USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 41
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Late in the year 1853 a movement was set on foot for the formation of a new county, from parts of Livingston. Ontario, Steuben and Allegany. Dansville was proposed as the county seat. The plan con-
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
templated subtracting from Livingston's fair proportions the towns of Springwater, Sparta, Dansville, West Sparta, Nunda and Portage; Naples and Canadice were to be taken from Ontario; Cohocton, Way- land and South Dansville from Steuben, and Burns and Ossian from Allegany. The project was the subject of considerable discussion and was urged with great zeal upon the attention of the Legislature. It does not seem to have received a very general support from the south- ern towns, however, and was early abandoned. As a sort of compen- sating measure, a bill was introduced in the Assembly in March, 1854. dividing the county into two jury districts making Dansville a shire town and providing for the erection of a jail in that place. The bill failed to pass, however.
The Whigs entered the fall political campaign of 1854 with Myron H. Clark as their candidate for Governor and Henry J. Raymond for Lieutenant Governor, while on the county ticket were John White, Jr., for County Treasurer; Lyman Turner, Superintendent of the Poor ; David H. Abell and John S. Wiley for the Assembly. William H. Kelsey was the Whig nominee for Congress. The Democrats put in nomination the following county ticket: County Treasurer, Chaun- cey R. Bond; Superintendent of the Poor, Ebenezer Leach; Members of Assembly, Lyman Odell and McNeil Seymour. The temperance men also made an independent nomination for the Assembly, support- ing John B. Crosby and Sidney Sweet. For the first time in many years the Whig party of Livingston met with defeat. The proud boast of the Whigs that this county, no matter what might befall the party elsewhere, always "stood firm and immovable," and that "her unwavering host could not be moved from the path of duty and right," had become an idle one, and defeat was upon the banners where so often victory had perched. The Democrats elected their candidates for the Assembly and for Superintendent of the Poor, while the Whigs secured the remaining offices. Mr. Kelsey, the Whig candidate for Congress, was elected by a majority of about 6,000, he having secured the votes of those calling themselves Ameri- cans, at this time a party without a definite organization.
The country at this time was in a condition of political chaos. Old parties were losing their strength and party cohesiveness was fast disappearing. The discussion of the slavery question and the grow- ing power of the foreign elements infused into our national life, forced
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
new issues upon the people and gave rise to new organizations. The Democratic party, notwithstanding its numerous factions and its manifest mistakes, managed to preserve its party organization and to a great degree its former strength. The Whigs, however, were less fortunate. After the fall election of 1854 Mr. Greely declared that the Whig party was dead, and the little it had achieved in this election seemed, certainly, to justify his assertion. To add to the political confusion, a new party made its appearance, whose influence, although exerted somewhat secretly at first, was strangely powerful. Other organizations seemed to waver before it and, proclaiming high purposes, appealing to the patriotism of men, their religious and social prejudices and passions, many men of sound judgment and un- questioned integrity were drawn into its ranks, which swelled until the party wielded a powerful influence in political affairs.
In this county the influence of the widespread disorganization in the political parties was first felt at the special election held for this Senatorial district January 30, 1855, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Myron H. Clark Governor of the State. The Whig nominating convention met at Lima January 22d, when a resolution was adopted "that the members of this convention approve of the nomination by the People's convention of Hon. Charles Loomis, as this day made at Canandaigua." This action proved unsatisfactory to a large number of the Whigs, especially in this county, and William H. Goodwin was also nominated. The election resulted in the triumph of the Anti-Fusionists, or American party, Mr. Goodwin's majority being over 2,000.
The spring town meetings of this year were also carried by the Americans against a fusion of all other elements. In but one or two towns were regular Whig or Democratic nominations made.
