History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 93

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 93

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COUNTRY RES. OF ABNER BUCKLAND, TOWN OF BRIGHTON, MONROE CO. N. Y.

CHARLES COLWELL .

PLATE CIV

HOMESTEAD, NOW RESIDENCE OF H. E. COLWELL , WEST BRIGHTON, MONROE CO, N. Y.

243

Ely, 1862 to 1864; Samuel P. Gould, 1863; Ira Todd, 1866; Caleb Moore, 1867; Ira Todd, 1968 to 1571 : Austin Crittenden, 1872; Henry E. Boardman, 1873 to 1874 ; aod Ira Todd, 1875 to 1976.

The ather officers for 1876 are-Town Clerk Charles Meitzler ; Game Constable, Henry M. Schaefer; Asseur, Goodwin Stoddart: Road Commissioner. Horace May ; Collector, T. F. Crittenden ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, John Bar- num; Justices of the Peace, Jesse Pierson, Chauncey G. Starkweather. J. C. Wilson, Edmund Kelly ; Auditors, Harrison .A. Lyon. Luther Enten. Walter A. Wood; Overseers of the Poor, John Sipple, Juhn Herrick : Commissioners of Excise, William J. Windell. Benjamin Fasert, Omer C. Filmuonds; Constables, Jacob Shaffer. Robert Conant, Julin Fowler, Jerome Bener. Frederick Lodwick. Inspectors of Elections, First District, Norman B. Cowles, William J. Babcock, George E. Hows; Second District, David K. Bell, David S. Whitlock, Ales. Mc Whorter.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BRIGHTON

was organized September 19, 1817, in the school-house which stood on the site of Case's hotel, by Ress. Solomon Allen, Comfort Williams, and Mr. Collins, with twenty-two members. It was of the Congregational order, and 'united inite- diately with the Greneste aveneration, with which it was connected until August 8, 1842, when it withdrew, and was independent until September 21, 1870. It then unanimously voted to become Presbyterian. On October 16, it eheted its first ruling elders, and, the same mouth, united with the presbytery of Rochester. The first members were Daniel West .. Henry Donnelly, Daniel Smith,-who were also the first deacons, -Joseph Bluss, Orrin Stone, Joshua Cobb, John Morse, Daniel Swith, Jr., Charles Warring, Hannah Donnelly, Zurich Walker. Electa Smith, Amy Bloss, Laura A. Rush. Matilda Barnes, Martha Titus, Betse. Hatch, Clarissa Howes, Sally Stone, Elizabeth Loder, Margaret Hemmingway, and Holdah Dickinson. The services of the church were held mostly in the school-honse, though sometimes in the taverns of Mr. Stone and Mr. Blossom, and occasionally st private houses, until the completion of the first church edifee, which was begin in the year 1820. It was located on the site of the burying-ground, south of the canal, and was huilt of brick, painted brown, forty by fifty-five feet in size. and, when completed, cost four thousand dollars. Owing to a lack of funds, after it was inclosed it remained unused and unfinished three or four years In 1850 it was entirely reconstructed, except the walls and root, at an expense of' three thousand dollars. At that time a furnace was put in, church bell and cabinet organ pro- cured, and in 1865 the inside was freseved and painted, at an additiond cost of five bundred dollars. On April 19. 1867, while the village taveru was in flames, a burning shingle was blown across, and lodged on the steeple, which caught fire, and in a few minutes the church was burned to the ground. A new and im- posing brick structure was afterwards erected on the main street, at a cost of fif- teen thousand dollars, which was completed io 1872. The main building is forty- three by seventy-six feet. with a lecture-room in the rear twenty-five by forty-five feet, and a study for the pastor, eleven by twelve feet in size. It was dedicated at a regular Sabbath morning service, June 23, 1872, by the acting pastor, Rev. Henry Wieks.

