History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 106

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 106

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Hon. B. F. Angel moved a vote of thanks, to the speakers and poet, which was adopted.

After another song by the Glee Club, the 54th band led the multitude in -ing- ing the Doxology, to the tune of Old Hundred, and the throng dispersed.

No accident of a serious nature occurred, and at an early hour, the vast crowds had dispersed, and gone to their homes.

IxxVi

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

TREATY OF AUGUST 31, 1826.

THE SENECA NATION TO ROBERT TKOUP, T. L. OGDEN AND B. W. ROGERS.

At a treaty held under the authority of the United States at Buffalo Creek, in the county of Erie in the state of New York, between the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Seneca nation of Indians, on behalf of said nation, and Robert Troup, Thoma- L. Ogden and Benjamin W. Roger-, Esquire-, of the city of New York, in the presence of Oliver Forward, Esq., commissioner appointed by the United States for holding -aid treaty, and of Nathaniel Gorham, E-q., superin- tendent in behalf of the State of Massachusetts.

Know all men by these presents that the said sachem-, chiefs and warrior- for and in consideration of the sum of forty-eight thousand two hundred and sixty dollars ($48,260) lawful money of the United States to him in hand paid by the said Robert Troup, Thomas L. Ogden and Benjamin W. Rogers, at or immediately before the ensealing and delivering of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted, sold, aliened, released, quit-claimed and confirmed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, quit-claim and con- firm unto the said Robert Troup, Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Benjamin W. Roger- and their heirs and assigns forever all of that tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Caneadea Reservation, situate lying and being in the county of Allegany in the State of New York and containing sixteen square miles. Also all that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Canawagus Reservation situate lying and being in the county of Livingston in the -aid State of New York and containing two square miles. Also all that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Big Tree Reserva- tion, situate, lying and being in the sand county of Livingston, containing two square miles. Also all that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Squawky Hill Reservation, situate, lying and being in the said county of Livingston and containing two square miles.

Also all that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Gardeau Reservation sitnate, lying and being in the county of Genesee in the said State of New York and containing two square miles, and being that part of the original Gardeau Reservation which wa- excepted and reserved out of the sale of a part of the same to Jolin Greig and Henry B. Gibson at a treaty held at Moscow in the said county of Livingston on the third day of September, 1823. Also all that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Buffalo Creek Reservation, situate, lying and being in the said county of Erie and containing by estimation eighty-three thousand five hundred and fifty -- even (83.557) acres, excepting, nevertheless and always reserving ont of the said Buffalo Creek reservation the following tract, piece or parcel thereof, that is to say', seventy-eight square miles or forty-nine thousand nine hundred and twenty (49,920) acres bounded as follows, that is to say: Beginning on the north line of the said reservation at a point one mile and a half east of the Cayuga creek, run- ning thence south one mile and a half ; thence cast parallel with the north line -o far as that a line to be drawn from the termination thereof south to a point one mile distant from the south line of said reservation and thence west

1xxvii

APPENDIX

parallel with the said south line to the west line of the reservation and thence along the west and north line of the same to the place of beginning will contain the said quantity of seventy-eight square miles or forty-nine thousand. nine hundred and twenty (49,920) acres. Also all that tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Tonawanda Reservation, situate, lying and being in the said county of Genesee and Erie and containing by estimation forty- six thousand, two hundred and nine (46,209) acres, excepting nevertheless and always reserving out of the Tonawanda Reservation the following tract piece or parcel thereof, that is to say, twelve thousand eight hundred ( 12,800) acres, to be laid off in one body in such a manner as that one-half thereof shall all be on one side of the Tonawanda Creek and the other half on the other side of the creek, and connecting at a point on said creek one mile and a half west of where it crosses the line of the said reservation, and the said creek being the center of the said twelve thousand eight hundred ( 12, Soo) acres until it strikes the north-west corner of the Tonawanda Reservation. Also the following piece or parcel of that other tract of land commonly called and known by the name of the Cattaraugus Reservation, situate, lying and being in the counties of Chantauqua, Cattaraugus, and Erie, in the said state of New York, that is to say, one square mile or six lin- dred and forty (640) acres, to be laid off in a square form in the south-west cor- ner of said reservation ; six square miles or three thousand eight hundred and forty (3,840) acre- in the north part of the said reservation, bounded on the north and on the east by the north and east lines of the said reservation ; on the west by a line parallel to the east line, and six miles distant therefrom, and on the southi by a line parallel to the north line and one mile distant therefrom. And one other square mile of six hundred and forty (640) acres to be laid off in a square form, bounded as follows, that is to say, on the east by the east line of the said reservation ; on the west by a line parallel thereto and one mile distant therefrom ; on the north by the south line of the piece last above described, and on the south by a line parallel thereto and one mile distant therefrom. And which said several tracts, pieces or parcels of land so excepted and reserved as aforesaid, ont of the said Buffalo Creek and Tonawanda Reservations, are fully and clearly understood to remain the property of the said parties of the first part and their nation, in as full and ample a manner as if these presents had not been executed, together with all and singular the rights, privileges and appurtenances to the said liereby granted premises belonging or in anywise appertaining, and all of the estate, right title and interest, claim and demand whatsoever of them the said parties of the first part and all their nation of, in and to the said several tracts, pieces and parcels of land above described except as is above excepted, to have and to hold all and singular the said granted premises with the appurtenance- into the said Robert Troup, Thomas L. Ogden and Benjamin W. Roger-, their heirs and assigns, in trust for the use, benefit and behoof of themselves and such other person or persons as are respectively entitled to the right of pre-emption of the said several tracts, pieces or parcels of land or any part or portion thereof.

