USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 39
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even the State fair does not draw as it formerly did, and has in these later years been obliged to add to its attractions various shows, bicy- Ice races, balloon ascensions and such other catch-penny amusements, in order to fill its coffers, and it is understood that this method was successful with it last year. Perhaps the introduction of this feature might make this fair successful, but the managers hesitate to intro- duce it, and it would be objectionable to many persons whose patron- age is desirable, and certainly not in consonance with the advertised object of the society, which is the advancement of agriculture, horti- culture, the mechanic arts and household industry. Meanwhile, if the managers, after a full consideration of all the circumstances that have tended to produce the unfortunate condition to which the county fair is reduced, can devise any plan by which it can be made again a self supporting institution, it will be revived."
The following named persons were Presidents of the Society: Wm. A. Mills, Mt. Morris, 1841; James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1842, 1861; Holloway Long, York, 1844, 1867-8; W. W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1845; Asa Nowlen, Avon, 1846; Allen Ayrault, Geneseo, 1847; John
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
R. Murray, Jr.,1 Mt. Morris, 1848; Jerediah Horsford, Leicester, 1849; Chas. H. Carroll, Groveland, 1850, 1863, 1864; Chas. Colt, Geneseo, 1851; Robert Rome, Geneseo, 1852; Chauncey R. Bond, Geneseo 1853-4; Aaron Barber, Avon, 1855; Chas. Jones, Leicester, 1856; G. W. Root, York, 1857; Richard Peck, Lima, 1858; Alonzo Bradner, Dansville, 1859-60; Jasper Barber, Avon, 1862; Craig W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1865-6; Aaron Barber, Jr., Avon, 1869-70; James W. Wads- worth, Geneseo, 1871-2; R. F. McMillan, Conesus, 1873-4; Hugh Wil- son MeNair, Sparta, 1875-6; Wm. A. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1877-8, 1881-'96; Jotham Clark, Jr., Conesus, 1879-'80; Hon. Kidder M. Scott was Treasurer continuously from 1865 to the end, and Wm. A. Brodie and Major Henry V. Colt were Secretaries for many years.
On May 29th. 1886, the Genesee Valley Park Association was formed with a capital of $8,000, and in September of that year it pur- chased the fairground property at Geneseo of the sons of Craig W. Wadsworth, deceased, comprising about fifteen acres, and rented the grounds to the society for its annual fair. The subscribers to the stock of the association were William A. Wadsworth, James W. Wads- worth, John Rorbach, Joseph Cone, Theodore F. Olmsted and Jeremi- ah Cullinan. The Trustees for the first year were A. R. Scott, L. W. Crossett, George Goode, W. A. Wadsworth, A. A. Cox, F. W. Mate, W. E. Lauderdale, Jr, Jeremiah Cullinan and R. M. Jones, James W. Wadsworth was made President.
The design of the association, as expressed in its certificate of in- corporation, was to promote agricultural and mechanical interests in connection with agriculture in the County of Livingston, and im- provements in the breed of farm animals and other live stock. The association became the landlord of the Agricultural Society, and to this extent served the purpose of its organization untilthe society was abandoned, as above stated. A portion of the grounds was purchased by the State in 1898 for an athletic field, in connection with the Nor- mal School of Geneseo, and it is still in use for that purpose. The remainder of the property is unsold.
In 1841 Gardner Arnold and Chester Bradley were elected to the Assembly, and were succeeded in 1842 by Daniel H. Fitzhugh and
I. Resigned. George T. Olyphaut, elected Feb. 3. 1848, and resigned Feb, 8, 1848. Both resig- nations were based on the assumption that the office should be filled by a practical agriculturist. Jerediah Horsford was elected July 1, 1848.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Daniel D. Spencer. James Faulkner was at the same time chosen Senator; he served during the years 1842 to 1845 inclusive. In 1842 Charles H. Carroll was elected Member of Congress. At the fall elec- tion of 1843 the Whig party was again triumphant. The county offi- cers chosen were William H. Whiting, County Clerk; William II. Scott, Sheriff; Gardner Arnold and Daniel D. Spencer, Assemblymen.
Calvin H. Bryan, who settled in Geneseo the year the county was erected, and who had always occupied a leading position as a lawyer and politician, was appointed by the Governor and Senate a Canal Appraiser for the State, and Daniel H. Bissell of the town of Leices- ter, was elected Canal Commissioner. These responsible places of trust were worthily filled, and reflected honor upon these respected citi- zens and upon the county.
