History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 6

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 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

From Canandaigua were two trails. The one, after crossing the outlet of Honeoye lake and going over the hill in sight of Hemlock lake, came out upon the Conesus, near its southern end, when, follow- ing its shore to the foot and fording the outlet, the path proceeded west, and, passing over the site of Geneseo, led into Beardstown. The other, or main trail, leaving Canandaigua, passed over the site of West Bloomfield, through the Honeoye outlet, to the site of Lima, thence, westward, passing the site of Avon, crossing the river a few rods above the bridge, and entering the village of Canawaugus, about a mile above the ford. Pursuing then a northwest direction, it led to the Caledonia cold spring.

" From Rochester there were two trails up the Genesee, one upon each side. That upon the west side, following the bank of the river, passed into the Indian village of Ca-na-wau-gus. From thence the trail pursued the winding of the river to O-ha-gi a Tuscarora village on the flat, between two and three miles below Cuylerville. It next led to the Seneca village of Big Tree." Turning the bend. the trail entered Beardstown and thence led to Squakie Hill. Leaving the latter village, it continued up the river, crossing the outlet of Silver lake, and, entering Gardeau, followed on over the site of Portage, and thence to Caneadea, the last Seneca village on the Genesee.

The cast side trail started from the ford near the aqueduct, at Roch-

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

ester, and turning a little back from the river, crossed Mount Hope. "It followed the windings of the river up to Mount Morris. From this place ran two trails up the Canaseraga creek, one upon each side. They led into the small Indian village of Ga-nos-ga-go, upon the site of Dansville at the head of the valley."

Branches intersecting these main pathways at fording places, con- nected the smaller villages. Of this class was the trail leading from the Indian town on Conesus inlet westward over the hill, passing the battleground of Boyd's scouting party, thence through Groveland, by way of Williamsburg, to Beardstown. Over this Sullivan's army marched on its way to the Seneca settlements.

In numbers the Senecas exceeded any other nation of the League. In 1650, the period of their highest prosperity, they were reckoned at ten thousand. Thence forward their strength gradually diminished. A few years later the Jesuits reported the fighting men at one thou- sand. In our Revolution they were able to furnish four hundred warriors to the British. Their own estimates are much larger. According to a tradition, they once took a census of their nation. A kernel of white flint corn, dropped by each into a husk basket, assumed to hold a dozen quarts, was thereby filled. This would indicate a population of nearly eighteen thousand.

The Indian title to Little Beard's reservation was extinguished by the treaty of June 30, 1802 at Buffalo Creek; that to Gardeau reserva- tion, except two square miles thereof west of the river in present Wyoming County, by the treaty of September 3, 1823 at Moscow, and that to Squakie Hill, Big Tree and Canawaugus reservations and the remaining two square miles of the Gardeau reservation, by the treaty of August 31, 1826 at Buffalo Creek. 1 In 1826 most of the Senecas left the country. A few families lingered another twelve-month, but their homes had passed into strangers' hands, and they, too, followed to the Buffalo and other new reservations. Indeed, coincident with the advent of the whites began the exodus, for, by 1816, there were not more than four hundred Indians within the limits of the present county, all of whom lived on the westerly side of the river. Cana- waugus, at the latter date, contained about ninety souls, of whom several were descendants of Cornplanter. The Big Tree village numbered less than a score, consisting in most part of John Montour's

1. See Appendix No. 3 for copies of each of these treaties.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

family; a little knot still remained at Beardstown; Squakie Hill had a population of eighty ; and at Gardean lived Mary Jemison, some of her descendants and a few others, about four score in all. These consti- tuted the remnant of that aboriginal host which had long peopled this region and throughout the Genesee valley held undisputed sway. 1

I. "Realm of the Senecas! no more In shadow lies the 'Pleasant Vale:' Gone are the Chief- who ruled of yore, Like chaff before the rushing gale. Their rivers run with narrowed bounds. Cleared are their broad, old hunting grounds

And on their ancient battle fields The greeusward to the plowman yields .

Like mocking echoes of the hill Their fame resounded and grew -till, And on green ridge and level plain Their hearths will never smoke again.' -Proem to Hosmer's Sonnondio.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

CHAPTER IV.