In testimony whereof the parties to these presents have herenuto and to three otlier instruments of the same tenor and date, one to remain with the United

1xxviii HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

States, one to remain with the State of Massachusetts, one to remain with the Seneca Nation of Indians and one to remain with the said Robert Troup, Thoma- L. Ogden and Benjamin Woolsey Rogers, interchangeably set their hands and seals, at the council house at Buffalo Creek the thirty-first day of August, 1826. La-qui-mm-gar-tu-ohta, or Young King, his x mark, (L. S. ) Kar-hun-da-wn-na, or Pollard, hi- x mark, (L. S.) Fo-h-ka-uga, or Little Billy, his x mark, (L. S.) Jolin Abeal, or Cornplanter, his x mark, (L. S.) Ty-wau-eash, or Blacksnake, his x mark, (L. S.) Na-hal-sta, or Strong, hi- x mark, (L. S.) Con-hon-dxt-gali-le, or Chief Warrior, his x mark, L. S.) Tu-y-a-go, or Senaca White, his x mark, (L. S.) On-a-trah-kai, or Tall Peter, his x mark, (L. S.) San-ged-quate, or James Robison, his x mark, (L. S.) A-sah-ca-nor, or White Seneca, his x mark, (L. S.) On-onda-hai, or Destroytown, his x mark, (L. S.) U'sla-eye, or Charles Obeal, his x mark, (L. S.) Te-ugli-ta-gud-ta, or Tunis Halftown, his x mark, (L. S.) Ie-u-gar-se, or Long John, his x mark, (L. S.) l'an-eae-ga, or Blue Eyes, his x mark, (L. S.) La-him-euha, or Little Johnson, his x mark, (L. S.) Tv-at-a-hada, or Doclistader, his x mark (L. S.) ['dl-wen-dy-ha, or Green Blanket, his x mark (L. S.) U'-nt-ha-da-gau, or White Bay, his x mark, (L. S. ) Ua-hu-hevidia, or Isaacs, his x mark, (L. S.) Ca-pau-quish, or Henry Two Guns, his x mark, (L. S.) Ge-much-tha-de, or Stevenson, hi- x mark, (L. S.) Len-aeli-te-no-go,or Jolin -- , his x mark (L. S.) She-can-a-chiwesch-gue, or Little Bear, his x mark, (L. S.) Au-a-shod-akai, or Tall Chief, his x mark, (L. S.) Ha-wan-sai, or Captain Snow, his x mark, (L. S.) Pa-he-gan-one, or Twenty Canoes, his x mark, (L. S.) As-alon-a-saith, or Silverheels, his x mark, (L. S.) Kan-on-ga-iot, or Long Chief, his x mark, (L. S.) Can-ish-an, or Barefoot, his x name, (L .S.) Mile-la-go-or, or Captain Crow, his x name, (L. S.) Sa-gun-ja-wa, or Lonnee's Con-in, his x name, (L. S. ) Kam-an-ja-nana, or Big Kettle, his x name, (L. S.) Ty-a-go-dou-te, or Joseph Snow, his x name, (L. S.) -- or Joseph Leguany, his x name, (L. S.) So-watn-a-wa, or William Blacksnake, his x mark, (L. S. ) Say-way-do, or George Redeye, his x mark, (L. S.) Kau-is-lı -- horge, or Captain Shongo, his x mark, (L. S.) Sa-gu-i-oth, or Jones Undson, his x name, (L. S.) La-ga-in-a-shot-sia, or Stiffneck, his x mark, (L. S.)