The records of the 94th Regiment of Infantry of the Militia of the State of New York, covering the period from July 20th, 1842, to June 1, 1846, show that William J. Hamilton was Colonel; James Wood, Jr., Lieut. Colonel, and William C. Hawley, Major, the same having been elected July 20th. On the 23d of July Colonel William J. Hamilton transmitted the report of such election to Brigadier Gen. William S. Fullerton at Sparta. The first regimental order was issued on the 12th of August, 1842, and is as follows:
Headquarters 94th Regiment. Genesco, 12th Aug., 1842.
To Captain-
You are hereby ordered to cause the commissioned, non commissioned officers and musicians of your company to be duly noti- fied to be and appear at the house of William W. Weed, in the Village of Geneseo, on the 24th and 25th days of August instant, armed and equipped, as the law directs, for drill and inspection, at 6 o'clock of each of those days in the forenoon.
You will further cause the commissioned officers, non commissioned officers, musicians and privates of your company to be notified to be and appear at the inn of William W. Weed aforesaid, at 6 o'clock A. M. on the 13th day of October next, armed and equipped as the law directs, for military inspection and review.
Wm. J. Hamilton. Col. and commanding officer.
This order was issued to Captains Abraham H. Williams, Richard Johnson, Norman J. Kellogg, Richard N. Hanna, Lewis C. Kingsbury
1
Williamsburg Cemetery. The Birney Monument is at the right of the picture, near the tree ; the monument at the extreme left is Judge Carroll's.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
James H. Alger, Robert R. Beecher, Jr., and Henry Wiard, and Lieut. James W. Chappell.
During the period mentioned it appears that the following persons besides those previously named were connected with the regiment : Adjutant, Dwight Webb, Geneseo; Paymaster, Orrin H. Coe, Avon; Quartermaster, Oliver Smith, Avon; Assistant Surgeon, John W. Whitbeck, Avon; Sergeant Major, Zalman Griswold, Geneseo; Ser- geant Color-Bearer, William Adams, Avon; Sergeant Color-Bearer, George F. Pratt, Livonia; Lieut. Oscar Ripley, Conesus; Lieut. Charles C. Pierson; Surgeon, David J. Pulling; Ensign, Ezra W. Clark; Lieut. Albert H. Huntley and George H. Nowlen, George W. Kelly, Abraham H. Williams, Job Worthington, George Godfrey, James W. Chappell, H. R. Cowles, J. M. Humphrey, Florus S. Finley, Nathaniel K. Rose, John Patterson, Norton Gibbs, S. P. Fowler, T. Adams and Charles Cranmer. The regimental orders issued on and after June 19th 1845 are signed by James Wood, Jr., Colonel and Commandant of the regiment, and in these orders Harvey J. Wood is referred to as Adjutant and later as Lieut. Colonel. The records abruptly end June 1st, 1846.
But little less exciting than the "Log Cabin" conflict of 1840 was the presidential campaign of 1844. The leading and absorbing ques- tion of this contest was the annexation of Texas, a measure which the Democratic party North and South earnestly advocated, while the Whigs as vigorously opposed it. It involved the slavery question, which added to the warmth and bitterness of the canvass. The South was unanimously in favor of annexation, because the new territory offered a rich field for the extension of her peculiar institution ; the anti-slavery men of the North, for the same reason, gave the measure their unqualified disapproval. To add to the intensity of the feeling a new element, the Anti-Slavery party, made its appearance,-for the first time in a presidential election-nominat- ing James G. Birney1 as its candidate for the presidency. The candi- dates of the Democratic party were James K. Polk for President and
1. The remains of this pioneer in the Anti-Slavery movement lie in the Williamshurgh ceme- tery, east of the Colonel Abell residence, in the town of Groveland. He was born in Dansville, Ky., February, 1792, and died at Englewood, N. J., November 24, 1857. He married a sister of Dr. Daniel II. Fitzhugh. His son, Major Fitzhugh Birney, A. A. G. of the Second Division of the Sec- ond Corps, Army of the Potomac, who died at Washington, June 1864, aged twenty-two, was buried by his side. A mounment is erected in the cemetery to mark their resting place.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
George M. Dallas for Vice President. The Whigs supported Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen. In this county the Whigs sup- ported John Young and Harlow Wells for the Assembly.
