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 77
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1838. 1839. 1840. 1841. 1842. 1 843. 1844. 1845. 66 1 846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. Joel Stone.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
school-house, blacksmith shop and some two hun- dred inhabitants .*
This is the oldest settlement in the town. In this vicinity most of the pioneers located, and for many years it was the business center of the town- ship. A little south of this place is where Solo- mon Woodruff, the first settler, located in 1789.
Among those who came here at an early day were George Pratt, in 1808, Eldad and Esther Riggs Gibbs, in 1801, Benjamin and Rhoda Gibbs, in 1812, and Captain Robert Dixson in 1814.
George Pratt started the first tannery in the town near Livonia Center, where he continued the business until 1836. In that year he removed the tannery to the head of Hemlock lake where the business was conducted till 1850 when the tannery was destroyed by fire. A son, George F. Pratt, born in 1816, now lives here.
Benjamin and Rhoda Gibbs located the farm now owned by Norton Gibbs. Their children were Norton, now living here, Catherine, Mary Ann, Charlotte P. and Susan.
Six children of the family died,-Charles, Maria Susan, Maria, Charles, Samuel and Miranda.
Benjamin Gibbs died in 1828. His wife died in May, 1880.
The descendants of Eldad Gibbs are Mrs. Eme- line Clark, Adna S. Gibbs, Major Backus S. Gibbs, Leman and Manson F. Gibbs.
About the first merchant here was Lester Kings- bury ; William R. Waldron, came afterwards and continued in business here some years when he failed and moved to Michigan.
Henry Pierce & Co., carried on a general retail business at the old stand where Solomon Wood- ruff now lives. Other merchants here were Mar- tin & Hinman, who conducted for a time a store opposite the old hotel when they dissolved partner- ship, and Hinman went to Hemlock Lake. After the fire here in 1832, Bradley Martin rebuilt the store, which is the stone building now occupied by the present merchant, Thomas W. Millbam. Mr. Millham has been in business here nine years. He was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1843, and came here nine years ago, from Schenectady, N. Y.
Mr. Millham is also postmaster, having held that office seven years.
CHURCHES .- Presbyterian Church .- The first ministerial services here, of which there is any record, were conducted by Rev. John Rolph, who resided in this place in 1803-4, and who preached
to the people who were disposed to attend on his ministrations.
In the winter of 1804-5, Rev. Mr. Lane, who had been a licensed Methodist preacher in Eng- land, but who had no ecclesiastical connection in this country, used to preach here, but how long he continued his labors cannot be learned. The nu- cleus of a church was formed in 1806. On the 29th of December of that year seventeen people assem- bled in the second framed house in town, situated on what is now known as the Blackmer farm- then owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ben- ton-where, with the assistance of Rev. Aaron C. Collins, they organized a church. It was named The Second Congregational church of Pittstown, and was received under the charge of the Ontario Association, January 14, 1807.
The original members were :- Jeremiah Riggs, Aaron Childs, Selah Stedman, Thankful Parsons, Lucy Childs, Dameras Blake, Mary Stedman, Irene Clark, Benjamin Cook, Oliver Woodruff, Rachel Gibbs, Nancy Benton, Lydia Gibbs, Anna Wood- ruff, Sally Farrand. Sally and Rebecca Blake.
For a long time this society had no house of worship, and were destitute of the means to build one. 'Their meetings were held in log-cabins, barns, and school-houses, but principally in the school-house on what is known as " Buell Hill,"+ situated near what is now the garden of Buell Woodruff. Here a portion of the time Mr. Collins preached to them, also supplying the church at Richmond, and when he did not officiate they met for prayer and conference.
The Ontario Association, with which this church was connected, was dissolved May 25, 1813, and this society assumed the name of " The First Pres- byterian Church of Livonia, under which name it is now known.
The first church edifice was erected May 30, 1814. This was the first church built in the town, and stood a little west of where the present house of worship now stands. It was nearly as large as the present building, and cost over $3,000.
At this time the church numbered about thirty members.
'The Rev. Mr. Collins continued to preach as a supply for eight or nine years. Then for some time the church was supplied by various neighbor- ing ministers. The next stated supply was Rev. Ebenezer Everett, who was ordained to the gospel ministry in this church, February 4, 1818.
In 1819 he was succeeded by Rev. Ezekiel J.
* The first school-house built in the town.
* The census of 1870, gives a population of 193.
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LIVONIA CENTRE, CHURCHIES.
Chapman, who officiated as pastor some eight years.
