History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 93

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 93

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Soon after the war of 1812 Philo C. Fuller, a young New England lawyer, established himself in Geneseo by invitation of James Wads-

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

worth, and became his confidential clerk. He was the first legal prac- titioner in the town, and being a young man of fine traits, well equip- ped in law and miscellaneous studies, with the additional advantage of a varied experience as school teacher, elerk and soldier, he made his way successfully in the new country. He continued in the employ of the Wadsworths until the fall of 1828, when he was elected to the as- sembly, and afterward was almost continuously in public life. He was re-elceted assemblyman, was state senator in 1831-32, and then representative in Congress for two terms. In 1836 he moved to Adrian, Mich., and in that state became speaker of the state legisla- ture, and was the defeated whig candidate for governor. He returned to New York to reside on his farm in Conesus, and in 1850 was ap- pointed state comptroller by Governor Washington Hunt. He died in 1855 on his Conesus farm. He was a deserving, able and trusted leader of men, and faithful to all bis trusts.

The pioneer physician of the town was Dr. John P. Gill, who went to Dansville in 1797, from Dansville to Williamsburgh, and moved from Williamsburgh to Geneseo in 1798. Dr. Augustus Wolcott suc- ceeded him, coming from Connecticut. James Wadsworth was the first resident lawyer, but almost his only professional practice was looking after the legal questions involved in the management of his own estate, aided by his confidential clerk, the first practitioner, Philo C. Fuller.

Probably the most eminent of the other Geneseo lawyers was John Young, who became governor of the state and later United States treas- urer. Few men have ever occupied a more prominent position in county and state politics than Governor Young, and none more than he earned a high and honorable position through personal efforts, unaided by far- oring circumstances. John Young was a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1802, but while he was yet in his boyhood his father, Thomas Young, removed to the town of Conesus, in this county, where he was for some years the keeper of a public-house, and after- ward a tiller of the soil. Mr. Young was possessed of more than ordi- nary good sense and judgment and was enterprising and persevering to a remarkable degree. Mrs. Young was an amiable woman, of great intelligence, and of many virtues, and both she and her husband were much respected and esteemed in the community in which they lived. The circumstances of the family, however, were humble, and although

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

John was their only son, and they were not inclined to deny him any advantages, they were not able to give him the liberal'education he desired. The boy was given the best education the common schools of his town afforded, and self reliant and hopeful, he was sent forth into the world with his father's blessing, "to carve out a destiny.for himself." The profession which he early chose for himself was that of the law. but his humble circumstances seemed to interpose almost insurmount- able obstacles. "Having once determined on his course, however, no obstacles were allowed to interfere with, or to prevent, the accom- plishment of his desires. Before him was the goal on which his thoughts were fixed : all his energies were directed toward the attain- ment of his wishes; and the difficulties that occasionally sprung up in his path, only sharpened the zest and increased the eagerness with which he prosecuted his preliminary studies. "1

In 1833 Mr. Young commenced the study of law in the office of Augustus A. Bennett, of East Avon. No better opportunity could have been desired than this. Mr. Bennett was one of the ablest mem- bers of the bar in the county, and study under him could not fail to be of immense advantage to the young student. While pursuing this course Mr. Young. unwilling to burden his father, supported himself by teaching school and occasional practice in justice's courts. He

finished his studies with Ambrose Bennett, of Geneseo, a prominent lawyer and politician, and was admitted in 1829 to practice in the Supreme Court, having previously been recognized as an attorney of the Livingston Common Pleas. Having thus successfully attained the object for which he had so long labored, Mr. Young opened an office at Geneseo, and entered upon a professional career that was highly flattering. "Possessing remarkable shrewdness and persever- ance, a thorough knowledge of human nature, good common sense, - native talents above mediocrity, developed and invigorated by the ex- perience to which the character of a self-made man must always be subjected -- together with integrity, fidelity and industry, he was well fitted to encounter the difficulties and embarrassments incident to a professional career, and to achieve the triumphs which await desert like that which he exhibited." Mr. Young took a place in the front rank of the legal profession, and retained it through life. A few years

I Jenkins' Lives of the Governors.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

before his election to the office of Governor he formed a partnership with General James Wood, which continued until Mr. Young's death.

