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 63
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The Genesee Valley Fruit Evaporating Co., was organized May 1, 1880, for the purpose of drying fruit and vegetables by the evaporating process, and is composed of Morgan Hammond and G. W. Barney, Jr. They have an invested capital of $7,000, and employ forty persons, over two-thirds of whom are females. The works are in operation about eight months in the year.
M. J. Noonan employs on an average thirteen persons in the manufacture of cigars, of which he makes 35,000 per month. He commenced busi- ness in 1868.
The Schwartz Brewery, located on the berme bank of the canal, was established in 1860, by David Schwartz, who carried on the manufacture of lager beer about fourteen years. In 1876, John E. White & Bro. acquired the property. It has not been operated as a brewery for about two years. The Mt. Morris Spring Brewery, located just over the south line of the village, was established in 1862, in which year also the building was erected by John E. White & Bro., the present proprietors. They make about a thousand barrels of ale per annum.
BANKS .- The Genesee River National Bank was organized as the Genesee River Bank, May 2, 1853, with a capital of $130,000. When the change was made to a National Bank, application for which was made May 31, 1865, the capital was reduced to $100,000 ; and February 6, 1877, it was still further reduced to $50,000, which it at present remains. The first Directors were John R. Murray, John Vernam,* Henry Swan, Hiram P. Mills, Reuben P. Wisner, Reuben Sleeper, Calvin Norton, Jesse Peterson, Lyman Turner,
* Those whose names are in italics are dead.
BINGHAM BROS' BANK BLOCK MT. MORRIS LIVINGSTON GO. N.Y.
BANK
SỞ HON
BINGHAM
HOMB
III
3º3
VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS-BANKS, HOTELS.
Calvin T. Chamberlain, David Mc Donald, Charles T. Flint, Samuel Skinner, Samuel J. Mills and Azariah Boody. The first officers were :- John Vernam, President; Calvin Norton, Vice-Presi- dent ; E. C. Galusha, Cashier; H. W. Gregory, Teller.
The bank opened for business Oct. 5: 1853, in the building now occupied by Thomas J. Gamble as a law office, which was fitted up for its accommo- dation. In 1866, it was removed to its present location, the Bank Block, on the corner of Main and State streets, which was built by a stock com- pany in 1865-6.
Reuben Sleeper was elected President Dec. 13, 1859, succeeding John Vernam, and was succeeded Oct. 7, 1861, by Hiram P. Mills, who has since held the office. Calvin Norton was Vice-President until Nov. 19, 1859, when Reuben Sleeper was elected. John F. Barber was elected to that office Dec. 31, 1859, and still holds it. E. C. Galusha was succeeded as Cashier Nov. 1, 1858, by William Mills, who held the office till April 6, 1861. Jonathan E. Robinson succeeded him. H. E. Brown was elected cashier Nov. 1, 1864, and has since held the office.
The first private bank in Mt. Morris, was estab- lished by George S. Whitney, who did business from about 1853 or 4, till 1870.
Bingham Bros'. Bank, Mt. Morris, (private,) was established August 17, 1869, by Messrs. Bingham Bros. & Brace, (Lucius C. and Charles L. Bing- ham and Sears E. Brace, the latter now of Roches- ter.) In 1876, Mr. Brace retired from the firm, and the business has since been conducted by the remaining partners, Charles L. Bingham being the manager. The Messrs. Bingham do a general banking business, and an extensive one in respect to their local accommodations to the business com- munity. Their bank occupies one of the oldest business sites in the village, having been used for business purposes ever since Mr. Miller first estab- lished himself here. It is also the business center of the village. The building was erected about 1835, by David A. Miller, one of the first mer- chants in Mt. Morris. It was purchased by the Bingham Bros., in 1869, and was remodeled, en- larged and adapted to their uses as bankers. The block is now designated the Bingham Bank Block. The Messrs. Bingham are both natives of Mt. Mor- ris. Their father, Dr. Charles Bingham, removed from Bozrah, Conn., to Avon, in 1810, and from thence in 1820 to Mt. Morris.