The Rev. Jeremiah Stow was the next pastor, installed April 30, 1828. His pastorate continued nearly four years, when it was terminated by his death, November 15, 1832, at the age of thirty- four.
On the night of December 19, 1832, the church edifice was burned, and, at the same time, the store owned by Bradley Martin, which stood on the corner where the stone store now stands, was destroyed by the fire. In 1834 the present house of worship was erected, and dedicated free of debt, and with money in the treasury. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. Theron Steele, of East Bloomfield, February 13, 1834.
While the church was yet unfinished the Rev. Samuel Allen officiated as stated supply for about a year and a half. In November, 1833, Rev. Jus- tin S. Hough succeeded him, although he was not installed as pastor until Feb. 13, 1834. In April, 1840, he resigned on account of ill health, and was never able to resume the active work of the ministry. He died Dec. 20, 1872, aged 87.
The Rev. Lorin Brewster was then engaged as stated supply, remaining for two and a half years. He was succeeded by Rev. B. G. Riley, who was installed March 23, 1843. He remained twelve and a half years, giving general satisfaction, and then resigned on account of ill health.
The succeeding pastor was Rev. A. H. Parma- lee, who was installed January 9, 1856. He re- mained here thirteen years, resigning the last Sabbath in March, 1869. For two years after the departure of Mr. Parmalee there was kept up the unprofitable, but sometimes unavoidable custom of candidating for a minister. When the pulpit was not so occupied it was filled by Prof. W. P. Coddington, of Genesee College, Lima, N. Y. During this period the church edifice was entirely remodeled and refurnished, at an expense of about $5,000.
In July, 1871, Rev. William H. Millham,* from Galway, N. Y., began his labors here, being in- stalled October 5, 1871.
The installation sermon was preached by Rev. P. Barbour, his father-in-law. During his pastor- ate several extensive revivals have occurred, which have resulted in numerous accessions to the church.
Since the organization of this church, seventy years ago, there have been added to it in all, as
near as can be ascertained, six hundred and ninety- four members, an average of nearly ten each year.
Of those who have been connected with the church or Sabbath school, ten have entered the ministry.
The present deacons are Benjamin Coy and Adna S. Gibbs. Trustees,-Joel Stone, Adna S. Gibbs, Theodore Patterson. The present mem- bership is 170. The church property is clear of debt, and is valued at $6,000. The parsonage, a fine building erected in 1874, is valued at $3,500.
St. Michael's Church, (Roman Catholic) .- In 1848, John Whalen, B. Calligan, John Meagher M. Martin, John McGinty and Daniel Whalen came to Livonia as the pioneer Catholic families. They attended mass which was celebrated by Rev. Father O'Connor, in a cooper-shop of John Bren- nan's, in Lima. In the latter part of that year the priest made Livonia a charge, paying it regular visits, and saying mass in the dwelling house of John Whalen. In 1851, Father O'Connor was succeeded by Rev. Father Kenney, who in 1852 was followed by Father Welch, after whom Father Tierney assumed charge, remaining two years. In 1855 Father Quigley, Sen., performed the duties of the then extensive charge connected with Lima and Livonia.
The parish about this time was increased by a few such earnest Catholics as John B. Kavanaugh, William Ryan, William and John Higgins, Robert Hoare, John Kavanaugh, T. Quigley and James Kerrivan.
Rev. Father McGuire assumed charge of the parish in 1857. In September of that year, after mass one Sunday, a few of the heads of families assembled in the store of William Ryan, where after a brief deliberation over one hundred and fifty dollars were subscribed and paid toward the erection of a church. With the result of this sub- scription, which in the hands of John Meagher soon amounted to a considerable sum, Father McGuire purchased a lot, on which a neat edifice 35 by 40 feet was erected.
In 1858 Father McGuire was called to Buffalo and Father O'Brien was sent to take his place. He died shortly after in Lima, and in 1859 the per- formance of the mission obligations devolved upon Father Quigley. He remained with the charge four years and in 1863 was succeeded by Father Clark, who officiated about a year, and then Father Gregg was given the pastoral charge.
On the 27th of June, 1871, Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid appointed Rev. N. Byrne to the pastor-
* To whom we are indebted for this history of the church.
368
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
ate over Livonia, Honeoye and Conesus. He took up his residence at Livonia. July 26th, 1875, Rev. William Seymour was transferred from Nunda and appointed pastor of the mission at Livonia. During his pastorate the present church edifice was constructed.