Mr. Young took an active interest in politics early in life and his early associations and education inclining that way, he affiliated with the Democratic party. He was afterwards identified with the Anti- Masonic party, until it merged into the Whig party, when he became an ardent and earnest supporter of the principles of that organization. He held several minor town offices, and in 1831, was sent to the assem- bly by the Anti-Masons. Here he at once took a high position, and acquitted himself creditably on all occasions. In 1836 he was chosen Representative in Congress, vice Philo C. Fuller, resigned, and served in the session of 1836-37. In 1840 he was again chosen to this office by a very large majority, which result was attributed "in a good degree, to his own personal exertions in supporting and defending the princi- ples and the candidates of his party in Livingston county." In the House he was distinguished for his labors on committees, his sagacious advice in relation to party policy, and his ardent support of Whig principles and measures.

In 1844 Mr. Young was again called from retirement by his political friends and sent to the assembly. His brilliant record there has been mentioned in previous pages, and the consequent triumph of the Whigs in making him Governor, noted. His administration of the duties of this office was marked by public welfare, and executive ability of a rare type. His cutting rebuke, "I am Governor," to one who sought to influence his action, shows the high motive which governed his official conduct.

In July, 1849, Ex-Governor Young entered upon the duties of Assistant United States Treasurer at New York, to which position he · had been appointed by the new Whig administration, and continued there until his death, April 23d, 1852. His health for some years had been delicate, and the progress of his disease-consumption-was such that for some months his friends were prepared for the final issue of the struggle against the insidious marches of this dreaded foe of human life. Nevertheless he was himself hopeful, and did not seem to realize how near death was. Yet when the last hour came, he sank peacefully and trustfully into the sleep that knows no waking.

Mr. Young was married in 1833 to Ellen Harris, daughter of Camp-

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bell Harris of York. His wife and five children survived him, all of whom are still living except Campbell H. Young.

It is risking little in saying that Mr. Young died when only entering upon the brightest portion of his life, and that, had he lived, other and greater honors would have been showered upon him by an admir- ing and trusting people.

Lockwood L. Doty, who wrote the first history of Livingston coun- ty over thirty years ago, was born in Groveland in 1827. He read law in the office of John Young in Geneseo, but entering into public life did not become an active practitioner. Governor Young gave him an appointment in the canal appraiser's office in 1847, and he soon became deputy state treasurer under Alvah Hunt, and held the posi- tion under three successive state treasurers.

During Governor Morgan's first term he was chief clerk in the ex- ecutive department and in 1861 private secretary of the governor. He was appointed consul to Nassau N. P., in 1862, but declined the position. 6 Later he was deputy collector of customs in New York City, private secretary to Governor Morgan while United States sena- tor, and assessor of internal revenue for the sixth district of New York City. In the late sixties he was appointed secretary and treas- urer of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company. His health failing, he retired from public life to his Geneseo home and engaged in newspaper and historical work. In 1871 he was appointed pension agent for New York City, and died while holding that office.

Perhaps the most notable newspaper man of Geneseo was Samuel P. Allen. He was born in Smyrna, N. Y., in 1814, came to Geneseo in 1830, and became an apprentice in the office of the Livingston Regis- ter. After various labors in the printing office, on the farm and in school, he started the Livingston Republican in 1837. He sold this in 1846, purchased an interest in the Rochester Democrat, and for a few years was its able chief editor. After he left the Democrat he was half owner of the Chenango Telegraph for four years and then returned to Geneseo bought back his old paper, the Livingston Republican, and kept it until he died.

The district of Geneseo, set off by the Court of General Ses- sions of Ontario county in 1789, embraced all west of the east line of Pittsford, Mendon and Richmond, a line nearly corresponding with the prolongation of the east line of the present town of Springwater.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

The first town meeting of this district was held at Canawaugus April 5, 1791, when the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, John Ganson; clerk, David Bullen; assessors, Nathan Perry, Gad Wads- worth, Amos Hall, Israel Stone, Witham Wadsworth; collector, Ed- ward Carney; commissioners of highways, Isaiah Thompson. Benja- min Gardner, John Lusk; constables, Jasper Marvin, Norris Hum- phrey : fence viewers, William Rice, John Oelman, Elijah Morton, Philemon Hall, Phineas Bates: pound keepers, Darling Havens, Nicholas Miller, Henry Brown; pathmasters, Gilbert R. Berry, Clark Peck, Gideon Pitts, Lemuel B. Jennings, Joseph Morgan, Chauncey Hyde, Aaron Beach, Abner Mighells.