The first county convention of the American party was held in Geneseo July 9, 1855. S. J. Crooks of Nunda called the conven- tion to order, and permanent officers were chosen as follows: Chair- man, Lyman Odell; Secretaries, H. L. Janes and James Faulkner, Jr. A committee was appointed to report resolutions expressive of the views of the convention consisting of S. J. Crooks, W. A. Mills, J. Kershner, John Shepard, L. Williams, Jr., J. Faulkner, Jr., J. S. Wiley, Robert Grant, L. Odell, R. Olney, N. Chappell, B. Payne, Scott Lord, H. McCartney, A. C. Campbell, A. Conkey and Francis
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Hull. The resolutions reported approved the declarations of the national American party, "hostility to public and party corruption, and the means by which the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon us our rulers and our political creed-a determined resistance to the aggressive policy of the papal church-the right of every man to the uncontrolled and peaceful enjoyment of his religious opinions and worship, yet asserting that Christianity is an element of our political system, and that the Holy Bible is the repository of all civil and religious freedom, and therefore condemning every attempt to exclude it from the schools."
Meanwhile elements opposed to the Democratic party on account of its attitude on the slavery question, and to the American party be- cause of its secret and proscriptive character, were crystalizing to form the Republican party, which a few years later was destined to enter upon an enduring career of success and power.
In the midst of this political confusion came the fall election of 1855. The American party in this county supported Sidney Sweet for Senator; Scott Lord for County Judge; Hugh McCartney for Sheriff; James T. Norton for County Clerk; Harvey Armstrong for Superintendent of the Poor, and Lyman Odell and Samuel J. Crooks for Members of Assembly. Opposed to these men were the candi- dates on the Republican or Fusion ticket, as follows: Senator, John Wiley; Sheriff, John N. Hurlburt; County Judge, George Hastings; County Clerk, Charles Root; Superintendent of the Poor, Lyman Turner; Members of Assembly, John H. Jones and Alonzo Bradner. The Democrats made an independent nomination of Chauncey Loomis for Sheriff, and the temperance people supported John B. Crosby for the Assembly in the first district.
The campaign was a lamentably bitter one, and one of the most closely contested political battles ever fought in the county. The result was a decided victory for neither party, although in the State the Americans had a large majority. The American candidates for Sheriff, Member of Assembly in the first district, and also the nomince of that party for Senator were elected, and a majority of about 450 given for the American State ticket. The other offices were, how- ever, secured by the Fusion candidates by small majorities.
Following this was the presidential election of 1856, when the three great parties marshalled their forces and contended for the mastery.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
The Democrats entered the field with James Buchanan and John C. Breckenridge as their nominees for President and Vice President. The Republicans presented the names of John C. Fremont and Wil- liam L. Dayton for these offices, and the American party supported Millard Fillmore and Andrew J. Donelson. The county nominations of the Republican party were Amos A. Hendee for District Attorney ; Chauncey R. Bond, County Treasurer; Daniel H. Bissell, Coroner ; David Gray, Sessions Justice; Lyman Hawes and Alfred Bell, Mem- bers of Assembly. William H. Kelsey was nominated for Congress, James S. Wadsworth, Presidential Elector at large, and Isaac L. Endress, Elector for this county. The Americans nominated Scott Lord for District Attorney ; Edward R. Hammatt, County Treasurer ; Orson Walbridge, Sessions Justice; William H. Thomas, Coroner; Alvin Chamberlain and Orville Touscy, Members of Assembly. Sam- vel Hallett of Steuben was the American nominee for Congress. The Democratic nominations were, for District Attorney, John A. Van- Derlip; County Treasurer, Walter E. Lauderdale; Coroner, Arnold Gray; Sessions Justice, Clark B. Adams; Congress, Benjamin F. Angel; Assembly, John H. Jones and Utley Spencer.
The Democrats achieved a national victory, but in Livingston county the new Republican party developed a strength which neither its friends nor its opponents supposed it to possess, and the election resulted in an overwhelming victory for its nominees. The Republi- can vote polled nearly equalled the combined vote of the two opposing parties, and gave it the ascendancy which it has, with occasional reverses, since maintained.
In 1857 the Republicans were again successful, but lost the Assem- blyman in the first district. The officers elected were John B. Hal- sted, Senator; John H. Jones and Alfred Bell, Assemblymen; Levi P. Grover and Harvey Farley, School Commissioners,
In July, 1857, Benjamin F. Angel of Geneseo, who had twice before been honored with foreign appointments by the administra- tion, was appointed Minister Resident to Sweden. The people of Geneseo where his residence had been from early boyhood and where he occupied a prominent position as a lawyer and political leader, im- proved the occasion to show their respect and esteem for him, by in- viting him to a public entertainment to be given in his honor. The invitation was signed by all the leading citizens of Geneseo without
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
regard to party, but Mr. Angel was compelled to decline it on account of his early departure. He remained at Stockholm until the change of administration in 1861.
