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 69
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Aaron Hale was born near the city of Boston. At the age of twenty-one he entered the army and was present at the battles of Bunker Hill and Ben- nington. In 1815 he came to Conesus where he lived until his death in 1821. He was buried in the town of Springwater.
WAR OF 1812 .- In this war, as the town was not thickly inhabited, there were but few who joined the American forces. Among those who entered the field at that time were James Hender- son, who was killed at the battle of Queenstown, Andrew Carter, Andrew Arnold, Tyranis Ripley, B. F. Fosdick, Asa Stevens, Benjamin Clapp; Elijah Webster, and Daniel and Samuel Monger.
Erastus Lewis served as one of the minute men, and when the news of the British advance on Buf- falo reached the town he was called out to oppose the enemy. In an engagement between the Amer- can and British forces, on the enemy's side of the river, in which the British were aided by a large number of Indians, he took his position behind a log fence, and as the enemy advanced he began to fire upon them. After firing several shots he dis- covered that he was alone, his comrades having fallen back and deserted him. Under a heavy fire from the British he jumped up and ran after them, reaching his companions with only a bullet hole through his hat.
Two brothers, Joseph and Jonathan Richardson, both cripples, participated in the battle of Chip- pewa, fought July 5, 1814, in which battle Joseph was killed by a ball passing through his heart, and Jonathan was taken prisoner by the British. He was taken to Montreal, and from there to Halifax, from which place, after some six months imprison- ment, he was released. Joseph Richardson, Jr., a son to Joseph who was killed, was also captured by the enemy, but in a few days escaped.
The friends of Joseph Richardson visited the battle-field, where among the other dead gathered for burial they found his remains, which they brought home and buried at South Livonia.
330
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Andrew Carter, whose name is given in the above list, entered the army when scarcely twenty years of age, and soon after becoming disheartened he deserted and returned home to suffer trials greater than those from which he had fled.
He was soon missed, and an immediate search was made for him, which, had he been re-taken, would have resulted in his death for desertion. Learning that he was pursued he took refuge in what is known as Purchase Gull, where through one long winter he hid away among the pines and rocks, from whose recesses when the nights came he would cautiously emerge and seek food at the log cabin of James McNinch.
Several times officers came from Buffalo and searched for him, ransacking this house, exploring the gulleys, and laying every plan for his capture, but through the aid of Mrs. McNinch he escaped. In the branches of a huge hemlock he built a nest, covering it with bark, in which through the winter storms he lay until spring, when the search was abandoned. He died a number of years ago in Scottsburgh, respected by all as a worthy and upright citizen.
As a relic of this war Hiram Boyd, Esq., has in his possession a captain's commission given sixty- seven years ago to his father, Phillip Boyd. It is dated at Albany, March 2, 1814, and is signed by Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of the State, and by J. Kutsch Van Rensselaer, Secretary.
FLOOD OF 1835 .- In the fall of 1835 the town of Conesus experienced the most disastrous flood known since its settlement by the pioneers.
The flood was caused by a furious storm which swept over the southern portion of the town, and when it reached Calabogue Hollow the rain fell in torrents, filling the ravines with a rush of water which soon covered the flats below, carrying every- thing before it to destruction, until its fury was abated at Conesus lake. Trees and fences were whirled away like straws before the wind, and the residents on the flats flew to the hills for safety, some of them barely escaping with their lives. On the eastern bank of the gully stood the millwright shop of Bell & Hedges, which was swept away as the unfortunate owners were endeavoring to save their tools. The body of Bell was found next day a short distance from the ruins, but the body of Hedges was not found until the next July, when it was discovered buried beneath a pile of floodwood near the head of the lake.
TOWN OFFICERS .- The first town meeting was held at the head of Conesus lake, April 4, 1820.
