USA > New York > Monroe County > Gazetteer and business directory of Monroe County, N.Y. for 1869-70 > Part 12
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The population of this town in 1865 was 4,400; its area is 30,559 acres.
There are 17 school districts, employing 19 teachers. The number of the school population is 1,535; the number at- tending school, 1,138; the average attendance, 543, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was 86,290.00.
MIAMILIN was formed from Clarkson, as Union, Oeto- ber 11, 1852. The name was changed in 1861. It is the north-west corner town of the County, Lake Ontario forming its north boundary. Its surface is slightly rolling and in- clines towards the lake. It is drained by a number of small streams flowing into the lake, the principal of which is Sandy Creek. The soil is a sandy, clayey and gravelly loam. Salt was manufactured to a limited extent by the early settlers.
Hamlin, (p. v.) situated in the south part of the town, con- tains about 40 houses.
North Clarkson (p. o.) is a hamlet.
Kendall Mills, near the south-west corner, partly in Or- leans County, is a hamlet.
The first settlement was commenced in 1810, by Aretus IIaskell. Josiah and Samuel Randall, from Maine, settled in the town the same year. In 1811 Stephen Baxter and John Nowlan came in, and - Strunk settled at the mouth of Sandy Creek. Alanson Thomas and a man by the name of Billings settled in the town soon after. The town be- longed to the Triangle Tract and was not settled as early as many other towns. Messrs. Le Roy, Bayard and MeEvers were the purchasers of this tract of Robert Morris. But few settlers came in until the close of the war.
The first death was that of Mrs. Strunk, in 1812. A. D. Raymond kept the first inn, and Daniel Pease the first store. Alanson Thomas built the first mill for LeRoy & Bayard.
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A Fourierite community was organized and located at the mouth of Sandy Creek, in 1843, by Doctor Theller, who was quite conspicuous during the Canadian Patriot War. It proved a failure.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,392; its area is 26,387 acres.
There are 15 school districts, employing the same number of teachers. The number of the school population is 821; the number attending school, 675 ; the average attendance, 303, and the amount expended for school purposes during the last year was $4,340.20.
HENRIETTA was formed from Pittsford, March 27, 1818. It is an interior town, lying south of the center of the County. Genesee River forms its western boundary. The surface is rolling and the soil is a fertile argillaceous loam. The streams are small and most of them dry in summer.
East Henrietta, (Henrietta p. o.) in the east part of the town, contains two churches, the Monroe Academy and about 200 inhabitants.
West Henrietta, (p. v.) situated south-west of the center of the town, contains a church, a steam saw mill, a manufactory of agricultural implements and about 40 dwellings.
The first settlement was made in 1806, by Jesse Pangburn and Warren and Lyman Hawley, in the west part of the town. Major Isaac Scott received 900 acres in the south- west part of the town, for military services, and in 1790 at- tempted to make a settlement but abandoned it in 1792. In 1806 Charles Rice, William Thompson, Thomas Sparks, Moses Goodall, George Dickinson, Selah Reed and Gideon Griswold settled in the town. The next year Ira Hatch, Jonathan Russell, Benjamin Hale and a family by the name of Baldwin settled on what was called the Wadsworth road. In 1809 the Spring family settled near the center. Charles Baldwin located here in 1809 and has lived in the town longer than any other man. He is 75 years old. In 1811 Jacob Brininstool, Isaac F. Nichols and James McNoll set- tled in the town. The last named was killed at Fort Erie, in 1814. Ebenezer Ketchum came in 1810. He ent the tim- ber from the site of East Henrietta in 1811. George L. Beckwith settled in the town in 1815.
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Sarah Leggett taught the first school, in 1809; James Smith kept the first store and Jonathan Smith built the first saw mill.
Garrett Kindlan, a resident of this town, is 103 years old, retains his faculties remarkably well and can walk ten miles. Ile has never employed a doctor.
The first church (Bap.) was organized in 1811.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,207; its area is 21,651 acres.
There are eleven school districts, employing the same num- ber of teachers. The number of the school population is 645; the number attending school, 482; the average at- tendance, 223, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was $3,951.16.
IRONDEQUOIT, named from the Bay which the In- dians called Neo-da-on-da-quat, was formed from Brighton, March 27. 1839. It lies upon the north border of the Coun- ty, east of the center. Irondequoit Bay lies upon the east, Lake Ontario on the north and Genesee River on the west. Its surface is rolling, with an inclination towards the lake in the north part and towards the deep valley of Irondequoit Bay in the east. The streams are small and flow into the lake and the bay. The soil in the north is sandy and in the south a clay loam.