The Genesee Valley Railroad was now open from Rochester to Avon, but all efforts to complete it to Mount Morris had proven un- successful.1 It had early become evident that the directors of the company did not intend, or did not have the ability, to complete the road; and the feeling was very general that the former was the true explanation of the situation. There had been much in the management of the company's affairs to create suspicion and distrust, and to justify the dissatisfaction which existed among the people; these im- pressions were not banished when the company attempted to enforce the collection of subscriptions against citizens of Geneseo and Mount Morris, without giving any assurance that this portion of the road would ever be completed. The people of Geneseo were also dis- pleased with the location of the road through that town, the line of which, against their earnest protest, had been run along the lower plateau, nearly half a mile below the village, when surveys had shown an equally practicable route along the upper plateau and much nearer the business center.
The question of the completion of the road remained in a state of vexatious uncertainty until the fall of 1855, when a meeting was held at Rochester, composed largely of representatives from this county, to consider the question of completing the long delayed enterprise. It had been proposed that a company be formed to complete the road from Avon to Mount Morris, and then to lease it of the Genesee Val- ley company. In furtherance of this plan a committee, consisting of three Rochester gentlemen and John R. Murray and Lester Phelps of Mount Morris, was appointed to solicit subscriptions. The latter gentleman stated that his town had already subscribed $30,000 for this object, and Geneseo would take $20,000 more. The road bed was already partially graded, $100,000 having been expended by the old company on this part of the line, and it was believed that $200,000 would complete it. On the 21st of June of the following year another meeting was held at Geneseo, at which it was stated that the Roches- ter and Genesee Valley Railroad Company had offered to release all
I. The original intention had beeu to extend it to Pittshurg, but this idea was entertained only for a short time.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
its right and title in and to the line south of Avon to any company that would complete the road from Avon to Mount Morris. Accept- ing this proposition, steps were immediately taken to form a new company, and George S. Whitney, William T. Cuyler, William M. Bond, C. H. Carroll and H. P. North were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions to the stock. An organization was effected at this meeting by choosing as directors John R. Murray, Allen Ayrault, H. P. North. Hiram P. Mills, C. H. Carroll, W. C. Hawley, J. S. Wadsworth, Charles Jones, William A. Reynolds, John Fowler. William T. Cuyler, R. P. Wisner and William Kidd. At a subse- quent meeting. Henry P. North was made President of the company, and Richard P. Fitzhugh and E. R. Hammatt were added to the Board of Directors, in place of Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Ayrault.
The most untiring efforts were now made to secure subscriptions to the stock along the whole line of the road, and many were so desirous of seeing it completed that they took more stock than they were able or should have been required to hold. Two prominent citizens now in mind in this manner opened the way for a series of financial re- verses that swept away a fine property and left them in strait- ened circumstances. Republics may be ungrateful, but it little be- hooves the people of the valley to treat lightly the claims to lasting honor and gratitude of such men who have helped to make it a rich and prosperous community.
Such was the success of the company in securing subscriptions that in October, 1856, a contract was made with George W. and George B. Phelps for the completion of the road by the 1st of September of the following year. Work was immediately commenced by these energetic contractors and pushed forward with all possible dispatch. In the calculations made, however, the financial crisis of 1857 did not enter as a factor, and consequently when that period was reached and all public and private enterprises were seriously embarrassed or wholly suspended this one proved no exception. Unable to provide the con- tractors with the means to prosecute the work, the Directors were compelled to suspend operations, but early in 1858 they were resumed, through the earnest and indefatigable efforts of the officers of the company. On New Year's day, 1859, the first train entered Geneseo, and soon afterward the road was completed to Mount Morris. Regu- lar trains commenced running in April, 1859.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Thus was brought to a successful issue one of the most important enterprises of the Genesee valley. For years it was a "child of sor- row, " meeting with reverses and misfortunes enough to have filled the bravest hearts with dismay. But at last, through the indomitable will and the energy of its projectors, the road was finished and opened to the public.
