USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 62
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The first proprietor of the territory of Littleville was a man named Lovejoy, but it soon became the property of Dr. Timothy Hosmer, who with Major Isaiah Thompson purchased the township of Avon in 1790. The first saw-mill erected in Avon was built by Timothy Hos- mer of Littleville in 1796, directly opposite the flouring mill on the south side of the stream. About 1807 Paul Knowles and Judge Riggs,
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uncle of Merrit Riggs, purchased the property and in 1810 Judge Riggs built a flouring mill, and soon after a still and carding machine were built, the latter by Paul Knowles and the former by Judge Riggs, and both located between the mill and bridge. The first bridge was of wood and built in 1818. Paul Knowles retained the land on the west side of the main road, a portion of which is still retained and occupied by the family. Reuben McMillan was the next owner of the mill property, and so remained until about 1830, when Norman Little, after whom the place was named, became the proprietor of the mill and distillery, and in 1813 built a large store on the bluff above the mill and ran it in connection with his milling business. The carding mill was abandoned in 1834, and the distillery was not run after Mr. Little sold out, which was about 1837, and went to Michigan, being largely instrumental in locating and building up the city of Saginaw. Holum Hutchinson, a miller from Hutchinson's Hollow, on the Hone- oye outlet, became the next proprietor of the farm and mill, and soon after the store became the property of Wmn. H. Chandler and son Lewis. Hutchinson took for partners Richard Williams of Pittsford, and Frederick Clark of Lima. Clark sold his interest to Curtis Haw- ley of Avon, who afterwards sold it to a Josiah Porter, of East Bloom- field, and he in turn sold his interest in 1852 to Paul Knowles, Jr., who retained it until his death in 1856. Horace Clark, a resident of the place, then became a partner of Williams, and about 1862 the Marsh Brothers and Dr. Campbell became owners of the mill property and christened it the "Glen Avon" mill. Marsh Brothers sold their interest to George W. Sherman about 1865, and after Dr. Campbell's death Mr. Sherman became the sole proprietor. It remained in his hands several years when he sold it to Griffin and Dobney, of Buffalo, who conducted it until it was destroyed by fire in 1878. In 1879 E. Light, of Hemlock Lake, purchased the site and built the present mill, of which he is still the owner.
About 1825 Archibald Green, of Rush, built a foundry on the south side of the creek, nearly opposite the mill, and ran it for a time when it fell into the hands of Robert Martin, of Mendon, who conducted it for a long time; then it passed successively into the hands of Parmeley and Northrup, of Lima, George Babcock, of Henrietta, Yorks and Strouse, William Knowles and Ashur Merrill. In the meantime the foundry had been moved across the road and the land lease expiring,
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William Knowles about 1840 rebuilt it on the bluff west of the mill and on the same side of the stream. About 1846 it was sold to Lewis Chandler who engaged in the manufacture of stoves, the principal pattern being the "North American." Chandler closed his store about 1851, and the foundry passed into the hands of Samuel Strouse, who for years manufactured the celebrated Strouse plow so well and favor- ably known throughout Western New York. Some eight or ten years ago this industry was moved to Avon.
In 1836, so promising was the outlook the erection of a Congre- gational church was begun and soon after completed, but its mission was destined to be short. It had but two resident ministers, Rev. Hezekiah B. Pierpont, who retained the charge for eighteen years, and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Hurlburt. This church was taken down and removed to Avon, and put to other uses about 1864.
Lower down the stream, but somewhat disconnected with Littleville proper, other industries were started such as a woolen factory, saw mills and the somewhat famous Morton's flouring mill, and all of which did a flourishing business, particularly the saw-mill while in the hands of Wm. E. Hall.
The advent of the railroad threw the balance in favor of Avon, and with the exception of the milling interest, the industries of Littleville died out. As long as Avon had nothing but sulphur water to offer in competition Littleville was an able competitor, but the rail- roads and sulphur water combined proved too much for the busy and thriving little mart.
Many other places in the county have a similar history. The old Genesee Valley canal could tell a wonderful story of changes that took place during its life time and which will soon be forgotten if not garnered by the local historian. Some of the best men of our country have been connected with these little centers of manufacturing and trade. Of Littleville, to name the Hosmers, the Riggs, the Littles, the Knowleses, the Hawleys, the Chandlers, the Williamses, is to name some of the foremost men of the Genesee Valley in their day.
