History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 86

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 86

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When the British and Indians had burned the village of Buffalo, in the war of IS12, it was feared they would march eastward. in the interior. and dostme every- thing before them. This fear did not escape the settlers of Perrinton : and one night, Mr. Kelly, then living northeast from Egypt, was certain he heard the serecchings of Indians very distinctly, in the swamp which lay along the creek. east of the village. Thinking an attack imminent, he spread the alarm anine the neighbors, already too excited with dreadful forebodings to question its plausibility. Nut being prepared for a foe of that character, and fearful that a midnight mas- sacre was intended. they all gathered at the house of Mr. Ramsdell. for defense. or, if overpowered, to meet their fate together. It was a night of terror. The old log house was full, and a fearful anxiety pervaded all. Through the carly hours they watched and waited with trembling the sound of coming footsteps, and every sough of the wind was magnified into a savage yell. But in the small hours of morning nature succumbed to weariness and long suspense, and the company sank upon the floor, and, exhausted, fell a-leep .- all except Mrs. Ramsdell, whose lofty courage led ber to steal quietly out of the house to investigate matters and listen for the enemy. After satisfying herself that no Indians were near. she returned. but her footfall on the step awakened some of the sleepers, who sprang to the door to hold it against the supposed sivages, and aroused the others. A scene of the willest confusion followed, and it was only after continued effort that Mrs. Ramsdell could make her voice known, and their fears were quieted sufficiently to admit her into the house, greatly to the relief of all. Daylight finally came, though the Indians did not, when it was discovered that a tree had fallen in the crotch uf anc her, and, when swayed by the wind, sent forth the alarming sounds that had been taken for savage yells the night before.

For two years Glover Perrin and his wife were the only settlers in the town, during which time Mrs. Perrin never saw a white woman. The Indians in the ricinity were friendly, and came at last to have a very Ingh regard for her : still, their visits were frequent, sometimes in quite large numbers, which caused her much anxiety, especially in the absence of her husband. She was compelled to wsort to stratagem to compel them to go away, which, through their high regard for the white woman, was generally succes ful. Still, her isolation in the wilder- ness, and the constant dread of the Indians, which she could not overenme, finally made her crazy, and it was a long time before the kind attention of friends Textored her to herself again.

The greatest suffering and privation among the early settlers was felt through the interminable fever and ague and the almost absolute want of money; yet prnervus Christian hearts throbbed in the bosoms of men and women, whose su- preme disinterestedness finals no parallel to-day. When Jesse Perrin came into the town he had money and horses of his own, andl. having occasion to purchase wheat, he mounted his house one day and with a fag started for the nearest grist mill. at Hovevye Falls. Arriving and making his errand knowo. the willer a-kod if he hel the money to pay for it. He answered, " Yes." Again he asked, if he owned that horse; to which he replied that he did. " Then," said the miller, " you

must go farther, for I have so many neighbors who have neither money nor hut-" but must have wheat, that I cannot sell yon any." And Mr. Perrin way .lis .1 to go on until he did find it. He also brought with him a considerable quantity . f cloth for family use, on account of the difficulty of obtaining any in the settlement .. which, however, on account of lung sickness, he was obliged to sell for wheat to sow. It was with great difficulty that he managed to prepare his land the air-t year, but he was wholly unable to saw. A friendly neighbor, coming to his assist- ance, sowed the wheat, and Perrin's little daughter, then six years old. put her mother's side-saddle on the home, and rode, and she and her little brother. tr .. years older, contrivedl to harrow the grain in. The heroic little girl is now Mr .. Blackman, who, at the age of ninety-three. is knitting stockings to raise money t'or the missionary fields. She is the only one of the earliest settlers now living. and resides in the west part of the town of Macedon, Wayne county, with her daughter. Mrs. Legrand Couch, herself over seventy years of age. She came with her father. Jesse Perrin, in 1791, the second year of the settlement of the town, and has lived in the immediate vicinity ever since. She was born eight years after the Declaration of Independence. and one year after the close of the war uf the Revo- lution. Hler faculties are remarkably strong, and she possesses a vivid remem- brance of carly scenes and incidents. Mamy valuable historical facts have been obtained from her and her daughter for this work.

Judge Walker, of Berkshire, Massachusetts, owning a large section of this towo, hired Glover Perrin to set out the orchard on the farm known as the Slocum farns, that is back in the lots, and also to first clear the land. which was done somewhere near 1790 or 1791. This was the first orchard sct out in town. Mr. Amasa Slocum bought this farm at advanced rates on account of the orchard and clearing.

