USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 85
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"I can tell little in reference to the people. I remembered a Mr. Baird owned a saw mill above Hungerford's on the same stream. The Duncans and a Mr. McNair lived on the flats, but I had no acquaint- ance with them. Jonathan Weston, however, a brother-in-law of Ilun- gerford and a son-in-law of General Daniel Shays, of insurrectionary memory, lived near Hungerford. I had known Weston before he went there, as he had taught school in Cayuga county and recollect calling at his house and sceing General Shays there and being greatly disap- pointed in his personal appearance. He semeed to me a very common man and I could but wonder how he had become so famous, for it was as common when I was a boy to Hurrah for Shays as it has been since to hurrah for Jackson. But one was intended as a joke, whereas the other was sober earnest.
"About the middle of January, 1815, my probation of four months being ended, I shouldered my musket and on foot and alone returned to my father's house, not exactly like the prodigal son, but scarcely less gratified to get home and fully resolved never to go back. But since then I have formed many pleasant acquaintances in your county and have enjoyed many pleasant visits to other parts of it, but I have never revisited the scenes of my boyhood though I confess I should like to do so.
Respectfully yours,
"MILLARD FILLMORE."
William Scott has said: "I met young Fillmore the morning after his arrival, for the first, and at once took a liking to him. He was dressed in a suit of homespun sheep's gray coat and trousers, wool hat, and stout cowhide boots, but his appearance was very tidy. His light hair was long, his face was round and chubby, and his demeanor
885
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
was that of a bright, intelligent, good natured lad, quite sedate, rather slow in his motions, with an air of thoughtfulness that gained my respect."
David McNair, died in February, 1895, aged eighty-seven years. He was the youngest son of the pioneer Samuel McNair, and had al- ways resided in West Sparta, where he had an excellent farm of 300 acres. Some of his reminiscences are published in Mr. Bunnell's History of Dansville. His father's family consisted of seven sons and two daughters, of whom he was the only survivor. He remembered that Rev. Mr. Gray, the first preacher in the South Sparta Presbyter- ian church, once rebuked some boys for laughing on Sunday, and that his (Mr. McNair's) uncle denounced a neighbor, who could not get his grist ground in Dansville in time to get away Saturday evening, for driving home on Sunday. These are illustrations of the religious rigidity of the time.
In a letter written by Nancy Marlin, a grand daughter of Robert Duncan, the first settler, she states that black bears were common in the early days of the settlement, and that after a hog belonging to WVm. Stevens had been carried off by a bear one night, an old hunter named Brooks fixed a rifle in such a way that when bruin came for his next meal of pork the rifle would go off so that the bullet would hit him. The shooting trap was successful, and the bear was killed.
Benjamin Hungerford's mill was the first wool-carding and cloth dressing mill in West Sparta. The first tavern was probably opened at Kysorville in 1820 by Ebenezer McMaster. The first store was kept by John Russell at Union Corners, and opened in 1823. The first grist mill was built by Samuel Stoner in 1823.
The first town meeting of West Sparta was held in April, 1846, in a school house, and the following officers were elected: supervisor, Roswell Wilcox; town clerk, Gideon D. Passage; superintendent of schools, Samuel G. Stoner; assessors, Jacob Chapman, James F. Mc- Cartney, Alexander Henry; commissioners of highways, David Mc- Nair, James VanWagner, James Northrop; inspectors of election, Peter Van Nuys, Wm. D. McNair, Jr., Levi Robinson, Jr. ; justices of the peace, Hiram Jencks, Stephen Stephenson, Samuel Scribner, H. G. Chamberlain, overseers of the poor, William Spinning, Aaron Cook; collector, B. F. Hyser; constables, Freeman Edwards, B. F.
SS6
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Hyser, A. J. Thompson, Nathaniel Hanna; town sealer, John Stone, Jr.
The early religious history of West Sparta is that of Sparta, of which it was a part, and is noticed in the sketch of that town. A Presbyterian church organized at Union Corners by Rev. Elihu Mason in 1825, is the only church of an early date within the present limits of the town. Its first elders were Garrett Van Wagner, James J. Am- erman and Jacob Middlesworth.
Rev. John Humphrey sends us the following facts regarding the Methodist church of West Sparta: W. C. Wilson, from Maryland, about 1845 offered the trustees as much land for church purposes as they cared to appropriate, and in their modesty they accepted so little that afterward it was necessary to make two additions to the gift. The building was erected in 1847 by Richard Peck, and active in the work were James Northrop, Charles Marsh and Charles Drake. It was dedicated by Augustus Parker. About twenty years ago it under- went extensive repairs, and again in 1904, when $800 were expended in improvements.
