History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 81

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 81

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Among the surviving pioneers of Irondequoit may be named five persons,- Randolph Denstore, aged seventy-seven ; Abel Densmore, seventy-three; James Waring, seventy-two; Henry Case, eighty-sis ; and Ransford Perrin, seventy- eight. Coopering was carried on quite extensively by the first settlers of this section. Barreis were manufactured in considerable numbers Timber mi abua- dant. Flour and pearlash required barrels, and they sold readily at remunerative price.

It is interesting bere to note the ready adaptation of necessity to whatever promised money. The poverty of the settler was at one and the same time his stimulus and his hindrance. A varied product occupied the farmer, changing with the deruand. Grain, stock, and fruit, lumber, ashes, and vegetables, ond all expedients promising profit, have received attention. At au early date, to clear the timber aud thereby make tillage possiblo was the primary aim, and wheat the main reliance; in later days the care of land, and its closer cultivation, bring full remuneration.

At Swain's Corners, near the Centre, are a hotel and a dozen houses, constituting o hamlet, while a thickly-settled suburb of Rochester lies in the southwest part of the town.

The first ground used for burial purposes in frondequoit was that known as Sand, or Hooker, bill, and was so eniployed as carly as 1800. In 1824, Alexander Hooker deeded the land, hitherto personal property, to the town. It is still in use as a graveyard, and is the only one in the locality.

The first frame building was a swall house built in 1812 by a Mr. Jones, Jowo near the bay, and on the farm now owned by Justin Yale. On account of sick- ness, Mr. Jones left, and the habitation stood deserted for a number of years, when it was destroyed by fire.

The first frame barn was built by Abel Densmore, during the summer of 1816, on the farin now known as "the Lyon farm." In the year following, a secoud was erected by J. Leggett. Both are yet standing.

An incident has been recorded illustrative of a phase of pioneer life, when settlers were few, and the forests extending to the shore were the haunt of nu- microus wild beasts. A ruan named Scudder was crossing the bay in a canoe, when he descried a bear swimming towards him. The bear rapidly neared the voyager, and, when within reach, met no cordial reception. Scudder was p.ru- vided with an axe, and attempted therewith a blow at Bruin's head. The stroke failed, and the axe went overboard. No offensive demonstration on the part of the bear followed this attack, but he scrambled within the canoe, sested hiruselt quietly, and so remained until the canoe gratul upon the sands, when be disembarked and set out for the woods, with no more regard for the boatman than the thousand passengers emerging from the Central depot have for the engineer by where vigt- lance their journey has been made sale.

Although in the back woods, and surrounded with that which calls for physical exertion, the intellect craved development, and the settlers, as soon as mutlu r+ rendered it practicable, thet to consider the propriety of erecting a school-hon.e. The first building erreted for educationed purposes was constructed during the year 1814, of round lgs. It was in size eighteen by twenty-four feet, ami w.a. situated on the farm now owned by Shexander Button. Abel Deustonte was+ chosen the first truster, and a lady teacher was engaged to come from Canamliigis

THE GROVE.

SEA BREEZE HOTEL

PLATE LXIX.

(BATHING MIDYE

IRONDEQUOIT BAY

SEA BREEZE HOTEL AT LAKE ONTARIOANDIRONDEQUOIT BAY, NEW YORK. (1) L. A. & G. W. ALLEN, PROPRIETORS.

LOSRR

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

211

to teach the school during the following summer. She came, carried on the school for two or three weeks, was taken sick, and returned home. During the first month of the winter school, which was kept by Dr. Barnes, the house accidentally caught fire, aud was burned to the ground. The term of school was finished io the " flencher Honse," situated on property oow owned by Albert Hobby. Again, with the arrival of fall, another log school-house was built, near the bonse now owned by MIrs. Ganyard. The building was in use for five or six years, when, in 1825, a third house, and the first frame school-house, was built on the site which is now occupied by the building of distriet No. 1, and thither the school was removed.