As the canvass progressed it became an exceedingly warm one, especially in this county, which possessed more than the usual number of leaders prominent in State and national politics. On the Whig side we recognize the names of Young, Carroll, Wood, Colt, Kelsey and others equally prominent, while among Democratic leaders were James S. Wadsworth, Benjamin F. Angel, Calvin H. Bryan, Daniel
H. Bissell, George Hastings and others. All were firm partisans, energetic workers and men of wide-felt influence. Thus the local canvass was given an interest it would not otherwise have possessed, since these leaders had reputations as well as views and principles to sustain; while the nearly equally balanced power of the two parties in the nation rendered the issue doubtful and furnished an incentive for each to put forth its greatest strength. But the victory was not for the Whigs. A variety of causes combined to weaken their strength, and the election resulted in the triumph of Mr. Polk by an overwhelming popular vote, and also the success of the Democratic State ticket. Never had the Democratic party achieved a greater triumph than in the election of 1844. Both of the great parties of the country had put forth their entire strength in the contest ; the interest excited was intense and universal, and the result decisive. The Whig party was entirely prostrated and apparently discouraged. The Democratic party of the State never held so strong a position. The severity of the contest with the Whigs had restored its ancient disci- pline, and the utmost enthusiasm animated its masses. Not so in Livingston county, however. Its firm adhesion to the Whig cause has in times past been proverbial, and on this occasion it firmly stood by its Whig principles. The candidates of that party were elected by the usual majorities, but it was a hard earned victory and the opposition had the satisfaction of knowing that every inch of the ground had been contested with unfailing courage and indomitable will.
At the election of 1845 John Young and William S. Fullerton were the Whig candidates for the Assembly. Speaking of these nomina- tions a Whig organ said: "This unflinching, unwavering Whig stronghold has prepared herself for the battle, and Locofocoism always
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
feels her blows when they fall." The opposing candidates were David McDonald of York and Ira Merrill of Avon, both worthy citizens. The Whig candidate for Senator was Lorenzo Dana; his opponent, Thomas J. Wheeler of Cattaraugus. At this election also the ques- tion of a convention to revise the constitution was voted upon. The campaign was a closely contested one, but the Whig party was trium- phant in the county. The Senate district was largely Democratic, however, and Thomas J. Wheeler was chosen Senator.
The people having declared in favor of a constitutional convention, an election was held April 28th, 1846, to choose delegates. The nominees of the Whig party in this county were Allen Ayrault and William H. Spencer. The opposing candidates were Willard H. Smith and Hector Hitchcock. Probably no local canvass was ever more vigorously prosecuted, or the occasion of more bitterness of feeling. There was but little opposition to Mr. Spencer, but with Mr. Ayrault the case was different. His position as the President of the Living- ston County Bank had made for him enemies as well as friends; the former class including not only those whom the bank had refused to accommodate, but a large number who entertained a prejudice against all banking institutions. Taking advantage of this, a desperate effort was made to elect the Democratic nominees. The Whigs were well organized and disciplined, however, and their strength was too great to be overcome. The Whig candidates were elected by a majority of about 970, only two towns, Caledonia and North Dansville, giving Democratic majorities. The Whig organ at the county seat1 was pleased to say of the result: "It gives us sincere gratification to an- · nounce the result of the election in this county. Under all circum- stances it is the most overwhelming defeat our opponents have ever encountered, and one which, if repeated, would almost annihilate them as a party in old Livingston."
The town of Nunda and that'part of Portage lying east of the Gen- esee river, forming a part of Allegany county, were annexed to Liv- ingston county by an act of the Legislature passed in April, 1846. The town of Sparta was also divided, and the towns of North Dans- ville, Sparta and West Sparta formed from it. This gave the county sixteen towns. The annexation of Nunda and Portage added a rich and flourishing territory. "The two new towns were the best part of
1. Livingston Republican, May 5, 1846.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Allegany county, and will make a rich addition to Livingston. Be- sides their fame for raising excellent wheat, they are equally distin- guished for rolling up plump Whig majorities. "1
The gubernatorial election of 1846 possesses more than ordinary interest to the resident of this county, since it elevated to the highest office in the State one of the leading citizens of Livingston. This was John Young of Geneseo, an able member of the bar and a promi- nent politician. Mr. Young, as a member of the Legislature, as well as by his congressional services, had acquired a brilliant reputation and was looked upon as one of the ablest and most trustworthy leaders of the Whig party. His prominent position in the Assembly of 1845, where he strenuously advocated the holding of a convention to revise the constitution, added to his already favorable record and attracted to him the attention of the whole State. Mr. Young had early avowed himself in favor of this measure, but many of the leading Whigs then in the Legislature viewed it with indifference, or were openly opposed toit. By his arguments and persuasive powers he brought nearly all of them to the adoption of his views, and under his leadership they gave the measure a warm support. The Democracy were divided on this question, and no honorable means were lost by Mr. Young and his friends to widen the breach. During the progress of the convention bill he made a number of speeches in reply to Horatio Seymour, then the Speaker of the Assembly and the leader of the conservative Dem- ocrats, which won him high praise from his party and made him its leader in the Assembly.
