USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 14
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I
celebrity for wheat, as they previously had for corn. The yield per acre has bare enormous. A few instances are types of many. Me-rs. P. and G. Mills, in 1835, cut 1270 bushels of wheat. or forty-seven bushels to the acre, frum a field of twenty-seven acres, on the Genesee flats, near Blount Morris In 1831 the same persons cut from eighty acres 3200 bushels of wheat, or forty to the acre. During the same year, W. C. Dwight, Esq., on the Hats above Genesve. cut from twenty acres an average of forty eight bushels per acre, and two acres, tifty-two huybels per acre. The greatest yield on record, authenticated, as the product of s single acre, was sixty-four bu-liels. This was raised by Jiruth Black more, of Wheatland. The wheat yield of 1845 was 1.338,000 bushels. In 1858, of winter. 819,529. nf spring 1,833,351 ; total, 2,653,080 bushels; and in 1864, of winter 597,068 bushels. It is said of the Genesee wheat that it contains more saccharine matter than that from uthier localities, and will combine with less water in the composition of bread. The superiority of the four is too well known to need remark.
On the river flats above Portageville the corn crop is very heavy, and this grain has been made the staple. The yield in 1845 was 453,463 bu-liels; and first in wheat, Monroe was twelfth in the quantity of coru. The crop of 1864 wJs 938,849 busbels, showing increased attention to that grain. In 1825, atten- tion was called to the fact that the quantity of harley grown was inadequate to the demands of brewers. The yield was excellent. A single acre, from a field of twenty-six acres, in Brighton, produced 56 bushels. The farmers do not seem to have favored the crop, since the yield in 1845 was but 57,102 bushels, und in 1864, 139,806. Rye has long been raised, to a limited extent, and light yields dis- courage production. 'Buckwheat is raised in small amount. Flax has been a crop. Exhaustive, ordinarily. it finds here Do worn-out lands, and where 10,796 busheis of seed were noted in 1843, there were, in 1864, but eighteen seres sown. Pota- toes have always been raised in large quantities; io 1845, 667,491 bushels, and in 1864, 872,482 bushels. It has been observed that the sowing of spring wheat has obtained great proportions. Good husbandry is shown hy a selection of the best and cleanest seed, and a rotation of crops. Hen:p was cultivated in early days, but abandoned as unprofitable. Oats to the amount of nearly half a million bushels were produced in 1864. Of tobacco there were half a million pounds harvested during the same year; of hops. 41,234 pounds; and of apples, 498.606 bushels. The experience af Monroe farmers has confirmed the theories of the scientific, and their association has tended to disseminate discoveries to all indi- viduals. The growth of pernicious weeds has been shown by the neglect of farms. Old-time enemies of the agriculturist were what were denominated pigeon-weed. thistle, chess, cockle, daisy, wild mustard, may-weed, dock, and bind-weed ; there are besides, sorrel, mulleia, and burdock. Drainage has been followed by marked improvement.
The use of poor implements and high prices for labor detracted heavily from the profits of farming. Instances occurred where fields of grain were reaped to the halves. The invention of machinery has given the farmer command of his fields, und enabled him to dispense with much hired labor, or use it to greater purpose. Contrast the old plow with the new, the harrow with the enltivator, the hand sickles and cradles with the McCormick reaper of 1945. the Seymour & Morgan hand-raking reaper, the Palmer & Williams' self-raker, Johnson's self- making reaper, and the Cycloid mower, and the Little Giant mower and reaper,- all made within the country demanding their use. The thuiil has long since yielded to the thresher. the hoe to the cultivators of various kinds, and, extending the contrast, observe the home manufactures which have enabled the farmer to exer- cise with pride and pleasure his vocation.