Irondequoit, (p. v.) near the center of the town, contains about a dozen houses. A thickly settled suburb of Roches- ter, in the south-west part of the town, contains about 50 houses.
The first settlement was made by William Walker, in 1791. He was one of Butler's Rangers and settled at the mouth of the Genesee, where he remained until his departure for Can- ada. He hunted, fished and carried on a considerable traffic with boatmen. John Parks, and a mulatto family by the name of Dunbar, were among the first after Walker. Dr. Hosmer, Elisha Scudder, Eminer Reynolds, Jesse Case and Adonijah Green came in and settled here at an early day. Oliver Culver, who spent a few weeks here in 1796, speaks of Dunbar as the only settler in the place.
On the shore of the lake, near Irondequoit Bay, the high bank caved off, revealing a large quantity of human bones, much larger than those of our own race. Mr. Culver also
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speaks of finding a large quantity of lead balls and flints. while excavating for a storehouse. The remains of a battery were also found on a knoll on the bank of the creek.
Elisha B. Strong settled at Carthage, in 1817. The year previous he and Elisha Beech purchased 1,000 acres of land in that vicinity. Caleb Lyon had commenced operations here and a few shanties had been erected. It was destined to become the city of Western New York, but, like a great inany others, its projectors failed to realize their anticipa- tions. The best lands in the region were valued at five dol- lars an acre, and the prices ran from that down to half a dol- lar. Mr. Strong was one of the company who erected the Carthage bridge in 1819. It consisted of a single arch, the chord of which was 352 feet, the versed sine 54 feet and the summit of the arch above the water 196 feet. The length of the bridge was 718 feet, its width 30 feet and it contained about 70,000 feet of timber running measure, besides 64,620 feet board measure. This immense structure across the Gen- esee River was warranted by the builders to stand one year ; it stood one day over the time. The immense weight, press- ing unequally upon the arch, threw up the center, and the whole structure fell into the river. It was seen by only one person. A suspension bridge at the same place, erected in 1856, stood less than a year.
Among the early adventures of the pioneers of this region, the following instance of cool impudence on the part of a bear is rarely equaled, even by man: Mr. Scudder was crossing the bay in a canoe, when he discovered a bear swim- ming towards him; not caring to take a passenger of that kind he aimed a blow at Bruin's head, missed, and the ax went overboard. The bear took no offense at the rudeness of the boatman, but got aboard and remained until the canoe reached the shore, when she marched off without even thank- ing the ferryman for his kindness.
John Parks, on one occasion, wounded a bear, which be- came so enraged as to attack him. They clinched, and after a desperate struggle, Parks killed the beast with his knife, though he was severely bitten and seratehed in the encoun- te ?. ITe crawled several miles to the house of Mr. Hencher, where Dr. Hosmer dressed his wounds.
The population of the town in 1865 was 3,420; its area is 13.192 acres.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS. 103
There are six school districts, employing seven teachers. The number of the school population is 1,615; the number attending school, 562; the average attendance, 236, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30th, 1868, was $3,214.65.
MENDON was formed from Bloomfield, Ontario County, May 26, 1812. It lies upon the south border of the County, east of the center. Its surface in the north and east is roll- ing, and in the south-west moderately hilly. Honeove Creek flows through the south-west corner and Irondequoit Creek through near the center. There are three small ponds in the north-west part. The soil is a clayey calcareous loam.
*Honeoye Falls (p. v.)
" Mendon (p. v.) #Mendon Center (p. v.)
The first settlement was made at Honeoye Falls, in 1790, br Zebulon Norton, from Vermont. He purchased 1,600 acres of land, including the village site and water power, and erected a mill the same year. Captain Ball and Peter Sines, from Connecticut, came in about the same time. Among the other early settlers were Daniel Williams, Capt. Treat, Rufus Parks, Ebenezer Rathbun, Benjamin Parks, Wm. IIickox, Lorin Wait and Reuben Hill, from Massachusetts. They all came in 1793, or previous to that, and settled in the east part of the town. In 1794 Jason Cross, Calvin Perrine, and men named Sterling and Moore, settled at Honeoye Falls, and the next year John Parks, Jonas Allen and Jo- seph Bryan came in, and were followed by Charles Foot and Samuel Lane, in 1797.