T HE CHARTS of Western New York, prior to 1750, afford little or no definite information respecting the Genesee country. Pouchot's Map, prepared about the year 1758.1 a portion of which is there given, was perhaps the first attempt made to fix the location of Seneca towns, BAYLET FORT DES SABLE LAC ONTARIO. and even this, as will be seen, gives the position of very few. GRANDE R. AU BEUF History, however. more than two centuries LES 3 CHUTES earlier, had shed a glimmer of light upon this region. Scarcely two score years KANDAGEM 4KANENTAGON had passed away after the CÀSCONCHAGON ANY AGLEN advent of Columbus, when James Cartier, while explor- ing the gulf of St. Lawrence. in 1535, was informed by the KANENTAGE savages living on its borders, LONIOTADE "that, after ascending many Las SONNECHIO -KANONSKEGON PAIS DES SONNONTỔINS leagues among rapids and waterfalls, he would reach a lake (Ontario), one hun- KAGUEN. INDIAN TRAILS. dred and fifty leagues long KANESTIO KNACTO and forty or fifty broad, at RUNG: KAY. JEN the western extremity of R. DE KANESTIC which the waters were whole- some and the winters mild, and that a river (the Gen- esce) emptied into it from the south, which had its source in the

1. M. Ponchot writes under date of April 14, 175%, that he handed to the Marquis de Vandreui! a Map, and a memoir on the subject of the French and English Frontier- in America.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

country of the Iroquois. "1 This, it may be safe to assume, is the first mention in print of the region of the Genesee. Next, Lescarbot, using the information gained by Cartier from the lips of the Indians of Canada, in 1535, says: "A little further west (of the Oswego river) at the southern bend of the said lake (Ontario) there is another river (the Genesee), which comes from the country of the Iroquois. "2 Though scanty enough, these two references form the sum of direct historical mention of the Genesee river and of the Indians in its neighborhood prior to the seventeenth century, so far as we have been able to learn.

The original village of the Senecas, according to all tradition, was situated on a knoll, Genundewah, near the village of Naples, as has been noted. After the extinguishment of the council fire at that ancient hill home by a great serpent, in the strange manner given in their traditions, villages sprang up elsewhere. Much obscurity rests about this particular era. The remains of a series of earthworks or rude fortified towns have been found extending from the county of St Lawrence, by way of Jefferson, Wayne, Ontario and Livingston, to Lake Erie, through Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties upon a general line parallel to lake Ontario. It is estimated that more than two hundred of them must have originally existed. They were especially numerous in this region.

Squier, 3 whose extensive researches among aboriginal remains in Central America and elsewhere fitted him for the task of careful inquiry, visited this county and other portions of the State three score of years ago. His object was to determine if these enclosures had a common origin with the vast system of earthworks of the Mississippi valley, whose construction in a remote age is assigned to the mysterious Mound-builders, But they proved to be wanting in the regularity of outline of those unique western structures. The Builders, he says, instead of planning them upon geometrical prin- ciples, like those of the west, regulated their forms entirely by the nature of the ground upon which they were built. The pottery and

1. Marshall's Viagara Frontier

2. 1.escarbot, l'aris Ed., 1609, P. 351

Hon. E. G Squier. See Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. II.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

other relics found scattered among their ruins are "absolutely identical with those which mark the sites of towns and forts known to have been occupied by the Indians within the historical period;" and, instead of placing their construction back in the ages of the misty past, it may be referred to the period succeeding the discovery of America or not long anterior to that event.

The Senecas, quite likely, on being driven from Genundewah, took the precaution to provide their new habitations with defenses against unfriendly tribes of the west and north; for they were then in their weakest condition, and had most need of such security as their simple art of defense might afford. Earth walls would, without doubt, be first suggested as the means of local protection against assaults by hostile neighbors. These earthworks generally "occupy high and commanding sites near the bluff edges of those broad terraces by which the country rises from the level of the lakes. When met with upon lower grounds, it is usually upon some dry knoll or little hill, or where banks of streams serve to lend strength to the position. A few have been found upon slight elevations in the midst of swamps, where dense forests and almost impassable marshes protected them from discovery and attack. In nearly all cases they are placed in close proximity to some unfailing supply of water, near copious springs or running streams. Gateways opening toward these are always to be observed, and in some cases guarded passages are visi- ble. "1

In preparing to construct these defenses (Cusick says), "they set" fire against several trees required to make a fort; the stone axes were then used to rub off the coals so as to burn quicker. When the tree burned down they put fire to it in places about three paces apart and burnt it off in half a day. The logs were then collected at a place where they set them up around according to the bigness of the fort, and the earth heaped on both sides." Embankments were dispensed with, after the introduction of the spade and other European implements enabled the Indians to plant their pickets more firmly in the ground.

