USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 52
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Mr. Annin died in 1835, and of the children who survive are William L., George, Joseph, James, and Catharine, wife of the late Mr. Bryant, of Washington, D. C. William L. was the first child born in Le Roy after its incorporation. Lewis M. Gates and William Bradley (Gates & Brad- ley) were the last to continue business on the east side of Main street. It was in the brick store, corner of Wolcott and Main streets, which at a later period was abandoned and converted at first into a land office, next into schools, and last into a blacksmith shop, which was finally demol- ished to open a more extensive western vista from the university grounds. Thomas Tufts came into the settlement to reside in 1810, as land agent for the Craigie tract. He built and opened a store and a tavern on West Main street, nearly opposite the Lent place. He also built a dwelling house near by, now occupied by Mr. Walker. He continued in business for several years, and on his decease left but one son, Thomas, who now survives.
It would be an imperfect sketch of Le Roy if no mention was made of that intermediate class of merchants and business men, who occupied conspicuous places and made Le Roy what it is, between the pioneer and the present period of its history. The beginning of its prosperity, like that of this whole Western domain, takes its date from the completion of the Erie Canal.
Dry goods and general merchants .- Lampson & Co. (the Co .: Sam- uel Skinner and John Lent). L. S. Bacon & Co. (the Co .: John P. Mit- chell and J. G. Bixby), Comstock & Co. (the Co .: Deacon Comstock and his son Otis A .; later A. O. Comstock and Chauncey L. Olmsted), S. W. Carpenter & Co., A. L. Stevens & Co., A. B. Murphy & J. Whitney (after- wards I. B. Browning & S. C. Kelsey), Thomas & Parks, Barron & Knee- land, Champion Brothers, Tompkins, Morgan & Co. (the successors of Lampson & Co.); later Morgan & Jackson, succeeded by Charles Mor- gan, who for 50 years was in continuous mercantile business, and justly
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won on his retirement the reputation of an honorable and capable mer- chant. Following later was Adam Pratt and William P. Rathbone. The only survivors of the above, still residents here, are A. O. Comstock and Charles Morgan. Samuel F. Comstock might be added, as at one time he was partner with his brother A. Otis. Among later firms was one es- tablished by the late Jonathan M. Foreman, who came in 1854. He was partner of Henry Starr. The business was then carried on by F. W. Foreman (a son) and Washington Tryon (now of Toledo), and afterwards by Foreman & Rider. Mr. Foreman, Sr., died in January, 1890, at the age of 86. He was a prominent and useful citizen, and held many offices of public trust, which he discharged with ability and integrity. For 16 years he was justice of the peace, and also held other offices.
Grocers .- S. Chamberlin,-afterwards Chamberlin & Henry Starr,- Ralph Lord, Elijah Gray, and F. W. & G. W. Drake.
Hardware .- Bacon & Mitchell, succeeded by Frank W. Drake, who became the successful railroad millionaire, now of Corning, N. Y .; E. Walker & Co., succeeded by J. G. Bixby and A. G. Carpenter ; and Dar- ling & Grannis.
Harness and saddlers. - Newman & Dodge (succeeded by Jacob Newman) and B. R. Crane.
Shoemaker .- Capt. Daniel Foster.
Leather .- Shedd & Ganson (J. W. Shedd and Chandler Ganson).
Jewelers .- Horatio Stanley and Russel & Sampson.
Carriagemakers .- A. S. Upham and Thomas Ladd.
Plows, etc .- Azor Curtis and Webb & Cowan.
Cabinetware .- Howard Bosworth, Loring Pratt, and Steuber Brothers.
Landlords .- Isaac Dwight, succeeded by Powell Carpenter, in the Eagle ; J. H. Stanley and Elisha Stanley, and later Lyman Ballard, in the Globe and Eagle.
Druggist -J. G. Barbor.
Of the above names, who contributed largely to build up the business of the town during this intermediate period, many had marked character- istics, but in the limits here assigned but a few only can be noted.
