USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 2
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Pioneers (Caledonia) 646
Scott, James.
271
Scott, William (West Sparta)
S82
His Reminiscences (West
Sparta)
272,884
Scotcli Presbyterians (Caledonia) .. 646
Immigrants (York) 901
Seditious Acts ..
241
Senecas, Antiquity of the. 19, 2.4
Defeat Kalı-kwas. 33
Home Life of the 41
Flight of the. 176
Settlement of Lots (Conesus) 710
Settlements growing. 231
Seymour, Norman (Mount Morris) 794
Trails, Indian. 54
Transportation .273, 305, 322, 327
Treaties,
738
Trimmer, Dr. Will S. 619
Tuscarora Tract (Nunda)
888
VanCampen, Major Moses (North Dansville) . 832
Victor, Battle near, 1687. 89
Wadsworth, Charles F note 534
Wadsworth, Craig W note 534
Wadsworth, Craig W., Jr. 534
Wadsworth, James 220
Wadsworth, James S. 428, 499
Wadsworth, James \' 521, 525
Wadsworth, James W., Jr 535
Wadsworth, Jeremiah. 227
Wadsworth, William. 226,283
Wadsworth, William A 534
Wadsworth Land Purchase 229
Wadsworth Land Sale. 277
Wadsworth Guard. 408, 428
War Methods, Indian. 39
Plots. 2.43
" of 1812
War Refugees. 293
425
" Bounties from County 498
War ot 1812 (Caledonia) 655
Water Works (Caledonia) 654
Water Lots (Conesus) 719
Warner Family (Lima) 722
Watkins, Adolphins (Lima) 723
Water Rights' Litigation (Livonia) 768
Walbridge, Orson (Springwater) S70
Washington to Sullivan.
150
Wayne's Expedition.
245
283
of the Rebellion
Squakie Hill
Festival
50
12
INDEX
West Sparta. 875
Western Door of Long House So
Wheat Carried to Albany 266
Whalley, Jolin P. (Avon) 628
White, William M. (O-sian) 783
Wicker, Dr. Frederick A 614
Williamsburglı 257, 938, 946
Fair and Races 239 Williamson, Capt. Charles 181, 250,
254 Wilson hung for murder. 501
Wiley, John (Springwater) 869
Wiard, Thomas (Avon) 627
Williamson, Capt. Charles (Caledo- nia) 6.46
Williamson, Capt. Charles (North
Dansville)
S32
Williams, Col. George (l'ortage) .... 858
Withington Family (Springwater) .. 870
Wolves troublesome (Conesus) 708
Wolves (Ossian) 782
and Thistles (Nunda) 891
Woodruff, Solomon (Livonia) 761
Woodruff, Philip (Livonia) 763
Ya-go-wa-ne-a. 32
Young, John, Governor. 398
..
U. S. Treasurer 405
(Conesus) 705
York
900
York Landing
915
York, Streams of.
922
York Volunteers, War of 1812.
913
INDEX-PART II.
Acker, Francis M.
30
\Doty, Everett
ICO
Adams, George B. portrait facing 50
Eddy, Allen S. 45
Adams, John H. 48
Ewart, George S. 21
Adams, Sireno F.
122
Farnum, William H.
47
Allen, M. P.
38
Faulkner, family
15
Alverson, Frank J.
104
Feley, Milton
46
Anderson, James D.
43
Fenno, Willis W.
50
Annin, Jr., James
S5
Fielder, Frank 103
Armsted, Cynes H.
39
Fitch, Jolm .
92
11.4
Atherton, Charles O.
S
Frazer, James B.
S3
Atwell, George W.
II7
Gamble, Charles W
106
Anstin, Charles .
91
Gamble, Murray L. 7
Averill, Henry E.
70
Gooding, William S.
25
.12
Baker, Monroe D. SI
Gregory, Walter F.
110
Barber, Aaron
67
5 Griffin, James . Grimes, Frank H. 45
Benerlein, Barney
91
Hagadorn, Dr. Levi 79
Beuerlein, Jr .. Frederick
40
Hill, Truman A.
93
Bigelow, Edward Everett
5
Hitchcock, Solomon 22
Bingham, Charles L.
I35
Holford, Fred D.
69
Bonner, Frank C.
65
Bradner, family
113
S7
Jones, Benjamin E
88
Bunnell, A. O.