In 1794, Abner Wight settled on the farm owned by Mr. S. P. Howard, Asa Wight, a son of Abner Wight, was the first white child born in town that grew up to manhood; but a little child of Jesse Perrin, named Hollister, was born February 5, 1797, and died two months afterward. Aaa Wight was born about the time of this ebild's death.

There is a touching fact lying alongside of this little history. This little child, because there was no minister in all the surrounding country, was consigned to the grave with only the simple rites which affection framed for the occasion. It was, without doubt, quite as beautiful, an far as the ceremony itself was con- cerned, but sad indeed to the friends, who needed and desired the consolation that the land from which they came afforded them.

A Mr. Thomas settled just east of the village of Fairport. before 1800, where Mr. Brown now lives, from whom the creek that runs through the village was named. Mr. Jesse Perrin's daughter. Nancy Perrin, was married to Mr. Philetus Blackmon, May, 1803,-probably the first marriage in town. They had tive chil- dren that lived to manhood and womanhond; there are four now living.

There are eleven school districts in this town, with seventeen teachers, cleven hundred and ninety-seven children of school age, nine hundred and eighty-there attending school in the past year, and an average attendance of four hundred and ninety-seven, drawing two thousand three hundred and twenty-eight dollars and twenty-six cents public money.

The Perrinton Society for the Detection and Apprehension of Horse-Thieves was organized the 6th of January, 1838, by choosing John Peters chairman. Charles Dickenson secretary. The chairman appointed the following committee to draft a constitution : A. Goodell, Gilbert Benedict, Henry Willett, John Peters, Charles Dickenson, and Solomon Ralph, which they prepared and was unaui- mously adopted.

The officers of this society are to be elected annually, consisting of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and a vigilance committee.

The following is a list of the names of its first members ; John Peters, Whicha Goodell, Henry Willett, C. H. Dickenson. Charles Smith, Gilbert Benedict. . \. A. Howard. David Burhans, Orrin Manchester. Jesse Whitney. Solomon Ralph. Eli Hart. Anson Beardsley, Lary Wilcos, Elisha Hodskia, Joseph Lippincott, Perrin Hodskin, Mullford Butts, Jese Hanford, A. G. Van Dusen. Jamir- Light. E. H. Shaw, M. S. Northrup. Thomas A. Slocum, William Wilcox. Zera Barr, Caleb Munson, Sdomon Bradt, Horace Lee. Isaac Hastings, Daniel Conaut, Ansel Ely, A. H. Taylor. Willard Fallam, Juhn Arault, Otis Hardin, Archi- hald Richardson, Joseph B. Hawkins. The first vigilance committee were E. A. Shaw, Henry Willett, A. A. Howard, Charles Smith, Joseph Lippincott, Pertin Hol-kin, A. G. Van Dusen, and David Burhans.

This society has kept its organization up in a healthy condition, and has por porel for nearly forty your, afounding ready assistance to any of its members who. have had horses stolen. Its prevent officers are Simeon P. Howard, president ; Nelson Lewis, vice-president ; Anson Howard, treasurer: Anson Beard-key. ... retary. Thomas . She an served as secretary for the society for nearly thirty Fears, and Anson Howard has served as treasurer for about the same time.

226

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.

Major Nathan M. Norton, James Hannan, Issue Arnold, Darius Arnold. Wal- ter Graham, Andrew Graham, Wanton Graham, Ira Palmier. Laury Wilcos, An- drew Northrup, Adolphus Aldrich, Olney Staphes , captain, Roswell Everetts. Nonh Ramielell, Bennett Joy ( who was wounded), Philip Piester.

No inconsiderable portion of local record pertains to the religious societies, through which moral obligations are so powerfully conveyed.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF PERRINTON