Traces of long occupancy are found in all these works. Relics of art, such as clay pipes; metal ornaments; earthen jars of clay tempered with pounded quartz and glass, or with fine sand, and

1. Squier, Smithsonian Contributions, Vol. II. p. 12.

611

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

covered with rude ornaments; stone hammers, and even parched corn, which by lapse of time had become carbonized, were discovered by Squier and others in caches or "wells." The latter, designed for the deposit of corn and other stores, "have been found six or eight feet in depth, usually located on the most elevated spot within the enclosure." Fragments of bones, charcoal and ashes and other evidences of occupancy are always to be met with.

Many of these works, traced by the pioneers, were covered with heavy forests, and, in several instances, trees from one to three feet in thickness were observed by Squier growing upon the embankments and in the trenches. This would carry back the date of their con- struction several hundred years.

While the enclosures usually varied from one to four acres in area, ruins of much greater extent have been found. The larger ones were designed for permanent occupancy, the smaller for temporary protection-"the citadels in ROAD FROM LIMA ID LIYUN A which the builders sought safety for their old men. women and children in case of alarm or attack," or when the braves were absent Arca 16 Acres. on the warpath. The em- bankments were seldom more than four feet in height. The spot selected was generally convenient to fishing places and hunting grounds, and contiguous to fertile bottoms. Indeed, all indications render it probable that the occupants were fixed and agricultural in their habits.

The remains of nearly a score of these earth works have been traced within this county, the largest of which, is located in the town of Livonia, on the farm formerly owned by James Haydock, now owned by john Peel. It is three miles northeast of Livonia Centre on the Lima road, and covers an area of sixteen acres. It occupied the "summit of a commanding hill, a position well chosen for defence. Sixty years ago, where the lines of intrenchments were crossed by fences and thus preserved from the encroachments of the plow, the

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

embankment and ditch were distinctly visible. General Adams, who had often been over the ground before the removal of the forest, states that the ditch was then breast high."1 Caches were laid open and many fragments of pottery picked up within the enclosure. The gateway opened toward the spring as shown in the engraving, and some indications existed of parallel embankments extending in that direction. Colonel George Smith, who was familiar with the works a century ago, was of opinion that the eastern ditch was straight rather than elliptical as in the engraving, and ran due north and south, or nearly so. Within the fort, the ground was then smooth and was covered by a growth of small timber. A steep bank bounded the fort on the west, while on the north and south the ground sloped gradually away. From the western boundary of the fort to the present highway and beyond the whole surface was a gentle descent. From the bottom of the ditch, in which stood several oaks, to the top of the bank was about five feet.

Another work of similar character was situated on the farm form- erly of General Robert Adams, now owned by Morey Adams, two miles northeast of Livonia Centre, occupying "a beautiful broad swell of land not commanded by any adjacent heights, upon the west side of a fine copious spring, for which the Indians constructed a large basin of loose stones. Upon a little elevation to the left, as also in the forest to the northward, are extensive cemeteries." The area of the work was nearly ten acres and the earth walls were quite distinct in 1847.

Two and a half miles southeast of the head of Hemlock lake, in the town of Springwater, a mound of similar character, though much smaller in size, was known to the pioneers in early days. Its precise location cannot now be fixed.

The names of the various places already described have passed into oblivion. We are a little more fortunate respecting another work of the same class at no great distance from those mentioned. It was located about thirty rods northeast of Bosley's mills near the outlet of Conesus lake, and in the field now bounded by the Avon road and the highway leading due north from the latter. The aboriginal

I. The diagram on preceding page is from actual measurements, after one made by Mr. Squier, who was aided in tracing the outline by Mr. Haydock, who himself had been familiar with the ruins before they became greatly impaired.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

name, Kan-agh-saws1 clings to the ruins of this inclosure, though it is generally called "Fort Hill. " A tradition still extant, already given in connection with the Battle of Geneseo, peoples it with the women and old men of the Senecas. Upon a knoll of two or three acres, along the westerly side of which ran a small Stream, there existed a line of embankments, two or three feet in height, the whole being covered, at the advent of the whites, with a low undergrowth of wild plum, hazel and other bushes, but no large trees. A fine spring which supplied the occupants, continued to be used by the