In 1838 the society bought a house and lot of Justus Yale, Esq., for one thou- san i dollars, upon which they expended seven hundred dollars more for a parson- age, which, after being used by Mr. Barris several years, was sold. A manse now adjoins the church, on a lot of two acres, well improved, on which in 1872 one thousand dollars were expendled, and in 1874 four hundred Ailleurs more. It cost the society nothing, as the heirs of Deacon B. B. Blossom had sold forty acres of land to Mr. Yale for the benefit of the church, and by skillful manage- ment the rest was sold in lots for enough to pay for the whole. There is now no debt upon the society.

The first minister of the church was Rev. Solomon Allen. It has had eighteen in all, though but three of this number were installed as the regular pastors: Rev. Charles Thorp, by a council, April 27, 1825, Rev. Alvan Ingersoll. by the Genesee Consociation, November 10. 1836. and Rev. . heeph K. Page, by the presbytery of Rochester. February 23, 1875. Upon this last occasion the ser- mon was preached by Rev. J. L. Robertson. pastor of the First church, Roches- ter. Dr. S. M. Campbell gave the charge to the pastor. and Dr. J. B. Shaw. that to the people. The stated > uppdir- have been Revs. S. Allen. Jonathan Winche-ter, Jones M. Benedict, Hiram L. Miller, Samuel Griswold. Silas Pratt. B. B. Grey. D. J. B. Hoyt, J. S. Barris, lohn Wiches, C. E. Furman. Mr. Whittwy, James Orton, and Henry Wickes. While Profesor Orton was abwent on his South American expedition, from June. 1SAT, to March, 1968, the pahar wes supplied by Mr. Albert toit, a student of the Baptist Seminary. Mr. Grey was here ton sears, John Wickes six, Henry Wiekes atul Mr. Orton each tive, Mr. Barris

four and one-half. Mr. Ingersoll three. and the rest not to ereerd two years The largest number of members reported was two hundred and fifteen, in 1-34 Nis the number is one hundred and three. In the revival of 1531, sisty-nine mem- bers Were added. From the beginning, six Inuumlrel and twenty-one have been enrolled. sixty four of whom have been excluded .- forty-even in I.S. and -en- teen in 1-41. The benevolence of the church is anexampled. It contributo the largest sum per member of any church connected with the presbytery-more than three times the average-for benevolent objects. The present otheres of the church are Joseph R. Page, D D., pastor ; Elisha Y. Bbosom, Harrison A. Lyon. Thomas B Yale, and Theodore Drake, ruling ehlers; Elisha Y. Boosom. Hourv S. Calkins, and Thomas Caley, denenus. The term of office of the elders is three years. After the burning of the first church, there was an old blacksmith -- hop on the lot given by Deacon Blesom, which was fitted up into a pleasant chat -- 1. and occupied for worship until the present editice was completed. The Sabbath- school of this church was organized in the villige school-house, in 1810. by Rev. Solomon Allen, from Pittsfield. Massachusetts. There were present Deacon Eli Stillson, General A. W. Riley, Thomas Blossom, Benjamin B. Blu-som. . Fastis W. Yale, Deacon Smith, and others. The first superintendent wa- General .A. W. Riley. Deacon Bluss was Bible-class teacher, Miss Ann Still-on and Mi-g Mary Blossom, since Mrs. William C. Bloss, regular teuebers. Present offire N are Thomas B. Yale, superintendent. Thomas C. Bates, assistant, Thomas C. Blossom, secretary, and Edmund Lyon, treasurer. The library was begun won after the school, and has now ane hundred and fifty volumes. It has had many more, but has donated to destitute Sabbath-schools from time to time. Miss Liilie Wing is librarian.

TOWN OFFICERS FROM IS14 TO 1876.

OCPERVISORA.

TOWN CLICES.

Oliver Culver.

Nehemiah Hopkins.

1815.

1×16.

1817

Elisha Ely

IS19

Ezekiel Morse.

1820

1421

Anson House.

1822

1:23

1424

1825

1$26

Elisha B. Strong

Wm. B. Alexander. ..

פי אן

Samuel G. Andrews

IS :: 0

14:11

Harvey Humphrey.

