History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 96

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 96

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SUPERVISORS AND PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS.

The supervisors of Henrietta, from its organization to the present year. IST6. are as follows, viz. : Jacob Stevens, 1818 to 1820, both inclusive ; Elijah Little. 1821 to 1822; Lyman Hawley. 1823: Elijah Little, 1824; James Sperry, 1>25; Elijah Little, 1826 to 1827 ; [saae Jackson, 1828 to 1829; Joshua Tripp, 1-20) to 1831 ; Elijah Little, 1532 to 1833; Isaac Jackson, 1834 to 1839; Elisla Gage, 1840; Matthias L. Angle, 1841 to 1812; Isaac Jackson, 1843; Micajuh W. Kirby, 1814 ; M. L. Angle, 1815; Wells Springer, 1846 to 1847 ; Alexander Williams, 1848 ; Wells Springer, 1 $19; Alexander Williams, 1850 ; Ezra Honrar, 1851; Isaac Jackson, 1852 to 1853 : Sammel Hoyt, 1834 ; Ashman Berbe. 1.555: Wells Springer, 1856; Alexander Williams, 1957 ; Jarvis Sherman. Isa- but resigned, and Warren Diver. 1938 to 1959; Jerome Keyes, 1860; Wells Springer. 1861 ; Jerome Keyes, 1862 to 1$63: Alfred A. Stearns, 1564, Jerome Katrs. 1865 to 1968 ; William C. De Witt. 1869 to 1870; Robert Martin, 1971 to 1874 ; Samuel Calkins, 1575 ; and Samttel Beck with, 1876.

The town officers elected for the present year are as follows : Supervisor. Santnet Beck with ; Town Clerk, Frederick Buckley ; In-tices of the Peace, Warren t'as. well, Thomas O. Jones, William J. Kimball, Robert A. Martin ; Assessore, Everett F. Terry. Iliram Dann, Antenas K. Ware. Ind-on E. Williams; Commission rs of Highways, fleurge C. Terry, Samuel H. Burr. Jag's II Marcy; Overseers of the Power. Harvey Stone, Milton Brooks; Collector, George A. De Witt; Contables, John HT. Perry, John F. Mahr; Board of Town Auditors, Hunson D. Rulit-on, Daniel M. Diver.

252

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CITUROR OF HENRIETTA.

This was the first church swiety in the town, and was organized in the cast part, on June 10, 1812, six years before the town itself' was ormanized. It embraced most of the settlers in a wide nerhboriva. and rapidly advanced in prosperity. In 1820 one bandrel and fifty-three persons had subscribed to its covenant, ein- bracing many whose names are inreparably connected with the early history of the towo. It was very prosperous under the ministrations of Revs. Daniel Brown, Reuben Tenney, Elder Evans, and Joseph Multty. In 1$15 it bad increased to seventy-three, and iu 1817 to one hundred and eight. The largest number of active members ever reported was in 1832, when it reached one hundred and thirty- twu. It was then in the zenith of its strength and properity, since which it has gradually decreased, and now only numbers thirty. The pastors succeeding Rev. Mr. Maltby were Rev. J. Monroe, 1522; Thomas Gorton, 1827 : J. S. King, 1827; Hawley Miner, 1830; Eli Stone. 1836; H. Wightman, 1837; H. Stao- wood, 1838; Jobo F. Bliss, 1839; R. Tenney, 1811; 1[. Stanwood, 1s42 ; W D. Corbin, 1846; Job Lach, Is4S; Julin Witholl, 1549; and from 1852 to 1862 students from the theological seminary, followed by R. P. Lanh, 1862; and R. H. Weeks. from the latter part of 1862 to 1866; since which Rochester Seminary students have supplied the puipit. The deacons of the church have been Moses Clark. Samuel Wise, J. P. Corbin. Gruve Maltby, John Maxwell, Michael Brininstool, Luther Hovey, Amos Corbin. Josiah Keyes, Jeremiah Keyes, Timothy Stone, Benjamin Tripp, and Harvey Stone; and the clerka, Silas Duo- bam, Isaac Sage, Win. Durfee, Anselm Baldwin, J. P. Corbin, Luther flovey, and Tardes Stevenson. The first house of worship way erected io 1831. It was built of brick, and located in the East village. In 1841 it was sold to the Methodist Episcopal society, and two years later a frame building was erected in the south- enst part of the town, with a parsonage. This church was burned September 18, 1871, incurring a los4 of three thon and dollars, with no insurance. A new struc- ture has been erected the past season. which is not yet complete. In the interval, after the church builling was consumed, sheds were erectel for holding meetings, in which a flourishing Sabbath-school was maintained. Michael Brininatool, an eminent Christian and zealous Baptist, was one of the most efficient supports of the church in its early life. Ile was a pioneer of 1811, and was preseot at its origin. He often held mad conducted its services in private houses.

