USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 15
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We give in the following a civil list of various incumbents representing the interests of Monroe County at home, at Albany, and at Washington. Cuonty superintendenta of schools were, by act of April 17. 1843. appointed by the hoard of supervisors. The appointed in Monroe were Henry E. Rochester and Ales- ander Mann. The office was abolished March 13, 1847. The constitution of 1821 provided for a division of the State into circuit court district4, and hy act of April 17, 1823, eight circuits were formed, and a circuit judge appointed to each. Addison Gardiner, of Rochester, was appointed September 29, 1829. for the eighth circuit, consisting of Allegany, Erie, Chautauque, Monroe, Genesve, and Niagara.
Surrogates under the first constitution were appointed for indefinite periods. and appeals from their decisions were directed to courts of probate of the State. By the second constitution, appointments vreted with the governor and senate. for four years, and appeal lay with the chancellor. The surrogates of Monroe to 1847 were: Elisha Ely, appointed March 10, 1821 ; Orrin E. Gibbs, March 28, 1823; Martin F. Delano, April 30, 1835; Enos Pomeroy, January 29. 1840; Mortimer F. Delano, January 29, 1844 ; and Simeon B. Jewett. 1845.
The first judges in the court of common pleas were continuil from the coloni.d period. Thow in Monroe, from March 5, 1821, to 1847, were: Eli-ha B Strong, Ashley Sampson, two terms; Moses Chapin, Samuel L. Sellen, and Patrick C. Buchan.
The State legislature is composed of a senate and assembly. Monroe formed part of the eighth senatorial district till 1817. The senators from this county
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39
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
were: Joseph Spencer, 1823; John Bowman, 1824-26: I-aan Mery, 18 15-38; and Frederick F. Bachus, 1814-17. Members of assembly for the enemy of Monroe, to 1847, were: Nathaniel Rochester, who served in the forty-fith session af 1822; John Bowman, Samuel B. Bradley, Simon Stone. 1823; Peter Price, Major H. Smith, and Enos Stone, 1324; Gustavus Clark. Henry Fellows, and Thurlow Weed, 1825; Henry Fellows, Isaac Lacey, and Vincent Mathews, 1826; Peter Price, Abelard Reynolds, and Joseph Sibley, 1827 ; Timothy Childs, Ezra Sheldon, Jr., und Francis Storin, 1823; John Garbutt, Hemian Norton, and Reuben Willey, 1829; Ezra Sheldon, Jr., Joseph Randall. and Thurlow Werd, 1830; Samuel G. Andrews, Isme Lacey, and Peter. Price, 1831 ; Samuel G. Andrews, Ira Bellows, and William B Brown, 1832; Timothy Childs, Levi Pond, and Milton Sheldon, 1833; Elihu Church, Fletcher M. Haight, and Jeremy S. Stone, 1834; George Brown, Derick Sibley, and Enoch Strong, 1835; Horace Gay, Micajah W. Kirby, and Joseph Sihley, 1836; Levi Russell. D. Sibley, and Silas Walker, 1837; John P. Patterson, Ezra Shellon, Jr., and D. Sibley, 1838; William S. Bishop, Henry P'. Norton, and John P. Stuil. 1839; George Brown, D. Sibley, and E. Strong, 1840 ; Alexander Kelsey. Lucius Lilley, and E. Strong, 1841; Henry K. Higgins, Frederick Starr, and George S. Stone, 1842; Jerome Fuller, Robert Haight, and F Strong. 1843; Ashley Simpson. Moses Sperry, and Edward Wadhams, 1844; William C. Bloss, John Mc Vean, Isaac T. Raymond, 1845; Mathias L. Angle, William C. Bloss, and James R. Thompson, 1846; W. C. Bloss, John McGonegal, and John B. Smith. 1847.
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The office of district attorney was created April 4, 1801, and by act of 1818 each county was constituted a separate district. The following served till 1847 : Timothy Childs, 1821; Vincent Matthews, 1831; Hector L. Stevens, 1831 ; Horace Gay, 1836; Abner Pratt, 1836; Jasper W. Gilbert, 1843; and Nicholas E. Paine, 1846.
