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 26
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The Livingston Journal, the second paper in Livingston county, was started in Geneseo, April 11, 1820, by Chauncey Morse, and became and was conducted as an opposition paper to its prede- cessor. Asahel Harvey was subsequently associ- ated with Mr. Morse in its publication. In 1829, Levi Hovey became the proprietor. He was suc- ceeded in 1831, by Benjamin C. Denison, who was previously connected with The Village Chron- icle, of Dansville; and in 1832, by Evans & Wood- ruff. Denison changed the name to the Livingston Courier. In the fall of the latter year Henry F. Evans became sole proprietor. It was subse- quently published for a short time by Wm. J. Ticknor, and was suspended in 1834.
The Village Chronicle was commenced in Dans- ville, in 1830, by David Mitchell and Benjamin C. Denison, who conducted it as an independent paper till April 12, 1831, when Denison withdrew and assumed the control of the Journal, published at Geneseo. Mitchell converted it into an anti- masonic advocate, and soon after changed the name to The Village Record; but it was soon dis- continued.
124
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The Mount Morris Spectator was established Jan 1, 1834, by Hugh Harding, who came here from Dansville, where he had been employed in the office of the Chronicle. The office was located in a quaint wooden building, which occupied the site of Yeoman's drug store in the Empire Block. February 2, 1848, it was united with the Livings- ton County Whig, which was started in the same village in 1843, by Geo. B. Phelps, who published it about six months and sold it to James T. Norton, by whom it was continued until this consolidation was effected. At this time the name was changed to The Livingston Union and its publication was continued by Harding & Norton till 1849, when the latter removed to Geneseo and assumed the management of The Livingston Republican. In 1846, Mr. Norton, while publishing the Livingston County Whig, printed in connection with it a daily-The Mount Morris Daily Whig-which was discontinued after three months (from June to August) as an unprofitable venture. In February, 1862, Mr. Harding purchased the Constitution, published in Geneseo, and united the two papers under the name of The Union and Constitution, under which it has since been published at Mt. Morris. In 1871, Mr. Harding sold the establish- ment to David Frysinger from Pennsylvania, who continued it eight months, and sold it to William Harding, a son of its founder, who issued his first number July 16, 1872, and has since continued its publication. The paper has been thrice enlarged. It is an eight-column paper-twenty-six by forty inches ; is published every Thursday ; and has a circulation of about one thousand. It was started as a neutral paper, but became a Whig organ when that party was formed. When the American party was in power here it was the advocate of its prin- ciples, and since the disbandment of that party has been allied with the Democracy.
The Dansville Times was published in 1835, by D. C. Mitchell.
The Livingston Democrat was started at Gen- eseo in the autumn of 1835, by David Mitchell and Wm. H. Kelsey, (who purchased the establishment of the Livingston Journal, then recently suspended,) and published in the interest of the Whig party. Mitchell soon withdrew ; and Kelsey continued its publication till the spring of 1837, when it suc- cumbed to adverse circumstances.
The Livingston Republican was established 'at Geneseo, September 19, 1837, at the solic- itation, and under the auspices of, the Whig party in this county, by Samuel P. Allen, who pur-
chased it in 1844. He continued its publication for nine years, when (in 1846) he sold the estab- lishment to John M. Campbell and became con- nected with the Rochester Democrat. September 10, 1847, Joseph Kershiner, a lawyer in Geneseo, succeeded Mr. Campbell as its publisher, and July 5, 1848, he was succeeded by Charles E. Bronson, who terminated a three years' period of pecuniary losses by its sale on the 27th of December, 1849, to James T. Norton, who published it successfully till his death in 1865, when his son, A. Tiffany Norton, succeeded to its publication, which he continued until 1869. It was then purchased by Col. Lockwood L. Doty and James W. Clement, the former of whom retired after a few months on account of ill-health. Mr. Clement continued its publication till September, 1874, when Samuel P. Allen, its founder, repurchased it, "with the pur- pose of continuing its publication as long as life and health are spared." Mr. Allen still publishes it. The Republican is, with one exception, the oldest paper in the county ; and it not only takes a leading position in the county, but is one of the ablest and best representatives of the country press of Western New York. During the proprietorship of Mr. Norton, it was for a short time the organ of the American party, but before his death was changed to the advocacy of Republican principles, a complexion it still retains. It is an eight-column paper-twenty-seven by forty inches ; is published every Thursday ; and has a circulation of 1,656.
