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 87
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
He was an active member of the County War Committee during the late Rebellion-giving to it his full quota of energy and ripe judgment.
In his religions life Mr. Colt was no less active and conspicuous. For more than forty years he was identified actively with the Presbyterian church of Geneseo-during all that time being both trus- tee and elder.
He left behind him a name honored for integrity and business enterprise. Two children, a daughter and son survive him.
(HON. CHARLES COLT.)
CAPTAIN
HORATIO JONES.
Among the distin- guished patriots and adventurous pioneers who have left an im- press upon Western New York, none were more noble and con- spicuous than Horatio Jones. Born in Ches- ter county, Penn., on the 7th of February, 1763, at an early age he removed with his family to Bedford county in the same State, and being fond of field sports, became an adept in the use of the rifle before he was fourteen. At the age of sixteen he entered the military service of his country as a mem- ber of the "Bedford Rangers," a rifle company which embraced thirty-two young men, the flower and chivalry of Bedford county. This com- pany had gained great renown for their valuable services in repelling the incursions of the hostile Iroquois, who "hung like the scythe of death upon the frontier settlements, inscribing their deeds with the tomahawk and scalping knife in characters of blood." In the early spring of 1779 the command was most unfortunately drawn into an ambush by a large party of Seneca Indians- and fully a third of the Rangers were killed at the first fire-about a third escaped and the balance were made prisoners. Young Jones would have got away, as he was a very fleet runner, but one of the strings of his moccasins became loosened and wound around a staddle in the underbrush, which caused him to fall, and as his rifle had been discharged he had no means of defense, and with several of his comrades was taken and securely bound by the savages.
410
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
After scalping those who had been killed, the band and their captives were hurried away through the wilderness to the Indian country. They suf- fered great hardship in the march from fatigue and starvation, but finally reached the village at Nunda, in this county. From there they were taken to Caneadea, and forced to "run the gauntlet,"-a ceremony common to captives previous to their being slain or adopted into families, to supply the places of those who had died or been killed in battle. The prisoners were required to run forty or fifty rods from the starting place to the Council House. The old men, boys and squaws of the tribe being armed with tomahawks, knives, hatch- ets, clubs and sticks, were allowed to strike the captives before they reached the goal. This ordeal was for the amusement of the tribe. but the warriors seorned to engage in the pastime. Jones was the first to run and he safely dodged or jumped over those in his way and reached the goal without a scratch, his fearlessness and activity being equal to the occasion. His companions were less for- tunate, and one was killed outright, and according to the Indian usage his head was severed and placed upon the war-post. Subsequent to this, Jones was adopted into a family and given an Indian name. On two occasions he attempted to escape, but with nearly two hundred miles of a trackless wilderness in his front, without compass or trail, the effort proved impracticable. He finally accepted the situation-learned the Indian language-entered heartily into their sports, and soon became a great favorite, as he could out-run and out-jump their most athletic young men. During the continuance of the war he was of invaluable aid in saving the lives of other prisoners as was notable in the case of Major Moses Van Campen, who on one occasion had when a prisoner, killed several Indians who were guarding him and made good his escape. He was subsequently taken again and brought to the Indian country, but by the sagacity and address of Jones, was delivered to the British for exchange before the Indians learned who he was. In September, 1779, when Gen. Sullivan made his famous campaign against the Senecas to destroy their crops and burn their villages, Jones, with the whole tribe, except the warriors, was kept at a secure distance.
At the close of the war he was appointed by Gen. Washington, Agent and Interpreter for the Six Nations-an office he held through successive administrations for a period of over forty years. He rendered the language with singular accuracy. His style was terse and graphic, and his manner pleasing and impressive. It is said that the great orator, Red Jacket, would not allow any one but Jones to interpret his speeches. His services as interpreter at the celebrated treaty at Big Tree, (now Geneseo,) in 1797, were of the greatest pos- sible advantage to the Council.
As early as 1785 Capt. Jones married a lady of Schenectady, and established a trading post at Schauyes, (now Waterloo,) in the county of
Seneca, and the next year he was connected with John Jacob Astor, in the fur trade at Geneva. Here his eldest son was born-the first white child born west of Utica. This son, Col. Wm. W. Jones, died at his residence in the town of Leices- ter, in this county in 1870, at the advanced age of eighty-four.
