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 94
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
Charles B. Dusinberre is the proprietor of the steam saw and cider mills located about one and one-half miles east of East Avon. Mr. Dusinberre was born in Ulster county in 1828.
The most prominent industry of East Avon in times past was the Wiard Plow Works, which were established by Thomas Wiard, Sr., about 1830, for the manufacture of cast iron plows from patterns made and invented by Thomas Wiard, Jr. These works were in operation here until 1877 under dif- ferent proprietors, when the business was removed to Batavia. At the time of removal there were about twenty-five men employed.
444
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY,
A. A. Bennett was a prominent lawyer here in 1823. John Young, who held the position of Governor of this State in 1846, first commenced the study of law with him.
CHURCHES .- The First Baptist Church of Avon is located at East Avon. In the latter part of 1806, a few of the inhabitants of the then town of Hartford, united themselves in " covenant," forming the Second Baptist Church of Hartford, and called Elder William Firman to be their pastor. In the fall of 1807 they were admitted to the Ontario Association, hav- ing a membership of twenty-three. In 1808 the name of the church was changed to the Baptist Church of Avon, on account of the change in the name of the town, and their place of meet- ing from this time to 1830, was about one mile east of East Avon.
Just when Elder Firman ceased his labors, can- not be ascertained but he was followed by John R. Seaver as early as 1816. He was succeeded by Reuben Winchell in 1823 ; Rev. David Tenant in 1825; Philander Kelsey in 1827; S. Goodall in 1832 ; Elder J. G. Stearns, in 1834; Elder E. Stone, in 1838, who remained, however, only six months ; Rev. J. W. McDonald, in 1838; Elder A. H. Stowell, in 181; EIder E. Stone, in 18.43 ; Elder S. M. Bainbridge, March 1, 1844; Elder Wm. Curtis, in 1848; S. F. Campbell, Nov. 9, 1852. From 1852 till May 1856, the church was supplied by students from the Rochester Theologi- cal Seminary.
May 31, 1855, E. Nisbet commenced a pastor- ate that lasted three years. During 1859, Thomas Rodgers supplied the pulpit and was followed in 1860 by H. G. Nott, who left in August, 1864.
Oct. 9, 1864, S. J. Lusk, accepted a call and was ordained in March, 1865, but remained only one year. Rev. B. F. Mace began Feb. 4, 1866, but remained only eight months. The pulpit since then has been supplied with students from the Rochester Theo- logical Seminary. One hundred and seventeen persons have been baptized within the last thirty years.
July 18, 1827, the name was again changed to the First Baptist Church of Avon. In 1828 ar- rangements were made to build a new church at East Avon. The church was not dedicated till 1830. In 1832 the Livingston County Baptist .Is- sociation was formed and held their first meetings in this church .*
* The above is compiled from the Livingston County Herald of Oct. 7, 1880.
East Avon Presbyterian Church .- The follow- ing is an extract from the discourse delivered by Rev. F. DeW. Ward, D. D., of Geneseo, in the. East Avon Presbyterian church, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1880, upon the occasion of the dedication of a new chapel connected with the church. It will be found interesting as giving the history of one of the oldest churches in Avon. We are able to give it by courtesy of the Livingston Republican.
From 1790 to 1810 (a period of 20 years) no worship under a congregational minister of the Gospel, was held in the town of Avon. On the 9th of Nov., 1810, there was a gathering at the brick school-house in South Avon, of a few religious people, having for its object the organization of a Christian church. There were present Rev. Mr. Parmelee, of Bloomfield, Rev. E. J. Chapman, of Lima, Rev. A. Hollister, of Riga, and J. F. Bliss. A series of Articles of Faith were drawn up, which, with an appended Covenant, were signed by the following twenty persons :- Samuel Federal, Phebe Blakeslee, Asa and Jemima Clark, Herman and Mary Ladd, George Crouse, Martha and Lucy C. Tilden, Elizabeth Strunck, Maria and Catherine Berry, Thankful Bancroft, Lucinda Burfee, Chris- tiana Bishop, Rebecca Scott, Mary Brown and Catherine Miller. Thus was constituted the first congregational organization in the town of Avon. The first deacons were Samuel Blakeslee and Asa C. Clark.
