USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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Ellis, Samuel L Jan. 7, 1864.
Endress, Samuel
Dans-
ville, . 1829. Jan. 27. 1829. Ensworth, Jared D., Avon,. . . 1821. May 29, 1821. Fenn, Horatio N., . 1823. Jan. 6, 1824.
Ferris, Lewis G., Mt. Morris, June 30, 1840.
Filkins, J. G., York
Findlay, Solomon B.,. . 1823.
Fitch, Graham N., Caledonia, 1835. June 25, 1833. Foote, Henry K., Conesus, . .. 1830. June 28, 1830. Fowler, B. F., Geneseo, .. Sept. 28, 1853. French, Elkanah, Livonia, . . . 1821. May 29, 1821. Gaillick, Thaddeus,
Gallantine, Samuel, Mt. Mor- ris, . 1842. June 27, 1843.
Gates, H. S.,
1835. June 28, 1836.
Gibbs, Anson A., Livonia, . .
L., Mt.
Gilbert, Augustus Morris, . 1852. Sept. 28, 1852.
Gilmore, John, Nunda,
Graham, John S., York, . 1829. June 28, 1830.
Grant, Abraham, 1829. June 28, 1830. Graves, Geo. W.
Gray, Arnold, Springwater, . . 1827. June 26, 1827.
Gray, John W., Avon, .
Gray, Joel, Geneseo, . June 29, 1841.
Gray, Orlando S., Springwa- ter, 1835.
Green, James, York, . June 28, 1825.
Green, Jay I .. , Livonia, .
Green, Wm. T., Livonia, 1827.
Hale, Thara, . 1822.
Hanson, Benajah, York,. 1829. June 24, 1828.
Harris, Francis L., Geneseo, 1829. June 26, 1832. Higgins, David C., 1825.
Hill, Eli, Livonia,
1823. May 29, 1821.
Hoff, Alexander H., Mt. Mor-
ris, Sept. 28, 1852.
Holloway, Wm., York, .. 1823. 1822. Hovey, Bleeker L., Sparta, . . 1842. June 28, 1842. Hudnutt, Isaiah B. Jr., West Sparta, . 1837. June 30, 1835. Hume, Julius M., Conesus, . . 1835. Jan. 28, 1834. Hunt, Hiram, Mt. Morris,. . . 1825. Jan. 30, 1827. Hunt, John S., Sparta, . 1842. June 28, 1842. Huntington, T. R., Mt. Mor- ris,
Hurd, Isaac W., Sparta, .. 1829. June 30, 1829. Jinks, James E., Avon, .
Jones, Geo. H., Fowlerville, . 1878.
Joslyn, Z. H., Mt. Morris,. .. Kelsey, Robert,. June 26, 1838.
King, John M.,
1834.
Kneeland, Benj. F., Nunda,.
as early as 1875.
Landon, J. C., Geneseo, . . . . 1825. June 28, 1825.
114
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Lauderdale, Edward, Grove- land ...
Lauderdale, Walter E., Sparta, 1828. Jan. 27, 1829.
Lauderdale, Walter F., Jr., Geneseo,
Leonard, John W., York, .. 1821. May 29. 1821.
Little, Charles, Avon,
1821. May 29, 1821.
Little, Geo. W., Lima, .
1823. June 24, 1823.
Long, Josiah, York, .
1840. June 29, 1841.
Losey, J. B., Conesus,
Luce, Charles T. 823.
Luke, Philip C.,.
1833.
Lyon, Lockwood, Groveland, 1829. June 30, 1829. Manning, J.,
Mason, Truman E., ..
.. 1835, June 30, 1835.
McArthur, P. S., Mt. Morris,
McIntyre, A. F., York, . .
May, 1853.
McMaster, James, Livonia, .. 1826. June 24, 1828. McMillen, David, Conesus, . . 1823. 1822.
McPherson, Thomas, . . . . .
. .. 1833.
Meacham, E. H. G., Mt. Morris,. . June 27, 1843.
Meacham, Wm. G., Geneseo,
Menzie, R. J., Caledonia, .. .
as early as 1874.
Mercer, Alfred W., Syracuse, . Sept. 28, 1852.