The " Williamson Fair and Races," held in 1794, novel and successful, inaugu- rated cattle and horse fairs in western New York. Williamson introduced fine stock, and the Wadsworths gave this subject much attention. The first meeting of a Monroe agricultural society for a " cattle-show and fair," so far as learned, was held October 30. 18231. James Speery w.w president. Jacob Gould corresponding secretary, and S. P. Alleott treasurer. It wasa rule that the same animal could not win more than one premium, and that but once. The ohjert of assembly was to point out errors and communicate practical experiments. Premiums on best horses were won by Elias Proser. of Clarkson; B. Il. Brown, of Gates, Lewis II. Remington, of Sweden, and E. Monwe, of Brighton. C'attle : Powell Carpenter, of Wheatland. Warren Hawley, Daniel Reed, Thomas Cooley. Lyman Hawley. William Rovd. and Richard Daniela. Best oren: J. G. Langtellow, Whitney May. and Francis Albright. Those moet interested in sheep-brewling and having the best animals were William Garbutt, Ezekiel More, Whiting May, and Joseph Cult. The last -wine were shown by Heury Wider and Thomas Shorts, both of Chili. Horace Bush had the best aure of wheat, fifty-nine and one-fourth bushels, and William Giarbutt s rod best fitty now tobele John F Fargo loud that are at tura. one hundred and thety four long-lule. Posted Host wound, and hondred and twenty live and one Smith bushels Willian fiarlitt best half sere of potatoes, one hundred and a:Wenty seren bushels, weund, Jarwi Gorton, one hundred and uity-eight bushela.
37
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Best yield of one aure in 1521, four hundred and sixty-seven ; second best, four hundred and thirty-five bushels. Colonel Caleb t'lay was awarded a premium for superior parlash. Hle had sent to Montreal market eight hundred and thirty barrels like sample from his achery at ('larksun. The plowing-match was observed with interest. Oliver Culver wou the first premium for plowing one-eighth of an acre with oxen without driver; Jones' team was second, Russell's third. In 1825, Jonathan Russell became first and Charles Kellam second. The best yield of cloverseed per acre in 1824 was thirty-five bushels, by Thomas Leland, of Mendon. Mrs. Mary Smart, of the same town, woo a premium en bobinet- lace, "one of the best specimens ever produced in our country." A fanning- mill was shown by Colonel Abner Hubbard, of Rochester. Jesse Hawley was an early president of the society, Giles Boughton corresponding secretary, Abraham Plumb recording secretary, Enos Pomeroy auditor, and Samuel Works treasurer, in 1824. Some of the towns took no part. Henrietta was promioently repre- sented, and her farmers obtained in 1825 eighteen of seventy-seven premiums,
Farmers have formed various societies, general and special, and have taken precedence in this direction. . There have been societies for horticultural pur- pases, associations for sheep-breeders and wool-growers, dairymen, mechanics, and farmers and laborers, and horse, cattle, and poultry shows.
The following table, prepared by M. D. Phillips, presents at a glance the officers of the
MONROE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, ORGANIZED MAY 28, 1840.
BECKETARIES.
TEZASUSERS.
1840 | L. B. Langworthy, Greece ...
Henry M. Ward, Rochester _. Heury E. Rochester, Gates.
181]
L. B. Langworthy, -
... Henry M. Ward,
-| C. F. Crossman, flochester.
1842
Henry Coleman, Rochester .... Henry MI. Ward,
- Lewis Brooks,
=
1843
Ranseo Harmon, Wheatland Henry M. Ward,
C. F. Crossman,
1844
Ransun Harmon.
Henry M. Ward.
James P. Forg.
1843
J. H. Robinson, Itenricetta ...
Jatues Hf. Watts,
James P. Fogg.
=
1847
Samuel Miller, PenGeld ...... James H. Watts,
44
James P. Fogg,
-
1848
William Buell, Gates ....... ... Joseph Allyn,
Jo-cph Allyn,
44
J. H. Robinson, Heorietta.
1853 1851
Frederick P. Ruot.
Joseph Harris,
. E. S. Hayward,
1855
Willard Hodges, Brighton ..
D. D. T. Moore,
Isaac >. Hobhie.
E. S. Hayward,
1860
D. D. T. Moore,
Samuel Miller,
. M. C. Mordoff, Rochester.
1862
Benj. M. Baker, Rochester ._ J. M. Booth,
1863
H. G. Warner, Brighton ...
Isaac s. Hobbie,
1864 ! Joseph Harris, Rochester ....