It was while the recollection of this brilliant success was still fresh in the minds, of the people, that the Whig State Convention was held at Utica, Sept. 23d, 1846. "It was well understood that Mr. Fillmore did not desire to be again a candidate for Governor, and the name of Mr. Young was often mentioned in connection with that office, long before the assembling of the Whig State Convention."? On the meeting of the convention, Mr. Fillmore was warmly supported by his friends, notwithstanding his reluctance to appear as a candidate, and two of the three informal ballots that were taken gave him a large majority over Mr. Young. On the third ballot Mr. Young received
·
1. Livingston Republican.
2 Jenkins' Lives of the Governors of New York,
Governor John Young.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
76 votes to 45 for Mr. Fillmore. After this ballot the convention adjourned to the court house where, after effecting a permanent organization, Mr. Babcock, of Erie arose and in a very commendable speech withdrew Mr. Fillmore's name as a candidate, and moved that the nomination of John Young as the Whig candidate for Governor be made unanimous. The motion was received with the greatest enthusi- asm, and again and again was responded to with rapturous applause. Hamilton Fish of New York was then nominated for Lieutenant Governor, and nominations were also made for the minor offices. $ The Democratic party renominated Silas Wright and Addison Gardiner, then Governor and Lieutentant Governor, while the Aboli- tionists and the new Native American party, which first appeared in 1843, each made separate nominations. The Anti-Renters endorsed the nominations of Young and Gardiner.
The nomination of Mr. Young was received with every demonstra- tion of joy by the people of Livingston county. A special express from Rochester brought the news to Geneseo on the evening of the 23d, and "one universal shout of approbation rent the air, which was repeated and re-echoed long and loud in cheers and huzzas, such as are made only in the height of unbounded joy." The intelligence spread rapidly through the village and in a very short time a large crowd assembled at the American Hotel, where an impromptu meet- ing was held. Ogden M. Willey was made chairman, and J. M. Campbell secretary. A committee consisting of W. J. Hamilton, Judge Endress and J. M. Campbell was appointed to wait upon Mr. Young and inform him of his nomination. These gentlemen soon returned and reported that, "Mr. Young was found enjoying a fine flow of spirits, and received the announcement of the committee in the spirit of a true Whig. Mr. Young requested the committee to pre- sent to it his acceptance of the nomination, and his kindest regards for their renewed demonstrations of friendship and partiality towards him." Upon receiving this report the meeting adjourned to the front of Mr. Young's house, where the firing of cannon and the shouts of the people rent the air "after the most approved example of '44." After this demonstration the procession moved down the street, made light as noonday by the numerous bonfires, to the Eagle Tavern. "The Whig houses were opened for the night, and for once the quiet
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
village of Geneseo gave free rein to the expression and demonstration of joy. ")
The Whig local nominations were early made as follows: For Con- gress, Robert L. Rose of Ontario; Senator, Samuel H. P. Hall of Broome; Sheriff, William Scott; County Clerk, William H. Whiting, renominated; Members of Assembly, William S. Fullerton, Andrew Sill. The Democratic nominations were, for Congress, Peter Mitchell; Senator, William MI. Hawley; Assembly, Napoleon B. Jones, Morgan Hammond; Sheriff. fra Godfrey: County Clerk, George A. Fuller.
The campaign was a warm one, both parties laboring hard to secure success. In the State, however, a variety of causes weakened the Democratic party, while the Whig strength in the county was too great to leave any hope of their defeat. Nevertheless, the result of the election was a surprise to both parties. Mr. Young was chosen Gov- ernor by a majority exceeding eleven thousand, and the Whigs secured the Legislature and twenty-two of the thirty-four Congressmen. Mr. Fish, the Whig candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was defeated, how- ever, by Judge Gardiner, the Democratic candidate thus demonstrating that the Anti-Rent organization at that election held the balance of power in the State. The result in Livingston County was particular- ly gratifying to Mr. Young's friends. His majority was 1.450, while Mr. Fillmore's majority in 1844 had been only 1.029. The majority for Mr. Young in the "Old Eighth" district was nearly eleven thou- sand, an increase of nearly three thousand over that of 1844. This flattering vote shows in what estimation Mr. Young was held by those who knew him best, and justified the claim made for him, that he was a man of the people.