In 1857 was experienced one of those strange storms of financial disasters which sweep over the country at well defined intervals, car- rying ruin to business men, crippling and retarding enterprise and throwing helpless upon the world thousands of laboring men without work or the means of livelihood. Yet in this county its effects would have been little felt had it not been immediately preceded by another calamity of equal magnitude, the almost total failure of the wheat crop. For many years the grain raised on the fertile hills and in the fruitful valleys of the Genesee had brought the highest price in the market, and the flour merchant who could ticket his cargoes with the magic word "Genesee" was sure of a sale, even in very dull mar- kets, at by far the best rates. The tables of the wealthy were deemed lacking in an important particular if unsupplied with bread made from the celebrated Genesee wheat, and far and wide it was eagerly sought for by those who could appreciate its worth. But in 1855 a terrible enemy of this great staple, the weevil, made its appearance, and its ravages cansed the almost total failure of the crop. Hundreds of fields of bright, waving grain fell a sacrifice to its remorseless on- slaught, and where thousands of bushels of wheat had been harvested before only a few hundreds rewarded the husbandman for his labor now, while many fields proved a total loss. This great failure of the principal crop, coupled with the stringency of the times, caused a financial distress unknown for years and a large number of business failures followed. The banking institutions of the county, however, remained firm during the general crash throughout the country, and not only bravely weathered the storm, maintaining their integrity while hundreds of other banks went down, leaving their promises to pay worthless as rags in the people's hands, but extended substantial aid to the entire business community. The ravages of the weevil continued for several seasons, but not to so serious a degree as at first. Nevertheless, it was years before the county again reached its former importance as a wheat growing district, and never since has
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
its wheat filled the place in the markets of the world it once occupied.
At the fall election of 1858 the Republicans supported John N. Hurl- burt for Sheriff; Charles Root for County Clerk; S. N. Chamberlain for Sessions Justice; Lyman Turner for Superintendent of the Poor : C. R. Blackall for Coroner; Samuel L. Fuller and John Wiley for the Assembly. William Irvine was the nominee for Congress. The Americans also presented a ticket for popular approval, although their strength had greatly diminished, and this was destined to be their last appearance as a party organization. The American nomi- nees were George F. Coe, Sheriff; County Clerk, Matthew Porter, Jr. ; Sessions Justice, William Houghton; Superintendent of the Poor. Peter Miller; Coroner, James E. Jenks; Assembly, Lyman Odell and Samuel Skinner; Congress, Goldsmith Denniston of Steuben. The Democratic party entered the field with the following ticket: Sheriff, Wilbur Watson; County Clerk, Charles L. Bingham; Sessions Justice, Utley Spencer; Superintendent of the Poor, George Mercer; Coro -. ner, Arnold Gray: Assembly, John H. Jones and David McNair. The Democratic nominee for Congress was George B. Bradley.
The election resulted in sweeping Republican victories throughout the State. In the county the Republican majorities ranged from 1,000 to 1,400 and every nominee of that party was elected.
For the first time since the disintegration of the old Whig party the fall election of 1859 found party lines clearly defined, and the contest between two great organizations. The American party had dissolved, and its members found places in the ranks of the other two parties, the accessions from this source to the Republican party being the greatest, on account of its position on the slavery question, which had become the leading and all-absorbing issue.
The Republicans of Livingston supported the following ticket at this election: County Judge, Sidney Ward; District Attorney, Ger- shom Buckley; County Treasurer, Chauncey R. Bond;1 Sessions Jus- tice, Charles H. Randall; Coroners, William Nisbit and Zara H. Blake; Assembly, Samuel L. Fuller and John Wiley; Senator, D. H. Abell. The Democratic nominees were: George Hastings, County Judge; Adoniram J. Abbott, District Attorney; George Mercer,
1. While holding this office, Mr. Bond died June 2, 1860. The vacancy thus caused was filled by the appointment of James T. Norton to the office. . At the fall election of 1860 Mr. Norton was elected for three years, aud retired at the end of that time having declined a re-election.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
County Treasurer ; Utley Spencer, Sessions Justice; William H. Ben- nett and Arnold Gray, Coroners; James G. Clark and Joseph W. Smith, Assemblymen; Senator, Linus W. Thayer. But little interest was manifested in this election, except in the strife to secure the office of County Judge. The friends of Mr. Hastings made an unusual and successful effort in his behalf, and he was re-elected; his majority, however, was only 94. The rest of the Republican ticket was elected by large majorities.