C. W. Sculve,
44
Frederick W. Lay, 44
1866
D. D. S. Brown, Wheatland. M. D. Phillips, Henrietta.
Leri D. Mitchell, Pittsford.
1867 | Benj. M. Baker, Rochester ... Jozeph .3. Stull. Rush
Levi D Mitchell,
1868
John G. Klinck, Brighton ... M. D. Rowley, Roche-ler ..
Levi D. Mitchell,
1869
S. D. Walbridge, Rochester. M. D. Rowley,
Levi D. Mitchell,
1871
L. Bucklandl.
John E. Garretsee,
Lyman M. Otis, Rochester.
1873
William Gtis, Gates.
W. L. Wallace, Rochester ....; John W. Stebbins,
1874
T. Brown, Jr., Wheat!and ... W. L. Wallace,
John W. Stebbins,
WESTERN NEW YORK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETE ..
PRESIDENTS.
TREASURERS.
1875 1876
T. Brown, Jr., Wheatland.
W. L. Wallace, Rocheater. Charles A. Pool, =
J. W. Stebbins,
The Genesce agricultural society held their first fair on November 7 and 8, at Rochester. Exhibition of short-horn Durhams was one of the best held in the State,-native stock of all kinds fine and numerously represented. The fair has been continued with interest and success to the present. The accounts of meet- ings of farmers' clubs published in Moore's Rural New Yorker, and seut all over the country, have done incalculable good to the cause of agriculture. We present brief statistics as a means of comparing progress.
Monroe Statistics of 1825 .- Acres improved, 136,712. Neat cattle, 33,972; horses, 6866; sheep, 85,257 ; hogs, 39,737. There were of grist-mills, 32; saw-mills, 76; fulling-mills, 29; cardiog-machines, 23; di-tilleries, 34. There was manufactured of fulled cloth, domestic make, 74,428 yards ; not fulled, 196,538 yards; and of linen and cotton goods, 119.829 yards.
Monroe Statistics of 1815 .- Number of prat cattle, 39,305 ; horses, 16,811 ; sheep, 173,952; hogy, 48,193. Pounds of butter, 1,504,397 ; cheese, 366,782; and of wool, 402,927 pwoutils. Value of artich- praluced in grist-mills, $2,539,- 687 ; saw-mills, 81 47,353; vil-mills, 812,500; fulling-mills, 874,102. Carding-
machines, 831.770. Woolen-factories, $111,849. Iron-works, 8409.355. Dis- tilleries, 838,941. Asheries, 820,2165. Rope-factories. 8000. Clover-mills, 82943. Paper-mills, 861,540. Tanneries, $244,907 ; and breweries, 845,800.
Monroe Statistics of 1865 .- Cash value of farms, $29.415,992; of stock, 83,408,100 ; tools and implements, 8941,97 ; seres plowed, $1015. Tuus of hay 1864, 62,203; hops, 41,234 pounds. Apples harvested in 1804, 498.606 bushels. Number of milch cows, 14,062. Butter minde, 1,374.890 pounds. Number of horses two years and over, 16,759. Sheep shorn. 151,283; limba raised, 55,672. Honey, 21,SU7 pounds. Value of poultry. 853,977.33. Value of eggs sold, 833,743.98. Domestic manufactures reduced to inconsiderable amounts. The number of acres of land improved, 316,840; unimproved, TS,- 182. Agriculture, at once the cause and evidence of civilization, has reached high development in Monroe. Nowhere else has the bounty of nature been -more faithfully acknowledged. Here, where ample return repays the labor, the farmers of the Genesee take precedence in all that relates to husbandry.
CHAPTER XVIIL
THE GEOLOOY OF MONROE-BEDS OF OYPSUM-SALT AND SULPHUR SPRINGS- MARL-AROILLACEOUS IRON ORE-FIRE-STONE AND LIMESTONE.