West Sparta furnished an unusually large number of resident men in proportion to population for the civil war-nearly 100. There is a record of a town bounty paid to each of about thirty volunteers be- tween July, 1862, and July, 1864, but the later action of the town re- garding bounties is not on record.
Assessed valuations and tax rates per $1000 have been as follows:
Year
Assessed Valuation
Tax Rate on $1000
Year
Assessed Valuation
Tax Rate O11 $1000
Year
Assessed Valuation
Tax Rate 011 $1000
1860
449,198
7.31
1875
867,069
11.22
1890
667,021
7.39
1861
444,721
9.17
IS76
811,504
8,60
1891
691,610
5.54
1862
431,553
IO. II
1877
757,793
8.55
1892
671,577
8.98
1863
429,768
10.23
1878
750,681
8.27
1893
958, 103
1864
443,720
20.80
1879
728,043
6.34
1894
638,274
7.82
1865
441,279
39.30
1880
727,378
6.20
1895
654,571
S.01
1866
438,477
30. 10
ISSI
724,936
5.16
1896
645,909
9.64
1867
441,293
21.05
1882
738,225
807,716
6.23
1898
663,028
6.08
1869
453,854
12.35
1884
So9,886
5.31
1899
664,257
8.15
1870
453,930
14.80
1885
816,536
5.54
1900
666,006
6.08
1871
453,503
13.43
I886
771,572
6.81
1901
668,484
5.76
IS72
461,074
19.33
1887
745,902
5.99
1902
668,250
4.30
1873
452,088
19.86
1888
745,154
5.67
1903
666,545
6.72
1874
877,561
10.85
1889
740,080
8.00
1897
658,202
6.60
1868
466,043
16.78
1883
887
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Here follows a list of West Sparta's supervisors :
Roswell Wilcox 1846-47-48-49
Hugh McCartney .... 1850
James F. McCartney 1851-52
Alex Kenney 1853
David McNair ..
854
Leonard B. Field. 1855-56-57-58-59-60-61
62-63-64-65-67-68-70-71-76-77-78-79
Peter VanNuys 1866
Ogden Marslı
1869
Wm. J. Slaight. 1872-73-74-75 James B. Frazer ISSO-81-82-83-88-89-90-92-93 A. J. Slaight 1884-85-98-99-00 W'm. A. Green. 1886-94
John Driesbach.
1887
H. B. McNair.
189I
H. VanMiddlesworthi.
.1895-96-97
J. C. Pickard
1901-02-03
NUNDA
Nunda lies in southeastern part of the county, with these bound- aries: North by Mt. Morris, east by Ossian, south by Grove (Allegany county), west by Portage. Its area is 22,291 acres and its population in 1900 was 2,397.
The hills near the center of the town rise 1,200 feet above the broad flats on which is Nunda village. Its highlands and lowlands have a varied soil of loam, sand, gravel and clay, much intermixed, and gen- erally respond in large crops to cultivation. Much of the scenery of the town is strikingly beautiful. Kashaqua creek is the principal stream and is in the northwestern part, and in the 30's and 40's furnished power for many mills in its course from Allegany county to Canaseraga creek near Sonyea. The abandoned Genesee Valley canal crossed the northwestern corner, and liere commenced its rise with deep cuttings and numerous locks, to the summit level in Portage.
Nunda, the principal village, is in the northwestern part of the town, and in 1900 had a population of 1,018. It is an attractive and thrifty village, with handsome residences, several churches and two newspapers.
The town of Nunda originally, as a part of Allegany county, com- prised, in addition to its present territory, the present towns of Pike, Grove, Granger, Centerville, Eagle, Hume and Genesee in Allegany, and Portage in Livingston, and was twelve by twenty-four miles in extent. After it was formed from Angelica in 1808 it remained a part of Allegany county until 1846, when it was set off into Livingston county -a transfer which had been long desired by the most of its residents. Meanwhile, in 1827, its size had been reduced to form Portage.
The succinct account of the early settlement of the town in L. L. Doty's history is here copied :
"The Tuscarora tract, which embraced the town of Nunda and a portion of Mount Morris was at a very early day the property of Luke Tiernan, of Baltimore. It was late in coming into market, and the
889
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
rich lands were seized by squatters, whose only title was that given by possession. They spent their time in hunting, fishing and trapping, paying little attention to the cultivation of the soil. They were of no practical benefit in developing the resources and promoting the growth of the town, and rather hindered than encouraged emigration. Mr. Tiernan sent an agent, one McSweeney, to protect his interests, but not understanding the nature of the men he had to deal with, he was beset with troubles. The squatters had an able and shrewd advocate in Joseph Dixon, who defended them against all suits for trespass, and caused the agent much vexation. On the advent of settlers the squatters removed to other places where the annoyances of civilized life would not trouble them.
