History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 34

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 34

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1. Livingston Register, November 28, 1826.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

ical parties claim to be nearly equally divided, and one that the friends of Judge Carroll feel not inclined to find fault with-and why need his enemies?"

From the best available records it appears, that in 1826 a one story cobblestone clerk's office was erected on the court house grounds a few rods east of the court house. As originally built the Hoor was of brick: in the course of years these had become much worn and the floor very uneven, and it was taken up and a wooden floor substituted. At the same time a heavy partition wall, built also of cobblestones with a fire place on each side of it and a chimney running through the roof, was removed and replaced with a stove. The removal of the partition caused the walls to crack and rendered necessary iron rods, which were passed through the building. This building was torn down in March, 1887, when the new clerk's office was constructed.

The following statistics are taken from the census of the county for the year 1825:

Males

12,225

Hogs.

27,422

Females

11,635

Yards fulled cloth 51,772

Legal voters.

4,694

flannel

75,494

Aliens

310

linen 81,027

Paupers

Grist mills

Colored.

Saw mills.

Deaf and dumb

Oil mills

Idiots.

Fulling mills

Lunatics

Carding machines.

Births

911

Cotton factories

Deaths.

292

Woolen factories

Marriages

227

Iron works

Acres of improved land . . 113,576

Trip hammers.

Neat Cattle.

28,762

Distilleries

Horses

5,209

Asheries

Sheep.

74,882

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

CHAPTER XV.

A N EVENT occurred in the fall of 1826, in the neighboring coun- ty of Genesee, that filled the people with alarm and terror and aroused them to a fever heat of excitement. A wide-spread effect was produced upon the then existing political parties, and a new organization sprang into existence, which rapidly increased in num- bers and for a time exerted a powerful influence over the political affairs of the State.

This occurrence was the abduction and supposed murder of William Morgan, a Royal Arch Free Mason, a printer by trade, then living at Batavia. As the whole subject has been fully discussed by other writers, only enough of the details will be given here to explain the course of the people of this county, especially in their political action. Morgan, it appears, unable to earn a livelihood by his trade, deter- mined to publish for his pecuniary benefit a pamphlet containing an expose of the secrets of Masonry. While at work setting the type for this pamphlet, his intention was discovered by some of his fellow Masons, and communicated by them, as subsequent events seemed to show, to the members of the order far and wide.

A warrant was issued by Jeffrey Chipman, a Justice of the Peace in Canandaigua, on the 11th of September, 1826, for the arrest of Mor- gan on a charge of stealing a shirt and cravat, and Mr. Cheesebrough, master of a Masonic lodge at Canandaigua, who procured the warrant, together with two or three other Masons, went to Batavia with it. Causing Morgan to be arrested, they hurried him in a close coach to Canandaigua, where he was brought before Justice Chipman, but was discharged, as the Justice believed him guiltless of the charge preferred. He was immediately re-arrested on a small debt due Aaron Ashley, which Cheesebrough claimed had been assigned to him. Judgment was rendered against Morgan for two dollars, and under a body execu- tion he was placed in the Canandaigua jail. During the night of the 12th he was discharged from custody, but was immediately seized by a party of unknown persons and rapidly and secretly conveyed to the Niagara River, where he was left confined in the old magazine

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

of Fort Niagara, in charge of Colonel King and Elisha Adams. On the 29th of September he disappeared, and nothing was ever after- wards heard of him.1