John F. Bliss, a Licentiate, was after ordination installed as the first pastor. After a faithful and fruitful ministry of seven years and a half (1812 to 1819) he resigned. Then followed, as stated sup- plies, Rev. Chauncey Cook, Rev. Mr. Hyde, Rev. Mr. Knapan, Rev. Mr. Robins and Rev. Mr. Bird. On the 15th of January, 1822, the Avon church, thus far Congregational, by their own request, be- came a constituent part of the Presbytery of On- tario. Rev. John Whittlesey was installed as pas- tor, June 16, 1822. Rev. Jacob Hart was stated supply from May 1, 1831, to May 1, 1834. Rev. William C. Wisner, D. D., of the Third Presby- terian church in Rochester, was next in charge for the period of 18 months. Rev. Alfred White took charge of the parish on or about October 27, 1838, and remained one year. Rev. Edward Marsh between March, 1839, and July, 1840 .- Rev. J. Hubbard during one year. Rev. P. C. Hastings about as long. Rev. E. W. Kellogg the same. Rev. Samuel Miles Hopkins, D. D., came in September, 1844, and left in the spring of 1846. Rev. Edward B. Wadsworth, D. D., was pastor
جـ
FREDERICK B. PIERSON.
445
LITTLEVILLE-SOUTH AVON-FREDERICK B. PIERSON.
from 1846 to 1852. Rev. Charles W. Higgins succeeded Dr. Wadsworth in the spring of 1853 and left in 1855. Rev. J. W. Ray began his min- istry in August, 1855, and closed March 1, 1857. Rev. Nathaniel Elmer, now at Middletown, Conn., was in charge from the spring of 1858 to the spring of 1862. Rev. Archibald M. Shaw, now at Clifton, N. Y., was in charge for one year from January, 1864. Rev. Edwin R. Davis, now at Chicago, Ill., came and remained until the end of 1865.
Rev. Joseph R. Page, D. D., for many years pastor of the Presbyterian church of Perry, N. Y., commenced his ministry at the East Avon church May 1, 1868, and removed to Rochester in Novem- ber, 1872. Dr. Page was stated supply for four months in 1873 and four months in 1874. Rev. H. P. V. Bogue took charge of the parish August 16, 1874, holding the same till the first Sabbath in June, 1876, when he re- signed. Rev. W. L. Parsons, D. D., since de- ceased, member of the Ingham Institute, LeRoy, supplied the pulpit during a summer. Rev. F. DeW. Ward, D. D., an ex-foreign missionary, and for many years pastor at Geneseo, took charge as stated supply October, 1876, and continued till February 8, 1880. Following Dr. Ward was Rev. James F. Calkins.
We find that between 1812 and 18So the East Avon church has been in charge of 21 ministers, with interims of assistance rendered by at least ten neighboring pastors.
With a church edifice central to the parish, ample in size and commodious in all its arrange- ments ; with a chapel just completed, and all that is required in such a room ; with a Sabbath school containing youth from all the families in the con- gregation, and teachers from among the best qualified for this post in the parish, and an ever renewed library of instructing and interesting books ; with an eldership of hearty devotion to the cause of Christ and souls, there is no reason why this church should not take its place in the fore- most ranks of religion.
LITTLEVILLE.
Littleville is a small hamlet situated upon the Conesus outlet a short distance south of Avon. At an early day it was quite prominent, its business interests rivaling those of Avon. It derives its name from Norman Little, a son of Dr. Little of East Avon, who settled here as early as 1830. The place contains a flouring-mill, a blacksmith
shop. a saw mill and a population of about two hundred.
The present flouring mill (custom,) was built in the fall of 1879 upon the site of one burned in 1878. E. Light is the proprietor. It contains two runs of stones. A former mill on this site was erected about 1810. The saw mill is owned by W. P. Haskins. The stone bridge across the outlet was built in 1850.
Paul Knowles, a clothier by trade, came from Berkshire county, Mass., and settled in Lima in 1808, and in 1810 removed to Littleville, where he erected a carding and fulling mill on Conesus out- let between the flouring mill and the bridge. He continued to operate this mill till 1834. He died in 1845. He had a family of eight children viz :- William, Ann Eliza, Caroline, Betsey, Paul, Calvin, George and James, all of whom are living except Paul and Betsey.
At this point on the Conesus, there was erected by Jeremiah Riggs previous to 1810, a distillery which was in operation for several years. The last proprietor was Norman Little.
SOUTH AVON.
South Avon is a postoffice situated three miles south of Avon. H. W. Chadwick is the post- master, which position he has held for six years. Josiah Chadwick was postmaster previous to him, and held the office a great many years. He also kept the hotel here as early as 1830. There used to be a store at this place, but both store and ho- tel are closed. A blacksmith shop is located here.
