USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2 > Part 34
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The portion of the tract to which the Indian title had not been extinguished, constituting about two-thirds of the original purchase, was abandoned by Messrs. Phelps and Gorham and reverted to Mass. It was re-sold by that State to Robert Morris, in 1796, and subsequently formed what is known as the Holland Land Purchase. In 1789, Mr. Phelps, at Canandaigua, opened the first regular land office for the sale of land to settlers ever established in America. The system he adopted for the survey of his lands by townships and ranges, with slight modifications, was adopted by the Government for the survey of all the new lands in the U. S. When organized in 1789, Ontario was the first co. set off from Montgomery, and embraced all that part of the State lying w. of the E. line of Phelps and Gorhams Purchase, including what was called "The Genesee Country."
The first settlement was made on the site of the Indian village of Kanadesaga, (now Geneva, ) in 1787. Soon after the land office at Canandaigua was opened, and several settlements were com- menced in different parts of the co. From this period the progress of settlement was rapid, immi- grants being attracted by the beautifully rolling character of the surface and the unsurpassed fertility of the soil. Few incidents of general interest have occurred to interrupt the steady and continued progress of peaceful industry. The most notable of its later historical events is its being the scene of the birth of Mormonism. Joe Smith resided for many years in Manchester; and his pretended discovery of the golden plates of the Book of Mormon was made on the 22d of September,
1 The history of this Preemption Line is interesting. Of | Major Hoops had discovered the precise points of deviation to course, it was mere conjecture where the liue would fall as far the westward. It had commenced soon after leaving the Penn- sylvania line, gradually bearing off until it crossed the outlet of the Crooked Lake, where an abrupt offset was inade, and then an inclination for a few miles almost in a N. W. course ; then, as if fearful that it was running w. farther than was necessary to secure a given object, the line was made to incline to the E. until it passed the foot of Seneca Lake, when it was run nearly N. and s. to Lake Ontario. All this will be observed upon any of the old maps. It will at once be perceived that the site of Geneva-the 16,000 acres of Reed and Ryckman-had caused more than a usual variation of the surveyor's compass. . Judge Porter's explanation is as follows :- "Geneva was then a small settlement, beautifully situated on the Seneca Lake, rendered quite attractive by its lying beside an old Indian settlement in which there was an orchard." N. as Seneca Lake, and parties were interested to have the line fall w. of Geneva, leaving that place and a considerable tract of land between the Military Tract and the Mass. lands. Seth Reed and Peter Ryckinan, both of whom had been Indian tra- ders, applied to the State of New York for a remuneration for services rendered in some previous negotiations with the eastern portion of the Six Nations, and proposed to take a patent for a tract the boundaries of which should begin at a tree on the bank of the Seneca Lake and run along the bank of the lake to the s. until they should have 16,000 acres between the lake and the E. bounds of the land ceded to Massachusetts. Their request was acceded to and a patent issued. Thus situated, they proposed to Messrs. Phelps and Gorham to join them in running the Pre- emption Line, each party furnishing a surveyor. The line was run which is known as the "Old Pre-emption Line." Messrs. The Old Pre-emption Line terminated on Lake Ontario, 3 mi. w. of Sodus Bay, and the new line very nearly the center of the head of the bay. With the exception of the abrupt varia- tions that have been noticed, the old line. parting from the true meridian about 5 mi. s. of the Chemung River, bears off gradu- ally until it reaches the shore of Lake Ontario. The strip of land between the two lines was called " The Gore." In addition to the patent granted to Reed and Ryckman, the State had pre- sumed the original survey to be correct, and made other grants, and allowed the location of military land warrants upon what had been made disputed territory. As an equivalent to the pur- chasers of this tract, compensation lands were granted by thie State in the present towns of Wolcott and Galen, Wayne co. Phelps and Gorham were much disappointed in the result,-sus- pected error or fraud, but male no movement for a re-survey before they had sold to the English Association. Their suspi- cions had at first been excited by an offer from a prominent member of the Lessee Company for "all the lands they owned east of the line that had been run." They were so well assured of the fact