The first marriage was that of Jason Cross and Mary Moon, in 1796; the first birth was that of William E. Sterling, in 1795, and the first death that of John Moon, in 1801. Wel- come Garfield taught the first school ; Abram Parrish kept the first inn, and James Dickinson the first store.
The first church (Bap.) was organized in 1809; Rev. Jesse Brayman was the first settled minister.
From a sermon preached in the M. E. Church, Honeoye Falls, in 1864, by Rev. A. F. Morey, we have gleaned some items in reference to the early history of that society. The
Free supplement at the close of Gazetteer.
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place was first visited by Methodist Itinerants in 1797. Men named Smith and Wicks were among the first, and soon after ministers named Scull and Talburt, from Philadelphia, preached here. Mr. Norton and Jacob Young, his son-in- law, were among the first members of the society. Their house of worship was a log one erected by Mr. Norton for a dwelling and afterwards given up for church and school purposes. This house was occupied for several years until a frame building was erected, where they continued to worship for several years. On the 21st of February, 1820, the society was first organized under the statute of the State as the "First M. E. Chapel in Mendon," with Francis Smith, John Sines and Eldrich York, Trustees. A subscription for a new church was immediately started, people subscribing grain, work, lumber, live stock, whisky, &c., cach contributing what he had. The church was finished and dedicated in 1821. In 1833 the Genesee Annual Conference held its session in this church, Bishop Hedding presiding. The church edifice has undergone extensive repairs several times, the last in 1864. The society has been a prosperous one and now num- bers about 200 members.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,959, and its area is 23,353 acres.
There are twenty school districts, employing the same number of teachers. The number of the school population is 944; the number attending school, 819; the average at- tendance, 419, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was $6,375.84.
OGDEN, named in honor of William Ogden, was formed from Parma, January 27, 1817. It is an interior town, lying west of the center of the County. The surface is level or gently undulating, with a slight inclination towards the north. The streams are small, forming the head branches of Sandy, Salmon and Little Black Creeks. The soil is a fine quality of calcareous and clavey loam. It is one of the best wheat growing towns in the County.
Spencerport, (p. v.) in the north-east part of the town, on the canal and railroad, contains four churches, a hotel, a gen- cral merchandise store, two groceries, several mechanic shops, a grist mill, a saw mill and about 600 inhabitants.
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Adams Basin (p. v.) is a station on the N. Y. C. R. R. and the Erie Canal, in the north-west part of the town, and contains a church and about 30 houses.
Ogden Center contains a church and about 30 houses.
Ogden is a post office in the south-west part.
The first settlement of the town was made by George W. Willey, from East Haddam, Conn. Abraham, Ephraim, Isaac and Timothy Colby came in the same year. Each of the Colbys' lived until his death upon the farm upon which he first settled. In 1803 and 1804 William H. Spencer, Josiah Mather, Jonathan Brown, Henry Hahn, Daniel Wandle, Benajah Willey, Benjamin Freeman, Daniel Spencer and Col. Eastman Colby, a brother of those before mentioned, settled in the town. The last named was an officer in the war of 1812. Dr. John Webster came to this town in 1803. He was the father of Stephen and Alvin Webster, now living in the town. Judge William B. Brown and Daniel Arnold came in 1805, and Austin Spencer in 1808. These settlers were all from Connecticut. Among the other early settlers were Stephen Gridley, who came from Oneida County in 1811. Ile cleared his farm and resided upon it until his death in June, 1861. He was married to Miss Sarah Kirk- land in 1810, and they celebrated their Golden Wedding, December 10th, 1860. Mrs. Gridley is still living, at the age of 82. Samuel Kilburn came from Broome County, in 1813. He was one of the early Supervisors of the town. IIe had a family of nine children, all of whom died of con- sumption. William Hiscock, from Schenectady County. came in 1817, Ansel Chapman, in 1814, and Aaron Robin- son, in 1817. Joseph Niles, from Albany County, settled in Sweden, in 1S15, and in 1827 came into Ogden. David Spencer, from Connecticut, settled in 1504, on the site of the village of Spencerport. A. Spencer settled in 1808, and J. P. Patterson in 1810. Mr. Patterson was the first Super- visor of the town, and after the organization of Monroe Co. was Sheriff.
The first religious meeting was held in 1805; the first set- tled minister was Ebenezer Everett; the first physician was Gibbon Jewett.