The supervisors from 1791 to 1800 in the order of service were John Ganson, Thomas Lee, Amos Hall, Solomon Hovey and William Wads- worth. The town clerks in like order were David Bullen, Theodore Shepard, John Davis, Nathaniel Naramor and John MI Miner.

Some of the proceedings of the early town meetings are suggestive. In 1791 it was voted that swine might run at large if sufficiently yoked. In 1792 it was voted to allow a bounty of four dollars for every wolf killed in the district, and at an adjourned meeting in April the bounty was raised to five dollars. In 1793 four tavern licenses and thirteen retailer's licenses at two pounds each were granted by the commissioners of excise. In those early years the town taxed dogs "over one in each family. " and the highway overseers were instructed to destroy Canada thistles, burdocks and other noxious weeds.

Lockwood L. Doty's history says: "In 1813 there were not more than thirty houses in the village. Main street, North and South streets were located about where they are now. Two considerable gullies crossed Main street ; the one nearly opposite Concert hall, the other just south of the machine shop. The road leading down the hill near the court house, instead of running at right angles with Main street, bore to the northwest in the direction of Shackleton's ferry, which crossed the river where the bridge now stands. The bridges on Main street across the gullies were merely of a temporary character, and neither convenient nor safe. When Colonel, afterward General, Winfield Scott marched his regiment through the village in 1813, they came down South street and through Main street to a lane running east, up which they marched to the lot now occupied by Mrs. C. II.

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Bryan's residence, where they encamped. There was then no Center or Second street."

The earliest settlers were mostly from Connecticut, the former home of the pioneer Wadsworths. Later many came from Pennsylvania, following the road opened by Captain Williamson. These were mostly Presbyterian families, descendants of the Scotch-Irish, with Calvinism ingrained by heredity and education. Hence it was natural that the first religious society in the town should be Presbyterian. A Presby- terian church was organized as early as 1795, by Rev. Samuel Thatcher, and its first elders were Daniel Kelly, James Haynes and John Ewart. For a number of years the meetings were held in priv- ate houses, and when the first town house was built they were held in that. In 1810 a Congregational society was organized. It continued until 1834 when it was changed to Presbyterian. The "Geneseo Gos- pel Society," identified with the organization of 1795 was incorporated in 1815, with the following trustees: Joseph W. Law- rence, Samuel Finley, Isaac Smith, William H. Spencer, Samuel Loomis and Timothy P. Kneeland. The records of these three societies are a little mixed, but Doty's history of the last says: "One of their [the trustees] first acts was the raising of forty dollars to re- pair the town house. In 1816 Mr. Wadsworth deeded to the Geneseo Gospel Society the one hundred acres of land they now own, two miles southeast of the village. This was in accordance with a promise made by several of the large land owners of cessions of land to the first reg- ularly incorporated religious societies which should be organized in the several towns. The first pastor was the Rev. Abraham Fore- man, who was installed July 12, 1817, and a meeting house was partly constructed the same year."

In 1858 there was a division among the Geneseo Presbyterians on the old and new school question, and the Central Presbyterian church was formed by the old school members. After a separation of twenty- one years the two factions reunited in 1880.

Geneseo Academy was incorporated in 1827, and about 1830 its buildings were erected. Norman Seymour of Mt. Morris wrote: "Among the educational institutions that existed in Western New York between the years of 1828 and 1870 none took higher rank than the one situated,at Temple Hill, Geneseo." The grounds, donated by James Wadsworth in 1826, were delightfully situated on an elevation

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overlooking the valley and well shaded with fine forest trees. The institution was first called Livingston County High School, then Temple Hill Academy, and in 1858 became Geneseo Aca- demy, and was placed under the care of the Synod of Buffalo, but not made sectarian. Its only religious requirements were that the Bible should be read at morning and evening worship, and that the students should attend some church on Sundays. Its first principal was one of the most eminent Greek scholars and authors of America, C. E. Felton, long professor of Greek in and president of Harvard Univer-

