History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 71

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

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miittee, and Chas. M. Whittlesey, the present clerk. The Sabbath & hool was instituted in nr about 142> by members of the Oplen Centre church, and by the ethirient labors of Deacon C. Church, Henry Baill, and James B. Gartiny was regularly sustained until the organization of this church. The first superin- tendent wis Samuel Gutt. Its present officers are Henry II. Brown, stjuerin- tendent, David Stewart, assistant superintendent, Sarsh F. Lincoln, secretary and treasurer, Gourge M. Cole. chorister, and Anna Melntyre, organist, and includes twenty-one teachers and one hundred and tifty popils. The library was originally donated by Chas. Church and J. B. Garusey, and contaius at present two hundred and thirty-two volumes. Jas. R. Coddington is now librarian, and Win. MeC'he ney assistant librarian.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

HENRY FLAGG.

Samuel Flagg was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, February 7, 1783. He married Mary Coleord, September 3. ISU7, and the same year moved to Ogden. then known as Parma. The result of this omarriage was seven sons and threw daughters.

Henry, the eldest son, was born September 0, 1810. He married Catherine F .. Gridley, December 27, 1832; then moved upon the farm which has been ever since his home. His father died in May, 1866. His wife's father. Stephen Gridley, mantried Sarah Kirkland io IS10; they moved from Oneida county, New York, io ISLI, and settled in Monrue. Of their children Mary C., the elderi. was born June 19, 1812.

Mr. Fleury raised a family of three children. two sons and one daughter .- Henry S., Stephen G., and Sarah K. Flagg .- all living within sight of the old homestead. Henry Flugg is now in his sixty-sixth year, and vigorous in body and mind.

PLATE XLVIII.

RES. OF RANSOM B. TRUE , S!, OGDEN, MONROE Co., N. Y.

RES. OF C. H. BUELL , SPENCERPORT, MONROE CO , NEW YORK.

PLATE XLIX.

LORENZO BABCOCK.

MRS LORENZO BABCOCK.

His or LORENZO BABCOCK, RIGA, MONROE COUNTY, NY

RIGA.

Tue original town of Northampton was divided on December 8, 1307, and East and West Pultney, then embracing Riga an.I Chili, were called the town of Pultuey; and on April 4, 1809, the xune territory, embraced in those two towns, was organized into the town of Rigs at a town meeting held at the house of Henry Waidener, at which the following officers were elected, viz .: Supervisor, Thomas Hill; Towu Clerk, Joshua Howell; Assessors, Ebenezer T. Slater, Jesse Church, and Isaac Douglass; Collector, Thomas Gay; Con-table. Warner Douglass; Road tom- missioners, Thos. Bingham. Jacob Cole, and I. C. Griswold ; Overseers of the Poor, Amasa Frust, Henry Waidener; Fence-viewers, Danl. Densmore, Geo. Rieb- mond, Solomon Blood.

Riga is situated near the southwest corner of Monroe County, and borders on Genesee county at the northeast corner. It is in the " Mill-Sat Tract," with the Triangle line for its western boundary. It includes one township, divided into one hundred and fifty-nine farin-lots of about one hundred acres each. and a strip about one and one-fourth miles wide from the next township east. divided into sections, which are subdivided into thirty-four farm-lots about the same size. It extends east and west on the north line four and one-half miles, on the south line near six and one-half miles, and north and south over six miles, giving an area of about thirty-four square miles. The surface is quite level. though more undulating than farther north, but not enough to interfere with cultivation. The soil is generally of a loam, sandy and gravelly in places, and in some localities a considerable clay. A few marshy places occur along the vicinity of Black creek, and slightly in other localities. It is unsurpassed in richness and fertility of soil and for variety of production, being equally adapted to all crops indigenous to this climate. Like the country farther north, the cereals were the principal crops cul- tivated until recently. Apples of the finest aud hardiest quality yield abundantly, and are being raised in great quantities, while the already large area of orchards receives yearly additions. The whole surface was originally covered with an im- mense growth of timber, which, with the admixture of clay in the soil, the decay- ing wood, and obstructed channels, concentrated the spring rains into shallow ponds in many places, that became staguant, and in the hut seasons sent forth malaria, which for many years caused great distress to the settlements. Fever and ague, so common in all new countries, and from the same causes, prevailed everywhere, and not until the country was cleared up and thoroughly drained was the disease eradicated. The town is well watered by Black ereck and its tributaries. The former is a large stream, which flows through the north half of the town, wiod- ing from west to cast. One of its largest tributaries rises near the southwest cor ier and flows northeast into Black creek, near the centre of the town. An- other on the north rises in Ogden and flows south through the east part of the town. Several others parallel with the above, with many living springs in every part of the town, supply abundant water, and also form a complete drainage in the wet seasons.