that in their deed to Mr. Morris they specified a tract in a gore between the line then run and the w. bounds of the counties of Montgomery and Tioga, those counties then embracing all of the Military Tract. Being fully convinced of the inaccu- racy of the first survey, Morris, in his sale to the English Con- pany, agreed to run it anew. The new survey was performed under the superintendence of Maj. Iloops, who employed Andrew Ellicott and Augustus Porter to perform the labor. A corps of ax-men were employed, and a vista 30 feet wide opened before the transit instrument until the line had reached the head of Seneca Lake, wheu night signals were employed to run down and over the lake. So nuich pains were taken to insure correct- ness that the survey was never disputed ; and thus the " New
2 The w. boundary of this tract was a line " beginning in the northern line of Penn .. due south of the corner or point of land made by the confinence of the Genesee River and the Canaseraga Creek ; thence north on said meridian line to the corner or point, at the confluence aforesaid ; thence northwardly along the waters of the Genesee River to a point two miles north of Canawagus Village; thence running due west twelve miles; Pre-emption Line" was established as the true division liue be- | thence running northwardly, so as to be twelve miles distant tween the lands of the State of New York and those that had | from the western bounds of said river, to the shore of Lake On- been ceded to Massachusetts. Iu examining the old survey, | tario."-Turner's Phelps and Gorham Purchase.
495
ONTARIO COUNTY.
1827. Brigham Young was also a long time a resident of Canandaigua; and the first Mormon society was formed at Fayette, in the adjoining co. of Seneca, in 1830.
BRISTOL --- was formed in Jan. 1789. South Bristol was taken off in 1838, and a part was annexed to Richmond, March 23, 1848, and restored Feb. 25, 1852. It is an interior town, lying s. w. of the center of the co. Its surface consists of a series of ridges, gradually declining to the N. The highest points are about 500 feet above the valleys. These ridges are divided by the deer valleys of Mud Creek and Egypt Brook. The declivities that border upon these streams in the s. part are usually very steep. The soil is a rich alluvial upon the intervales and disintegrated slate and shale among the hills. Bristol Center (p. v.) contains 30 houses; Baptist Hill? (Bristol p. o.) 25; and Muttonville3 15. Egypt is a hamlet in the s. E. part. Gamaliel Wilder and Joseph Gilbert settled in 1788, at what was called the " Old Indian Orchard."4 'Tho first religious services were performed by Rev. Zadock Hunn, in 1793. There are now 4 churches in town.5
CANADICE6 -- was formed from Richmond, April 15, 1829, and a part was annexed to Rich- mond in 1836. It is the s. w. corner town of the co. Its surface consists of a high, broken upland separated into two ridges by Canadice Lake. The w. ridge, known as Bald Hill, is bordered by steep declivities, and the E. by more gradual slopes. The highest summits are about 700 feet above Honeoye Lake. The principal streams are the Canadice Inlet and Outlet and the Honeoye Inlet. The soil in the valleys is a clayey loam; upon the declivities of the hills it is mostly disintegrated shale and slate, and upon the summits in the s. part it consists of gravelly loam and black muck. Canadice Corners (p.o.) is a hamlet, forming the business center of the town. The first settlement was made by - Kimball, in 1807.7 There are now 3 churches in town.8
CANANDAIGUA9-was formed Jan. 27, 1789, and a part annexed to Gorham, March 16, 1824. It is the central town of the co., lying upon the w. and N. shores of Canandaigua Lake. The surface is hilly in the s., but level or gently rolling in the N. The highest summits are about 600 feet above the lake. Canandaigua Outlet, Beaver Creek, and Stevens Brook are the principal streams. The soil is a clayey loam in the N. and a deep, gravelly loam in the s., and in fertility this town ranks among thie first in the State. Canandaigua, (p. v., ) situated at thic outlet of Canandaigua Lake, is an important station on the N. Y. C. R. R., and a terminus of the N. F. & C. Branch and of the E. J. & C. R. R. A daily steamer connects it with Naples, at the head of the lake. It contains the co. buildings,10 a State Arsenal,11 5 churches, an academy,12 a female seminary,13 a private lunatic asylum,14 3 newspaper offices, and a bank. It was incorp. April 18, 1815, and has a pop. of 4,154.15 Cheshire, (p.v.,) in the s. part, contains 20 dwellings. Centerfield (p.o.) is a hamlet, and Academy, near the s. line, is a p.o. Wm. Morgan, of masonic notoriety, was imprisoned at Canandaigua previous to his disappearance.16 Settlement was commenced in 1788, by Phelps and Gorham and their associates, and considerable accessions were made in 1789 and '90.17 The first religious service at Canandaigua, was held in 1789, by