Miles P. Lampson was born in New Haven, Vt., came to Le Roy when a young man, and engaged, first, as a school teacher and afterwards as clerk in the store of Thomas Tufts. He early entered into mercantile business with Capt. John Lent, and afterwards was associated with Sam- uel Skinner (a lawyer of the village), which from the beginning was a successful firm. Mr. Lampson possessed those natural qualities which commanded success. He was of sound judgment, industrious and perse- vering, prudent and frugal, and of strict integrity and honor in all of his business intercourse. He was at the same time sagacious in embracing opportunities for the increase of his estate, and in this he was successful. Retiring from the mercantile business he organized the first bank in Le Roy, in 1838 (the Genesee County Bank), of which he was the first cashier, soon after its president, and its sole financial officer. A full ac-
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count of this bank will be found under its proper head. His connection with the bank under its different forms continued during the remainder of his life, as president, and under his chief control and management, with the satisfaction that no losses of moment ever occurred ; and in the change of the same to the " First National " the capital was all restored to the stockholders. Mr. Lampson died in March, 1869, at the age of 75, leav- ing a widow, since deceased, and three sons, only two of whom, William and Miles, still live.
Capt. John Lent was a man of less education, but of natural abilities of a superior order and of great force of character. He came into the village from Easton, Washington County, in 1813, and commenced keep- ing a public house, built by Thomas Tufts, the present homestead of the Lent estate, and engaged at once in land and other enterprises with such sagacity and judgment as soon to accumulate a handsome estate for the period. He was somewhat eccentric, and although eminently social in his nature cared little for the amenities or usages of society, but more for accumulation, of which he was proficient in whatever enterprise he engaged. He prided himself upon his just dealing, and that his "word was always as good as his bond." He died, and was buried in a private vault on his own grounds, in 1861, at the age af 78, and left a son John, since deceased, whose widow is now the consort of Gen C F. Bissell, who resides on the old homestead at the west end of the village.
Lathrop S. Bacon, during his entire business career, was always termed a " live " man, from his activity and enterprise. He was born in Ham- ilton, N. Y., in 1810, and from thence removed with his father, Rufus Bacon, to Le Roy, in 1830, and entered at once into the business of gen- eral merchandise. This was soon known, for he gave extensive publi- city to his business and soon commanded a large trade from surrounding and even distant towns. He literally gave a " boom " to the business of the village, which did not subside until his final retirement. He was subsequently associated with John P. Mitchell, and later with J. G. Bixby, under the firm name of L. S. Bacon & Co. In 1840 he com- menced the establishment of a stove foundry in the village, which he con- tinued to extend and enlarge until it became the most extensive industry in the county. The cook stove known as the Clinton Elevated, and the self-regulating sheet-iron parlor stove, were of his invention, and they became leading and popular and commanded a large sale in this and the Western States. Mr. Mitchell became associated with him in the manu- facture, and later D. R. Bacon, under the firm name of L. S. Bacon & Co. The sudden death of his two children, by a camphine lamp ex- plosion, rendered his residence in Le Roy distasteful, and he removed to Rochester, where he built up the present iron works in Ontario, and in 1850 closed his connection with the foundry at Le Roy by a sale to Harry Backus, and the business for a few years longer was carried on by the firm name of Backus & Bacon, when in 1854 it was closed, and this in- dustry here has not since been revived. L. S. Bacon was for a time
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president of the Eagle Bank in Rochester, but he soon left for England to establish the manufacture of India rubber goods, which business proved a marked success. Owing to the misuse of the firm's name by a partner, after Mr. Bacon's retirement, he suffered a financial reverse, from which he did not fully recover. He retired and spent the closing period of his life in Florence, Italy, where he became prostrated by a stroke of paral- ysis, which, being repeated by a second attack, permanently disabled him both in mind and body. He returned to this country with his wife and retired to Michigan, where he died in his 68th year ; and in all his relations of life he was held in high regard for his superior qualities of head and heart. His wife did not long survive him, and they both rest by the side of their children in Machpelah Cemetery.
Chauncey L. Olmsted, a partner of A. O. Comstock in the days of the most lively boom in the trade of the villages, of which they were not behind in giving it an impetus, on his retirement from the firm became noted for his enterprise and business energy. He established and built up the planing and lumber business now owned and conducted by Mur- dock Brothers, on Mill street. Two disastrous fires of his mill and works did not quell his energy. They were rebuilt on an extended scale and became the largest of the class in the county. The works were continued under his brother William, while he engaged largely in the lumber trade West. Mr Olmsted took a lively interest in all of the improvements of the town, toward which he always was a liberal contributor, whether in church or schools. Of the latter he showed his generous intentions by making for them liberal provision, of which the subsequent change in times rendered it unavailable. At his decease he left a widow, and a son, Albert C., now a resident of Batavia, and a daughter, Mary, who still survive him.