In 1789 Capt. Jones returned to the Genesee Valley and settled on the border of the river in Geneseo, being the first white settler in the now county of Livingston. He was twice married, and some of his descendants, and others con- nected with his family, are still among the most prominent and honored residents of Western New York. As has been most justly said by Rev. Dr. Gridley, in his eloquent eulogy before the Seneca County Historical Society, from which valuable contribution to our early history we are indebted for many facts and dates : "Few men have passed a more charmed and eventful life than Capt. Horatio Jones-made a prisoner by a savage tribe of hostile Indians while in his country's ser- vice-exposed to the caprices of his captors-now dodging the uplifted war club, and the deadly aim of the ritle and tomahawk-now sick with pes- tilence-rising from the condition of the captive to that of a son by adoption into the family and a favorite of the tribe-honored by the authorities of his country-he passed the span of more than an ordinary life-time in benefitting a disappointed and waning race ; and by his enterprise, intelli- genee and public spirit, founding a social state of his own people, which in culture, tone, and lofti- ness of aim, has proved worthy of the physical beauty and wealth of the 'Garden of New York.'"
Capt. Jones died at his residence, known as Street Brier, on the banks of the Genesee river, in the town of Geneseo, in August, 1836, at the age of seventy-three years and six months, -" full of years and full of honors."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF YORK.
T
THE town of York lies on the northwestern
border of the county of Livingston. It has an area of 29,689 acres, and ranks among the largest towns in the county. It is bounded on the north by Caledonia and a portion of Pavillion, (Genesee county,) on the south by Leicester, on the east by Avon and Geneseo, and on the west by Pavillion and Covington, (Genesee and Wyoming counties. )
The Genesee river forms the boundary line between York and Geneseo and Avon.
The surface of the town is gently undulating, with a general inclination to the east. The soil in the southern and central portion of the town is of
YORK -EARLY SETTLERS.
a clay loam ; in the northern portion, a sandy and gravelly loam.
The only streams of any importance are Brown and Calder ereeks which flow eastward through the central and northern part and empty into the Gen- see river.
The town contains five villages, York Centre, Fowlerville, Piffard, and North and South Greigs- ville, the two former being the largest and most im- portant places.
York was formed from Caledonia and Leicester March 26, 1819. A part of Covington was an- nexed in 1823. The name of the town was derived from Hon. Joseph York, Member of Assembly from St. Lawrence county, who, as chairman of the committee, had favorably reported the bill for the formation of the town.
At the time of the first settlement here the ter- ritory now known as York was embraced in the town of Caledonia, and the settlers, chiefly from Scotland, located first at "Big Springs," now the village of Caledonia, in 1799 and 1800, and from thence branched out into the section of wilder- ness then called " South Woods," and now known as the town of York.
Among the hardy Scotch pioneers who thus came here about the year 1804, were John and Al- exander Fraser, John McCall, Archibald Gillis ; Donald McDonald, James Calder,* and William Mackenzie in 1806, Capt. Angus McBean, in the fall of 1804, Alexander Stewart about 1805, and William Dorris, in 1807, from Avon, where he had resided several years. He settled on land after- ward owned by Wells Fowler. These families were mostly from Inverness and Argyleshires, Scotland.
Among those who constituted the pioneers of this region was Donald D. Mckenzie who set- tled in York in 1804. Mr. Mckenzie was for over fifty years a prominent farmer of the town, and one who devoted much attention to the earliest history of this and the surrounding towns. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, January 8, 1792, and died in York, Jan. 6, 1854, aged 63. His descendants in York are two sons and two daughters-Donald, William, and Margaret Mckenzie, and Mrs. Mary F. Clunas.
From his graphic and interesting writings con- cerning the early settlement of the Genesee coun- try, it is learned that there started for America from Inverness, about the middle of July 1803, the following named people :-
* Died in 1816.
Donald McKenzie and family of five children, three sons and two daughters, William, Donald, John, Margaret and Helen; Simon Fraser and his son Donald and daughter Mary; John Clunas and his young wife, Flora, also daughter to Simon Fraser ; John McKenzie* and his two sons, Don- ald and Alexander, John Fraser and three sons, Donald and John and (Capt.) Simon Fraser ; John McDonald and William Fraser.
"We were," says Mr. Mckenzie's narrative, "one week on the road between the cities of In- verness and Glasgow, where we stayed one week, and five weeks in Greenock, waiting for an Ameri- can ship, then in port, to get ready. There were but few vessels then trading between that country and this. The British government was claiming and exercising the right to search all vessels, which was indignantly remonstrated against by the Ameri- ean government, and which ended in the war of 1812. The ship in which we sailed was the Trap- per, of New York, William Taylor, captain. On the morning of September 8th, 1803, she spread forth her wings to the breezes that wafted us on our journey to our destined home. The passage rates were very dear, ten guineas each, even for a child not more than four months old. Donald MeKenzie paid about $400 for himself and family.