The people of Batavia had been for some time aware that Morgan was regarded with suspicion by the Masons, as they had made several ineffectual attempts to suppress the forthcoming work. When it be- came known, therefore, that Morgan had been forcibly seized after his discharge from custody, and had mysteriously disappeared, they de- termined to investigate the case and vindicate the majesty of outraged law. At a public meeting held in Batavia, a committee was appoint- ed which instituted a strict investigation, without, however. being able at that time to discover any traces of the missing man beyond the fact that his abductors had conveyed him rapidly toward Roches- ter. These facts being reported, the community became convinced that a great crime had been committed, and the dreadful suspicion pre- vailed that Morgan's life had been sacrificed by his abductors. Then the whole western part of the State was aroused, and alarm, indigna- tion and a deep determination to probe the mystery to the bottom prevailed among all classes of people. Meetings were held in nearly every town, at which was condemned in the severest terms the outrage which had been perpetrated, and steps were taken to ferret out and bring to justice the impious hands that had thus stained themeslves with human blood. The evident deliberation with which the abduc- tion had been committed, the large number of agents employed and the secrecy with which all the movements had been conducted pointed to a well organized and widespread conspiracy to put Morgan out of the way, and indicated that in thus ignoring the laws and outraging the sentiment of the peaceful community a large organization had been interested. This was enough to fill the community with alarm, but when was added to this evident strength of the abductors the mystery which surrounded the occurrence-itself an element that sel- dom fails to inspire terror-it may be readily believed that not only indignation but the greatest alarm filled the hearts of the people.

The committee before spoken of continued its investigations, but at first with little success. "They could trace him (Morgan) as far as

1. As to his ultimate fate later disclosures seem to leave no doubt. A party of men chosen by lot met under cover of darkness, and conveying him to the middle of the Niagara river, con- signed him to its waters, firmly bound and weighted with stones.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Rochester, and it was a long time before the clue was found by which he was finally traced to Fort Niagara. The very difficulties inter- posed to the investigation increased the excitement in the public mind. There were some who early implicated the whole Masonic fraternity in the guilt of the transaction. This, however, was not at first the general public sentiment; but when, as the investigation pro- ceeded, it was found that all those implicated in the transaction were Masons, that with scarce an exception no Mason aided in the investi- gation ; that the whole crime was made a matter of ridicule by the Masons; and even justified by them openly and publicly; that the power of the laws was defied by them and the committees taunted with their inability to bring the eriminals to punishment before tribu- nals where judges, sheriffs, jurors and witnesses were Masons; that witnesses were mysteriously spirited away, and the committees themselves personally vilified and abused for acts which deserved commendation, the impression spread rapidly and took a strong hold upon the popular judgment, that the Masonie institution was in fact responsible for this daring erime. "}

It is proper to say, however, in this connection, that this extract is from the pen of one who was a prominent anti- Mason, and who took a leading part in the investigation. Therefore it is probable that his picture of the opposition met with by the committees in their investi- gations is highly colored and overdrawn. Many joined in the warfare on Masonry through honest abhorrence of the crime that had been committed, and a firm belief that all secret societies were inimical to the spirit of our institutions. Others, however, seized upon the op- portunity to advance their own political ends; and some who were loud in their denunciation of Masonry, and zealous to an excessive de- gree in the prosecution of those suspected of complicity in Morgan's abdnetion, would have been as ready, had the popular current been set- ting that way, to applaud the dark deed and extol the shining virtues of the Masonic order. It was certainly the case that the abduction and murder of Morgan found many to condemn it among Masons themselves, while, as must be admitted, a few of the order approved and defended it.

The effect of this event on the then existing political parties was

1. Hammond's History of Political Parties,

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

very great, although for a year or two it was not sensibly felt outside of the counties of Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Orleans and Niagara.