There was Dea. Samuel Comstock, who removed with his family from Colchester, Conn , in 1834, and engaged in the mercantile business with his son Otis A. Their enterprise soon secured a large trade, and it soon became one of the leading business firms of the community. The Deacon was an honorable competitor and justly merited the soubriquet always accorded to him of the " honest deacon." He was always scrupulously just, and foremost in every good and benevolent work. He was the or- ganizer and founder of the Congregational Church in the village, subse- quently merged in the Presbyterian, and was a deacon until his decease, at the age of 79. His children that survive him are Otis A , Samuel F., and a daughter Elizabeth.
As the Hon. Alonzo S. Upham filled a conspicuous place in the village, and subsequently in the State, a brief reference to him will not be out of place. It was in 1832 that he removed from Onondaga County, where he had recently married Mary, daughter of Deacon Monroe, and com- menced here the business of carriagemaking on a scale hitherto unknown in this section. He soon obtained a wide reputation through the county as a skilled and tasteful workman, and with a fine address became a
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popular citizen. He early was identified with the Whig party, and was during its life an ardent supporter of Henry Clay. When the Whig be- came merged into the Republican party he followed its fortunes, and his first political honor was in his election to the Assembly by that party in 1847, and again in 1848, where, by his address, he soon ingratiated him- self into the favor of the Weed-Seward branch of the party, and became one of their trusted leaders This was increased upon his nomination and election to the State Senate in 1850, and again in 1854, when he was a recognized leader of the party in the State, and influential in its counsels. He was an adroit politician and skilled in the management of caucuses and conventions. In his later senatorial career he became an important and efficient aid in carrying measures favorable to the interests of the N. Y. C. & H. R. Railroad, by which he received from the company his reward in obtaining contracts for building cars for the road. This led to the establishment and construction of the stone buildings for his works in the village, since converted into the present malt-houses. Failing in an election for a third term in the Senate, in consequence of the popular prejudice against railroad influence in legislation, the further construction of cars for the road was withdrawn, and in consequence the business and the works collapsed. Mr. Upham thus became financially embarrassed, from which he failed to recover. In his prosperity he was noted for his geniality, his open-handed liberality, and his devotion to his friends, as well as his public spirit and diffuse hospitality. He obtained a situation in the custom-house in New York, where he remained until his decease.
Physicians .- We pass to a brief notice of the first physicians. Dr. Will- iam Coe was the first settled practitioner. He came in 1803. He was not so wholly engrossed in professional duties but that he could devote a por- tion of his time, particularly evenings, in teaching some of the higher branches of instruction. Dr. Ella Smith came in soon after and settled on the now Blodgett farm. Dr. Frederick Fitch commenced practice in 1808. He was of an eccentric character, and fond of military display. On an occasion of general training, wishing to display his skill in sword exercise, he wounded himself in the leg, which resulted in requiring an amputation of the limb. He was a skillful practitioner, and he built the house where Jacob Newman formerly and now Rev. Mr. Bowden resides. He formed a copartnership with Dr. Sheldon in the practice in the village, and subsequently removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he died. His son, Newell Fitch, remained, but subsequently removed to Logans- port, Ind , and had in his adopted State a distinguished career. He took for his wife, before his departure, Hattie Satterlee, of this village. He was elected U. S. Senator from Indiana, served also in the war of the Re- bellion, and attained the rank of major-general. Their son married a daughter of Gen. W. T. Sherman. Dr. Chauncey P. Smith came into the - place early in 1810.
Dr. William Sheldon removed from Rupert, Benningtom County, Vt., and traveled on horseback until he reached the Ganson tavern, where he
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stopped for the night, designing to pursue his journey westward in the morning. His last dollar was exhausted. During the night a sickness occurred in the family which he was called upon to treat, and by their importunity was prevailed upon to remain and settle here, and enter upon his practice. The following year he married the widow of Asher Bates, and soon became a successful practitioner. When in 1812 the war with Great Britian was declared he entered into the service and re- ceived the commission of captain of a volunteer company, and left for the frontier for service. He was made aid-de-camp of Gen. Daniel Davis, his fellow townsman, and was by his side, as before stated, in the gallant sortie at Fort Erie. The Doctor himself, in the skirmish at Black Rock, was wounded and taken prisoner, and carried to Montreal, where he was kept six months in prison, and his treatment was not such as to mollify his feeling toward the redcoats, which was decidedly anti-English during his life-time. He served during the whole war and was in seven differ- ent engagements. On the organization of the town of Le Roy Dr. Sheldon was chosen the first supervisor, and again in 1818. He was ap- pointed by Governor Tompkins sheriff of the new county of Genesee, and was subsequently reappointed, an evidence of his ability and fidel- ity. He died at the age of 85, and left three sons, Lucius, William, and Horatio, all of whom are still living
The name of S. O. Almy, associated in practice with Dr. Alfred Wil- cox, calls up one of the most genial, kind-hearted, as well as capable, physicians of the medical profession. He had a large practice until his retirement, temporarily to Cincinnati, from which place he returned under a mental cloud. His host of friends were saddened from his pros- tration by a paralytic stroke, from which he never recovered, but lived many years, his mind and body both shattered by its effects, until his decease a few years ago. Among the cotemporary practitioners, and a little later, there were Bliss and Pratt, and Tozier, and the Barretts, and Dr. Smith, of whom full notice appears under the county head of the profession.