AVON CIIURCHES.
In the latter part of 1806 a few of the inhabitants of the then town of Hartford united themselves in "covenant" and formed the Second Baptist Church of Hartford. Elder William Firman was called to be
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their pastor. In the fall of 1807 it had a membership of twenty-three. In 1808 the name of the church was changed to the Baptist Church of Avon. From this time until 1830 the place of meeting was about a mile east of East Avon. There is no way of ascertaining when Elder Firman ceased to minister here; but among those who had charge during the early years of the church were the Revs. Reuben Winchell, David Tenant, Philander Kelsey, S. Goodall, J. G. Stearns, E. Stone, S. M. Bainbridge, William Curtis and S. F. Campbell. In later years the Revs. E. Nisbet, Thomas Rodgers, H. G. Nott, S. J. Lusk and B. F. Mace have been in charge. The students of the Rochester Theologi- cal Seminary rendered faithful service for many years. Another change was made in the title of the Church on the 18th of July, 1827, when it was named the First Baptist church of Avon. A church edifice was dedicated in 1830.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, EAST AVON .- The church thus designated was and is the First Presbyterian Church of Avon, being next oldest to Zion church at Avon Springs. When this church was organized East Avon was the village of the township. Consequently the first (non-prelatical) church, was located here. The church was organized A. D. 1795 by Rev. Daniel Thatcher. It maintained a dubious existence up to Nov. 10, 1810, when it was re-organized as a Congregationalist church. Rev. John F. Bliss was installed its first pastor in 1812.
In the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Whittlesey in 1822 "the church united with the Presbytery of Ontario on the 'accommodation' plan, but still remained Congregational until March 23, 1844, when it became fully Presbyterian by recognition of the Presbytery and election of a board of ruling elders." For twenty years the church was served by only three pastors, an average of nearly seven years each. For thirty-two years thirteen stated supplies cared for the church.
During a period of eighteen years neighboring clergymen gave tran- sient services to the church, some of these ministers (like Rev. Drs. Patton of Rochester and Ward of Geneseo) having previously won special distinction as scholars and metropolitan pastors, of large efficiency and popularity.
In 1819 the church had seventy communicants. Its largest number (in 1839) was 150. In 1835 and in 1866 the church was greatly weak- ened and depleted by the dismission of many, to form new churches.
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About eight hundred persons have been connected with this church since 1810.
The old brick church of East Avon was commenced in 1812, used for fifteen years in a more or less incompleted state until in 1827 it was finished and dedicated. In 1841 the church received its third pulpit and steeple.
In 1845, Rev. Dr. Hopkins being pastor, a bell was procured which being cracked by patriots during the Civil war, was removed late in the autumn of 1903 and replaced by one bought in Kendall, of Mr. Daniel Jones. In 1850, the late Dr. E. B. Walsworth, pastor, the parsonage was erected. In 1875, Dr. J. R. Page being minister, the church was furnished with a pipe organ, and the manse with a large and conven- ient study at an expense of over a thousand dollars. In 1879 the chapel was begun and was dedicated in 1880.
Since 1881 the church has been served by Rev. Mr. Calkins, Rev. Mr. Mckenzie, Rev. Mr. Robinson, now of East Bloomfield, and Mr. Wm. W. Chambers, a graduate of Auburn.
The present incumbent, Rev. Howard A. Hanaford, who came from the Congregationalists and from New England recently, was inducted into the acting pastorate January, 1903.
The First Presbyterian Church has the largest Christian Endeavor society in this section of Livingston county, the second largest Prot- estant Sunday school in the town and about one hundred communi- cants, to which should be added no less than twenty-five other church members worshipping steadily with this church, and serving on church boards and in the Sunday school and Endeavor societies, there being at present no Baptist, Methodist or Episcopal church in the vicinity; and the Baptist church of East Avon having disbanded, or ceased to hold services, the meeting house being sold.
The first church essentially a "union" church is Presbyterian in polity, and with the recent softening of old time creedal rigors and the removal of sectarian fences, it hopes to remain true to the new Presbyterian faith and to its effective churchly order.