County Officers, 1821 to 1847 .- It was made the duty of the county clerk to keep the county records. The term was three years. The incumbents were Na- thaniel Rochester, 1821; Elisha Ely, 1922; Simion Stone (2d), 1825; Wm. Graves, 1828; Leonard Adams, 1831; Samuel G. Ad.ims, 1834; Ephraim Goss, 1837; James W. Smith, 1840; and Charles J. Hill, 1843. Sheriff's were appointed annually by the council of appointment, and none were eligible after four years' consecutive service. He could hold no other office, and must be a free- holder of the county. . According to the second constitution, sheriffs were elected for three years, and were ineligible for the succeeding. terin. The sheriffs of Monrue till 1847 were: James S. monr, March 7, 1821 ; John T. Patterson, 1822; James Seymour, 1825 ; James K. Living too, 1828; Ezra MI. Parsons, 1831,; Elias Pond, 1834; Darius Perrin, 1837; Charles S. Pardee, 1840; and Hiram Sibley, 1843.
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The Federal Congress meets annually on the first Monday in December. It is provided by the constitution that each State legislature shall choose two senators, whose term of office is six years. For the period considered Monroe furnished no senator.
The representatives in Congress are composed of members elected hy districts. Each new Congress begins on the 4th of March every odd year. The term of office is two years. Apportionment of representation is determined by the re- sults of a census taken every ten years. The apportionment of New York begin- ning 1789, ratio 30,000, was six; 1792, ratio 33,000, ten ; 1802. ratio 33,000, seventeen; 1811, ratio 25,000, twenty-seren; 1822, ratio 40.000. thirty-four; 1832, ratio 47,000, forty ; and 1842, retio 70,680, thirty-tour. On organization. Monroe belonged to the Twenty-first district. composed of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauque, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Mouroe, Niagara, and Ontario. Represented in the Seventeenth Congress by Win. B. Rochester and Elijah Spencer. By act of 1812, Monroe and Livingston were constituted the Twenty-seventh district. Moses Hayden, 1823-27; Daniel D. Barnard, 1827-29; and Timothy Childs, 1829-31. By act of June 23, 1832, Monroe was constitutel the Twenty-eighth district, and represented by Frederick Whittlesey, 1833-35; George W. Say,. 1835-37; Timothy Childs, 1837-39; Thomas Kempshall, 1830-41; and by Childs again, 1841-43; Thomas J. Patterson and Levi D. Carpenter. 1843-45 ; and Elias B. Holmes, 1845-47. P'residential electors are chosen by generi ticket. and their nuniber is equal to that of senators and representatives in Congress. One person is selected from each Congressional district, and two from the State at large. The electoral college meets at Albatry on the first Wednesday of Dreem- ber, cast their votes for President and Vice-President, and forward the result to the president of the senate. The electors from Monroe have been Joseph Sibley and Elisha B. Strong, 1824; James D. Garmey, 1828; Ahiel Ballwin, 1832; Joseph Sibley, 1836; Wmt. Garhutt, 1810 ; and Elisha Johnson, 18 14.
We have indicated the assumption of direct control by the people from time to time, and the changes nf constitution present marked periods. A convention for a new constitution. to provide for popular ch ation in place of governors' appoint- ments, was held in 1846. The delegates from Monroe were Frederick F. Backus,
Eooch Strong, and Harry Backas. Among State officials from Monme were Henry R. Selden, lieutenant-governor, 1856. Thomas Ruines, treasurer, 1-71. and re-elected 1873. Canal commissioner, John D. Fav, 1867, re-elected 1-70. Superintendent of banking department, De Witt C. Ellis, 1:03. Insurance su- perintendent. George W. Miller, 1870. Regents of the university, Rev. Samuel Lucky. D.D., 1817, and Horatio G. Warder, 1871.
School commissioners have been elected since 1959. The following have served: Alonzo J. Elowe, John T. Brown, Henry I. Sperry. William W. Marth. Luther Curtice, Wm. E. Edmunds, Win. H. Bowman, Johu R. Garn tace, Joseph A. Tozier, Franklin B. Garlock, George W. Sime, S A. Ellis. Edward A. Me- Math. The officers for term beginning 1875 are W. Francis Hardick and Allen J. Ketchum. Judges of the court of appeals, Addison Gardner, 1547-1855; Samuel S. Seldoo, 1855; and Henry R. Seldon, 1862 and 1865. The judurs of the supreme court from Monroe in the seventeenth district were Samuel & & bien. 1847-1855; E. Darwin Smith, 1855 and 1862. Surrogates since Is Hi have been elected in counties where the population exceeds forty thousand. The term is four years. The following have served : Moses Sperry, 1847 ; Denton G. Stewart, 1831 and 1867; [Ienry P Norton, 1855; Alfred G. Mudge, 1850, Wm. P. Chase, 1803; and for 1871, W. Dean Shuart.