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APPENDIX

La-gan-ota, or Red Jacket, his x mark, (L. S.) Kah-do-way, or Colin Fopp, his x mark, (L. S.) Lo-ye-awa, or Con Snow, his x mark, (L. S.) Te-go-hia, or Tomp-on, his x mark, (L. S.) K-and-gae, or James Stevenson, Jr., his x mark, (L. S.) Peaeu-dyo, or Jolin Snow, his x mark, (L. S.) Robert Troup (by his attorney John Greig.) (L. S.) Thomas L. Odgen (by liis attorney Jolin Greig.) (L. S.) Benjamin W. Rogers (by his attorney Jolin Greig. ) (L. S.)

The words "and a half" twice interlined on the second page before executing sealing and delivering, in presence of Joseph Parish, Indian agent ; Horatio Jones, interpreter ; Levi Hubbell ; Jacob Jimeson, interpreter.

Done at a treaty held with the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Seneca Nation of Indians at Buffalo creek in the county of Erie and state of New York on the thirty-first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and twenty-six (1826), under the authority of the United States.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid, by virtne ol a commission issued under the seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bearing date the 31st day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen (1815), pursuant to a resolution of the Legislature of the said Commonwealth passed the fth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one (1791.)

N. Gorhamı, Superintendent.

I have attended a treaty of the Seneca Nation of Indians held at Buffalo Creek in the county of Erie and State of New York on the 31st day of August 1826, when the foregoing instrument was duly executed in my presence by the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the said nation, being fairly and properly understood, and transacted by all the parties of Indians concerned, and declared to be done to their universal satisfaction.

I do therefore certify and approve of the same.

Oliver Forward, Commissioner.

PART II. BIOGRAPHICAL

BIOGRAPHICAL

McNAIR FAMILY-The McNairs, who for more than a century have been residents of Livingston county, had a single ancestor and he was of Scotch nationality. Tradition affirms that the Scotch McNairs claim to be sprung from a highland clan and to trace their family genealogy back for a space of more than two hundred and fifty years. But inasmuch as the John McNair, who was the Scotch forefather of the Livingston county McNairs, removed firstly from the river Dee in Scotland to county Donegal in Ireland, where he and his son resided for about fifty years, before the latter, having married an Irish wife, migrated to America, it is more correct to call the McNairs of Liv- ingston county, of Scotch-Irish origin. Authentic family tradition affirms that persecutions and political disturbances growing out of the reigns of the Stuarts were the cause of John McNair senior's removal from Scotland in 1688 and similarly attested authority says that a material loss of property through dis- honesty on the part of a trusted agent prompted his son John in the year 1736 to leave his Irish home and come to America. He was then of the age of forty years and his family, at leaving consisted of wife and three sons and an aged and widowed mother. But of these the mother and two younger sons (Andrew and Robert) died at sea. The passage was by sail and of three months dura- tion. The name of the surviving son was William who reached America at the age of nine years. The family landed at Philadelphia where they had rela- tives, who had preceded them, and resided near the city for about a year and then removed to a more permanent home at Allentown, then in Bucks county, but long since set off and is named Northampton county. During their tem- porary residence at Philadelphia a son was born, to whom was given the family name of John, and it was these two brothers, William and John, who in after years became the founders of the numerous families, who in time came to inhabit the upper valley of the Genesee. John McNair, the father lived at Allentown (known as the Irish settlement) to old age. His sons lived near him until the year 1798, when William, moved by the spirit of unrest then and for many years thereafter, so general in the more eastern communities of our coun- try, decided on seeking a new home in the, then recently opened Eldorado of western New York, especially the valley of the Genesee. He was at this time seventy years of age but hale and vigorous and lived until the year 1823, dying at ninety six years of age. He was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Wilson, by whom he had seven children, four sons and three daugh-