The census of 1860 showed the population of Livingston County to be 39,546, and the assessed valuation of real and personal estate in that year was $14,306,555; for causes already named, the showing of population not being as favorable as that of 1850. The wealth of the county, as shown in the tables of assessed valuation, made a more favorable exhibit, the increase since 1821 amounting to $12, 128,654, or nearly six fold. When organized the county had twelve towns. The division of Sparta into the towns of North Dansville, Sparta and West Sparta increased the number to fourteen, while the annexation from Allegany of the towns of Nunda and Portage in 1846, and Ossian in 1857, brought the number of towns up to seventeen and added a rich and flourishing territory. All buildings necessary for the transaction of public business, the safe keeping of important records, and the care or confinement of its unfortunate and vicious classes, had been provided, equalling in size, convenience or cost those of any rural county in the State.
Internal improvements had kept pace with the county's growing strength. The Cohocton Valley railroad skirted its eastern border, the Genesee Valley Canal wound along its western boundary, while midway between them was the newly completed Avon, Geneseo and Mount Morris railroad, connecting at the former place with the vast network of railroads extending over the country. The educational progress of the county also furnished a proud record. The Genesee College and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, the Geneseo Academy and the academies of Avon, Moscow and Dansville, together with the excellent schools, public and private, of other towns, had a wide repu- tation and some of them, especially the three first named, were filled with students from all parts of the globe. Added to these was the Athenaeum Library at Geneseo, with its thousands of volumes, free to all residents of the county. Nor were the institutions of religion
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neglected. The churches of the several denominations throughout the county were beautiful, commodious and costly edifices, and the people generally a church-going and God-fearing community.
In worldly affairs the inhabitants of the county were also prosperous and happy. The country had in a great measure recovered from the effects of the financial reverses of 1857, the crops were uniformly good, manufacturing and commercial interests were thriving, and a bright, peaceful and prosperous future seemed dawning on the people.
Just as this period had been reached occurred the ever memorable presidential campaign of 1860. It is unnecessary to recount here the many exciting incidents of that period, which are still fresh in the public mind and will remain so long after the recollection of subse- quent campaigns becomes a dim and shadowy picture of the past. In its furor and excitement, its campaign songs and partisan bands of uniformed men; in the intensity and bitterness of the feelings it en- gendered; even more in its after results, it stands out as one of the most important epochs in our national history.
The Republicans early entered the field with Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin as their national standard bearers. The Demo- cratic party, less fortunate in uniting its forces, presented two tickets for public approval. The regular nominees of the party were Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson; the candidates of the "Seceders' convention" were John C. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane. A fourth party, calling itself the Constitutional Union party, put up John Bell for President and Edward Everett for Vice President.
Passing over the State nominations of these contesting parties, we come to those of more immediate interest, the county nominations. The Republican party supported the following ticket: Congressman, Robert B. Van Valkenburgh; County Treasurer, James T. Norton ; Sessions Justice, Charles H. Randall; Coroners, J. B. Patterson and Loren J. Ames; Assemblymen, Matthew Wiard and George Hyland ; School Commissioners, Franklin B. Francis and Harvey Farley. The Republican nominee for Presidential Elector was James S. Wads- worth." The nominees of the Democratic party were, for Congress- man, Charles C. B. Walker; County Treasurer, Hezekiah Allen; Ses- sions Justice, Utley Spencer; Coroners, George H. Bennett, Zara W. Joslyn; Assemblymen, David H. Albertson and David Davidson; School Commissioners, Daniel Bigelow and Samuel D. Faulkner.
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