ABOUNDING in instruction, valuable in its knowledge, and interesting in its varied features, the rock formation of Monroe presents a subject of vast impor- tance to the locality. The falls of the Genesee, the Ridge road, the boulders, and the remains of the mastodon, are all themes of interest. The falls present a vertical section of rock formations. The polished stones, smooth from the pops of aqueous attrition, carry the mind far into the past, and the " road" corrob- orates the theory of a changed and reduced area to Ontario. The facts stated in this chapter are based upon an article furuished by Chester Dewey for O'Reilly's Sketches of Rochester. It is the province of the geologist to show the earth, ooce only a gaseous formation, cooling, and a crust forming, ever deeper and changeful, upon the surface. Tribes on sea are succeeded by those amphibious, and then by those on land. Subterranean pent-up gases produce earthquakes. disrupt the crust, and pile up mountains. Stratified rocks are disclosed by the canons of rivers, and petrifactions picture a former life. It has been theorized that an inland sea submerged the surface of this region, and observation tends to establish its truth. The famous Ontario Lake ridge shows seven distinct shores upon its side, from the present shore up to the crest. Ouce a vast sea swept southeastward, and hy gradual subsidence the drainage took its present course. The rocks extending from the primitive or granite, at Little Falls, to the shores of Lake Erie, are known as " transition." With no subterranean agencies, the strata would have lain one upon the other, unbroken ; but upheavals have placed them upon an inclination, and disclosed the variety and extent of cach layer. The dip south is one foot in eighty-seven, in an ascending series. The section of rocks oo the Gencsee river, from a level with the lake to the head of the rapids. a distance of four and a half miles: No. 1 is sandstone, eighty feet thick ; No. 2, gray band, four fect; No. 3, marl slate, twenty-three feet ; No. 4. argillaccous iron ore, one foot ; terriferous sand-rock, ten feet ; calciferous slate, with fucoides, six feet; marly slate, twenty-four feet; siliceons limestone, twenty feet; blue limestone, with trilobites, forty feet ; calciferous slate, twenty-six feet ; dark argil- lite, with nodules of gypsum, fifty feet; graywacke limestone, ninety-six feet, and geodiferous limestone, four feet. Red sandstone, given as eighty feet, has an up- ward extent of one hundred and twenty feet, and a depth unknown. It is termed saliferous, as being the reservoir of salt springs. Not many years since, salt in considerable amount was manufactured from the waters of a spring in Greece, and one on the banks of Irondequoit creek, both in this rock. The color of this lowest formation is dark reddish-brown, interspersed with gray, and the rock is identical with that of the same name known to English geologists. In this sandstone are found vegetable remains, and splendid specimens of fucoides. The stone cannot endure the action of water and frost, and disintegrates easily. A stratum of gray sandstone lies upon the red, is of great extent, and contains particles of mica.
The sandstone rises southward into considerable elevations. In Ogden, the canal is for a short distance upon it. The canal is there near the Ridge road, and the rise is apparent only. Marly slate is soft, frangible, claycy. and uf a green hue ; it rests upon the gray sandstone, and alternates in thin layers with other rocks. Su casily does it reduce to earth that it seems a elay marl. The banks of the Genesce disclose two thick strata of this state. Argillaceous iron
. The name was changed from Munroe County Agricultural Society in 1875.
=
1850
C. K. Hobbie, Irondequoit ... Joseph Allyn,
1851
L. R. Langworthy, Greece ... James Vick, Jr.,
Jobn Rapalje,
44
1852
James P. Fogg, Rochester ... Juines H. Kelly,
.. John Kapalje,
44
Frederick P. Root, Sweden .. N. C. While,
_ E. S. Hayward, Brighton.
1855
Stephen Leggett, Henrietta. Edwin R. Hallock,
E. S. Hay ward.
1858
D. D. T. Moore, Rochester ...
Isane S. Hobbie,
1859
Daniel Warner,
ยท++
Michael l'infield,
Willard Endiges,
1861
Elias B. Holines, Sweden ..... J. M. Bouth,
M. M. C. Murdot,
; SI. C. Mordoff.
- Frederick W. Lay, Greece.
1865
Stephen Leggett. Henrietta .. Henry Talbot,
1870 | L. Buckland, Brighton .. ......