18:12

Wm. B. Alexander_

.Henry L. Achilles.

. William Cuthy.

18.35

David 2. Bates.

Benjamin B. Bluewin.

18:6.

Elisha Miller.

18:18

Oliver Culver

John Doardman.

1840.

1441

Samuel P. Govil.

Benjamin B. Blossom.

1$43

1844

Oliver Culver

Ebenezer Dowen.

1-15

Stephen Otis. .4

1848

Lorenzo I. Ely

1849

Jason linker ..

1×50

Elisha Miller

1851

Renjaummin Remington

1832

Abel Drver ...

1×53.

Jer-tus Yale

Henry IT. Holton.

1854

Seth Weed

Ebenezer Bowen.

1×55

Tunothy Wallace

1-56 ..

Lother Eaton

Benjamin B. Blossom.

1458

Henry It. Hulton

Ebenezer Dowen.

1462

Lorenzo D. Ely

.Benjamin B. Bla.som.

141.3.

Samuel P. tinull.

Amass C. Cook.

1469.

1×,0

lustin Crittenden ... Ezra Rosehrough. ..

Henry F .. Boardninn.

.. Chartes C. Hulion.

16;5.

Ien Turli,

Charles Meitzler.

1876.

Caleb Moore Tra Todd ..

1×71.

1471.

Harrison A. C ...... inteli

John Ingaman.

1846

Famnel Beckwith

.. Benjamin B. Blossom.

Ezekiel Morse.

Thomas Blossom.

Thomas Blossulo

Enos Stone.

. Enon Stune.

Benjamin Huntington

Elwin T. Ofie.

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

STEPHEN LUCE

MARY G. LUCE.

. STEPHEN LUCE.

There is on earth no spectacle more beautiful than that of an old man who has passed with honor through storm and contest, and retains to the last the fresh- ness of feeling which adorned his youth. Such is a true green old age, and such are a pleasure to know. There is a southern winter in declining years, where the sunlight warms although the heat is gone. There is still living upon lot 16, town of Brighton, Stephen Lure, one of the town's first settlers. Ninety-four years have gone by since his eyes fir-t heheld the light. and sixty seasons he has observed the momentous changes which have culminated in the present stage of advancement. When Mr. Luce left his ola home in Goshen, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and in 1816 settled in Ontario county, he found a wilderness, with here and there a clearing, and the city of Rochester had not even reached the distinction of a village. Beneath his observation. in a grand life-panorama, Monroe County has been organized and developed into one of the fairest and fore- most agricultural regions in western New York. It is in keeping with the self- abnegation of such men that they have retired to the hack-ground, and quietly look on as the great and varied interests, of which they laid the foundation, are seen to extend and rise in prominence and utility.

Stephen Luce was born. December 28, 17-2, in Martha's Vineyard, and was the son of Zachariah Luce, a native of the same locality. He was married during September, 1810, to Miss Mary Graver, a native of Whitley, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and six years his junior. Three sons were given them,-Sydney M. and Stephen,-the former will be sixty-six years of age on June 21, 1877, and on August 26, following, his brother will be sixty-four. A third son, Varnal by name, saw the I'nion imperiled, amt. as a member of Company A. One Ilun- dred and Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry, went out to do battle in its defense. fo him it was not given to return when the troops came marching home again, nor did he lose his life in the exaltation of the battle, repelling the asault or advancing on the charge, but in that foul prism-pen at Andersonville.

His death in 1864 was one of the units whose aggregate uf thirteen thousand has made the place historie. Sidney M. and Stephen, residents on the old farm for sixty years, may well be entitled to enrollment as of the pioneers of Monroc. They were settled in Brighton while yet the presence of the gray wolf. endang- ering the flocks, called for a bounty of ten dollars for the sealp. No minister had settled in the town, and no church had been built. They have seen the village of Brighton grow up upon the old Spafford farm, and had acquaintance with Ezra Blossom, the first inn-keeper, and Ira West, the first merchant.