132
Jones, Richard MI.
94
Cameron, DeLancey A.
68
Chamberlain, Harlem G. IO1
Clark, Oliver D.
98
Coffee, John D.
124
Cogswell, William
IOS
Covert, Nathaniel P.
97
Crane, Scott W.
114
Knapp, Isaac B.
71
Crofoot, Fred H. 46
Crosier, Otis L.
84
Crouse, James H.
27
Light, Emme
S2
Curtis, Henry B.
12
74
Lockington, James E.
102
Daley, Frederick E.
36
Lynde, Charles S. .
81
McGee, Frank Paret
115
Dick, William .
II.4
Markham, William Guy
95
Donohue, Joseph D. 49
Martin, Amasa H. .
105
Donovan, Jolin F. 90
Martin, Amasa H. portrait facing .
105
Dover, George D.
76
Marvin, Hyde D.
77
112
Clark, Thomas 96
Killip, William W.
37
Killip, William W. portrait facing, King, A. J. .
47
Kittredge, Rev. Josialı Edwards 58
Kramer, Willia'n
107
80
Culley, Fred A.
Linsley, Martin F.
39
Delehanty, Timothy 70
Keisler, Mrs. Margaret Maloy Kelly, Charles J. . 112
76
Kershner Peter W.
37
Bradley, Michael C.
98
Hunt, Frederick Bancroft IO
Hunt, William W.
72
Brinkerhoff, Fred T.
42
Hughes, Jolın H.
I02
Bonner, Samnel
32
Bishop, William
Hovey, Frank E.
Hubbard, Henry E.
118
Baylor, William
49
Foley, D.
Arnold, Norman C.
60
Baker, Alonzo D. . 75
Gore, Michael E.
Lewis, Joseplı D.
14
INDEX
Maxwell, William J. 25
McCurdy, Andrew
119
Russell, Thomas 12
Mckay, H. Ross 57
Schanck, Willard I' 98
Mclaughlin, Edward J. 83 Schmitz, Herbert 104
McLeod, William 33
Seymour, Norman 125
McMahan, William W 36
Seymour, Norman, portrait facing 125
McNair, family 3
Sherman, Walter H. 28
McVicar, John M.
Short, S. Truman
44
Meacham, Charles
Shultz, Warren D.
72
Menzie, David 32
Steele, Prot. L. N.
Merry, Edgar 78
Steele, Timothy C. . 89
Miller, Garret S.
69
Stephenson, Thomas
73
Mills, Dr. Charles J. 83
Stewart, Neil .
1 3
Mills, Myron H. 137
Stone, Truman Lewi-
50
Mills. Myron H., portrait facing 137
Stroble, Charles N. of
Swan, William H. 74
Swartz, Charles H. IS
Moses, Grant E. 67
Moses, Lewis H. 13
Moses, R. H. . 65
Murray, John Rogers 130
Nash, Enos A.
30
Newton. Aurora D. I 1
Warford, L. W.
Wa-son, Archibald 87
Noonan, Maurice 20
Northrop, George C. 29
Northrop, George C., portrait facing 29
Norton, William Henry 19
O'Conner, Lewis C. 108
White, John L. .
100
Olinstead, Theodore F 88
Whiteman, Mrs. Rebecca E. 12.4
Olp, Albert C ..
115
Whitmore, William b
Wiard, Frederick H. 78
Wilcox, Harvey 8
Willard, Dr. Charles ( 33
Willis, William N. 15
Wilner, Fred M. 35
Wingate, Charles W. 93
Witt, John C. . S9
Woodruff, Edward B. 6
Woodruff O-car, 26
Woodworth, family 62
Rogers, A. H.
9
Woolever, Charles W
109
Root, Charles H. 6.1
Vanderbelt, Jolin O ..
Van Valkenburg, Alfred 105
Walker, Fo-ter \\' 41
Ward, family 109
Nicker-on, John O. 2.4
Weed, William J. 33
Welch, Richard R.
24
West, Lovette I'. . 99
Wheelock, Austin W 54
Peck, Roy A. 71
Pickard, Jay C. 9
Piffard, David Halsey 17
Pitt, William D. . 77
Prophet, John MF. 95
Randolph, Willis J. 31
Redband, Frank 74
Robinson, William 90
Rockfellow, S. L 136
Russell, Daniel F. 38
Morris, Charles F. 118
Morton, James H. 57
Thomson, Adelbert L. 50
Osborne, Edwin B. 85
Worden, Charles A.
