USA > New York > Orleans County > Gazetteer and business directory of Orleans County, N.Y. for 1869 > Part 11
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Deacon Ebenezer Rogers settled about a mile south of Albion. in 1816. In March of the same year, Stephen, Allen and Samuel Porter, and Joseph Rockwood, came on from Ontario County, with an ox team and five weeks provisions. They established their headquarters at Deacon Rogers', and with their team went through the deep snow to what is now Porter's Corners, five miles distant. They erected a cabin, ten by twelve feet, covered it with split bass- wood, and made a bed of hemlock boughs covered with blankets. They worked through the week and returned to Deacon Rogers' on Saturday. After cutting five acres they returned to Ontario County, but subsequently settled permanently at Porter's Corners. Enos Rice settled in Barre h 1816.
The first church organized in the town was the Presbyterian, at Albion, in 1824. Rev. William Johnson was the first pastor. The members were J. Phelps, Joseph Hart, Ebenezer Rogers. James Smith, Franklin Cowdrey and their wives, Artemus Thayer. Fay Clark, Lovina Bassett and Betsey Phelps. Ebenezer Rogers and Joseph Hart were the first deacons of the church. Their first house of worship was erected in 1830, their present house in 1846. The society was self-sustaining from its organization, and for many years has been large and prosperous, numbering between 400 and 500 members.
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1830 with twenty.
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four members. Their first house of worship was erected in 1830; their present house was dedicated in 1860. It is a substantial brick structure with a clock in the tower. The value of the church property, including the parsonage, is $30,000. Rev. Edward R. Sawyer is the present pastor.
The First M. E. Church was organized in 1830, with ten mem- bers.
The Episcopal Church was organized in 1844.
The Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1852. Rev. - Dillon was the first resident priest.
The Free Methodist Church was organized in 1859 or 1860, and their church edifice was erected in the summer of 1860. Rev. L. Stiles was the first pastor.
The population of Barre in 1865 was 6,845, and its area 48,325 acres.
The number of school districts is twenty-five, employing thirty- one teachers. The number of children of school age is 2.118; number attending school, 1,396; average attendance, 725, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending Sep- tember 30, 1868, was $9,936.54.
CARLTON was formed from Gaines and Ridgeway, April 13, 1822, as Ouk Orchard. It received its present name in 1825. It lies upon the lake shore, between Kendall and Yates, and is crossed in a north-east direction by Johnson's and Oak Orchard Creeks. The surface is level and the soil generally is sandy. Salt water was discovered a few years since near West Carlton. Mr. Lyman Fuller, in digging a well, bored through a stratum of rock and obtained salt water of such strength that two gallons yielded a pint of salt. The hole through the rock was plugged up and fresh water came in from above, affording him a well of good water.
Carlton, (p. v ,) called also Two Bridges, is situated at the june- tion of Oak Orchard and Marsh Creeks, and contains a Baptist church, a hotel, a store, two blacksmith and wagon shops, a cooper shop, a shoe shop, a warehouse and about a dozen dwellings.
Eust Carlton (p. o., ) contains a Baptist church, a store and half a dozen houses.
West Carlton, (Kuekville p. o.,) on Johnson's Creek, is a hamlet, with a Methodist church and a store.
Waterport, (p. v.,) situated at the junction of Oak Orchard ani Otter Creeks. in the south-west part of the town, contains a church: a hotel, two stores, two shoe shops, two wagon shops, a grist mill with three or four runs of stones, two saw mills and a mill for the manufacture of lath, shingles, heading, &c., a tannery and about thirty dwellings.
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Kenyonville, (p. o.,) on Oak Orchard Creek, in the south-west part, contains a store, a grist mill with three runs of stones, a lum- ber and shingle mill, a school house and a blacksmith shop.
Oak Orchard Harbor is situated on Lake Ontario, at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, and contains two hotels, a steami saw and planing mill, a store, a saloon and about a dozen dwellings. The Lake View House occupies a beautiful site and is a resort for pleasure seekers during the summer. An appropriation has been made by Congress for the improvement of the harbor. Piers, 500 feet in length, are to be extended at a distance of 200 feet from each other, and the harbor is to be dredged. After the improvements are completed it is expected that vessels drawing 25 or 30 feet of water will be able to go to Two Bridges. A light house is in contemplation.
Baldwin's Corners and Curtis Corners are hamlets.