Near South Avon, on the Conesus, is located a strawboard mill, owned by Josiah Curtis of Gen- eseo, and leased by S. L. Harned, who has opera- ted it since May, 1879. The capacity of the mill is four hundred tons per annum. It gives employ- ment to eight men. The building was built about fifteen years ago by Josiah Curtis, on the site of the Wadsworth flouring mills, which were totally destroyed by fire, Saturday night, Oct. 1, 1864.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
FREDERICK BUSHNELL PIERSON.
F. B. Pierson is the second son of Joseph Pier- son, who was born in Ellington, Conn., April 15, 1767, and who, when about twenty-one years of age emigrated to Schenectady county, where he
446
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
married Sarah Watrous. July, 1797, he removed with his family to Avon (then Hartford.) They had nine children, only four of whom are now living, as follows :- Catherine, Wealthy, Frederick B., and Bradley M. The names of those who died were Clarenda, Mary, Nancy, Maria, and George. On settling in Avon, Mr. Pierson purchased lands and became extensively engaged in agriculture, and also kept a hotel at East Avon for ten or twelve years. He died December 10, 1843, and his wife September 17, 1810.
Frederick Bushnell Pierson was born on the old homestead in Avon, November 22, 1806, and was brought up on the farm, receiving his education at the district school and at the academy at East Henrietta. He has continued to follow the avoca- tion of farming, and his farm is considered one of the model farms of Livingston county. On May 8, 1828, he was married to Frances Janette, the daughter of Kasson and Sabrina (Redington) Gib- son, of East Avon, who was born on the 9th of July, 1810, in Cobleskill. They have had four children, viz :- Sarah A., married to Rev. Dr. E. B. Walsworth, and residing at Albion, Orleans county, Joseph Kasson (deceased), Frances Janette, married to Jacob H. Brumagim, and residing on Staten Island, and Sabrina Eliza (deceased). Mr. Pierson has formerly taken a great interest in mili- tary affairs, and was Captain of the Independent Rifle Company of Avon. He is a strong Demo- crat, and has been several times elected Assessor of his town. In religious sentiment he is a Pres- byterian, and is a plain, unassuming man of ster- ling integrity. He justly deserves the esteem and respect in which he is held by all who know him. To him largely the county is indebted for the in- troduction of the best blooded stock of various kinds into the Livingston County Agricultural So- ciety's Fairs. He was one of the first to introduce the Spanish Merino sheep into Western New York, about the year 1835, and sheep from his flocks have been sought for and are found in many parts of the Union. Horses reared upon his farm have not been regarded unfit gifts for two Presidents of the United States. He has taken premiums on his farm, cattle, horses and sheep several times.
It seems not too much to say that as a farmer he is justly entitled to eredit for having done his share in elevating the standard of agriculture in Livings- ton county. He has been a man of deeds, not words, and has been, like the man of whom one of the world's greatest living historians speaks, -" 'Too busy to write history, but himself busicd in mak- ing it."
DONALD McPHERSON.
The subject of this sketch is the son of James and Margaret (Kennedy) MePherson, who came from Culloden, Scotland, in 1801, and first settled near Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., where in 1803, Donald was born. In July, 1816, the family, com- prising his father and mother, brother James, now at
Lyons, Iowa, and Henrietta, who afterwards was married to Duncan Stuart, of York, moved up to the Genesee Valley. This was on the 3d of July, 1816, and they encountered a furious snow storm while crossing the Chenango river. The family settled upon the homestead about three miles southwest of Canawaugus, and the Indians living at that place were constant visitors at the house, and Donald spent many days in their company hunting, and often remaining nights with them at their village of Canawaugus. His educational advantages were only those of the common district schools. In 1828 he was married to Jean Calder, by whom he has had five children, as follows :-- James, John, Daniel, Joseph and Jennie. Mr MePherson has always followed the occupation of farming, has served his town acceptably many terms as Supervisor, and eight years as a com- missioned officer in the State Militia. He was formerly a Whig, but of late years has affiliated with the Democratic party. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian.
Nearly five years ago he moved to Avon Springs, where with his wife and son, Col. James A. McPherson, he now resides. His father and mother died in 1828, the former aged 62 years and the latter 60 years.
Mrs. Jean (Calder) McPherson is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Calder, of Sterlingshire, Scotland, and was born at Greenfield, Conn., in 1806. Her parents came from Scotland about the year 1800, and after a residence of a few years in Massachusetts and Connecticut moved to the "Genesee country," where, in 1808 they settled on what is known as the Casey farm, near Fowlerville. The creek passing through the place is known as "Calder Creek," from the family name. All this part of the town was then Cale- donia, and when the Calder's moved here there was only one white settler-Ralph Brown-between their home and the Indian settlement at " Genesee Castle " or "Big Tree." Mrs. McPherson is, we think, the oldest living pioneer of this section, and she remembers well when the first tree was cut and the first house erected in the place now known as Fowlerville.
