History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 100

Author: McIntosh, W. H. cn; Everts, Ensign, and Everts, Philadelphia, pub
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Ensign and Everts
Number of Pages: 976

USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 100

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CATHOLIC CHURCH. ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS.

First meetingy were held about 1550, in an old building then occupied by Patrick Buggy. From there removal was made to the house of Mr. Claffey, and thence to the new church, which was built about Is70, at a cost of about four then- sand dollars. Father W. Gregg was pastor at the time when the church was being erreted. He was suceer.led by Father Mulherrin, now of Lima, and he by Father Remill. Then came Rev. Evans, the present incumbent of the charer. From a few families, scattered widely, the Catholics of this community have Ix- enme a fairly prosperous organization, with a membership of fifty-five Familie-

THE EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHI RCI.

The organization was effected at the house of J. P. Kaufeld. on March 2i ING2. with J. P. Kankild, Louis Lerch, Philip Nau, Conrad Lerch. John Hatlts in.

SLATE UNAY.

LODEMA GOFF.

now living. Squire Goff, the eldest, and the subject of this narrative, was born in Connecticut in the year 1791. He came to this county with his father in the year 1804: was drafted, and served in the war of 1812, and was at Fort George under Captain Joel Dunks, General McClure commanding ; is now enrolled at the Pension Office, and the recipient of pension under the several acts of Congress. He married Lodema Newton in the year 1815. She came from Poultney, Vermont, in the year 1811. He located the farm and built the house in which he now resides in 1817. His family consisted of five children, one son and four daughters, three of whom are now living

SQUIRE GOFF.

Comfort Goff, grandfather of Squire Goff, came from Rhode Island. He was the fether of seven children, six sons and one daughter, aix of whom came to this country with him. He was seventy-five years of age at the time be removed io New York State, and died ten years after bis arrival. His ancestor, with two brothers. come from Wales. One settled in Canada, ore in Rhode Island, and the other in New Jersey. Squire Goff, senior, father of Squire Goff, was boro in Connecticut. He cams to this county in 1804. He was the father of fourteen children, of whom five are

RES of SQUIRE GOFF. MENDON, MONROE CO., N.Y.

PLATE CXXVI.

MRS. WM. GARLAND.

WILLIAM GARLAND

wu bon March 22, 1x12, In Bluulich parich, county uf Kent, Kagjaud. In 1855 bo morebul Kliza Tickner; she was born May 20, IN17, in Allington parish, county ol Kant, Ifis step-muuthier (his grandiother's wife) destroyed tho wilt that ontalle'l the property to the heirs of the first wife; thereforo, I went to thechildren of the second wife. Atter some years it was thrown tolo chaotery Hlje futher out baving means to engage the law in his behalf, and despair- lag of regaining the inheritance, cosigrated tu America lo 1834, follow-il hve years later by the subject of this . ketob, with his wlie and child, Tho following year be htied out at leo dollars a month on the firm he now owne 1n 1/446 be went to Wiecondis, and purchased sumo government land, which he nuld the next year oud returned to Pilt-furd, Monroe County, where he purchased & faren uf fifly arre. About this time his father died, hie muther survivh g htm but olghorn monthe; they ilied in Rurbester, Bil were buried in " Mt Hope," they left two sons and three laogh- tors, residents of Rochester, cacopt oua olster, whoer burus io Coldwater, Michigan.

Light years later ha purchased tha Vaughn place in Pitts- font, which Is workmi by his oldest con, Joho; and : 0 1876 be bought the farm upon which he worked in IN40, Of bis alne children only two enne and one daughter ilved to maturity ; the latter died In 1860, agud 26. Fanning and gralu-threshing lu born hit occupatlun for the past t wanty- four years In the spring of 1859 be purchased of Wood, Taler & Morris the final stuam-engluo ever introduced into Monrue County for the purpose of thresblog; It is still In ass, under supervistou of his youngert soo, Morey O. Oariand

WM GARLAND.

VIEW OF BARNS.

"VIEW OF DWELLING .

PROPERTY or WM. GARLAND, MENDON, MONROE CO, N. Y.

