south.

COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.

M R. ELLICOTT gave his attention to the building of a court- house and jail immediately after the act was passed to form Gen- esee County. In May, 1802, Mr. Busti, writing to him, says : " I am happy in the promptness with which you have agreed to carry into effect the erection of the court-house and jail, as stipulated to be erected at the expense of the 3

GENESEE COUNTY.

company, by Mr. Ogden and myself. This stipulation was one of the principal induce- ments towards our effecting the passage of the law establishing the new county."

Isaac Sutherland and Samuel F. Geer were employed as chief archi- tects by Mr. Ellicott to adopt and carry out a building plan sent on by Mr. Busti. From that plan was created the building now known as El- licott hall. It is built of heavy oak timbers, and it took three days to raise the frame work. The workmanship was of a superior order for those days, and the building remains a monument to the mechanical skill and energy of its founder, Joseph Ellicott. It was enclosed in the fall of 1802, and finished so far as to permit of holding the first sessions of the courts in the spring of 1803. The north half was used as a court-room and jail ; the south half for a tavern, and occupied as such until about 1820. The tavern-keeper was then dismissed and the whole upper part used as a court-room, and the lower part (except the jail) became the resi- dence of the jailor, and so continued until the erection of the new jail in 1850, on West Main street. For several years the old court-room was used as a place for religious meetings, the gallery being put in for addi- tional seating capacity.

In 1819 Mr. Ellicott addressed " the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and the Supervisors of the County," to the ef- fect that the needs of the county (Wyoming County not having been erected) required an enlargement of the court-room, and proposed, as agent of the Holland Land Company, to convey to the supervisors the triangular piece of land (now bounded by Ellicott, Main, and Court streets), the consideration being for the county to pay $3000; also to convey to the company the oblong piece of land, 100 feet wide, located about midway between Genesee (Main) street and Big Tree (Ellicott) road, and extending from a point on what is now Clark Place, back of Bieree's store; also a strip about 35 feet wide extending from Genesee street to the main strip, known as " lot 81." (It was on this lot the first exe- cution by hanging occurred in the county.) The suggestion was ac- cepted, and a few years afterwards a new jail was built (now occupied by the Hook and Ladder Company) ; also a county clerk's office was built in the northeast corner of the triangle. Both were built of brick. This was occupied until the present court-house was built, in 1842, when the county clerk's office was moved to the basement of the same ; but again moved to its present location, when it and the surrogate's office was com- pleted in 1873.

The circumstances that led to the building of the new court-house

POLITICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY.

were, first, a strong effort being made to remove the county seat to At- tica ; second, a movement on foot to divide the county ; third, the old court-room being too small and inconvenient. The supervisors thought by this stroke they could defeat the removal of the county seat and divi- sion of the county. The present court-house was built in 1843, and cost about $17,000.

In 1849 the board of supervisors granted to the village of Batavia the old court-house, conditioned upon its being repaired. Repairs were made, and now the building is used for some town meetings, and is known as Ellicott hall.

POLITICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY.

A T the earliest settlement of the county two political parties ex- isted-the Federal, opposed to the war and friendly to Great Brit- ain, and the Republican. The Federalists became quite unpopular by opposing the War of 1812, and in this part of the State gradually dropped the name and were stigmatized as "Democrats," which name was finally adopted. "Bucktails " was a name given to the Republican party of that day, and their opponents were called "Clintonians." Then followed the terms " National " and " Democratic " Republicans.

In 1826 the famous Morgan excitement arose to change the political phase of this section, and its origin was at Batavia. William Morgan wrote an exposition of the so-called secrets of Free Masonry, and it was to have been published at Batavia. It was alleged that for this exposure he was abducted and murdered by the Masons; the details or truth of the transaction do not belong in this history. The feeling of the people of Genesee County was so aroused that a party, called the " Anti-Ma- sonic," at once was formed, and was an overwhelming party for a short time in Western New York. It became fully organized in 1828, and a coalition was made in 1832 between the Anti-Masons and the National Republicans of this State in order to carry the State for the Anti-Masons and elect Henry Clay President of the United States. The scheme failed and both designs failed. The Anti-Masonic party by this coali- tion merged into the " Whig " party, and remained until the " Republi- can " party of 1856. was formed.

In 1833 the agitation of the slavery question commenced and an anti- slavery party was formed. No issue has wielded a more potent influence upon national or local politics than this. The legislature of this State passed an act in 1799 for the gradual extinction of slavery within its

GENESEE COUNTY.

borders. Although it did not exist in the Holland Purchase, yet it was a legal institution in the older settled portions. Subsequent enactments entirely obliterated all traces of the dark stain-slavery-from the State of New York on July 4, 1827. Ten thousand slaves were set free by the act. Anti-slavery meetings were broken up in the early years of this excitement by the opposition. Gerrit Smith became the fearless leader of the anti-slavery faction, and it gradually developed into formidable proportions.

Genesee County took an active part in this move. In 1836 a strong anti-slavery feeling existed here, and was as strongly opposed ; a society was formed and wished to hold a public meeting at Batavia. The assur- ance by prominent men, although doubtful as to the justice of the claims of the " Abolitionists," that they should oppose any interference with a meeting in accordance with the right of free speech, that was properly conducted, led to a call for a meeting at the court-house in Batavia, March 12, 1836, at 2 P. M., to take into consideration what measure it was necessary to adopt with reference to the proposed meeting of the Abolitionists in this village; and the call closed with this appeal : "Let all opposed to fanaticism, and who value the existence and perpetuity of the Union, attend."

This meeting was largely attended and passed strong resolutions against the object of the Abolitionists, that they were opposed to any such meet- ing in the village of Batavia, and would not be responsible for consequen- ces if the Abolitionists held their meeting as proposed. (These resolu- tions and full details can be found in Young's History of Warsaw.) The meeting appointed a committee of 50 to wait upon the Abolition Society, should it meet in Batavia, and inform it of the wishes of the village, etc.

The Anti-Slavery Society met pursuant to notice at the court-house. Before its organization the committee of 50 entered the hall, and its chair- man read the resolutions of their meeting, and also made a short speech. The Anti-Slavery Society appointed a committee of five to prepare a re- pły. This committee was : Henry Brewster and Seth M. Gates, of Le Roy ; Gen. John D. Landon, of Castile; William Patterson, of Warsaw ; and Huntington Lyman. In the reply they disclaimed a want of respect for the citizens of Batavia, was not appointed without consultation with respectable citizens, asserted the right to peaceably assemble to discuss the interests of their common country, and could not acknowledge the right of any persons or body of men to molest them or require them to cease deliberations. The long report was made to the committee of 50

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 4

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