The original proprietors of these lands were Phelps and Gorham, who purchased them dircet from the Indians as a portion of the " Mill-Seat." Subsequently they were sold to Robert Morris, of New York city, who, after a short possession, " il the territory embraced in the towns of Riga and Chili to the P'ultneys, resi- dents of England, the heirs of whom offered them for sale to settlers through the agency of Junes Wadsworth, of Geneseo. It was through this ownership that these towns were known for several years as East and West Pultney. They were surveyed into townships and lots by Judge Porter, in place of Richard M. Stod- Land, whose surveys in the Triangle tract and south had given the Indians much dissatisfaction.

SETTLEMENT.

The settlement of this country ww later than any which surrounds it. Settle- ments had been mule in the Triangle tract at least three years earlier, on the north from four to sis years, on the south in Wheathuid. and in the cast part of Chili, along the Genesee river, at least fourteen years previous to Riga. Although situated but a short distance north of the great stage thoroughfare connecting Canandai- gua, Le Roy, Batavia, and Buffalo, -- the first public highway opened in western

New York,-the bear and the wolf held undisturbed possession until the spring of 180G. Then Elibu Church, from Massachusetts. penetrated near the centre of the town and made the first settlement on lot 94; also, Ama-a Frust settled on lot 82. Later in the same season Deacon Nehemiah Frost and Wit, Parker, both from Massachusetts, settled at Riga Centre; also Saml. Church, brother to Elihu and their father, Richard Church, located in town, the former ou lot 84 and the latter on lot 53; Ezekiel Barnes, a short distance northeast of Churchville. and Saml. Shepherd about three-fourths of a mile south of the Centre, on lot 113. The lot adjoining, 114, was purchased by N. Frost. In the same year Saml. B.dd- +win purchased lot 81, west of Riga Centre, and Henry Brew-ter. from Berkshire. Massachusetts, lot 90, but did not settle with their families until the next year. 1807. During this year many settlers came in. among them Eans Moreand his two JoDS, Ephraim and Samuel, who settled two miles northeast of the Centre ; Joseph Thompson, at the Centre; Geo. Richmond, one and one-half mile southwest of Churchville; Eber and Charles Orcutt, Benijah Holbrook, at the Centre; Thomas Bingham with his three sons. Joseph, Justin, and William, and his daughter. M trs. Pratt; James Knowies with his two sons. William and Paul. and his two laughters. who became Mrs. W. Brown and Mrs. Montrose ; Jesse Church. Jo- seph Emerson with his three sons. Erastus. Joseph, and George, and one dangh- ter. who became the wife of John Reed, the first supervisor of Sweden. 1l=). in the same year, Clark Hull, Thomas Hill, the first supervisor. Rev. Robert Hiil. George Hill, and a sister, Mrs. Emerson, settled in town. Benj. T. Richmond settled a short distance south of Churchville in 1808, and soon after Dr. John Dar- ling at Riga Ceotre. Thomas Gay, the first town collector, with his father: also Dencon Hill, Erastus Sprague, Daniel Hawes, and Geo. E. Harmon at Church- ville. Among those who had settled previous to 1810 were Hubbard IL.el. at Churchville; Oliver Ide, blacksmith, at Riga Centre; Ebenezer Clark. south of Churchville ; one Tuttle and Dr. Richard Dibble at the Centre; and Joseph Sibley. In 1806, Thomas Adams, of Berkshire, M.Lesachusetts, visited Riga, but mad .. no settlement until 1810, when he emigrated with his family and located perm .- nently about two miles south of Churchville. His son, Aretas Adams, is still living in the east part of the village. Joshua Richmond came with his brother George, in 1807, but left again the same season, and four years later returned with his family from Massachusetts and settled near the Ogden Inte. In 1~10 or '11, Elisha P. Davis settled at Churchville, and Geo. Baldwin about two miles north of Riga Centre, followed soon after by John Crocker, at Churchville : und in 1812. Dr. Thorber, at the same place. Billings Richmond first cam . into Riga in January, 1809, but returned to his home in Berkshire. Massachusetts. during the same season. Three or four years after he emigrated, and settled perin in .tiy with his family ou the hill, one-fourth mile south of Churchville. He is -till living, hadde and strong, a few rols north of his original settlement. llis son. James Richmond. is at present sheriff of Monroe County. 