USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 40
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During the summer of this year an engineer was employed to make the preliminary surveys. The citizens of Steuben county, with com- mendable enterprise, proposed to build on their own responsibility the road from Corning to Bath, a distance of eighteen miles. From this point the engineer reported two feasible routes to the Genesee river.
The first of these, called the Honeoye route, was described as fol- Tows: "Commences at Blood's Corners, north near Naples along west bank of Hunt's Hollow and Honeoye lake to Richmond Centre, cross-
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ing the outlet of Hemlock lake at Frost's Hollow, thence one mile east of Lima, one mile west from Honeoye Falls, to the village of West Rush, crossing the Genesee river on Judge Sibley's farm about fourteen miles south of Rochester, thence up Dugan's creek to Cale- donia village, passing on the south side of the State road, through Le- Roy, Stafford and Batavia, thence direct to Buffalo." The distance by this route was 134 miles.
The Conesus route ran "from Blood's Corners west six miles to Tut- tle's Inn (six miles east of Dansville), thence along the west bank of the Springwater valley, through Conesus Center, along the east bank of Conesus lake to Lakeville at its foot (six miles east of Geneseo), thence down the outlet through Littleville and Avon Spring, crossing the Genesee river north of the bridge at Avon, thence up White Creek to intersect with Honeoye line at Caledonia village." The length of this route was 132 miles, a trifle less than that of the Honeoye line.
Another railroad was projected in 1851, "the Genesee Valley line," which was designed to extend from Rochester to Pittsburg, passing through the towns of Avon, Geneseo, Groveland, Mount Morris, Nun- da and Portage.
Here, then, were railroad and plank road enterprises enough to en- gage the entire attention of the people, and with so many to divide at- tention and resources, it is surprising that any were successful. Add- ed to these was a proposed telegraph line through the Genesee valley, which was receiving great encouragement and was soon afterwards constructed.
The Buffalo and Cohocton road was early put under contract, the Conesus route having been selected, and Buffalo, instead of Rochester, fixed upon as the western terminus. The company met with less delay and embarrassment than usually fall to the lot of such enterprises, and in July, 1853, regular trains were running between Caledonia and Corn- ing; the remainder of the road was completed soon after.
The Attica and Hornellsville railroad was so far completed that trains were running in January, 1852, between Portage and Hornells- ville, and thus the county had now crossing its borders two railroads in actual operation.
The Genesee Valley Railroad, unlike the Cohocton road, furnishes a long history of delays, failures, embarrassments and disappointments. The line was put under contract from Rochester to Mount Morris in
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1852 and 1853, and work on the road from the former place to Avon was prosecuted with reasonable vigor. South of Avon, however, but little was done beyond a small amount of grading, and the people along the line early began to have fears that the enterprise would prove a failure. Indeed, it was plainly evident that the company di- rectors viewed with indifference the completion of the road beyond Avon, and were expending their energies in completing the northern portion. The company did, however, make a contract in 1854 for the completion of the road from Avon to Mount Morris, and it was pro- posed to issue bonds to the amount of $300,000 to meet this expense. The directors were suddenly stopped however, by an injunction procured by two or three stockholders residing in Geneseo and Mount Morris restraining them from issuing the bonds. This proved the death blow to the enterprise, so far as the southern portion of the line was concerned. The line from Avon to Rochester was completed, and regular trains were running in October, 1854.
The Genesee Valley Telegraph line was completed and in operation in the summer of 1851, the line extending from Rochester to Dansville, and the plank road from Piffardinia to Mount Morris, via Geneseo, was finished in the fall of the same year. Both were constructed and owned by stock companies and each proved a fairly remunerative investment.
The previous political record ended with 1846. In the following year, the new constitution having gone into effect, an election was held in June to choose Judges of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and also a County Judge, District Attorney and a Sessions Justice. The Whig nominees in this county were elected, Scott Lord for County Judge receiving a majority of 34 over Judge W. H. Smith, the then incumbent; and A. A. Hendee, for District Attorney, a majority over R. P. Wisner of 502.
At the election in the fall of this year the Whig State and county nominees were elected by large majorities. Allen Ayrault of Gen- eseo was chosen Senator, and Gurdon Nowlen of Geneseo and Na- thaniel Coe of Nunda, Assemblymen. Mr. Ayrault served as Senator during the session of 1848 and resigned June 2d. The vacancy was filled at the fall election of 1848 by the choice of Charles Colt of Gen- eseo, who served during the years 1849 to 1858 inclusive.
