USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 66
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The first saw-quill in this town was erected by Joshua Green, and was located northwest of the Centre, about due east of I'niou church, on Samly ereck, about the year 1813 A few years later, James Sayres erected a saw-mill on the present aite of Union mills, west of the Centre ; Aretas Haskall another, near the line br- tween Clark son and Howlin, east of the Lake road, and on West, or what was then
170
MRS. A. T. KETCHAM.
A. T. KETCHAM
RES. OF A. T. KETCHAM , EAST HAMLIN, MONROE Co., N.Y.
CHAS. T. BUSH.
RESIDENCE AND FARM OF CHARLES T
R & Busha
LIN , MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
171
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
called Freeman's creek ; and still another in 1816 or 1817. by Alanson Thomas, on Sandy ercek, where it crosses the Redmont road. which he built for Le Roy and Bayard, and soon after purchased for himself. The latter has heretofore been recorded as the first saw-will erected in this town. But that is erroneous, as there are meu yet living who assisted at its raising, while Green's mill was in opera- tion when they first settled in 1814, and who think that the erection of Sayres', and possibly of Hascall's utills, were also prior that of Thomas', which, bowever, is very improbable. Soon after purchasing it, Mr. Thomas erected a grist-mill adjoining, and they became widely known as " Thomas' mills." This was the first grist-mill erected in the town. and remained so for a long time. Still later, Carney Newel built a saw-mill on Sandy creek, near the lake, and Aretas Hascall bis second mill, about 1824, a short distance above it. The former was subse- quently purchased by Alansoo Thomas, taken down, and a new one erveted on the same site, which is still in existence. The little hamlet that sprang up was named, after its builder, Thomasville, since changed to North Humulin. A short time previous to 1827, O. C. Webster built a grist- and saw-mill on the Sandly, at the county line, which was rebuilt by his son, E. K. Webster, in 1840, and being on the west side of the line became known as Kendall mills. The latter, however, had erected, previous to the last, both a grist- and saw-mill, on the same stream, bear where the Lake Ontario railroad crosses it.
The first iun kept in this town was located a few yards north of the present post-office at East Hamilin. It was built and kept by Philander Kane, about 1830 or 1832. Near the same time and place, then kuown as Kane Corners. II. Beebe kept a grocery store, the first in town. David Look also kept a tavern on the Lake road, south of the Centre, for some time. where town meetings were held, and years after another tavern at North Hamlin. In 1842, A. D. Raymond built the first tavern at Haulin Centre, on the site of the present Baptist church. This has always been recorded as the first tavern ever kept in the town, whereas it was the third, according to the authority of A. D. Raymond himself. The present tavern was built by Jesse Ilurlbuit, about the time, or immediately sub- sequent to keeping public-honse at Clarkson Corners. Previous to building, the Clarkson Centre Hlouse had burned down .- so named before the formation of this town, when the place was known as Clarkson Centre. Daniel Pease, who kept the first store in this place, is recorded as the first storekeeper in town, when in truth it was many years subsequent to that at Kane's Corners. John Patter- soo, about fifty years ago, also kept a store in a building owned by Mr. Kane, and naw used for a blacksmith-shop, nearly opposite the po-t-office, where it was removed. Isaac Ausden opened a tavern at Kimball's mills about nine years ago, which is now kept by E. Crane. During President Pulk's administration post- offices were thickly scattered through this country. at Clarkson and other places, some of which have since been discontinued. At Hamlin Centre, the post-office of Clarkson Centre, with Ilenty Kimball as first postmaster; at East Hamlin, the post-office of North Clarkson, with Elisha Wheeler as first postmaster ; and at East Kendall, the post-office of that name, with Andrew Clark ax first postmaster. Several years prior to these a post-office had been located at Kendall mills, on the county line, and four or five years ago at Thomasville, near the lake, as North Haulin, with L. Hovey as first postmaster. The names of the two first men- tioned were changed soon after the organization of this town. The first post- master at Kendall mills was Cassius Mason, and the mail was carried once a week on hmischack by O. C. Webster from Murray. Eust Kendall also had a weekly mail from Murray. Hauilin, then Clarkson Centre, received its mail from Brock- port, a id Clarkson Corners and East Hinulin from the Centre, weekly, by Alsoo Ilines.