263

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

John Semmel, and Otto Barnh irdt as members, and Rey. Louis Hermann as pastor. Rev. M. Lehr served from 1862 till March. 1965; John Schaaf. 1806- 67. Under his charge a house of worship was built. Rev. Fi-her succeeded. nnd here died. Rev. Hermann concluded his term. Succeeding pastors have been A. Uhohols, Charles Wiseman, Rev. Blentz, Juhu Grenzibach, and the present pastor, Rev. John Schaef. The original seven members were joined by others, until the society numbered thirty, and these in 1865 united with the Reformed society, consisting of S. Lung, Christ, Nau. George Kanfeld. Conrad Haeg, Peter Semmel, and Henry Haeg, and built a frutue meeting-house costing eight hundred and fifty dollars. The first numbers twelve, the second society about forty. They occupy their church upon alternate Sabbaths. The les-on taught by these records is one of a natural feeling of dependence upon a higher power. a onion to serve Him, patient ministration, and instances of private muniticence.

The west half of the town of Mendon is divided into trants bearing the names of their original proprietors. The Ferris tract lies in the northwest, the others in the southwest. Andrew Young, mentioned in the history of Honeoye Falls. was the first permanent settler on the Ball tract outside the village. On the Porter tract, just north, a man named Moore located in lood upou the place now owned by Edward Shelters. He soon cleared a small piece of ground around his log habitation, and after a few years moved away. Daniel Shaw settled in the vicin- ity, upon a large farms now owned in part by John Fish. He acquired wealth, became of influence in the settlement, and therein closed his life. His family went west. It is thought by some that an Indian village was once existent north of Sibleyville. An Indian burial ground and the traces of an old fort had been noticed hy the pioneers. Upon the Ball farm, during carly cultivation, bones were plowed up, and this indicates that location as a place of aboriginal sepulture. George Babcock was a pioneer of 1801 upon the Porter tract, and settled on the

farto now owned by J. E. Allen. He was an early magistrate, and died here io 1828. Near him lived Stephen Burton who has a son resident of Honeove Falls. About 1802, Luther Gates moved in from Hopewell, and io 1606 the settlement was increased by Abner Boud and family from New Jersey. Three weeks his ox-team was on the road, and when he had reached his destination he made ,choice of one buodred aeres on the W. aod P. tract, and here put up his cabin, and with "the axe, that wondrous instrument," hegan, and year by year continued till he had completed his clearing. Thirty years he lived on this farm, then moved eastward io the town, and there died in 1840, agui seventy-three years. A soo, Zebedee Bond, yet lives in the town, eighty years of age, aud fully possessed of health and mental powers. Another son lives in Rochester, others reside in the west. Thomas Sanford, Samuel Jeromes, W. F. Waite. Edward James, and Gideon Ball came into the town about the same time as Bond, located on the tract, and constituted the body of the settlement. Zebulon. Robert. Ezra, and Henry Townsend were the early settlers on " Abraham's Plains." (This name is derived from Abraham Wright, a colored roan. who had a habitation there about 1803.) Sons of Z. Townsend were George, a lawyer. Joseph B., Jere., Seth, and Gideon, of Michigan; a daughter. Mrs. O. Case, lives in Honeoye Falls ; other daughters married John B. Stewart and S. N. De Graff. Among the pio- neers was John Moore, who came in from New Jersey and located near the pres- ent site of Bull's saw-mill. He moved to the west part of town, was chosen con- stable in 1816, served as collector, and passed his life in Mendon. About 1810, Marvin Smith, originally from Connecticut, settled on lot No. 4 of the W. and P. tract, where he became a farmer of wealth, held military position, and died at the age of seventy-four years. A son, D. G. Smith, and a daughter, Mrs. Burt. re- side io the town. Benjamin Smith is a resident of Rochester. Henry Shelters was one of the early settlers where .Joseph Duncan now lives. His soo Pabot, aged seventy-two, is a citizen of the town. North of the present stone school- house was a large log building raised for school purposes. It stood on the cor- ner north of the falls. Welcome Garfield was the early school-master, and Andrew Young and L. Bond are surviving popils who learned their A B C there, ou the threshold of life, in the pioneer lays of the town. Garfield's grave is in the cemetery near by, and these two aged men stand by this tomb of an olden day and muse upon the mutations of life and the frailty of humanity, in their progress from joyous childhood to serene old age.