The presidential election of 1848, although an important oue, was not a very exciting campaign. The Democratic party nominated
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Lewis Cass for President and William O. Butler for Vice President. The nominees of the Whig party were General Zachariah Taylor and Millard Fillmore. The Free Soil party also entered the field with a ticket composed of Martin VanBuren and Charles Francis Adams. The election resulted in the triumph of the Whig cause in the Nation and State, and Livingston shared largely in the honors of the oc- casion. The Vice President elect had spent a portion of his boyhood days here, and the Lieutenant Governor of the State, George W. Pat- terson of Chautauqua, had for a long period of years been one of its most prominent citizens. The local officers chosen were Charles Colt, Senator; Archibald H. McLean and Phillip Woodruff, Assemblymen ; Chauncey Metcalf, County Treasurer; Ogden M. Willey, William J. Hamilton and James H. Vail, Superintendents of the Poor.
The fall election of 1849 resulted in the choice of Harvey Hill for Sheriff, Israel D. Root, County Clerk, and the reelection of Mr. McLean and Mr. Woodruff to the Assembly.
In the summer of 1849 Ex-Governor Young was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New York and entered upon the discharge of his duties in July of that year. The bondsmen of Mr. Young were Allen Ayrault and James S. Wadsworth of Geneseo, of whom the New York Express said: "The security is ample. Mr. A. was lately a State Senator, and is an honorable Whig. Mr. W. is a Democrat, whose friendship outweighs all political prejudices." Mr. Young remained in this position until his early and lamented death on the 23d of April, 1852.
In 1850 the Whigs elected the following officers: Congressman, Jerediah Horsford; District Attorney, William H. Kelsey; Superin- tendent of the Poor, James H. Vail; Alvin Chamberlin and Orrin D. Lake, Assemblymen.
At the end of the year 1850 the county had reached the thirtieth year since its organization and the height of its prosperity. Its pop- ulation, as shown by the census of 1850, was 40,875, or, including Ossian which was afterward annexed, 42,144. This was more than double the population of the county when formed, and larger by nearly three thousand than it was ten years later. This falling off is explained by the fact that, like all eastern sections, Livingston county supplied a large number of those who swelled the tide of emigration to
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the great West, and settled the States comprising that now thriving section with a sober, industrious and progressive people.
The Genesee Valley Canal was now in full operation, several rail- road enterprises gave promise of speedy success, and telegraph and plank roads lines were in process of construction. The well directed efforts of the people in industrial pursuits were uniformly rewarded with success, and on all sides peace and prosperity prevailed.
Such was the condition of the county at the end of the century's fifth decade, and there was but little indication of the coming storm, which ten years later broke upon the country, rousing Livingston, as well as other sections, to deeds of patriotic valor.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
T HE COUNTY almshouse, originally a private dwelling house, was early found too small to accommodate the large class of persons who sought its shelter. When purchased by the county the building was modified and somewhat enlarged, but even with these improvements it was inadequate for the purpose, and it was found impossible to properly care for its inmates in accordance with the ordinary requirements of sanitary laws. It thus became neces- sary to provide new and larger quarters and the question was first considered at the annual meeting of the board of super- visors in 1849. The result of these deliberations was the appro- priation by the board of the sum of $6,000 for the purpose of erecting a new building, and the appointment as a building committee of Allen Ayrault, William J. Hamilton and Russell Austin, who were also directed to sell the old building. The committee immediately entered upon the discharge of its duties, and early in the following year had decided upon the plans of the building. The contract for its construc- tion was then made with S. A. Hooper of Geneseo, who pushed the work with such vigor that it was completed about the first of Decem- ber, 1850, and the inmates were moved from the old house to the new and more comfortable edifice before the vigorous winter had fully set in. The committee, in making their report to the board of super- visors, announced that they had exceeded the appropriation by $250.94, although, as they said, they were aware of the caution of the supervisors, and of their instructions not to exceed the sum of $6,000. "But," added the committee. "it may not be improper for us to say that we are satisfied the building in some respects has cost Mr. Hooper, the builder, more money than the contract price, and while the consideration of an allowance to him by us is inadmissable, we understand Mr. Hooper intends applying to your board for relief, and in view of his great economy and fidelity in the execution of his job - we cannot forbear expressing the hope that his application will meet with favor." Mr. Hooper did apply for relief, which was granted to the amount of $1,101.46, making the total cost of the new almshouse,
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exclusive of heating apparatus and furniture, $7,356.40. This is the east building of the present almshouse group.
