History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 77

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 77

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200

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

county, New York, August 23, ISGO, and very soon after- this Chili " band" was admitted into it, under its discipline and rules. This society is a part of a regular cirenit, etubracing three or four similar appointments. The church edifice was erceted in 1860. It is a small wooden structure, located eust of the corner, on the north side of the old Buffalo road, twenty-eight by forty feet in size, and worth now, with grounds, alwut one thousand five hundred dollars. The pastors in order have been ay follows: J. W. Reddy, with .A. A. Pheh s. alternate, Octo- ber 30, 1861, to September 22, 1562; W. Manning. September 22, 1862, to October 1, 1864, with W. Jackson aod J. MeAlpine, alternates ; G. W. Hun- phrey to October 9, 1366, with G. W. Marcellus, alternate; unknown to Septem- ber 30, 1867 ; A. H. Green, with R. Abell, to Octuber 4, 1863; unknowo to October, 1871; J. W. Reddy to September 22, 1873, with W. H. Trerize and Joba Robinson; O. O. Bucon to September 20. 1875, with Levi Wood, alternate; W. Mauning, with J. Walton, to October, ISTT. Amung the first members were Rev. C. Brainard, Mrs. Brainard, Thomas llannah, Mr. and Mrs. John Pruc, Mr. and Mrs. William Porter, Mr. and Mrs. J. Patton, Mr. aod Mrs. Jewes Hatton, Mr. and Mrs. Jatues Stowe, Mrs. Martha Hutchings, Mrs. Loder, and others. The church now contains about fifty members. A Sabbath-school was established soon after the formation of the church. Rev. C. Brainard has charge of the Bible-class, and L. F. Halstead is superintendent of the school. It has a Library of about one hundred volumes, and distributes three Sabbath-school papers, published under the auspices of the " Free Methodist Church,"-The Christian

Pilgrim, The Pearl, and The Lily. These, with the seats in the church, are free.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CHILI.

Previous to 1835 the Catholics of Chili assembled at Rochester and Seottsville for divine worship. November 5, 1854, however, they commeocel their present church edifice, which was ready for occupation the succeeding year. It stands near the New York Central Railroad, one and one-half miles west of Coldwater station. Rev. J. MeGlew was the first pastor, to whose untiring zeul and the energy of a few Catholics then in the place is the building due. Until June, 1873, the church was attended from Saint Patrick's cathedral, Rorluster, and the Church of Assumption, Scuttsville. Since that time, however, it lias been attached to Churchville. Forty-five families constitute the parish. The church building is a neat frame structure, capable of accommodating two hundred and fifty communicants. Some ten priests have, at various perio-ls, administered to the spiritual wants of the parish since its organization, foremost among whom are the following, viz. : Rev. J. McGlew, now of the diocese of' Boston, sod Father J. O'Donahue, of Buffalo; Revs. Mr. Purcell, M. Meagher, M. J. Loughlin, D.D., J. H. O'Hare, and W. Mulheron, of Rochester. Rev. W. Murrin, the present pastor, was assigned to the parochial charge October 19, 1874. The present trustees are Thomas Corvin and James Calley. Previous to their election, Messts. P. Goffin, John Cummings, John Cursin, Thomas Porter, P. Fitzsimons, and John Fox performed the duties of that office.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ANAN HARMON

Was one of a family of twelve children. named respectively as follows: Arial, Clarissa, Rawson, Jr., Ira, Sylvester, Lydia, Anan, Elisha, Sarah, Cynthia, Mary. These six sons all grew up to maulwood. married, and settled down as farmers in the town of Wheatland. Raw-on Harmon. the father. was born in Massachusetts. Sooo after his marriage to Miss Lydia Murdoch, he removed to Madison county, New York, and engaged in farming. cloth-dressing, and lumber-sawing.