123
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Upper Falls of Genesee showing
Portage Bridge. 18
Cusick's Monster 29
Middle Falls of Genesee .. 39
Pouchiot's Map. .
57
Ancient Earth-works in Livonia. 60
Site of Fortified Town near Bosley's Mills 62 63
Dansville Fortification.
Site of Tuscarora Burial-place. 70
Site of Big Tree Village and Mon- tour's Grave Indim Apple Tree on Big Tree Reservation.
71
72
Indian Apple Tree on Squakie Hill 74 Red Jacket's Hut and Residence of Captain Jones 95
Mary Jemison Apple Trees in Lei- cester 123 Mary Jemison Monument at Glen Iris 128
Portrait of Thomas Jemison. I31 Log House built by Thomas Jemison I32
Portrait of Kenjockety 135 Map showing Sullivan's Route and Groveland Ambuscade. 164 Sullivan's Route traced on Soldier's powder horn .. 164
Scene on west shore of Conesus Lake, showing Route of Boyd Scouting Party . 166
Tradition has made this Oak near the Boyd and l'arker mound one of the instruments of Boyd's torture. I72
Burial Mound of Boyd and Parker, showing where the creek lias cut it away 175
Boyd and Parker Mound, looking from the west 177 Map of Phelps and Gorham Pur- clase .. . 179
Augustus Porter Survey of Phelps and Gorham Purchase-1792. ... 185 Portrait of Robert Morris. .. I86 Map of Holland Land Company's
Preliminary Survey, 1797. 189
Cobblestone House-Site of Wads- worth dwelling occupied by Commissioners and other> at Big Tree Treaty 197
The Pole marks probable site of tlie Council House at Big Tree
Treaty 198
Sketch from part of Josepin Elli- cott's map of 1800 . 220
Portrait of Gouverneur Morri -. 222 Portrait of Jeremiah Wadsworthi. 227 Map of Williamsburgh. 2.46
Portrait of Major General Wads-
wortlı .. 284
Cobblestone District School House, Geneseo .. 316
Old Livingston County Court House, Clerk's Office and Jail .. 318 Programme of Canal Celebration at Nunda. 324
Announcement of Celebration of Completion of Caual 327 Genesee Valley Canal Time Table .. 328 Livingston County High School ... 330
Genesee Lands for Sale. 334
Portrait of Judge Charles H. Carroll 339 Scalping Knife, Axe and Bullet
Mould- dug up at Scene Groveland Ambuscade .... 370
Monument to Sullivan's Men killed
in Groveland Ambuscade ..... 382
Graves of Sullivan's Men at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester ... 387
Williamsburgh Cemetery - Monn- ments of James G. Birney and Judge Carroll .. 395
Portrait of Governor John Young .. 398 Portrait of Brig. Gen'l James S. Wadsworth .. 428
Camp Union Geneseo. 429
Picture of old Portage Bridge, from Compton's litographic print .... .. 511 Picture of old Portage Bridge, from photographi by a London artist .. 514 Log Cabin and Group of Members
of Hist'l Soci'y in attendance at dedication ceremonies. 516
16
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Livingston County Jail and Sher-
iff's Residence. 527
Henry Clay ..
529
Livingston County Court House .. 533 Old County News papers .. 539 Old County News papers. 5-10
Old Caneadea Council
House at
Glen Iris. 550
Group of Notables at Last Council of the Genesee 562
Portrait of William Pryor Letch-
worth
575
Indian Monnd unearthed at Squa- kie Hill ... 590
Pipe and Beads found in Indian Mound at Squakie Hill .. 592
Portrait of Lockwood R. Doty. 596
The M. F. H
602
A Meet at Ashantee .
A Meet in the Early Days of the Hunt Club 006
The M. F. H. at the Homestead with the Pack 608
Major W. A. Wadsworth, M. F. H., and Hounds 610
Finding the Scent. 610
First U. P. Church, Caledonia .. 658
Moscow Academy. . 739
Old Mill Wheel at outlet of Cone- sus Lake, Lakeville 779
Memorial Monument to Dr. M. H.