GENESEO NORMAL-FROMI VIEW

sity. Another principal was Hon. Samuel Treat, who became an emi- nent jurist and United States judge. Another was Robinson, whose mathematical text books were celebrated and widely adopted. An- other was Rev. D. D. McColl, a pulpit orator of note. Another was the Rev. James H. Nichols, with his wife as preceptress, distinguished educators. These and other principals and assistants constituted a succession of educators who have hardly been equaled in any similar institution in the state. And many of its numerous pupils became

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distinguished in different walks of life. The pupils came from more than a dozen states, from Canada and the Sandwich Islands, from Japan and from almost every county in New York; as many as four hundred pupils were registered in Temple Academy in a single term. Between the years 1851-57 inclusive there were 2000 pupils in attendance, averaging eighteen years of age. Its prosperity continued until the State Normal school was established in Geneseo, in 1871, when so many pupils were drawn thither, that they dwindled in the old academy, and in 1872 it was abandoned.

It was a stroke of vigorous local enterprise which brought the State Normal and Training School to Geneseo. The men most prominent in taking the initiative were William A. Brodie, Col. Craig W. Wads- worth and Col. John Rorbach, and among the more active co-oper- ators, named by Col. Rorbach in his historical address on the 25th anniversary of the institution, were Judge Hubbard, A. J. Abbott, Gen. Wood. Col. Strang, Dr. Bissell, Dr. W. E. Lauderdale, L. L. Doty, Charles F. and James W. Wadsworth, James S. Orton, Rev. J. P. Folsom, J. B. Adams, Nelson Janes, Charles F. Doty, T. F. Olm- sted and John O. Vanderbelt. In April, 1866, the Jeigslature au- thorized the establishment of five more normal schools. Leading men of Geneseo had begun to see that changing conditions in relation to the schools of the state were likely to end the prosperity of their fa- mous academy on Temple Hill, and concluded that the desirable sub- stitute was one of those state normal schools. The subject was agi- tated, and at a special village meeting on August 13, 1866, the trus- tees were authorized to offer the Normal School Commissioners $45,000 and a suitable site for the location of a normal school in Gen- eseo. The offer was afterward increased to $50,000; and at town meeting held September 24, 1867, a resolution was adopted bonding the town for $45,000. The committee chosen to present the offer to the Normal Commissioners were Col. Craig W. Wadsworth, Hon. Lock- wood L. Doty, Hon. Wm. H. Kelsey, Hon. John Jacob A. Mead and Gen. James Wood. Their strenuous efforts, however, were defeated by representatives of Brockport, which, through Gen. Martindale, then Attorney General, had the stronger "pull." Defeated but not disheartened, and stimulated by encouraging words from Colonel Doty, then in Albany, the citizens made another effort, and succeeded in inducing the legislature to pass a special act which

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gave them the school. By this act of March 29, 1867, the electors of the town of Geneseo were authorized to vote upon the question of contributing a sum not exceeding $100,000 to aid in the erection and furnishing of the proposed school. The financial action necessary to secure the school was in due time taken by the village and the supervi- sors of the town, and John Rorbach, Lockwood L. Doty and Craig W. Wadsworth were apppointed a committee to procure the ground and erect the bulding. Colonel Doty's removal from Geneseo compelled him to resign and James S. Orton was selected to fill the vacancy. The town of Geneseo contributed the sum of $45,000 and the village of Geneseo $15.000 in aid of the enterprise, and the Wadsworth family contributed $10,000 more. The name first applied to the institution was the Wadsworth Normal and Training School, which was afterward changed to the Geneseo Normal and Training School. It was opened Sept. 13, 1871, with William J. Milne as principal; he was its able head until October, 1889, when, having been chosen principal of the Albany Normal College, he was succeeded by his brother, John M. Milne, who was promoted to the position from the professorship of Greek and Latin. He proved a worthy successor of his brother, and his death in February, 1905, was a loss to the school and the cause of education which is widely felt. Since the inception of the school, nearly thirty-five years ago, it has been aided by several appropriations from the legislature, and its buildings and grounds have been much extended and improved. It is classed as one of the largest and most successful normal schools of the state.