The Western New Yorker was commenced in Dansville, January 13, 1841, by George W. Stevens, who soon after changed the name to The Dansville Whig, and in 1848, to The Dansville Courier. During this period Charles W. Dibble published it about one year. In 1849 it passed into the hands of H. D. Smead, who changed it to The Dansville Democrat; and subsequently to those of George A. Sanders, who removed it to Geneseo in 1855, and changed it to The Geneseo Democrat, the first number of which was issued April 4, 1855. In October, 1857, it was returned to Dansville and published for a short time by H. C. Page, as The Livingston Sentinel.
The Nunda Gazette, was started in 1841, by Ira G. Wisner. After about a year it was removed to Mt. Morris and continued there till 1843, as The Genesee Valley Recorder.
The Dansville Republican was published in 1842, by David Fairchild.
The Genesco Democrat was started in 1843, by Gilbert F. Shankland. It was removed to Nunda
125
THE PRESS OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
in 1847, and to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, in 1843.
The Livingston Express, was published semi- monthly in 1843, by J. G. Wisner, at Mt. Morris.
The Cuylerville Telegraph was started in 1847, by Franklin Cowdery, at Cuylerville, which was then a thriving canal village. In 1848, it passed into the hands of Peter Lawrence, who soon after removed it.
The Dansville Chronicle was started in June, 1848, by Richardson & Co., and was discontinued in 1851.
The Nunda Democrat was started in 1848, by Milo D. Chamberlain, but was soon discontinued.
The Fountain, a monthly publication, was started at Dansville in 1849, by J. R. Trembly, and con- tinued about two years.
The Dansville Herald was started in 1850, by E. C. Daugherty and J. G. Sprague, under the name of E. C. Daugherty & Co., as a Whig paper. Sprague retired in a few months, and in the fall of 1854, Daugherty was succeeded by H. L. & L. H. Rann. About the ist of January, 1857, it passed into the hands of the Know-Nothing party, in whose interests it was managed by E. G. Richardson & Co. In April, 1857, H. C. Page took the paper ; and about the close of that year it was purchased by George A. Sanders and changed to an advocate of Republicanism. During this time it had under- gone various changes in form and size. August 1, 1865, it was sold to Frank J. Robbins and L. D. F. Poore, who changed its name to The Dansville Express, August 9, 1865, and enlarged it from a six to a seven-column paper. F. J. Robbins became the sole proprietor in October, 1870, and enlarged it to eight columns. He conducted it in the interest of Horace Greeley and at the close of that campaign continued it as a Democratic paper. June 1, 1877, Oscar Woodruff and A. H. Knapp purchased it of Mr. Robbins and still publish it. It is an able exponent of Democratic principles. Its circulation exceeds one thousand, and nearly all of its subscribers reside within ten miles of the office-a fact which sufficiently attests its worth.
The Nunda Telegraph was started by Charles Atwood in 1850, and published about a year.
The Nunda Times, was started in January, 1852, by N. T. Hackstaff. In July following the office was burned, and the paper discontinued.
The Lima Weekly Visitor was started in 1853, by A. H. Tilton and M. C. Miller. It was subse- quently published by Raymond & Graham, and by S. M. Raymond, the latter of whom changed the
name to the Genesee Valley Gazette. It was dis- continued in 1856.
The New Era was commenced at Hunt's Hol- low, in the town of Portage, in 1854, by David B. & Merritt Galley, boys aged respectively fifteen and seventeen years. In 1855 it was removed to Nunda and its name changed to Young America. It was discontinued after about a year.
The Laws of Life and Journal of Health was started in 1857, by Dr. James C. Jackson at Glen Haven, Cayuga county, and in 1858, was removed to Dansville, where it has since been published monthly, successively under the auspices of Our Home on the Hillside and Our Home Hygienic In- stitute.
The Dansville Daily Times was commenced in May, 1859, by W. J. LaRue, and in June of the same year was changed to The Dansville Daily Register. It was discontinued in 1860.
The Nunda News was established October 1, 1859, by C. K. Sanders, who has published it continuously since, having been longer published continuously by the same person than any other paper in the county. The paper was printed for the first six weeks at Dansville, at the office of the Dansville Herald, which was then published by George A. Sanders, a brother of C. K. The first issue printed at Nunda bore date of Novem- ber 19, 1859. It was started as a five column paper and has been increased to eight columns- twenty-six by forty inches. It has a circulation of twelve hundred, and has always Been published on Saturday of each week. The success of the Veres is remarkable, in view of the many unprofitable newspaper ventures which had preceded it in Nunda; for, says E. W. Packard, who has ever been its firm friend and supporter, it "had not only to win its own favor, but was obliged to overcome prejudices engendered by the mistakes of its pre- decessors. To do this without capital, reputation or experience, required industry, perseverance, ability and pluck. For instance, when the first issue of the News came out, a large majority pre- dicted it would not last three months, and most of the subscribers only paid for that time. The out- look was not really very promising, and the public were not to be blamed for want of faith, for at that time the Veres had no press nor type, and its office was temporarily in my law office, and the paper printed in Dansville. But before the three months had expired, the Veros had its own home, with presses and type, ready for business. The people soon began to have faith in its ability to live, and
126
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
once established the News has never lost its hold upon the public."