The old building and eighteen acres of land on the south side of the road were sold at auction on the 13th of December, 1850, to Dr. D. H. Bissell of Geneseo for the sum of $2,000, and is now the prop- erty of Rev. Mr. Sexton.
The 58th Regiment, N. Y. S. M., had an encampment at Mount Morris commencing Aug. 25th, 1850, and continuing one week; this attracted thousands of people from all parts of the country "to witness the parades, reviews, etc., of the citizen soldiery of old Liv- ingston." The camp was located on a rising piece of ground near the village and eight companies had their quarters there in tents. These companies were as follows: Rochester Union Grays, Mount Morris Union Blues, Canaseraga Light Infantry, a company from Spring- water, one from Livonia, one from Conesus, Groveland, Sparta, Avon and Lima, and the Big Tree Artillery from Geneseo. The encamp- ment was under the command of Col. James Wood, Jr., of the 58th Regiment. A newspaper account of this encampment says: "Thurs- day was the great day of the week. The troops were reviewed by Generals Crouch and Fullerton, attended by a large and brilliant staff, and the affair passed off alike creditable to all. The grounds adjoining were densely covered with thousands of interested and pleased spectators of all ages and sexes. On Saturday afternoon the troops struck their tents and at about three o'clock departed for their respective homes well pleased with their sojourn of a week at 'Camp Livingston.' To Col. Wood and his staff much credit is due for the regularity, order and decorum with which the camp was conducted. The gentlemanly deportment and soldier-like bearing of all connected with it was the subject of general remark, and reflected high honor upon the Regiment."
On the 25th of August of the following year the regiment went into camp at Geneseo on grounds at the head of North street, a spot after- wards made memorable as the site of Camp Wadsworth, where, when the more serious business of actual war stared citizens and soldiers in the face, the Wadsworth Guards (104th Regt. N. Y. S. V.) were recruited for service in the field. Seven companies belonging to the 58th Regiment attended this encampment and four Rochester com- panies, belonging to Major Swan's battalion, were also present.
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The companies were reviewed on Tuesday, the 26th by Brig. Gen. W. S. Fullerton and on Wednesday by Major General Wool and staff, of the U. S. Army. General Wool spoke of the troops in the high- est terms, and pronounced them in point of discipline and thorough- ness of drill, "superior to any I have witnessed in any agricultural county in the State."
Another encampment was held at Avon in 1855, under the com- mand of Colonel VanValkenburgh of Bath. This was the last military "training" of this character held in the county.
In December 1850 Philo C. Fuller of Geneseo was appointed Comp- troller of the State, vice Washington Hunt, who had been chosen Governor at the preceding election. This appointment gave great satisfaction not only to the Whigs but to all his fellow citizens of Liv- ingston County without regard to party. His administration of the duties of his office was able and conscientious and he retired at the end of the year 1852 with the good opinion of all parties.
A favorite mode of travelling between Mount Morris and Rochester at this time was by the Genesee Valley Canal. R. Shackleton was running a daily line of packets between those places in 1851, as he had done for several years, and other persons were engaged in the same business. The packets were well built and comfortable boats fitted with many conveniences, and afforded decidedly the most pleasant means of travel known until the advent of the modern railway sleep- ing coach.
Early in 1851 steps were taken for the organization of another bank at Geneseo, under the name of the Genesee Valley Bank. The charter of the old Livingston County Bank had but a few years more to run, while the banking capital of the county was wholly inadequate to meet the wants of its business men. There was thus a good field for a new monied institution, and the enterprise was pushed with such zeal that the capital was all subscribed within a few days, and at a meeting held April 21, 1851, James S. Wadsworth, D. H. Fitzhugh, Alvenus Cone, Henry Chamberlain, D. H. Abell, Charles Colt, D. H. Bissell, Peter Miller and William Cushing were chosen Directors. Mr. Wadsworth was made President of the bank, and William H. Whiting appointed Cashier. The local journal, in announcing the organization of the bank said: "The institution commences operations under the most auspicious and flattering circumstances." The bank was ready
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for business May 23, 1851, and entered upon a career that has since proved uniformly successful and prosperous, and ranking it as one of the most carefully managed institutions in the State.