Jubn R. Larretsce, Ogden ...
Levi D. Mitchell,
1872
A. G. Whitcomb, Rochester. John R. Garretsce,
..
Lyman M. Otis,
J. W. Stebbins, Rochester.
-
T. Brown, Jr.,
Tune4 H Warts.
James P. Fugg,
Janice P. Fogg.
1849 Alfred Fiteb. Riga ...
John Rupalje, Rochester.
1857
Willard Hodges, :
_: E. S. Hayward,
. E. S. Hayward.
Frederick W. Lay,
38
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ore, a foot in depth, lies near the surface at the landing. It contains toany small petrifactions The rock is hard, and in localities nulular, as if partly fused. It is of great extent, and has been smelted to a considerable degree in Wayne county, where it has a depth of three feet. Upon the iron ore rests ferriferous sand-rock. It is compact and tough, excellent for building, and contains tine grains of quartz and specimens of native copper. Calciferous slate is a compound with itself of other layers in its thick stratum. It lies on the terriferons sand-rock, and abounds iu masses of beautiful petrifactions. Here is found tine-grained gray- wacke, similar to that quarried on the Hudson. Bituminons shale below the Middle falls, breaking away, has undermined the graywacke above. This stone is extensively quarried, above the catal aqueduct, for building purposes. During a blast, a layer of stone being lifted, a cavity filled with pebbles was disclosed. It indicates a deposit of limestone closing the pocket. Below the Middle falls are found springs of hydrosulphuretted water, and near the river is a spring of Epsom salt. Crystallized specimens of the salt are obtained with ense. There are many such springs in this region. On the top of the Middle falls. upon the stone, are found the remains of sea-weed. A mile west of the river. on Buffalo street, is an extensive quarry of calciferous slate. Calciferous tufft or " petrified moss," exists in large masses along the river bank. freodiferous lime-rock extends from Rochester into Brightou. It is hard, dark, and bituminous, and of great thickness southward and westward. It lies upon a level with the rapids, and when burned makes a superior quality of lime.
Dilurium of sand and gravel is spread heavily upon the rocks beneath the rich soil. A mile south of the city, the diluviom rises to an altitude of two hundred fect and forms the Pinnacle, and the road to Pittsford is cut through a depression showing undulating lines of fine and coarse gravel. . Boulders of ;. unite, gneiss, quartz, and other foreign rock spread over the plain, present unmistakable evi- dence of the great power of a strong flood .. One of these masses was noticed near the railroad, a mile from Main street. It was seen to be eight and a half feet long, eight broad, three deep,-a mass of granite. Along Irondequoit creek the diluvium is heaped in banks and conical hills from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet high. On the banks of the stream, in Perrinton, were found the remains of a fossil elephant. They were found hy William Maun while digging a stump. Large trees of the ancient forest had grown over these bones. In August, 1937, the remains of another mammoth were uncovered while excavating for the Gene- see Valley canal. The skeleton was found about four feet beneath the surface, and resting upon polished limestone. Brick-clay, a foot or more in depth, exists beneath the loamy sod within and near Rochester. Beneath it lies a bed of fine white sand suitable for the use of the brick-maker. The surface of the rocks shows polish in a number of places where excavations have been made. Furrows, as of the passage of huge boulders, are marked on the smoothed surface. East of the river, at Rochester, the lines run east and west. It is evident that the earth and soil now covering them has been deposited upon the polished rock,-when and how is the question. The Ridge road, a natural causeway of alluvium. is re- garded as the former shore of Lake Ontario. Its composition of sand and pebble is not a disintegration but a depo-ition. Vegetable remains are found at depths of a dozen or more feet. Vegetable mould, nearly pure and a half-inch in depth. lay upon a bed of fine white sand. Some barrier giving way on the St. Lawrence sunk the lake to its present proportions. We have spoken of the transportation of boulders. Half-way up the " Pinnacle" lies a graywacke boulder, in dimen- sions ten and a half by ten feet, and between three and four feet deep. What power could have borne it along and placed it there? The retrocession of the falls is of inappreciable extent. To have worn away the chasu below the cata- raets occupied a period so vast that the estimate is beyond human ability.