The Dansvitte Advertiser was established August 2, 1860, by A. O. Bunnell, who has since published it, having been associated from 1866 to 1868 with Joseph Jones, under the name of Bunnell & Jones. Mr. Bunnell has been its editor during the whole period of its publication. It was started as an in- dependent advertising medium, but on the opening of the war in 1861, it espoused the cause of the Republican party. It has since been a staunch advocate of Republican principles, and has led the van in the cause of education. It is a model of neat typographical execution, and has won a high reputation for its literary character. It is an eight- column paper-twenty-six by forty inches ; is issued every Thursday, and has a circulation of about twelve hundred. Its columns have richly rewarded our researches for historical data -- a feature in which it is exceptionally full and interesting.
The Livingston Democrat was started at Nunda in January, 1868, by H. M. Dake, and succumbed to the hard times and an insufficient patronage November 4, 1876, the date of its last issue. Dur- ing the greater part of its existence it was published by C. F. Peck ; but during the last nine months by Shepard & Holly, and C. L. Shepard.
The Genesee Valley Herald, an ephemeral pub- lication, was issued at Geneseo, in 1869, and pre- viously for about two years, by James W. Clement, but was abandoned when he purchased an interest in the Livingston Republican, about the first of January, 1870. It was Republican in politics.
The Avon Reporter was started about 1871, by C. F. Peck, of Nunda. It was continued two or three years under several different proprietors and failed, the presses and type being removed from the place.
The Mount Morris Enterprise was established March 4, 1875, by Shull & Knapp, (George M. Shull and A. H. Knapp.) In May, 1877, Mr. Shull purchased Mr. Knapp's interest and has since published it alone. It is a staunch advocate of Democracy, and occupies a leading position in the county in its political affiliations. It is an eight-column paper-twenty-six by forty inches- having been enlarged in March, 1878, from seven columns. It is published every Saturday; and has a circulation of eight hundred.
The Lima Recorder was established October 1. 1869, by Elmer Houser. It was subsequently published by Houser & Dennis, Dennis & Dennis, and Deal & Drake. January 1, 1875, it was sold
to A. Tiffany Norton, the former publisher of the Republican, at Geneseo, and for the first time in its history was thus placed under the control of a journalist and printer of long experience and train- ing. Under Mr. Norton's management it has se- cured a leading position among the newspapers of the county and has enjoyed a prosperous career. From a neutral journal it was changed to a Re- publican paper, and advocates the principles of that party with force and earnestness, while it fear- lessly condemns all wrongs within as well as without the party. It is marked in its boldness, independ- ence and fearless criticism, Mr. Norton is the author, in connection with the late Col. L. L. Doty, of a valuable history of Livingston county, and in 1879, wrote a very interesting history of "Sullivan's Campaign Against the Iroquois," which met with a large sale.
The Livonia Advertiser, a three-column month- ly, was established in the spring of 1869, by W. A. Champ. and was printed at the office of the Living- ston Republican, at Geneseo. The following sum- mer it was transferred to H. D. Kingsbury. It was published about twelve months.
The Livonia Express was established in the spring of 1871, by Henry Benjamin Newell, who brought to Livonia the first printing press ever used in that town, and opened an office in what was then the Baldwin House. Mr. Newell was an erratic genius and his paper reflected his peculiar- ities. A contemporary says :-
"No comic almanac ever made more sport for all classes and conditions of people than did the Livonia Express, with its numberless eccentricities, in the few months of its checkered existence."
The Livonia Gasette, a twenty-eight column paper, was established by Lewis E. Chapin, who issued the first number on Tuesday, October 1, 1875, and continued its publication until July, 1877, when the establishment was purchased by Clarence M. Alvord, of Albion, Orleans county, who still continues it. The Gazette is Republican in poli- tics, and evinces the enterprise of its publisher in the collection of local news. It has a large circu- lation in eastern Livingston and western Ontario counties.