The Erie canal is passing into hi tory, and the Tonawanda railroad is almost forgotten, yet they had lived years before either of those gigantic strides towards improving commerce had been taken. We have spoken of the patriotic spirit shown by a brother of these men ; there went also to the field, as a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. Henry Luce, son of Stephen Luce, Jr. He had become sergeant of ordnance, and was esteetmed as a brave and efficient soldier, when the decisive battle of the war began, on that Ist of July, 19633. The story is well known how the I'niou advance resisted the onslaught of Lox's columns till the various corps, marching with swift, steady stride, could form their impregnable lines along the erest of Cemetery ridge. There. as a forlorn hope, many fell, and among them was Henry Luce. But he died not. in vain ; the sacrifice was grand in its results, and forever honorable to those who made it.

It is questioned what recourse is left to the aged when no longer able to pur-ne an accustomed round of labor. Stephen Lace, Sr., is qualified to reply. His life: has not mingled in party strife, nor has he been known in official cirche. He has marked out and pursued a line of action whose goal has proved a satisfaction. He has enjoyed the quiet of home. the retirement of the farm, and attrution to matters of personal conerro, and his long life affords a marked contrast to the brief existence of the votaries of pleasure and the prematurely exhausted members of the stock exchange.

Stephen Luce has not found life too long ; it seems all too short in retrosjut- tion. It requires eternity for a full development of soul.

244

PLATE CV.

MRS. H. V. B SCHANCK.

H. V. B. SCHANCK.

RES. OF H. V. B. SCHENCK, ROCHESTER, TONMERLY IN TOWN OF BRIGHTON

PLATE CVI.

.....

RES. OF JAMES M. EDMUNDS , TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

PEAR VALLEY FARM. RESIDENCE OF ROBERT BELL, BRIGHTON, N Y

J.G.WHEELER.

RES. OF DR. J. P. WHEELER, BRIGHTON, MONROE CO. N.Y.

RES OF C. C. HOLTON, ELY WOOD AVE , BRIGHTON, N. Y

HES OF SN. BRAYTON. M. D. HOWEOYE FALLS, MONROE CO. N. Y.

RES. OF JEREMIAH STARKWEATHER, W. BRIGHTON, MONROE COUNTY, N. Y.

PLATE CVIII

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

245

Harvey Little

HARVEY LITTLE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Williamsburg, Hampshire county, Mas- sachusetts, in January, 1794. He was brought up on a farm, and when very young, like all boys of that day. he was inured to hard labor. His education was limited to the advantages afforded by the common district school, which he could attend only winters, when released from the labors on the farm, and which he diligently improved. In 1818 he moved with his father to Monroe County, New York, and settled in the town of Henrietta, at that time a dense forest. After assisting his father in clearing up his farm a few years, Mr. Little prospected over the county for the purpose of locating a farm of his own, and, after careful search he concluded to purchase a one-hundred-acre tract about two miles south of what is called the Twelve Corners, iu the town of Brighton. He purchased it direct from tbe agency, all unimproved, hut when surveyed it was found to contain but little over ninety-five acres. Mr. Little soon cleand a small piece and erected a frame house, where he lived with his furuily many years. He was married on No- vember 15, 1826, to Naney P. Dihble. from the town of Chautauqua, Chautauqua county, this State, near Mayville village. by whom he had live children, one son und four daughters, all alive except the eldest daughter, and living in Monroe County. Ilis only son, Edward HI. Little, resided for many years on the home- stead, which he finally sold, and purchased a tartu adjoining, on the opposite side of the road, where he now residles. Although not one of the earliest pioneers, Mr. Little was prominently connected with the growth of this county, and did very much towards its improvement. leaving a good work completed, and a name honored and estecmed hy his fellow-men. He died at the ripe age of eighty years, on January 18, 1874, leaving a widow, who still survives, a resident of Rochester.

JOSEPII GOULD WHEELER.