Connty judges have jurisdiction in action of debt to two thousand dollars : tres- pass, to five hundred dollars; and replevin suits, one thousand dollar. Tenure of office is six years. Incumbents of the office in Monroe have been Patrick G. Bu- . 7 chan, 1847 ; Harvey Humphrey, 1851 ; George G. Munger, 1855 ; John (' Chu- masero, 1859, re-elected 1863; Jeronie Fniler, 1867 . and Jerome I'uller, 1872. There are thirty-two senatorial districts under the constitution of 1816. Mon- roc, the twenty-seventh, sent Jerome Fuller to the legislature in 1848 ; Samuel Miller, 1850 ; Micajah W. Kirby, 1852; William S. Bishop, 1834 ; and John E. Patterson, 1856-59. Under act of 1857 Monroe became the forty-eighth dis- * trict, and elected Ephraim Gloss in 1860; Lysander Farrar. 1862; George G. Munger, 1864 ; Thomas Parsons, 1866; Lewis H. Morgan, 1868; Jarvis Lord, 1870-74; and Wm. N. Emerson, present incumbent.
Monroe has three assembly districts, of which the city of Rochester constitutes the second. The following list is given for reference: Ezra Sheldon, S. M. Schermerhorn, and Isane Chase, Jr., 1848; Levi Kelsey, L. Ward Smith, and Elisha Harmon, 1810; M. Day Hicks, L. W. Smith, and E. Ilarmon, 180; Nathaniel H. Fordyce, William A. Fitzhugh, and Caleb B. Corser, 1851, Jolin Shoecraft, Joel P. Milliner, and C. B. Corser, 1852; Lyman Payne, Orlando Hastings, and James O. Pettingill, 1953; L. Payne, Janis S. Angle, and Cliby B. Holdridge, 1834 ; Benjamin Smith, John W. Stebbins, and N. P. Stantou, Jr., 1833 ; B. Smith, Eliphaz Trimmer, and Joseph Dewey, 1850; Jeremiah &. Baker, John S. Lacey, aud Rohert Staples, 1837 ; Jarvis Lord, Thomas Parson-, and Robert Staples. 185S; Harrison A. Lyon, Elias Pond, and Alphonso Perry. 1839; Thomas J. Jeffords, E. Pond, and A. P'erry, 1860; Martin Roberts. Lewis 10 H. Morgan, and Benj. R. Wells, 1861 ; George E. McGonegal, E. Trimmer, and B. R. Wells, 1862 ; G. E. MeGonegal, E. Trimmer, and Wm. Brown. 1863; Fairchild Andrus, John Mcl'onvill, and We. Rankin, 1861-65; F. Amiru -. Henry R. Seldon, and Abner I. Wood. 1866; J. Lord. Henry Cribben, auml A. I. Wood, 1867; John M. Davis, N. C. Bradstreet, and A. I. Wood, 1868; Charles - S. Wright, N. C. Bradstreet. and Andrew J. Randall, 1869; C. S. Wright, James S. Graham, and Volney P. Brown. 1870; Richard D. Cole, George D. Lord, and V. P. Brown, 1351 ; George A. Go-s, G. D. Lord, aud Econard Burritt, 1972 : G. A. Goss, Henry L. Fish, and I. Burritt, 1873; G. A. Goss, George Taylor. and L. Burritt, 1874; Richard D. Cole, George Taylor, and Josiah Rich, 1875; and Willard Hodges, Jumnes 3. Graham, and Herman Glass, in 1876.
There are clected in each county a district attorney, sheriff. clerk, and treasunr. Besides these are corners, superintendents of the poor, and board of supervisors. Term of office is for three years,
District Attorneys,-Wm. S. Bishop, 1847; Martin S. Newton, Edward .A. Raymond, Calvin Enson, Joseph A. Stall, William II. Bowman, Christopher C. - Davisoo, John M. Davy, and George Raines, two tering.
County Clerks .- John C. Nash, 1816; John S. Lavey, W. B. William-, Wil- liam N. Sage, D. D. S. Brown. Joseph Cochrane, George II. Barry, Charles J. Powers, Alonzo L. Mabbett. John HI. Wilson.
Sheriff's .- George Hart, ISIG; Octavias P. Chamberlain, Channrey B. Wood- worth, Alexander Babcock, Hiram Smith, James II. Warren, Alonzo Chapman. Caleb Moore, Isaac V. Sutherland, 1969 ; Joseph B. Campbell, Charles S. Camp- bell, and Ileory E. Richmond.