"The sickness of my mother during most of the voyage made our condition more uncomfortable than it otherwise would have been, but whatever were the feelings of others for my own part I felt buoyant and cheerful.
" After a voyage of about six weeks we landed in New York, and we felt how unlike the great cities we had left behind us! The golden dreams of some began to vanish when they saw the dilapi- dated condition of many of the buildings near the' wharves, and the number of deserted houses and desolated streets caused by the ravages of the yellow fever, which that season had carried off great numbers of the inhabitants, and causing all who could to flee from the plague.
"Our sojourn in New York was brief, only two days. The party agreed with the owner of a sloop to carry ns to Albany, for one dollar each, big and little, without any provisions or accom- modations of any kind. We were over a week on the journey, and I suffered more from hunger on that inland voyage than at any other time before or since. After much exposure and fatigue we ar- rived in Albany, where, for the first time, the different families separated. The next place of
* Died June 15, 1840, aged 73 years.
412
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
rendezvous was to be in Johnstown, Montgomery county, where all arrived safe in a few days. We now began to breathe the free air of a free coun- try, the smell of which was like the perfume of a field which the Lord had blessed. Although we were far from being in comfortable circumstances, there was no murmuring. The winter was very severe, different from any we had ever seen before, and we were thankful for being in a safe haven. The men were learning to chop, some threshed, and at times all explored tracts of land which were offered for sale in that section, but which did not suit the new comers. The Genesee country was talked of, but there was no one who could give us correct information concerning it. There was a current report among the people there that the Genesee country was very sickly, which was partly true.
"They also gave an alarming account of the con- duct of the Indians, in whose neighborhood we should have to settle, and by whom all Western New York was thickly inhabited. The picture looked anything but encouraging. They called it the ' far west,' and so it was then, even on the confines of civilization."
Notwithstanding these discouraging reports a number of the Scotch emigrants began to make preparation for moving to the Genesee country. Mr. Mckenzie, the elder, bought a yoke of oxen and a sled on which his family and goods were conveyed to the place where they have ever since resided, the journey occupying two weeks.
"When we arrived here there were perhaps a dozen families in Hartford, now Avon, as many in Caledonia, and about equal numbers in each Batavia and Buffalo. All the rest of this large territory did not contain many inhabitants, except the Indians. There were several families in Gan- son Settlement, and also a few in Leicester; all the rest west of the Genesee river was an unbroken wilderness.
"When the snow had inelted in the spring, ex- plorations were begun. There was a large tract of land lying west of a parallel line between Le Roy and Brockport, then newly offered for sale, called the 'Triangle Tract.' Richard Stoddard, its agent, was anxious to get a part of it settled by Scotchmen. The party spent some time in ex- ploring it, but although the agent made them liberal offers, on their return they brought rather an unfavorable report, and the idea of settlement in that locality was abandoned.
"There was then on every side of them any
quantity of unoccupied land, which has since proved to be exceedingly fertile, but which had then a very sterile appearance owing to its having been burned over by fire so often.
" They would not take them as a gift, and be obliged to till them, some of the now best farms in this section. When the ground dried, which it did early in April of that spring, the emigrants con- cluded to make a part of the 'Forty Thousand Acre Tract' their future home, although at that time it had not been surveyed.
"In company with Donald Mckenzie and Wm. Fraser, I came that spring to what was to be my future home.
" We stayed two days and one night clearing away the underbrush and felling some large trees. When night came we kindled a large fire to keep us warm, and to frighten away any wild beasts that might be prowling in the wilderness, and after refreshing ourselves with food we sang for a long time a number of the old psalm tunes which we were wont to sing of yore on the hill-sides of Scotland."
The writer of the above, for the greater part of the time until his death, slept within six rods of that, to him, sacred spot, which he had enclosed in his garden.
All of the party left Johnstown at about the same time, but the others having hired horse teams arrived at the "Big Springs," (Caledonia, ) a few days before Mr. Mckenzie and his family, and found good quarters in the house of a kind man named John MeVean, who owned then the farm afterwards for a long time owned by Col. Robert Mckay and sons, some two miles west from Caledonia village.