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

ters, all of whom except a daughter, Sarah, were living and married at this time. Sarah had died at the age of eleven years. His second wife was Sarah Warner, by whom he had one daughter, Jean, and three sons, James H., Andrew and Robert, and this family removed with him to the Genesee country. Jean was of the age of thirteen years, James H., was eleven, Andrew seven and Robert five. His family effects were considerable and a goodly herd of

cattle were driven along. The work of removal by teams was no holiday task but they safely reached Williamsburg in the early summer, obtaining there a temporary residence and at once set about securing a more permanent domicile for the family, and winter supplies for their stock. For the latter they cut and secured hay from wild grass found in the neighborhood. He had secured his homestead from the agent at Bath while on his passage and this was a well selected plot of two hundred and sixty-two acres located at the original Sonyea and the farm bounds that of the present Craig Colony on the east. This tract was purchased out of the Sir William Pulteney estate at the price of two and one half dollars per acre. It was principally flats and was covered with a growth of large timber. Black walnuts grew there in such an abun- dance that rails were made of them, and individual trees were found of twenty- one feet in circumference or seven feet in diameter. This farm William McNair and his family cleared and here lived until his death in 1823. Ilis widow survived him until 1826. Of his second family Jean married James McCurdy of Ossian and spent her life in that town, where and in Dansville several of her descendants still live. James M. McNair married Mary Molhol- len. Eight children were born and grew to mature age of whom three ladies retain the farm and residence long since secured by him in the suburbs of Mount Morris. Andrew McNair, the second son lived with his brother Robert at the Sonyea home until his decease in 1845. He was a batchelor. Robert, the youngest of the family married Amelia Warner of Lima, N. Y. and he and his brother Andrew jointly owned and occupied the homestead during their natural lives. Robert died in 1863 leaving nine children. There are now (May 1904) living of the offspring of Robert McNair and Amelia Warner twenty nine grand and twenty three great-grand children. Three only of their

family survive viz. William R., Amanda and Miles. One son of William McNair by the first marriage the Hon. Hugh, settled and lived in the Genesee country. He achieved civic distinction as judge and other county offices living at this time at Canandaigua which was then the county seat of the terri-

tory now embraced in both Ontario and Livingston counties. His son William W. settled on a farm in Groveland. One son of William W., William Woodbridge, achieved a successful and honorable career as a lawyer in the city of Minneapolis. His youngest son Captain James died fighting for his coun- try on a battle field in Virginia. Another grandson of Hon. Hugh McNair, Captain James Monroe died in his young manhoud in consequence of hardships endured while campaigning during the early part of the war of the rebellion. Other branches of the family of Hugh settled on farms at Nunda and Portage. The MeNairs, as a rule, have adhered to agriculture as their chosen business,

BIOGRAPHICAL

and for the most part have retained their original family homesteads in the name. The farm upon which William McNair senior settled is still in the hands of his grand daughter, Mrs. Starr, and the same holds true of the farm of his brother John, who settled in the town of West Sparta. John McNair, brother to William and ten years younger, came to the Genesee valley in 1804 and settled near Dansville. The McNairs of Livingston county, have for three generations, by industrious, honest and stable citizenship furnished a large increment to its wealth and prosperity. They have been promoters of schools, churches and all public utilities and have done this without being aspirants to places of profit or preferment. How much they may owe for these valuable qualities to the virtues of their ancestry it may be difficult to say, but obvious- ly it is considerable. Their forefathers, both William and John, have been described by contemporaries as men of patrician qualities, with rich endow- ment of mind and spirit.

EDWARD EVERETT BIGELOW-A well known agriculturist of the town of Geneseo was born on the farm where he now resides, December 30, 1864. His education was obtained in the public schools and his life up to the present time has been passed on the farm purchased from John Haynes, by his grand- father, Ephroditus Bigelow, who came here in the early part of the past cen- tury from Connecticut, his native state, making the trip in a lumber wagon. On this farm and in the log cabin he erected was born Daniel Bigelow, the father of Edward, the date of his birth being in the year 1822. Daniel Bigelow married Helen Whitney, of Avon, and two children were born to them, Edward Everett and Harriet, who married Lovette Davis, a farmer and dairyman of Livonia and they have two sons Sidney and Paul. The father, Daniel, died March 2, 1898. Edward E. Bigelow married Rebecca L. Robin- son, daughter of William Robinson of the town of York, and they have one daughter Ruth. Mr. Bigelow is an enterprising and progressive farmer and a very highly respected citizen. He is a member of the Lakeville Lodge K. O. T. M.

