History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 6

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 6

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From 1788-90 a half-dozen persons had effected a ladyment between Avon and ,Lake Ontario. At Pittsford were Israel and sunon Stone ; at Perrinton, Glover . Perrin ; upon the site of Scottsville lived Peter Shaeffer ; at Brighton, Orange Stone had built a habitation, and at the mouth of the Genesee William Ilincher had fixed his abode. For several years no neighbor intervened between the twelve miles of forest which stretched from the log tavern of Stone to the solitude where Hincher dwelt by the lake.

It was the close of 1789, when Peter Shacffer, originally from Lancaster, Peonsylvania, set out for the Genesee country to provide his sons and daughters each with an inheritance before his departure. for he was eighty-five years of age. During July a tract of one thousand two hundred acres was purchased in Bloom- field, and each of three daughters was given four hundred acres, upon which they settled. Shaeffer came in December to the mouth of Allen's creek, where dwelt Ebenezer Allen in a log house upon a farm of four hundred and seventy acres, part granted for services rendered Phelps and Gorham in treaty with the Indians, and three hundred the gift of the Indians. Shueffer foond over tifty acres under tillage, and a field of twenty acres sowed to wheat; experience taught him the value of the property, aud it was purchased for his sons, Peter and Jacob, for one thousand one hundred and seventy-five dollars. This money enabled Allen to complete his famous mill upon the present site of Rochester. The Shacffers, father and sons, became inmates of the Allen cabin, where they passed the winter while building for themselves a structure which was known as the first framed farm dwelling from the Genesee to Lake Erie.

The father and brother died, and Peter Shaeffer, Jr., wealthy, enterprising, and benevolent, was held in high repute in public and private life. As he was the pioneer settler of southern Monroe, we learn with pleasure that his life and char- acter were worthy of transmittal to posterity in the records of its organization. Among reminiscences he speaks of laying a road from Allen's creek to the fails in 1792. He was assisted by his brother, and having no compass the ranges were taken from trees. Improvements in the way of bridging were made in the winter of 1793. Wild animals were numerous and troublesome. Wild pigeons were netted in large numbers. Trout were abundant in the creeks. While en route to join the western Indians against Wayne, a body of Senecas encamped upon the flats near the creek, and threatened, if successful, to return and war against the settlers. On ene occasion a detachment of troops proceeding westward along the Ontario shore became shortened for supplies: Learning of Shaeffer. they came np to his farm, quartered in his barn, received a quantity of rations, and were guided by him to Caledonia springs, and from Tonawanda were led by the trader Poudry to Fort Niagara, where they were the first to raise the American flag. Maude said of Shaeffer, " This respectable farmer lives of the road in a new boarded house, the only one of that description between New Hartford (Avun) and the mouth of the Genesee river, upon which, excepting Indiao Allen, he is the oldest settler."

Simoo and Israel Stone were proprietors of Pittsford, and settled opon the trail from Avon northward to Irondequoit. Silas Nye and Joseph Farr were others closely following them.

William Walker is recalled as the land agent of Phelps and Gorham at Canan- daigun. Probably as n remuneration for his services, township 12, range +, became his property.

During the summer of 1789, Caleb Walker moved into the township, bringing with him Glover Perrin and his wife. Walker died, and was the first death of a white settler in Ontario. Glover Perrin was the first settler with a family in the towo of Perrinton. The original log cabin stood a mile south of Fairport. The township first formed as Northfield was known as Boyle. and theu, in honor of the Perrina, touk its present name. A year elapsed and Jesse Perrin came, and, residing with his brother, cleared what is now the "Centre hurying.ground." In 1792, Jesse Perrin brought on his family, and for two years these families alone occupied the town. To those accustomed to society, this loneliness was de- pressing, and the record says Mrs. Glover Perrin bee .. me - partially deranged." What wonder that a sensitive nature should shrink from the solitary and laborious life, or that reason should be finally overborne? The utter despair with which many a mother first entered her log cabin and by night listened to the uuearthly

howl of the wolf prowling in the clearing. or hy day. her husband absent to mil! or raising. encountered the sullen and vinilictive Seneres, cannot be realized. The sparseness of population is denoted by the fact that when it was required to raise the weather-worn house yet standing on the north part of the farm af Bruce Hamilton, all the available help of Perrinton, Brighton, Pittstonil, and P-noeld was required, and two days of hard labor were employed to conclude the under- taking.