ZION CHURCH at Avon was organized in 1827. The first steps thereto were taken at a meeting in the school house in West Avon on Monday, October 8th, of that year. A building committee was appointed to erect a church "at or near the public square." The building was completed the same year and was consecrated as Zion's
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Church by the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of New York. The first regularly installed rector was the Rev. E. G. Gear. He was succeeded by the Rev. R. Kearney. The third was the Rev. Beardsley Northrop. Following him in suc- cession were the Revs. Thaddeus M. Leavenworth, - - Bailey, Samuel G. Appleton, P. P. Kidder, Bethel Judd, D. D., George B. Eastman, Fortune C. Brown, Henry M. Brown, Francis Gilliat, James A. Brown, and others. James Wadsworth presented the church with a bell in 1830. The rectory was built in 1836.
About 1834 there was organized at Littleville a church which was independent in its origin and originally Congregational in its govern- ment. But it was soon placed under the Presbytery and was known as the Presbyterian Church of Littleville. It had but two pastors, the Rev. John Hubbard and the Rev. Hezekiah B. Pierpont. During the pastorate of the latter its membership is said to have reached two hun- dred. After the close of this second pastorate the congregation rapidly dwindled and in 1864 the church building was sold.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Avon was organized in 1835. From this time the society was visited by circuit preachers until 1839, when the Rev. Calvin Coates became pas- tor. In 1840 the Rev. Eleazer Thomas became pastor and in 1843 the Rev. James M. Fuller took charge. The Rev. Richard L. Wait was pastor in 1844, the Rev. D. Hutchins in 1845 and the Rev. J. K. Cheeseman in 1846.
ST. AGNES CHURCH of Avon was organized about 1850. About that time Father Maguire purchased the old Baptist church. This was rebuilt, and afterwards enlarged. Father Maguire became the rector in 1853 and was succeeded by the following pastors in suc- cession : Fathers O'Brien, Quigley, Bradley and O'Keefe. During the rectorship of the last named the brick church was built in 1869 at a cost of more than thirty-five thousand dollars.
THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Avon was organized May 9, 1876, by a commission from the Rochester Presby- tery. The name "Central" was given to distinguish it from the First Church in East Avon and also in honor of Dr. Campbell, a member of the commission and pastor of the Central church, Rochester. It con- sisted of forty-two members. Rev. Dr. Bogue, its first pastor, began
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his pastorate the second Sabbath in June, 1876. The Sunday services were held in Nisbet Hall, but in the fall were transferred to Opera Hall where they continued to be held till the church was ready for occu- pancy. The trustees from the beginning were: Messrs. Barker, IIos- mer, Carson, Westfall and Stevens. A parsonage and lot were pur- chased and ground broken for the church July 9, 1877. The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies September 4; the church parlors were occupied for services February 17, 1878, and the audito- rium August 18, 1878. On October 1 the church was dedicated and the pastor installed. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Shaw of Rochester in the morning and in the afternoon the in- stallation sermon by Rev. Dr. Campbell of Rochester.
After the church was finished the society was in debt to the amount of $8,750. In 1881 a movement was made to remove the debt, and after some unavoidable delay, in 1883 the church was entirely set free; a mortgage remaining on the parsonage of $1,675. In 1886 the society expended $2,200 in improving and enlarging the parsonage. In 1891 not only had this amount been paid, but the mortgage was reduced to $1180.
The amount of money raised by the society in the first fifteen years was, in round numbers, $50,100. From that time until 1901 the society had raised $16,758. In addition to the foregoing amounts, $2,400 had been raised as an organ fund.
In 1901 the indebtedness on the church property was a mortgage of $350. An organ fund was started in 1894. The cost of the organ was $2,400. It was first used at the recital given October 11, 1898. Miss A. L. Pattee was the first organist.
After a pastorate of 21 years Dr. Bogue was succeeded by Rev. A. T. Harrington as stated supply, February 15, 1899. This relation con- tinued until October 18, 1899. On November 27 of the same year Rev. Samuel W. Steele became pastor.
Of the original members but six remain: Mrs. E. G. Sackett, Sr., Stephen Hosmer, A. W. DeWitt, Mrs. W. H. Griffith, Miss Kate M. Gallagher and Mrs. Hawthorne.
The following interesting sketch of W. H. C. Hosmer has been contributed at the request of the editor.
W. H. C. Hosmer known as the "Bard of Avon" was born at Avon May 26th, 1815, and died there May 23d, 1877. His father, Hon.