It is impossible to fully realize the hardships, privations, and sufferingy of the first settlers of Hamlin. In the midst of an immense forest, without society, far removed from towns where anything could be purchased, and destitute of means to purchase, twenty or twenty-five miles of almost impassable roads to travel before a grist-mill or a store could be reached, and ouly ox-teams to drive, in a wretchedly sickly country, where fevers were the common lot of nearly every the, and no physician near, the wolf without and the wolf of hunger within. all conspired to try the stoutest heart. Its remote location from the regular line of travel and enterprise augmented the burdens and wentralized the efforts of these unhappy settlers, They built their houses with unhewed logs, withont floors, and often without doors or windows, and shingled them with bark or strips split frou logy, affording small protection against rain and cold. They dried leaves of ins and shrubbery and leeks to feel their stock in winter. and subsisted them- elve on milk, game, and mush from contr braten up. The land, half covered with sumjs, was very difficult to rultivate, and what little produre could be obtained could find no market, as there were no transportation facilities, and each ettler supplied his own wants. As a result but little numey was in circulation. scarrely enough to pay their low taxes, and none for a payment on their cheap farnes. _ Mil groceries were paid for in produce at extremely low rates, as the storekeeper must
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find a market over nearly impassable roads. In our day of railmads, we can bur faintly realize the great relief affordled by the opening of the Erie canal. A von- venient market was created by bringing purchasers here, and, though priers were low, there was a certainty of disposing of all surplus produce, and an inumeriate stimulus was given to settlement and enterprise. Yet in subsequent years, after lands were improved. swamp and marsh redeemed by good drainage, malaria and the conditions of disease destroyed, and markets sought for the farmer's priabwts, until very recently, ten ur fifteen miles of bad roads must be traversed to reach them. Such were among the trials and experience of the early settlers of this town, and for many years the permanent hinderanee to its increase in population. values, and prosperity. But happily these have all passed away. The country is all improved, perfectly healthy, as productive and well cultivated as any part of the State, societies organized, churches built, stores convenient, roads excellent. tills abundant and flourishing. a railroad passing through the centre of the town. and every convenience at hand to make all a prosperous and happy rural people.
The supervisors und town clerks, from the organization of this town to the pres- ent, and the other officers for 1876, are here given. Ebenezer Barringer, super- visor from 1853 to 1861, both inclusive; Seymour Sherwood, 1862 to 1963; Martin Webster, 1864 to 1866; George II. Lee, 1867 to 1871 ; James N. K-u- yon, 1872 to 1874: and Walter A. Ferris. 1873 to the present. Hugh Brown. town elerk, 1854; Aaron N. Bramtun, 1855 to 1861; Alfred S. Braman. 1-02 to the present. The other officers for 1876 are-Justice of the Peace, Seymour Sherwood, 1875. No election in 1876; a tie vote. Collector, Ira B. Richmnoml. Assessor, Drummond Bates; Auditors, John N. Kenyon, Enos B. Wird, J. L. Fidton ; Road Commissioners. A. P. Hartwell, Silas Hoskins; Overweers of the Pour, Egbert II. Campbell. John Griffith ; Inspectors of Elections, L. J. P'ease. J. H. Simmons. Jesse Ilulburt ; Excise Connuissioners, William HI. Srmight. P. N. Simmons. J. II. Storer ; Constables, II. Manley, J. G. Nesbit, Eni Knowl- ton, Nicholas Wiles.