SIBLEYVILLE.

Colonel Sibley erected a saw-mill here in the earlier years, and also put up a machine-shop, where he manufactured carding machines and agricultural imple- ments. Ilis son Ilimmm, in partnership with D. A. Watson, carried on an exten- sive business and employed about eighty men during the year 1-30. Both men . have grown affluent, and Sibley Hall in Rochester is the result of Hiram's dirre- ! tion nod capital. In an old log school-honse, which then stood near by, was a

teacher Damed Day. Of eighty men, hands at the shops, all but two drank liquor. One of the men, recently converted. and previously one of the wildest, made a proposal to organize a temperance meeting, and there was a good attendre. The young teacher lectured during the evening of town-meeting day, and the house was full, -aud so were the people. Upon the lecturer's annonming his subject,-temperance,-a lawyer jumped to his feet and asked a definition. The crowd cheered uproarionsly. Quiet restored, the lecturer by an easy and familiar retort turned the tables, and was loudly applauded. He then made an earnest appeal that they should come forward and sien the pledge. A number responded. among whom were Ilinum Sibley and D. A. Watson, two of Rochester's present millionaires. This pioneer lecturer has since been widely known as Il. K. Stimsoo, a Baptist minister.

THE CATLIN AND FERRIS TRACT.

This now choice and valuable area of land was surveyed by William Shepard during August and September, 1792. into forty-five lots, varying in size. This land was at one time known as the Franklin traet, and was a cause of litigation for many years. The suit was decided in 1826, and, although meantime many famdies had moved upon and improved the land, they did not receive compensa- tion, while sales began to be made to new parties umler the agency of liobert Underhill. Many of the settlers were Quakers, and the population was of the bet- ter class of citizens. The cultivation of the soil soon demonstrated its value, and the name " Hardscrabble," previously given and indicative of the character of land and people, was no longer applicable to either. John, Satchell, and Clark Silley were early settlers upon the tract. The first-named lived upon the J. J. Cornell place. upon a lot previously occupied by Squire Roberts, who died upon the im- provement. Silley sold to Luther Gates. Satchell Silley lived on the present home of the old settler B. Birdsall, and Clark Silley was the pioneer nym the farm which for a half-century has been the possession and home of L. Boud.

Daniel Lines was an early settler at the Centre, and erceted the mill there soun after the close of the war of 1812. His son Frederick lives at East Mendon; an- other son, Daniel, removed farther south. A man named Barber had a black- smith-shop at the Centre. A distillery was run at the same locality by John Hayes, who went out with the general exodus of the squattery when titles were legally established. A man named Elijah De Land was early on the N. S. Lord place, and, selling to John Whippoway, went to Lockport. Upon Int 40, Joha Harris took up his residence, and cleared up the farm where his son. J. D. Harris. Dow lives, and thereon died. Near him as neighbors were William Rossell. David Fellows, Pierce. and Kennedy, all of whom. so far as known. are dead. North of the Centre, one of the earliest settlers was Washburn, whose log cabin, an emblem of the past, after standing for sixty years, has been recently torn down. Near Washburn lived Joseph Smith as early as 1805, and his son, Truman Smith, is one of the old and worthy townsmen. familiar with the privations of the past and satisfied to reap the advantages offered by the present. The pioneer adventurer in merchandise was Robert Briggs, whose store-building is indicated by the pres- eut mill. Later, he moved to the Centre and occupied a store previously kept by Wagner.

ELEVEN-THOUSAND-ACRE TRACT.