It was the beneficence of the first James Wadsworth that provided Geneseo with its large and excellent library, which now contains about 15,000 volumes. A brick building was erected in 1843, and lands were deeded in trust for the maintenance of the library, some of which are village lots, and two are farms containing respectively 153 and 115 acres. On account of lapses and reversions the Wadsworth heirs re- deeded the property to new trustees in 1869. They had previously, in 1867, erected a new and larger brick building for the library, at a cost of $12,000. The library is free to all the inhabitants of the county. It may be stated in this connection that it was through the strenuous efforts and great influence of James Wadsworth with the legislature in 1838 that district school libraries were established throughout the state.

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The great elm of Avon was almost matched by the great white oak of Geneseo, which stood on the bank of the river a little south of the old Wadsworth boarding house. Its trunk was about ten feet in diam- eter, and it had a wide-spreading magnificent top. Its age was esti- mated to be 700 years. Many years ago it was undermined by water, and fell into the river. The gigantic trunk was sawed into sections, some of which are still to be seen at the General Wadsworth home -. stead, and one was taken by Mr. Letchworth to Glen Iris.

The village of Geneseo was incorporated April 21, 1832, and the first village meeting was held June 4 in that year, when the follow- ing officers were elected: Trustees, Allen Ayrault, William H. Spen- cer, Calvin H. Bryan, Charles Colt, Owen P. Olmsted; assessors, Samuel F. Butler, Gurdon Nowlen, Chauncey Metcalf; clerk, Tru- man Hastings; treasurer, William H. Stanley; collector, Joseph W. Lawrence; fire wardens, Horace Alpin, Joseph W. Lawrence, Jr., Russell Austin, Elias P. Metcalf, John F. Wyman. At a meeting of the trustees, Owen P. Olmsted was chosen president; Philo C. Fuller, Calvin H. Bryan and Truman Hastings, a board of health; Dr. Eli Hill, health officer; Truman Hastings, attorney.

A census of Geneseo was taken in 1790 by General Amos Hall, of Bloomfield, which gives it eight families with forty-three persons ; while in 1805 twelve dwellings were reported. In 1810 the population of the town was 894, in 148 families, but the village had not developed sufficient importance to be mentioned in Spofford's Gazetteer of 1813. Yet it was the market town for this section of the country. Allen Ayrault writes in 1817 that "roads and bridges are not much between Geneseo and Moscow. The ice in winter and a rope in summer are

the only ways to cross the Genesee river. " In 1820 the population of the town is given as 1598. There were then "351 farmers, eleven traders, seventy mechanics, three foreigners and eight free blacks." Ten years before there were six school houses, now there were twelve. There were 6,286 acres of improved land, 1,508 cattle, 367 horses, 3,083 sheep. -

In 1830 the village of Geneseo contained a population of 500. The buildings numbered ninety-six, public and private. Upwards of 300,- 000 bushels of wheat and other grain, 500 barrels of pork and 100,000 pounds of wool were purchased here annually. The only means. of

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transport were wagons, or by flat-bottomed boats down the Genesee river to Rochester.

There were six combined dry goods and grocery stores, one drug store, one large grocery store, two saloons, two harness shops, two hat shops, two stove shops, one jewelry store, two book stores, two printing offices, one hardware store, two millinery shops, two cabinet shops, three tailor shops, one wagon shop, one chair factory, one bank, four blacksmith shops, four hotels, one livery stable and one meat market.

There were three churches, the Presbyterian built in 1817, the Methodist built in 1826, and the Episcopal built in 1828. The clergy- men were Rev. Norris Bull, Mr. Byard and Mr. House.

The professional and business men were as follows:

Lawyers-H. D. Mason, John Young, Calvin H. Bryan, Truman Hastings, Ogden Willey and Ambrose Bennett.

Physicians-Eli Hill, Cyrus Wells and Ehas P. Metcalf.

Merchants-Andrew Stewart, C. R. Vance, Chauncey Metcalf, E. M. Buell, Owen P. Olmsted, R. VanRensselaer and Henry P. North.

Druggists-Dr. Eli Hill.

Grocer -- John F. Wyman.

Harness makers-Jacob B. Hall and C. Heath.

Hatters-Elijah H. Perkins and Oliver Spalding.

Shoemakers-Horace Alpin and Walter Smith.

Tailors-Henry Thompson, Andrew Stillwell and Samuel Thompson. Wagon maker-Cecil Clark.

Blacksmiths-Chauncey Parsons, Joseph W. Lawrence, Jr., Jos- eph P. Sharp and Benjamin Tucker.

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 93

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