In 1811, he removed with his family to the present town of Wheatland, Monroe Conoty. He purchased some three hundred acres of partly cleared lands, where be made his home until his death. The two brothers Anan and Elisha retained the old home jointly, with whom the old people found s home as long as they lived. The brothers continued in partnership for twenty years. At the age of twenty-eight, Anan married Miss Abigail W. Cheever, of Chili; three years after be settled in the town of Chili, where now stands the village of Clifton. and en- gaged in flour-milling. farming, selling goods, and manufacturing land plaster, but farming and milling has been the chief occupation of his life. Has been the father of four children, three sons and one daughter; two sons died in infancy, and the daughter at the age of nineteen. Que son survives. Elmuer R. Horton, wbo is married and has a family. Ile is engaged in farming io the same town. Mr. Aoan Harmon has a fine farm of' about two hundred seres, and a pleasant home, a view of which is presented elsewhere on the pages of this work, together with the portraits of himself and his wife. He has long been identified with the Baptist church, of which he is a worthy deacon. In politics Republican, a respected old gentleman of seventy-four years, he commands the universal esteem of a wide circle of friends.

BENJAMIN SHIELDON

was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in 1703. His father emigrated to the west- ern part of New York in 1810, and settled near Canandaigua on a farm. The family consisted of the parents, and wine children, three vous and ais laughter.

The children had the facilities afforded by the common achiemis of' that date for an education. Benjamin was brought up a farmer, in which quiet and peaceful

occupation he has spent his life. In 1822, the family removed to the town of Chili, Monroe County, and settled down on the same farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Benjamin Sheldon. The next year after their settlement in Chili. Ben- jamin, who was then twenty-five years of age, was married to Miss Minerva Couley, of Canandaigua; this union was severed after seven years. by the death of his companion, leaving two children, Laura and Frank G., both of whom are now living. Mr. Sheldon remained a widower until 1832, when he married his present wife. wboec maiden name was Mary E. Foster, a resident of Chili. By this mar- riage there are three children, two daughters and one son. The son. Mr. George Shelden, and the old people all live together in one happy family. George has one child, a bright boy of six years. In religious faith the old gentleman is a Christian of the Universal school; in politics Republican. Liberal, large-hearted, and generous, be is universally respected by his acquaintances, and beloved by his friends and relatives. Seventy-nine years of age, with all his faculties perfect, he has prospectively many years before him yet of happy green old age.

NORMAN DAVIS.

Norman Davis and Elizabeth Campbell, his wife, were among the pioneers of Parma, where he first settled. She mored from Madison county, New York, in 1818, and he from the adjoining county of Chenango, in 1829, settling in Monne County in the year named. In 1835 be purchased his farm in Parma .- james sion that was an almost unbroken forest. In 1837 they were married, and inte- diately moved into the lig houve he had previously constructed. Then fulland the arduous work of clearing the farm. of turning the forest into fertile fichle Their lives have been those of' labor. and are valuable to the rising generatie 0 19 illustrative of what may be accomplished by patient, untiring industry. Il ran the first portable thresher west of the Genesee river; winnowing the chaff frota the wheat during the evenings.

They removed to their beautiful homestead in the town of Chill in 1-337. where they subsequently resided, and from whence hu was " called from his falu November 8, 1976, aged reventy-one years, leaving to bis family, with provident love, s cheerful, pleasant howc.

JOHN H CARPENTER

AIRS JOAN M CARPENTER

PLATE LA.

RES OF JOHN H. CARPENTER , CHILI, MONROE CO., N. Y.

PLAT

74F

BLACK HAW.

CỐTTECNOEN

RES. & FARM OF R. P. N'

00 00

HARD. NORTH CHILI, MONROE CO., N. Y.

PLATE LXII

TRES OF A. H. KING, CHILI, MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

GATES.