11. Orton. Dick Chamberlain, and Isaac Ley settled shortly after, followed by Wm. Frur. A Nettleton, Linus Pierson. Jonathan Dupper, Win. Chafney, Charles Harvard. [ Douglass. Warner Douglass. Ebenezer T. Slater, Jacob Cole, Dani. Den-more. Solomon Blood, I. C. Griswoll, and others. Immediately sureceding the war of 1812, which, during its continuance, checked immigration alnost torelly, and even frightened many of the new-comers away, and when peace was assured. in cum- mon with all this part of the State settlements were rapid. Ing cabins, and over- sionally more pretentious structures, were springing up, the forest falling, and the axe and hammer heard in every direction, with all the tokens of activity and growth. A new road was soon surveyed and opened from Rochester through the northern part of the town to connect with the Lake road at Bergen, upon which a regular line of stages was established, atfording easy communication with all parts of the country. This gave the first settlers of this town advantages superior to those iu the towns farther north, who were compelled to travel long distances over bad, uubroken roads to reach the nearest grist-will at Le Ruy, and to haul iway the produre of their forms. As a result its settlement increased more rapidly. though beginning at a later date and with a soil less fertile and productive.

185

There is little doubt that Ezekiel Barnes was father of Forwell Barnes who married Mercy maria Juller. E.F. allright. 1912. Page 185.

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

FIRST BUILDINGS, ETC.

The first dwelling-house built in the towo was erceted by Elihu Church in the spriog of 1806. It was a log house, and was located on lot 94, southeast of Riga Centre. He also cleared the first land and raised the first grain. Ile un- doubtedly plantel one of the first, if not the first orchard in the town. The death of his father, Richard Church, was the first in town. He was buried on bis own farin, on lot 53, bot was afterwards taken up and removed to the old burying-ground, north of the Congregational church at Riga Centre, which was the first one laid out in town. The first birth was a daughter of Samuel Church in 1806, and the first male child was Hiram, -on. of Sammel Shepherd, south of the Centre, on lot 113, born the same year. The first marriage was Joseph Sibley to Clarissa, daughter of Richard Church, at her father's residence ou lot 33. The first store in town was opened at the Centre in 1808 by Thompson & Tuttle. Joseph Thompson soon after erected a frame building, the first in town, and opened it as a tavern. This has been recorded heretofure as the first tavern in Riga. But according to the testimony of men now living, who came here in 1809, Amasa Frost kept a public-house in a log boiling which stood a few rods north- east of the present Congregational church at the Centre. as early as 1808. and before Thompson's building was erected. The first school was taught by Thomas Gay, at the Centre, before school-houses were erected. The first physician in towa was Dr. John Darling, who settled at the Centre in 1808; the second was Dr. Richard Dibble, who settled at the same place about two years later. Not far .. from this date a post-office was established at the Centre, with a line of stages passing through. The first postmaster appointed was Joseph Thompson, and in 1814 Dr. Dibble was appointed. Dr. Wright succeeded Dr. Dibble as practicing physician at the Centre, and several years later, Dr. John R. Smith. The first blacksmith-shop was also erected at the Centre by Benijah Holbrook, in which Oliver Ide worked many years. At Riga Centre was organized one of the first Congregational churches in the country, in the fall of 1809, with Kev. Allen Hollister first pastor.