The town is at present divided into six school districts, employing as many teachers. The schools claim no superiority, and, while there is a desire to obtain a good knowledge of fundamental branches, the people are apparently satisfied with their present condition. The expenditure for a single year for school pur- poses was over three thousand dollars. The number of school population was une thousand six hundred and fifteen. Of these but five hundred and sixty- two attended school, and the average attendance was hut two hundred and thirty-six.

On the organization of the town in 1839, the first town meeting was held at Swain's hotel. At this meeting William Shephard and Juseph Graham were put in nomination for the office of supervisor. The result was a tie vote. At a -pecial meeting the former party was elected, and was therefore tho first supervisor uf the town.

With the lake upon the north, and Rochester in the southwest, the town may be classed as strictly rural. There is within the present area, comprised in thir- teen thousand one huodred and ninety-two acres, neither church, pe >office, store, nor grist-mill in the town. The fact exists from the lack of necessity. Coosider- able enterprise is being shown at the month of the Geoesce river. Roads, with two or three exceptions, run irregularly to various points. Farms have appreciated to high valuc. Healthfulness may now be fairly claimed, and could Mr. Tainter return to his old home he would doubtless recognize the general truism that human labor has no absolute limit, and that localities desolate, forbidding, and dangerous may become as a garden, attractive, produetive, healthful, and highly valuable.

Appended are a list of the first town officers and a list of the supervisors and town clerks since organization.

The following towa officers were elected at the first annual town meeting ... Frondequoit, held the second day of April, 1939:

William Shephard, supervisor ; Alexander A. Hooker, town clerk , Ismar t'ur tis, Alexander A. Hooker, George W. Beers, James Lyon, Abner D. Jennings Jn -- tiees of the peace ; Micajah W. Jackson, Enus Ganyard, Hale Clemente, At-mp-sur- Witam Pardee, Henry Butts, Hosen Rogers, commissioners of highways. A. ander A. Hooker, Samuel W. Bradstreet, Joual Brown, comoi-muci- of com. mon schools ; Isaac Waring, Henry Case, overseers of the poor ; William she phard Isaac Curtis, James Lyon, inspectors of common schools ; Isaac Butts, evilestof Alexander II. Selden, Isaac Butts, Allen Barrus, John HI. Waring. Huraus Hiekok, constables ; Amos Graves, sealer of' weights and measures.

1839. William Shephard.

1840.

1841 ...

William Blossom.

1842

William Shephard.

James Swayne.

1843

Jonah Brown.

IS45.

John BeGonegal.

1846.

1847.

James Mandeville.

1849

James Swsyne.

Benjamin Wing.

1849

Benjamin C. Brown. Caleb K. Hubhte.

1950.

Benjamin Wing.

1851.

Samuel W. Bradstreet.

James Swayne.

1852

1853

James Swayne.

1854

James sherry.

Ransford Perrin. Daniel G. Brown.

1856

James Swayne.

1857.

Henry Butts.

1858

John Smyles.

1959.

Ransford Perrin.

1860.

George E. MeGonegal.

1861

James Swayne.

1862

Jedediah White.

1863.

James Sherry.

1864

Albert C. Hobbie. 14

1865

Jabn D. Whipple. Juba Evershed. 44

1867.

Richard D. Cole.

1868

1869. 1870.

1971

.Samuel Dubelbeiss.

1872.

1873.

Henry Walzer.

1874.

1875.

1876.

TOWN CLEERS.

Alexander A. Houker Ransford Perrin. 44

1944.

Ransford Perrin. James Swayne.

Albert C. Hfablie.

1855.

WEBSTER.