This meeting proved to be illegal, as the legislative act to form a new township from parts of Grove- land and Livonia, which was passed in the early part of the preceding winter, contained a special clause that there should be no town meeting or election of officers until the spring of 1821. Soon after the passage of this act the inhabitants, un- aware of this clause, issued notices for the election of town officers on the day mentioned, when they nominated Davenport Alger for Supervisor and Phoenix Squibbs for Town Clerk. These nomina- tions not being satisfactory to a large number of the inhabitants, they determined to place in nom- ination two other candidates. In this determina- tion they experienced some difficulty, for at that time they were but little acquainted with each other's ability to hold office. They finally resolved to try Thomas Collar for Supervisor, although for a long time they were in doubt as to his ability ; but be- lieving that a man who kept up as good fences as Mr. Collar did would make a good Supervisor, they placed his name on the ticket and succeeded in electing him, together with Samuel Chapin, Jr., as Town Clerk.
The illegality of the election was soon discovered, and in 1821 was held the first legal town meeting, at which Davenport Alger was elected Supervisor, and Samuel Chapin, Jr., Town Clerk.
The other officers elected at that time were as follows :- Assessors, Jesse McMillen, Alexander Patterson, Zenas Whilen ; Overseers of the Poor, Alexander Patterson, Thomas Collar ; Highway Commissioners, Jesse McMillen, Joel Gilbert ; Constable and Collector, Peter Stiles; School Commissioners, Jesse McMillen, Joel Gilbert, Erastus Wilcox; Inspectors of Schools, Andrew Arnold, Samuel Chapin, Jr., Elias Clark.
From that date to 1880 the succession of Su- pervisors and Town Clerks has been as follows :- Supervisors. Town Clerks.
1822. Samuel Chapin, Jr. Andrew Arnold.
1823. Andrew Arnold. Davenport Alger.
1824-25. Peter Stiles.
1826. Alex. Patterson. 66 :6
1827-28. David C. Higgins. David Gilbert.
1829. Andrew Arnold. Joshua Huntington.
1830. Samuel Robinson, Jr. B. F. Fosdick.
1831. Jotham Clark. Sen.
1832. Eli Barnes. 66
1833. Jotham Clark.
66
1834-35. Gardner Arnold.
66
66
1836. Harvey Purchase.
1837. Jotham Clark.
1838. Hosea Gilbert.
Joseph Wells.
1839. Robert Bayles.
1840. Gardner Arnold.
Charles Pixley. 66
66
331
CONESUS-TOWN OFFICERS, CHURCHES.
1841 Robert Bayles.
Charles Pixley.
1842. Hector Hitchcock. Justus Allen.
1843. Luther Chapin. 66 66
1844. Hector Hitchcock.
66 66
1845. Robert Bayles.
Benoni F. Fosdick.
1846. Hector Hitchcock.
66
1 847-48. Solomon Hitchcock.
1849. Robert Bayles.
66 66
1850. Davenport Alger.
66
1851-52. Lewis C. Kingsbury.
66
1853-56. George F. Coe.
1857-58. Henry L. Arnold.
66
1859-62. Ezra W. Clark.
66 66
1863-64. R. Fulton McMillen. 66
I 865. Ezra W. Clark.
1866. Henry C. Coe.
66
.6
66
1868. Solomon Hitchcock .*
66
60
1869-72. Henry C. Coe.t
1873. Jotham Clark.
66
1874. 66
66
William H. Mills.
1875-76. Amos D. Coe.
66 66
1877-80. George F. Coe. 66
66
The following officers were elected April 5, 1881 : Supervisor, R. Fulton McMillen ; Town Clerk, William H. Mills; Justice of the Peace, Floyd McNinch ; Highway Commissioner, William P. Whiteman ; Assessor, James C. McNinch ; Over- seer of Poor, David Coleman ; Collector, Andrew F. Kelleman ; Constables, Andrew F. Kelleman, John C. Coe, George Jerome, Timothy Bailey, Sanford Allen ; Game Constable, Luman H. Bald- win; Excise Commissioner, Patrick McNinch; Inspectors of Election, William A. Miller, Charles C. Gray.