Mill -. 793
Portrait of William A. Mill- 805 Old View of Mt. Morris Village, Western part. 817
Portrait of Nathaniel Rochester .... 828 Portrait of Moses VanCampen. . 832
Main Street, East Side, Dan-ville, 1830 835
Packet Boat Time Table. 837
Scene on Canal at Comminsville 837
Dansville High School. 839
Original Water Cure at Dansville ... 840 Portrait of Dr. James Caleb jackson 840 Jackson Healthı Resort-Main
Building. 841
Dr. James H. Jackson and Jackson Health Resort .. S12
Owen Publishing Co. Plant. 844 St. Patrick's Church, Dansville. 847
First German Lutheran Church,
Dansville .. 849
Methodist Church, Dansville. 851
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Dans- ville. . . . 853
Baptist Church, Dansville 855
Bridge between Geneseo and Vork ..
William Dotv's Inn 9,36
Hotel at Williamsburgh. 938
Old Picture of Geneseo Village- Looking north on Main Street,
Court House in distance : Wads- worth homestead in foreground 965 Portrait of L. L. Doty 975
17
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
M IDWAY between lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border. and centrally between Seneca lake and the Niagara river, in the heart of the fertile region known as the Genesee country. lies the beautiful agricultural County of Livingston.
Watered by the chief river of Western New York, whose broad deep basin forms the widely famed valley that bears the river's name, and furrowed by a tributary whose extent is mainly within the county, its surface-also indented by two picturesque lakes-presents a topography of diversified outline; the bold acclivities of the river high- lands rising with grand effect in the southwestern border, and offering fine contrast to the less striking rural scenery.
The boundaries of the county, defined by statute more than by nat- ural limits, are, nevertheless, marked in their general contour, except at the north, by an elliptical rim, consisting of continuous ridges of hills, which, converging at the south, torm a noble amphitheatre, in whose bosom nestles the most populous, though in geographical extent the smallest township of the shire; while from fruitful valleys, watered by a hundred rivulets that seam its sides, the central township rises like a vast mound to the height of full three hundred feet. 1 While the configurations are quite varied, every part of the territory is, with rare exceptions, adapted to tillage; and not only are the leading physical features attractive to the eye, but the organic remains, and peculiar geological formation of the section, open to the student of nature's works a field of no ordinary interest.
The Genesee river, which cuts the county into unequal parts, breaks through the mountain-like barrier at the southwest, and, flowing with its deep channel, for ten miles or more along the western border, at length enters Livingston county, foaming over a succession of catar- acts. Sweeping northward between high and precipitous banks, for a dozen miles, amid scenery of great variety, its waters abruptly leave the narrow chasm worn by centuries of attrition, to glide through this
1. The town of Groveland. Dansville lies within the amphitheatre of hills.
.
18
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
" Pleasant Valley," as, long ago, the red man named it. Embowered in groves, or studded with stately elms and oaks, that grow upon its grassy margins, the river loiters for mile on mile, drifting from side to side of the rich and smiling landscape, whose broad expanse of grain- field and meadow, dotted with country homes, spreads like a vast park over the wide alluvial Hat or plain known as the Genesee Valley, until reaching the northwesterly border, its channel crosses into Monroe county. In pioneer days this was the market highway for products of the lumber forest and the farm: but now that the woods which lined its terraced slopes for leagues on either side are cut down, a thousand little streams that fed it from the wilderness have disappeared ; and to-day the "river runs with narrowed bounds," and with few or pre- carious facilities for internal commerce, even if the railway did not afford more speedy and certain modes of transit.
C'anaseraga creek, the river's principal branch, and in former times, doubtless, its continuation from the point of confluence, is a sluggish, sinuous stream, having its source in Steuben county. Flowing in at the southwesterly quarter, it trends northwardly through a flat several hundred yards in width, its turbid waters entering the river near the center of the county. The summits of the two ranges of hills nearly uniform in height, that mark its course, stretch miles away from each other, and, with the river valley, form a Y shaped indentation: the creek giving the right arm, and the river the stem and left arm.
Conesus lake is situated in the interior of the county ; and llemlock lake lies partly within and along its eastern border. The dark waters and precipitous shores of the latter, in whose solitary nooks more than one hermit is said to have found a retreat in early days, give it much of the character of the lakes of Scotland; while the less marked eleva- tions that hem in the waters of the Conesus. fringed as they are and diversified with cultivated farms, constitute it one of the most agreeable of rural pictures. Romance, too, has lent her charms to the shores and waters of this lake;1 and near its head. in Revolutionary times, encamped the colonial army under Sullivan; while within rifle shot of its banks was enacted the bloody episode of that enterprise, the fatal ambuscade laid by the Senecas for Boyd's scouting party.