"In 1806 Phineas Bates and Beela Elderkin located near the present village of Nunda, being the first permanent settlers of the town. Other settlers were David Corey and brother, Reuben Sweet and Peleg, his brother, Gideon Powell, Abner Tuttle, William P. Wilcox, John H. Townser, and James Paine.
"In 1806 or 1807 James Scott and two or three other farmers went up the Kashaqua valley, with a view to locating, but these close ob- serving farmers saw that the hazel bushes had hanging on them dead hazlenuts, and, concluding that it must be frosty there, did not buy any lands. They spent the night in a partly built hut or log house between Brushville and Nunda village. There was then but one occupied house between these two places, and that was occupied by a squatter named Kingsley. Brushville was covered with low brush, no trees or large growth being found there.
"Azel Fitch, Russell Messenger, Abijah Adams and Zaphen Strong settled in the town in 1816, and in 1817 George W. Merrick came. The same spring the families of John and Jacob Passage, Abraham Acker, John White, Schuyler Thompson and Henry Root settled in Nunda, which then embraced a territory as large as a modern county. Mr. Merrick was a native of Wilmington, Tolland county, Conn., where he was born in February, 1793. He was six times elected supervisor, and was for sixteen years justice of the peace. While in Jefferson county, N. Y., Mr. Merrick read an account in some news- paper that a man named Barnard, of Nunda, with five others, went into the woods one Sunday morning, chopped the logs and laid up a log cabin as high as the chamber floor, and one log above, before sun-
890
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
set. On reaching Nunda, Merrick purchased the claim on which the cabin was standing, fifty acres of land and improvements, for forty dollars in gold. The improvements were the log cabin mentioned, which was twelve feet square, and one-half acre of land cleared and sowed to turnips. He at once raised the logs five feet higher, and put on a roof of shingles of his own make, without using a nail. Five hundred feet of boards were all he could procure anywhere for finish- ing purposes."
Elijah Bennett and William and Jacob Devon were others of the earliest settlers. Some of the other settlers who came to Nunda before 1820 were John and Jacob Passage, Schuyler Thompson, Henry Root, John White, Abraham Acker, James H. Rawson, David Corey, and Henry C. Jones.
The first frame house in town was built by George W. Merrick and the first in Nunda village by Asa Heath in 1824; the village was laid out in that year by Charles Carroll, who came in 1820 as agent for the sale of vicinity lands, and soon afterward became proprietor of the lands which are now the site of the village. The first inn-keeper of the town was Alanson Hubbell in 1820, and the first merchant was W. P. Wilcox, also in 1820. Another early inn-keeper was James Heath, and another early storekeeper was Hiram Grover. Willoughby Stowell built the first saw mill in 1818, and Samuel Swain the first grist mill in 1828.
The pioneers of the town were mostly from New England and New Jersey. A few came from Pennsylvania, and a few from Cayuga county. Similar difficulties, trials and privations were experienced in journeying and getting established, to those of the pioneers of other towns. The conditions of travel to the Genesee country over long distances, and the surroundings of forest, Indians, game and danger- ous wild animals on arriving at destinations, were nearly the same with all the earliest settlers. Hard labor, simple food, sometimes less than enough, and frequent peril were common to all. Some of the first comers to Nunda shipped their goods from Rochester up the Genesee to Geneseo, and oxen hauled them the rest of the way. Each family came with oxen, two or more cows and a pig, but no sheep because of the wolves.
The most flourishing period of Nunda village was the decade begin- ning about 1835. There were then eighteen saw mills with twenty-one
891
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
saws in operation within three and one-half miles of the village, and also flouring mills, tanneries, furnaces, a woolen mill, hat factories, and a machine shop for the manufacture of steam engines. The last gave employment to about one hundred men. In 1837-8 there were eighteen stores and trading shops in the place and its population was then larger than it has been since. After the lumber industry and manufacturing declined, and work on the deep cut and locks of the canal was stopped for a number of years, the population slowly floated away.
At the first town meeting of the original Nunda in 1809 Eli Griffith was elected supervisor and Asahel Trowbridge town clerk. At that time the population of the entire town was about 500.