November 6th, 1877, Father Seymour was re- moved to Auburn and Rev. T. C. Murphy,* the present incumbent, assumed the pastoral charge of Livonia and Conesus.
Father Murphy has prosecuted with zealousness the undertakings begun under the ministration of Father Seymour.
He has refitted the house, purchased an excel- lent lot for a cemetery and cancelled the entire in- debtedness therefor.
The present membership is 500, a unit in har- mony and devotion.
SOUTH LIVONIA.
South Livonia lies in the extreme southern part of the town on the line of the Erie railroad. It contains one church, a store, postoffice, black- smith shop, (George P. Kennedy,) school house, and thirty or forty dwellings.
This place was settled largely by people from Vermont and for many years went by the name of Vermont street.
The first merchants here were Backus and Chamberlain, in about 1827. Orrin Hastings was another merchant here about 1838. He kept a general store on land now owned by Michael Car- roll, t and was also the first postmaster at this place.
The present postmaster is George L. McDon- ald.
The present merchant is Shelby Baker, who has been in business here twelve years. He was born in the town in 1827.
The South Livonia Baptist Church .- This church was organized August 29, 1816, as the Second Baptist Church of Livonia. It consisted of forty- nine members, and was under the charge of the Ontario association.
The first trustees were Benjamin Howe. Seth Godfrey and Timothy Howe, Jr.
The first deacon was Samuel Chapin. The first pastor was Rev. Jehiel Wisner.
In 1833 a house of worship was erected and the name of the church changed to the First Baptist Church of Livonia.
In 1867 twenty-one members were dismissed by letter to join the Baptist church at Livonia Sta- tion.
The church is now known as the South Livonia Baptist church, and is under the charge of the Liv- ingston Baptist Association. The church now numbers forty-five members. The present pastor is Rev. Ransom Marean, who has supplied the pul- pit for twenty years.
The following is a list of the pastors who have presided over the church: Revs. Jehiel Wisner. John R. Seaver, P. S. Slocum, Ira Justin, Isaac I. Brown, Joel W. Clark, Thomas B. Beebe, Eli Stone, Daniel B. Purinton, S. W. Olney, E. Mosher, Samuel T. Livermore, Frederick Glan- ville, Henry F. Hill, Ransom Marean.
HEMLOCK LAKE.
Hemlock Lake, a somewhat picturesque little village, is situated in the south-eastern part of the town of Livonia, about a mile from the foot of Hemlock lake. It contains two churches,* four stores, one hotel, two harness shops, a school house and a population of about three hundred.t This place was for a long time known as "Slab City," a nickname derived, presumably, from the lumber traffic of its earlier days. About a mile north of this place, at an early date, was situated a thriving little village known as Jacksonville. It contained a distillery, cloth dressing works, grist-mill, a store and a considerable number of dwellings. The . place was laid out into lots duly numbered and the indications were that in time it would become a village of no mean proportions. Its existence, however, was comparatively brief ; the village lots have long since been transformed into farming lands, and nothing now remains of its past pros- perity.
The first house in this place was built by Squire Short. The first merchant here was Dorastus Hinman.
The Metropolitan Hotel was built by Aaron Doolittle in 1856. The post-office was established here under the official care of Levi Van Fossen, but at what date is not known.
The Van Fossen family were among the most prominent early families of the town. The mill first erected here was rebuilt by Levi Van Fossen
* To this gentlemanly pastor we acknowledge thanks for the history of this church and of that at Conesus.
+ Or Lewis Chamberlain.
ยท The Baptist and Methodist. Of this latter church there are no rec- ords extant to show either its origin or progress. It is learned that the church editice was erected about 1857. The society has a membership of about one hundred, presided over by Rev. A. II. Maryott.
+ The census of 1870 gives a population of 257.
369
HEMLOCK LAKE.
previous to 1811, and also after a period of time another mill was built by him about 1811. These were the mills to which came the early settlers of the surrounding towns, and which possess some considerable historic interest.
At about the time of the erection of the second mill-about 1811-Levi Van Fossen died, and the property passed into the hands of his heirs-Isaac, John, William, Thomas and Sarah VanFossen, the only one of whom now living in this State is Thomas, a resident of Lima, N. Y.
The present postmaster of Hemlock Lake is Eli S. Norton, who, in 1869, succeeded Gilbert D. Morgan.
The merchants are :- Alanson H. Kinney, deal- er in dry goods, groceries, etc., who has been in business here since 1867.