THE town of Gates, with its present limits, is the last remnant of the old town of Northampton. After the first division of the original town the territory now embodied in the towns of Gates and Greece came under one town organization, and retained for several years the name of Northampton. lu the winter of 1821 and 1822 the town of Greece was set off, though long before the old name had been dropped and Gates substituted. It is a small town. lying directly west of and adjoining the city of Rochester. with Ogden on the west, Greece on the north, and Chili on the south. It extends east and west aix miles, north and south about three and three-fourths miles, with an area of twenty-two and one-half . square miles, and divided into two sections. The north scetion is subdivided into six tiers of two-hundred-acre farm lots, and the south section iuto four tiers of one- hundred-acre farm lots. The first election of town officers occurred soon after the first division of Northampton, on the 4th day of Aprd, 1809, at the house of Jeremiah Olmstead, and under the direction of Zaccheus Colhy, Esq., when the organization was perfected by the election of the following officers : Supervisor, Zaccheus Colby ; Town Clerk, Hugh MeDiarmid; Assessors, John Williams, Thomas King, Richard Clark ; Koad Commissioners, Matthew Dimmick, Muses Clark, Nathaniel Tibbles; Overseers of the Poor, Abel Rowe, Moses Clark ; Col- lector, Richard Clark ; Overseers of Highways, Thos. Lee. Chas. Harford. Fred. Rowe, Erastus Robertson, Ashael Wilkerson, Moses Clark, Nathaniel Jones; Fence-viewers and Pound-keepers, Abel Rowe, Augustus B. Shaw, Thomas King, Samuel Latta.

The surface of the town is generally level, though slightly rolling in localities, and, like the surrounding towns, was originally very heavily timbered. It was cleared and brought under cultivation at a much later date than the towns sur- rouuding it, as all the first settled portions of the original town were set off as other towns, and a considerable portion of its territory, adjoining the river, annexed to the city of Rochester. The soil is strong, rich, and very productive. A sandy loam predominates, though clay exists in considerable quantities in many places. It has no streams of any prominence, though a few small water-courses flow south into Chili and the Black creek, or southeast and east into the river. In all this part of the State, before the axe had cleared the forests, it was no un- common thing to find swamps and marshes where now dry and beautiful farms exist, and Gates was no exception to the rule. Where clay exists to any extent in the soil, the surface of which presents slight depressions, and the under- growth and decaying wood fill up and obstruct what water-courses and natural means of drainage there are, water will remain and form shallow swanips, until redeemed by improvement and cultivation. Both the Niagara Falls branch and the main line of the New York Central Railroad pass through the town, the former in the northern part, with the station South Greece within its limits, and the latter in the southern, with the station Coldwater in Gates. The Rochester and State Line Railroad also passes through the southeast corner of the town. The Erie canal traverses portions of northern Gates and southern Greece. Besides these lines two important highways pasy through the whole length of the town, the old stage route between Rochester and Batavia, and the Lyell road. from which diverges, near the centre of the town, the Spencerport road. There are no villages within the limits of the towo, but owing to its proximity to Rochester, all its location with reference to important thoroughfares, real estate commands a high price, and its improvement and cultivation have been rapid and extensive. It has two post-offices, one at Coldwater station, and one on the Lycil road, two miles east of its junction with the Spencerport road, and known as Gates pust- office. At the timo of the organization of the town in 1800, which then included tirerce ulso, but very few settlements has been made upon the territory now em- braced within the limits of the town.

In all works giving the history of the town of Gates, we find that IS09 is given as the date of the first settlement made upon the territory now embraced within its borders. Yet April 4, 1809, is the date of the organization of that town, which. though it also included Greece at that time, elected men for its first towo "fferrs whin were coneeded to have settled in what is now Gates, but whose date of settlement is stated to have been that year. If true, they must have settled during the first three mouths of the year, aud became very quickly knowo. But