Merriam, Harvey R., . . . . . .. 1840.
Metcalf, Elias l'., Geneseo, . . 1828. Jan. 27, 1829.
Minard, Isaac, .. 1837. June 25, 1839.
Morey, George, Avon,
Morgan, Charles F., .
Morse, T., . Sept. 28, 1852.
Moyer, Frank H., Moscow, ..
Munson, Wm. Beers, Mt.
Morris,.
June 28, 1830.
Nesbitt, Wm., Avon, Jan'y 7: 1864.
Northrop, James, .
Norton, John B., Springwater, 1827.
Paine, Zina G., York, .
. 1835. June 28, 1831.
1822.
l'atchen, Edward W., Livonia, June 30, 1840.
Patchen, Robert A., Livonia,
l'atterson, J. C., Livonia, . .. l'eck, Enoch, York, 1826. Jan'y 6, 1824.
Peckham, P. B.,
Perine, F. M., Dansville, . July 24, 1867.
Perry, Abijah E.,
.1828. Jan. 29, 1828.
Potter, E. A., Mt. Morris, . .. 1830.
Potter, Wm. W., Mt. Morris,
Pratt, O. S., Dansville, . .
Purchase, J. B., Conesus, Sept. 28, 1852.
Purdy, Wm. S., Lima ..... .. 1834. Jan. 28, 1834. Reynale, Wm. H., Dansville, 1826. June 26, 1827. Richmond, Chas. H., Livonia, as early as Jan., 1875. Rider, Ebenezer, 1844.
Robinson, J. H., Conesus,. 1827. Jan. 29, 1828. Rogers, S. C., Lakeville, Rowland, M. E., Geneseo, ..
Royce, Phineas. IS23.
Sabin, J. B., Nunda,
Salisbury, Samuel, Jr., Avon, . 1829. June 28, 1831. Seaman, Ezekiel . 1834. Sellew, Wells H., Moscow .. Sept. 28, 1828. Seymour, Levi Dwight, Lei-
cester 1842. June 28, 1842.
Sheldon, H. P., Livonia .. 1880.
Shepard, Lester G.,. 1823. 1822.
Shull, D. L., York,
Sill, Andrew, Livonia, 1826. Jan. 30, 1827. Smith, Athelstan W., Spring- water . 1841. Jan. 26, 1841.
Smith, Geo. M., .
Smith, Jacob K., Moscow, . .
Smith, Justin, Lima, .. 1821. May 29, 1821.
Southwick, Wm. W., Avon, ..
Southworth, Samuel, Avon, . .
Sprague, Wm., . Jan'y 7, 1864.
Sprague, Wm. B., York,
Staley, Jacob G., York, .
Stickney, Frederick R., York,
June 29, 1841.
Stickney, T. R., Fowlerville, .
Sept. 9, 1878.
Stillwell, Danl. C., Livonia, . . 1835. June 28, 1831.
Thomas, Wm. H., Mt. Mor-
ris, .
Jan. 26, 1841.
Townsend, Absalom, Cuyler-
ville,
1843. June 27, 1843.
Townsend, Wm. A.,
:821.
1821.
Tozier, Joseph, York,
1824. Jan. 27, 1829.
Truesdale, Norman, .
Tyler,
Jan'y 6, 1824.
Tyler, Royal, York
1824. May 29, 1824.
Upson, S., Nunda, .
Van Dike, J., York,
1877.
Vickery, Wm. H.,. Jan'y 7, 1864.
Wallace, Walter,
1838, June 30, 1840.
Ward, David,
Warner, Chas. F., Nunda, .
Weeks, Joseph, Sparta, . .
June 28, 1842.
Wells, Cyrus, Jr., Geneseo, . . 1821. May 29, 1821. Wells, Harlow W., Caledonia, 1842. June 28, 1842. Whitbeck, J. F., Avon, . ... . 1835. June 30, 1835. Whitney, Wm., Mt. Morris, .. 1840. June 30, 1840. Wynn, Wm. W.,
Vale, Asahel, Dansville, .. . .. 1829. June -, 1824. The present officers of the society (Dec. 1, 1880,) are :-
President-J. E. Crisfield, Dansville. Vice President-J. G. Filkins, York. Secretary-George H. Jones, Fowlerville. Treasurer-W. E. Lauderdale, Jr., Geneseo. Delegate to State Society-J. W. Gray, Avon. Delegates to National Association-D. H. Bis- sell and W. E. Lauderdale, Sr., of Geneseo, and Z. W. Joslyn, of Mt. Morris.