The Indians were not at all backward in making known their wants. One time scveral squaws came to the house and demanded "quisquis " (pork). On being told there was "none to sparc," one of them went to the pork barrel and taking out a piece held it up exclaiming "Bad Yankee!"
Mrs. McPherson is the only survivor of a large family. Her father died in 1817, aged 55 years, and her mother in 1821, aged 56 years.
Col. James A. McPherson, the eldest son of Donald, was born in 1830, and spent much of his early life in manufacturing interests in the South, until the breaking out of the Civil war in which he early enlisted. He was Second and First Lieutenant in the 26th New York Independent Battery, and accompanied it to New Orleans, taking part in the occupation of the city, acting as Assistant Quartermaster in the "Department of the
.
Photo. by Merrill, Geneseo.
EICESTER JOHNSON.
Photo, by Merrell, Geneseo.
JULIA A. M. JOHNSON,
Photo, by Merrell, Geneseo.
SEYMOUR JOHNSON.
447
DONALD McPHERSON-LEICESTER JOHNSON-CALEDONIA.
Gulf" until after the occupation of Port Hudson by the United States forces. Desiring a more active service he left New Orleans, and entering the 16th New York Cavalry, shared in the brilliant achievement of that arm of the service in the valley of Virginia, during the closing scenes of the war. He now resides at Avon Springs with his aged parents. He is by profession a mechanical engineer, and in politics is a Democrat.
Hon. John R. McPherson the second son of Donald was born on the old homestead in the town of York, in May, 1832. He was graduated at Temple Hill academy in Geneseo, and on leaving school gave his attention to farming and stock raising until 1859; when he moved to Hudson city, N. J., where he engaged in dealing in live stock. He was the projector, architect, and superinten- dent of the construction of the stock-yard and abattoir in Jersey city, and is now president of the Central Stock-yard and Transit Co., and lessee of the National stock-yards on the Erie R. R. at Buf- falo, Deposit, Oak Cliff and New York. He is also one of the principal proprietors at West Phila- delphia, of the abattoir and stock yard. He was one of the originators, and the first president of the People's Gas-light company of Hudson city, and for six consecutive years was a member of the Board of Aldermen, three years acting as president of that body. In 1871 he was elected State Sena- tor and served one term. He took a decided stand against the Camden and Amboy R. R. monopolies and it was mainly owing to his efforts that the present liberal railway law was passed and placed among the statutes of N. J. On the 24th of January, 1877, he was elected United States Senator for the long term to succeed Mr. Freling- huysen. He is a model business man, prompt, energetic and trustworthy. In 1868 he was mar- ried to Edla J. Gregory of Buffalo, by whom he has two children, Gregory and Edla.
Daniel McPherson, the third son of Donald, was born in 1834, and until after the close of the late war had never left home, except when attend- ing school. He was graduated at Fairfield acade- my, Herkimer county, and in 1865 took up his resi- dence in the State of New Jersey, where in 1870, he married Miss Wood, of Woodville. They have one child-Anna Wood, and their present residence is in New York city. In politics Mr. McPherson is a Republican, and though a fine business man, he prefers to be known simply, as a plain unassuming farmer.
Joseph H. McPherson, was born on the home- stead in 1839. Early in the civil war he joined the 8th N. Y. Cavalry, Company H, shared in all its hard fought battles, and was in sixteen engage- ments. On the 12th of October, while his regi- ment was engaged with the enemy at Stevensburgh, Va., he was severely wounded, and was removed to the hospital in Washington, where he survived but a few hours. A fine monument marks his grave in the cemetery at Avon, and that of his twin sister Jennie beside him, who died in Avon, October 3, 1877.
LEICESTER JOHNSON.
Leicester Johnson was the second son of David Johnson, who came from Hartford, Conn., some- where about the year 1808, and purchased a small tract of land in the town of Avon, then Hartford, where he followed the occupation of farming, which was attended with more or less trials and hardships incident to pioneer life in the Genesee Valley. During the year known as the "cold season" he would walk seven miles and put in a full day's work for a peck of corn, which he would carry home up- on his back at night for the use of his family. He was the youngest of seven sons. The other six all served their country in the Revolutionary war. One of the brothers, Ebenezer, was about the first Mayor of the city of Buffalo.
David Johnson married Rachel Chappel, of Con- necticut, by whom he had nine children, four sons and five daughters. By his honesty and persever- ing industry and economy he acquired a competen- cy. He died in 1814.