HOTELS. -- The Scoville House occupies the site
of the old Eagle Tavern, which was built and kept by Enos Baldwin, who came from Litchfield, Conn., in 1813, and kept the tavern till his death, Oct. 3, 1817. His widow succeeded him and kept it till her death. May 25, 1844, the heirs transferred the property to Riley Scoville, who kept the house till his death, Feb. 6, 1852, aged 61. His widow and son Daniel A., each kept it a short period. In 1855, Henry H. Scoville, another son, took pos- session and bought the property of the heirs. He has kept it continuously since, having changed the name from the Eagle Tavern to the Eagle Hotel soon after taking possession, and again, in 1875, to the Scoville House, by which name it is now known. The front part of the house was built in 1834, by Riley Scoville, who also built the rear part in 1840.
Enos Baldwin first located on the lot on which Woolever's cabinet shop now stands. His house stood a little north of that shop. Experiencing some difficulty in getting a title to that property he removed to the Scoville House corner, taking his house with him.
The Dodge House likewise occupies an old tav- ern stand. The first tavern on its site was kept by Isaac Baldwin, who died about 1813. It was an unfinished house in 1818, when the widow Bailey came to this county. Baldwin's widow kept the tavern for a short time after his death, but was obliged to surrender it to her son-in-law, Joseph Thompson, who kept it several years, and until his death, April 30, 1829, at the age of 46. His widow kept it for some years after his death and finally exchanged it for property on Murray street. The present brick structure was erected in 1843, by Alvah Beach. There have been many occupants since, among them George P. Phelps, who called it the Phelps House, Dexter Dodge, the present pro- prietor, took possession of the house May 1, 1872.
The Wallace House .- Phineas and Eli Lake came to this village with their families from Greene county, about 1816, and established themselves in the smithing business. The latter retired to his farm, now known as the "Ament farm," about 1818, still pursuing his old vocation. Phineas continued the business in the village till about 1824, when he turned his house into a hotel, now known as the Wallace House, which was kept by him until 1826, and since then by Mr. Chase, Rial O. Moore, the Beaches, Wheelock, Delcampo, W. C. Green and others until 1864, when J. D. Wallace became the owner and proprietor and has so continued to the present year-1880.
304
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The Burke House, situated on the canal, was built in 1842, by - Ketchum, who kept it some years. Richard Burke, the present proprietor, took possession of the property in 1860, and has kept it continuously since.
MT. MORRIS WATER WORKS .- The project of constructing water works and supplying the village of Mt. Morris with an abundance of pure and wholesome water for domestic use and for fire pro- tection, has been a question of frequent discussion among its citizens for the past twenty-five years.
About fifteen years ago a company was organ- ized to construct works ; George W. Phelps, President. The works were undertaken and, al- though water was brought into the village, the at- tempt proved a failure and the enterprise was abandoned by this company.
In 1873, Dr. M. H. Mills published an article in the Mt. Morris press, showing the practicability and importance to the village of constructing water works, and the manner of providing the necessary capital.
On June 3, 1879, a public meeting of the citi- zens was held in Wallace Hall in said village to consider the subject of constructing water works. By special request of the trustees of the village Dr. Mills appeared and addressed the meeting and submitted a plan for the construction of the works, coupled with a proposal to build them. This meeting, without a dissenting voice, indorsed and approved of said plan and proposal. The "Mills Water Works Company" was organized, and entered into a contract with the trustees of said village to construct the works and to supply the corporation of said village with water for twen- ty-three fire hydrants at $45.00 each per annum, and to furnish water for two public water troughs with drinking fountains attached, without charge, for thirty years, with the proviso that additional fire hydrants should be furnished on the line of any water-pipes hereafter laid, on the same terms.