The rise and progress of the Anti-Masonic party was briefly epito- mized at one of its later conventions, as follows: "The abduction of Morgan called forth the first general expression of popular opinion against secret societies. That event occurred at Batavia Sept. 11th, 1826. A considerable period elapsed before the people in the imme- diate vicinity of that outrage became sensible of the fact that Freemas- onry had commanded and justified the high handed conspiracy; and a still longer period transpired before the iniquitous oaths and obliga- tions of the order became generally known. But finding themselves at length unable to ferret out the conspirators, and becoming ac- quainted with the alarming principles, in accordance with which their fellow citizen had been bereft of liberty and life, a determination was made by the people in a few of the towns in the counties of Genesee, Monroe and Niagara, by the exercise of the right of suffrage, to effect the abolition of the institution in whose name and service the daring deed was committed. In the spring of 1827 a few scattering demon- strations of this determination were made at the town meetings. In the fall of 1827 the question was for the first time brought distinctly and with concert to the polls, in the counties of Genesee, Monroe, Liv- ingston. Orleans and Niagara, in each of which counties the Anti- Masonic ticket prevailed. and the territory including them became thenceforth known in Masonic language as the 'infected district'. In the summer of 1828 a convention of seceding Masons was held at Le- Roy, in the county of Genesee, by whom the truth of the revelations of Freemasonry made by Morgan was affirmed, and a further revela- tion was made by many of the higher degrees. In the fall of 1828 the memorable presidential canvass absorbed almost the entire public attention without the limits of the counties above mentioned and the counties adjacent. Nevertheless, Anti-Masonry. in defiance of and in opposition to both of the political parties, deposited in the ballot boxes 33,000 votes. In the month of February, 1829, a State conven- tion was held at Albany, in which forty-two counties were repre- sented, and by which the first national convention was recommended. As yet neither of the political parties had openly declared itself in op- position to Anti-Masonry, and in many parts of the State both had vied in caressing it."

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

In this county action was early taken to express the sentiment of the community. A call appeared in the local journals for a meeting to be held at the court house in Geneseo on the 12th day of January, 1827, "for the purpose of expressing their sentiments in regard to the outrage committed upon William Morgan, and of adopting such meas- ures as may be deemed advisable to discover his fate, and to prevent a recurrence of such detestable transactions." The call was signed by C. H. Bryan, P. C. Fuller, J. Wright, R. Austin, E. N. Buell, S. F. Butler, Charles Colt, Campbell Harris, and J. Percival. At this meeting Judge Jones, a prominent Freemason, was made chairman and Philo C. Fuller secretary. Mr. Bryan gave a brief review of the transaction which had given occasion for this meeting, and referred to the fact that there was no statutory prohibition of the kidnapping of white persons, although there was a statute to prevent the abduction of people of color. Several affidavits relating to various facts con- nected with the abduction and a report of the recent trial at Canan- daigua of persons implicated in it, were read, and a committee con- sisting of P. C. Fuller, C. H. Bryan, J. Clute, H. D. Mason and J. Almy was appointed to report resolutions for the consideration of the meeting. The resolutions thus reported and adopted condemned in the severest terms the kidnapping of Morgan, "a procedure so ob- viously repugnant, not only to the laws of the land but to the first principles of civil liberty; we view the transaction as one calculated to excite alarm; one which no consideration can justify, and one which, as intelligent and watchful citizens, we are bound to reprobate in decided terms." A suggestion was made that a law should be passed forbidding "the kidnapping of free white citizens," and a com- mittee consisting of the chairman, secretary and Mr. Clute was ap- pointed to "correspond with other committees in neighboring coun- ties, and to receive contributions to be used in endeavoring to discov- er the fate of Morgan, and in detecting and bringing his abductors to condign punishment; and that a contribution for these purposes be taken up at this meeting."

The people of the several towns followed the example thus set by this county gathering, and meetings were held in a large number of places. A local journal 1 gives an account of a large meeting held in

I, Livingston Register.

346

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Sparta on the 17th of March, 1827, to give expression to the senti- ments of that community. Benjamin Roberts presided and William C. McNair officiated as secretary. The resolutions passed expressed in ringing tones the abhorrence with which the people viewed the out- rage. "The history of the last six months," the resolutions read, "has disclosed the facts which make every individual tremble for his own safety; our liberties have been invaded; the majesty of our laws has been trampled upon with impunity; our citizens have been ar- rested, robbed, kidnapped and murdered without the shadow of a crime, or any legal pretense whatever." The press, it was averred. had been generally silenced, Freemasonry had become a stepping stone to office, "and the principal posts of honor, trust or profit, from the President of the United States down to the petty magistrates of our towns and villages, are generally held by Masons." The meeting pledged itself to oppose the election of any one to any office of honor or trust who was a member of the order of Freemasonry, and ap- pointed Russell Day, Hiram Kellog. S. W. Smith, James McNair and Benjamin Wheeler a committee of vigilance and correspondence for the town of Sparta. '

These accounts serve to show how thoroughly the people were aroused, and the deep, earnest and determined spirit with which they entered upon this warfare on an institution they deemed so dangerous to individual liberty and popular government. The most intense feeling was generated, and probably no question of public interest in this country ever more thoroughly engaged the attention of the peo- ple, was made the theme of more earnest discussion or gave rise to a warmer political canvass than this popular uprising against Masonry.