Lawyers .- Of the early members of the legal profession the name of Graham Newell has been mentioned as the first practitioner. Hon. He- man J. Redfield early opened a law office in Le Roy, on the corner of East Main and North streets, and continued in the practice here until his removal to Batavia, in 1835, as law counsel of the Holland Land Co. He was an active and prominent politician of the Democratic faith, and in 1823, '24, and '25 was a State Senator from the old Eighth District. His popularity was temporarily impaired by his vote on the electoral law of the State, giving to the people the election of their electors, and by his vote for the postponement of the law became one of the immortal 17 senators. He, however, continued to be a leading member of his party, and in 1853 was appointed by President Pierce collector of the port of New York. Samuel B. Skinner, Seth M. Gates (who later and after his election to Congress formed a law partnership with D. R. Bacon under
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the firm name of Gates & Bacon), Hon. Augustus P. Hascall (who served one term in Congress), Alfred F. Bartow, Charles Danforth, Perrin M. Smith (who, after his removal to Michigan, was a prominent judge), and James Sumerfield were all practitioners in Le Roy, and have all passed away except Mr. Bacon, who retired from the profession. Of the present living members of the profession there will be found full notices under the appropriate head.
In 1807 the name of the town was changed to Caledonia, which it re- tained until 1811, when it received the name of Bellona, so-called from the goddess of war, and not inappropriately, as every able-bodied man had, with musket on shoulder, gone to the war, leaving the women-folk alone to tend the farms, and to guard and protect the homes.
The War of 1812 .- It is at this day impossible to conceive the panic which pervaded this whole border region on the news of the declaration of war in the summer of 1812. It was first feared that the Senecas would side with the British as they had in the war of the Revolution. This was allayed by the influence and eloquence of Red Jacket and Corn- planter, first by a promise of neutrality, followed by an alliance of the tribe with the American forces, and who afterwards rendered to our arms important and effectual aid. But the special dread was of an invasion from Canada, where the British were in large force upon the border. But the invasion never came. The fear of it was equally great on the Canada side. This singular apprehension of mutual invasion was at once our safeguard and protection. And it was one of these instances, often recorded in the history of wars both great and small, where "one was afraid and the other durst n't." But there was enough of war excitement to keep alive the sharpest watchfulness and interest in what was transpir- ing on the border where the hostile forces were arrayed face to face. This was greatly intensified by the ill-timed and censurable surrender of Fort Niagara and the burning of Newark, now the village of Niagara Falls, by General McClure, of the New York militia. Its retaliation was at once followed by the successful attack upon Black Rock and the burn- ing of the village of Buffalo by the British force. It was a wanton and cowardly act, for it was committed in violation of a flag of truce, after General Riel, the commandant of the English, had accepted the surrender and promised protection to the feeble colony. But the destruction was complete, only one house, that of Mrs. Jones, remained standing. This occurred in midwinter, December 31, 1813, and the defenceless inhabi- tants, including delicate women and young children, were driven into the snow- bound forests to find home and shelter in the outlying settlements of the interior. These were cheerfully given, and the rites of hospitality to the houseless sufferers were in no place more cheerfully accorded than to those who reached Le Roy.
Never was hospitality more general or more needed. It was extended to the Tuscaroras, whose cabins had not escaped the British torch. They came to the Ganson settlement, where they were provided with camping-
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ground, on what is now Lime Rock, three miles east, and were supplied with provisions by the settlers and in part by the commissary of the public stores.
But it was not always adverse news. The settlement had its days of rejoicing. The achievements and success of Commodore Perry upon the lakes created a thrill of joy. This was greatly enhanced when the signal success of our arms at the battle of Lundy's Lane, sometimes called the Niagara Falls battle and Chippewa, under the command of General Brown and the late Gen. Winfield Scott, was here proclaimed. It was here General Scott won his spurs. He received a wound in the battle, from which he never fully recovered, and was borne in a litter to the Gan- son tavern, where all turned out to do him honor, and those who came never forgot his manly form and martial bearing, characteristics which distinguished him through life.