1. Its story of love and war has been woven into poetic numbers by Hosmer, who has fixed the scene of a portion of his Vonnondio on the western shore of the Conesus, in verse as applicable to ils native theme as that of Sir Walter Scoll, in " Marmion," or the " Lady of the Lake."
-
The Upper Falls at Portage, from Mr. Letchworth's grounds.
19
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
In extent of territory the county does not rank among the larger ones of the state, but stands scarcely second to any in productive wealth; its wheat crop-unsurpassed in quality-once constituting a fifth of all that grown in the commonwealth. And if its annals do not cover so broad a page as older counties may boast, they yet embrace no little belonging to history, while its Indian traditions, especially, add value to our country's aboriginal lore.
To certain localities, though by far too few, we shall find yet clinging the Indian names, often disguised, but not wholly lost, thus fixing the sites of ancient aboriginal villages. For it must be recol- lected that during many ages this region, in the expressive language of the natives, formed the Upper or Western door of the typical Long House or Federation of the Five Nations of Indians, and, for genera- tions unnumbered, comprised the favorite hunting grounds of the principal villages of the Senecas, the most powerful and warlike of the tribes forming the great Iroquois League. At just what period the solitude of the noble forest, which had covered this territory from the beginning of time, was invaded by these children of nature, cannot now be determined ; but, the region once known, its rare natural advantages were fitted to attract and retain a people whose strength could preserve to them its permanent ocenpaney. Indeed, their traditions, often more extravagant than an oriental tale, declare that the Senecas estab- lished their homes here at a date more remote than our own Christian era What people preceded them is a question left wholly to conjec- ture, since all authentic history of this region must begin with the arrival of the Dutch in New York, early in the seventeenth century. Prior to the settlement of Manhattan island, nothing was definitely known by Europeans of the Senecas as a separate nation : and not until the period of the Jesuit missions among this aboriginal family, two hundred and fifty years ago, was there any precise information gath- ered relative to their position in the League.
Though reliable annals extend over two centuries and a half, it is with a period beginning near the close of the eighteenth century that this work will mainly deal. Step by step, after the Revolution, as settlements increased, will the fortunes of the pioneers and their descendants be followed. Nor can the history be complete without a brief portrayal of their customs and merry makings, as well as the hardships and enterprises of that early day, with some account of their
20
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
journeyings hitherward, along unbeaten roads, over extemporized bridges, and through shifting fords, while yet a great wilderness lay between their new homes and the eastern settlements. The habits of every day life will be introduced, and something of political reminis- cences, of militia musters and general trainings, not omitting reference to educational, and to moral and religious movements of early days. It is not the province of the simple chronicler to enter the domain of sentiment, or invoke the imagery with which fancy vivifies the Past ; and yet a glimpse of matters of ordinary experience, even but a life's span ago, reveals something of the golden haze of perspective, investing them with more than every day interest. It is the change, measured by the march of steam and electricity, that already softens the last generation but one into comparative remoteness, awakening tender associations in our minds at the mention of the old fashioned fire place, heaped with glowing logs, that cheered long winter evenings with its warmth and welcome. Deep rooted were the friendships formed about its ample hearth-stone, and they grew dearer with each passing year to the county's wandering children. The log house has disappeared, but how often come back the happy memories of its homely comfort, and what household traditions cluster around it that must be quite unknown to more modern and far richer mansions. Every season of the old time counted its joys. How we cherish the recollection of rainy days spent in the pine scented family garret, among smoke brown letters and forgotten newspapers, and manifold odds and ends, in broken chest and homespun tow bag. The great masters of harmony never arranged music so grateful as the sound of autumn rain pattering upon the low browed cottage roof, lulling the senses to sleep with its monotonous melody. And the glory of the already ancient stage coach, so impos- ing in its entry, as driver and four-in-hand, in full career. dashed up to the tavern door, is gone with the last echo of the shrill post horn. The spinning wheel forgets its hum, and the flail has disappeared with the log barn and straw thatched shed. Many are the changes of a single life time; but if we miss the picturesque, we find the loss replaced by gain, in broader privileges and wider opportunities.