Treasurers .- Lewis Selye, 1818 and 1851; William EI. Perkins, 1851 ; JJason Biker, 1857; George N. Deming, 1866; Charles P. Achilles, 1872; and James Harris.
Congressional Representatives .-- Monroe was Twenty-niuth district from 1851 to 1862, and was represented by Robert S. Rose, 1847-51 ; Jedediah Horseford,
When i Mudge- lived with his parents in southeast corner of Livingin Co., Mich. about 1840, 00, it was perhaps in adjoining Jon füsighiand, Takland bo. The afterwards taught school in Milford-sume ba.
page 39 (6.3. albright) 1912
Page 39. Pling B. Holdridge ... afterwards moved to Brighton, Livingston Co., mich.
Egbert 7. Gibright. . 1912
40
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1851-53; Azariah Booily, 1553, Davis Carpenter, elected in place of Boody, resigned; John Williams, 1-55-37; Samuel ti. An-Jreww, 1857-59; and Alfred Ely, 1859-63. Mourve and Orleans constituted the Twenty-eighth district from 1802 to 1873, with following representation : Freeman Clarke, 1403-65; Roswell Hart, 1865-67 ; Lewis Selye, 1867-69; Noah Davis, Jr., 1x69-71; and Free- man Clarke, 1871-73. In 1873 the same counties were made the Thirtieth district, with George G. Hoskins, 1873-75, and John M. Davy.
A perusd of old files of newspapers reveals the fact that a degree of modera- tion prevails at present in comparison. with the severe language, the denunciation, and the excitement of former political campaigns. L'pon the adoption of the constitution of the United States. the question of what powers should be dele- gated to the federal government created a division of sentiment. and parties were formed bearing the names Republican and Federal. The former desired to re- strict, and the latter to enlarge, national prerogatives. Among those active in the interests of the Federal party in 1824 were Derick Sibley. James Seymour, and Enos Stone. Of the Republicans were Thurlow Weed. one of the old school, Henry Fellows, and James K. Livingston. The vote for governor gave De Witt Clinton two thousand five hundred and fourteen votes ; Samuel Young, one thou- sand eight hundred and niony osvete The project of' constructing the Erie canal (begun in 1817 and completed in 1525 1 created a division of sentiment re- garding the feasibility of the undertaking. A party who recognized in the canal a great work of internal improvement, heartily supported the measures fur build- ing, and were termed Clintonians. Another party. who looked upon the under- taking as chimerical, strongly opposed " tax for the big diteb," and took the name " Bucktails." The press and politicians were decided in their expressions, and party spirit running high, a virulence of language prevailed which = ms intem- perate and revolutionary in comparison with the present. A diversion was created during the summer of 1826 by the " Morgan excitement." In brief, one William Morgan, of Batavia, began a work exposing the secrets of Freemasonry. It was to be published by David C. Miller. Various efforts were made to suppress the manuscript. Morgan was taken to Canandaigua and lodged in jail. Ile was then abducted, driven towards Rochester, and disappeared. ITis fate is involved in mystery. Belief in an existing strong oath-bound society enrolling citizens of high civil rank, and exercising jurisdiction over human life, aroused apprehension, " excited animosity, and caused the organization of an Anti-Masonic party throughout the State. The press discussed the question with strong feeling ; members of the order seceded, lodges were broken up, aud the society temporarily disappeared.
Later arose the questions of tariff and currency. . The Whig party was derived from the Anti-Masonic organization, while the opposition became known as Demo- cratic. The language of the press in 1840 is indicated by the following extract from an editorial : " The question remains whether we shall commit this young nation to the tender mercies of a national bank, a high protective tariff, an in- definite internal revenue systein, -- the whole rendered lastiog hy contracting an enormous and ever-increasing public debt, wresting power and wealth from the people and centeriog it in the hands of a few." Among Whigs of that time were William Pitkin, Isaac Lacey, and Elias Pund. The Democratic candidates for assembly for 1940 were E. Henry Burnard, Samuel Bayliss, and Josiah Howell. The county cust eleven thousand one hundred and forty-four votes. For Congress, Timothy Childs, Whig, received six thousand and fifty-two votes, und Lyman B. Langworthy five thousand and ninety-two,-being a Whig ma- jority of one thousand five huedred aml forty-five. The history of Rochester recalls the influential part borne by her cirizens in the consideration and control of State and national affairs. The Hon. John Quincy Adams received from Monroe his first nomination to the presidency. The names of Ganliner, Selden, Cumming, and Carter, of Barnard, Covode, and Weed, are honored for the memories of their eminent ability and rauk in the past. The name of Thurlow Weed recalls one who made himself' known and felt in every village and city in the nation,-a man genial in spirit, powerful in expression, and a busy actor on the public stage.