CHURCHES .- For many years after the settle- ment of the town the pioneers were without regu- larly organized religious societies and were depend- ent on occasional preachers for the ministration of the gospel. At first their nearest place for wor- ship was at what was then known as Buell Hill, in Livonia, where the Presbyterians held service. About 1810 the Methodists began to hold religious services in private houses throughout the town, followed soon after by the Baptists, who had as an occasional preacher a minister named Ingham.s
A society of the Christian order was organized near May's (now Foot's) Corners in 1818, but it existed only a few years. Of this order Rev. Syl- vester Morris, who settled here in 1818, was after- ward an honored pastor. Mr. Morris was born in the town of Paris, Oneida (now Clinton) county,
* Appointed.
t Died February 22, 1880.
# Mr. Coe died and R. F. McMillen was appointed to fill the unex- pired term.
ยง Or Ingraham, who settled in Conesus about 1808, and who was the first resident minister in the town.
N. Y., Nov. 30, 1801. In 1815 he moved to East Henrietta, N. Y., and from there to Conesus in 1818. In 1847 he was ordained as a minister in the Central New York Christian Conference, which was formed in pioneer times by circuit riders. He died February 14, 1877.
Rev. John Hudson became a resident here in 1815, and when in about 1816 the Methodists organized a society at Conesus Centre he became the pastor of that denomination.
Of the Methodist Episcopal Society thus organ- ized there are no records until the erection of its church edifice in 1836.
The church was dedicated January 28, 1837, by Rev. James Hemmingway, Presiding Elder. First Board of Trustees-Thomas Youngs, Jesse Gray, Justin Allen.
The first preacher in charge was Rev. E. Thomas, followed by Revs. Jacob Scott in 1837, William Jones in 1838, Carlos Gould in 1839, Chandler Wheeler in 1840, Sheldon Doolittle in 1841, C. L. Brown in 1842, Wesley Cochrane in 1843, John Wiley in 1844, E. O. Hall in 18.45, Geo. Wilkinson in 1846, Theodore McElhaney in 1847-9, Hiram Sanford in 1850, Veranus Brownell in 1851-2, Z. I. Buck in 1853, W. M. Haskell in 1854, Jonas Dodge in 1855, Samuel McGerald in 1856, Otis B. Weaver in 1857, Myron De Puy in 1858, Isaac McMahon in 1859-60, James Knapp in 1861, L. L. Rogers in 1861-3, E. Lattimer in 1864, Robert T. Hancock in 1865, John Parker in 1866-7, D. Hutchins and Mr. Blakeslee in 1868, T. J. O. Woodin in 1869-71, G. J. Du Bois in 1871-2, J. Duncan in 1873, J. W. Blanchard in 1874, A. M. Bancroft in 1875, R. T. Hancock in 1876, J. D. Recqua, 1876-7, J. W. Barnett in 1877-8, Porter McKinstrey in 1878-9, A. E. Tan- ner in 1879-80.
This church edifice was destroyed by fire Decem- ber 30, 1871, and the meetings were held in a school house for two years and then in the First Univer- salist Church until the fall of 1876, when a new church was erected.
This church was built and furnished at a cost of $4,000, and was dedicated November 15, 1876, by Rev. B. I. Ives.
Board of Trustees : David Coleman, Samuel Maring, William L. Perrin, Orville Chapin, Daniel Trescott, Secretary.
The First Universalist Church .- This society was organized December 19, 1835. Among early members were Joshua Huntington, H. J. Hunt- ington, Gardner Arnold, Hosea Gilbert, Daven-
66
60
1867. Ezra W. Clark.
66
332
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
port Alger, Alexander Patterson, Enoch Wilcox, Robert Bayles, Solomon Hitchcock, Lewis Clark, Timothy DeGraw, David Gilbert, Samuel Buckley, A. Stevens, Hiram Boyd, Darius Morris, J. T. Beach.