Joseph G. Wheeler was born June 6, 1790, at West Chester, New York. He removed with his parents in 1792 to Cortland. to Balltown in 1800, to Rensselaer- ville in 1801, and five years later to Athens, Green county. Joseph G. Wheeler began life for him-elf at Hudson, as clerk in a variety store. After two years' experi- ence, he came west to Geneva. Ontario county, and in 1816 put out a nursery on the " Ridge," west of the Genesee. From experience and natural aptitude, Mr. Wheeler labored successfully, and in 1921 established nur-eries at Allyn's creek, upon land now the property of Mr. Par-ons. Marriage was contracted in Oc- tober, 1824, to Miss Sabra l'atchin, and a year later a home was made at Allyn's

creek, where he lived until 1868. a period of forty-four years, and then made a final removal to the village of Brighton, where he died on the 20th of July. 1871, having exceeded fourseore years, and behell the wide expanse of original and unbroken forest transwuted to a beautiful, wealthy, and populous region by the upward grada- tions of an energetic people, building upon the solid foundations laid by early resi- dents like MIr. Wheeler. He has gone ; his generation have mainly passed away. In his life he made the best of his situation, enlarged his comforts with oppor- tunity ; then, having seen the fulfillment of his expectation, was numbered with the departed.

WILLARD HODGES.

Erastus Hodges, the father of the subject of this sketch. was a prominent man of Torrington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, being for many years a leading merchant in that place. He was born in that State, though his ancestors were English and inimigrated to this country at an early day. He represented his assembly district in the State legislature, and was an active patron of education. He was born March 8, 1781, and died in Torrington, June 13, 1847. He had four sous and two daughters. of whom two only are living, Willard and Edwin, -- the latter io Kansas. Willard was born May 25, 1820. After receiving a liberal common-school education he entered Yale College, graduating in 1845. His early life was passed in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. On August 28. 1848, he was married to Miss Jane A. Bradley, of Fairfield, Herkimer county, New York, and in 1849 removed to Monroe County, and settled on the farm where he now resides, a short distance southeas of Rochester, in the town of Brighton. He has followed agriculture as a pursuit. with good judgment and success. Mr. Hodge- now represents the first district of Monroe in the State legislature, to which he was elected in 1875, with a plurality of five hundred and ninety-nine votes over Homer C. Ely, Democratic candidate, and Lymau Wall. Prohibition, -- the largest majority given in the district for fifteen years. In the House he is chairman of the committee on Agriculture, and member of the committees of Public Instruction and Foreign Relations. Previous to his election, he was for three years commissioner of the United States Deposit Fund. Mr. Hodges is a man of first-class ability and unswerving integrity. watches very closely the interests of his constituency, and gives good reasons for his position or action on all public measures. He is a zealous and prominent member of the Congregational church of Rochester, plear ant and agreeable, and with manners of the old-school flavor. Since 1856 he has been a strong Republican, previous to which he was a Whig. Five children have been born to him, -- une son and four daughters ; the former, Alpheus C. Hodges. now in his fourth year at Yale College, will graduate June next. Of his daughters. tho two eldest are at Mount Holyoke Seminary, at South Hadley ; one, m her fourth year there, will graduate this spring, and the other now in her secuted your. Of the cause of education and learning, of Christianity and of republican princi- ples, Mr. Hodges is a firm aud ardent supporter.

246

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

AMASA DRAKE.

It is a great thing to live; it is a greater to live to a purpose. It has been the lot of the deserving, modest. and unassuming; to be passed in silence. The benefit is enjoyed while its producer is disregarded. To preserve the memory of the worthy is tu ut justly.

The parents of Amusa Drake were Enoch Drake and Surah Mariam, natives of Stoughton, Massachusetts. Supposed. hut not generally known, to be descend.ints of Sir Francis Drake. the Drakes are of English lineage and New England birth. In a family of seven children, of whom five were sons, all grew to maturity.