Orange Stone settled in what is now Brighton, four miles from the Genesee. in 1700, and having opened a house of entertainment for such as came that way. hecame well known to traveler, hunter, and Indian trader. Young men preparing homes in the country boarded with him. Enos Stone, Jr., was one of those who drove through stock, cattle, and swine, in the spring of 1790. Various trips to and from his castern home were made, until 1810. when he became the pioneer settler of Rochester, and the owner of a farm now of the most densely populated portions of the city. He has written the following: " In an carly year, while stopping with my brother Orange, Chauncey Hyde and myself were out one day hunting cattle. We saw a smoke rising at Irondequoit landing, and approaching found it came fromn n camp in which were two Indians, who ruse from a couch as we drew near. One of the men was dressed partly as an Indian and partly as a white, was provided with a gold watch, and introduced himself' as Joseph Brandt, on the way to Canandaigua. He had arrived in a boat, seut runnery to the county seat for horses, and waited their return. Accepting an invitation, he came np and visited at the house of Orange Stone. Familiar in conversation, gentle- manly in manners, it was difficult to conceive him the leader of savages in a cruel war upon the borders. He manifested an interest in settlements, and gave as- gurance that the Senecas would act " in good faith and give no trouble.'"

John Lusk, of Berkshire, Massachusetts, brought the first family to the lands of Monroe, and during the progress of survey had set off to him a traet of fifteen hundred acres, near the head of Irondequoit bay. As the first in improvement sad original settlement, the name of Luck should be linked with that of the county whose lands became his home. Contemporary with the founding of Can- andaigua, he was the first settler in all Mooroe, and one of the first drops in that shower of settlers whose combined labor has resulted in so great changes. John Lusk, his son Stephen, a youth of fifteen, and Scely Peet. a hired man, came west during the summer of 1789. At Schenectady the father set out by boat with provisions; the son and hired hand came by land to bring out cattle. The three met at Canandaigua, tade an vx-sled, loaded it, and cut their own road to their location. The log cabin was built, and, during the intermissions uf fever and ague, land to the extent of twelve acrey was cleared and sowed in wheat ob- tained of Allen. The wheat was brought by canoe down to the mouth of Red creek, whence it was taken along a track cut through the woods. In the spring of 1790 Lusk returned from Massachusetts, where he had passed the winter, and came from Schenectady to the head of the Iroodequoit bay, by water, bringing with him his family. Two sons, Erastus and Stephen, were of the party engaged in bringing out stock. The family settled in their new home, and Monroe County of to lay was occupied by its first white family of pionvers. Others speedily fol- lowed, some of whom, disheartened, returned.

Allen, Shaeffer, the Stones, and Lusks, have been named as the pioneers of Monroe. A name recurs which has no merit save the fact that it belonged to the first white man who inhabited the present county of Monroe. When But- ler's Rangers, failing to check the advance of Sullivan, were taken by boats to Canada, one named Walker remained behind. A log cabin was built at the mouth of the Genesce, and two step-daughters became his housekeepers. This refugee adhered to British interests, and found delight in alarming the settlers with tales of Indian hostility. With the effrontery of his elass, he boasted of his evil deeds, and one day, at Canandaigua, was attacked by Horatio Jones, ase in hand, aud bos for assistance would have paid tho penalty of his crimes. He finally removed to' Canada.

A second refugee to the Monroe shore of Lake Ontario was William Hencher, of Brookfield. Massachusetts, a Revolutionary soldier, and a supporter of Shay during the Massachusetts rebellion. He was conveying supplies to the rebels when over- taken by the military, and, abandoning his teams, fled to the seclusion and safety of the western forests. Ile was joined by his family, and lived at Big Flat, till August, 1791, when, with a son aged eleven, he weot to the mouth of the Gene- see. The father and son cut grass at Long pond, as a provision for stock, and, building a hut on the west side of the river, returned to the Flats.