Lriso along the lake shore in the northeast corner of the county, and bounded westward by Irondequoit bay, is the comparatively recently errcted town of Web- ster, the foriner north half of the old towa of Penfield. The organization of Penfield frum Boyle was effected in 1810. and Webster was takco off on February 6, 1840. The surface has a gentle, rolling slope from the ridge northward, and is broken in the west. Upon the lake shore the land rises to o height in pluces of fifty feet, and on Irundequeit attains an altitude of nearly a hundred feet. Small streams having their rise within the boundaries of the town, nnitiog, flow northward into the lake. The soil in the northward section is a sand-blended loom, while south of the ridge it is a clay and a clay loam. The arca is nineteen thousand nine bandred and nine acres. The population of two thousand aix hundred and fifty in 18GO had increased to two thousand seven hundred and forty-niue in 1870. The leading objects of industrial pursuit are fruit-raising and agriculture. More than three-fourths of the land is improved, and has a valuation of about three-fourths of a million. Spring wheat. potatoes, and apples are staple products. Rearing of live-stock-sheep and cattic-is an important interest, and the town ranks high for its dairy product. The first town meeting hell within the present limits of the towo was at " John Letts' tavern," situated about three-fourths of a mile south of Webster village. At this meeting. held in 1840, an election was held, resulting in the election of Alphous Crocker for supervisor and T. B. Com- ing town clerk. Settlement was delayed and permanent occupation did not begin till portions of Ontario had become populons and had long worn the aspect of an old and improved locality.

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Little regardful of social enjoyment in the location of homes. there were few who visited the lake region other than hunters in pursuit of game. The influence of roads and free communication was in this illustrated. The pioneers of Webster were principally from Vermont, New Hampshire, and the eastern portions of New York. Various motives influenced a voluntary relinquishment of social comforts fur an enforced semi-savage life in the foresta of the Ontario shores ; but chief among them was that of procuring cheap farms. which by the industry of a few years could be made to return comfort and a certain degree of affinence. Speca- lators there were, and some few to whom the restraints of community bad becotue irksome, and who became hunters in this wild land and enjoyed their savage free- dom. The enterprise of the first settlers is a prominent und presumable trait, and Webster's pioneers are privileged to the claim. Infidels there were among the number, but the people in general were intelligent and well-informed, and the visits of missionaries were received with gliviness, while the Sabbath was regarded as a day of rest and religions meditation and improvement.

Initial settlement began in 1803. In this connection the name of Caleb Lyon is mentioned. Ile way from Connecticut. and settled in the north part of the town, on the lake shore, upon property now owned by Thumas Wright. The first grist- and saw-mill of the town were built by him, on the stream now known as Foar-Mile creek. The property was owned by Julin Iuman iu 1826, when de- strojed by fire.

Whether Lyon lived solitary and alone. or found visitors among rambling white men and Indians, unknown to us, was of highest importance to him ; and, if the settlement of Ebenezer Spear, of Massachusetts, in the southeast part of the town, and of William Harris, made in 1.07, were the next in order of time, the event was of no slight importance. Mr. Spear had lived a year in Paluyra, but con- eluded to gu farther, and in Webster he found a home, cleared it with his own bands, and upon it resided till his death, in 1856.

The year 1810 dates a con-idlemble increase in the number of forest homes. Stephen Sherman, from Saratoga county, accompanied by his son Henry, then a young man, settled on lot No. 2; likewise, Heury Jennings, from the sne county, arriverl and took up lut No. 3. Hedid not bring his family until the year following. A son, Asa K. Jennings, still survives, with intellectual farulties unimpaired, at the age of seventy-eight. Fornever Look, the first blacksmith of Waterer, came to from New Hampshire, and, with unhewn bags, built a shop on the Ridge road, in the south western part of the torn. Engaged in a chosen vocation, his shop was an early resort of the settler. and when the vhdl structure became dilapidated he built him another, and followed the trade for many years. About this time, Z.