SITE OF FORTIFIED TOWN NEAR BOSLEY'S MILLS.

early settlers for many years. John Bosley came into the country in 1792, and acquired the mill property in that year. The same year he planted this lot with corn and potatoes. A grist mill was soon erected on the site of the present mills. The excavations therefor revealed tomahawks and axes, and other iron relics were found within the ruins in sufficient quantities to iron the mill. Jarvis Raymond, who occupied the farm, picked up a rust caten gun barrel here. Eighty years ago, during the construction of Olmsted's mill, a thigh bone, two inches longer than that of the tallest man of the day, was

1. Or Gah-nyuh-sas. The more modern village, near the head of the lake, bore the same name. But, singularly enough, an entirely different meaning is attached to the word.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

exhumed within the inclosure, and a shin bone of unusual size was also found. Large beads of green glass, coal ashes and burnt bones, a brass kettle, an iron pot and flint arrow heads in great numbers have also been discovered. Skulls to the number of two score or more were found at one time, and under a stump well nigh two feet through, which stood near the crest of the hill, a skeleton was revealed some years ago. Grotesque ornaments, ivory or bone and metallic crosses and an urn of graceful form have likewise been gathered from the ruins of this work.

Near the westerly bank of the Genesee, on the open flat of the Canawaugus reservation, might be seen as late as 1798, the embank- ment of an old fort which included very nearly two acres. "It cor- responded in situation and appearance with many others which 1 have seen in this part of the country. " said Judge Porter, who sur- veved the Indian reservations, "and which seemed to bear a high antiquity. " This inclosure was located not far from the old Indian orchard, across the river in a southwest direction from the village of Avon.

When Horatio Jones came into the country there was a "fort" of this description located on the flats near the river and distant about thirty rods north of the residence of the late Colonel William Jones. The highway running eastward to the river and which it strikes opposite Williamsburg, passes a few steps to the south of the inclos- ure. Before the land was placed under cultivation the embankments were two or three feet high and had every appearance common to this class of earthworks. The lot in which it was situated has been frequently plowed, yet the outline can still be traced and relics of the stronghold may now be gathered thereabouts. The tract of land on which it is situated is still called Fort Farm.

On the farm of Andrew McCurdy, half a mile west of the village of Dansville, across the Canaseraga creek and a few rods south of the Ossian road, is another work of this character. Its site, a bluff at the foot of which runs the Can- . MI aseraga, overlooks the fertile valley to the east- DANSVILLE ward and is commanded by no neighboring height. AFORTIFICATION To the north of the inclosure a rapid stream takes its way through a gorge about fifty feet in Cr depth, which, after running parallel to the creek

(,4

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

for a short distance, bends abruptly to the right, as in the engraving, and enters the Canaseraga. Near the confluence of these streamis the inclosure was situated. The sharp acclivities which form the banks protected it on the north, east and west, while on the south side it was guarded by an earth wall and ditch (from two and a half to three feet deep), which were still quite distinct as late as the year 1859, when the field was plowed for the first time. Under a large oak stump, which stood in the bottom of the ditch near the northeast corner, and which showed 214 annual growths, as counted by Profes- sor Brown, were found parts of three or four dark earthen jars, which, on analysis, yielded animal oil, indicating their original use to have been that of cooking vessels. Ashes and burnt bones of men and animals indiscriminately mixed, and in one place human skeletons entire or nearly so, an earthen pipe, a stone pestle and a deer's horn curiously carved, were found within the inclosure.

A century ago a circular mound, composed in part of black earth and cinders, about thirty feet in diameter and from four to five feet in height, stood a few rods east of the old Havens tavern house in the highway leading to Groveland. The mound was quite entire in 1806, when the family of James Scott came into the country, and excited considerable attention. Its origin was ascribed to the aborigines, and early settlers classed it among the fortified towns. The northerly side of the mound extended to the fence, the track way making a detour around its southerly side. A score of years later the road was widened and the mound was thus brought near to the center of the highway. Thirty or forty feet to the eastward was a deep hole into which, from year to year, portions of the mound were thrown, as it would be plowed and scraped away, until finally leveled with the surrounding surface.