The family set out in February, 1792. for their new abode. They were ten in nymiber,-parents, a son, and seven daughters. Two teams were used with or- sleds, and the route was by way of Seneca lake. Reaching Irondequoit, the road- way terminated. A road was then cut by Hlencher westward till the river was reached above the falls, when the journey was continued down the east side to Walker's, where a month was passed. The family then crossed the river and

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

took possession of the hut built the previous ful !. Not even the primitive clap- board covered the rafters, simply the dried wild grave. This is claimed to have been the first hut of legitimate white settlement on the lake shure between the Genesee and Fort Niagara. Ufun a clearing, made by Walker. a summer emp was raised while other land was improved. a loz house supplanted the hut, and tha frequent visits of emigranta and boatmen, who came to camp on shore, showed the location wisely made. To a traffic which sprang np was added a trade in fish. Father and soo, crossing the lake, caught fish. which were traded in the settle- menta for dairy products, and these in turn sold in Canalla with profit. Six hun- dred acres of land were bought, and when the first title was shown to be defective the tract was once more paid for in full. All seven of the Hencher girls were married to pioneers, lived long, and saw their families grow up about them.

Angustus Porter, the surveyor of many towna of Ontario, thus reviews the past, and necounts for pioneer settlers: "The next spring ( 1700) I again came to Bloomfield, where I built a saw-mill on Mud creek. The latter part of the season I was employed by Jonathan Fasset to survey township No. 13, fourth range (Penfield ). This I ran into large farin lots, except some twenty or thirty acres lying on Irondequoit creek, which were run into twelve hundred so-called city lota. At this time Simon and Israel Stone wore living where the village of Pittsford stands. They were original purchasers of the township from Phelps and Gorham. and selected this spot to commence their settlement from its being directly on the Indian path leading both from the Irondequoit landing and the Falls to Cane- wagus (Avon), and from the existence there of a fine spring. Among other residents of the town were a Mr. Nye and Paul Richardson, who, later, married the widow of Israel Stone. John Luak lived near the landing; Allen on the north side of the west branch of the creek at the crossing of the Rochester and Pittsford road. Orange Stone was a resident of No. 13, seventh range ( Brighton ), by the handsome elm-tree and the big rock, and just to the west of him waa the cabin of Chauncey Ilyde. The town was surreyed by Captain John Gilbert. one of a company who purchased during the year 1789. The presence of swamp land at the southwest and the great marsh of the bay disappointed the proprietors, who mostly resold to Plielps. The survey of townsbip No. 12, fourth range (Perrinton), into lots, was made by Caleb Walker, who with his brother William were proprietors of the town. Colonel William Walker sold the townahip to . Daniel Penfield, who, in 1797, sold to Mr. Duncan. a Scotchman, who left it to bis son, a later resident of Canandaigua. In 1790, Ebenezer Hont and others purchased of Phelps and Gorham twenty thousand acres in township 1, short range. The first settler between Shaeffer's and the Falls was Colonel Josiah Fish. who settled at the mouth of Black. creek. and was for years supervisor of the town of Northampton, which included all of the present State lying west of the river. The mill-site tract was surveyed into town-hips by Hugh Maxwell, in 1789. He erred by running his west line dne north, and conformed the outline of the township to accord with it. The corrected line, which is N. 22º E., was run by me in 1792, and corresponds with the course of the Genesee, and gives the obliquity seen in the towoship lines. In 1797, I surveyed the twenty-thous- and-acre tract into lots, and laid out village lots at Hanford'a landing. Settle- ment was then commenced there by Gideon King, Zadoe Granger, and others. At the same time I laid out the Allen hundred acres, conformable to the description given by Phelps and Gorham's deed to E. Hunt and others. This directed that the centre of tha tract up and down the stream should be the centre of Allen's mill, and laid out in as near a square form as river windings would admit."

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The formation of a new county, to be known as Gencsee, dates from March 3, 1802; the Genesee river became the boundary line between the new connty ond Ontario, and so remained till the later erection of Monroe County from these two. The organization of these counties was the occasion of much discussion, and at times rose to the rank of a party question in the original county : the advantages of a county seat and the cost of public buildings being the ground of dissension. Joseph Ellicott was a prominent settler upon the Holland purchase, and, to further advance the interests of that section, passed the first months of 1802 at Albany in urging upon the legislature the necessity of forming a new county. Ile was opposed hy James Wadsworth, who wished to ereet a county to include all terri- tory west of a north and south line phasing midway between the Genesee and Canandaigua at the main road, with Hartford ( Avon) as the county sent. The bill to organize Genesee county was brought np and decided during the temporary absence of Wadsworth.