Eldridge came in from Washington county, and Daniel Harvey from the county of Greene. A further cnumeration of the pioneers of 1810 presents the names of Simeon Goodenough, Nathaniel Abbott, Sr., John Atwood, Asa G. and David Fell, Samuel Robb, and William McFarlin, Sr., from New Hampshire. These pioneers occupied lots in the north and eastern parts of the town. There were also Zebulon Ilandy, from Saratoga county, Thomas Stratton, from Greene county, and Dr. Nathaniel Beecher, from Connecticut, who became residents during this year.

The year 1911 presents the names of Amos Knapp, from the western part of the State, Eocuezer Clark, from Greene county, and a soldier of the war of 1812-15. and John Letts, fruin Schuyler county. The last noted took up a lot in the sonthera part of the town. and built the inn known as the Letts tavern. Despite the threatening aspect of western affairs, and the declaration of war in 1812, mi- gration, in a diminished but continuous stream, continued westward, and some, changing about already in the Genesee conotry, took up their residence within the bounds of the town of Webster. Among these were Levi Harris, Deacon Abram Foster, Robert Woodhull, John F. Whiting, and the Burnetts, Robert and Bon- jamin, all of whom removed from what is now known as Ontario county and tunk ap their homes on the lake shore. The object of this movement was a location where they might obtain a thoroughfare for their produce, being confirmed in the impression that their previous homes would continue in the isolation they had far experienced.

Abraham Smith and Gerard Dunning moved in from Saratoga county in 1812. Amasa Kilborn, Constance and William Holt from Connecticut, Ah heus Ballard and Robert Canada from Mootgumnery county. Asa Buss from Massachusett .. James Spear and Issae Straight. were among other settlers at that time. A son of Gerard Dunning is a present resident in the town. Elich year the distance between clearingy grew less, the forest became less will, and yet. the preliminary occupation being made, fan:ilies continued to make their homes within the bonnsl- of Webster. In 1813 came Ransom Thomas, Elisha Jud-on. Lyman aul Martin For, and Peter Any from Saratoga county, and Alphous Crocker from Con- nectieut, who settled in the north part of the town. The next year Saralegi county furnished Michael Dunning and John and William Hicks, while Thomas Murphy and John Smith came in from the western part of the State, at in the year following Timothy Thompson, a present resident. made the town his peria- - nent bome.

The year 1817 was marked by a restoration of confidence, a stagnation of prio -. and a renewal of the westward caravan to the valley of the Mi -- issippi and Ho- peninsula of Michigan. Many joinel the company, and, amidst the lontests of th .. Ohio, renewed their early experienes on the purchase, while some, like stragul r -. stopped along the march. and were content to remain. In some sort such w. re Ebenezer Curtice, Chester Cleveland, Reuben Cobh, More aml Andrew Bohb atol Nathaniel Knight; the last located upon the farm still his re-ilence. Thetr arre. besides, Samuel I'reston, from New Hampshire, whose son. William P. Pre-t.n. dwells in the town, and De. O. Reynolds, who came originally from All my counts to Penfield in 1913, and thener. in 1917. to Weleter. Dr. Reynolds was the pioncer physician of the town, and still survives, at the age of eighty-five. ani. in the full possession of his faculties, is an honored relie of the oblen time, a tie with jeet for hiogmphical allusion. Among the pioneer settlers ocour the Haun- . f Calvin Chamberlain. Lazarus Church, Justin Pwinell, Joshni Vo-burgh. Join and William Mandeville, Joseph Vinton, Barent Van Ilosen, N .bon Strarn -. from Verotunt, and Ziba and John Curtice, foiun New Hampshire. Pour work remained for many subsequent years; sevres of families moved in, and they or their children are present neidents. Neighbors there were to lend a helpin: hand until, in 1858, the town contained three hundred and thirty-thave for- holders. "Pioneers still living and residents in the town are Dr O. Reynolds La vi C. Harris, Asa K. Jennings, Timothy Thompson, and Renten Cold ..