Charles D. Morton, general merchandise, who began business in 1879, succeeding William M. McCrossen. Mr. Morton was born in this village in 1859.
Hoppough & Short, (Horace P. Hoppough, Peter A. Short,) general merchandise, in business as a firm nearly five years. Mr. Hoppough was born in Canadice, Ontario county, 1825, and has lived in this town since 1866. Mr. Short was born in Richmond, Ontario county, in 1845, and came to this place in 1876.
Fox Brothers, (Richard H., and James F. Fox,) general hardware, in business as a firm since Feb- ruary 10, 1881. The business for three years pre- vious to that date had been conducted by Rich- ard H. Fox.
Julien Tousat, harness-maker, and Chas. M. Swarthout, harness-maker, in business liere four years.
The physicians are :- Dr. Wm. W. Russell, who has been engaged in practice here since 1877. He graduated from Pulte Medical College, Ohio, in 1876; born in Chester county, Pa., in 1832.
Dr. Jay L. Greene, born in North Cohocton, Steuben county, N. Y., in 1838; graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1866, and in that year came to Hemlock Lake.
Among the professional men of the town, and now a resident of this place, is Samuel Northrop, Esq., a lawyer of forty-three years' practice and ex- perience. He was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, N. Y., November 21, 18:2, and came to this town in 1838, locating at Livonia Centre. In that year he was admitted to the bar. In 1842 he formed a co-partnership with Lewis E. Smith, who
had previously been his student, which relation was sustained until 1848, when, in the spring of that year, Mr. Northrop moved to Hemlock Lake, and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Northrop still resides at Hemlock Lake.
Baptist Church of Hemlock Lake .- In 1834 Elias Archer, originally from New Hampshire, came to Hemlock Lake, and soon began to hold prayer meetings in his kitchen, which were attended by people of the Baptist denomination. This place of meeting was in a short time changed to a school house near by, and Elder Briggs, from Richmond, an earnest Baptist minister, began to preach the gospel to the increasing congregation. In January of 1838, Abijah Archer, his wife Selina, and his brother, Benjamin Archer, and others of the Bap- tist church at South Livonia, requested letters of dismission, for the purpose of forming a church of like denomination at Hemlock Lake. At their request a council was called to take into consid- eration the propriety of such a step. The council met July 3, 1838.
Elias, Abijah, Benjamin, and Selina Archer, John Bedell, Thaddeus Hampton, Francis D. Owen, Lucinda Bedell, and Patty Owen, presented them- selves before the council. After due deliberation the council resolved to fellowship them as a church. Elder S. Wood preached the sermon.
Rev. T. B. Beebe, of South Livonia, volunteered to take the young church under his pastoral care, and finally united with it July 29, 1838.
The pastor of the church being unable to attend to his duties on account of sickness, Rev. Hull Taylor, united with the church and became their pastor November 30, 1839.
Elder Taylor continued with the church as pas- tor until March 14, 1840, when he resigned.
In April, 1840, the church extended to Rev. Ira Justin, of Lakeville and Richmond, a unanimous call to become their pastor, which he accepted and which relation he sustained for about twenty-three years.
Up to this time the society had no house of worship, and the members began to take steps for the erection of a church. For this purpose a site was purchased, April 15, 18.43, of Samuel Wright, for which they paid one hundred dollars. The trus- tees of the society contracted with Samuel Wright to erect a substantial building 32 by 42, at a cost of $1,500, which was furnished and dedicated August 26, 1844.
The first trustees were : (. Hanchett, B. Archer, and F. D. Owens.
370
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Elder Ira Justin, on account of ill health; resigned his position as pastor March 14, 1863.
His successor was Rev. I. S. Stowell, who remained with the church until October 20, 1866, when he resigned, and was immediately succeeded by Rev. James Mallory, November 17, 1866. El- der Mallory sustained the relation of pastor until November of 1868, when he tendered his resig- nation.
The church was then without a pastor until April, 1869, when Rev. A. VanPuttkamer was ex- tended an invitation to become their pastor which he accepted. At that date the membership num- bered seventy-four. Elder Van Puttkamer remained until 1870. He was succeeded by Rev. George M. Slaysman, the present incumbent, who came here in 1874, and under whose pastorate, in 1877, the church was thoroughly repaired.
The present membership is sixty-two.
LAKEVILLE.
Lakeville is situated in the northwestern part of Livonia, at the foot of Lake Conesus. It contains two churches, one hotel, one store, post-office, school-house, two blacksmith shops, (John Mooney, W. H. Bryant,) and a population of about two hundred. The village lies on a broad plain con- tiguous to the lake, and looks, though on a smaller scale, not unlike some old and battered sea board town.