They arrived there in the latter part of Febru- ary, 1804, where some of them became residents, and others, as previously stated, branched out to settle the now town of York. In April, 1804, the families of Donald Mckenzie, Elder John Mc- Kenzie, his brother John Clunas, Simon Fraser and Donald, his son, took up their residence in the north-east part of the town of York, where most of them made it their home until they died.
This portion of the town was originally known as Inverness, so called in memory of their native city, and embraced all the territory north of Fow- lerville creek, as far west as Deacon Gillis' east line, and north to the north line of the first section of land in Caledonia.
Among other after settlers were Archibald Ken- nedy and family, from Scotland, in the spring of
413
YORK-TOWN OFFICERS.
1811 ; Duncan Grant, from Inverness, Scotland, in 1808; William Fraser, 1810 ; and Dudley New- ton, in 1817.
Capt. Aaron Russ settled near Fowlerville in 1810. He was a man of considerable note in the town. For nearly twenty years he was Overseer of the Poor, and was Supervisor from 1850 to 1853.
Col. Holloway Long came in 1816. He was a man prominent in military matters and politics. His title was derived from his commandment of an artillery company celebrated in early days as the " York Artillery." During his lifetime Mr. Long filled acceptably most of the offices within the gift of the town. A son, Moses Long, for some years conducted the stove and plow making business at York Centre.
Among the descendants of those early settlers are Francis McBean, son to Angus McBean, who now lives on the old homestead.
Donald McDonald,* Isabel McBean, and Mar- garet McDonald, now living near Fowlerville, are children of Donald McDonald, who settled here in 1806. Moses N. Ferrin, now living in Fowler- ville, is a son to William Ferrin, who came here in 1811. A daughter, Mrs. Louisa B. Whitcomb, also lives near the same place. Archibald Ken- nedy, a descendant of Archibald Kennedy who came here in 1811, is a prominent citizen of the town. He held the office of Supervisor from 1869 to 1872, and again from 1874 to 1881.
Among the early physicians of the town were Dr. Durelle, Dr. Long, brother to Col. Holloway Long, and Dr. Frederick R. Stickney who, in 1841, was a successful practitioner here.
Elder Josiah Goddard was an early minister here of the Baptist denomination. He was born May 11, 1768, in Petersham, Mass., and came to this town as early as 1812 or 1813. He preached at what is now Fowlerville, and in other places. He died in York, February 19, 1836.
The first child born in the town was a son to Donald Clunas. The second child born here was Angus McKenzie, son to Donald Mckenzie, born March 26, 1805.
The first saw-mill, known as the Morely Mill, was built in 1807 by Ezekiel Morely and Joseph, his son. The first grist-mill was built by Wells Fow- ler and William Taylor, between 1815 and 1820.
TOWN OFFICERS. - The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1819, at the inn of Nathan Russ. This place of meeting was designated by the Special Act of Legislature for the formation of the town.
The officers chosen by the people at that meet- ing were :-
William Janes, Supervisor ; Peres P. Peck, Town Clerk ; John Darling, John Dodge, Henry Janes, Assessors ; Joseph R. Ramsdell, Collector ; Moses Allen, Thomas Blake, Overseers of the Poor ; John Russ, William Taylor, Newcomb Mead, Commis- sioners of Highways ; Jonathan Tainter, Joseph R. Ramsdell, Constables; Wells Fowler, Philander Sexton, N. Sacket, Commissioners of Schools.
From the succeeding year-1820-to 1881, the succession of Supervisors and Town Clerks has been as follows :-
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
1820. William Janes.
P. P. Peck.
1821-22. Titus Goodman, Jr. Rufus Cook.
1823. do do
do
1824-25. Holloway Long.
do
1826. Titus Goodman, Jr. do
1827. do do P. P. Peck.
1828. Holloway Long. Rufus Cook.
1829. John Holloway.
Joseph Tozier. *
1830.
Asa Arnold.
Rufus Cook.
1831.
do do
Israel D. Root.
1832.
1833-36. Donald Fraser.
do do
1837-38. Holloway Long,
do do
1841-43. Wm. H. Spencer.
do do
1844.
William Stewart.
do do
1845.
Edward R. Dean.
do
do
1846. do do
David McDonald.
do
do
1848.
Israel D. Root.
Charles Stewart.t
1849. do doğ
William A. Collins.
1850-52. Aaron Russ.
Moses Long.
1853. Daniel McPherson. Charles Stewart.
1854-
David H. Abell. do do
1855.