Water rights, land damages and all preliminary matters being adjusted, the works were commenced August 20, 1879, and prosecuted with energy and dispatch, and were substantially completed the same year. The water supply is obtained from a number of quicksand springs. The water is quite soft and very pure .* The works are operated on the gravity system.
In December following an exhibition of the capacity of the works for fire purposes was made. * May 30, 1879, by measurement, there was flowing from the Packer & Henner spring, and from one of Fiddler's two springs, thirteen and one half gallons in thirty seconds.
A large concourse of citizens gathered to witness the display, which was under the direction of the Fire Company. Four streams at the same time were thrown upon and over the highest blocks of buildings on Main street, the streams reaching to the estimated perpendicular height of from seventy- five to eighty feet.
The citizens express their satisfaction with the efficiency of the works, and their belief is that everything has been done in the best possible man- ner. The reputation of these works stand very high ; and, in fact, are not excelled by any of their capacity in the country.
About seventy private families are now taking water and the number is increasing from year to year.
No other so great an improvement for the fu- ture prosperity and health of the village could have been undertaken ; and there is little doubt but that it will eventually prove to have been a wise and sagacious investment for the father of the enter- prise.
All the improvements in the construction of water works known to science have been adopted. Their cost was about $30,000. Dr. M. H. Mills is the sole owner and proprietor. "To him alone are the citizens of Mt. Morris indebted for having their beautiful village supplied with an abundance of pure and wholesome water and protected from the ravages of fire."
MT. MORRIS FIRE DEPARTMENT .- Contempo- raneous with the incorporation of the village were the measures looking to the protection of the vil- lage property from the ravages of fire. The first village charter provided for the organization of fire companies to consist of not more than twenty-four individuals to every engine possessed by the village ; of one hook and ladder and company, to consist of not more than ten members, and the adoption of rules for their government, and to regulate the time and manner of their exercises. It authorized the village to provide engines and all necessary apparatus for the extinguishment of fires, and to require the inhabitants to provide and keep fire- buckets ; to compel them to aid in the extinguish- ment of fires, and to prescribe the mode of opera- tions and to protect property in case of fire. The amended charter of 1853 authorized the increase of the membership of fire companies to a number not to exceed forty each, and of the hook and ladder company not to exceed twenty.
August 5, 1836, $500 were voted for the pur- chase of hooks and ladders, a fire-engine and hose,
305
VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS-FIRE DEPARTMENT, SCHOOLS.
"and in defraying the incidental expenses of the corporation." September 4, 1836, the President was authorized to order from the " American Hy- draulic Company," of Windsor, Vt., "a No. 3 Rota- tive Fire Engine, constructed for suction hose, according to proposal, for the sum of $300." No- vember 21, 1839, Walker M. Hinman was appoint- ed Chief Engineer, and John N. Hurlburt, Assistant Engineer, and they were authorized to " enlist" twenty-four persons to form an engine company, and ten to form a hook and ladder company.
July 28, 1849, the fire company was disbanded "for neglect of duty," and July 31, 1849, the hook and ladder company was disbanded for the same reason. The names of the officers and members of these companies are not given. On the dates respectively given, James G. Norton, Darius W. Stone, Robert R. Conkey, Norman Seymour, Jr., Frederick Davis, Jr., Joseph Garlinghouse. Jr., Rufus Hilliard, H. C. Brown, Jacob A. Mead, Samuel Rockfellow, Hugh Harding, F. L. Burfee, I. A. Burfee, A. T. G. Carroll, C. E. Martin, Wheeler Hinman, D. N. Bacon, Henry Root, A. N. Norton, Isaac Spees, B. P. Driggs, Noah North, Henry W. Maltbey, Levi Dalrymple were consti- tuted a new fire company, and George W. Branch, Hugh Harding, A. G. Miller, E. T. Baker, M. Goodwin, Norman Seymour, Jr., Maxwell Thorp, Charles C. Goodale, A. R. Fargo and Peter M. Murray were, on their petition, constituted a hook and ladder company.
