History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 92

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 92

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MRS. LYDIA P. VINTON.

James Wilmarth, Sr., moved into the town of Victor in 1812, and soon afirf settled in the south part of Pittsfurd. Ile was born March 30, 1769. and 1 .:- wife, Lucy Wilmarth, March 20, 1772. They reared a family of six children. ... whom Chauncey and James Wilmarth were life-long residents of Pittsford. \ daughter, Lucy Wilmarth, became the wife of Mr. Woodward. of Memlon. J.itu . and Lydia P Wilmarth are living. the latter the widow of Mr. Plim Vinton. i.r. of Port Washington, Ohio. Mr. Vinton was a younger brother of Hon. Sam . . F. Vinton, of Ohio, long a member of Congress and holding a prominent [ --... tion in national politics. Mr. Vinton and Lydia P. Wilmarth were married F. ruary 21, 1828, and soon after moved to Ohio, where he engaged in fumin_ 4. mercantile and banking business. until his death, December 18, 1855. Sino .. . time Mrs. Vinton has returned to Pittsford, the home of her early years. 3 .. . now resides in the south part of tho village.

PLATE CI.

HARVEY BOUGETON.

The subject of this sketch was a native of West Stockbridge, Berkshire county. Mas , and removed to Brighton. Monroe County. with his family in 1817. where he arrived and settled June 5, on a farm of the hundred acres, now wcupied by his son. Horace C. Boughton. ITv. catue through with a yoke of oxen and one horse attached to his wagon, behind which hr led a cow the whole distance. The journey to Victor. where they stopped three or four days with a sister living there, required twelve days It was all a dense wilderness here at that time. And he rented a rude log cabin which stond on the site of the brick residence of Jolin Warren. until he cleared a small piece of land and built frame house. planked up un the outside. This frame constitutes a part of the present structure Mr. Boughton had previously made a journey to Victor, where he brought and put up the first brnoment erected in that town, and perhaps the .uuty. over the graves of bis two brothers.

H. C. BOUGHTON.

Horatin, who died before 1800, aud Flavilis who died in 1815, both twenty-one years of age They were buried one mile south of the village. unt Boughton Hill, so named from this family,- the land donated by the father uf Harvey Mr Boughton married Elizabeth Boynton in West Stockbridge. She died May 9. 1855. Mr Boughton had ten children, three sous and. two daughters born in Massachusetts, and one son and four daughters born in Brighton. Three sous and four daughters are now living, all in Brighton. except two of the latter in Rochester. They are Mrs. Chas. Mumford. Horace C., Geo. E., Rhoda A., Mrs. John Warren, Elizabeth, and Eghert H. Boughton. Mr. Boughton wus a prominent and public-spirited citizen, -of strict integrity in business and all relations of life, and a thorough and successful farmer. He died, honored and respected hy his fellow-men, September 21. 1827. Horace C. Bonghton, his oldest living son, Dow ocenpies the old homestead, beautifully located a short distance south of the city, near Genesre river.

RES. OF H. C. BOUGHTON , BRIGHTON, MONROE CO, N. Y

PLATE CII

AMASA DRAKE.

JARS. AMASA DRAKE.

RESIDENCE OF AMASA DRAKE, EAST BRIGHTON, MONHOE CO , NEW YORK

BRIGHTON.

ORGANIZATION AND FIRST OFFICERS.

THE town of Brighten was organized March 25, 1814. hy a division of the town of Smallwood in two parts. Brighton and Pittsford. Part of Rochester was taken off in 1834, and Irondequoit in 1535. The records previous to 1825 are missing. but in April of that year the town meeting was held at Culver's tavern. west of East Brighton, and officers elected, as follows : Supervisor, Ezekiel Morse; Town Clerk, Themas Blossom ; Assessors. Enos Binssom. Davis C. West. Joseph Colwell : Overseers of the Poor. Otis Walker. Seth Lamb: Road Commissioners, Titus Goodman. Eli Stilson. John J Calhoun ; School Commissionery. Ashbell W. Riley, Anson House, O. M. Bush ; School Inspectors, Benjamin B. Blossom. David Bush, Charles Thorp; Collector and Constable, Adonijah Green ; Consta- bles, Butler Bradwell, Aaron Newton, John Brown, Jr., Augustus E. Thorpe. John C. Cooley ; Overseers ef Highways and Road Districts, thirty-one.