was organized prior to 18220, with Elder Spencer, pastor. and Deacon E. Batewau, B. Slocum and wife, Lydia Anna, wife of Elisha Slocum. Mrs. Hezekiah Peterson and daughter, and others. Services were hehl in school-houses for a number of years. Elder Noyce was pastur for a time. About 1538 a division arose, and the ~xiety was disbanded. On January 8. 1542. a meeting was held in the Joy achoul- house, Dow district No. 12, at which Elder Charles Howe was moderator, and Justus Beards- ley cierk. Juba Badiony. John Walker. Hannah Wallet. Bylvia Curtis. Cynthia Noyes, and Ursula Noyes adopted articles of faith and church covenant. Six were received into conference by letter, and Juel and Lucinda De Land were can- " didates for baptism. On February 2, 1842, the society was legally organized as the " Perrinton Baptist Church." by a council composed of ministers and brethren from adjacent towns. Harvey Munger was a temporary pastor. In May. 1842, Franklio Woodward became the first pastor, and during his three years' labors que buodred were added to the church. The following-named supplied the pull & telu- porarily, and as pastors. viz : Elders Griswald, Charles De Land, Franklin Wood- ward, L. L. Richmond. Heury Stanwood. O. D. Taylor, J. II. Castle. J. Wil- Hams, Goodspeed, 1. Farm, Merrill Forbes, Byron P. Rusell. Mostgean. Weaver. Eben Little, Ridille, Eleazer Savage, and David MeFarland. I. Fargo remained seven years, and Elder MeFariand has entered upon his sisth year. The pastor's anlary bas varied from three hundred dollars without parsonage. to twelve hundred dollars with parsonage. In 1871 a parsonage was purchased. at a cost of three thousand two hundred dollars. There have been added to the church three hun- dred and fly by baptism, two hundred and seventy-tive by letter. Total, sis hun- dred and twenty-five. The present membership is two hundred and eighty-eight. Hiram R. Moreley. Charles Howe, and Thous Niesie were the first deacons. The superintendeuts of the Sabbath-school are II. A. De Land and Deacon Nathan Case. There are thirty-three officers aud teachers, four hundred and three scholars, and a total of four hundred and thirty-sis.

The first church building was erected in 1842. It was removed to make way for the fine structure now in process of construction. The estimated value of che build- ing when finished will be thirty thousand dollars. The corner-stone was laid August 28, 1876. Within a tin box many nuonh and relies were deposited for the generations to follow. The services were performed by various pastors. among whom were L. A. Craudall and D. MeFarland. The building committee are II. A. De Land, G. L. G. Seeley, Wm. M. Newman. Erastus Herringtou, G. F. Wilcox, and Levi.J. De Land.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETIES OF PERRINTHY.

----

cated in the latter part of 1826. The first preacher was Rev. Elazer Caulkius. through whose zealous and praise worthy efforts the organization sprang into exist- edwy. The first bank of trustees comprised Rev. Eleazer Caulkins, Fayette Lapham, William S. Gregory, Nosh Rimsdill. David Rowland, and Daniel Whit- man, who belonged also to the small band of pioneer members. Preaching has been generally sustained by the oriety, the interests of the church carefully all- ministered, and a fair degree of prosperity has attended its existence from the beginning. Thuse constituting the present board of trustees are John Loud. Spencer Bortles, and Jusiah Abhich; and the present church clerk is Cullen Lanul. who has held that position for more than thirty-five years.

Iu 1836 and 1837 the interests of the Methodist denomination centred in the southeastern part of the town, uuw known as South l'errinton, where. on February 22 of the latter year, the existing society of the Methodist Episcopal church of Perrinton at that place was organized, in the school-house of district No. 11. In Rev. Thomas J. Champion, minister of that charge. The first trusters chown were George Wing, Josiah Wing, Richard W. Wells. Robert K. Potter, and IsaJe Snedaker, and the first secretary Richard W. Wells. A lot was purchased for seventy-fre dollars, and the first house of worship crected the following sumner at an expense of three huwlrel dollars to the builder, John Rible, the material of' which was largely given and much of the work done by the society, and pre - vious to which services were held at the place of organization. In 1860 the building was improved, and more land purchased, to include a cemetery, which increased the lot to two acres; and in ISET other improvements. with an aebiition. were made, and the whole refurnished, at a total cost of three thousand eight hundred dollars. Rev. T. J. Champion was the first preacher. The present in- curubent is Rev. R. N. Lake. Rev. John Cline is the pre-ent deacon. atul four years ago was ordined an eller. He has been a bwal preacher for more than twenty years, and has done much to sustain and advance the interests of the church. The present membership is about eighty, and the present valuation of church property about seven thousand dollars. The Sabbath-chool was organized in 1845, in the church building. and Warren Crosby made first permanent anjar- intendent. A fine library of two hundred volumes was purchased about the same time. The school has been continuous, and has steadily increased in numbers and intenst. Although its attendance is at times much larger. it now uumber- nim. teachers and about sventy pupils, with Eller John Cline present superintendent. Both the church and schoul are prosperous.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Rev. Crane preached at the house of Jesse Perrin the first sermon. In 18221. a society numbering nine persons was formed. Their names are Mrs. Unkinh. Wright. Mrs. Nancy Blackmon. Mrs. Leah Packard. Mrs. Lucy Eaton. Mr -. Letitia Norton. Mrs. Sinnen Bristol, Mrs. Lucy Bristol, and Lemnel Wright and William Stebbens. These were formed into a church by Rev. John Taylor. ... Peafeld, aud Rev. Asa Carpenter. of Macedon. The legal organization .varral in 1832, during which the first house of worship was raised. In 1834 a larger edifice was required and built. The dedication took place January 1. INSA Numbers so increased that a third house was built in IS68. and formally dletient .- 1 April 27, 1869. The first church was built by Lewis Northrup, the mani by Hiram Haye-, and the third by Hiram Kingsley. of Roche-rer. The last en -! uver twenty thousand dollar. So far as learnel. five hundred and fifty-fis. j= r- sons have been received into membership. The last two pastorates cover a ja tive of twenty years. during which two hundred and eighty-one have been addol to the church. The present membership is two hundred and eighteen. The files ing have been ministers to this church. viz. . Rev .. Morgan, Daniel Washburn Daniel Johnson, Alfred White Brooks, George Freeman, Stanley Kellogs. W ... Gillam, Billington, Gilbert. Francis. W. Il. Plat, Nathan Porworth, and of Father. present minister. The deacons have been. E. Whittlewey. L. Wright G. Dauhit H. Wygant, and D. Howard. W. P. Hawkins has been church check -in. 1864. The church primarily stood independent, and in lant muital with the Ontarin conference. In Isiis it framed a constitution and issued a manual.