Soon after the original purchase by Franklin and Boughton, the division wa- made, and James Wadsworth, Esq., became the purchaser of the east half .-- eleven thousand acres. He soon afterward sold one-half to Ebenezer Barnardl. ut' Connecticut, who made no settlement. It was surveyed in 1793. and the first sales were made in June of that year to Dan Williams and Corneliu- Treat. . \ brief outline of the life of Mr. Treat will prove of interest He was bort Ortu- ber, 1766, in Massachusetts, enlisted when but fifteen, and served several year- in the patriot army. In April, 1793, he started with an axe and a hoe on hi- back, and in eight days had walked two hundred and seventy miles and found himself in the new country. He selected land for a farm, and boarded with Eber Weston at Bloomfield. On May 16 he felled an elm. made from the Weirk a hut-home, and subsisted upon pirk, beans, and bread. Alone and hermit. like he passed the weeks, and was finally gladdened by the arrival of neighbors, Mr. Treat afterwards erected a cabin. and then nudle energetic efforts at clearing. H. bad previously been married. and bad a family of three small children. His wifi. died in 1795, which was the first death in the town. During the year mamed he took twenty bushels of earn in the car to Canadaigua, and brought back it- equivalent, n barrel of salt. He was well known as a tavern-keeper, Was assessor in 1813, and died in 1845. Sous were Dr. J. J. Treat, Ellery, Joseph. and Nelson N. The last-natued, living on the homestead, is the sole survivor of a family of fifteen children. Bujamin Park, Dan Williams, and William Hickox bought land adjoining Treat. Williams moved in dung 1793, and setting together a pole cabin. covered it with bark. Mr. Treat gladly ailed him in building. The land thus ocropied was lot 69. wjom which the pioneer passed his days.

264

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Squire Goff, Jr., aged eighty-five years, came to this neighborhood in February, 1804 John Newton, of Vermont. located in ISOS on the fartu how owned by Mr. Goff, previously occupied by MeClellan, who had made an improvement, while one Vine Starr had built a house which is yet standing. Stephen Porter was a settler of 1809, and bought his place of Juseph Smith. A son, Gilbert Porter, resides on the homestead. Salmon Maller, of Connecticut, came in during 1704, settled upon the place now occupied by his son Adam, and there lived to see eighty- three years. The mother of Adam died in 1875, aged ninety-five years. North of the Corners, on lot 2s, lived David Beers. a shoemaker, during 1814, and Dext nutth of him was Ehjah De Land. who settled in lo13 aml remained during life. Next north was Samuel Lane, who settled at East Mendon in Isu2. Joseph Luat lived many years upon the present lands of Simon Jones. In that vicinity lived Hoa. Timothy Barnard, father of Timothy Barnard, Jr. ; both were prominent men of the county and carly judges. Ou the east road lived Noah Cole, who kept a tavern near the town line. A grandson occupies the homestead. A neighbor was Benjamin Eckler, who had married one of Mr. Cole's daughters upon the Mohawk, and there lives at the age of eighty-tive. Abraham De Garno, Jonathan Dewey, Joan Hughes, and William Lane were early settlers upon farms in the neighborhood. Opposite Lane, north of East Mendon, Charles Foote settled in 1802. A son Charles, ninety-six years of age, is yet living. Gideon Ball occupied lot 27. His house was of logs; his trade that of stonemason. . Elijah Williams was an early resident. On lot 70 lived Ebenezer Rathbun in 1796, and Moses Everett occupied the north end of lot 3 at a date forgotten. Samuel Lane came in about 1790, and Charles Foote in 1800. Lane lived on lot 20, combined farming and tavern-keeping, and kept the first tavern in this part of the town. Moses Rowell, a resident upon No. 12. passed his life here, as did a portion of his family theirs; a daughter lives in Michigan. Ralph Strong was a settler of 1800, upon lot 32. He put up the first distillery in this part of the town. Danie! Dunks, the first town clerk. settled prior to 1807 upon lot 57. Samuel Stimson, a tailor, came west in 1812, and in East Mendon followed his trade. His son, H. K. Stimson, is a minister in the west, and is known as the author of " From the Stage-coach to the Pulpit." Knowlton Woodberry and Michael Molatt were settlers of 1813. The pioneer physician here was Julin Delamater, a celebrated surgeon and doctor, who carue on in 1813, and afterwards became known as president of Hamilton College. He died in Ohio. Henry Wilson, wheelwright, was a former resident of East Mendon. Other settlers of about the year 1813 were Henry Hinman. Perrin Batchelor, Alijah Marshall, Ambrose Matteson, I'hiletus Chamberlain, Edward De Wolf, Chauney Roberts, John Stoy, Calvin Mansfield, Rufus Colvin, and Samuel Rose.