The justices of the peace, elected the following year, in 1826, were Reuben Bradwell, David Bush, and Samuel Miller.

FIRST OWNERS, DESCRIPTION. ETC.

This town, within its present limits, is irregular in shape, and joins the city of Rochester on the east and southeast, extending south along the Genesee river, which separates it from the town of Chiti. It comprises township 13 in range 7, besides a few lets from an adjoining township. It is divided mainly into one- hundred-and-twenty-acre lots. by liues parallel with Genesee river. comprising in the whole an area ef abont twenty-two square miles, or fourteen thousand two hundred and eighteen acres, with a population of abent three theosind six hon- dred. The soil is a saudy loam in the east, and a clay loam along the river. and is generally well adapted to gardening, to which much of it is devoted. The sur- face is gently rolling, and inclines to the north. On the east border are a deep valley and Irondequoit bay, along which the first settlements began. The streamis are small brooks flowing west into the Genesee river, and east into Irondequoit creek and bay, except Allyn's creek. which affords considerable water-power. There are three post-offices in the town, East Brighton, Allyn's Creek, and West Brighton. Two miles south of the village are large brick and tile works. and southeast of West Brightou are the model school. work-honse, poor-house, insane hospital, and a glue factory. At East Brighten is located the Glen Hall manufac- tory of threshing machines, etc.

T. B. Yale & Co.'s Brighton nursery was commenced by Justus Yale. in 183", whe continued it a number of years. until his son became a partner, when the present firm name was adopted. At first the nursery comprised about one aere, with apple-trees a specialty; but now it occupies more than two hundred aeres. embracing all varieties of fruits, apple. peach, plom, pear, quinee. etc. The sale of stock has extended over a wide region, from Maine to California, and gives employment to about one hundred men. In 1>55 this firm, wit .. others, adopted the new practice of selling te jobbers, but soon after retarned to their former ens- tom ef sending out their own agents. By large experience, and integrity, T. B. Yale & Co. have built up a business second to none in the country.

J. B. Norris & Son's nurseries at Brighton, New York, were established by this firm twenty eight years ago. Growing all varieties of nursery stoek, they made this a specialty, and, beginning with a few acres only, it has increased to such an extent that its grounds now occupy ever one hundred acres. One great aim of the firm has been reliability in the selection of stock, and no labor has been spared, or care neglected, to secure a variety suited to every want and demand.

FIRST SETTLERS, MILLS, DISTILLERIES, ETC.

The first settlement made in this town was hy John Lusk, who purchased fif- teen hundred arres of land in the vicinity of Irondequoit hay and creck. He was one of the proprieturs. as were also Prosper Polly, General Hyde, Enos Stone. Job Gilbert, aud Joseph Chapin. In 1759. John Lusk, with his son Stephen and a hired man by the name of Seeley Peet, came to Schenectady, where they loaded a bateau with goals in charge of Luck, while Stephen and Port took charge of n drove of cattle. They followed an Indian trail to Onondaga Hollow, thence through Skaneateles to Cayuga lake, directed part of the way hy blazed