At the first town meeting after annexation to Livingston county in 1846 these officers were elected: supervisor, Edward Swain; town clerk, Charles E. Crary ; highway commissioner, Earl J. Paine.
The early records show that a town bounty of three dollars was offered for each wolf killed and that small appropriations were made for the destruction of Canada thistles.
C. K. Sanders started the Nunda News in 1859, and conducted it until a few years ago, when he passed it over to his son. In a paper for the county historical society he states that the first newspaper published in Nunda was the Genesee Valley Recorder, which was started by Ira G. Wisner in 1840, but soon was moved to Mt. Morris. Four other papers were successively started and stopped in the village before Mr. Sanders began to print his successful Nunda News, at which time and for many years afterward there was no other news- paper in the town.
Nunda was another of the intensely patriotic towns during the war of the rebellion. The first war meeting was held April 19, 1861, at which twenty-one volunteers signed the roll in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men. A fund was soon raised for the support of the families of the soldiers, and the women immediately began to make articles for their comfort. In less than three weeks a company of fifty-six men was mustered in, with James McNair as captain. They joined the 33d New York Volunteers. In September, 1861, the town furnished thirty-six more volunteers, who joined Captain Tuthill's company, or Company A of the Wadsworth Guards, later known as the 104th New York Volunteers. In 1862 the town sent out
892
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
forty-three men under Captain James Lemen. These and twelve more Nunda men were added to the First New York Dragoons. The Nunda volunteers earned their full share of honors in the war, and the town contributed liberally in money and material as well as men. Voluntary subscriptions and contributions amounted to $2,669, and the town paid out SS, 810,327. There were few towns that did better than this in proportion to population and wealth.
NUNDA CHURCHES.
Baptist Church .- One of the first, if not the very first, of the relig- ious organizations of Nunda was that of the Baptist society. On the 21st of May, 1819, twelve individuals, members of other churches of that denomination who had removed hither, organized the Baptist church of Nunda. They received the right hand of fellowship as a church from Elder Samuel Messenger, pastor of a neighboring church, who preached for them half the time that year.
In 1820 the church became a member of the Ontario Baptist Associ- ation, in 1824 transferring its membership to the Holland Purchase Association. This relation was sustained until 1829 when the Gene- see River Association was formed. During the first three years, forty- seven members were added to the original number. Among the ac- tive and liberal members of the church in early days may be men- tioned Deacon Rawson, Deacon Schuyler Thompson, Nathaniel Coe, Reuben Pierce and Daniel Ashley. In October, 1823, Elijah Bennett, a member of the society, was ordained to the ministry and became pastor of the church. His compensation was very meagre, and he was often obliged to depend upon the labor of his hands , to procure support. The church minutes, July 3d, 1825, contain this record: "Voted to give Elder Messenger $50 for half of the time, to be paid in produce by the first of the ensuing February." In 1826 Elder Ben- nett's pay was raised to $100 annually for half of the time. The so- ciety was incorporated in October, 1827, when John Waite, Silas Warren and Daniel Ashley were chosen trustees. They at once pur- chased a site on which was erected what was considered a commodious church edifice, of wood. The rapid growth of the membership eventu- ally required a larger building, however, and in 1840 the spacions brick edifice now in use was erected. The wooden building was pur-
893
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
chased by the Nunda Literary Institute, and used for educational purposes until its destruction by fire.
The First Presbyterian Church .- On October 6th, 1831, in a school- house, the organization of the Presbyterian Church of Nunda took place. In this schoolhouse, located two miles north-east of the present site of the church, and in the Page school house, half a mile east of the village, the services of the society were held during the first two years of its history. In 1833 the first church edifice was built on the corner of East and Church streets at a cost of about 82200. In 1846 this property was sold to the Methodist Church and a new building was erected which was dedicated in June 1847. This building was constructed of wood at a cost of $6,000 and during the years that have passed since its construction, over half a century, has given excel- lent service.