The Livingston County Herald was established in Avon, May 11, 1876, by F. H. Davis, who still continues its publication, and receives deserved aid and encouragement from the business men of that pleasant, enterprising village. It is Republican in politics and is issued every Thursday.
The Union Citizen was established in Livonia,
127
LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AT GENESEO.
July 29, 1876, by Dr. Alonson L. Bailey, who re- moved it April 1, 1879, to Geneseo, where he has since published it as a Democratic paper. Its size is six columns-twenty-two by thirty-two inches. It is published every Saturday, and has a circula- tion of 528.
The Caledonia Advertiser, a six-column paper, was established May 7, 1878, by James Beattie and A. H. Collins, with a circulation of 290. The ven- ture proved successful, and the circulation steadily increased, till at present it is 690. February 1, 1880, Mr. Collins purchased Mr. Beattie's interest and has since had its entire management. It is published on Friday of each week. It is devoted to agriculture and matters of local interest, and in polities is Republican. It is the first and only paper ever published in Caledonia.
The Springwater Enterprise was established in January, 1879, by H. S. Niles and C. B. Potter, who continued it until February, 1879, when Mr. Niles purchased Mr. Potter's interest and assumed the entire control. It is published every Thurs- day.
CHAPTER XIII.
EARLY COURTS-COUNTY SEAT DESIGNATED- FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS-COUNTY BUILDINGS- FIRST COURT IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY-COUNTY POOR-HOUSE -INSANE ASYLUM - LIVINGSTON COUNTY CIVIL LIST-DELEGATES TO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS-STATE SENA- TORS - MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY - FIRST AND COUNTY JUDGES-SURROGATES-DISTRICT AT- TORNEYS-SHERIFFS -- COUNTY CLERKS-COUNTY TREASURERS - COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS-SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS- PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS-REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
PREVIOUS to the erection of Steuben and Genesee counties from Ontario, the territory now embraced in Livingston county occupied a central position in the latter county, but on the formation of Genesee county in 1So2, it lay partly in the three counties of Ontario, Genesee and Steuben, but a small portion, however, being in the latter county. The line of division between Ontario and Genesee passed nearly centrally through this county, following the Genesee up to its confluence with the Canaseraga, and thence extending due south, being identical with the west
line of Phelps and Gorham's purchase. Hence it lay on the confines of the two civil divisions, remote from the seat of justice of either. The county seat of Ontario county was at Canandaigua, and deeds were required to be filed in the clerk's office at that place by the act of April 3, 1798, many years be- fore the general act for the recording of deeds was passed. The first circuit court of that county was held at the inn of Ezra Patterson, in Geneva, June 9, 1793, and was presided over by John S. Hobart ; and the first court of common pleas at the house of Nathaniel Sanborn, in Canandaigua, Novem- ber 4, 1794. Timothy Hosmer and Charles Wil- liamson were the presiding judges. Oliver Phelps was appointed First Judge on the erection of that county in 1789. The county seat of Genesee county was fixed at Batavia.
On the erection of Livingston county, Dr. Gama- liel H. Barstow, of Smithsboro, Tioga county, Archibald S. Clarke, of Ellicottville, and Nathaniel Garrow, of Auburn, were appointed commissioners to designate the county seat and fix the site for buildings, and were directed to meet at the tavern of James Ganson, in Avon, in the discharge of this duty, which was no sinecure, for a sharp rivalry existed for the honor of being the shire town, and the adjustment of the question developed acrimo- nious discussions, and gave rise to ungenerous reflections on the residents of the southern part of the county, which was then less developed and consequently less populous and wealthy. Avon, Williamsburgh, and the little hamlet of Lakeville, were the rival competitors of Geneseo, which was then the principal village and the commercial centre of the county, and was finally selected be- cause it was also nearer the geographical center of the county.
The Act required that a suitable lot for the erec- tion of a court house and jail should be conveyed to the supervisors before the site therefor was de- termined, and appointed Gen. William Wads- worth, of Geneseo, Dr. Daniel H. Fitzhugh, of Groveland, and William Markham, of Avon, com- missioners to superintend their construction. Can- andaigua was designated for the confinement of prisoners until, in the opinion of the sheriff the jail was fitted for their reception. The former pro- vision was complied with July 14, 1821, at which time William and James Wadsworth deeded 1.79 acres in the northern part of Geneseo village as a site for those buildings .*
The first county officers were :- Moses Hayden,
* The same deed conveyed 2.47 acres for a public square or promenade.