The Portage riot, an affair which at one time promised most serious results and occasioned considerable excitement throughout the coun- ty, occurred early in July, 1851. A large number of the laborers engaged on the section of the New York and Erie Railroad running through Portage struck for higher wages, and, as is generally the case, not only refused to work themselves but would not permit others to do so. So annoying were the strikers in their efforts to pre- vent others from working, that a requisition was made on the 7th of July on the civic authorities of this and Wyoming counties, and six or eight officers repaired to the scene of the strike. A sharp encounter ensued between the officers and the disaffected workmen, in which a number of the latter were shot, two, at least, fatally. On the same day a requisition was made on Captain Hamilton of Gen- eseo for the services of the Big Tree Artillery, and that organization started for the scene of the conflict, arriving there about 4 o'clock A. M., of Tuesday, the Sth. The sight of the militia cowed the rioters and without any serious opposition twenty of their number were arrested, twelve of whom were confined in the jail at Geneseo and the others taken to Wyoming county. Some of these were after- ward released, while the principal offenders were properly punished.
At the fall election of 1851 Scott Lord was reelected County Judge; John White, Jr., County Treasurer; William J. Hamilton, Superin- tendent of the Poor; Alvin Chamberlain and Orrin D. Lake, Assem- blymen, and Myron H. Clark, Senator; all being nominees of the Whig party. Their Democratic opponents were George Hosmer for County Judge; Daniel H. Bissell, County Treasurer; Lucius Warner, Superintendent of the Poor; Lewis E. Smith and Hector Hitchcock, Assemblymen. The Whig majority at this election ranged from 1,289 to 1,760.
On the 12th of December, 1851, Harvey Hill, then Sheriff of the county, died after a short illness, and Norman Chappell of Avon was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The presidential campaign of 1852 was a warmly contested political battle. A desperate effort was made by the Democratic party to re- gain its lost power, and Hunkers, Barn-burners and all other factions
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laid aside their differences for a while and united in the endeavor to recover the old footing. The Whigs, too, ignoring for a time the fac- tional quarrels which had weakened them, united upon a common platform to repel the attacks of their adversaries. The nominees of the Democratic party were Franklin Pierce for President and William R. King for Vice President. The Whigs nominated for these offices General Winfield Scott and William A. Graham, while the Anti-Slav- ery party supported John P. Hale and George W. Julian.
Nationally the Democrats were successful, as they were also in the State, electing their candidates by an overwhelming majority. Liv- ingston county yet remained firm in its adhesion to Whig principles, however, and gave the nominees of that party for county officers a heavy majority. The officers chosen were William Scott, Sheriff; James S. Orton, County Clerk; Jacob B. Hall, Superintendent of the Poor; Amos A. Hendee and Abram Lozier, Assemblymen. The Whig candidate for Congress, William Irvine of Steuben, was defeated by George Hastings of Livingston, the Democratic candidate. The Whig nominee for Presidential Elector, Samuel W. Smith of Livinsgton, was also defeated.
In the spring of 1853 the people of Mount Morris organized a bank, with a capital of $130,000, under the name of the Genesee River Bank. The directors chosen were John R. Murray, R. P. Wisner, Calvin Nor- ton, Jesse Peterson, Henry Swan, John Vernam, Allen Ayrault, H. P. Mills, R. Sleeper, William Whitmore and Lyman Turner. John Ver- nam was chosen President. The Bank commenced business in No. vember, 1853, and like the other chartered banks of the county it has been uniformly successful.
At the fall election of this year the Whig nominees were James , Wood, Jr., for District Attorney; James H. Vail, Superintendent of the Poor; Amos A. Hendee and Abram Lozier, Members of Assembly; Myron H. Clark, Senator. George Wilson of Canandaigua was an independent candidate for this office. The Democracy presented two tickets for popular approval. The Hards nominated John A. VanDer- lip for District Attorney; Morton Reed, Superintendent of the Poor; Leman Gibbs and Hector Hitchcock, Members of Assembly. The Softs nominated Samuel H. Northrop, Samuel Finley, Leman Gibbs and William N. Alward for the several offices in the order named. The election resulted in the triumph of the Whig candidates with the
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exception of Assemblyman in the first district, Mr. Hendee being de- feated by Judge Gibbs.