The settlement of this town was commenced by James and Wil- liam Walsworth; the former settled at the mouth of Oak Orchar 1 Creek and the latter on Johnson's Creek. In May, 1803, James Walsworth landed at the mouth of the Creek, in an open boat, with his family. They immediately proceeded to erect a cabin of poles covered with bark. They were very poor and their whole stock of provisions consisted of a few bushels of potatoes. The stream abounded in fish, which, with the few articles they were able to ob- tain from the crews of bateaux as they passed up and down the lake, constituted their sustenance. Their nearest neighbors on the east were at Braddock's Bay. There was no settlement on the lake nearer than Fort Niagara upon the west, and their nearest neighbor in that direction was at Cold Springs, near Lockport. It is probable that the Walsworths did not remain here long, as some of the early settlers make no mention of them. Elijah Hunt came here in 1803 and located at the mouth of Johnson's Creek.
Matthew Dunham and his sons, Matthew, James and Charles. came from New York City and settled upon Johnson's Creek, near the site of the present village of Kuckville. Mr. Dunham took an Article for lots 5, 7 and 9, Section 9 of Township 16, Range 2, of the Ilolland Purchase. In the spring of 1804 he moved his family to this place, coming by the lake in a boat. He commenced a clear- ing and built a mill, which was a novel affair though a slight im- provement on the hand mortar. It consisted of a mortar dug from a log, with a block ficted into it, and run by water. Mr. Dunham was a poor man, but his means increased so that in a few years he erected a grist mill, bringing the stones from Niagara, now Newark, Canada. Those who profess to know are not agreed as to the year in which this mill was erected ; some say in 1806, others in 1808. This was for a long time the only grist mill in this region. A saw mill and a chair shop were also erected and
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ORLEANS COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
HUBBARD & WILKINS,
WHOLESALE & RETAIL DEALERS IN
GROCERIES & PROVISIONS Green & Dried
14-17+
T
T.
YOUNG"
.HYSON
TEA
FINE
BLACK TEAŞ!
FRUITS Cordage and Willow Ware, Tobacco, Cigars, Fancy Goods, &c., 49 Main St., Albion, N. Y.
A. H. GOODMAN, MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN
READY MADE CLOTHING Also a Great Variety of
French and American CLOTHS. CASSIMERES & VESTINGS
Always on Hand. Particular attention paid to Making GOODS TO ORDER in the LATEST STYLES and in a SUPERIOR MANNER. A full Line of Gents' Furnishing Goods always on hand.
ALBION, N. Y.
SINTO
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ORLEANS COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
HARDY'S ROCHESTER BOOT & SHOUSTORD
NO. 13 CANAL STREET, ALBION, N. Y.
Where can be found the LARGEST, BEST SELECTED, and MOST COMPLETE Assortment of
Boots, Shoes and Rubbers. IN ORLEANS CO.
And sell prime work at the LOWEST PRICES. as his LARGE TRADE while in ALBION proves. Most of his work is made to his special order and war- ranted in all cases to every customer. Goods sold invariably at Rochester prices. BARGAINS IN Ladies' & Gentlemen's
Rubber Boots! OVERSHOES & ARCTIC GOODS. ALSO, A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF Children's Staple and Plain and Fancy SHOES!
Repairing done to Order at all times, with Neatness and Dispatch.
REMEMBER THE PLACE! 13 CANAL STREET, AT THE SIGN OF THE RED BOOT !
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operated for several years. Mr. Dunham subsequently removed to Newark, Canada, where he remained until the breaking out of the war of 1812, when he was forced to leave his property there or serve in the British army. He returned to Kuckville and took a contract to furnish 300,000 feet of lumber, to be delivered to the United States Government at Fort Niagara. His raft was discov- ered and burned by the British fleet, near the mouth of Golden Hill Creek. This disaster so embarrassed him that he was com- pelled to sell his property to pay his debts. He then went to Bos- ton, where he died soon after. During the Revolutionary war he was a Lieutenant of Dragoons, and was present at the battle of Sar- atoga and other engagements during the great struggle for Inde- pendence.
In 1804 Moses Root and Henry Lovell settled near this place. Mr. Root's family consisted of a wife, five sons and one daughter. From the biography, of Reuben Root, one of the sons, we learn that they carried their wheat to Lima to mill, a distance of seventy miles, by way of the lake and the Irondequoit; their clothing was made of hemp of their own raising. In 1806 or 1807, Mr. Root brought a cow from Canada, but she was killed by the wolves the next year. He built the first framed barn in Orleans County, bringing the lumber and nails from Canada. Mr. Reuben Root and his father volunteered and went to Fort Erie during the war, and assisted in taking about five hundred prisoners.