1 Named from Bristol co., Mass., from which the first settlers caine.
2 So named because a Baptist church was erected there at an early date.
8 Derives its name from the establishment of a tallow chandlery there some years since. 30,000 sheep have heen slaughtered there in a year.
4 William Gooding and George Coding settled in 1789, James, Elnathan, and George Gooding iu 1790, and Alden Sears and John, George, Farmer, Burt, and William Codding in 1792. The first store and tavern were opened by Stephen Sisson, in 1793; Gamal. Wilder built the first gristmill, in 1790. Thomas IIunn tanght the first school, in 1790. Cornelius McCrum was the first child born.
6 Bap., Cong., M. E., and Univ.
6 This name is a corruption of the Indian name of Canadice Lake.
7 Soon after. John Wilson settled at the head of Canadice Lake, and John Richardson, John Wheeler, Samuel Spencer, and And. Ward near Canadice Corners. The first tavern was kept by Llewelyn Davis; and Severance & Ford opened the first store. The first sawmill was built at the head of Caundice Lake, by John Alggnr.
8 M. E., Meth. Prot., and Wes. Meth.
9 This name was derived from Gan-A-dar-que, a village built by the Seneca Indians on the present site of the village of Canan- daigua. It signifies a chosen spot.
Phelps, Gen. Peter B. Porter, Augustus Porter, Philip Church, Wm. Wadsworth, James Wadsworth, Abner Barlow, Moses At- water, Micah Brooks, Vincent Mathews, Walter Ilubbell. John C. Spencer, Jobn Greig, Nathl. Rochester, Jos. Parish, Red Jacket, Judge Fitzlingh, Ambrose Spencer, W'm. Williams, M.D., N. W. Ilowell, Wm. Wood, Stephen A. Douglas, Daul. Barnard, and H. Welles. Among other distinguished residents of Canandaigua were Ilon. Gideon Granger, P. M. Gen. under Jefferson's adminis- tration, his son, Francis Granger, P. M. Gen. under Harrison's ad- ministration, the late llon. M. II. Sibley, and Ilon. J. R. Gicklings. 11 This arsenal was authorized before the war, and 1,000 stand of arnis wero ordered to be deposited there, Feb. 12, 1808.
12 This academy was founded in 1795, by Gorbam and Phelps. It is in a prosperons condition.
13 The Ontario Female Seminary was founded in 1825. Its buildings are comunodious. and pleasantly sitnated npon grounds containing 7 acres. The number of students in 1857 was 311.
14 Brigham Hall, incorp. in 1859, is about I mi. s. w. of the courthouse. The grounds cousist of 70 acres, and the buildings, with accommodations for 80 patieuts, are located in a beautiful grove of 16 acres.
15 The co. Agricultural Society has a lot containing 10 acres within the village limits, with suitable buildings. 16 See p. 323. 17 Among the settlers in 1759 were Joseph Smith, Israel Chapin, Nathaniel Gorham, jr., Frederick Saxton, Benjamin Gardner, Daniel Gates, Daniel Brainard, Martin Dudley, Aud James D. Flsh. The first birth was that of Oliver Phelps Rice; and the first death, that of Caleb Walker, both in 1790. Samuel
10 In one of the courtrooms is a collection of portraits of the prominent first settlers and residents of the co .: viz., of Oliver | Gnrduer opened the first store; and the first school was tanght
496
ONTARIO COUNTY.