it is not plausible, and that it is erroneous now admits no doubt. Careful investi- gation shows, beyond ail question, that a few settlements had been made as early as 1800, and it is not improbable that some were made earlier. Along the river. in both Greece and Chili, settlements were made as early as 1792. and very soon after crept into Gates, at least the portion set off to the city of Rochester. And it was a very frequent occurrence for strangers emigrating from the east to pene- trate into the wilderness and settle in localities wholly unknown to their neigh- bors for miles distant, until perhaps in prospecting, or hunting for stock strayed away, they were suddenly startled by the sound of the axe and hainmer, and came unexpectedly upon a small elenring and a log cabin occupied by a family. where they had supposed it was all a dense, unoccupied forest. Especially would that be the case with a class of people who never concern themselves with town or publie matters, of which class many of the first settlers were composed. Such is the testimony of many early settlers still living, who claim, in positive terms, a much earlier date for the settlement of this town than that heretofore given, and opon whose authority we have relied. John Harford, who at one time owned one-twelfth of the town, came iu at a very early day, though it is not known that he was the first settler. He settled east of the brick hotel at the junction of the Lyell and Spencerport ronds. Leane Ray settled about 1900, on a farm cist of Gates Centre. In 1804, or about that time, Samuel Gilman and Daniel Gilman settled in the east part of the town; also John Courtright, in the same vicinity. Charles Harford and Abraham Harford came in town very carly, and were among its first officers.

Isaac Dean, who has been adjudged the first settler in 1809, settled about one mile south of the Centre, where be built a saw-mill in 1810,-a fact that affords a strong presumption that he came at a much earlier date. About the same time Augustus B. Shaw, one of the first town officers, made a settlement : also John Van Sickle, and near the Rapids one Caswell and Dr. Wellinan, as early as 1810. Ansel Griffin, elected constable in ISI0, settled some time previous, and William Hinchey about the same time purchased south of the Centre. Thomas Jameson settled soon after, and previous to 1812, west of Gates Centre ; also Everett H. Peck and David Frink. Philip Lyell had settled before on the Lyell road, by whom it was named; also Ezra Mason and Richard Paul. Among others who had settled in the town previous to 1817 were Lowell Thomas, Ira Wait, and on the Rapids road Orange Bartlett, with Elliott, Cyrus, and Ira Bartlett, Calvin G. Hill, surveyor. and Luther Hill, both a short distance west of the Rapids; Daniel Muringer, Jeremiah Knapp, and Asuel Bently. About 1812 Simon Hunt, a towu officer in 1814, settled on a farm one and one-half miles west of the Centre, built him a house, and improved a portion of it : but after living ou it a few years, he gave it up, and removed to Michigan, then just opening to settlement. Soon after and previous to 1815, Amasa Kellogg settied south of the Centre, and still carlier Asael Ainsworth and Chauncey Dean ; the latter about one mile south of the Centre, near the Waffles farin. Among other early settlers were Spencer Woodworth, about one mile southeast; a family by the name of Smith, and Humphrey Hart, on the middle road; William Van Slyke. one and one-half miles west, who afterwards moved to the city ; Gideon Baker. with several sons, and Samuel Hart. In 1816, Luther Field, from Brattleborough, Vermont, came into this town, and two years later, in 1818, moved his family. consisting of his wife and four children, and made a settlement. His wife is still living with her son, Chester Field, at the advanced age of eighty-nine, a few rods east of the corner at Gates Centre, on the old Buffalo road. Chester Field fir-t settled on lot 76, at the junction of the State Line and New York Central Rail- roads, in 1826. Lindsley Sturgis had settled before this, one and one-half' quiles west of the Centre, on the Buffalo road, though at what date is unknown, and a family by the name of Graves, four miles west on the same road : and about one and one-half miles south, near the Chili line, the families of Joel Wheeler and Samuel Weibert. About the same time Eleazer Howard settled at the Centre. About 1811 a family by the name of Wells eune in and mu ide a settlement !har the Gilmana ; also Daniel Louis soon after bought a form a short distance past of Isaac Prans. William R. Booth settled in town about the tique, or Mem atter Chester Field. About 1825. Calvin Sperry settled in town, on the SSpem erjwirt

201

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

road, one-half mile west of its junction with the Lyell road. Mr. Sperry and Chester Field have for many years been identified with the growth and improve- menta of the town, the formation of its society, and its church and school inter- ests. Both are still living, monuments of a past generation. Many other settlers care in at this time and before. It is impossible to obtain the exact date of the first settlers, or of those who came in subsequently for several years, as there are none of them living. Two mechanics and their families, by the name of Stravey and Stillson, settled in town very early, probably before 1811.