trees. They crossed the lake on rafts, the cuttle swimming. At Canandaigua they were joined by Mr. Lusk, who, with an ox-sled, eut their way through the forest to the Irondequeit Landing, in Brighton. Here Mr. Lusk built a log cabin and cleared twelve acres of land, which he sowed in wheat that he obtained of Ebenezer Allen, from Shaffer's farin at Scottsville. The next spring, 1700. he moved his family from Massachusetts, and made preparations for large improve- ments. There were ne people to be seen at that time in the vicinity, except the transient trappers along the bay and creek, Indians, and surveyors engaged in surveying the township into farm lots. Mr. Lusk engaged in trapping while clearing up and improving his lands, which he followed successfully several years. The same year Stephen and Erastus Lusk, his sons, Enos Stone and his son, Orauge, with families, Joel Scodder, Channecy Hyde, and Calvin Hyde. came into town; also Timothy Allyn and C. H. Allyn built a leg house, aud settled on five hundred acres along the creek that afterwards took their name. They. how- ever, sold out during the summer, and left the town. About 1795, Oran Stone, brother of Enos, from Berkshire, Massachusetts, settled cast of' Brighton village, Oliver Culver, frem Oswell, Vermont, near the same place. Samuel Shaffer and Eoos Blossom in other parts of the town. These men mostly followed trapping for several years, but afterwards took an active part in the business which sprang up at the landing. Judge John Trvon arrivedl soon after this, and in 1798 laid out a village along the creek. about three miles above the head of Irondequoit lay. It was called and known for several years as " Tryen's Town." During the same year he ereeted an immense warehouse, five stories in height. to accommodate the shipping business, which subsequently assumed considerable importance. It was the first warehouse in this part of the State. and for a number of years the only one. Mr. Tryon came here from Lebanon Springs. Augustus Griswold. an agent of the proprietory. the same year eame with five sleigh-loads of good-, and in the autumn with a boat-lvad from Schenectady, upon which he paid freight at the rate of three dollars for one hundred and twelve pounds. He then, with Mr. Tryon, opened the first store in this part of the country. Before this, near 1795 or '96, the scattering settlers in this and adjoining towns went e.ist and got together a drove ef cattle and hogs, which were driven te the new country by S. Lu-k, Jacob Lobdell, and Mr. Adams. After leaving I'tica they drove about twenty-five miles per day, camping at night. They crossed Cayuga lake on Darbam boats, the passage of which occupied four days. Their provisions giving out. they went from Thursday morning to Sunday night without food, and were nearly starved when they arrived at Geneva. In March, 1796, Samuel Spafford cane through on foot, with Oliver C'ulver, and found only one person at the landing .- a mulatto, by the name of Asa Donbar. A few weeks after this a large company of the owners of the Connecticut tract in Ohio, since known as the Western Reserve, with their surveyors. in five boats, stopped at the landing. They were on their way to Ohio to commence surveying that large traet into townships and lots and put their lands into market for settlement. Oliver Culver joined the expedition, which, after a journey of several days. landed on the present site of Cleveland. Mr. Culver continued in business with the company, passing fre- quently back and forth, carrying provisions to the expedition and other stores that were wanted. Mr. Calver alse took a bateau uf stores for Mr. Tryon to Cleveland, and there established a trading-post, and another to Toledo, both of which proved successful. He finally returned. purchased a farm, and settled in Brighten, where he died, and where his descendants are still living. Mr. Adams, who came through and assisted in driving the stock. formed a copartnership with Mr. Tryun in 1798, which was known as Tryon & Adams.

In the same year Asa Dayton came into town and opened a tavern at the land- ing, which was the first public-house west of Canandaigua. In 1802, Benjamin Weeks came here from Hanford's Landing. north of Rochester, and opened the second tavern at this place. It is worthy of note that Colonel Josiah Fish, who at that time had charge of Allen's mill and property at Genesce Falls, endeavored to persuade Mr. Weeks to purchase fifty acres of lind, which extended from the vicinity of the New York Central depot to the aqueduct in Rochester, at four dollars per acre. But the dismal roar of the falls in the wilderness, so uhjectionable to his wife, and the exorbitant price for an apparently valueless swamp, induced Mr. Weeks to look for a more promising locality, and he chose Irondequoit Land-

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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ing, where he purchased and settled. About this time, or before, Stephra Lusk, son of John Lusk, erected a tannery at the landing. the first in the country. which he conducted until 1807, when he sold out and moved to Pittsford. where he purchased a tannery, built about three years previous by Benjamin Weeks, and which he still owus. A distillery and an ashery had been erected in connection with the store kept by Mr. Griswold as early as 1800, in which Mr. Tryon was interested. In 1802 a log school-house was built here, and the first person em- ployed to teach in it was a Mr. Turner, who had been clerk for Tryou & Adams. This was undoubtedly the first school in the whole territory of Boyle, uow divided into six towns.