The stirring and radical changes since 1961. still progressing, are viewed with the same patriotic spirit from different stand-prints, and find able champions, whom it would seem invidious to name. The enunty is fully recognized as Repub- lican, the strength of which party, compared with the Democratic, is illustrated by the popular vote of 1875 for Secretary of State. In the general election held in Monroe ou November 2, 1975, Frederick W. Seward received eleven thousand one hundred and seventy-five votes. John Bigelow eight thousand eight hun- dred and eighty-five votes. George B. Dusinherre, Prohibition candidate, two hundred and forty-seven votes, and scattering, forty-five, from a total of twenty thousand three hundred and fifty-two votes polled. In 1873 the Denweratic majority for Secretary of State was one hundred and seventy, and in 1974. for governor, three hundred and ninety-three, while the Republican majority for Secretary of State in 1875 was two thousand two hundred and ninety.
The following table of the pojedlation of Monroe, at intervals, shows the pro- gress in this essential of the county since its organization: In 1520, 26,555; 1830, 49,862; 1840, 61,902; 1845, 70,899; 1850, 87,650; and in 1855, 96,324. These last were classified by color, political relation, nativity, and educa- tion as follows: White, 95,835; colored, 430, voters, 17,272 ; aliens, 22,837; natives of the State, 53,039 ; of the United States, 63,043; and of foreign counties, 33,276; and of those over twenty-one who could not read or write, 2105.
The population of towns for semi-decades from 1860 is showu as follows:
1800
1865.
18:0.
1875.
Brighton.
3,138
3,590
4,304
2,964
Chili,
2,205
2,242
4.367
2.297
Clarkson ...
2,093
1,843
1,884
1,922
Hinten
2,710
2,783
3.541
1,997
Greece,
4,147
4.400
4,314
4,800
Henrietta.
2.249
2,207
2,280
2,325
Hamulio
2,460
2,392
2,304
2,322
Irondequoit.
3,547
3,420
3,990
1,875
Mendon.
R.
2,936
2,959
2,900
2,958
Olen
2.712
2,791
2,974
2,977
Parma ..
2,904
2,93G
2,864
2,963
Profield.
3,210
3,059
2,928
2,880
Perrioton
3,015
3,219
3,261
3,873
Pittsford
2,028
2,629
1,974
2.215
Riga
2,177
2,141
2,171
1,999
Rochester
48,201
50,040
62,386
61,673
Rush
1,613
1,708
1,654
1,699
Sweden.
4,045
4,126
4,558
5,164
Webster .....
2,636
2,775
2,749
2,819
Wheatland
2,560
2,675
2,565
2,629
Total
100,649
104,235
117,868
134,534
1
CHAPTER XX.
INDIAN TRAILS-HIGHWAYS-BRIDGES-CONSTRUCTION OF THE ERIE CANAL -CELEBRATION VISIT OF LA FAYETTE-ENLAROEMENT-REBUILDING OF THE OREAT AQUEDUCT OVER THE GENESEE-THE OENESEE VALLEY CANAL -- THE CANAL TRADE.