Amax Drake was born on June 24, 1794, and was the second oldest child. The limited circumstances common to the farmers of New England were the lot of his father's family. Slight aid was received from the district schools, and what- ever of ability was possessed obtained strength by improved opportunity. The youth of that period acknolwedged obligation to parents in their labor till majority, wod Amasa Drake, working out, paid his wages for family support. On Decem- ber 16, 1816, he set out with a small pull upon his book, on for for the west. Halting at Syracuse, he found work hy the day and by the month until April, 1820, when he was employed on the Enie canal. Familiarized with masonry, mod especially qualified. from aptitude and experience. for the construction of public works, Mr. Drake was intrusted with the supervision of their execution, and received testimonials of efficient service. A reference to the works upon which he was superintendent fully substantiate a claim to future recognition. His directiou influenced the construction of the Troy lock. The aqueduct at Roches- ter, built at a cost of six hundred thousand dollars, and a marvel of solid strength, was noder his superintendence, as were the successive basins which gave to Lock- port its name. Was also employed two years upoo the Delaware and Hudson canal, as foreman of masonry, and in that capacity rendered full satisfaction. The Clarissa and Main Street bridges, across the Genesee at Rochester, while they stand, should perpetuate the memory of him who supervised their erection. For ten years or more he was cuployed by the canal commissioners in the construc- tion and repair of locks, and then exchanged his public career for the quiet aod comfort of farin life. His home has been since 1831 upon a fine farm, pleasantly located in the town of Brighton. Good buildings were erected. and, enjoying health and social privileges, the years swept by, and he bas passed his fourscore, and yet evidences little of the signs of old age. In 1824 he made the acquaintance of Cornelia, daughter of' Dr. J. W. Squiers, of Ira. Cayuga county, and on April 22, 1828, they were married. Mrs. Cornelia Drake was all that is expressed in the terms amiable, intelligent, and Christian. Opportunity of education was fully improved, and Clinton seminary had few who better appreciated its advan- tages. The attachment between husband and wife but strengthened with time ; they lived in harmony, and Libored in unison. A member of the Cougregation.d church, Mrs. Drake relied upon the eteruity of the soul and the promises of our Saviour. When she closed her eyes upon this world, on March 8, 1862, it was with a full faith in the Divine re-union .- a higher existence.

Six children raised at the uld homestead have long been active in the affairs of business, and the father follows their career as one who sees himself honored io their energetic application. Carlos E. is a drover, and engaged in taking stock from the Indian Territory to the St. Louis market. Quincey J., a banker, has buen connected with a bank in varied capacities at St. Louis since the war. Theodore A. succeeds his father in charge of the old farm; and Norman S. has engaged in the conduct of a nursery. A son died in childhood, and an only daughter, Mary, deceased in 1872.

Mr. Drake has looked upon the deceit and pretensions of parties, and observed the heats engendered, the discords fomented, and the veoality of public men. He has therefore stood alout from polities. and has no conti-lence in the pledges of any organization, which seem only to have been made to be brukeu.

He believes in the instruction of the masses, and views with pleasure the rapid improvement and the efficacy of the free-school system. Ile observes the ever-

lasting spirit of change, and, in the judgment of a long life, pronounces it pro- gressive, not alone in time but in eternity.

Mrs. Drake was born in what is now Meridian, New York, October 9, 180. and married to Mr. Prake on April 21. 1828. She made a publie profession ut' ber faith in Christ September 7, 1:34. She united with the Congregational church in Brighton, under the tunistry of Rev. Samuel Griswald. Her life was uneventful and its rwword simple. It presents a bright example of chergy, in- dostry, and patience, and fitly illustrates that trinity of graces, faith, hop, and charity. Glimpses of her life were afforded in the modestly .performed kindneax , of her daily round of duty. None needy went unrelieved from her door, whether of spiritual or physical nature. She was one of the early managers of the " Honn! fur the Friendless," and was its representative at a State convention at Auburn. In her death that beneficent institution sustained a heavy loss, for she was ever laburing to sulserve its interests. Iler faith and hope were exchanged for uther virtues, but ber life must ever be of love eternal, os was the temporal, and-

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 93

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