The erection of a church edifice was begun in 1836 and was completed in 1837.
The church was built at Union Corners, on land owned by Timothy DeGraw. Here the society worshipped until the erection in 1873 of a more commodious church in the village of Conesus Center. This church was dedicated by Rev. W. B. Randolph in March, 1874.
Among the pastors who officiated in the early years of the society were :- Rev. O. Roberts, Rev. Mr. Tompkins, Rev. O. B. Clark, Rev. J. A. Dobson, Rev. W. B. Randolph.
The first pastor after the erection of the new church was Rev. G. W. Montgomery, who remained three years. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Baker who presided one year. The next pastor was Rev. Nelson Snell, one year, succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. John Charles McInerney, who came in April of 1880.
St. William's Catholic Church .- The church edifice of this society was erected in 1876 by Rev. Father Seymour, the resident pastor of St. Mi- chael's church, Livonia, from which place Conesus was attended. Previous to this time there was no regular place of worship in the town, the people of that faith being obliged to attend the church at Livonia Centre, except when Father Seymour came and held service in the school-house kindly opened by the Trustees for that purpose. The church erected for the accommodation of the society is a very neat structure, and was completed and suita- bly furnished by Father Murphy, who succeeded Father Seymour, Nov. 7, 1877, and who attends this charge from Livonia Center, where he resides. Since the erection of the church the members have done remarkably well in reducing the indebtedness incurred, which at this date does not amount to one hundred dollars. The ground upon which the church was erected was purchased by William Egan, a member to whom much is due for his un- tiring zeal in procuring a place of worship. Among the many generous non-Catholics who contributed liberally toward the erection of the church were Amos D. Coe, Ezra W. Clark, Solomon Hitchcock, Jotham Clark, Fulton McMillen, George F. Coe, T. F. DeGraw, and W. H. Mills.
'The membership numbers about twenty families, prominent among whom are those of Patrick Ryan,
C. McGinty, B. Lawn, John McGinty, William Dunne and Martin Berrigan.
Services are held in the church every third Sun- day at nine o'clock, A. M.
POPULATION .- The population of Conesus in 1870 was 1,362 ; of which 1,262 were native, 100 foreign, 1,357 white, and 5 colored.
In 1875 the total number of inhabitants was 1,371 : of which 1,263 were native; foreign 108; and white 1,371.
At the last census, 1880, the total population was 1,397; a gain of 35 in ten years.
SCHOOL STATISTICS .- The first school districts in Conesus were organized in the year 1820. Jan. 21, under the direction of Jesse McMillen, Erastus Wilcox, School Commissioners. These are known as Districts 6 and 7.
There are 9 districts in the town which, in 1880, employed ten teachers. During 1880 school was taught 441 3-5 weeks, with an average attendance of 186. The number of children in these districts over five and under twenty-one is 443. Of that number 347 attend school during some portion of the year. The amount paid as wages to teachers during the year was $1,734.09. The district libra- ries were valued at $75.00, and the amount paid out on them in 1880 was $404. Total value of school houses and sites, $6,235.
Total amount paid for school apparatus during the year, $2.11.
Total amount expended on school houses, sites, repairs, furniture, &c., $174.30. Total incidental expenses for the year, $264.52. Total valuation of districts, $7,645.79.
PRINTING ESTABLISHMENTS .- The only enter- prise of this kind in the town is Boyd's Job Print- ing Establishment, situated in the northern part of the town at what is known as Conesus post-office. The business was established by the present pro- prietor, William P. Boyd, in 1875. The estab- lishment has every facility for job printing.
Mr. Boyd is a practical mechanic. The press which he uses in his office was made by himself, and he also manufactures for the trade, his presses giving general satisfaction.