Delegates to Central New York Society-J. E. Crisfield, W. E. Lauderdale, Jr., J. W. Gray, J. G. Filkins and George H. Jones.
Censors-B. T. Kneeland, Z. W. Joslyn, W. E. Lauderdale, Jr., and B. J. Menzie.
The Homeopathic Medical Society of Livingston Co .- The therapeutics of the homeopathic school of medicine is founded on the theory of similia similibus curantur. The principle was discovered by Samuel Hahnemann, who was born in Leipsic, in the Province of Saxony, April 10, 1755. He was an accomplished and skillful practitioner of the old school of medicine, and having proved certain
Palmer, Asa R.,.
1823.
115
HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.
remedies upon himself and others, he abandoned a lucrative practice under government patronage, at Gommeon, near Magdeburg, on account of con- scientious seruples against administering drugs according to the vague formulas then in use, and in 1796, first enunciated the principles of home- opathy, the practice of which he commenced in his native place. He was soon driven from thence by the bitter opposition he encountered, to Paris, where he met with success and secured converts, among whom was Dr. Hans B. Gram, of Copen- hagen, an American by birth, who, having won the highest grade of merit in the Royal Academy of Surgery in that city, came to New York in 1825, and introduced the new practice into America, con- tinuing it in that city till his death in 1840, three years previous to that of his preceptor, Hahne- mann, who died in Paris in 1843. It spread rapid- ly, notwithstanding the prejudice and bitter oppo- sition against it, and was first introduced into Liv- ingston county in 1848, by Chauncey M. Dake, a celebrated physician, who located in Geneseo, where he practiced fourteen years. He went to Pittsburgh, Penn., and died in Springwater.
Previous to 1857 homeopathie societies exist- ed as informal associations only, having no legal status. April 13, 1857, the Legislature authorized the formation of homeopathic county medical so- cieties, with equal privileges and immunities en- joyed by similar so-called allopathic associations. April 17, 1862, the Legislature passed an Act to in- corporate the Homeopathic Medical society of the State of New York. Under that act a reorgani- zation was effected whereby county societies then existing became auxiliary to the State society, and the following year it was formally inaugurated.
The Homeopathic Medical Society of Livingston County was organized under the Act of 1857, at a meeting convened at the Court-house in Geneseo, on Tuesday, December 1, 1857, pursuant to no- tice issued by Drs. C. A. Dake, I. J. Mechem and C. M. Dake, November 18, 1857. Dr. 1. J. Me- chem was appointed chairman pro tempore, and W. R. Wells, chosen secretary. After resolving to organize under the above name, for "the advance- ment of the science of medicine," the following named officers were chosen :- C. M. Dake, Gene- seo, President ; 1. J. Mechem, Nunda, Vice Presi- dent ; W. R. Wells, Mt. Morris, Secretary; I. J. Mechem, Nunda, Treasurer. By-laws and regula- tions for the government of the Society were then adopted. These provide for an annual meeting to be held on the first day of December in each year,
(except that day be Sunday, in which case it is to be held on the Saturday next preceding it,) and for extra meetings on the written application of a ma- jority of the officers or members. College gradu- ates and medical licentiates "acknowledging the Homeopathic Law of Cure, and by the Censors found qualified to practice Homeopathy," are eli- gible to membership on payment of an initiation fee of five dollars. Provision is made for the ap- pointment, at the annual meetings, of a committee, "whose duty it shall be to propose drugs for trial, and aid in the augmentation and improvement of the Materia Medica." A fine of five dollars is im- posed on members absenting themselves from meetings of the Society without satisfactory excuse : and it is made the duty of each member to write dissertations or cases in practice, and report the same at the annual meetings. Applicants for license are required to undergo an examination by the Censors, and present them with a written statement from one or more respectable practition- ers of medicine in this State, certifying to their good moral character, and to their having pursued the study of "physic and surgery" for the terni required by law. Each applicant passing a satis- factory examination is entitled to a diploma ; but is required to pay ten dollars, to be divided equally among the Censors making the examination.