Rev. John Smith. The first church (St. Matthew's, Epis., now St. John's) was organized Feb. 4, 1799; the Cong. church was formed Feb. 25, 1799. The census reports 10 churches in town.1
EAST BLOOMFIELD-was formed Jan. 27, 1789, as " Bloomfield." Mendon and Victor were taken off in 1812; its name was changed and West Bloomfield was taken off in 1833. It is an interior town, lying N. w. of the center of the co. Its surface is rolling, with a gentle inclina- tion toward the N. The ridges are 50 to 600 feet above the valleys. The principal streams are the Mud, Fish, and Hog Hollow Creeks. The soil is a deep, fertile, gravelly loam, in places mixed with clay. Griffiths Mills in the E. and Brag Village in the s. E. part are hamlets. East Bloomfield, (p. v.,) { of a mi. from East Bloomfield Station, on the N. Y. Central R. R., contains 3 churches, an academy,2 manufactories of agricultural implements and carriages. Pop. 590. This township having been purchased of Phelps and Gorham by a company from Berkshire co., Mass., its settlement was commenced in the spring of 1789.8 There are 4 churches in town;4 the first (Cong.) was formed Sept. 8, and organized Nov. 15, 1795, by Rev. Zadock IIunn. The first church edifice in all Western N. Y. was erected in this town in 1801.
FARMINGTONS-was formed Jan. 27, 1789. It lies on the N. border of the co., w. of the center. Its surface is nearly level in the s., but in the N. it is broken by the drift ridges peculiar to this section of country, rising to a height of 50 to 100 feet above the general surface. The declivi- ties of these ridges toward the N., E., and w. are generally steep, but toward the s. they become gradual slopes. The streams are Mud and Beaver Creeks and Black Brook. A strip of land across the s. part, embracing about 3 tiers of lots, has a clay soil. North of this is a marshy region; and farther N. the soil is a gravelly loam and very productive, with good proportions of arable, meadow, and grazing lands throughout the town. New Salem, (Farmington p. o.,) a village in the N. part, contains 206 inhabitants. Brownville (Nortons Mills p. o.) is a hamlet. East Farmington and West Farmington are p. offices. The settlement was com- menced in 1789, by Friends from Berkshire, Mass., among whom were Nathan Comstock, his sons Otis and Darius, and Robert Hathaway.6 The first house of worship was erected by the Friends, in 1804. There are now 2 churches in town ; Friends and Wes. Metl.
GORHAM1-was formed Jan. 27, 1789, as " Easton." Its name was changed to " Lincoln," April 17, 1806, and to Gorham, April 6, 1807. Hopewell was taken off in 1822. A part of Canan- daigua was annexed in 1824. It lies upon the E. shore of Canandaigua Lake, s. E. of the center of the co. Its surface is rolling, the ridges rising in gradual slopes to a height of 25 to 200 feet above the valleys. Flint Creek is the principal stream. The soil in the E. part is principally a gravelly loam, and in the w. it consists of clay, and is generally fertile and productive. Gorham,8 (p. v.,) 3 mi. from the Gorham Station, on the C. & E. R. R., contains 3 churches and 310 inhabitants. Reeds Corners (p. v.) contains 3 churches and about 20 houses. The first settlement was made at Reeds Corners, in 1789, by James Wood.ยบ There are now 6 churches in town.10
HOPEWELL-was formed from Gorham, March 29, 1822. It is an interior town, lying E. of the center of the co. The surface is level or gently undulating, with a northerly inclination. Canandaigua Outlet, Fall Creck, and Fall Brook are its principal streams. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam in the w., and the same mixed with clay in the center and E. It is very fertile and highly cultivated. Chapinville, (p.v.,) a station on the N. Y. C. R. R., contains a church and about 30 dwellings; Hopewell Center (p. v.) contains 1 church and 16 dwellings.
by Major Wallis, in 1792. There were in that year 30 families in town. The Legislature granted, March 31, 1804, to Levi Ste- phens and Jason Parker the sole right of running stages from Utica to this place for a term of 7 years. The trip was to be [wrformed twice a week, from June to October, within 48 hours, and at the rate of 4 cts. a mi. if with 6 or more passengers. A similar monopoly was granted, April 6, 1807, for 7 years, to John Metcalf, between this place and Buffalo.