A mound similar to the last, though not so large, was to be seen less than a century ago near the highway leading from Scottsburg to Dansville. Its location was on the hill-side about midway between the two places, and lay partly on the farm formerly of James Me Whorter. Upon a side hill fiekl of the farm of the late llenry Driesbach, two miles north of Dansville, was to be seen, in an early day, a succession of holes in two rows parallel to each other and regularly arranged. Their excavation is also naturally referred to the red man, and, with plausi- bility, to the era of fortified places.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

In the wood lot, on Mr. Austen's "Sweet Briar" farm, twenty rods to the west of the highway leading from Geneseo to Mt. Morris, and about the same distance south of the road running to Jones bridge, is a small aboriginal inclosure embracing 2 acres. Its outlines are still defined. It was, most likely, used as a temporary abode by the ancient Builders while they were cultivating, from year to year, a favorable spot on the productive flats just below.

Seneca town history may be said to have had five eras. The first applied to the original home of the tribe, Genundewah; the next brought the intrenched habitations to which we have just referred. Following these was the period of the four villages destroyed by De- Nonville in 1687; then that of the numerous towns established between 1687 and 1779, all of which, with possibly one or two exceptions, were burned by General Sullivan; and lastly, of the five or six new villages which grew up on the return of the remnants of the Indians to the Genesee from Niagara, near the close of the Revolution. The older towns were confined to the easterly side of the river, while the later ones were located on the westerly side of that stream, usually at or near a bend in its channel. It must be borne in mind that Indian towns had not the definiteness of limit known to modern incorporated villages. They were nowhere marked by metes and bounds. A head man would select a spot which united beauty of location, convenience to good water and other advantages, and would there erect his hut. Any member of his tribe, who liked the site, was at liberty to build there a cabin and call the place home. If the chief was popular a town would be the result. Sometimes a solitary hut only would be found, as was the case between Beardstown and Big Tree, where a log house was standing when the pioneers arrived. It was called (-noh-sa-de-gah, or "burnt house." To this rude domicile General John A. Granger took his bride, and there resided while his frame house was building. Some confusion has arisen respecting certain villages, from the custom of the Indians to change, from time to time, both location and designation. The more ancient towns were located at a distance from the river or other body of water navigable by canoes, for, until the nation became strong, it would have been unwise thus to expose their families to chance parties of enemies, drifting noiselessly down upon their settlements.

The four villages destroyed by DeNonville 1 were Gan-na-ga-ro, or

1. See Appendix No.4 for General John §. Clark's description of these villages.

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

St. James, as called by the Jesuit missionaries, located on Boughton hill; Chi-nos-hah'-geh, or St. Michael, situated on Mud Creek in East Bloomfield, near the old stage road crossing : To-ti-ak-to, or Conception, in the northeastern bend of the Honeoye outlet, and Gan-nou-na-ta,1 at the source of the Little Conesus or Gore Brook, in the town of Avon. The latter town is better known by its Seneca name, Dyu-do'o-sot', sig- nifying, "at the spring." and is the only one with which these pages have to do. The other three lay in Ontario county.

Dyu-do'o-sot', 2 was situated on the Clarey Estate farm in Avon, a few rods from the line between the latter town and Lima, and two miles north of Livonia Station. John Blacksmith, the venerable sachem, whose recollections have usefully served the cause of aboriginal history, hunted in his youth over this section of country, and thus ac- quired an intimate knowledge of old Indian localities. He described the location of the town so accurately, that Marshall, while on a visit to Avon Springs a year or two afterwards, drove without difficulty directly to the site, and there found indubitable evidences of former Indian occupancy. The spring which had supplied the village and originated its name, still poured forth a copious stream, and though the plough had nearly leveled the surface, the soil was yet loaded with beads, fragments of pottery, charcoal and other signs of an extensive settlement ot Indians. Hard by was their ancient burial place, still pre- served from desecration by its use for the white man's cemetery; thus mingled in death the dust of two antagonist races that destiny seems to have forbidden to live and flourish together.3 DeNouville, after de- stroying the three other ancient towns, lay at Dyn-do'o-sot' with his army, on the 21st of July, 1687, through the day. He calls it a small

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 6

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