The code of medical ethics adopted by the "Al- lopathie State Medical Society" in February, 1823, was, "with a few alterations," adopted by this So- ciety, after which the following additional officers were elected :- C. M. Dake, I. J. Mechem and W. R. Wells, censors; A. A. Hendee, Geneseo, at- torney ; C. M. Dake, delegate to American Insti- tute of Homeopathy; I. J. Mechem, delegate to the Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York, which, though not incorporated until 1862, was organized in 1857.
The following named persons were then elected "permanent and taxable members," C. M. Dake, M. D., Geneseo, I. J. Mechem, M. D., Dr. A. L. L. Potter, Nunda, and W. R. Wells, M. D., Mt. Morris ; "honorary member," Hon. Allen Ayrault, Geneseo ; "corresponding members," Constantine Herring, M. D., Prof. W. Williamson, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa., D. M. Dake, M. D., and Prof. J. P. Dake, M. D., Pittsburgh, Pa., S. R. Kirby, M. D.
The following named gentlemen have served the Society in the capacity of president : C. M. Dake, 1858, 1862 ; J. M. Blakesley, 1864-'66 ; J. N. An- derson, 1867-'70; J. W. Dake, 1871-3; James A. West, 1874, 1876; Herbert M. Dayfoot, 1875; G.
116
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
R. Traver, 1877, '79,'So : I. H. Dix, (now in Kan- sas,) 1878; W. W. Russell, 1881.
The society now hold annual meetings in June, at which the officers for the ensuing year are elected, and semi-annual meetings in December.
Following is a list of the names of additional members who have joined the society, with the date of joining, the names of the present members being italicised : J. M. Blakesley, Dansville, and A. L. L. Potter, Geneseo, 1862 ; Milton H. Halsted, Geneseo, M. G. Davis, Perry, C. A. Dake and Jabez W. Dake, Warsaw, and F. C. Fitch, Castile, 1863; James A. Wl'est, Geneseo, O. D. Hamilton, Fowlerville, 1). F. Dake, Mt. Morris, 1864; J. N. Anderson, Dansville, and A. A. West, Fowlerville. 1865; Herbert MI. Dayfoot, Mt. Morris, 1867 ; J. T. Bettis, Livonia, 1869 ; Isaac H. Dix and Henry A. Whitfield, Dansville, and T. P. Tisdale, Lima, 1870; W. H. Thomas, Mt. Morris, 1871 ; C. C. Curtis, Nunda, (now at Dunkirk,) and G. R. Tra- ver, Perry, June 23, 1874; Cyrus Allen, Avon, and C. D. Woodruff, Lima, June 20, 1876 ; F. J. M. Whitcomb, Nunda, June 19, 1877; II'. II'. Russell, Hemlock Lake, and C. II'. Browmand P. P. Andrews, Dansville, June 9, 1878; E. II'. Southall, Geneseo, Dec. 9, 1879 ; G. T. Borden, Caledonia, and C. C. Gifford, Attica, June 8, 1 880.
The Livingston County Agricultural Society .- The Livingston County Agricultural Society was organized in 1841. On the 25th of May in that year, the following named farmers of York, "feel- ing a deep interest in the cause of Agriculture," and desirous of exerting themselves for its promotion ; and believing that if the plan suggested in the "Act to promote agriculture," passed May 5, 1841, were carried into effect, it would "be attended with the most salutary consequences," requested the clerk of the county to cause notice to be given, in conformity to said Act, that a meeting of the inhab- itants of this county would be held in the court house at Geneseo, on the first day of July follow- ing, at 10 o'clock, A. M. This request was signed by John Holloway, David Piffard. James Doud, Holloway Long, Wm. Craig, Duncan Stewart, John Stewart, Archibald McIntyre, Robert Vallance, John Donnan, Daniel McKercher, John Campbell, Erastus Lawrence, Geo. N. Russell, J. B. Harris, Roswell Stocking, Allen S. Wyman, Otis Presby, Miles Torrey, Erastus Harris, A. S. Martindale, James Gilman, Neil Stewart, Robert Wait, George Blake, J. B. Bloss, James Ilamilton and John Hamilton.