:
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George Hosmer, was a man of liberal education, a fine classical scholar and an able lawyer. His mother was Elizabeth Berry, a daughter of Gilbert R. Berry, one of the pioneers of that country. He was a fur trader and owned the first ferry across the Genesee river at Canawaugus.
The poet's grandfather, Dr. Timothy Hosmer, came to the "Gen- esee country" from Connecticut, in 1792, shortly after the Revolution. He was one of the patriots who pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and their honor, in the sacred cause of liberty," and served as a sur- geon in the Revolutionary war, a portion of the time on General Washington's staff. It became his duty to feel Major Andre's pulse after his death, and announce that fact to Washington. He used to tell his descendants that it was one of the saddest duties he ever per- formed. Dr. Hosmer was a man of fine education, and "a gentleman of the old school; honest, high-toned and outspoken." Although not learned in the law, being a physician and surgeon by profession, he was made Judge of Ontario county, when it comprised a good share of the Genesee country and held the first court of that county in 1794. Dr. Hosmer belonged to the "Order of the Cincinnati." He was the first white man to use the Avon Springs for curative purposes, and had the first bath house and sanatarium of that region attached to his hotel at Avon. He also gave the land upon which the quaint old Episcopal church is built at Avon.
Dr. Hosmer came of a family with superior mental endowments and great patriotism. He was proud of the fact that there were four . Hosmers in the fight at Concord Bridge. The second to fall was Abner Hosmer, and Major Joseph Hosmer formed the line on the Bridge that fateful day when our country became a world power. Dr. Hosmer's relatives, Hon. Titus Hosmer and Chief Justice Hosmer, werc among the greatest men Connecticut ever produced. Dr. Noah Webster classed the first as one of the three "mighties" of Connecti- cut, the other two being William Samuel Johnson, LL. D., and Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the United States. Both father and son were graduates of Yale. Titus Hosmer died at the age of 44, but he had been elected a representative of the General Assembly, 1773 to 1778. In 1777 he was speaker of the House of Representatives and had great influence in prompting the Legislature to the adoption of vigorous measures against Great Britain. He was also a member of the Coun-
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cil of Safety, and in 1778 a member of the Continental Congress. In 1780 when Congress established a Court of Appeals, he was made one of the three judges, but died suddenly in 1780 before he could enter upon the duties of this appointment.
Judge Titus Hosmer's son, Stephen Titus Hosmer, was a worthy son of a noble sire. He was made LL. D., by his alma mater, Yale College, and was Chief Justice of Connecticut for 14 years. His opin- ions and rulings on law have placed his name in the rank of the most distinguished and respected jurists, and more than all else, he was a person of the highest character and most blameless life.
The first ancestor of the Hosmers came to this country and settled in Connecticut in 1630, from Hawkhurst, Kent Co., England.
W. H. C. Hosmer was a student at Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, and a graduate of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y. He studied law with his father at Avon and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He entered into partnership with his father and remained with him until he was appointed chief clerk in the Navy Department of the Custom House in New York, in 1854, by President Franklin Pierce. Col. Hosmer, like his ancestors, was always an ardent Democrat, and his descendants are all firm believers in the principles of Democracy. At an early age he gave indications of his literary and poetic talents and became a contributor to the best publications of that day. Among these were the old New York Mirror edited by Horace Greely ; the Home Journal (now Town and Country) edited by N. P. Willis and George P. Morris; the Knickerbocker Magazine, edited by Willis Gaylord Clark ; Graham's Magazine and the Rochester Union and Advertiser.
Col. Hosmer was married in 1838 to Miss Stella Z. Avery, a daugh- ter of Hon. John H. Avery of Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y., one of the leading lawyers and prominent men of his time.
Of their six children only two are living, Mrs. Sidney V. Arnold of Ipswich, South Dakota, and Miss Florence Hosmer of the same place. The oldest son, Dr. George H. Hosmer, was in the navy during the civil war and fought with Admirals Dewey and Schley at Port Royal. After the war he studied medicine with the eminent physician Dr. A. C. Campbell of Mount Morris, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city. He died in Joliet, Ill., in 1889, having been the leading physician there for many years.