In 1852 a new engine was purchased of Thomas Snooks, of Rochester, for $750.00. January 18, 1860, Reuben Sleeper was appointed "to consult with and attempt to reconcile the differences exist- ing between the fire companies of the village."
At present the department comprises two fire companies, a hose company, a protective company, and a hook and ladder company. The equipment consists of two hand engines, two hose carts, a hook and ladder truck, and a protective cart. The water for fire purposes is supplied by the Water Works Company. Previous to the construction of the water works, cisterns, reservoirs and the canal were the dependence.
Living Stream Fire Co. No. I was organized in 1852 and incorporated in 1875, under the Act of May 2, 1873. It consists of about twenty-six members. John Gorman is foreman.
Neptune Fire Co. No. 2 was organized in 1860, and incorporated in 1875 under the same Act. It contains sixteen members. F. G. Harding is fore- man.
Active Hose Co. No. 3 was organized in 1875 and incorporated in that year under the Act of 1873. It has about twenty-five members. Charles J. Perry is foreman.
Mt. Morris Hook and Ladder Co. No. 4 was or- ganized and incorporated in 1874 under the Act of 1873. It has fourteen members. James McNielly is foreman.
The Protectives were organized in 1876. They consist of eighteen men. Frank Burlingame is foreman.
The following have been the successive Chief Engineers of the Fire Department from the first appointment to the present time, except the years 1838, '63, '64 and '66, when they are not recorded : Walker M. Hinman, 1836-7; John N. Hurlburt, 1839-42, 1848-50 ; Jesse Peterson, 1843-7; Henry Swan, 1851, 1853-7; Loren Coy, 1852; Archibald McCarthur, 1858, 1868; C. E. Martin, 1859; Newton P. Lee, 1860-1 ; A. Veazie, 1862; Henry H. Scoville, 1865; John C. Vernam, 1867 ; T. L. Swan, 1869; Henry Phillips, 1870-4; Hathorne Burt, 1875-'80.
SCHOOLS .- The Mt. Morris Union School was organized in the fall and winter of 1844, by the consolidation of the four district schools then ex- isting in the village ; and in 1845, the brick school house which occupied the site of the Union school building, was erected at a cost of $3,500. That structure was torn down in 1879 to make way for the present one.
H. G. Winslow, who came to Mt. Morris and opened a private school in the fall of 1843, divid- ing the patronage between four district schools and as many private ones, became the first principal of the Union School on the opening of school in the new building about the first of November, 1845. He was assisted by Miss Emily Bradley, Miss Ellen Fisk and Miss M. Jane Church, than whom, says Mr. Winslow, "no man in such a position, ever had a purer, truer, nobler, better corps of assist- ants." Mr. Winslow served as principal until the fall of 1848. E. D. Wellar was also a prominent teacher of the Union School. The beautiful elms which now adorn the grounds were planted in 1846.
In the summer of 1857, at the suggestion of Lester Phelps, the only survivor of the trustees of that period, the question of reorganizing under the act of 1853 was discussed ; and August 18, 1857, at a special meeting held for the purpose at the dis- trict school house, it was decided, with but one dissenting,vote, "that a Union Free School be established within the limits of District No. 1, in
306
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
the village and town of Mt. Morris," pursuant to the provisions of that act. The number of trustees was increased to nine, and they were constituted a Board of Education. The trustees then elected were, Norman Seymour, Jr., John Vernam, Loren J. Ames, Hiram P. Mills, Loren Coy, Clark B. Adams, Reuben Sleeper, Zara W. Joslyn, Thomas F. Wilcox. August 20, 1857, the Board met and elected Clark B. Adams, President; L. J. Ames, Clerk; F. C. Galusha, Treasurer ; Moses Camp, Collector.