Court was held in the court-house at Batavia during June: 1903. Ezra Platt, John H. Jones, and Benjamin Ellicott were judges, and Nathan Perry was assist- taat justice. Five lawyers were admitted to practice; George Hosmer, John Greig, and Richanl Smith having been attorneys in Ontario, and Timothy Burt and G. Oggien being attorneys of the Supreme Court. At this court was organized the pioneer grand jury west of the licheve river; from this circumstance their samcs are given as follows: Alexander Rca, Asa Ransom, Peter Vandeventer,

Daniel Henry, Samuel F. Gerr. Lovell Chun hill, Jabez Warren, Zera Phelps, Jotham Bemus, Seymour Kellogg, John A. Thompson, John Ganson, Jr., I- Smith, Elisha Farwell, Peter Shaeffer, Hugh Mr. Dermott, John MeNaughton. and Luther Coe. No indictments were presente.l. The first issue in a court of record was joined in a session of November, 1203. At this term jail limits for bailed debtors were prescribed, and comprised about three acres of ground in the vicinity of the jail io Batavia. A court of nyer aud terminer was hell hy An- hruse Spencer in June, 1304. An indictment was found for manslaughter against Joseph Rhineberger, who was deleoded by Judze Howell. . Found guilty. Ton years in the State's prison at New York were given him. Iu November, 1805 Benjamin Bary, Jr , was licensed to keep a ferry between the towns of Northum- herland and Northfield. The former originally included all land west of the river in the State. The first trial for murder was in June, 1807. The presiding judg. was Daniel D. Tompkins. Judge Howell defeoded the prisoner, who was found guilty, and sentenced to be hang.

The cirenmstances of the crime and capture are these : Three squatters di -- puted concerning the ownership of a tree. McLean, the tourderer, with au axe killed one of his companions, and when MeLaughlin interfered also struck him down. Passing the night io a hollow log near his house, MeLean with morning fed to the woods. The news circulated swiftly through all the settlements west of the river; the militia were called ont, and in small parties sconted the woods in every direction. A few days had passed when MeLean was identified at a tavern cast of Canandaigua and captured. The execution in August was attended by almost the entire population of men, women, and children,-a marked contrast with present custom.

The history of each town of Monroe delincates the almost uniform experience of exposure, sickness, losses, and adventure. It remains here to preseut types of character and illustrate the results of perseverance in the midst of hardship- unknown to the pioneers upon the western plains at the present date. The tid .. of settleweut has rolled far remote; it has swept acresa the valley of the Mi- sissippi and spread upon the regions lately roamed by the buffalo and claimed by the Indians ; but the rail-car lands the emigrant by his claim and the treeles soil is ready for the plow. Settlement proceeds, but the hardships endured by the pioneers of Monroe bave Dow no parallel.

The Atchisons, piloted by the hunter Parks, are seen to cut their way to Brad- dock's bay; sled-boards and blankets afford them shelter ; three out of four oren die, and with the survivor eight acres are logged and prepared for crops. The Leonards lose a father by the fall of a limb while chopping a tree, fire consumes their household property, and sickness paralyzes energy. Oliver Culver, operating the pioneer ashery at Irondequoit landing, utilizes the ashes of the clearings and enables the settler to purchase necessaries from trader and early storekeepers; and Judge John Tryon, having erected a store and storehouse upon a village site three miles south from the head of Irondequoit bay, receives goods from the sleighs of Augustus Griswold and the boat of Oliver Grace, and opens the pio- neer store west of Canandaigua,-the payment of his goods, the product of the chase, supplied by both white and Indian.

Common hardships are instancel, initial improvement named. The interest of proprietors was identical with settlers, since occupation and improvement enhanced the value of their purchase, and the utmost lenity was shown to the worthy. It was under these circumstances of difficulty that the first lands of Moorne were settled, and that resolute character imbibed so marked in their descendants.

CHAPTER VIL

EARLY PROPRIETORS OF MONROE TOWNS -- AGENTS FOR SALE AND SETTLE. MENT-ORIGINAL TOWNS AND OFFICIALS-THE FIRST TAX-ROLL WEST OF THE GENESEE.