In May 1853 Benjamin F. Angel of Geneseo was appointed Con- sul to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, and in the latter part of June sailed for that port. The Senate failed to confirm his nomination, and after discharging the duties of the office for eighteen months he was succeed- ed by Darius A. Odgen of Penn Yan. Mr. Angel went from Honolulu to China, on a commission from the United States Government, to ex- amine into and if practicable negotiate the settlement of a troublesome controversy between the Chinese customs authorities and the American merchants in China, growing out of the unjust and arbitrary imposi- tion of exorbitant export duties when, it was claimed, the Chinese authorities utterly failed to protect our commerce on the coast and in Chinese waters against the depredations of Chinese pirates. In this mis- sion Mr. Angel was entirely successful, and he returned to the United States by way of the East Indies, Egypt and Europe in the fall of 1855.
Reference has already been made to the fine stock of the Genesee valley. In 1853 an important step was taken having for its object the further improvement of the large herds of the valley. For this purpose a meeting was held at the close of the annual fair on the 29th of September, 1853, which appointed a committee to mature a plan of organization and to call a future meeting. In accordance with this arrangement a meeting was held at the American Hotel in Geneseo on the 22d of October following, of which C. R. Bond was chairman and S. L. Fuller secretary. The deliberations of this meet- ing resulted in the formation of the "Livingston County Association for the Importation and Improvement of Stock," with a capital of $8,000, to be increased to $12,000 if deemed necessary. Any person was permitted to become a member on the payment of fifty dollars. The officers chosen were: President, Jas. S. Wadsworth; Secretary, Daniel H. Fitzhugh; Treasurer, Allen Ayrault; Directors, Charles H. Carroll, Aaron Barber, Wm. A. Mills, Robert Rome, Geo. W. Root, Richard Peck. Agents were to be sent to Europe to select and pur- chase stock from the celebrated herds of the Old World, and these animals were to be sold at public auction under the conditions that the puchasers should retain them in the county for at least three years from the time of sale, and that the stockholders of the company
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should have preference in the use of the animals, upon complying with the owners' terms.
The amount of stock was early taken by the progressive farmers of Livingston, and in December 1853 David Brooks of Avon and Samuel L. Fuller of Conesus were selected to proceed to Europe and purchase the stock. These gentlemen sailed January 21, 1854, and early in the spring returned with selections from the best foreign herds. The company suffered the loss of some animals, however, and when the sale was held June 27, 1854, but twelve animals were put up. The highest price paid was $1,075 for the bull Usurper, by C. H. Carroll, and the lowest $350 for the heifer Damsel. The average price was nearly $600 per head. The purchasers were Homer Sackett and others, Caledonia: C. H. Carroll, Groveland; J. S. Wadsworth, Geneseo; Richard Peck, Lima; N. Chappell, Avon; D. H. Albertson, Avon ; and D. H. McHardy, Avon. This importation resulted in a small loss to the Association owing to the death of several animals. Soon after this the celebrated bull Governor and two cows were sent to this country. In 1857 Mr. Brooks introduced the bull John O'Gaunt and the cows Lady Rose and Dairy Maid. Richard Peck of Lima about this time procured some very fine blooded cattle from Kentucky. In 1864 Gen. James S. Wadsworth purchased the bull Reynolds of Mr. Alexander, the celebrated Kentucky stock breeder, and Aaron Bar- ber of Avon became the owner of the Red Duke, which for a number of years was exhibited at the county fairs. Since that time Mr. Barber has acquired a national reputation as the owner of the best herds of shorthorns in the country. The impulse given to the improvement of cattle by the breeders named and by Hon. James W. Wadsworth, the late Charles F. Wadsworth, George W. Root, the Ayraults, Maj. William A. Wadsworth and others placed Livingston county for a time in the van as the producer and exhibitor of the very best grades of cattle. "Twenty years ago," wrote Mr. Brodie in an ad- mirable article on the subject of shorthorns in the Genesee valley, published in American Rural Home in 1871, "but few farmers pos- sessed an animal other than of the common kind, but to-day almost every one has some choice stock."
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