1 The census reports 2 Bap., 2 Prot. E., 2 M. E., Cong., Free Will Bap., Christian. and R. C.
2 Incorp. April 9. 1838. The average number of students is 100. 3 Deacon John Adams and his sons, John, William, Abner, Jonathan, and Joseph, his sons-in-law, Epbraim Rue and Loren Hull, and Elijah Rose, Moses Gunn, Lot Rue, John Barnes. Roger Sprague, and Asa Hickox moved in with their families in 1789. The first death was that of Lot Rue, in 1793; the first marriage-and the first npon the Phelps and Gorham Purchase -was that of Benj. Goss and a daughter of George Codding. The first sawmill was erected on Mud Creek. in 1790. by Gen. Fellows; and the first store was opened in 1806, by Norton & I taught the first school. in 1802. Beach. Laura Adams taught the first schoot, in 1794.
+ Cong., M. E., Prot. E., and R. C. 6 Named from Farmington, Conn. It was formed by the Court of General Sessions.
6 Early in 1790, Nathan Aldrich, Isaac Hathaway, Nathan Herendun, Welcome Ilerendnn, John McCumber, and Joshua Herington, from the same place, jo ned the infant settlement, and were followed by 18 others the sante year. Jacob and JJo- seph Smith built a gristinill in 1793, and the first sawmill. in 1795. The first birth was that of Welcome Herendun. in 1790; the first marriage, that of Otis Comstock and Hullah Freeman. in 1792; and the first death, that uf Elijah Smith, in 1793. 7 Named in honor of Nathaniel Gorham. & Formerly called "Bethel."
9 Parley Gates, from Mass., settled on Lot 49 in 1796; and soon after, Oliver Howard and Henry Greene, from Oneida co .. N. Y., and Samuel and Silas Reed. Elijah Hurd. and others, came in. The first tavern was kept by William Sherwood, at Reeds Cor- ners. in 1800: the first gristmill was built by Levi Benton ; and the first sawmill, by Buckley & Craft, in 1807. Timothy Moore
10 2 Bap., Cong., Prot. E., Presb., and M. E.
AFRAM
B. RICHARDS A.M. PRINCIPAL.
497
ONTARIO COUNTY.
Hopewell is a p.o. Settlements were made in 1789-90.1 There are 5 churches in town;2 the first church (Presb.) was formed in 1808.
MANCHESTER-was formed from Farmington, March 31, 1821, as "Burt," and its name was changed April 16, 1822. It lies upon the N. border of the co., E. of the center. Its surface is nearly level in the s., but is occupied by irregular sand and gravel ridges of the drift formation in the N. Canandaigua Outlet, Fall Creek, and Black Brook are the principal streams. The soil is a gravelly loam and is very productive. Hydraulic limestone is quarried on "the Outlet." There are 3 flouring mills in town. Clifton Springs, (p. v., ) incorporated in 1859, a station on the N. Y. C. R. R., is situated in the E. part of the town. Pop. 340. At this place are the celebrated Clifton Mineral Springs and an extensive water cure establishment.3 Manchester (p. v.) contains 374 inhabitants ; Shortsville (p. v.) contains 35 dwellings and a large distillery ; and Port Gibson, (p. v.,) on the Erie Canal, 50 dwellings; Manchester Center (p. v.) con- tains 18 dwellings. Plainsville (Gypsum p. o.) contains 12 houses. Coonsville contains a flouring mill, plaster mill, and 12 houses. The first settlement was made in 1793, by Stephen Jared, Joel Phelps, and Joab Gillett." Rev. David Irish preached in Manchester in Jan. 1797, and in Feb. following a Bap. society was organized. There are now 8 churches in town.5 Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, resided in this town with his father ; and Mormon Hill, the place where the gold Bible was found, is situated a little N. w. of the center of the town.6