128
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
First Judge ; James Ganson, County Clerk ; Gideon T. Jenkins, Sheriff ; James Rosebrugh, Surrogate; and George Hosmer, District Attorney. Ali, ex- cept Hayden, who was appointed March 28, 1821, were appointed February 26, 1821. The first Board of Supervisors consisted of :- Thomas Wiard, Avon, Robert Mckay, Caledonia, Davenport Alger, Freeport, (Conesus,) Win. H. Spencer, Geneseo, Wm. Fitzhugh, Groveland, Jellis Chute, Leicester, Mannasseh Leach, Lima, Ichabod A. Holden, Livonia, Win. A. Mills, Mt. Morris, Wm. McCartney, Sparta, Alvah Southworth, Spring- water, and Titus Goodman, York. Wm. Fitzhugh was chosen chairman, and Ogden M. Willey, of Geneseo, clerk, a position he filled very acceptably for thirty years. Orlando Hastings, of Geneseo, was appointed county treasurer, an office then filled by the Boards of Supervisors of the various counties.
The supervisors being required by the Act erect- ing the county to determine the proper amount to be raised for the erection of county buildings, at their first annual meeting in October, 1821, resolved to raise nine thousand dollars for that object. This amount being afterwards deemed insufficient, in December following the Board applied to the Leg- islature for permission to raise an additional two thousand dollars. Permission was granted and that further sum raised. The court house and jail were completed and ready for use in the spring of 1823. Both are still in use. The court house is a brick building and begins to show the ravages of time and the elements, but Judges from abroad pro- nounce it superior in all needful requirements to any on their circuit. It is beautifully situated in the north part of the village, facing the main street, which runs north and south. The jail is a wooden structure, standing a little north-west of the court- house, and in September, 1880, contained eight inmates. The county clerk's office is a one-story cobble-stone building, standing directly east of and adjacent to the court house. All are in the same inclosure, and all are common-place looking build- ings. The clerk's office was for several years kept in the court house.
While the court house was in process of con- struction the courts were held in the upper story of the brick building which occupied the site of the present union school building on Center street, in Geneseo. It was the regular district school house, the lower part being used for that purpose, and the upper part to some extent as a private academical school. There the first court of record held in the county was convened on the last Tuesday in May,
1821, and after prayer by Rev. Mr. Bull, was opened by the usual proclamation. Moses Hay- den, First Judge, presided, and was assisted by Matthew Warner, Jeremiah Riggs and Leman Gibbs, Associate Judges. The grand jurors im- paneled on this occasion were : William Janes, foreman, Robert MeKay, James Smith, Asa Now- len, Josiah Watrous, Francis Stevens, William War- ner, Ichabod .A. Holden, Ruel Blake, Wm. A. Mills, Ebenezer Damon, P. P. Peck, Joseph A. Law- rence, William Crossett, William Carnahan, James McNair, John Culver, Erastus Wilcox, John Hunt, Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Thomas Sherwood, Ebe- nezer Rogers and Gad Chamberlin.
The first case tried was that of Mary DeGraw, who was indicted for assault and battery with in- tent to kill. She was convicted of assault and bat- tery, but acquitted on the rest of the indictment. May Brown was sentenced at this time to the On- tario county jail for thirty days. This appears to have been the first commitment.
The first term of the Court of Common Pleas was held the same day. James Richmond, LeRoy Buckley, Roger Wattles, T. H. Gilbert, Joseph White, Jehiel Kelsey, John Salmon, George Whit- more, David A. Miller, Riley Scoville, Andrew Stil- well, and Federal Blakesley composed the jury. The first court held in the court house was the May term of the Common Pleas Court in 1823, Charles H. Carroll, First Judge, presiding.
The county poor house is pleasantly situated on a farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres in the town of Geneseo, about one and one-half miles east of Geneseo village. The farm, which originally contained about one hundred and thirty-six acres, was bought for the purpose in 1829, for $5,440, and a two-story addition forty-eight by thirty-six feet made to the dwelling house then on the premises. On the roth of June, 1829, it was opened for the reception of paupers. It soon, however, ceased to meet the demands on it, and in 1849, the Super- visors appropriated $6,000 for the purpose of erect- ing a new building, and appointed Allen Ayrault, Wm. J. Hamilton and Russell Austin to superin- tend its construction and to dispose of the old one, which, with eighteen acres of land, was sold at auc- tion Dec. 13, 1850, to Dr. Daniel H. Bissell, of Geneseo, for $2,001. The old building is now owned and occupied as a residence by Joseph Truesdell Lamson.
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