One of the first men in this town was Captain Stone, father of Enos, who had been employed by Phelps and Gorham to survey this part of their tract into town- ships and farm lots. He was a native of Massachusetts, and emigrating here with his two sons, they became prominently connected with the history of these early settlements. In West came in here very early, probably as early as 1802, and opened a store. He is aceredited as the first regular merchant in the town. Silas Lorea built and ran the first blacksmith chon at the landing before 1800. Brown Bryant, Abel Eaton. Isane Barnes, William Davis. Moses Morris, Miles Northrup, John and Solomon Hatch, Gideon Cobb, Philip More, and Ezekich Morse were ainong the next settlers. Mites Morris opened a tavern at the landing as early as 1802. Oran Stone opened another on the lischester and Penfield road, two miles east of Brighton village, and Oliver Culver one further west on the game road. A short time after, Abel Eaton erected and opened a tavern at what is now called Allyn's Creek. Oliver Culver and the Flatch brothers built the first saw-mill on Allyn's creek, in 1806. Lyman Goff, James Washburn. and a man by the name of Crocker built a saw-mill on the farm now owned by William Stoneburner. Isaac Barnes afterwards moved it one-half wile south. Later. a grist-will was erected by Stephen and Alex. Chubb. The mill now standing at Allyn's creek was built by Isaac Barnes about sixty years ago, and the one near Peofield line by Samuel Rich.

The first distillery was probably erected by Stepheo Lusk, at about the same time he built his taonery. Oliver Culver also built and ran a distillery in the back lot from his tavern, about three-fourths of a mile west of Brighton, and another on Stoneburner's, north of his residence. A few years before the war. exact date not known, Leonard Stonebuther settled in town. He had been taken prisoner by the Indians, with whom he remained some time. He went to l'anads from this Suite, where he lived about one year. after which he returned to the State, crossing Lake Ontario and up Irondequoit bay to the landing, in the town of Brighton. Ile had with him his wife and four children, William, Mary, Peter, and Levoard. Hle leased a small frame building, just completed, on the bank of the creek, of Stephen Lusk, and commeneed blacksmithing. At this time Irondequoit Landing was an important point, much more so than Rochester. Business for a large circuit of country centred here. Lumber and farm produce sought it as an outlet to eastern markets, and stores necessary for the early settle- ments were brought here in small vessels, and thus a constant exchange was carried on. Vessels were constructed and launched as the constantly increasing commerce required. The first decked vessel that ever descended the Saint Law- rence river was built here some distance from the landing, and hauled to the water by horses and oxen. In these early days, before canals and railroads, it possessed all the advantages and appearance of an embryo city, with its future growth and increase full of promise. During the war of 1812, several of the settlers engaged in shipping provisions from this point, by way of the lake. to the American armiy. in the vicinity of Eighteen-Mile ereck and Ningar .. William Stoneburner, still living in the town, followed this precarious traffic. On one occasion he started with a ten-ton boat loaded with potatoes and whisky. belonging to his father. and when three miles east of the mouth of Eighteen-Mile creek he could discern the masts of a considerable fleet at that point, which, upon inquiry, he learned to be the British feet. He immediately pulled back. hoping to escape observation under cover of the dense fog that hung over the lake. But the keen watch of the lonkout discovered him. A boat started in pursuit, and soon over- hauled his cumbersome craft. took him prisoner, and confiscated his boat and cargo. They caddeavored to compel him to reveal the location of the American army, but he steadfastly refused, and. learning that his father once lived in Canada, they threatened to press him into the British service. However. after a consultation and short imprisonment, he was set at liberty, and put ashore in the forest. Making his way to the settlement at the mouth of the errek. be found others bewailing the sante luckless fate. The fleet having left, they took balgings for the night, but before morning were roughly awakened by an armed force that had returned and quietly landed, who hurried them as prisoners aboard the vessel. Again he was released, when he made his way home to Brighton with as little delay as possible. On another occasion, in 18! 4. Mr. Stonehorner started from the Landing with a five-ton boat loaded with potatoes for the same destination. the Auseriean