In the election of 1827 the influence of this opposition was but lit- tle felt. The forces were but gathering then that afterwards for sey- eral years controlled the politics of the "infected district," and exerted a powerful influence in State councils. Nevertheless, it behooved can- didates for office, even at this time, that they be able to show a clear record on this question, and probably the election of Calvin H. Bryan to the Assembly in November, 1827, was due to the fact that he was not only a Jackson man but also a decided Anti-Mason. At the same time William Janes, another vehement opposer of Masonry, was also elected to the Assembly, the majority of both himself and his col- league being about 500.

347

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

At the spring elections of 1828 the Anti-Masons were largely in the ascendency, the issue being for the first time brought directly before the people. A newspaper of that day said of the result: "Intelli- gence received from the several towns in this county of the results of the late town elections, furnishes the best evidence that Anti-Masonry still flows in a 'natural and healthful channel, notwithstanding the great exertions made use of by royal arch politicians to direct its course. ' The Anti-Masons elected the whole, or the greater part, of their tickets in nine out of twelve towns comprising the county. In Groveland, Leicester and Lima the Masons elected their candidates for the office of Supervisor by small majorities.

In the spring of 1828 Charles H. Carroll, who was then one of the Senators from this district, resigned his seat for the purpose of devot- ing his whole time to his private affairs. He had served during 1827 and the winter session of 1828, with great acceptability to his constitu- ents and credit to himself, but his large personal interests demanded that he should forego, for a time at least, any further political honors. In his letter of resignation to the Hon. Peter R. Livingston, Presi- dent, pro tem. of the Senate, he said: "The unusual time occupied by the sessions of our Legislature for the last two years, compel me to tender you the resignation of my seat in the Senate of this State. In years of ordinary legislation it would have afforded me much satisfac- tion to have served my constituents the four years for which they elected me. My own affairs, however, oblige me to resign this honor for the residue of the term, and to do it at this time that my place may be supplied at the ensuing election, and my constituents saved the expense of a special one." The resignation was accepted, al- though it was said that "his retirement at this time is a source of re- gret to his friends, while the public will lose the services of a worthy and useful legislator."

It becoming necessary to supply the vacancy caused by Judge Carroll's resignation at the November election, an Anti-Masonic con- vention was held at Rush, October 20th, 1828, which nominated James Wadsworth for this position. Mr. Wadsworth, however, although a decided Anti-Mason, declined to be a candidate. He was absent from home when the convention met, but William Wadsworth, his brother, on learning of the action taken, addressed a letter to the Anti-Masonic central committee of Livingston county, in which he said: "This

348

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

nomination is contrary to his (James) wishes and his express declara- tions will appear from the following letter from him addressed and read to the convention. I am induced to ask a publication of this let - ter from a thorough conviction that my brother will not in any event suffer himself to be considered a candidate. His absence will prevent his declining publicly in time to permit another nomination. Under these circumstances, as it is the unquestionable right of Livingston county, I take the liberty to suggest to you, gentlemen, the propriety of recommending some other person without loss of time."

Following out this suggestion, a meeting of Anti-Masonic electors of the county was held in Geneseo on the evening of the 20th. James Percival acted as chairman and Philo C. Fuller as secretary, and a resolution was unanimously adopted that Moses Hayden of York be recommended to the electors of the district as a candidate for the office of Senator.