The history of the church has been marked by four revivals of un- usual power: The first in 1837 conducted by the Evangelist Little- john; the second during the pastorate of Rev. Wales Tileston in 1840, when ninety-seven were received into the church on profession. During Rev. Edward Marsh's ministry in 1843 fifty-six new members were received as a result of a successful revival. In 1902 a revival brought thirty-three into the church largely as a result of the labors of Miss Sarah Nichol. The following is a list of the regular pastors with years of service. Ludovicus Robbins, 1831-32. Wm. P. Kendrick, 1832-33. Wales Tileston, 1837-40. William Lusk, 1847-52. (Stated supplies, 1852-64). Levi G. Marsh, 1864-71. T. Dwight Hunt, 1872- 75. Bentley S. Foster, 1876-79. Newton H. Bell, 1880-84. John V. C. Nellis, 1884-88. John M. Carmichael, 1889-99. J. H. Williams, 1899-1902. Milton K. Merwin, 1902.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Nunda was the third religious society in point of time that was organized in the place; the Baptists forming a society about 1819, followed by the Presbyterians in 1831, the Methodists not entering the field till about six years later. In those early years it was not common for a young society to have the financial strength to build a suitable edifice at the beginning of its history, so like the other denominations named, Methodism kept its existence by worshiping in private houses, school houses, unoccu- pied stores and other available places. Suitable records for giving a connected history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Nunda are
S94
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
not obtainable: but from what can be gathered it appears that the first society was formed in 1837, and among those who composed it were Samuel Record and wife, Jacob Osgoodby and wife and Mrs. Stivers. This little band first took the name of "Independent Metho- dists" but soon after came under the supervision of the annual con- ference. Like the early disciples their first place of worship was an upper room.
In those earlier years the old time circuit system prevailed and Nunda became one of the regular appointments of the circuit preacher. The first regular pastors of the church were Rev. Amos Hurd and Rev. Ira Bronson in 1840. During the six years that followed the little society had a hard struggle to maintain an existence, but in 1846 a church edifice was secured and a revival followed, resulting in a large addition to the membership. Since that time the society has continued its standing until the present. The building now occupied as a place of worship was purchased of the Presbyterians, and after extensive repairs, was dedicated in 1849, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. A. S. Baker, then pastor. The church has been re- paired several times since its long occupation and at present is well adapted to the use of the congregation. Connected with the church property is a new and beautiful parsonage nearly free from debt, to- gether with ample shed accommodations for those of the congregation who reside in the country, all under the supervision of a competent board of trustees. There is a membership of over one hundred and fifty with a thrifty Sunday School numbering 170, also an Epworth League Chapter well sustained by the young people of the denomi- nation. The contributions to the various benevolences of the church are regularly made, also a faithful response to the demands for funds to meet current expenses. Of the early pastors we find such names as Rev. D. B. Lawton, Rev. Robert Parker, Rev. A. S. Baker, Rev. Thomas Tousey and others, all regularly appointed by the Conference of which they were accredited members.
Grace Episcopal Church .- Services were held for the first time, with a view to formation of a parish, April 7th. 1847, at Swain's Hall. The Rev. Mason Gallagher of Dansville, presided; H. Chalker was chosen as Clerk. The following was the first vestry: C. Remington, G. P. Waldo, Church Wardens; I. T. Turner. R. H. Spencer, N. Chittenden. John Guiteau, S. Swain, Jr., David F. Swain, H. Chalker,
4
895
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
R. Bennett, Vestrymen. Services were conducted for different per- iods by Rev. Gresham P. Waldo, Rev. Lucius Carlis and Rev. Asa Griswold, until December 1st, 1849, when the Rev. Andrew D. Bene- dict took pastoral charge, in connection with St. Marks Church, Hunts Hollow. During the rectorship of Rev. Benedict which ended May 1st, 1852, the present church was erected. The church was con- secrated some time later, by Bishop DeLancey. The parsonage and lot adjoining the church were donated by Miss Catherine Brooks of Brooksgrove, who also presented the parish with an expensive set of communion vessels and the altar linen, now in use. The Rev. James A. Robinson succeeded as rector May 1st, 1853 until fall of 1854. Rev. James O. Stokes, in charge from fall of 1854 until 1855. From. July 1st, 1856 until April 1857, Rev. G. P. Waldo. 1857 to 1860 Rev. H. V. Gardner. From June 1st, 1863, until February 28th, 1866, Rev. Fayette Royce. The parish during the rectorship of Rev. Royce was connected with Brooksgrove Mission and Canaseraga. January, 1867, Rev. Waldo in charge. January 1st, 1867 Rev. H. Adams was called as rector. Rectors since have been Revs. Noble Palmer, Woodward, H. M. Brown, S. H. Batten, F. A. Gould, Bodger, Cameron and H. L. Dennis. H. Chalker, the first clerk, served in this office until 1872. The officers at present are: wardens, Capt. Geo. J. Campbell, U. S.A., W. H. Fuller; clerk, J. R. Gurner; treasurer, Joseph Miller ; rector, H. L. Dennis.
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