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The second son, Charles Avery Hosmer was a volunteer in the 27th New York Infantry and was killed at Fredericksburg, Va., May 3d, 1863, in his 13th battle, when he was 19 years old. His captain said of him that "in time of danger, he knew no fear." "He lived as mothers wish their sons to live; he died as fathers wish their sons to die." The youngest son, William M., a youth of great promise, was drowned at Owego, New York, when 15 years of age. He was at his grandmother Avery's home, preparing for college at the Owego Acad- emy. One daughter died in infancy.
In 1844, the poet published "Yonnondio," a poem describing events that transpired in the valley of the Genesee, during the summer and autumn of 1687 : of the memorable attempt of the Marquis de Nonville, under pretense of preventing an interruption of their French trade, to plant the standard of Louis Fourteenth in the beautiful country of the Senecas. George D. Prentice, the poet-editor, said of W. H. C. Hosmer: "He was the first of the poets to sink a shaft into the rich vein of Indian tradition and legend; Longfellow and others are but squatter sovereigns, where he reigns king." This book was followed by the "Legends of the Senecas" and "The Months." Like most of his poems, the material was gathered from home sources; from the beautiful Genesee valley he loved so well.
In 1854 all of his poems were gathered together and published by Redfield of New York in two volumes, and in 1873 D. M. Dewey of Rochester published "Later Lays and Lyrics." Many of these are on patriotic themes inspired by the civil war. Col. Hosmer is said to have raised more men for the war, by his eloquent appeals to their patriotism than any other man in Livingston county, and he enlisted himself in Barnes Battery in 1862, to show that he would not ask others to imperil their lives while he remained safely at home. He was appointed an aid to Captain Arnold, and kept a most interesting journal during his service, abounding in fine descriptions and unswerv- ing patriotism. This command was sent to New Orleans as a part of Banks' disastrous expedition, where disease and incapacity decimated the army faster than shot and shell. His youngest brother, George Hosmer, served in a New York cavalry regiment, in Virginia, and died in Andersonville prison. These Hosmers fought and died to preserve the Union their ancestors had fought and died to found. Col. Hosmer suffered from ill health during the last years of his life and died from
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disease contracted from exposure and lack of proper food while he was South. All who were on that fatal expedition who survived seem to have lost their health. Livingston county never had a more loyal and loving son than the poet, who threw a mantle of romance over the delightful "Genesee country," and he was never happy nor contented when absent from the scenes of his youth. He voices this sentiment in his poem "My own dark Genesee."
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CALEDONIA.
The town of Caledonia, in the northwestern part of the county, is bounded north by Wheatland and east by Rush, both in Monroe county, south by Avon and York, and west by LeRoy and Pavilion, both in Genesee county. Area 26,199 acres. Population in 1900, 2,072.
The surface of the town is gently undulating except in the northern part, where it is quite uneven and broken. The eastern boundary line is the Genesee river. White creek rises in the northern part and flows southeasterly into the Genesee, and the Caledonia springs, also in the northern part, form another stream emptying into Allen creek. The springs are among the largest in the country, and have been one of the most interesting features of Livingston county from the earli- est settlement. The water rises from crevices of the cuniferous lime- stone rock formation, and is cold and pure, the temperature varying only a few degrees the year round. The outlet flow, always large, begins to rise in October, continues rising slowly until April, is even for about two months more, and then slowly diminishes until October again. When highest the discharge is about 8000 gallons a minute. It makes a good water power a few rods north of the spring, where the mills have been built. In the pond and along the stream a water plant, the chara fradills, grows summer and winter, and is food for a species of insect which multiplies rapidly, and is in turn a favorite food for trout. Thus the pond and outlet are the finest of trout wat- ers, and none better could be found for the state hatchery established there thirty years ago.
The soil of Caledonia is a clay loam with a substratum of limestone, and is richly fertile almost throughout the town, producing fine crops. There are large deposits of marl extending over several acres about a mile east of Caledonia village, along the Lehigh Valley and New York Central railroad tracks, which have been made available lately by a company in the manufacture of large quantities of Portland cement. There are also quarries of building stone and gypsum which have
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been valuable. The original timber was largely oak, hickory, maple, chestnut and beech.
Caledonia village had a population of 1 073 in 1900. It is in the northwestern part of the town, and is served for transportation by two railroads. The citizens are intelligent and public spirited, as is well illustrated by their public library, system of water works and good fire department. Its early settlement by Scotch Presbyterians has made the Presbyterian faith predominant in its religious life.
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