NAPLES -was formed Jan. 27, 1789, as " Middletown." The name was changed April 6, 1808. Italy was taken off in 1815, and a part of Springwater in 1816. It is the extreme s. town of the co. The surface consists of a hilly and elevated upland, broken by the narrow and deep valleys of Canandaigua and Honeoye Inlets and Grindstone Creek. The summits of the hills are 600 to 1000 feet above the surface of the lake and 1300 to 1700 feet above tide. Their declivi- ties bordering on the streams are generally very steep. High Point and Hatch Hill are the highest summits. The soil upon the hills consists of clay and gravel mixed with disintegrated slate and shale; and in the valleys it is a rich, gravelly loam mixed with alluvium. Fruit grow- ing is receiving much attention. Peaches are produced in great abundance; and an experiment is being made in the cultivation of grapes, which promises to be successful. Over 30 acres are now devoted to this object, and very satisfactory results have been realized. Naples, (p.v.,) on the Canandaigua Inlet, 4 mi. from the lake, contains 5 churches and 3 flouring mills. Pop. 700. The first settlement was commenced in 1790, by a company from Berkshire co., Mass., by whom the town was purchased from Phelps and Gorham." The first sermon was preached by Rev. Zadock Hunn, in June, 1792.9
PHELPS10-was formed in 1796, under the act of Jan. 27, 1789. A part was annexed to Lyons, (Wayne co.,) April 11, 1823. It is the N. E. corner town of the co. Its surface is rolling, the ridges rising in gentle slopes 20 to 100 feet above the valleys. The highest point is 300 feet above Canandaigua Lake. The soil in the E. is a sandy loam with a clay subsoil, in the N. a mixed sandy and clayey loam, and in the w. a sandy and coarse gravelly loam, all highly produc- tive. Canandaigua Outlet, the principal stream, flows E. and N. through the center. Along its course are extensive quarries of gypsum and water limestone. In the town are quarries of Onon-
1 Among tho first settlers were Daniel Gates, Daniel Warner, - Sweet, Ezra Platt, Samuel Day, George and Israel Chapin, jr., Frederick Follett, Benj. Wells, and Thomas Sawyer, mostly from Mass., and William Wyckoff, from Penn. The first child- Benj. Wells, jr .- was born Feb. 4, 1791. Calvin Bacon taught the first school, In 1792. The first tavern was kept by Ezra Platt; and the first mill was built by Oliver Phelps and Israel Chapin, in 1789.
2 3 M. E., Wes. Metb., and Presb.
8 A hotel was erected in 1806, as a dispensary ; and the water cure was established in 1850, by a company organized for that purpose, with a capital of $45,000. It bas accommodations for 150 patients, and is largely patronized. The water of the spring was analyzed in 1852, by Dr. Chilton, of N. Y., with the following result in grains to 1 quart :--
Sulphate of lime ..
" magnesia 17.30 grs.
" goda.
1.94
Carbonate of lime ...
2.42
" magnesia
3.28
Chloride of sodium
2.32
" calcium. 1.02
= " magnesla 1.02
trace.
Organic matter.
Total 23.42
ITydrosulphuric and oarbonic acids are also found in small quantities.
4 Nathan Pierce and Jolin McLouth, from Berkshire, Mass., settled in the town in 1795: and John Van Fleet, Jedediah Dewey, Benjamin Barney, William Mitchell, and Peleg Redfield soon after. Sharon Boothe and a daughter of Joab Gillett were married in 1793. Theophilus Short erected the first mill, at Sbortsville, in 1804; and the first store was opened by Nathan Burton. Elam Crane taught the first school, in 1800.
6 2 Bap., 3 M. E., 2 Prot. Meth., aud a Univ. 6 See p. 494.
7 Originally called "Watkinstown," fromn Wm. Watkins, of Berkshire, Mass., one of the purchasers under Phelps and Gor ham, and called by the Indians Nun'da-wa-o, great hill.
8 In Feb. 1790, Samuel, Reuben, and Levi Parish, with their families, came in; and in April following, Nathan and Wm. Watkins, Jolin Jobnson, Jonathan Lee, and William Clark, with their families, 30 persons in all. The first birth was that of Phineas P. Lee; and the first marriage, that of Benj. Clark and Thankful Watkins, in 1795. The first sawmill was erected iu 1792, by Benj. Clark and Jabez Metcalf. Susannah Parish taught the first school. in 1792. Myrou HI. Clark, late Governor of the Stato, was born in this town, Oct. 23, 1806.
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