S. P. Allen, then county clerk, gave the required notice May 29, 1841, and in conforming with this action a meeting was held at the time and place designated. General Wm. A. Mills was chosen chairman and Colonel Samuel W. Smith, secretary. It was "resolved that it is expedient to form an agricultural society for the county of Livingston." General Micah Brooks, Colonel Holloway Long, Felix Tracy, C. H. Bryan and John Holloway were appointed to draft a constitution for the Society, which, after being debated and amended, was adopted at the same meeting.
The constitution states the object of the Society to "be the promotion of agriculture, horticulture and household manufactures." The payment of one dollar on admission and one dollar annually thereafter during the continuance of membership, was and is the only requirement for membership; and by the payment of ten dollars on admission any person can become a life member. The officers were made to consist of a president, three vice-presidents, a recording secretary, a correspond- ing secretary, a treasurer and twelve managers, one from each town, who together constituted the execu- tive committee. They were elected annually and had power to fill vacancies in their own body. The present by-laws state that "the object of the society is the advancement of agriculture, horticulture, mechanic arts and household industry." The present officers consist of a president, vice-presi- dent, secretary, treasurer and six directors, who are elected in the manner prescribed by section 5 of "an Act to facilitate the formation of agricul- tural and horticultural societies," passed April 13, 1855. They " constitute a board of managers for the general administration of the business of the society." In addition there are town committees, consisting of one from each town, elected or appointed at the annual meeting of the officers, who " superintend the affairs of the society in their respective towns, under direction of the board of managers." There may be appointed annually a geologist and librarian ; * also a registrar of stock, whose duty it is to register " the pedigrees of such thorough-bred animals as may be presented for entry."
The following named officers were then chosen : Wm. A. Mills, president ; Holloway Long, James S. Wadsworth and Daniel H. Fitzhugh, vice-presi- dents ; C. H. Bryan, recording secretary ; C. R.
* W'e find no record of an election to either of these offices until Janu- ary 3, 1860, when Jolin V. Lauderdale was elected to both. This, we believe, is the only instance in which the former office has been filled, and the latter but one additional time.
II7
LIVINGSTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL, SOCIETY.
Bond, corresponding secretary ; Allen Ayrault, treasurer ; Micah Brooks, Mt. Morris, S. W. Smith, Sparta, C. H. Carroll, Groveland, W. H. Spencer, York, W. W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, W. W. Woos- ter, Leicester, Hector Hitchcock, Conesus, Edward A. LeRoy, Caledonia, Asahel Warner, Lima, H. S. Tyler, Springwater, Leman Gibbs, Livonia, and John E. Tompkins, Avon, managers.
The following named persons then paid each one dollar :- David Shepard, Chas. Shepard, Hollo- way Long, J. B. Harris, W. W. Wooster, J. Worth- ington, I). Warner, Jr., P. E. Baker, J. W. Merrill, J. White, Jr., Samuel Vance, P. Goddard, C. H. Bryan, Robert Crossitt, O. I). Lake, R. L. Blake, S. P. Allen, M. Brooks, Wm. A. Mills, O. Skinner, Cornelius Shepard, Reuben Squier, S. W. Smith and John Holloway.
At a meeting of the executive committee, (the first one recorded,) Aug. 3, 1841, the following town committees were appointed : Geneseo, Cornelius Shepard, Jr., Reuben Squier, Chas. Colt ; Mt. Morris, Alfred Hubbard, Wm. D. Morgan, Moses Barron; Sparta, Charles Shepard, Wm. Scott, Wm. Fullerton, Morgan Hammond; Groveland, W. W. McNair, John White, William Ewart ; Lima, Asahel H. Warner, Jasper Marvin, Samuel Stevens ; Livonia, James Campbell, John Adams, Ruel L. Blake ; Springwater, Parker H. Pierce, Horatio Dyer, Zenas Ashley; Conesus, John Henderson, Timothy DeGraw, Jotham Clark ; Lei- cester, W. T. Cuyler, Jerediah Horsford, Allen Smead; Caledonia, Ephraim Lacy, Th. H. New- bold, John McKay; Avon, John Kelsey, Asa Now- len, Ira Merrill ; York, John Holloway, James Dow, Wm. Craig, John Russ, Wm. Stewart, James B. Harris, Angus MeBean.