The following have served as members of this Board, at different periods, since its organization :- W. H. Noble, C. L. Bingham, R. T. W. French, A. M. Bingham, A. F. French, Charles Woodman, S. L. Rockfellow, J. H. Bodine, A. B. Millard, W. A. Mills, Byron Swett, Wm. Sickles, H. W. Mills, M. II. Mills, Warren Richmond, H. F. Brown, Philip Yeoman, F. E. Hastings, A. P. Dean, Hugh Harding, Archibald MeArthur, E. A. Mills, H. S. Wigg.
The gentlemen who have filled the office of prin- cipal since the organization of the Board, are :- Isaiah McMahon, G. S. Hastings, F. E. Pierce, H. M. Smith, H. M. Morey, W. M. Benson, A. J. Thomas, Richard Green, Z. A. Colburn, H. A. Balcom, Howard Allison, W. H. Allen, W. P. Hes- ton, I. O. Best, L. P. Bissell, Burr Lewis, E. C. Springer, J. F. Forbes, G. F. Slocum. The fol- lowing ladies have occupied the position of assist- ant in the academic department :- Ann Clark, Mary Green, Mary E. Joslyn, Jennie Chamberlain, Sarah A. Ford, Ann E. Kendrick, Sarah O. Peck, Kate Hinman, Ella Bacon, Sabry Phillips, Emma Darling.
The new Union Free School building was erect- ed in :879-80 at a cost of about $8,000, though it cost the contractors about $10,000. It is a noble brick structure-a credit to the enterprise of the village-and far surpasses any other public school building which has come under our observation in the county, except the Normal school in Geneseo. The funds with which it was built were raised on the bonds of the district, amounting to $8,000, and payable $1,000 each year from January 1, 1881, with interest semi-annually at 6 per cent. The bonds were sold to the First National Bank, of Dundee, at a premium of $128.50. The build- ing is 68 by 78 feet, two stories high, with a cellar under the whole. It is provided with four exits from the first story; is heated with three furnaces, with the best modern appliances for ventilation, and newly furnished throughout with modern fur-
niture. In addition to this, the school buildings in the north and south sub-districts, both formerly used as district schools, are used for school por- poses. One is of brick, the other of wood; the latter in the north sub-district. Each contains only one room, presided over by one teacher.
The present teachers are :- Winfield S. Smith, Principal, commenced in 1879; Miss Kate L. Hitchcock, Preceptress, in 1880; Miss Emma I .. Joslyn has taught for nine or ten years; Miss Car- rie L. Gamble, 1879; Mrs. Ada Briggs, 1879; Mrs. Julia Annin, in south sub-district, in 1878; Mrs. L. M. Burlingame, in north sub-district, has taught for nine or ten years.
We gather the following additional information from the report to the Regents for the Academic year, ending May 30, 1879 :- The library contained 874 volumes, the original cost of which was $1,206.31, and the estimate value $850. The apparatus, which originally cost $546.46, was esti- mated at $330. The whole number of scholars taught during the year was 101, of whom 51 were males, and 50 females. Their average age was 14.7 years.
The revenues and expenditures were :-
From tuition collected or considered collectable. $92.50 Apportionment from Literature Fund 20.78
For the purchase of books and apparatus 1 50.00
From local taxes .. 1,761.13
$1,024 41
For salaries of teachers 1,233.51
For repairs of property belonging to Academy 200.00
For fuel and other incidental expenses 350.00
For the purchase of books and apparatus 210.90
For Librarian 30.00 - $2,024.41
CHURCHES .*- " Although the settlement of Mt. Morris was commenced about 1790," says- Rev. Dr. Parsons, "we discover but little that is worthy of favorable notice in its religious character prior to 1814. * * * For the first twenty years after General Mills located here, there were very few re- ligious people who were attracted to this spot. The inhabitants generally paid no regard to the Sabbath, but both white people and Indians from the settlements around, were accustomed to con- gregate here on the Sabbath and spend the day in drinking, wrestling, shooting, horse racing and the like. We find it stated that in an early day the smoke of five distilleries might be seen ascending from this town. It was against such discourage- ments as these that the few Christians who gath- ered here in an early day and the preachers who visited the settlement were called to contend."+
* Promised data regarding the Free Methodist Church has not been furnished : and owing to the loss of the records of the Baptist Church we are unable to give its history. The church edifice of the latter was built in 1840.
t From Historical Discourses, by Rev. Dr. L. Parsons, pastor of the Presbyterian church, ot Mt. Morris, July 9, and 16, 1876, from which we draw our materials for the history of that church.