Hamlin has sixteen good. substantial, and comfortable school-houses in as many districts, besides a portion of her territory attached to districts in towns adjoining. with which the children attending its schools are reported. Her schools are all flourishing, and. according to the report of' 1875, give instruction to eight hun- dred and six children.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST HAMLIN
was organized about the year 1824, in what was known as the Wright school- house, on the Parma side of the town line, by Rev. Eli Hannibal. The exact ilite of this organization cannot be determined, as the records previous to the year 1.2s have been lost, and also the list of first members; but among thetu were Gud Wright, George and Henry Litulmcker, Jedediah Williams. Orrin Underwol). Leonard Kingsbury, Jonathan Hemty. Jonathan Goodnough, Samuel and Nathaniel Smith, Wm. Cook, Nathaniel Elliott, James Brown, and others. The first trus- tees are not known; the first deacons were Gad Wright and Leonard Kingsbury : and the first clerk was Wm. Cook. The first church building was erected in 1834. It was a wooden structure, thirty six by fifty feet in size, cost about one thousand four hundred dollars, and was Ineated on the farm now owned by Www. Kine, . about half' a mile southeast of East Hamlin station. Previous to its construr- tion. the services of the eliurch were held in the Middle district, the Baxter. and the Wright school-houses. The dedication of the edifice took place some time in January, 1835. On September 16. 1831, thirty-one members were dismissed hy letter, for the purpose of organizing a new church in Parma, the present one at Unionville. About the year 1853 the church rapidly declined, and because allin-t extinct. For more than a year religious services were discontinued until the arrival of Rev. S. W. Schoonovei, by whom it was revived. and on February 10, 1-5%. it was reorganized. The old church building. however. was abandoned, aml serv- iecs held again in the school-houses, while steps were being taken for the con- struction of a new edifice. Under the ministrations of this zealous pastor the society prospered, and rapidly increased. The new building was completed, and on November 21. 1838, it was consecrated to divine worship by Dr. G. IT. Ball. It is a wooden structure. located one mile north of the old builling, thirty- five by fifty feet in size, und cost about two thousand dollars. The pre-out offi- cers are-Trustees, U. A. Simmons, Wm. Coons. R. B. Wood. Henry Sinmon -. and George Ainsworth ; Deacons, Senrea Knowlton, P. N. Simmons, Iste Cheeny, and J. W. Dimmick ; Clerk, t'. A. Simmons. The first pastor of this church was Eller Eli Hannibal, and among those who succeeded him were Rev. Hinkley, Mr. Jenkins, J. D. Van Porn, Whitcomb. M. H. Mbis. Archibald Bru- nett, Wm. Young. S. W. Schutwet, A. Z. Michel. L. B. Starr. B. Il. Patron, I. J. Hong, and We Walker, who now has charge of the pulpit, with a present church uitule tship of one huwolred and fifty-two. The sexton of the church is Wm. Cons. In or before Fait a Sabbath school organization was effected in the Baxter school-house by Squire Corbin, who became the first superintendent. It
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Went down in 1855 and 1856 with the lissolution of the church, but was resuscitated by Rev. Schoonovei in 1857. and hay since been very prosperous, at times reaching as high as three hundred and twenty-five pupils. It now has ten teachers, and a weekly attendance of about one hundred and fifty pupils, under the supervision of four officers,-Wm. Banker, superintendent ; Robert Nesbit, assistant superin- tendent; Nathaniel Ainsworth. secretary; and Pamelia Ainsworth, treasurer. Con- Dected with it is a library of about two hundred volumes, with John J. Cheeney, librarian.