Conesus lake, like Hemlock lake, is quite a summer resort for various pleasure parties. The lake is nine miles long, with an average width of about a mile, bordered by gently undulating farm lands dotted here and there with beautiful groves.
The time is not far distant when this picturesque lake, and the quaint little village nestling at its foot, will be a much frequented resort for those who would escape from the confusion and summer's heat of over-crowded cities.
The first house in this village was built by James Bosley. It stood near the present site of the Lake- ville House. Other early settlers here were Jacob Fullmer and Michael, his son, George Hanna, Robert Ames, William Bryant, who lived in a log- house west of the Conesus outlet, - DeLa Vergne, Jacob Hall, who lived where the Presbyterian church now stands, - Weldon, just east of the hotel, on what is now the Rowland Place, and Erastus West father to L. P. West, the merchant, who now lives here.
Erastus West was a man of considerable energy and prominence. He held for many years the
office of postmaster, and for a number of years was one of the magistrates of the town.
He was a wheel-wright by trade, and in the early days of his settlement here, did a considerable busi- ness in the manufacture of spinning wheels. He was born May 24, 1794, and came to this place from Susquehanna, (now Elkdale) county, Penn., in 1815, with his wife and three children.
His wife, Sophronia Bucklin, died a few years afterwards, and he then married Lucy M. Burns, of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, Oct. 29, 1820, by whom he had twelve children, five of whom are now living, L. P. West being one of this num- ber. Erastus West died in 1865. His wife now lives here.
Robert Ames, one of the pioneers, came at an early day, and settled about a mile north of Lake- ville. His descendants here are Mrs. Zebediah Rathbun, a daughter, aged 89, and a grandson, Giles R. Ames, who lives in the village.
In 1814 an attempt was made to form the vil- lage into some system of regularity. A plot was laid out in lots and streets, and a public square containing four acres, situated on the south side of the main street. At that time there was a log tavern kept by Mr. De La Vergne, a small store by Jeffrey Chipman, a grist mill in process of con- struction by Jacob Hall, and a few log dwellings.
Mr. Chipman and a Mr. Brifogle purchased the most of the village lots and mortgaged them to obtain a loan of money, thus preventing their ability to give a clear title to purchasers, and at the close of the war of 1812 the enterprise was abandoned. Again in 1822, just after the county of Livingston had been formed, another attempt was made to create a regular village, and efforts were put forth to make this place the county seat.
Hon. Frank Granger, Dr. Eli Hill, and other prominent men, exerted their influence to induce the Commissioners to decide on Lakeville as the place to locate the public buildings of the county, and another plan for a village was drawn up, with a public square of fourteen acres situated on Avon street, and again the inhabitants were disap- pointed.
Beyond a spasmodic effort to establish the Erie railroad though this vicinity in 1852," no other at- tempt to increase its importance was ever made, and the village sank into a dreamy slumber by the shore of the beautiful lake.
* This road was surveyed through here, and citizens contributed fiber- ally towards the enterprise, but for some financial consideration the route was changed to its present course through Hamilton Station and Livonia at an increased expense in cost and distance.
Erastus Mert
LUCY M. WEST.
Erastus West was born near Hartford, Coun., May 24, 1794. He was the son of Hezekiah and Experience West and was the third of nine children, seven sons and two daughters.
When Erastus was ten years of age his father was killed by the falling of a branch from a tree Four years later Erastus was bound out to a cousin in the northern part of Pennsylvania, who was engaged in the manufacture of spinning-wheels, spindles, etc, to learn the trade of a wheel-wright. His advantages for gaining an education were very lim- ited, but his desire for learning was so great that he secured at his own expense the privileges of an evening school. There he laid the founda- tion of that work which, owing to his remarkably retentive and correct memory, continued through life till he became highly respected in society as a well informed citizen.
Early in his term of apprenticeship he developed a genuine talent for ingenuity and inventive genius, and while his hand was employed in the manufacure of the spindle his mind sought to devise some means by which the labor attendant upon the hand manufacture of cloth from wool might be lessened, and in imagination he constructed a carding machine for preparing the wool for the spindle.
Soon after this, death deprived Erastus of his cousin and employer, and at the age of eighteen years he rented the shop and privileges of his late employer from his widow and continued the business, to which he added a carding machine of his own construction, which proved so successful that in a short time he added a second one.
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