In 1814 Reuben Root located in the east part of Yates, where he has since resided. He has been a resident of the County for sixty-five years.
Among the other early settlers were Elijah Brown and Job Shipman, who came in in 1804, and Wm. Carter, Ephraim Waldo, Paul Brown, David Miller, James and Samuel Mckinney, Win. Griffiths and Stephen Hoyt, who came in in 1805-6.
The first apple tree ever raised in this region was planted by Rachael Lovell, a daughter of Henry Lovell, at the mouth of John- son's Creek. The remnants of that tree are still visible. Miss Lovell afterwards became the wife of Matthew Dunham, Jr. She is still living and resides within half a mile of the spot where, sixty years ago, her parents first landed. The first apple orchard was planted by Elijah Brown, near the Two Bridges. It was set out among the stumps and log heaps, without much regard to regular- ity, and is now in a tolerably thriving and productive condition. The second orchard was planted by Matthew Dunham, Jr., in 1809, at Kuckville. The orchard is one of the most fruitful in the County at the present time.
In 1811 a company of young men from Stockbridge, Mass., com- menced a settlement on Section 5 of this town. The following, copied from the book in which it was originally recorded by their F
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Secretary, will give a good idea of the terms upon which these young men associated together :
" We, who have hereunto affixed our respective names, do agree to the following Articles and hold ourselves bound to fulfill each and every one of them, as follows, viz. :
" Article 1st, We agree that for the purpose of our better ac- commodation and mutual benefit, do and have resolved ourselves into one respective body or company by and under the appellation of the UNION COMPANY for the express purpose of emigrating to the westernmost part of the State of New York (on the Holland Purchase so-called) there to purchase each one by and for himself' unconnected with said Company as much land as he shall think will comport with his individual interest.
" Article 2d, We agree that we will jointly and severally bear our proportional part of expenses that may accrue for the use of said Body or Company in the outfit or when embodied or joined to- gether, which shall be considered necessary by said Company, be- ing made in a just and lawful manner agreeable to the Rules and Regulations hereafter adopted.
" Article 3d, We agree that one of said Body or Company shall be appointed Secretary to see that said expedition is forwarded. to give information from time to time what progress has been made or is making, and also to keep a book or memorandum on which shall be carefully recorded whatever has been furnished and by whom, as well the value of said articles and any entry which shall be considered necessary by said Company.
" Article 4th, We agree that we will individually furnish our re- spective proportions of such articles as shall be considered neces- sary by said Company and make a deposit of the same with the Company's Secretary previous to the first day of January next.
" Article 6th, We agree that we will put our joint strength and force together for at least two years, next after the purchase of our respective lands and labor in company."
There were several other articles providing that the avails of their labor should be equally divided, and that whatever was taken in hunting or fishing should also be equally divided and the ex- pense should also be shared equally.
" Article 10th, We agree that we will erect a house and barn on the land belonging to some one of the Company to be jointly con- served in the expense in building the same and also joint owner- in said building until said Company shall be dissolved, then to be- long to the one on whose land it shall stand.
" Article 12th, We agree that we will assist each other in an
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equal proportion in erecting a house and barn, not exceeding the expense of the first house and barn erected."
There were eighteen of the articles, the most important of which are given above. The document was " Dated Saturday 8th, Dec. 1810. Stockbridge, Mass.," and signed by Minoris Day, Fitch Chamberlain, Charles Webster, Anthony Miles, Selah Bardslee, Moses Barnum, Jr., Russell Smith, Giles Slater, Jr. These bach- elors commenced a settlement according to their programme, each in turn performing the duties of cook and general housekeeper. A trial in this case, as in many others, suggested an improvement.
"The world was sad; the garden was a wild, And man, the hermit sighed-till woman smiled."
A consultation was held, the "Union Company " were unani- mous in the opinion that another element was essential to the per- fect realization of their hopes. As each loved his neighbor as him- self, they cast lots to see who should return to their eastern home and invite one of the fair daughters of the old "Bay State" to re- turn to the wilderness, and by her presence cheer the hearts of the enterprising pioneers, the Company bearing the expense of the trip, as in all other enterprises for their mutual benefit. The Jo- nah upon whom the lot fell, submitted to his fate, and in due time returned to receive from his comrades the "well done good and faithful." The glad tidings were carried throughout the settlement, and their friends and neighbors united in their rejoicings and con- gratulations. Success attended the Union Company, and most of its members followed the example of their associate, until each had his own separate household and a companion and sharer of his joys and sorrows.