. In 1808, Samuel Church erected the first saw-mill in town, on Black creek, a few rods above the present village of Churchville. Three years later, in 1311, be erected the first grist-mill, on Black creek. and Gear the site of the present mill in the enst part of the village. In 1812, George Baldwin erected a saw-mill on the same stream about two miles south of Churchville, and about 1813, Thomas Adams constructed a third saw-mill, one-half mile south of Baldwin's, on Black creek. Still another was erected about the same time by Samuel Chorch, three miles south of Churchville. About the year 1814. John Crocker erected a dis- tillery, on the west side of Black creek, at Churchville. a few yards south of the present grist-mill, which continued in business several years. Still later, Erastus Sprague built a second distillery near the same place, on the opposite side of the stream.

CHURCHVILLE.

Churchville is a small village situated on the New York Central Railroad. in the northern part of the town. It was named in honor of Sammuel Church, who formerly owned the land upon which it is built, and has at present a population of about five hundred. It was incorporated as a village at its first charter elec- tion, held at the office of Willard & Bangs. on March 7, 1853, when the follow- ing officers under the charter were elected, viz .: Trustees, J. MI. Jameson, Zephas Willard, and John Markley : Village Clerk. A. R. Smith ; Assessors, J. M. Ran- dall, John Markley. and L. Bangs; Collector, Lemael Brooks ; Treasurer, J. B. Johnson ; Street Cotomissioners. J. M. Randall. Norman Savage; Fire Wardens, J. W. Craig. P. Stone, Roswell Clark. The government of the village continued in a board of from three to five trustees, elected annually, until May 27, 1867, when the charter was amended to place the government in a board of tive trustees, one elected annually, and each in office five years, with the board electing their own president each year. The village presidents bave beca-S. Il. Bushuell, 1869; Zephas Willard, 1870, 1871, 1872. and 1873; and F. N. Parrish, 1874, 1875, and 1876. The village officers for 1876 are-Board of Trustees, F. N. Parrish, E. S. Coffrain, T. N. Fuster, Roswell Clark, and Lee Parrish ; Village Clerk, H. C. Mattoon ; Treasurer, C. H. Briscoe; Police Constable, Alfred Wheeler; A-sensors, A. M. Randall, F. W. Smith, and Themlore Cummings; Street Commissioner, Joseph Spitzme-wer. The first dwelling-house erected in Churchville was built of logs, by Samuel Church, the owner of the property. The first frame house in the village was erveted by George E. Harmon, where Charles Harvard uow lives. Linus Pierson erected and opened the first store near 1814 or 1815, and Hubbard Hall the second, three or four years later,- about 1818,-which stood near where Welch's store now stands. It is claimed, however, by others that Hall's store was prior to Pierson's, but this does not seem to be as well authenticated. One of the first buildings erected ut this place, and