IN one important respect the settlement of a new regina in early days is in con- trast with the present. Then a proprietor or his agent was an interestel superin. tendent of pioneer movement ; now cach emigrant arts fur himself, tikmi tale direct from government. The former method was favorable to progress when conveyances were not defective. Two men, James and William Wal-worth, ns- tives of Connecticut, as proprietors and agents of frenesre lan.ls, ren.i. red in in. valuable service to the pioneer. Themwives experienced in the hard tohowauf frontier life, they were well prepared to advise and assist others The town of Mendon was the last sale by Phelps and Gorham prior to tho transfer of their

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

interests to the London company. Franklin and Boughton were the first pur- chasers. Jeremiah Wadsworth became owner of nearly one- half the township, and began sales in June, 1793. Zebulon Norton was the pionier in the town, having settled at Eluneoye falls in 1791, and there erected mills. The town of Rush was purchased by Jeremiah Wadsworth and by a company uf which Mor- gan was a prominent member. The Wadsworths raised berds of cattle, and these they herded several winters upon the rush meadows of the fiats. The town has its natne from the abundant growth of rushes on its lands. Joseph Morgan was one of the earliest pioneers.

The town of Northfield, formed in 1794, included all of Monroe east of the river and north of Rush and Mendon. The first town meeting was held in 1796, with Phineas Bates presiding justice. Silas Nye was then elected supervisor, and John Ray town clerk. . The name of the town was changed in 1798 to Boyle, which in 1813 was divided into Penfield, Perrinton, and Smallwood. Other changes fullowed to produce the civil conformations now existing in 1814 and subsequent years. In North Penfield or Webster the forest was heavy, the ground wet, and only by co-operative labor was the community of settlers enabled to make a commencement. The first occupation of Henrietta was made in 1790, by Isaac Scott, to whom nine hundred acres were apportioned of lands bordering upon the Genesee. The traet was given by Phelps and Gorhamu for services rendered them, and upon it a log cabin was built, a few acres cleared, and then, after several years of the mast trying experience. Major Scott abandoned the field to others, and it was not till 180G that permanent settlement began by Lyman and Warren Hawley and Jesse Pangburn. Sale of lands was arrested in 1811 by the discovery that the deeds of foreign proprietors were not on record as required by statute. A pe- tition, drawn by Wadsworth and signed by settlers, asked a year's delay te Supply omission, and it was granted. Title was made good in 1817, and all unsold lands were purchased of foreign holders by Mr. Wadsworth. Pending the contract of lands between 1809 and 1SI7, Rochester had assumed importance, a canal was in prospect, and the carly price of four dollars per acre was changed to accord with the improvements. The terms for unpaid contracts were " full payment at contraet price in four months; payment in full for twenty or more acres at contraet price, and a new contract at a two-thirds' advance upon that unpaid; or no payment down and a new contract at six dollars and sixty-six cents per acre." The terms were made in equity between proprietor and settlers, but were unfavorable to the latter in a dual sense : first, the enhanced value of lands was the result of their presence ; second, with no cash in hand the third alternative of renewed contracts " had to be adopted. Many, unable to make payments, soll at a sacrifice, ani re- newed their effort, we hope ander better circumstances, while others lost their improvements without equivalents. This was a misfortune ever creating dis- quietude in the log cabin, dreaded more than hardships, and prevalent in various sections of the Genesee country, but most severe iu the town of Henrietta.

To no great extent was Charles Williamson interested in that part of the Pul- teney estate known as the Mill tract. Mistaken as to the course of commerce, his early efforts were given to the lands now comprised in Steuben, and Bath became a settlement in 1792. He is credited with the expression, " As nature has done so much for the northern plains, I will do something for these southern mountains." However, his enterprise was contined to no one spot, and the influ- ence of his operations was felt throughout the entire Genesee country. Although termed the " Pulteney estate," John Hornby and Patrick Culquhoun were equally interested, and the last named was the active partner in the adventure of specula- tive purchase io wild western lands. The price paid for what way estimated at one million one hundred thousand acres, but which was really one hundred thou- Band in excess, was thirty-five thousand pounds sterling. The country could not have fallen into better hands. These proprietors were patient under delay, gave long credits, and were satisfied with reasonable returus. The settlers became such from their necessity and the company's liberality ; and wherever the history of the " valley" is read, the name of Colquhoun and his agent, Williamson, should be found. Mr. Williamson founded towns, built hotels and mills; and while he exercised almost a parental care over bis settlements, provided for communication by roads, and for their enjoyment by fairs and race-course. Having reconnnitred the shores of Lake Ontariu, and founded a settlement at Sodus bay, he regarded Braddock'a bay as the next most promising site upon the lake. Survey of a towo was made, but little interest shown.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 6

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