MENDON VILLAGE.

Jonas Allen in 1797 came from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and located on Iot 31. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of Ebenezer Barnard. and erected a saw-mill, which burned in 1SIG, as did a carding-machine built by A. H. Rand in 1812. Allen was the first supervisor in town, and died here in 1826. A son Daniel lives in town. Althea, the oldest untive-born white in the town, lives here, in her seventy-seventh year. When Alleu came to his land he found Joseph Bryant, a settler of 1796, on lot 30. Descendants of Bryant still live in the town. What is known as Mendon village was the first post-office established in town., Timothy Barnard was the first postmaster. at his residence, a mile west of the village. Ezra Sheldon, his successor, had the uthice in the village. Other officials have been Alexander Voorhees. Williuu L. Reynolds, Levi Beucdiet, David Tallmadge, Albert Sherwood, T. II. Holden. F. O. Hill, E. Carpenter, and Smith Porter, present officer. Early blacksmiths were Gaioes Lane, Nathan Bryant, and David Botsford. A mile west of the village stood the first school-house. Prior to its erection children had gone to Broughton's Hill or equally far elsewhere. Anna Smith and Eunice Itu-t were of the early school-teachers. Mendon Academy was started almit 1835, with Rev. Marreuus Stone principal, assisted by his wife. It was successful under their management. MIr. Buell and Miss Raymond, the next instructor-, Iwcame mui .- ionaries to Burmah, F. W. Olnistead and wife and Mr. Mills were teachers. The school finally ran down, and the dis- triet purchased the property for school purposes. Dr. William Brown was an early physician here. The first grist-mill was built by Milton Sheldon and Daniel Allen in 1826. In 1-30, Hugh Sherry beemue its owner. It is yet in use, as the property of Nathan Stone.

The entertainment of travelers and emigrants, begun in hospitality, soon ended in a reasonable charge for accommodations, and hence arose the tavern, first a log cabin and then the more commodious and pretending structure. John Brown was the early landlord in the village, in a building whose frame is the skeleton of the present tavern. His first recorded livene shows him to have been in the employment in 1814, and a year later Ezra Sheldon, Jr., was in charge.

The licensed tavern keepers of 1814 were Jonas Weyman, Obadiah Force, Sarunel Stimson, near Mendon Centre ; Brown at East Memlon ; Gaines Lane, William Beagle, Cady, and Vandevere. These paid five dollars each, and were in fact so many dram-sellers of that time, although popular opinion had not then set its stamp of disapproval upon the traffic. In 1-15 six licenses were granted. Applicants were Ezra Sheldon, Jr., O. Force, William Beagle. Joseph Weld, James Smith Hart, and Barnard. In 1816 there were added Timothy Barnard, B. njamin Davis, and Increase Claflin; und in 1817 seven licensed taverns and distilleriey were in operation. In the production of liquors and their retail we find engage! George S. Stone & Co., at East Mendon, James Parmele, distillery near head of Taylor street, and Philip Martin.

TOWN MEETINGS.

The town of Meadon was organized in 1813, and the first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April of that year, at the house of Thomas Emer. and adjourned to his baru, now owned by George Treat. at Treat's Cornery. Hun. Timothy Barnanil was moderator. The first town officers chosen were Jonas Allen, supervisor ; Daniel Dunks, clerk ; William Smith, Cornelius Treat, aml C'holett Cady, assessors ; John Newton, Thomas Vandevere, and Daniel Shaw, Jr., commissioners; Ilezekiah Newcomb and Charles Day, overseers of the poor ; Calvin Mansfield, Jr., coustable and collector; Timothy Barnard and William Brown, commissioners of school funds; Cornelius Treat. Charles Day, and Daniel Dunks, inspectors of schools. Ninety dollars was voted fur contingent expenses; and one hundred dollars for the poor. The following is a list of the

SUPERVISORS OF MENDON.