. THE avenues of communication are an undoubted evidence of the state of society. The conveyance of products, facile and expeditious communication, and the movement of armies require an unobstructed highway, and, in proportion to progress, intercommunication increases, and the channels of trade are improvedl. The Iroquois had used for centuries the narrow paths branching from a great western trail, and in movements upon their foes traversed the streams and studied strategy and ambuscade. Not so the Romans of old, whose broad stone-ways have survived to remind us of their power and greatness. Mexican causeways, Peruvian roads, and the canals of the cast, attest the vigor of national life, and whatsoever remains is upon a scale immense and enduring, indicative of indefinite periods of construction and the employment of masses of population. Whatever may have existed in past centuries, to whatever pitch of greatness an empire may have aspired, it had no evidence in the western world to claim priority of Grand canal* or the old Albany turnpike. The trail through the forest and the light canoe upon the lifke and river were ample for the aborigine. and equal to his capacity. When the European first trod the country of tho Seneca Iroquois he found narrow, well-beaten trails traversing the forests in various directions. Between villages, they showed frequent communication. and led away to other tribes or lost them- selves at the borders of favorite hunting and fishing grounds. A well-known ancient trail led from the valleys of the Hudson and Mohawk, on through Canna- daigua, to the Genesee river at Avon ; there crossing, it bore south ward to a village and then northwest to Caledonia. It crossed Allen's creek at Le Roy, Black ercek at Stafford, reached the hanks of the Tonawanda above Bitavia, and con- tinued westward to the Niagara. This was the main trail to Canada. The Ontario trail, originating at Oswego, came upon the Ridge road at Irondequoit hay. " It turned up the bay to its head, where a branch trail went to Canandaigua Turning west, it crossed the Genesee at the aqueduct, passed down the river to the Ridge road, and thence to the west line of Hartland, Niagara county, where it diverged southwest," and at Cold Springy formed a junction with the Niagara trail. At points along this pathway, worn deep in the soil, laterd trails led off
" Tae Erie Canal was often epoken of in its incipiency as the " grand canal."
41
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to corn-field, orchard, village, and lake. Westward from Albany came the Con- necticut and Massachusetts settlers along the windings of the old trad, from which the brush was eut away to admit the passage of sled and cart. The ravines were dyked, the streams bridged, and ferries, rude and unwieldy, crossed the Cayura lake. In 1792 but four families resided on the road from Canatlaigua to the Genesee river, and Indians were the principal travelers, as they had been for cen- turies. On March 22, 1794, three commissioners were duly appointed and legally authorized to lay out a road from L'tica of to-day to Cayuga ferry, theace to Canandaigua, and thence to Avon on the Genesee, where was creeted the first bridge to span the stream. It was contracted. The road was to be as direct as possible, and one hundred feet wide. The legislature appropriated 83000 from the sale of military lauds for a road through that tract, and 87500 for expendi- ture upon the portions east and west of the tract. This tract was long known as the "State road," and was auxiliary to the settlement of western New York. It was said by Colonel Williamson that " this road was so much used in 1707 by people on business, or by those whom curiosity had led to visit the Falls of Niagara, that a station was fixed at the Big Plains (thirty-eight miles west of the Genesee) to shelter travelers." Some fifty families had soon settled along the road, and it was anticipated that it would not be long before there would exist one continued settlement from old Fort Schuyler to the Genesee. The people turned out to work the road, and so far improved it that staging began September 30, 1797. A stage left Utica on the date given, and arrived with four passengers at Geneva at the close of the third day. Through the ensuing winter two stages ran from Canandaigua to Albany weekly. An act was passed, prior to 1800, by which the State road was to be made a turnpike, and an estimate of $1000 per mile made.
In 1800, a road four rods wide was cut out from the Genesee, at Avon, to Le Roy, a distance of twelve miles. During this year a new road was begun and completed in part, from Buffalo westw.frd, to connect with the one terminating at Le Roy. Agents of the large land-holders constructed roads wo facilitate aale and settlement of lands. It was provided by legislative act, of date April 8, 1801, that "carriages or sleighs meeting on the great road from the village of Utica, Oneida county, to the towa of Canandarque. county of Ontario, the westward- bound carriages or sleighs should give way, under fine of three dollars." By the same enactment, the Genesee river, from the great fall until its junction with Canaseroga creek, " was declared a highway, excepting privileged for building stores and docks." Cayuga bridge was begun May, 1799, and was in use by the fall of 1800. Its length was a miile and a quarter, its width permitted the pass- age of three wagons abreast, and its cost was one hundred and fitty thousand dol- lars. Other bridges built at that point by companies proved very remunerative. In 1804, three commissioners,. Grover Smith, John Swift, and John Ellis, were appointed to survey and lay off a highway full four rods wide from Saline, Oaon- daga county, " to the northwest corner of the township of Gulen, theuce through Palmyra and Northfield, to or near the mouth of' the Genesee." The expense of the road was equally borne by the counties through which it lay. In the year 1810, a road was laid out by State authority from Arkport to Charlotte, " to cou- nect the navigation of the Susquehanna with Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Genesee river." The commissioners were Micajah Brooks, Matthew Warner, and Hugh MeNair, who the same year laid a road to Olesa from Canandaigua. Another highway was explored and laid from Hartford ( Avon), on the Genesee, to New Amsterdam ( Buffalo), during the same season.
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