The hasis rock of the county is Medina sandstone, which reaches the surface at the lake shore. I'pon it lies the Clinton group. Next is found the Niagara group, rich in fossils, and finally the Onondaga salt group, containing beds of gypsum. The discovery of the gypsum is thus narrated : "In the winter of 1810-11, John Garbutt had employed workmen to excavate a bank for carth to construct a race for a mill he was building, and one of the men, a foreigner. de- clared that they were digging plaster. Experiment proved him correct." The beds are of large size, and have grown in value to the present. Salt springs exist in the county, but the brine is not of quantity and strength to be available. There are numerous' sulphur springs, some of which are located in the town of Ogden. The Monroe springs, five miles east of Rochester, are celebrated. Marl abounds in the towns of Riga, Chili, and Wheatland. The discovery of the bed of argillaccons iron ore, extending from the Geneve to the east limit of Monroe, was thought to be valuable at one time, but it is little worked. Small quantities of the sulphurets of lead and zine, and blende and galena, are found in the county. Fire-stone, a magnesian earth used for lining fireplaces and stoves, is abundant in Ogden and Sweden. This outline presente the rocks as of varions uses, but none greater than that of making aud enriching soil.
CHAPTER XIX.
POLITICAL LEGISLATION-OFFICIALS-GENERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY GOVERY- MENT-PARTIES-POPULATION AND POPULAR VOTE.
ALL government originates in the people, hut an extended franchise and repub- liean legislation was an experiment, and as such is still regarded in this centennial of national existence. The civil record of New York reveals a gradual change from a condition of vassalage to more than kingly power. The process of eman- cipation was a lesson to vietors as well as vanquished. Arbitrary and extreme measures by both parties have been checked by conservatism, and so originated parties whose political campaigns have been marked by periods of great excite- ment, followed by measures sub-ervient to the public good.
Civil government was established by the Dutch in 1621, and, in 1629, New York, then New Netherlands, received her first governor. in the person of Wouter Van Twiller. From 1664-the date of the surrender of the province to the English-up to 1683, James, the Duke of York, was sole ruler. He appointed governors and councils, whose enactments were acknowledged as arbitrary laws. The first English legislative assembly was organized in 1691, and by that body " code of rules was formed in accordance with enlarged powers. The province was divided into nine counties, and the House consisted of seventeen delegates. An act of assembly for a national church, passed in 1693. was received with discontent, and taught the necessity of perfect religious freedom, but entirely dis- connected with affairs of state. A second assembly convened in 1708. En- eroachments upon popular rights, by the royal governors, paved the way for their loss of influence and speedy downfall on the breaking out of the Revolution. On April 20, 1777, was formed, and adopted by a convention of delegates, a State constitution. A first session was attempted at Kingston, September 1, 1777. but was disporsed by the approach of a British force. A session was held in 1778, at Poughkeepsie, and annually continued thereafter. Features of the constitution were obnoxious to the people, since it was framed after. the provis- ions of arbitrary power, and changes were demanded as the necessity became ap- parent. A general organization act was passed hy the legislature on March 7. 1788, at which date the entire State was divided into fourteen counties, and three were subdivided by the organization of towns, varying inversely in area as the popu- lation was denser. New divisions were made in 1501, making thirty counties and two hundred and eighty-six towns. . The legislature passed an act, io 1820, recom- mending a convention of the people to frame a few constitution. A vote was had in April, 1821, which resulted in a majority of 73,445 for the convention. which assembled in Albany, August 28, concluded its labors, and adjourned No- vember 28, 1821. The member of the convention from Monroe was John Bows- man. The new constitution was adopted at an election held in February. 1822. Notable changes were relative to a council of 'revision and appointment and elective franchise. The council of revision, assuming to net as a third legislative body, contrary to the constitution, was abolished without dissent. It had rendered itself obnoxious through the personal and partisan character of its appointments. The powers of both remaining councils were modified and restricted. Elective franchise was further extended, and many offices, till then vestel in appointment, were made elective, and self-rule became a verity.
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