The first death in the town was that of a deserter from Fort Ni- agara, who was drowned in attempting to cross Johnson's Creek, about 1800. The first death of an actual settler was that of Elijah Brown, May 7, 1805. The first births were those of twins, chil- dren of James Walsworth, in 1806; and the first marriage that of William Carter and Amy Hunt, in 1804. The first grist mill was erected by Matthew Dunham, in 1806; on Johnson's Creek.
Zebulon Barnum, a " Jack of all trades," erected a shop about a mile south-west of Kuckville. Here he manufactured wooden plows for the farmers, and carried on the tailoring and blacksmith- ing business.
George Kuck, a native of London, England, came to this place in 1815, and erected the first framed grist mill, north of the Ridge Road, between Genesee River and Niagara. In 1816 he opened a store in Kuckville, the only one in this region. He soon after be- gan improvements of great importance to the country. . He erected a store-house at the mouth of Johnson's Creek, thereby seenring a
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market in the immediate vicinity. He also put in operation a saw mill and an ashery.
A post office was established at West Carlton in 1837, and with- in a few years the place has received the name of Kuckville, in honor of Rev. George Kuck. In November, 1821, he assisted in forming the first Methodist class in the town, and became its leader. It consisted of ten members, which, with a small class in Yates, constituted the entire membership of the Methodist Church north of the Ridge Road. In 1825 he assisted in forming the first Sun- day school, and in 1837 was ordained by Bishop Hedding. He died March 16, 1868.
The first school in the town was taught by Peleg Helms, in the winter of 1810-11. The first religious services in the town were conducted by Rev. Mr. Steele, a Methodist preacher from Canada, sometime previous to 1810.
Elder Simeon Dutcher, of the Baptist denomination, came to Carlton in 1817. He was a native of Dutchess County, but had lived in Madison County for eight years previous to his coming here. For several years after his arrival in Orleans County. he was the only preacher in the region, and attended the funerals and weddings of the settlers of all denominations. A Baptist Church was soon organized and Elder Dutcher preached for them until 1827. He was a Free Mason, and upon the outbreak of the anti- Masonic excitement, after the abduction of Morgan, he was required to renounce Masonry, but declined, and was expelled from the Church, and did not preach afterwards. He was a good man and highly esteemed by all. He died in 1860.
The population of Carlton in 1865 was 2,461, and its area is 25,- 898 acres.
The number of school districts is eighteen, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 89. ; the number enrolled in the schools, 756; the average attendance. 382, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending September 30, 1808, $4,600.79.
CLARENDON was formed from Sweden, Monroe County. February 23, 1821. It lies in the south-east corner of the County and is watered by the East Branch of Sandy Creek and its tribu- taries. This stream rises in the Tonawanda Swamp and flows north through the town. There are two waterfalls upon the stream, one at Clarendon village and the other at the north part of the town, both of which afford valuable water powers for mill sites. The surface along the line of the Mountain Ridge is broken, but in other parts it is level or slightly undulating. The soil is a sandy
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loam, somewhat stony in the north part. Limestone for building purposes, and hydraulic lime, have been obtained at Clarendon.
Clarendon, (p. v.,) situated on Sandy Creek, a little north-west of the center, contains two churches, a hotel, several stores, two saw mills, a flouring mill, a wagon shop, several other mechanic. shops of various kinds and about thirty dwellings.
The first settlement within the limits of this town was made in 1811, at the village of Clarendon, by Eldridge Farwell. The place was for some years known as Farwell's Mills. Benjamin Thomas, Benajah Warden, Elisha Huntly, John Caue, John Stephens, David Church and Chauncey Robinson, were among the other early set- tlers. Mr. Robinson was born in Durham, Conn., January 5th, 1792. When he was two years old his father removed to Sau- quoit, Oneida County, where Chauncey remained until 1813, when he settled in Clarendon, about two miles south of Farwell's Mills. Here he cleared one hundred acres of heavy timbered land and continued to cultivate it until 1851, when he gave up farming and went to Holley. In 1814 Mr. Robinson promptly responded to the call to defend the country against the British aggression, and was in the battle at Fort Erie, September 17, 1814.
Eldridge Farwell erected the first saw mill on Sandy Creek in 1811, and the first grist mill in 1813. The first store was kept by Hiram Frisbee in 1821, and the first school was taught by Mrs. Amanda Bills.