307
VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS-CHURCHES.
In 1810, after residing for a brief period in Ovid and Geneseo, Robert Chappel, of Colchester, Conn., with his wife, four sons and two daughters, selected this place as his home. He lived in a log house, not far from the site of the Wallace House; and it was there that the first services conducted in this town by a Presbyterian minister were held. That minister was Rev. Robert Hubbard, who, it is thought, then preached regularly at Dansville and Angelica. Mr. Chappel died in 1811, aged 44.
The Presbyterian Church of Mt. Morris was organized April 29, 1814, in the new school house,* which was located on the west side of what was then an open square, not far from the site of the house of J. J. Ferris. The first or south half was built in the fall of 1813, and was about twenty-five feet square. About 1815 it was lengthened by the addition of about twenty-five feet. A swing par- tition in the center was so adjusted that it could be closed when used for school purposes and opened when more room was required for religious servi- ces. Here the Church worshipped about eighteen years after its formation. The constituent mem- bers were Jesse Stanley, Jonathan Beach, Luther Parker, Enos Baldwin, Abraham Camp, Luman Stanley, Russell Sheldon, Almira Hopkins, Lucy Beach, Martha Parker, Sarah Baldwin, Mary Camp, Patty M. Stanley and Clarissa Sheldon.
Soon afrer the organization Stephen M. Whee- lock, a licentiate, commenced his labors here and continued them two or three years. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Silas Pratt, who, it is supposed, commenced his labors early in 1817. The Church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 12, 1817. May 7, 1817, Mr. Pratt was ordained and installed pastor, the services being held in the barn of Deacon Stanley. His pastoral relation was dissolved by the same body April 9, 1818.
A period of nearly twenty years elapsed before another pastor was installed over the Church, and many were the changes in ministers during this in- terval. Rev. Elihu Mason soon succeeded Mr. Pratt, commencing his labors about June, 1818, and remaining till near the close of 1820, supply- ing during the first year the Church at Perry Center half the time, and the second year alternating between this place and Portage. His widow still lives in this village, aged 94 years. Mr. Mason was succeeded by Rev. Bartholomew F. Pratt, brother of Silas Pratt, who commenced his labors
in the spring of 1821, while a student of theology. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ontario, Jan. 16, 1822. Feb. 1, 1825, he was ordained as an Evangelist in this village. He con- tinued his labors till the close of 1825. During his stay, in 1822, the membership was increased from 79 to 153. The pulpit was next supplied by Rev. Wm. Lyman, D. D., who commenced his labors in the fall of 1825 and remained two years. Soon after he left, the pulpit was supplied for a short period by Rev. Abel B. Clary, after which it re- mained vacant about eight months. Rev. James W. McMaster commenced his labors in the fall of 1828 and continued them till the fall of 1830.
Dec. 7, 1830, Wm. H. Stanley, Wm. A. Mills, Alfred Hubbard, Asa Woodford and Abner Dean, were appointed a committee to build a church. It was erected in 1831, was 64 by 44 feet, and was located a little southwest of the residence of Gen. Mills, upon the public square, facing south. It was dedicated in January, 1832, Rev. S. H. Grid- ley, of Perry, preaching the sermon. The pulpit was at the front end, between the doors, with the singers' gallery behind it and over the vestibule. This arrangement proving unsatisfactory, a plat- form some two or three feet higher than the floor of the Church, was provided for the accommoda- tion of the singers a few years afterwards, by an additional building in the rear.
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