Meanwhile an Anti-Masonic State convention had been held at Utica on the 4th of August, whch had nominated for Governor. Francis Granger of Ontario, and for Lieutenant-Governor, John Crary of Washington. In this convention James Wadsworth's name had been frequently mentioned in connection with the nomination for Governor. "Great unanimity of sentiment prevailed among the members of this body. although met from remote parts of the State. But two candidates for Governor were mentioned on the first attempt to obtain the mind of the delegates, when each one named the individ- ual of his choice. These two were James Wadsworth and Francis Granger, Esquires. As no member present was able to answer for the acceptance of the former gentleman, his name was reluctantly withdrawn by his friends, yet, notwithstanding the propriety of unan- .imity at the final balloting, some few could not be prevailed upon to relinquish what they deemed a fit opportunity of expressing their pref- erence for a man who is so eminently qualified to discharge the duties of the high and important office for which he had been named by those who knew his worth, and are acquainted with his sentiments on the particular subject which then engaged the attention of the conven- tion." Mr. Granger, however, declined the nomination for political reasons, although he was a decided Anti-Mason, and Solomon South- wick of Albany was substituted. Anti-Masonic nominations had also been made for all the offices to be filled at the coming election. These

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

were as follows: For Congress, Timothy Childs; State Senators, George H. Boughton, Moses Hayden; Assembly, Philo C. Fuller, Titus Goodman, Jr. ; Sheriff, Russell Austin ; County Clerk, Chauncey R. Bond. Each of the other political parties also had a full ticket in the field, and the canvass was one of the most closely contested politi- cal campaigns ever witnessed in the county. Much feeling was en- gendered and the discussion was heated and bitter. All opposition to the new political movement was, however, useless. The people, regardless of all former political ties, of the ridicule of their oppon- ents, the reasoning and entreaties of politicians or the unconcern of the two great parties, were deeply in earnest in their determination to crush out, by the power of the ballot, what they conceived to be the great wrong of the age, Freemasonry. The result was astonish- ing to party leaders, and even to the people themselves. A canvass of the votes cast at the election showed that Southwick for Governor had received 1963 votes to 1257 for VanBuren (Jackson candidate) and 867 for Thompson (Adams man), while the Anti-Masonic candidates for Congressman, State Senators, Assemblymen, Sheriff and Clerk were elected by overwhelming majorities.

This was the first great triumph of the Anti-Masonic party, to which it added others in successive years until it was finally wholly absorbed by the Whig party about the year 1832.

Early in the Spring of 1827 the citizens of Mount Morris com- menced an important public work, which has since added largely to the commercial importance and prosperity of that beautiful village. This was the construction of the race-way extending along the hill- side below the village from the Genesee river to a point near the center of the village, from whence its waters are again returned to the river by means of a small stream emptying into the Canaseraga creek. The plan proposed embraced a strong timber dam at the river to raise the water to the proper level to carry it through the race-way, and a lock and apron to facilitate the passage of boats. The work was done for the purpose of providing an extensive water power, which it answered admirably, a large number of flouring mills, saw mills, wood and iron working establishments, ete., being driven by the power which it furnished. The dam proved too weak and was re- placed by another in 1833, in constructing which aid was obtained by the transfer to the proprietors of the Mount Morris Tract of the pub-

350

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

lic square in the village, which was divided into lots and sold; this dam was carried away by the high water in 1852, and rebuilt by the State for canal purposes. This was in turn destroyed in 1899 and the present splendid dam of masonry completed in 1903 promises to resist for many years the turbulence of the Genesee.

The Board of Supervisors gave notice in December, 1828, that "a farm is wanted for the accommodation of the poor of the county. It must be within six miles of the court house in the village of Geneseo, and must contain about one hundred acres of land; the land must be of good quality, well timbered, and well supplied with good water. Any person having a farm for sale that will answer the purpose for which it is wanted, is requested to deliver a particular description of the same to William H. Spencer, before the 15th of December ensu- ing. stating the quality and quantity of land, how much is in timber, what kind of timber, " etc., and "the ready cash price asked for the farm."

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 34

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