At this meeting it was resolved to hold the an- nual fair at Geneseo, October 22d, and to award forty-five specified premiums, ranging in value from two to fifteen dollars, and aggregating two hundred and forty-nine dollars, to the persons exhibiting the best specimen of each article or thing for which the premiums were offered. In addition, provision was made for " discretionary premiums," to be awarded to exhibitors of " articles not enumerated. and which for their excellence or peculiar qualities" might in the judgment of the committee be entitled thereto. For this object forty dollars were appro- priated.
At the first annual meeting, Oct. 22, 1841. no less than five premiums were awarded to David Brooks of Avon, four to Reuben Squier of Gene- seo, and three to Chas. Colt of Geneseo. Several
received two ; and of the entire number awarded, eight went to exhibitors from Avon ; two to Cale- donia ; thirteen to York ; seven to Mt. Morris ; one to Groveland; twenty-one to Geneseo; four to Leicester ; two each to Lima and Sparta ; and one to Jonathan Miller, for the best yearling colt, not designated. David M. Smith of Avon, received the highest premium-fifteen dollars-for the best bull, two years old and over. There were five pre- miums of ten dollars each ; of which David Brooks of Avon received one for the best cow, and another for the best stallion ; Roswell Root of York, one for the best pair of working oxen; Wm. A. Mills of Mt. Morris, one for the best pair of fat oxen ; and Wm. A. Mills, Jr., of Mt. Morris, one for the best pair of matched horses.
Encouraged by the patronage of the Legislature and by the citizens of the county, the executive committee signified their intention "to offer pre- miums for the promotion of the objeets of the institution, on the occasion of the second anniver- sary, to the utmost extent of their means."
Noticeable among the premiums of that year is one of ten dollars (the highest paid that year) for the best cultivated farm of fifty acres or more, which was awarded to Angus McBean of Caledonia.
At this meeting a plowing match was inaugurated, the object of which was "to exhibit for public benefit the comparative excellence of our best ploughs and ploughmen ; not to try the strength or speed of the teams, but to excite a laudable spirit of emulation and improvement in the construction and use of this most important agricultural imple- ment." This took place on the 5th of October, "in the presence of a large concourse of specta- tors." Premiums of five dollars were offered for the best work done by an ox team and the best by a horse team; but none was awarded for the former. The latter was awarded to David McDonald.
At the annual meeting of 1845, it was decided to hold the next cattle show and fair, which till then had been held in Geneseo, at Avon. The exhibition at this place-September 24, 1846 --- was pronounced one of the most interesting of the kind ever held in the county. "The display of working cattle was very large and highly creditable to the farmers of the county," though the variety of farming utensils was not as large as had been ex- hibited on former occasions. "The ladies sus- tained their part of the exhibition with the greatest credit." This part of the fair was held in the Academy building, and the room in which it was
118
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
held was "elegantly decorated," and the articles for exhibition " skillfully arranged." There was a very large variety of domestic and fancy articles, fruits and flowers, Richard Johnson, of Groveland, exhibiting seventeen varieties of apples.
At the meeting of 1848, which was held at Mt. Morris, a resolution was adopted, " expressing the sense of the society that its interests would be bet- ter promoted by the selection of a suitable place and making it a permanent location for the annual fair." In 1849," the county seat was designated for this purpose ; and in 1850, Mr. J. S. Wads- worth generously offered the society the use of eight acres, near the court house, for show grounds, free of rent for five years, upon condition that the society fence and put theground in order. This offer was ac- cepted and measures taken to adapt it to the use of the society. A track for the trial of horses was constructed this year in the new grounds.