Mr. Bristol conducted a Sabbath-schund in school-houses as early as 1-20 but it was not till 1535 that a regnlar chund wa- formed. It umuher- thirty .. this . 1 and teachers and two Inurlred and fifty scholars The superintendent i- John 1. Howard.

FREK-WILL. HAPTIST CHI HUN.

Early services were held in district No. 5 by Eller Daniel Lyn, as a brauch .. f Walworth church. A selety was instituted in 1820, with nineteen tomater. among whotu were Daniel Conant. Pornelin+ Conant, Mrs. E. Phun. Mr. M. Betters. and Javuh Chuklin, Elbr Theme Parkrt wom took charge ut th - branch. and with the l'onfield brother a built a church in the east part of l'ent id Eller Parker preached wor twenty years. I'rior to this time, David Mark - hut been known as an ceracional preacher here.

In 1810, Adam Gower, an eshorter, and resident of Perrint in living about two miles south of the present village of Hairport. labored in the intents of Methodist in this vicinity, hobling meetings at the re-idenem of the few scattering metubers; and from ISIG w 1825. circuit preachers were appointed. who hell nxetings, mainly in the east part of the town, at the house of George (. Downer. prominent among when were Bes Ira Bishop and Rev. Seth Madison. Som after 1825 a wiety was organized- in the scloud-homes at Fairport, where it+ ser- vices were conducted until the ervetion of a lot of worship soon after. Jacobs Sperbeck, Warren Culkins, Martin Sperbeck, and Eben Shertu. » were among its constituent members. One of its first minister was Rev. Flater Thomas, who was shot by the Mule Indians in the treent war with that tribe. while acting as a prace commissioner. Her. Willin Furun-on and Rer. Octavius Mason were also preachers prominently connected with it- early history. In 1835 u had in- creal to a considerable church, including among its members Sanlius Camikins, Lydia Caulkins, Mr. and Mr-, Daniel Conkins, Me. and Mrs A. R. Andson. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Whurler. Eller Mowy E. Botte, Lowiria Butts, June Butts. Jantes Price, Mr. and Mrs. William Storm-, Me. and Mrs Stephen Showrum, and others. A few years later it began drelining in interest and numbers; preaching bienque los regular, until 1938, when the building was sold to Jeremiah Chadwick for a carriage and wagon-lags, and in I-19 the acquisition oured to exist.

A sound seirty of the Methodis Episcopal church of Persiaton was organized on April 4, 1825. at the show-lowe in Kasper, where ervices were conducted until the construction of the present church olitice, which was completed and doli-

PLATE LXXXIV

JUDGE D. B. DE LAND.

Daniel Brown De Laml, the original of this portrait, was born in the town of Cander, Tinga county, N. Y., May 14, 1823, and departed this life December 22, 18;2. His father, Levi De Land, was born at Hebron, Washington County, N. Y, and served at the early age uf nineteen as a volunteer in the war of 1812. Soon after was married to Miss Hannah Brown, ut Os Wegn, N. Y.

The subject of this sketch was their third son. At the age of bineteen he was permitted to push out for himself. First, ha shipted as a common sailor before the mast of a whaler for three years.