THE UNION CHURCH OF WEST HAMLIN
was erected in 1833 by the Free Will Baptist and Methodist Episcopal societies conjointly. It is located on the Hamlin side of the county line, at East Kendall Post-office, and is constructed of wood. thirty hy fifty-two feet in size, and at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The Free Will Baptist society was organized in 1828 by Elder Eli Haunibal, in the school house of that district, where the services were regularly held until the completion of the present structure. Elder Hamlin, the organizer, and for fifty years a pastor in this church, was the pioneer preacher of that denomination in all this section of country. In barns, log houses, school-houses, dwellings, churches, and in the forest, wherever the people were assembled or could be called together, he has preached the gospel to thousands of his fellow-creatures, converted and baptized many hundred penitents, built up religious organizationa, and conscerated churches to divine worship. He belongs to and is a part of its religious history, to which his whole life was consecrated. He was born in Fairchild, Connectient, March 18, 1780, ordained a minister of the Free-Will Baptist church on June 12, 1824, and died at his house at Waterport, Orleans county, August 27, 1876. at the great age of ninety-six and one-half years. The Methodist Episcopal society of West Hamlin was organized in 1830, in the same school-house, where it continued to hold its services until the U'nion church was constructed. Both societies, for forty-three years, have occupied the same structure on alternate Sabbaths without detriment to the Christian spirit or harmony of either. A Sabbath-school was organized in 1830 at the school-house, and conducted io connection with the church. It is still flourishing, with a library of one hundred volumes. A. J. Randall is the present superintendent.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HAMLIN CENTRE
was organized in 1969, in the school-house at that place, where services of that denomination had been held sinee 1836, and continued to be until the completion of their present church building in 1872. It is a wooden structure, fifty-six by forty-six feet in size, and cost four thousand five hundred dollars. The first trus- tees were James Whipple, J. O. Thomas, A. Hartwell. Jonas Knapp, and James Billings, and the class-leader, Jolin Shank. The present trustees are Alex. Fishbaugh, J. Knapp, W. A. Ferris, and R. Quivey, and the membership sisty. In 1846, Rev. C. Payne formed a Free Methodist society, which existed only five or six years and dissolved. In 1860 a Sabbath-school was formed, which now embraces six teachers and about thirty-five pupils, with Frauk Fishbaugh super- intentlent, and W. Kimball secretary.
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN (ST. JOHN'S) CHURCH OF HAMLIN (GERMAN) was organized April 1, 1875, with eighty-one members. It was organized in their present church building, which was ereeted in 1874 by the German people, at a cost of four thousand dollars, -- a wooden structure, located about one and one-half miles north of Flamlin Centre, on the Lake road. It was dedicated to the wor-hip of God on the 19th of November, 1974, by the Rev. C. Siebenfeifer, of Rochester. Rev. C. H. W. Staerker was the first and is the present pastor. The first, who are also the present officers. were C. Shapler, I. Priem, W. Lewerenz, J. Wulf. and F. Pagels; and the present membership is eighty-nine. There is no Sabbath- school connected with the church, but a regular day school is kept in the church building by the pastor, for the German children, at which secular education and the elements of Christianity are both taught.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
ABRAM F. KETCHAM.
Abram F. Ketchum, one of the most prominent men of Hamlin. was horn in Pittstown, New York, March 1, 1801. During his early life, like most young men of that day, he worked on the farm assisting his father during the summer season, and taught school in the winter. In 1827 he married Mis Julia Ann Agan, a daughter of Patrick Agan, of Grafton, New York. with whom he has lived in a happy union for nearly half a century. Two years after his marriage, in 1820, he moved with his family to Tinga county, where he remained in active business nine years. In 1838. he removed to Sodus. in Wayne county, where he lived and became prominent as a successful farmer and leading citizen until 1-48 Then, disposing of his property, he emigrated with his funily to Monroe County, and purchased a farm in the western part of Hamlin. where he has since re-ided. esteemed aud respected by all as a conscientious, exemplary, aul publie-spirited citizen. Mr. Ketcham has raised a family of seven children. all living but the eldest, Caroline, who became the wife of John B. Haskill. The others are. re-pre- tively, Warren P., Allen J., Byron C., Spencer C., Richmond A .. and Gertrude E. Keteham. His son, Byron C. Ketcham. is at present a well-known and successful business man of Brockport, conducting an extensive drug business in extention with books and stationery. Mr. Keteham has always been an active man in the affairs of his town. All measures or movements contributing to its prosperity. ut the welfare of his fellow-men, always received his hearty support, and found in him a most efficient aid. Of the strictest integrity, and, with an uncompromising vive of right, he has been called to many positions of trust, which he faithfully .almin- istered, aud retained through all the confidence of his neighbors. In politie- Mr. Ketcham is a zealous and working Republican, not in a partisan sense, but from principle, being by constitution and birth an inveterate fue to all forms of hun .. u slavery; and now, at the age of seventy-five, can look back to a life-work well and conscientiously done.
PARMA.