The first male child born in the town was John M. Colby, son of Abraham Colby, in 1803; he died in 1530. The first female child was Betsey Colby. daughter of Ephraim Colby, in October, 1803. She is now Mrs. Fincher. The first death G
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was that of Mrs. G. W. Willey, in 1803. The first schoo! was taught by Miss Willey, in 1807. George Huntley ker: the first inn; Charles Church, the first store, and William If. Spencer built the first saw mill. He brought his mill irons from Connecticut with an ox team. The first preacher wa- Rev. Daniel Brown, in 1807, and the first church (Presb. was organized in 1811.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,791; its arca is 21,841 acres.
There are 14 school districts, employing 16 teachers. The number of the school population is 1,020; the number at- tending school, 742; the average attendance, 345, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending September 30, 1868, was $4,789.10.
PARMA was formed from Northampton, now Gates, April S, 1808. Ogden was taken off in 1817. It lies upon Lake Ontario, west of the center of the County. The sur- face is level in the north and gently rolling in the south, with a slight inclination towards the north. The principal streams are Salınon, Little Salmon, Buttonwood and Long Pond Creeks. The soil is principally a gravelly loam, intermixed in places with sand and clay. Several weak salt springs ex- ist south of Unionville.
Parma Corners (Parma p. o.) is situated upon the Ridge Road, in the south part of the town, and contains a church, an academy and about 100 inhabitants.
Parma Center, (p. v.) near the center of the town, con- tains two churches and about 100 inhabitants.
Unionville, situated north of the center, contains two churches and about 150 inhabitants.
North Parma is a post office in the north part.
The first settlement was made in 1794, by Bezaleel Atch- inson and his sons, Stephen and John, from Tolland, Conn. They settled in the north-east part, near Braddocks Bay. Among the other early settlers were Michael Beach, Silas Leonard, George Goodhue and Timothy Madden, who came in and settled in 1802; Jonathan Underwood, Gibbon Jew- ett, George Huntley, Abner Brockway, Jr .. James Egbert and Jonathan Ogden, in 1505 ; Hope and Elisha Downs, in 1509 ; Augustus Mather, Lendell Curtiss, Samuel Castle and
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Kinnicome Roberts came in and settled in 1810, and Joshua Whitney, in 1811.
The first marriage was that of Captain Jonathan Leonard and a daughter of William Hencher. Alpheus Madden taught the first school, in 1804; J. Thompson kept the first store, and Hope and Elisha Downs the first inn. The first mills were erected by Jonathan Whitney. The first town meeting was held in 1809; Gibbon Jewett was chosen Su- pervisor, and Justin Worthington, Town Clerk. The first church (Bap.) was organized May 27, 1809.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,936; its area is 25,12S acres.
There are 16 school districts, employing 16 teachers. The number of the school population is 1,099; the number at- tending school, 909; the average attendance, 413, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was $4,485.16.
PENFIELD, named in honor of Daniel Penfield, an extensive landholder during the early settlement, was formed from Boyle, March 30, 1810. Webster was taken off in 1840. It lies upon the east border of the County, north of the cen- ter. The surface is rolling and much broken in the western part. Irondequoit Bay enters the north-west corner, and Irondequoit Creek flows through the south-west corner and forms a part of the west boundary. The creek falls about 90 feet in the village of Penfield, affording a valuable water- power. The other streams are small brooks. The soil is drift sand over argillaceous loam.
Penfield, (p. v.) situated in the south-west part, on Ironde- quoit Creek, contains three churches, viz., Baptist, Presby- terian and Methodist ; a hotel, a paper mill, a grist mill, ser- eral stores and mechanic shops, and about 50 dwellings.
Lovett's Corners, (East Penfield p. o.) in the south-east part, contains a F. W. Baptist church and about a dozen dwellings.
Penfield Center (p. o.) is a hamlet ..
General Jonathan Fassett, of Vermont, was the original purchaser of Phelps and Gorham of this township. In com- pany with his son Jonathan, Caleb Hopkins, - Maybee and others, he attempted to make a settlement in 1791 or
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1792, but sickness and other hardships to which they were exposed, caused Gen. Fassett to abandon the enterprise and return to Vermont. Hopkins and Maybee remained. Gen. Fassett located at the old Indian Landing, on the east side of' the bay, about two miles below the present village of Pen- field. A town plat was surveyed and laid out in Iots and then abandoned. He soon after sold out his interest to Gen. Silas Pepoon, who sold to Samuel P. Lloyd, and soon after it passed into the hands of Daniel Penfield. Mr. Maybee came from the Mohawk, by water, to Palmyra, and then mounted his bateau on wheels and cut his own road to Penfield. Lib- beus Ross and Calvin Clark settled in the town in 1801. As early as 1804 Josiah J. Kellogg, Daniel Stilwell, Benj. Mi- nor, Jonathan and David Baker, Isaac Beatty and Henry Paddock came in and located in different parts of the town. Daniel Penfield, for whom the town was named, did not set- tle here until 1810.