December 25, 184x, Mr. De Land was married to Miss Minerva Parce. of Norwich, N. Y., who survives him. The first and second years of married life he jent partly in Wisconsin, and atterward with his father-in-law ut Norwich, N. Y., in maonfacturing -aleratus. After serving a year as an apprentice in the business at Norwich, he langan in 1852 for hunself in a small way ut Fairport, N. Y. Thu, originated the well-koown Chemial Works of D. B. De Land & Co. Nut content with producing a quality of goods equal simply to the best then in the markets, Me Do Land made two voyage, to Europe and gathered information from the best establishments of the old world, and he .quipped himself with the amplest literature on the subject. Hence, he was able to produce an article that was soon in demund beyond successful competition.

No good housewife, if she knows the goods, will fail to inquire for " D. B. De Land's ('hemtesl Saleratus."

In 1858 Mr. De Land was chosen to the bench of the local judiciary at Roche-ter, N. Y. Twice he be- vame the choico of his party for the legislature. In political atul denominational conviction, Judge De Land was a Democrat and a Baptist. He was chosen a trustee of the Theological Seminary at Rochester, to which also ho contributed. Rictunond College, in Vir- ginia, also shared in his benefactions.

For the benefit of students in that institution, he builta handsome cottage, and give it to the trustees, -a perpetual legacy to coming generations.

But objects of public and private benevolence at home

H. A. DE LAND.

Mr. Levi De Land married for his second wife 3Irs. Electa Wilmarth, whose maiden name was Tracy. The subject of this sketch is their youngest son.

The family moved into the town-hip of l'errinton, Monroe County, N. Y, when II. A. De Land was twelve years old. He was burn October 25, 1834, in Newark, Tioga county, N. Y. Hi- student life was mainly spent in the village school and Macedon end- .my. Ile made rapid progress, and wa- qualified and employed to leach one of the public schools of his rounty while yet a beardles- youth.

Before he was twenty years of age he began his if work in the saleratu- travle. First, as an employee 'an older ruther (D. B. D .: Lamul), at a small salary, bau afterwards as one of the firm known as D. B. De Land & Co. He became the chief manager of the ale of the estaldi-hment, and attained e succe-s that when brought the company into an extensive trade and gua a permanent basis of operations. For the com- i'mny to fail in the management of it, sale, was to fail altogether.

With elise competition on a field long previously « upied 1 y sharp competitors, and sale, to make and :. look after from the country -tore to the city mer- lant, and from the Atlantic to the Pacide, und cover- ng all the years of tho severest struggle in business hat perhaps this country has known in a lifetime, ''t Mr. De Land achieved a nece-s in -uch cireum- Linre-, and as honorable a- it is remarkable.

The senior died in 1962, and the firm afterwards Icame HI. A. De Land & Co., the present company. Jing 13, 1860, Mr. De Land was married to Miss Muy Millard, of Fairport, N. Y. This excellent ".man died March, 1962. In 1964, Mr. De Land "a married to Shiss Surah I'arco, who is a lady of perior culture and retinement.

Starting out withont a dollar or without capital,

DBDELand

H. A. DLand

never lost attention by his beneBeence nbrandl. Public- spirited, sincere, and enrne-t, he was ever ready to nul every good cause. He wa- devout and luthfal in all that he undertuok. Sunshine and storm, luisita .- 'arr. alike found him with his brethren in tho discharge . t public duty His excentive usefulness and hearty ro- operation are fondly remembered and olten referred tu by both pastor and peuple.

By the abundant treasure- of a careful knowlede. of the sacred Scriptures, he attracted to himself a large class in the Sabbath-school. When at hi- fiiral hi- pastor referred to this, the cla-4 aro- to their fint ; ... unexpected and spontanrons was this, the effect upon the congregation was overwhelming.

The life of .Fudge De Land was a titting +vatupde nf earnest, thoughtful, persistent indu-try and attention to every duty. He was uniformly successful. Hlv :u - quired an ande fortune, and provided his family with the very best opportunities for culture, and bett the to A beautiful home in a delightful retreat from the huis .. of the streets.

The ample grounds that surround his mansion lee adorned with exquisite taste with trer and shuh yield- ing in their season rare-t dower and beautiful foliage Here dwell his family, consisting of two -ons at.d thi .. daughters, and Mrs. De Land, hi- widow who av. ever tender at the mention of his name, and who cherish most deeply his precious worth.

Not unmindful of the uncertainties uf mortal evi-t- ance, Judge De Land. year- before the accident which resulted in his untimely death, arranged must wi-riy the disposition of his large property and business in- terests. Accordingly, with con-uminate skill and pru- dence, Mrs. De Land and the elder son maintain the> important trust. Hence, the public benefit which always obtain- in any community from successful manufacturing retablishments still obtains in Fairport where Judge De Lait so successfully planted the prevent Chemical Works of H. A. De Land & I'm

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 86

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