army. He arrived in safety, and disposed of his cargo at high prices, but when about to return, General Wilkinson, then in command, took possession of his boat and his services to aid in conveying his army down Lake Ontario, which took him near the scene of the battle of Chrysler's Field. which soon follow. .. After a long time, his services being no longer wanted, he was released, General Wilkinson paying him one dollar per day for his time, and seventy-five dollars for his boat, which was retained for the use of the service.

After the close of the war, which soon followed. Leonard Stonehurner, hi- father, built a twenty-ton schooner, besides a number of smaller craft, and ing- ducted a shipping business. Among others who came in with, or soon aft. r. Stoneburner, were two families by the names of Cory and Dryer, who seth .I south of Oran Stone : Francis Charter, from Vermont ; Milo C. Barnes, Era-tn- Stauley. from New England: and Barnabas Curtis, who settled on omne hutetni4 acres in the north part of the town ; also Hanford Boughton. near the -04. place, William Crocker, and Williniu Kelly. These were followed by Veel R. Follett. Captain Enos and Israel Blossom Otis Walker, Moses Hall, and then Dailey, near Culver's tavern. Roswell and Romanta Hart came, and, with other land on the south. bought out Walker. Joseph G. Wheeler bought ou let 76 .und in Peufield, and afterwards built and died in Brighton. On the Rochester al Penfield road, where the main line and Auburn branch of the New York Centr .! Railroad diverge, is the small hamlet of Brighton Post-office. It is but a shunt distance from the city line, aod is destinel af no distant ilay to beemme a part .. f the city. The first house in the place was erected on the southeast corteer by Thomas Blossom. The first sture was opened about 1818, by William Pertin. but previously, about 1816, a small grocery was in operation. In 1820, 1-r.pl Blossom erected a tavern southwest of the hotel now owned by Mr. Case. which was burned in 1867, together with the Presbyterian church. The present tavern stands on the site of the first school-house, which was first erected one mile ca-t. and drawn here in 1916. In 1923 Justme Vale built a store where Caby - blacksmith-shop now stands, and with Linus Wilcox also built a tavern. Tre West's first store stood where Mr. Little's residence now 'stands, near the city line. He also built the first store in Rochester, near the site of A. S. Man A Co., in the Powers block. About one-half mile west of this place Ira Winst & Co. also erected and ran a distillery, which was afterwards bought by Somnul Spafford. About 1817 the post-office was established here, and Dr. . Lim. - Holden, who lived twenty rods east of the hotel, was made first postmaster. Il .. was succeeded by Benjamin Blossom. who held it thirty years. The maif w.i- then brought on horseback from Canandaigua. Williatu Davis and O. Cafter built a vessel near the village, and hauled it to the landing with oxen. In 1-17 they built the " Clarissa." In the war of 1812. Mr. Davis had his first ve .... I impressed in the service. In 1818 he built the " Levanche," which ran io Toronto. Francis Charter also built a forty-ton schouner north of the villa .... about 1817, which was hauled to the landing with teams. E. Reynolds had thai first frame house on the Irondequoit, and one of the earliest schonis was tan ;_ h in a little school-house where the White School-honse now -tamis, and moow wan. i by Mr. Hooker. It comprised about thirty scholars, nearly all of whotr. with t', teacher, divided their attention between their lessons and the fever and ager The house erected by Mr. Lusk in 1789, and the twelve acres cleared. with It . wheat sowed the same fall, were the first in the town of permanent settlemen - Transient cabins had been put up before this by the moving trappers. is what the case along all the bays and inlets. In 1810, Augustus Griswold, who had .i ... a large business in trade at the landing, seeing that the enterprise and bu-ine -- . 1 the place were gradually declining, sold out and left the country, and, though .1. war continued to give it some importance, its declination way rapid. In ! - 22. when the Frie canal was completed as far as Rochester. Oliver Culver monsieur. ..! a packet-boat at Brighton, which was the first one built so far west, and :'y' fourth one ever put on the canal. Whatever business remained at the lin.die. up to this date was entirely withdrawn upon the successful completion of . .. mighty work, which not only opened a new era in the history of New York F# changed the drift of enterprise and busines, and gave a great impetus to enter. tion.

SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN.

The supervisors of the town of Brighton, from 1825, the date of its rowni- given, to the present, were as follows, viz. : Ezekiel Morse, 1825; Eli-l B. Sweney, 1526; Thomas Blossom, 1827; Ezekiel More, 1828; Samuel ; \n drys, 1829 to 1831, both inclusive ; William B. Alexander, 1832 to IST4; Pr :1 S. Bales, 18:35 to 18:36: Samuel Beckwith, 1837 ; Oliver Pulver. 4535 to 1-11 . Sammel P. Gould, 1842 to 1513: Oliver Culver, 1844; Stephen Otis, 1 - 15 to 1347 ; Lorenzo D. Ely, 1848; Hamm Baker, 1849; Elisha Miller, 1550: B.1.1- min Remington, 181; Abel Diser, 1852; Justus W. Yale, 1>33; Sch Wal (2), 1854; Timothy Waller, 1855 ; Luther Katoo, 1850 ; Benjamin Huntin .. 1857 to 1858, 11. H. Hatton, 1859 to 1500; Elwin T. Otis, 1861 ; Lorenz. P

ABNER BOOKLAND

was w son of Captain Abner Buckland. And grandson of Derid Bucklandofearly memory. He was born in Burlington. Vt., October 19, 1797. When three years of age his futher removed with his furuily to Phelps, Ontario county, N. Y_ where he purchased a farin of Afty acres, upro which he lived until 1815. when he sold to Micah Seager, of Simsbury. Connecticut. In the fall of the same year, with his oldest sou, the subject ot thi, sketch, he came to Brighton, and bought the farta after words owned by Mr. Shank, then a den-" forest, cleared about ooe acre, sud built a log house. Being onsuccessful in business he was unable to meet his pay ments, and lost all his property. Hard later and the privations of a new country brought on a disease soon after, from which he died, leaving his eldest son. Abner, then eighteen years old, pennile's, to care for his widowed mother. tive brothers. and a sister. He went to work with uncommon en- ergy and enterprise, and found, after six yests' of untiring industry, that, be-ides supporting the family, he was in possession of $150 in money. With this, after carefully looking over the county, he purchased fifty acres of

ABNER BUCKLAND.

wild woodland, located about one and nhe- half miles from Brighton villace He inamir- diately erected a log house on the place, aml. after elearing & still piece, commenerd the manufacture of brick, which he carried on extensively, in connection with farming, ovor thirty years. Many of the finest structures in Rochester were built of brick made under his supervision. In 1830 he built the brick house which he occupied until his death, May 16, 1865, at the age of sixty-eight years He married, February 6, 1824, A . young lady of Stafford, Genesee county, by whoin he had right children. Ave sons and three daughters, only two of whom survived him. His wife, Fanny, died November 28. 1861, aged about sixty years. Mr. Buckland was an active business man, ready to assist with his labors as well as his means in any worthy enterprise. He was no office-seeker neither would he accept office, though nften urged to do so. He was a Christiau, both by precept and example, with the Bible as his creed, and was perinitted to see all his chil- dren converted to Christ before his. death His highest title of honor was that of an honest man, the ooblest work uf God.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 92

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