Intelligence of the success of the Whig cause was not long in reach- ing the towns of this county, and was the signal for general rejoicing. The special express from Rochester arrived in Geneseo on the evening of the 4th of November and announced the election of Mr. Young, which was "truly acceptable to a large number of people from various parts of the county who were present. A procession was formed, on the spur of the moment, which moved amid the roar of cannon and the blazing of bonfires to the residence of Mr. Young. He was called out and congratulated upon his triumphant election in an eloquent
I Livingston Republican.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
and appropriate speech by Hon. C. H. Carroll. Mr. Young replied by making a few but very eloquent remarks. The crowd then gave three times three for Young and Fish, after the most approved ex- amples of '40 and '44. Other speeches full of spirit and animation were made by A. Ayrault, B. F. Harwood, A. A. Hendee and Mr. Kershner. The firing of cannon and other rejoicings were kept up until a late hour, and the home of Mr. Young presented a scene of joyful enthusiasm which was emphatically gratifying to every true Whig heart. "1
The Attica and Hornellsville railroad project engaged a large share of public attention in 1846 and the following year. This road was intended to run between the two places named and to make a con- nection with the New York and Erie railroad, later the Erie Railway, then in course of construction. Two routes were proposed, one through the counties of Wyoming and Allegany; the other, known as the North- ern or Valley route, traversing the western and southern portions of Livingston county. Allegany favored the former, and Livingston, for equally obvious reasons, the latter route; and, although the Valley route was the longer one of the two, yet such was the earnestness and determination with which its friends urged its adoption, that they nearly succeeded in their efforts. Public meetings were held in var- ious places, and liberal subscriptions made to the stock of the company. At a meeting held in Mount Morris February 20th, 1846, $20,000 was subscribed, conditionally, within an hour after the books were opened; but the liberal subscriptions and untiring energy of the friends of the southern route, coupled with the fact that it was the shortest one, combined to defeat the Livingston project, and the former route was selected with the crossing at Portage.
Contemporaneous with this railroad movement was one in behalf of a plank road from Rochester to some point in Allegany or Steuben county, passing through Avon, Geneseo, Mount Morris and Dansville. A meeting to further this object was held in Geneseo January 25th, 1847, of which Allen Ayrault of Geneseo was chairman and Amos Dann of Avon and Isaac L. Endress of Dansville, secretaries. The object of the meeting was explained by B. F. Angel of Geneseo and papers were read showing the estimated cost of the work. A
1. Livingston Republican, Nov. 10, 1846.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
committee consisting of B. F. Angel and James Wadsworth of Gene- seo, Asa Nowlen of Avon, G. T. Olyphant of Mount Morris and S. W. Smith of Dansville was appointed to cooperate with the citizens of Rochester and other places on the line of the proposed road in fur- thering the enterprise. A few years later it was partially successful, as will subsequently appear.
In 1849 the people were agitating the question of locating the New York and Erie railroad through the Cohocton instead of the Canisteo valley, and a public meeting, favorable to this action was held in Geneseo August 11th. At this meeting James S. Wadsworth, Allen Ayrault, John Vernam, Philip Woodruff, Lester Bradner, W. T. Cuy- ler, Hiram Boyd, Jerediah Horsford, W. S. Fullerton, B. F. Angel, Luther C. Peck, Charles Colt, Andrew Sill, C. H. Bryan, H. G. Dyer and George Pratt were appointed "a corresponding and business com- mittee to carry into effect the object of this meeting." A meeting in behalf of the same object was held in Dansville on the 8th of August. In 1850 this project was modified to a proposition to construct another line of road from Corning through the Cohocton valley to Rochester. A meeting held in Bath January 10, 1850 to consider this question recommended that a general meeting be held in Geneseo on the 24th of January, "of those interested in the entire proposed route." In accordance with this recommendation, the meeting was held in Gen- eseo and called together a large number of the enterprising men of Western New York. Delegations were present from Buffalo, Attica, Batavia, Mount Morris, Dansville and all parts of Steuben county. "The convention was addressed by several gentlemen from abroad, well versed in the conduct of railroad matters, and many encouraging in- ducements were held out. Among them was an offer from three ex- tensive iron manufacturers to furnish the amount of iron necessary for the construction of the road and take stock in payment."
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