the most demanded, was a public-house. During the days of the stages, and down even later than 1836, when the first train of cars passed over this part of the New York Central Railroad, Churchville was a regular place for exchanging the stage-horses both ways, which, with the daily travel on the line. brought very profitable patronage to the inn-keeper. Elisha P. Davis built and kept the first tuvera on the southeast corner. This also has been disputed, but with little authority. Mr. Davis was the first pastinaster of Chorchiville. and the post-office was established with the line of stages, and in the tavern of which he was pro- prietor. Another tavern was kept on the northwest corner. by one Conwell, at a very early date. Ichabod Sprague, years later, also kept tavern at this place, and in 1834 or 1835 a hotel was erected near the railroad by B. Richmond, which is still in operation. Two distilleries formerly existed in the east part of the village on Black creek, one owned by John Crocker, and the other by Erastus Sprague. bat have long since passed away. Before the day of railroads and canals di-til- leries were a very important resource, in fact, indispensable to the farmers as a market for their surplus grain. For many years there has been but little change in Churchville. It is, and will continue to be, the central point of trade for a circuit of country which, though rich, is not extensive. It has an agricultural implements works, owned by Cammings & Turner, one sush and blind manufactory, one lumber-yard. one grist-mill, one saw-mill. two grocery-stores, two dry-goods- stores and general merchandise, two hotels, two shoe-stores, one hardware-store, two harness-shops, two meat-markets, one tin-store, one drug-sture, three black- smith-shops, one wagon-shop, two coal dealers, one feed and flour store, one barber. one milliner, two dress-makers, one printing-office, three liquor dealers, one express office, one telegraph office, one railroad station, one cider-mill. two builders, one insurance agent, two physicians,-one houveopathic and one old-school .- two justices of the peace, one graded school, five church buildings, and six church organizations and six ministers.

The early settlers were aloist destitute of market facilities. All the sorphes grain depended on the eastern markets, which could be reached only hy lony journeys with ox-teams. Canandaigua and Geneva were the nearest and most available points, principally the latter, and there, by the early quotations, wheat sold at twelve and a half cents per bushel. One man in Riga, in purchasing a barrel of whisky, gave six bushels of wheat for each galloa. In that proportion for many years were the early settlers of this country compelled to part with their farm prodige, which made even the taxes on their cheap farms sometimes difficult to prucore, and an important payment on their lands from the products of the soil almost impossible. Henry Brewster, one of the first settlers in the town. cue year raised three thousand bushel- of wheat. lle had a portion of it ground, sufficient to make seventy barrels of flour, which he loaded into four large sieighs. and, with six yoke of oxea and four horses, he hadled it to Northampton, Ma-st- chusetts, where he sold it for six dollars per barrel, and with it his oven, at a good profit, which made the undertaking a very profitable enterprise for those days. As another incident in the pioneer life of this town. Ehbu and Samuel Charch, Amasa Frost, and Samuel Shepard, with their wives, in a large lumber- wagon started on a visit to Jehiel Barnes, when, in crossing a large stream and attempting to ascend the steep bank, the rear endl-board of the wagon-bux fell out. and the whole party slid out into the water, though fortunately with no more disastrous result than a thorough wetting, which at least was uncomfortable, with the nearest dwelling-house over two miles distant.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-house erected in the town of Riga was located at the Centre. as was, also, the first school ever taught in the town. Yet soon after seland. houses were built, and schools established, both at Churchville and one mile south of Riga Centre. In the winter of 1814-15 the school at Churchville hul thirty scholars, the school at Riga Centre, at that time taught by Billing- Richmon1. now living, had one hundred scholars, and the school south of the Centre, taught by Lorin Clark, had twenty-five scholars.

In 1843 a large selvud building was erected at Churchville, and a gradedl school established under the supervision of three teachers. It has been sustained it a flourishing condition ever since, and is at present under charge of Professor Bustel. principal, assisted by Mrs. M. J. Hudey and Miss Alice Ford as subordinate teachers. Riga Jas, at present, twelve school-districts, and as many good. votat- fortable school houses. Able teachers are employed, and a proper interest in their efficiency is generally omaintained.

RIGA ACADEMY.