In the wiy uf carly incidents of' Webster. the following are presented. The first grave yard ware situated a half-maile west of West Webster, and continues to [. ... for the same sacred purpure. The first death was that of a child of N. Carne and the first birth was that uf a child to Caleb Lyon. A school-house was construct:" .

212

213

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

in the year 1813, upon the State road, on a site now occupied by the school-house of district No. 12. As may have becu inferred, the structure in that locality at that date was of the round-log pattern. The commencement of preaching was done by circuit- riders advocating the doctrines of Methodism, holding their meet- ings in the open air, in barns, and private houses. All, from a variety of motives, were accustomed to attend and juin in the worship. At the time of settlement the lake-shore woods contained many bears, wolves, deer, and other species of game, aod the proceeds from traps and rifle were at tinies more valuable than the season'a crop. Fearless and determined, the back woodsmen had many an encounter with the denizens of the forest, which rehearsed about the open fireplace. of a winter's eveuing, were among the richest entertainments of the time,-shared io and enjoyed by young and old alike.

Among adventures of Webster's pioneers was one in the early life of John McLaren. The scene of the incident was near the Penfield and Webster line. Mr. McLaren was out alone, busily engaged at logging in the immediate vicinity of his house, when his attention was attracted by the voice of his niece calling to him She had discovered the near approach of a huge bear, and, becoming frightened, had given ber uncle the alarm. After considerable manoeuvring, and with the assistance of a small dog, the bear was driven up a tree. Being no adept with the riffe himself, MeLaren requested his brother-in-law, then pass- ing by on horseback, to come to his aid. A shot struck and slightly wounded the bear, which, enraged, rushed down the trunk of the tree to wreak vengeance upon his assailants. At this critical moment McLaren, bringing his handspike, fortu- nately brought with him, into action, struck the bear upon the head a tremendous blow, which so far disabled him that he inflicted no injury, and was speedily dis- patched by a gun-shot. The animal, when dressed. weighed three hundred pounds. It was a costom here, as elsewhere, among the early inhabitants, to allow their stock to run at large. At one time some cattle, owned by Robert Canada, having strayed some distance from home, were attacked by a ravenous pack of wolves. The cattle, by their bellowing, called to their assistance some settlers in the vicinity. These soon succeeded io driving them away, but not until they had overpowered one of the cattle and torn the flesh from her limbs to the bone. She was killed to end her suffering.

WEBSTER VILLAGE.

Webster village is situated on the Ridge road, a little south and east of the centre of the towa. It is the principal trading point of the town, and is on the line of the Ootario Lake Shore Railroad, crossing the town from east to west. The first frame building of the town of Webster was erected within the present limits of the village, on ground now occupied by P. A. Hotchkiss, as early as 1812, by James Spear. It was then used as a tavern, but has since been rebuilt and converted into a tin-shop. At a very early day, and previous to the building of the tavern, the first store of the town was built by Dr. Wm. R. Ellis, the pio- neer merchant of Webster. Small in size, it was what has been termed a " pocket concern," yet, for a time, was of ample extent, so far as the requisites of trade were concerned. The time when these buildings-the store and tavern-were erected dates the commencement of the village of Webster. There were then only a few rude log structures in the neighborhood, and the forest was unbroken, except in those spots where the pioneer had set his stakes and entered upon his plain, hard labor.