August 18, 1855, Lyman Turner, Charles Jones, Hezekiah Allen, David Skinner, Henry V. Colt and Wm. Cushing were appointed to obtain grounds for holding the annual exhibitions of the society, and to ascertain the cost of fencing the same and erecting thereon suitable fixtures, includ- ing at least one permanent building, and in case they should find that the cost thereof would not ex- ceed $1,800, they were authorized and required to make and erect such fixtures and building without unnecessary delay. The committee procured a lease for twenty-one years of the grounds hitherto occupied by the society in Geneseo, together with lands adjacent thereto, north and east, containing in all about fourteen acres, mostly a grove, afford- ing shade for stock, at an annual cost of $30. During this year the land was inclosed with a fence, costing $676.63 ; an agricultural hall, 40 by So feet, with 16 feet posts, admirably fitted up for the ex- hibition of domestic manufactures, was erected at a cost of $1,393.53, and a trotting course for the trial of horses, one-third of a mile in length, which, in the opinion of the committee, the interests of the society demanded without delay, laid out at a cost of $316.17, although it was not strictly included in their trust. The whole was completed in time for the annual fair of that year.
July 4, 1865, a horse fair was held under the auspices of the Society, and at that time premiums were offered for the first time, we believe, for a
test of speed for trotting and running matches. The highest premium in the trotting match- $150-was awarded to D. Mahoney, of Geneseo; the second-$50-to Geo. W. Pond, of Roches- ter ; and the third-$25-to O. C. Seymour, of the same city. C. W. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, was awarded the first premium-$50-in the running match. Various other premiums, ranging in amount from $5 to $20, were also awarded. In 1880, the Society gave the Geneseo Driving Park Associa- tion permission to build a half-mile track on the fair grounds. This work is now in progress.
The annual meetings of the Society have been held with interest and without a single omission, and since the grounds now in use were first leased, in Geneseo.
The following named persons have been promi- nent as stock raisers in the county :- David Brooks, Jasper Barber, Aaron Barber, Aaron Bar- ber, Jr., C. Kelsey, F. B. Pierson, D. Hilliman & Son, Asa Nowlen, Wm. T. and Norman Chappell, 1). B. Whaley, H. S. Sherman, Avon ; Henry Simpson, A. Hollenbeck, Caledonia; Solomon Hitchcock, Geo. F. Coe, S. L. Fuller, Conesus ; Allen Ayrault, W. W. Wadsworth, Lyman Turner, Mrs. Elizabeth Wadsworth, Chas. Colt, Chas. Shep- ard, Jr., J. S. Wadsworth, C. W. Wadsworth, Gur- clon Nowlen, Geneseo; Wm. D. Fitzhugh, W. T. Curtiss, Judge Chas. H. Carroll, Ozro Clark, Grove- land; W. Elliott, W. W. and W. B. Wooster, Lei- cester ; Richard Peck, T. Steele, Horace Warner, Z. Longyer, Lima ; C. A. Jackman, A. C. Bennett, Livonia ; James Conklin, (who in 1850, exhibited a cow with triplet calves, ) Wm. A. Mills, J. R. Murray, Jr., Mt. Morris; E. S. Ashley, Nunda; Geo. W. and Chester Root, Lyman Casey, C. Powell, Holloway Long, L. Tryon, Israel Casey, James Gillmore, D). Piffard, Abram Stocking, A. M. Hardy, York ; and the following as Horticulturists :- Benjamin F. and Robert F. McMillen, Conesus; C. Colt, Mrs. W. W. Wadsworth, J. S. Wadsworth, Daniel Bigelow, Robert Clark, Geo. Mercer, Prof. R. A. Waterbury, Geneseo; C. H. Carroll, Groveland ; Peter Patterson, Col. J. Horsford, John Sheldon, A. W. Wheelock, Chas. Jones, Geo. B. Francis, Leicester; Shepard P. Morgan, Lima; Geo. W. Battorf, Livonia; D. McKee, John Henner, (who was awarded eleven of the eighteen premiums for vegetables in 1853,) Geo. A. Green, Henner & Parker, Dr. R. W. Wells, Mt. Morris; Dr. F. M. Perine, North Dansville.
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