THE WEST HENRIETTA BAPTIST CHURCH.

A second Baptist society was organized, on the river road, in 1813, with the assistance of Eller E. Weaver, of Mendon, wbo, for some time previous, had con- ducted the services of that denomination occasionally in private houses. In 1814, Elder Thomas Gorton, a Baptist preacher. came into town and settled on that roud, and through his zealous efforts a new impetus was given to religious interests. In 1815 the second regular Baptist church was organized from this society, with seven constituent members, viz. : Rev. Thonia, Gorton, Mrs. Thomas Gurton, Mr. and Mrs. Michacl Briniustool, Mr. and Mrs. Lsiac F. Nichols, and Samuel Par- ker. Regular services were held in school and private houses in the vicinity, antil 1818, ben a block-house was erected for a bouse of worship. This was the first church edifice erected in town, and was of the moet primitive construction. Elder Gorton became its first pastor, and continued to act uutil 1827, when it was united with the First, or Eist Baptist church, and the two together became Incan us the United llennietta Baptist church. In 1830, however, through local enuses, a division occurred, and a reorganization was attempted by the original members to secure an independent church more convenient to that vicinity. But, after fruitless efforts to hold meetings. the plan was abandoned and the chureb dis- solved. In 1838 the West Henrietta Baptist church was set off and organized from the United Henrietta church, as it was still called, with which the members of the disbanded church united. The first members were Michael Brininstool, Iscae F. Nichols, Samuel Dinnmock. Jacob Briniustool, Thomas Pitcher. Garrett Von Buskirk, John Burce, Daniel Bly, Nih T. Lect, Leander Baker. Isaiah Keyes, E:more G. Terry, Elder Daniel Brown. Alfred Goodale, Lancaster Gor- ton, James MeSoll, David Bushman, Leonard Bullard, and Chandler Maltby. The present church edifice in West Henrietta was erected the same year, previous to which its services were held in the original structure. Rev. Thomas Gorton, postor of the old. was instrumental in the formation of the new organization, of which he continued pastor two years, and was succeeded. respectively. by Revs. H. Miner, Solomon Goodall, A. C. Kingsley. H. Leavenworth, T. Fuller, A. W. Valentine, George Wcheter. C. G. Ferguson, I. E. Howard. J. Heunett, W. D. Corbin, W. Entwistle, W. Hol, D. Morse. U'rish Gregury, and S. W. Cuher. The deacons of the church have been JJ. Keyr. J. S. arch Elijah E Nichol-, and I. Keyif, and the church clarks, Horatio Corbin. William Durfee. Morley Search, and Charles J. Smith. Of late years this church, like the First Baptist church, bas been supplied by students from the Rochester Theological Seminary. During

the ten years between 1852 and 1562, some of the stu lents who bare prem hr.l. especially in the Est church, have become known throughout the country, proqui- nent among whom are remembered Revs. Lemuel Moss, IT. A. Patterson, Gorge F. Pentecost, R. MeNoll, J. C. Hyde, C. B Crane, and A. M. Duboc. Eldrr Thomas Gorton, the first and for the longest tune pastor of the Baptist church of West Henrietta. married Hannah Straight, of Mendon, by whom he bal thirteen children, wbu became heads of families. He removed to Michigan in 1$40.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HENRIETTA.