The first house built, the first land improved. and the first grain sowed, within the limits of what is now Gates. was east of the brick tavern, along the Lyell road, on land belonging to John Harford. Such is the positive opinion of Chester Field, Esq., whose father came in 1816. Isaac Ray, son-in-law of Mr. Harford, cleared some of the first land, and built one of the first houses in the town, also on land nf Mr. Harford's. The first tavern in town was erected a short distance east of the junction of the State Line and New York Central Railroads. It was built of logs, and was long koown as the old log tavern, located on the old Buffalo road ; and, according to Mr. Field, was opened in 1806. The first proprietor is not certainly known, unless it was William Jameson, who kept it at a very carly dute. Subsequently it was kept by Joshua Beaman. Both men were among the early settlers. Iu IS10 a tavern was kept at Genesee rapids, by ove Caswell, and another, a few rods south and soon after, by Dr. Wellman. Several years Ister a tavern was erected and opened some distance west of the Rapids. by Asa Munson, another early settler, which is now kept by William Huff. About the year 1823, Eleazer Howard erected a tavern at Gates Centre, on the old Buffalo road, which he kept several years. Another was opened one and one-half miles west, on the same road, by Limsley Sturges, and still another, four miles west, by one Graves. In 1832, Chester Fields opened a hotel on the same road, two miles east of the Centre, on lot 76, which is still standing at the junction of the two railroads. All these public houses did a very thriving business during the days of stage-coaches, previous to the construction of the New York Central Railroad, in 1836 ; also those at the Rapids, on the Scottsville stage road, where a regular line was running. All travel was by stage. and immigration to this part of the State "was rapid, which kept the hotels constantly full. In 1844, E. Macauley constructed and opened a tavern in the north part of the town, directly north of the Centre, at the junction of the Lyell and Spencerport roads, which is now used as a private house. It was kept for many years, and was located on the west corner. In 1864, Robert Currier erected and opened the brick tavern near the saom place, on the south side of the street, which is still in operation. The first saw-mill was erected in 1810, by Isauc Dean, near the Chili line, about one and one-balf miles south of the Centre, and is still standing. In 1811, Chauncey Dean purchased it, and conducted it several years. Ira Wait kept the first store, though the date it was opened is unknown. The first child born in the town, as recorded, was a daughter of Ezra Mason, who was born in 1818. This. however, scarcely appears probable, as quite a large number of families were then living in the town, and had been for several years. Other births must have occurred among them before that date. The first school, as near as can be ascertained by persons now living, was taught in a log building in the vicinity of Dean's mill, ang about the time, or soon after, that was established. Loog before the division of the town flourish- ing schools and good buildings were established throughout the whole territory. The town now bas seven districts, with the same number of good school-houses. The present inhabitants of the town are nearly all American born and descend- ants of New England corigrants. They are of sterling character, hospitable, and second to no part of the State in general intelligence and prosperity.

The supervisors from the organization of the town to the present were as fo !- lows, viz : Zaccheus Colby, 1809; Samuel Latta, 1810; Z. Colby, 1811 ; John Mastick, 1812 to ISIG, both inclusive; Roswell Hart, 1>17, Ira West, 1818; Matthew Brown, 1819 to 1821 ; Jesse Hawley, 1822, first supervisor after Greece was set off ; Matthew Brown, 1823, Samuel Works, 1824; Jacob Gould, 1825; Seth Saxton, 1826; Fletcher M. Haight, 1827 ; Matthew Brown, 1828; Ezra M. Parsons, 1829; Nathaniel T. Rochester. 1830 to 1832 ; James II. Gregory, 1833; Wol. J. Bishop, 1834 ; Ezra MI. Parsons, 1835; Calvin Sperry, 1836; Henry K. Higgins, 1837 to 1839; Silas A. Yerkes, 1840 to 1842; E. Darwin Smith, 1843; Melancthon C. Wetmore, 1844 to 1847; Joshua Fish, 1848; James Warner, 1849 ; Joseph Dewey, 1850 to 1851 ; Hiram Shearman. 1852; M. C. Wetmore, 1853; Josoph Dewey, 1854 to 1835; James Warner, 1856 to ISST ; Ezra M. Parsons, 1858 to 1860; Nathan Palmer, 1861; James Wurner, 1862;