THE name of the town of Fairfield was immediately after the division of North- ampton, in 1807, changed to that of Parma. Its first officers were-Supervisor, Gibbons Jewett; Town Clerk, Justin Worthington ; Collector, Daniel Spencer ; Assessors, O. F. Rice, A. Webb, Abel Howc. J. Howel, George Huntley ; Poor- masters, Nathaniel Tibbel, Nehemiah Treat; Commissioners of Schools. Alex. White, Samuel Lattee, Samuel Baldwin ; Constables, Fred. Howe, Israel Douglass, Joho Landon, Sanford Briggs, J. Wing. Silas Leonard succeeded Gibbons Jewett in 1812 us supervisor one year; Gibbons Jewett aguin, one year ; George W. Willey in 1814, one year; John C. Patterson, one year; and Gibbons Jewett again in 1816, who served to April, 1819, or two years after the division of the town.
On April 6, 1813, a committee was appointed for the purpose of dividing the town into school districts, which consisted of the following persons, viz. : Norman Dawson, Oliver Gates, Josiab Fish, Enos Pembrook, and Elisha Cross; and at a special meeting, August 24 of the same year, the division of the town into nine school districts was effected. This was the first organization of school districts. Very soon after the separation of Parma from Northampton, a fierce rivalry sprang up between the people in the northern and southern portions of the town, which was never allayed until it culminated in a permanent separation. At every town meeting it manifested itself in the pertinacity with which each party sup- ported its local interests, and by every possible strategy labored to promote the success of its candidates. Their nearly balanced strength only increased the in- . tensity of the conflict, and alternate defeat and victory called into exercise every available resource. The same inconvenience was felt that existed under the old organization,-the want of competent men who could legally hold office, as aone but freeholders were qualified, and popularity was an essential element in such a controversy. To obviate this, temporary deeds were occasionally executed, good until after election, which supplied the requirementa of the law, and bridged over a difficulty which might otherwise have neutralized a victory, or, still worse, led to defeat. In the sanie year of the division of the town into districta, the new office of achool inspector was instituted, and the officers elected to co-operate with the commissioners in " the concerns of common achoola." Also, in the same year, the first bridge across Salmon creek, on the Ridge road, was con- structed at Whitney and Markhani's mills, then in operation. Slavery, then permitted in the State, existed to at least some extent in the town, as shown by the following and only record of that character, under date of December 19, 1814: " T. S. G. Clark. of the town of Parma, do hereby certify that Samuel Hicks, a male child, was born of my servant. black girl Polly, on the 20th day of March, 1814." Ou January 27, 1817, Parma was divided, and the southern division organized as the town of Ogdea. with the centre of the Ridge road as the new to vn line. Soon, however, Parwa was extended to embrace the Gore, and the live changed to its present location, since which timo there has beeu no change in its geographical extent or form.
l'arma ia situated in the northwest corner of the " Mill-Seat Tract." It ex- tends alung Lake Ontario about three miles, north and south nearly nine miles. and east and west, on the Ogden line, about six miles, with an area of about forty Amare miles. It comprises the north and south sections of Braddock's Bay towa- whip and the Gore, lying between the latter aud the town of Ogden. The north section is divided into eighty-one farm lots; the south section into ten ranges; each subdivided into lots, and the Gore into thirty-seven form lots.
The first officers of this town, after its last organization, in 1817. were elected in April of the same year, as follows. viz. : Supervisor, Gibbons Jewett ; Town Clerk, Zolved Stevens ; Collector, Roswel Atchinson ; Overseers of the Poor, Asa Atchinson, Samuel Castle : Commissioners of Highways, Stephen Atchinson, Eli- .ha Fulton, Jason Tyler; Commissioners of Schools, E. Tyler, J. Arnold, Silas Leonard ; Assessors, Jonathan Underworld, Warham Warner, Arnold Markham ; & hoof Inspectors, Zolved Stevens Gibbons Jewett, S. Armstrong. Daniel John- ston. P. Brockway, Jonathan Underwood, Constables. Roswel Atchinson, Au- gustus Mather; Pound-keepers, Christopher Levally and Janus Rawson; and a large number of overseers of highways.