A step beyond the actual, and we enter the domain of popular cred- ulity. A century ago the notions of our forefathers, in common with their generation, were tinged with that superstition which credits the existence of a race of supernatural beings peopling the recesses of for-
21
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
ests; of witches who haunted those persons whom their capricious natures led them to annoy ; or who, gipsy like, told fortunes, made and dissolved matches, interfered with household affairs, and discovered stolen property. Omens, too, were observed, dreams were not unheeded, and many a farmer plowed, planted and gathered, according to the aspects of the moon, while few domestic animals were held as free from direct planetary influences.
A view of the Genesee country, prior to its occupancy by the whites, will be found interesting. Little enough is, indeed, known, and even that little, derived mainly from tradition, is obscured by the uncer- tainties that characterize Indian legends, especially in dates; but wholly to reject the account would be to drive an inquirer to mere specula- tion, whose conclusions must, at least, be equally wide of truth. Sketches of the more noted warriors, sachems and wise men who have resided here, and an outline of their relentless feuds, with some refer- ence to the statecraft and sagacity of the Indians, will be presented. The aboriginal natives, in their myths, peopled many parts of the vast wilderness stretching westward far beyond the Mississippi, and east- ward to the ocean, with strange monsters, and their stories of this region are replete with accounts of winged heads, the feats of prodi- gious serpents, and the calamitous visits of giants, unearthly in size and formidable in power, who came eastward from the regions of the setting sun.
Our account will not be wanting in the interest that attaches to aboriginal antiquities; for the remains of several ancient mounds of undoubted military origin, links in that chain of ancient defensive works which extended from the shores of Lake Erie to the lakes of central New York, have been found here. Natural history, too, has been illustrated by the discovery, in two or three places within the county, of the remains of that huge fossil animal known as the mastodon.
We shall note how the French, in Canada, obtaining their earliest knowledge of this section from the Jesuit missionaries, endeavored to get possession of it ; and how a formidable expedition, under the Mar- quis De Nonville, dispatched hither with the design of conquest, mis- carried, as did all similar efforts of the French. The Jesuit mission- aries, first among Europeans to seek these wilds, established missions in the neighborhood of the Genesee river, nurturing them in that spirit
22
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
of self sacrifice peculiar to their order, with the hope of planting here the standard of their faith, and enlarging the jurisdiction of the Rom- ish See. But these efforts proved abortive, for here, as elsewhere in the New World, their creed found no permanent lodgment. From the letters of these religionists to the general of their order in Rome, we catch definite views, during the period embraced between the years 1636 and 1637, of the homes of the Senecas. Thenceforward, nearly a hundred years, this region affords little to arrest the historian; but afterwards something like a connected account will be possible.
The expedition of General Sullivan to the country of the Senecas, in the fifth year of the Revolutionary war, was charged by Washington with the destruction of the Indian villages on the Genesee, as a penalty for a long series of bloody wrongs perpetrated by the savages upon the whites. As a measure of future security to the settlements, it fully accomplished its object ; this attained, red men and white alike briefly quit the region; the former, save as a broken remnant, never to return.
Reference will be made to the part taken by our citizens in the war of 1812; and to the reasons which, a few years later, controlled them in asking for the erection of the county; an event that occurred at a period of great derangement in the public finances, when communities were suffering from the effects of the unwise monetary policy of our second war with Great Britain.
Several of Sullivan's officers and soldiers, allured by the natural ad- vantages of this region, Jed hither, soon after the Revolution, a tide of immigration to occupy the district then so recently wrested from the conquered tribes. The settlement grew with unexampled rapidity. The forests disappeared as though devoured, giving place to cultivated fields and incipient villages, and before the nineteenth century opened, the smoke of the pioneers' cabins might be seen drifting over widely separated valleys and hillsides. In order to show whence the carly settlers mainly came, the origin of families will be traced, where prac- ticable, and the fact will everywhere appear that, to a marked degree, our pioneers were actors in the war for independence, and were mingled with families of refinement and culture from the south and east, who early stereotyped the features of society here, and lent elevation to the aims of enterprise. Wholesome influences, thus early imparted, still operate with augmenting force. The people of this county have always been zealous patrons of education, foremost among the friends of political and
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