Jonas Allen, elected 1913, served three years ; Cholett Cady, 1816; Ezma Shel- don, Jr., 1817 ; C. Cady, 1818; James Parmele, 1819 ; C. Cady, 1820 ; Jamies Smith, 1821 ; E. Sbeldon, Jr., 1826; Timothy Batoard. 1828; Charles Font, Jr., 1830 ; Milton Sheldon, Jr., 1834; Elijah S. Rust, 1835, Henry P. Cal- ver, 1836; George S. Stone, 1837; Fry Abbott, 1839; Abram Cole, 1840; John Park, 1843; Mason Cole, 1844; R. Marvin Gates. 1846; Thomas Wil- cox, 1851; Benjamin Smith, 1853 ; George W. Allen, 1855; Anson L. Angle, 1858; Timothy H. Holden, 1839; John I. Davis, 1801 : George B. McBride. 1863: T. H. Holden, 1864; E. Henry Barnard. 1865; J. M. Davis, IS07; E. HI. Barnard, 1868; T. II. Holden, 1870; and Homer C. Ely, from IS71 to the present time. There were chosen at the first election for justices held by the people, in 1827, Horace Wheeler, Charles Fout, Jr., Jobn Collins, Jr., and Titt- othy Barnard, Jr. The last-named three are yet living. Mr. Foot held the office five years by appointment, sixteen years by election, and is now ninety-five years of age. Mr. Barnard is eiglity-six. In all, forty-one justices have been elected in the town to this date.

LAYING OF EARLY HIGHWAYS.

A road was surveyed September 7, 1797, from Miller's Corners, in Bloomfield, northerly across the Irondequoit to the north part of Mendon. The commissioners at that time were Matthew Harrison, Ashur Saxton, and Joel Steel, At this date, East and West Bloomfield, Victor, and Mendon were all in one. In 1300 a road was laid out from the Victor hne southward to intersect the one from Nur- ton's Mills to North Bloomfield. This was nearly on the line of the present highway in the south part of the town, and Julius Curtis was recorded surveyor. October 17, 1800, a road was run from Ex : Mendon west to the road going sonth. hy Julius Curtis, to Norton's Mills. In 1802. roads were laid out from the south- west corner of Charles Foot's farm southeastwardly. and on the north town line. Solomon Goodale surveyor. In 1803 a road was surveyed, beginning on the highway leading from Allen's mills, west, to the highway from L. Norton's tu Northfield, thence southwest to a highway leading past Daniel Gates' house vist of Samuel Miller's. In 1804 a road was surveyed from a mile west of Junty Allen's mill to the Gates road ; also a road was laid between the forms of M. Gates and George Babcock. and from Russell's to a road running past Lieutenant Stewart's. The road worthwardly past Esquire Roberts' was changed, and aurves made from his place sontir vest wardly to the Honcose. A road began at the line between Benjamin Parks and Edward De Wall. running westerly. In 1800 a pool was run past Norton's Mills, and in 1805 a road had been laid through let 01 to the north line of the town ; it led past the present residence of $. Olney Thus early and successively were the avenues of communication indicated. atul il. impress of a higher civilization left on the land.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST MENDOY

claims priority of record in the history of the churches of the town of Mendott The first Baptist to settle in this town was Cornelius Treat, who foutu 15G to 1807 was the solitary representative of that denomination. During Augu-1 of that year Dr. Nathan Wadsworth moved in frem Vertoont. Ele wa4

265

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 100

Author: McIntosh, W. H. cn; Everts, Ensign, and Everts, Philadelphia, pub Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Ensign and Everts Number of Pages: 976

Author: McIntosh, W. H. cn; Everts, Ensign, and Everts, Philadelphia, pub
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Ensign and Everts
Number of Pages: 976