Besides the labor attendant on his business, Mr. Boyd is a well known and interesting contributor to the press of the county and State. He and Hiram Boyd, his father, have made the history of Conesus an especial study, and it is to them that we are indebted for the material used in this history of the town, much of which appears in its original form.
The subject of this brief memoir was the son of John C., and Anna (Dixon) Coe, who moved to Livonia at an early day, being among the pioneers of that town.
He was born in Livonia in 1816, and moved to Conesus in 1843. He was twice married, first to Roxy Howe, of Livonia, who lived but a few years ; afterwards to Alta A. Stone, also of Livonia. To them were born three children, viz :- Annie C., John C., and G. F. J., all of whom survive him. At the time of his death, Mr. Coe was 64 years of age, and had been for many years a prominent citizen of his town, and well known throughout the county. That he greatly endeared himself to the people of his town, the many public offices he held fully testify. For eight years he represented the town of Conesus as Supervisor, having been elected to that office in :853, reelected in 1854-'5 and'56, and also in 1877-'78-'79 and '80. The board of Supervisors, recognizing his particular fitnesss for the position, elected him chairman of that board in 1880, which position be hell at the time of his death.
As a public officer, he was faithful, vigilant, and trustworthy, guarding carefully the interests of the county at large, as well as of his own imme- diate constituents. A favorite among his ac- quaintances, keen in perception, and full of the poetry of wit, genial and pleasant to all, his pres-
ence brought sunshine into every gathering in which he mingled. He was one whom nature fitted for the highest responsibilities of life, possessing clear and accurate judgment combined with broad and liberal views. and unbounded benevolence. He was a kind and generous friend to the poor. Being full of sympathy for all the distressed or unfortu- nate, he never allowed a suffering or needy appli- cant to be turned away empty-handed, thereby ex- emplifying in his daily life the distinguishing tenet of his religious faith, which was the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He was socially honest, and what he said to-day, he was ever will- ing to repeat to-morrow. In the community in which he lived, the foot-prints of his kindness and charity will remain long after the mould of time has gathered on the tablet erected to his memory. Mr. Coe was a member of the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing become so in 1858. His death which was a peculiarly sad one, occurred November 9, 1880. Returning from a meeting of the Board of Super- visors, which he left in apparent health, when almost in sight of his home, he was attacked with heart disease, a difficulty which had troubled him occa- sionally for some years, and stricken down instantly. breathing out his precious spirit in solitude where no eye beheld him except the Eye that never sleep- eth. So true is it, that in the midst of life, we are in death.
333
UNION CORNERS-FOOT'S CORNERS-CONESUS CENTRE.
Hiram Boyd came to Conesus in 1821, at the age of sixteen, and is known as one of the most successful and intelligent farmers of the town.
UNION CORNERS.
Union Corners is situated about half a mile north of Conesus Centre, on lot No. 43. It has some eighteen or twenty houses, and about fifty inhabitants.
The first house was built here in 1807 by Abel Root. The only business place is a tailor shop conducted by John Magee. The first tailor shop was built here by a Mr. Bates in 1820. In 1837 he was succeeded by Gardner Arnold, who built the first frame tailor shop, in which for a few years he carried on a successful business when it was burned down.
John Magee, the present merchant tailor, was born in Ireland in 1821, and came to America when ten years old. He came from New York to Conesus as a permanent resident in 1846, and in 1850 built his store in which for thirty years he pursued his business until Sunday, March 6, 1881, when both his store and his dwelling house were destroyed by fire.
FOOT'S CORNERS.
Foot's Corners is a small hamlet about a mile south of the northern boundary of the town. In the early settlement of the town this place was called May's Corners, for a family of that name who made the first settlement here in 1806. The ham- let contains ten or fifteen houses and was once the chief place of the town. In earlier days it had a store, tavern, and blacksmith shop. The tavern was built about sixty years ago by Harvey May and Samuel Chapin.
The store was built about the year 1835 by Foster Foot, from whom the place derived its pres- ent name.