The first birth was that of a child of Mrs. Fiske, and the first death was that of Benjamin Stilwell, in 1804. Joseph Hatch taught the first school ; Daniel Stilwell kept the first inn, in 1806, and William McKinster the first store. The first mills were built by Daniel Penfield. The first church was organized about 1806, and consisted of fifteen members. It was Congregational at the time of its organization, but adopted the Presbyterian form of government in 1814.
The population of the town in 1865 was 3,059; its area is 22.420 acres.
There are twelve school districts, employing the same num- ber of teachers. The number of the school population is 952; the number attending school, $25; the average attendance, 305, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was $4,315.47.
PERINTON, named in honor of Glover Perrin, the first settler, was formed from Boyle, May 26, 1812. It is the south town on the east line of the County. Its surface is un- even, a ridge from the south-east terminating near the cen- ter. Turk Hill, in the south part, is the highest land in the County. The town is drained by the head waters of Ironde- quoit Creek and its branches. The soil is a sandy loam.
Fairport (p). v.) is situated a little north-west of the center of the town, on the Erie Canal and the N. Y. C. R. R., and
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contains five churches, a hotel, a saleratus factory, a sash, door and blind factory, a grist mill, several other mills and mechanic shops and about 1,000 inhabitants.
Bushnell's Basin, (p. v.) in the west part, on the canal, contains a church, a hotel, a grocery and about 200 inhabit- ants.
Egypt, (p. v.) in the east part, contains a church and about 20 houses.
Fullam's Basin is a hamlet on the canal.
The first settlement was made in 1793, by Glover Perrin. Jesse Perrin came in and located in 1794; Abner Wright in 1795. William Walker, the local agent for Phelps and Gor- ham, purchased this township, and his brother, Caleb Walker, moved in and erected a log cabin; Perrin accompanied him. Asa and Edward Perrin, Levi Treadwell, Major Norton, John Scott, John Peters and Gideon Ramsdell came in soon after.
The first birth was that of Asa Wright, in 1797. Glover Perrin kept the first inn; Gregory and Dean the first store, and Richard Lincoln built the first grist mill. Rev. Crane preached the first sermon.
The population of the town in 1865 was 3,209; its area is 20,827 acres.
There are twelve school districts, employing thirteen teachers. The number of the school population is 997; the number attending school, 752; the average attendance, 382, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1868, was $3,659.68.
PITTSFORD was formed from Smallwood, March 25, 1814. Henrietta was taken off in 1818. It is an interior town, lying east of the center of the County. The surface is undulating, with a gentle inclination towards the north. Irondequoit Creek flows through the north-east, and Allyn's Creek through the west part. The soil is sandy in the north and clavey and gravelly in the south.
Pittsford, (p. v.) situated on the Auburn Branch of the N. Y. C. R. R., and the Erie Canal, was incorporated in 1827 and contains six churches, viz., Presbyterian, Baptist, Meth- .It Episcopal, Free Methodist. Dutch and Episcopal; a uumlwer of hotels, stores and mechanic shops, and about 700 inhabitants.
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Irondequoit Mills is a hamlet in the east part of the town.
The first settlement of this town was commeneed in 1750, by Israel and Simon Stone, Silas Nye, Joseph Farr, Alexan- der Dunn and Daniel Davis, from Washington County. They settled near the center of the town and were followed soon after by Thomas Clelland, Ezra Patterson and Josialı Girnison. A large part of this town was purchased by Messrs. Simon Stone and - Dodge, for an association, many of whom became permanent settlers. William Acer. Israel Canfield and Benjamin Miller located in the town at an early day. Orrin Stone, a son of Simon Stone, settled in the town in 1791, and is now said to be the oldest pioneer in the County. Mr. Solomon Stone was born in Pittsford in 1800, and still lives on the farm upon which he was born. He is undoubtedly the oldest inhabitant who still resides where he was born. Noah Norton settled in the town on the farm now occupied by Wm. Thornell, and erected the first framed house in the town, about 1795. Mr. Wm. Acer came in and settled in 1791 on the farm now occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. G. N. Fisher, of Rochester. It is known as the old David Acer Farm, and in the yard stands a tree which has sheltered five generations of descendants from the first owner.
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