Hamilton E. Smith. do do
1856-58. Niel Stewart.
Alexander Ried. do do
1859-60. Allen W. Smith.
1861-62. George W. Root.
John S. McKercher.
1863. do clo James McIntyre.
1864-65. do
do
J. W. McArthur.
1866.
do
do James McIntyre.
1867-68. do do Theodore F. Baldwin.
1869-70. Archibald Kennedy. James A. Forrest.
1871. do do Jas. W. McArthur.
1872-73. Benjamin F. Dow. Jas. W. McArthur.
1874-80. Archibald Kennedy. do do
* Born in 1813.
t French says the first child born here was Angus Mckenzie. A con- sideralle portion of this history of York is derived from the writings of Donald D. Mckenzie, one of the pioneer settlers, who gave much at- tention to the early history of this region, and whose statements the his- torian has been inclined to accept in nearly all cases of disputation.
* Or Tosier.
t Appointed-
# Aaron Russ was chosen to fill vacancy for balance of that term.
Niel Stewart.
1847.
Holloway Long.
Cyrus Hawley.
Israel D. Root.
1839-40. John Holloway
414
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The following officers were elected April 5, 1881 : Supervisor, Aurora D. Newton ; Town Clerk, James W. Mc.Arthur ; Justices of the Peace, James Spittal, (long term) John Torry, (vacancy ;) As- sessor, Duncan Mckenzie ; Overseers of the Poor, Robert Wallace, George Slack ; Collector, Thos. F. Kennedy ; Constables, William Mann, Jr., Wil- son J. Rogers, Charles H. Whitney, Hugh Spittal, Thomas F. Kennedy; Game Constable, John S. Gibson ; Excise Commissioner, Gerret S. Casey.
POPULATION .- In 1870 York had a population of 2,564. Of this number 1,986 were native, 578 foreign ; 2,546 white, and 18 colored. In 1875 the total population was 2,475, a decrease of 89; the native population was 1,886 a decrease of 100, while the foreign population was 589, an increase of 11. The colored inhabitants in those five years had increased from 18 to 49, a gain of 31. In that year the town contained 303 aliens, a greater num- ber by 131 than in any other town in the county. At the last census of 1880 the total population was 2,479.
SCHOOL STATISTICS .- The town contains four- teen school districts, employing during the past year (1880) 15 teachers, at a total amount in wages of $3,431.07. The number of children in these districts over five and under twenty-one years of age was 791. During the year, school was taught 409 2-5 weeks, with an average attendance of 358.
The number of children of school age attending school some portion of the year was 633. The district libraries are valued at $140. The total amount paid for school apparatus during the year was $684; for school-houses, sites, fences, furniture and repairs, $25, 103 ; total incidental expenses for the year, $332.72; total valuation of school. property, $16,626.01.
YORK CENTRE.
The village of York Centre is situated at nearly the geographical center of the town. It contains three churches, five stores, one hotel, post-office, cooper shop (Ephraim Dinsmore,) wagon shop, (Peter Anderson,) three blacksmith shops, (Wil- liam FitzSimmons, Joseph Trimbel, John MeDou- gall,) a furnace, and a population of some three hundred.
Early settlers here were Nathan Russ, Timothy Rice, 1811 ; Ralph Brown, who owned the land on which the village stands, 1808 ; Captain John Russ, 1808 ; John Darling, in the fall of 1809. Nathan Russ, brother to Capt. John Russ, built the first
frame house in York Centre, in which for a num- ber of years he kept tavern.
Timothy Rice, soon after his arrival in 1811, built a frame house and also kept it as an inn. The first merchant in the town was Peres l'. Peck, who traded for a time on a small scale on land owned by Alanson Gilmore, and afterwards in York Cen- tre.
David MeDonald was a merchant here in 1823, beginning business at that time, and continuing a number of years. He was born in Sutherland- shire, Scotland, about 1790, and came to America in 1819.
The present post-master here is Chester Sey- mour, who has held that position some twelve years.
The hotel is kept by the widow of Ray Hitt, who had been its proprietor for some thirty-five years, and who died January 26, 1881.
The present merchants are :-
Mckean and Forrest, (Alexander F. Mckean, James A. Forrest,) general merchants. In business as a firm some fourteen years, beginning in 1866. Mr. MeKean was born in 1833, in county Armagh, Ireland, and came to America in 1851, and directly to York in that year. Mr. Forrest was born in Scotland, May 16, 1837. Came to America in 1841, and to York in 1847.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.