Leicester Johnson, whose name heads this brief memoir, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1805, and came with his father to Livingston county, then Ontario. He was brought up on his father's farm, receiving such an education as could be acquired at the common district schools. After attaining to the age of 18 years, he taught school winters and worked upon the farm during the summer. In 1831 he married Julia A. M., daughter of Calvin Bicknell, Esq., of Geneseo, who bore him six chil- dren, four of whom are now living, namely: Sey- mour, Leicester, Julia A. M., and Julius. The latter is living in Geneseo. The others died in in- fancy. Mr. Johnson was an "old-line Whig," but became identified with the Republican party. In his younger days he took an active interest in the political affairs of the country, though never seek- ing office. He was for many years Town Superin- tendent of Schools, and filled many other local of- fices at different times. Upon his beautiful farm, where at an earlier period he had seen the wild deer and the bear roam in apparent security, he has for years heard the shrill whistle of the locomotive and seen the trains of heavily freighted cars passing and re-passing at almost all hours. He died in 1875, honored and lamented by all who knew him.
Seymour is the eldest of the family, and is living upon the old homestead of his father, now con- sisting of 350 acres of as good land as there is in the Genesee Valley, a finely improved farm 33 . miles south of the village of Avon.
CHAPTER XXX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CALEDONIA.
"HE town of Caledonia lies on the extreme T north-western border of the county. It con- tains an area of 26,199 acres, and is bounded on the north by Wheatland, (Monroe county) ; on
.
448
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
the south by York and Avon; on the east by Rush (Monroe county,) and Avon; and on the west by LeRoy and Pavillion, (Genesee county). The Genesee river forms the eastern boundary between Rush and Avon.
The Erie railroad passes through the town from north-west to south-east, and the Canan- daigua and Niagara railroad crosses from east to west through the northern part. The only im- portant streamns are White creek, which rises in the northern part and flows south-easterly into the Genesee river, and the Caledonia Springs, in the northern part, which cover an area of some six acres, the outlet of which forms an excellent water power for milling and manufacturing purposes. The soil is a clay loam with a sub-stratum of lime- stone.
The town has been, and is now to some extent, noted for its extensive and valuable quarries of building stone and gypsum. Great quantities of Jime were manufactured in the western part of the town, and " Caledonia plaster" for years bore an excellent reputation.
Caledonia and Canawaugus are the only settle- ments in the town. The former, a quite populous and enterprising village, lies in the northwestern part. Canawaugus, a small hamlet, lies in the south-eastern part of the town, on the line of the Erie railroad. This, at an early day, was an In- dian village of some prominence, and is supposed to have been the birthplace of the famous chief, Red Jacket. It was here that he and such other chieftains as Capt. Hot Bread, Capt. Jack, Henry O'Beal and Blue Sky, ruled supreme. When the persons who were the original owners of Avon came to settle and to make improvements, among the preliminary steps taken for the purpose of getting the good will of the Indians they made a feast and invited the Indians to partake. This feast was held at Canawaugus.
In the days of the Genesee Valley Canal a con- siderable shipping business was done here, and large lumber yards were owned by Mr. Hamilton and others. A grocery store was kept here by a Mr. Penigree for the custom afforded by the canal.
The place contains now but a few scattering houses, and one store kept by John Hollenbeck, who has also been postmaster there about seven years.
In 1797 all the territory west of the Genesee river, included in the State of New York, was con- stituted a town of Ontario county and named Northampton. By the pioneers it was familiarly
called " The Town of Two Rivers," from the fact of its being bounded on the east by the Genesee, and on the west by Niagara river. Its northern boundary was Lake Ontario, and its southern, the Pennsylvania line. The first town meeting of this extensive territory was held at the "Big Springs," now Caledonia, and was presided over by Gad Wadsworth, Esq., of Avon.
In 1802 the county of Genesee was set off from Ontario county, and comprised within its limits all of the Sate of New York west of Genesee river.
On the 30th of March of that year the towns of Leicester, Batavia and Southampton were erected from Northampton. Caledonia, which then com- prised the towns of Wheatland, LeRoy, and a portion of York was included in the town of Southampton, which name it bore until changed to Caledonia, April 4th, 1806. In 1812 a new town was erected from Caledonia and named Bellona, and in the following year took its present name of Le Roy. In 1819 that portion of York, then known as Medford, belonging to Caledonia, was set off, and with some of the territory of Leicester, was erected into a separate township, and in 1821 Wheatland, then known as Inverness, was set off into the new county of Monroe.
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.