The war of the Rebellion belongs to general history, and is too modern for any extended notice in this sketch of our early annals. It should not be entirely passed over, as Le Roy was made conspicious by its being des- ignated as a point for a recruiting camp by the military authority of the State. In March, 1861, Governor Morgan ordered its organization here, and it was opened for this purpose under the designation of Camp Upham, in one of his abandoned car shops. Immediately over the whole west- ern district the most active efforts were put forth by our patriotic citi- zens for enlistments to fill up and complete the regiment. The camp was under the immediate charge of Rev. J. M. Fuller, an earnest and eloquent platform orator on the Union's cause, who earnestly engaged in enlistments, assisted by Maj. J. W. Shedd, Col Grey, and the captains of the several companies. It was stirring times in Le Roy during the season of its formation. The music of the fife and of the spirit-stirring drum was ever rife in the streets, and the frequent public speeches and addresses kept active this patriotic enthusiasm until the formation of the regiment was complete. The full complement of men was at length at- tained, and March 26, 1862, the regiment was ordered to the front under the designation of the 105th Regiment of the State, and the camp broken up. The first regimental officers were Rev. James M. Fuller, colonel ; Howard Carroll, of Rochester, lieutenant-colonel ; and J W. Shedd, ma- jor. Dr. D C. Chamberlin received the commission of surgeon of the regiment. The following were captains of the respective companies when they left Camp Upham : Richard Whiteside, James B. Delong, H. E. Smith, Isaac S. Tichenor, George Babcock, Abraham Moore, John McMahon, Patrick W. Bradley, and S. J. Wilber. .
Previous to the departure of the regiment for the front a grand ovation was given it by the citizens of Le Roy, and Central Hall was literally packed for the occasion. Miles P. Lampson was chosen president, who made an appropriate and patriotic speech, and L. N. Bangs was chosen secretary. It was the chief purpose of the meeting to present from our citizens an elegant sword and revolver to Col. Fuller prior to his depart-
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ure. D. R. Bacon was appointed to make the presentation of them to the Colonel, which he did in an address suited to occasion, which was replied to by the recipient in an eloquent speech, followed by other pa- triotic speeches, in which the departing regiment received a most hearty godspeed, commending it to the " God of Battles." On other occasions previous to the departure a sword presentation was made to our towns- men, Major (afterwards Lieut .- Col.) Shedd and to Dr. D. C. Chamberlin of a sword, belt, and cap, the presentation, in behalf of the donors, being made by Gen. C. F. Bissell in appropriate and fitting terms, and accepted by the recipient in a grateful acknowledgement. Of the reverses and sad depletion of the regiment, and the changes of its officers after it en- tered upon active service, it is not the purpose of this brief sketch of its
organization to mention. It belongs to the general history of the war. Arriving at Washington the regiment was placed in Gen. Duryea's brigade with that of the 97th and 104th N. Y. and 107th Pa. regiments. When the campaign opened Col. Fuller led his regiment to the front and into the field, following Stonewall Jackson across Blue Ridge to Thoroughfare Gap, and returning pitched their tents on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. They moved across the Rappahannock, where they were first engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, and acted gallantly. For reasons unexplained two days after this battle Col. Fuller tendered his resignation, which was thrice repeated before its acceptance; and Lieut .- Col. Carroll, a brave and capable officer, was promoted to the colonelcy, J. W. Shedd to that of lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. White- side to major. By order of the division commander, Gen. Ricketts, the regiment retraced its steps across the Rappahannock. Gen Pope was in command of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was engaged in the second battle of Bull Run (or Manasses), South Mountain, and An- tietam, where Col. Carroll was wounded and soon died at the hospital in Washington. Lieut .- Col. Shedd was also severely wounded, and Lieut. Buckley was killed. The death of Col. Carroll led to another change of officers, resulting in promoting Lieut .- Col. Shedd to the colonelcy, White- side, lieutenant-colonel, and Adjutant Sharp, major The regiment was in the first battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, and in the famous march under Gen. Burnside in the winter of 1863, when many officers and privates were taken prisoners. It had become so depleted by these engagements and other causes that in March, 1863, it was consolidated with the 94th N. Y., Col. Root (now of Buffalo) commanding. The 94th, being the senior regiment, retained its numerical designation, and the field officers and staff of the 105th were all mustered out except the sur- geon, Dr. D. C. Chamberlin, and the quartermaster.
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