The surface of the north section is very level, of the south section and Gore more undulating, but not billy. The Ridge, on which is located the Ridge road,
extends through the centre of the Gore. The soil is of a gravelly and sandy loam. mixed with clay. Quite an extensive clay belt extends across the town, fromu east to west, embracing the north half of the south section. The soil ia noted for its superior productiveness, wheat frequently yielding forty bushels to the acre, and other cereals in proportion.
It is watered by four sever-failing atreama and their tributaries : West creek. flowing east and west through the north section; Salman ercek, flowing northeast through the town into Braddock's bay ; Buttonwood, east of and parallel with the latter ; and Long Pond creek, near the eastern line, and flowing parallel with the two latter. The north branch of the Salmon, in the west part of' the town, and a branch of the Long Pond, rising in the centre of the town and flowing northeast, are important tributaries. Salt springs are to be found in both sec- tions, from some of which, in the early days of its settlement, considerable quan- tities of salt were manufactured. The ruins of salt-works are still to be found about one mile southeast of Parma Centre. Deer or salt licks also abound, cover- ing quite large areas, which, in extremely dry weather, become covered with an incrustation of salt.
A heavy growth of timber originally covered the whole surface, and in many localities a dense undergrowth, with swampy trante caused by a clay bottom: re- taining the surface water, but which, when cleared, proved the most productive. Especially was this the case in the vicinity of West creek and Braddock's bay.
The original proprietors were Phelps and Gorham, who purchased the tract embraced between the Genesee aed the Triangle line, twelve miles east and par- allel with the river, from the Indians, for a " mill-seat." To attract settlers they offered these lands for sale at two dollars per acre, and on very long credit; and as a further inducement it was promised on their part to crect here a grist-mill, dis- tillery, and ashery, for the convenience of the new settlements,-which prowise, however, was never fulfilled.
Early in the year 1796, Bezaleel Atchinson, with his wife Polly and four small children, the eldest eight and the youngest an infant of one year, with his two unmarried brothers, Stephen and John. made the first settlement in the town on lots 2 and 3, in ranges 6 and 7. in the south section. Less than two months previous, they had left Tolland, Connecticut, to settle near Canandaigua, upon lands offered them by their brother Sylvester, then surveying in that vicinity ; but not being well pleased with the apparent poverty of the soil, its stony condition, and tempted by the extra inducements presented by the agent of Phelps and Gorham, they decided to press on beyond the Genesee, isto what was then a trackless, un- broken wilderness. They crossed the river on the ice with their oxen and wagen a few roda above the falls, and found shelter under the only roof on the site of the city of Rochester,-a sideless structure, built for the convenience of hunting and trapping,-where they rested a few days, inspecting the surrounding country. and planning for permanent settlement. Their final destination, sixteen mile- to the northwest, could only be reached by cutting out their own road, where. after three days of heavy labor, they arrived, under the direction of one John Parks. a hunter and trapper of this wild region. An irregular, three-sided structure, without floors, windows, chimney, or doors, hastily thrown up, was their only pro- tection against the snow and rain of early spring for six weeks, or until the cour- pletion of a substantial log house, which waa erected on the line between ranges 6 and 7, in the northern part of lot 3. Tu the inevitable hardships and deprivations that always attended the pioneer settlements of that day were added losses that it was impossible to supply, and which might well have discouraged a less indosuitable energy than that which characterized the first settlers of western New York. Three of their four oxen had died. Their only horse and other stock. except one cow, had strayed away and were lost, and though entirely destitute of the means to replace them, land must be cleared for spring sowing. to save them from starvation. By an ingenious application of a crooked root of a tree found in the bank of the Salmon, they succeeded, with their one ox, in clearing off and planting right acres of heavily-timbered land. Their first corn and other grain, beth for burl and planting, were obtained of Peter Shaffer, -who, four years previous, had st. ted at Scottsville,-and paid for in labor on the -gut, which they then brought in canoes to the falls, and thenee with great difficulty to the & ttlenwnt.
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