The earliest tradiog was done in Canandaigua ; but. the store having been erected, Webster village entered upon a growth which has continued to the present. In tima other stores were built, shops were erected, and houses went up, and popula- tion increased till the enumeration gives four hundred souls. The first brick build- ing was erected by Samuel Lacy. in the year 1830; it is now owned and occupied by S. F. Mason. During 1831, the first church in the village and in the town was erected by the Presbyterian denomination. A summary of business interests of to-day gives four physicians ; there are five stores, a hotel, a carriage factory, a foundry, a shoe shop, a marble shop, two harness shops, two nicat markets, two blacksmith shops, a steam saw-mill, a stave manufactory. and two cooper shops. There are four churches in Webster village, the Presbyterian, Baptist, Universal- ist, and Methodist Episcopal, and there is the Webster Academy, formerly the First Baptist church, erected in the town during 1832. When the denomination had built a new edifice, this old one was given to Rev. Spencer Holt, the pastor at the time, on condition that he would convert it to an academy. The transfer was made in 1860, and a school was inaugurated which continued in operation for a number of years. To a certain degree, the free-school system has warred against the academical, and taken precedence. However, it is on record that scholarship of high rank and later eminence owes its development to the classic culture taught within the halls of the oldlen-time and now decaying academics.

The Webster Academy was burned in 1872, and since that time the boarding-

house built by Mr. Holt has been occupied for school purposes. The new academy (Union and Free School), situated on the corner of Academy and Sanford streets approaches completion, and will soon be ready for use. It is a fine brick structure. built at an expense of nine thousand dollars. It contains four apartments, has accommodations for two hundred and fifty pupils, and in dimensions is forty-four by fifty-six feet. The present board of education is recorded as follows : Dr. J D. Dunning, president; Hugh MeKay, secretary ; Lewis Crippen, treasurer ; W. W. Hill, collector, and C. S. Pratt, W. S. Hawley. George Peacock, George Curtice, Elam Hatch, T. II. Stratton, and Lewis Billings., The board bave engaged as the first principal Sylvester Gardner.

WEST WEBSTER.

West Webster, in the southwest part of the town, on the Ridge road, eun- tains about sixty houses. Here are two churches, viz., Methodist Episcopal and Free Methodist, a hotel, a store, a post-office, a carriage and other mechanic shop-, also a school building capable of accommodating one hundred pupils. This is the largest school district in the town. and the average attendance upon the school varies from sixty to ninety. The Webster Lodge of Free Masons. No. 538, has its rooms and sessions at this village. This lodge was chartered in June, 1863, and at that time contained eighteen charter members. HE. N. Curtice became its first Master, with T. Van Alstine and B. W Burnett, Wardens. The following, in the order given, have been Masters siuce the organization : H. N. Curtice, T. Van Alstine, B. W. Burnett, J. E. Thompson, and J. H. Whitbeck, the present Mas- ter. The lodge has a present enrollment of sixty members.

CHURCH HISTORY.

No inconsiderable portion of the history of a town stands connected with the development of interest in religion, the expedients of societies, the erection of their churches, their dedication, and their description. Exempt from taxation. they serve as illustrations of genuine liberality, and impress the observer with the character, disposition, and actual good faith of those whose pretensions are thus measured by their practice.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF WEBSTER

is situated in Webster village. This church was first legally organized in 1843. although meetings had been held in different places many years previous by a Rev. Mr. Knapp, and other preachers. At organization, the church consisted of niue- teen members, viz. : Ebenezer Cook. Reuben Cobb, Timothy Thompson, Nathaniel Knight, Franklin Robb. John Robb, Dr. Dunham, Benjamin Farr, Ebenezer Day- ton, their wives, and Carlos Dunham. The present church edifice was erected in 1844. It is a cobble-stone structure, is valued at four thousand dollars. will seat two hundred persons, and was dedicated November, 1845, by the Rev. L. L. Spaulding, who became its first pastor. The following-named were preachers in the order of their charge: Revs. L. L. Spaulding, Charles Hammond, H. L. Hay- wood, C. A. Skinner, J. J. Austin, M. M Tompkins, L. F. Porter, T. J. Whit- comb, Herbert Whitney, and Rev. Mr. Kimmel, the present pastor. There is a membership of thirty-seven. A Sunday-school was organized a number of year> ago, but was reorganized in 1870, with forty pupils. James Thompson was chosen superintendent. The present number of pupils is sixty, and there is a library of one hundred volumes.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 81

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