From the Records of the Pioneer Association we learn that Horace Peck came to this town with his parents in 1817. He was born in Farmington, Conn., but had spent several years with his parents in Onondaga County. He taught school during the winter of 1819-20, for ten dollars a month, and continued to teach for ten consecutive winters, working upon a farm in the summer. The young people were fond of parties and Mr. Peck used to take the ladies with an ox team, and enjoyed it quite as well as in after years when a carriage and horses were used for the same purpose.
Mr. Luther C. Peck, an older brother of Horace, taught school in the winter of 1818-19, near Holley village, three months, and received for his services thirty bushels of wheat, delivered after the next harvest. The wheat was sold in Rochester, and, after deduct- ing the expenses, the net proceeds were thirty-one cents per bushel. Mr. Peck has since become a distinguished lawyer in Livingston County.
Israel Cady came to Clarendon in 1815. He was from Ver- mont, and came on foot, arriving with eleven dollars in his pocket. HIe located on lot 137, Township 3, where he has cleared one hun- dred and fifty acres. N. E. Darrow came in the same year, with his widowed mother, who afterwards married Bradstreet Spafford, who settled in 1812.
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The population of Clarendon in 1865 was 1,800, and its area 21,- 162 acres.
The town contains fifteen school districts and parts of districts, in ten of which the school houses are in this town. The number of teachers employed is eleven ; the number of children of school age is 594; the number enrolled in the schools, 509; the average at- tendance, 244, and the amount expended for school purposes dur- ing the year ending September 30, 1868, $4,361.40.
GAINES, named in honor of General E. P. Gaines, was formed from Ridgeway, February 14, 1816. Barre was taken off in 1818 and a part of Carlton in 1822. It is the central town in the County, and is watered by Otter and Marsh Creeks, branches of the Oak Orchard, and by the west branch of Sandy Creek. which flows through the south-east corner. The Lake Ridge ex- tends east and west through the center. The soil is a sandy loam and the surface generally is level.
Eagle Harbor (p. v.) is situated on the Erie Canal, upon the south border of the town, partly in Barre, and contains two church- es, a hotel, two grist-mills, several stores and mechanic shops and about 50 houses.
Gaines, (p. v.) situated near the center of the town, contains two churches, a hotel, a tannery, and about 50 houses.
East Gaines (p. v.) contains a F. W. Baptist church and about a dozen houses. 1
Fair Haven, contains a Universalist church, a hotel, several me- chanie shops and about twenty houses.
Gaines Basin is a hamlet on the canal.
The first settlement of Gaines was made previous to 1809, by a Mr. Gilbert, who settled about two miles east of Gaines village. He was subject to fits and was found dead in the road in 1809, or previous to that time. His wife and Amy Scott, a niece, the re- maining members of the family, remained through the winter, cut- ting the browse to keep a yoke of oxen, several cows and young cattle. Mr. Gilbert was buried in Murray, and on the return of the widow and niece from the funeral, their fire had gone out and all means of rekindling it failed. A man accompanied them home and promised to send them fire. David Downs, son of Elijah Downs, the nearest neighbor, carried them fire, a distance of ten miles.
Noah Burgess came from Canada, about 1809; he crossed the Saint Lawrence River below Kingston, and came along the shore of the lake until he arrived at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek. which he ascended to the head of still water, then proceeded to
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Gaines, where he located, about half a mile west of the village. He soon sold out to William Bradner and settled about half a mile east of Gaines village, where he remained until his death. Widow Gilbert, with her ox team, removed Mr. Burgess' goods from Still- water to Gaines. Mr. B. was sick at the time and Mrs. Burgess cut logs for a cabin, and Widow Gilbert drew them, and with the aid of men who came along, probably looking for land, erected a log cabin. Mr. Burgess kept a tavern for several years. Widow Gilbert sold out in 1811 or '12, and removed to Canandaigua.
Samuel. Crippen, Elijah Downs, - Elliott and - Sweet came here about the same time. Elliott and Sweet lived in the same house, about three miles east of Gaines village. Crippen lo- cated about a mile east of the village, sold to J. Proctor in 1811 or 12. Reuben Rowley, Henry Wilcox, Joseph and Anderson Adams, Cotton and Robert Leach, Newbury Chaffee, Dyer Sprague, Samuel Rozier, William Burlingame and Walter Fairfield, settled in various parts of the town in 1810. Wm. Burlingame settled three miles west of Gaines village, and Walter Fairfield on the Oak Orchard Road, a mile south of the village. Daniel and Macy Pratt located in Gaines in 1810, the former on the Ridge Road, a mile west of the village, the latter, half a mile north of Eagle Har- bor. Wilson Bullard, H. Drake, Jobn Proctor and James Mather were early settlers.
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