Wm. Otis, 1863; James Chappell, 1864; James Warner. 1865 to 1866; Ch-ster Field, 1867 to 1871 ; John L. l'ixley, 1872 to 1874; and Edward C. Campbell, 1874 to 1875. The officers of the town for the year 1876 are as follows, viz : Supervisor. Reuben L. Fieldl, Town Clerk, Wm. S. F'erry ; Collector, Edward Bushnell; Justices of the Peace. Franklin Hinchey, James Chappell, R. L. Pixley. Russel Hardy ; Road Commissioners, Jacob Blinn, Allen D. Todd, Alonzo Hardy: Assessors, Thomas Roe, Richard Waffle, Lewis Courser ; Auditors, Emmiony J. Edson, Wm. Davis, Edward Bushnell; Inspectors of Elections, Franklin Hinchey, Alonzo Hardy ; Excise Commissioners, Chester Field. Clark Woodworth ; Over. Beer of the Poor, A. K. Thurston ; Gare Constable, Wm. Collins ; Constables. Peter Calwe, Richard Waffle, Walter Ward, Carlisle Barsdale ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, John Gardner.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GATES

was organized on October 15, 1828, at the house of Eleazer Howard, at Gates Centre, by a few members of that denomination living in the vicinity, who had called a meeting for that purpose. Spencer Woodworth and Henry H. Curbin presided over the meeting. The board of trustees elected were Mathew Garest. Amaya Kellogg, and William Jamesen. No other officers were chosen at that time, but subsequently, as the church increased in numbers and interest, Calvin Sperry was appointed secretary, and Spencer Woodworth treasurer. Mr. Sperry continued as secretary many years during its growth and greatest prosperity. The names of the first members are lost. But few, if any, are now living. The services of the church were held in the ball-room of Howard's tavern, at the Centre, for about four years, or until the erection of the first church building, about the year 1832. It was a small wooden structure, located at the Centre. In 1844 it was removed. to give place to a more substantid and commodious structure, better suited to the increased demands of the church. It was built at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars, nity by thirty feet in size, and is still standing on the south side of the old Buffalo road, east of the corner. The first preacher, as near as can be ascer- tained. was Rev. Geo. G. Sill. There was no pastor regularly employed until about 1840, and only about three since its organization, though numerous ministers have occupied the pulpit. A few among them are Rev. MeFarland, a missionary from Massachusetts, who preached while services were conducted in the tavern. Rev. Jaoies Ballentine, about 1840, Rev. Alva Ingersol. Charles Furman, Lewis Morey, W. C. Gaylord, and Rev. Henry Wicks, the last pastor beginning June 20, 1875. Rev. Mr. Baker also preached bere several years ago. The board of trustees at present consists of Reuben L. Field, Robert Wade, amI Charles Rowe. A Mr. Lee was appointed one of the first deacons. The Sabbath-school was organized in 1828, in the ball-room of Howard's tavern, under the supervision of Deacon Lee. Calvio Sperry was made first superintendent, which position he held many years. It began with ten teachers and over eighty pupils, while now it emplays seven teachers, and gives instruction to forty pupils. Thomas Roe is superintendent, and Robert Wade secretary. It has no library, but distributes forty copies of the Well Spring, a Sunday-school paper.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 77

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