In the year 1946 the members of the l'ongregational church of Rigs, with other prominent members of the town, in order to secure to their children an education in the higher branches not taught in public schools, withnot sendling

187

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

them abroad, and also to stimulate the celucational interests of the place, proposed to establish an academy at Riga Centre. They further believed that, being re- moved from the vices and allurements of large towns and cities, it would attract a considerable patronage from those places. Accordingly, in the autumn of that year, the old brick tavera stand, erceted by Joseph Thump-on about Is11, was purchased. and the High academy organized, with the following board of trustees, viz. : Ira Richards, president ; Dennis Church, secretary ; 1-4 Adams, treasurer; Dr. John R. Smith, Alfred Fitch, Est., Thomas Adams, Joshua P'. Rogers, Dr. Isane Lovejoy, Gordon Baldwin, Elias Ward. Samuel C. Baldwin, Rev. Sila- II. Ashman, and Sherman Ward. Two years later a wing was erected on the west side of the main building, and, the year following, another on the east. Rev. Franklin W. Olmstead was employed as principal, under whose administration the institution rapidly advanced in popularity, while its future success and usefulness became unexpectedly promising. It did not, however, flourish six years before, through unavoidable and adverse causes, it was discontinued. It had purchased a well-selected library, and philosophical, chemical, and astronomical apparatus that was thoroughly first-class. Rev. Mr. Olmstead was principal two years; Rev. George Thompson, two years ; Professor R. D. H. Allen, one year; and Professor Wedge the last two terms of its existence. Miss Sarah B. ITill, now Mrs. Ward Hall, of Ogden, was preceptre-s the first five years, except a few weeks at the begioniog, and her sister, Miss Marilla E. Hill, the last two terms. Mr. George Ely was teacher of languages and higher mathematics, and Mrs. Mary Ashowun, wife of the pastor of the Congregational church, teacher of music and the pri- mary broches. In the year 1847 it had one hundred and fifty-five students, who paid the institution two dollars and twenty-five cents per week for board and room, and from two dollars and twenty-five cents to nine dollars pet term for tuition.

The supervisors of the town of Riga, from its organization to the prescot, were as follows, viz. : Thomas Hill. 1809 to 1810, both inclusive : Elibn Church, 1811 to 1813; Richard Dibble, 1814; Elinu Church, 1815 to 1316; Jieeph Sibley, who was also the first justice of the peace of Riga, 1817 to 1818; Lanc Lacey, 1819 to 1820; Joseph Sibley. 1821; Joseph Thompson, 1822 to 1823; Joseph Sibley, 1824; Joseph Thompson, 1825 to 1826; Phineas Smith, 1827 to 1829; Thomas Brigham, 1830; Ilubbard Hall, 1931 to 1832; Elihu Church, 1833 to 1833; John R. Smith. 1836; Asa Adams, 1837 ; Lucios Lilley, 1838 to 1840; Spencer Smith. 1841 ; James R. Flyno, 1842; Aretas Adams, 1843 to 1844 ; Ashabel A. Hosmer, 1845 to 1849; Dennis Church, 1850; Aretas Adams. 1851 to 1833; Paul Knowles. 1834 to 1955; Volney Lavy, 1856 to 1857; George Brown, 1858 to 1861 ; Zephas Willard. 1862 to 1863; Mases J. Mullock, 1864 to 1805; Henry W. Davis, 1866 to 1869; James W. Craig, 1870; James Knowles, 1871 ; George Savage, 1872 to 1875 ; and Henry W. Davis supervisor for IS7G. The other officers for 1876 are,-Town Clerk, Henry Warren ; Justice of the Peace, E. D. P'carson ; Collector, Gorton Armstrong; Assessor, Ira MI. Randall : Road Commissioner, Daniel MeMaster ; Overseers of the Poor, Spencer Johnson, Guy S. Brown; Auditors, James II. Gilman, Donald Blue, MI. R. Dole; Constables, Gorton Armstrong, Guy S. Brown, Niles II. Oatbout, Peter Stottle, Veloris Bodette; Game Constable, Lyman E. Morgan ; Inspectors of Elections, H. C. Mattoon, Oscar Babcock, J. M. Emersoo; and thirty-nine overseers of high ways.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 71

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