JAMES GRIFFIN-The well known contractor and builder and recently elected supervisor of the town of Conesus, is a native of that village, having been born there November 15, 1862. His education was obtained in the public schools of that place. When twenty years of age he began learning the trade of carpenter and joiner, faithfully served his apprenticeship gradually perfected himself in every detail of the business and conscientiously devoted his time to the best interests of his employers until the year 1900, when he decided to embark in the contracting and building business for himself which he did. and in the three years succeeding his business has increased and prospered and now

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

ranks with the best in the county. Mr. Griffin has for a number of years been prominent in local politics. He was first elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of constable and town collector to which he was elected by 153 majority, that being the largest majority ever before carried by a democratic candidate for that office in the town of Conesus. He also held the office of town clerk for three years and in March, 1903, was elected to the office of supervisor, which office he is eminently fitted to hold. His marriage with Minnie Alger, daughter of Ashabel Alger, of Conesus, took place June 2, 1889.

WILLIAM WHITMORE of Avon, was born in that town January 1, 1850. When a lad his parents moved to Alexandria, N. Y., where he attended school until twelve years of age when they returned to Avon and here he completed his schooling. Born with a strong liking for an agricultural life he imme- diately took up farming. For a time he worked out with the neighboring farmers but soon leased a farm and being successful he continued in this way until 1896 when he purchased seventy-five acres of the Stapley farm lying one and one-quarter miles southeast of Avon village. In 1900 he purchased the Theron Chapel farm of 100 acres which he sold in 1903. In 1880 he erected a grain elevator on the Wadsworth farm at McQueen's switch, which he operated and for many years it proved a profitable enterprise. In the spring of 1902 he purchased a grain elevator in Avon and is today carrying on a very successful business in grain, beans and farm produce. He furnishes employment to up- wards of seventy hands and ships his products to every state in the Union.

Mr. Whitmore has served as town assessor on the Republican ticket for six years and as highway commissioner for the past seven years. May 14, 1875, he married Mary E., daughter of George Dooer, of Avon. They have two children: Harry E. married Minnie, daughter of John Smith, of Avon; and Jennie E., a teacher in the High schools of Tonawanda, N. Y. Mr. Whit- more possesses the commercial spirit in a high degree, manages his business and farm interests successfully and well, and is withal a public spirited citizen, always ready and willing, financially or otherwise, to lend his assistance towards the furtherance of enterprises tending to the best interests of the com- munity in which he resides.

EDWARD B. WOODRUFF, proprietor of the Hemlock Lake Roller Mills, was born in Conesus January 28, 1859. His great grand father Solomon Wood- ruff was the first white settler in the town of Livonia, coming from Connecticut in 1789. Buel D. Woodruff, the father of Edward, married Ortencia Viola Harding, of Hornellsville, Steuben county, N. Y., and four children were born to them, Herbert S. of Rochester, Edward B. of Hemlock, Frank T. who was drowned when two and one half years of age and Frank H. of Livonia. The

BIOGRAPHICAL

family removed to Livonia while Edward was an infant and in the schools of that village he later received his education.

He also attended the Geneseo Normal school for two years. Through his boyhood days and until he was thirty-four years of age he assisted his father in the care of his large farms. In 1893, he rented of his father the Hemlock Roller Mills at Hemlock, N. Y., which property he has since conducted on profitable lines. . Mr. Woodruff has been thrice married. He was first joined in marriage with Georgiana Quackenbush, of Geneseo, N. Y., and they had two children, Emma, Lena, born December 3, 1880, and George Arthur, born july 27, 1882. Mrs. Woodruff died August 2, 1882. In September, 1891, he was again married to Flora Naracong, daughter of James Naracong, of East Bloomfield, N. Y. They had one child, Berta, born July 4, 1894. Mrs. Flora

Woodruff died December 24, 1894. June 17, 1896, Mr. Woodruff married his present wife, Isabelle Gilbert, youngest daughter of Haskell Gilbert, a former miller of Hemlock. They have two children, Marion, born May 21, 1898, and

Haskell Gilbert was born at Canadice, Ontario Doris, born August 23, 1901.

county, November 8, 1820, While very young he lost his parents and was taken to Ohio to live with an uncle, remaining there until about twelve years of age, when he came to Livonia and made his home with his uncle, W. S. Gilbert, and finally married his daughter, Lucia S. Gilbert. They had four children: Randall died at the age of six years; Rose E. married Haskell Smith and died in March, 1898; Lillian married Paul E. Hamilton, of Honeoye, and Isabelle became the wife of E. B. Woodruff. Edward B. Woodruff has for many years been actively identified with the Republican party of his town and county and has at various times occupied several important offices which he

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 106

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422