Both tavern and store have been abandoned for many years. This place at an early day was a noted resort for races, general trainings, and other amusements.
CONESUS CENTRE.
Conesus Centre, the chief business place of the town, contains a population of about two hundred. It is situated nearly in the center of the town on the line of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad. The first permanent settlement known to have been made here was by Jacob Durham,
about the year 1800, who built the first log-house. The village contains three churches, one hotel, post-office, a harness shop, and three stores.
The first store was opened here in 1817 by Mr. Arnold and his nephew, Gardner Arnold. Their place of business was in a log building.
The first hotel was built by Daniel Bump be- tween 1830 and '35, which was destroyed by fire a number of years ago. The post-office was estab- lished here in 1819 with Andrew Arnold as post- master, and B. F. Fosdick as post-rider. In 1823 a mail route was established between Conesus Cen- tre and Springwater, and Rev. Sylvester Morris was the first to perform the service of post-rider on that line. The present post-master is William H. Mills, who was appointed in 1874, succeeding B. M. Moulton who had held the office some four or five years .*
The hotel is kept by Dr. G. K. Vincent, who is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of perfumery and flavoring extracts, and various med- ical compounds. This business was founded by G. K. Vincent in 1873, and is conducted by G. K. Vincent & Co. The medicine and extracts man- ufactured by this firm have met with great success, and the business bids fair to live among the prom- inent manufactures of the county.
William H. Mills, general merchandise, has been in business here ten years. He was born in Grove- land, February 24, 1845, and has been a resident of the town twenty-seven years.
Lewis & Stark, (Gilbert L. Lewis, Arthur A. Stark,) general merchandise, have been in business as a firm since April 1, 1880.
John Dodge, general hardware, has been in bus- iness here since 1876, coming here at that time from Liberty, Steuben county, in which place he was born July 15, 1847.
Frank S. Gilmore, jeweler, has been in business two years, coming here from Springwater, N. Y.
William A. Miller, harness-maker, has been en- gaged in that business here seven years. He was born in Dansville in 1851, and came to Conesus eight years ago.
Dr. Jesse B. Losey is the only practicing physi- cian in the town. He was born in South Dans- ville, Steuben county, October 20, 1828, gradu- ated at Castleton, Vt., in 1857, and came to Cone- sus in 1860. During the war of the Rebellion he served as Assistant Surgeon in the 22d New York Cavalry.
* The town has also another office, known as Conesus post-office, in the northern part of the town. The post-master is Joseph H. Rowland.
334
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
SOLDIERS OF THE REBELLION .- When the war cloud of the Rebellion broke over the land the town of Conesus promptly and enthusiastically re- sponded to the call both in money and men.
The town stood two drafts, and had the honor of being able to furnish the requisite quota of vol- unteers without compelling the drafted men to en- ter the service.
Through the enthusiastic efforts of the inhabit- ants, who with fife and drum recruited on the Sabbath day as well as during the week, the de- sired number of men was obtained, and they marched from the town to carry the flag on the bloody fields of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, York- town and Richmond, and in Sherman's triumphant march to the sea.
The total enlistment from the town, under the various calls was seventy-eight. The amount of money raised to procure enlistments was $3, 100, and of that amount $1,900 was raised by a tax upon the town, the balance being procured by in- dividual subscription. Besides that amount $700 were raised as donations to hospitals and sanitary commissions.
The following is the list of the volunteers and the regiments in which they enlisted :-
One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment :- Henry L. Arnold, entered as Captain of Company I, was promoted to Colonel of the regiment, and was wounded in battle at Bentonville, N. C., March 19, 1865. He is now in Geneseo, N. Y.
Matthew Mead, Second Lieutenant, Company I, served through the war. Now in Rochester, N. Y.
Charles Bullard, First Lieutenant, Company not known, was wounded.
William Lawn, Sergeant, Company I, killed at the battle of Resaca,* Ga., May 16, 1864; buried on the field.
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