The first preaching and religious services held in what is now the town of Henrietta was some time prior to ISHI, by a Presbyterian minister, and was the result of the first missionary effort of that church in Pittsford. The authentic account states that Rev. Sulution Allen, of the Pittsford Presbyterian church. preached a missionary sermon one Sabbath to his congregation, who made a cul- lection, amounting to ten dollars, " to send the gospel to the heathen." In the es- citement of the time it was furgotten that there were then no meaos by which the money could be sent to its destination, and teu dollars would not send a missionary to any foreign shore. After keeping it in his possession several weeks. Mr. Allen. by the advice of one of his deacons, preached two Sabbaths tu the destitute people of West-town ( Henrietta), and appropriated the ten dollars for his servier. These efforts were followed, in 1812, by other religious meetings, at which Dea- con Moses Sperry read sermons furnished by his former pastor in Connecticut. These were supplemented by occasional preaching by himself and Deacon Ellis, in the school-house near the latter's residence. A strong interest was soon evoked among the prominent members of that and the Congregational order. and the im- portance of associated action in maintaining regular religious services in rlo: vicinity was recognized; and in ISIG, in the same school-house, the present Chut- gregational church of Henrietta was organized. Only a few of the constituent members are known, but the nantes of those preserved, prior to 1920, besides Deacons Sperry and Ellis, are Betsy Stannard, fanny Sheldon. Polly Burr. Han- nah Kelsey, Asa Munn, Olive Remington, Polly Gooding, William Ellis, Loriuts Burr, David Detuing, Sally Deming, Margaret II. Jones, Elizabeth Brown. Mary Ellis, Amos Edgerton, Levi Jackson, Isaac Secley, Willi.nu Sternberg, Nancy Titus, Lydia Gillett, Sally L. Tinker, Matthias L. Angle, and Mary Angle. One of the most prominent men in organizing the new church was Rev. John F. Bli -. , who, a few years later, became a Baptist and pastor of the Baptist church. Hle and Rey. George P. King preached occasionally in the school-house, but there was no regular preaching until 1823, when Rev. John Taylor commenced preaching one-half of the time in the log meeting-house, which had just beca erected on the road neur the centre of the town, south of Thomas (). Jones' former residence,- a location chosen on account of being central, and supposed at the time to be the most convenient for the east and west settlements. It was, however, abandom I after a few years, and its meetings reumved to the Elist village, where they were mostly held in the Academy hail, alternating with the Methodists. There were no considerable accessiuns to the church until the great revival of ISS1. when i commenced in Rochester, under the preaching of Rev. Charles G. Findey, atul extended through the whole of western New York, when twenty-Ere new & m- bers were added, among them Jatues Sperry, Ebenezer Gooding, and Joseph Brown, who became active and substantial members. With these arcessions the society felt strong enough to build a house of worship, and in 1831 a lot wa- purchased of' the trustees of Monrue academy for two hundred and fifty dollars. upon which their second church edifice, with sheds attached, was erected the same year.

In 1865 these buildings, upon which there was no insurance, were entirely (++- sumed by fire, and in the year following the present structure was erected. "the pastors of the church, succeeding Rev. George Taylor, have been, respectively. Revs. W. P. Kendrick. John Thollemer, R. G. Murray, from 1:33 to 1>35. wow living in Detroit, Michigan, Edward Wheeler, A. Sackett. Silas HI. Aslımun. Orlow Bartbohunew, Willian Bryant Brown, S. W. Streeter, from 1548 to 1:35. and now in Austinsburgh, Ohio, Albert Worthington, Byron Bosworth, and George R. Merrill. Since Mr. Merrill left, the church has had no regular j.r .... for any long time. Rev. Messrs. Hazeltine, Van Anken, Dower, Lillie, Plauk. Atchinson, and Bennett have preached for longer or shorter perimla, as tv-t# offered. By the removal and death of many of its leading members the church has been much weakened. Bov. Joseph Brown, one of its early member, i- ind living, the uklest man in the town. He was born May 31. Ifst, settled bote in 1919, and has been prominent in the history of the church and town, at magistrate many years, and active in establishing Montre academy. His Wid liam B. Brown, once pastor of this church, and now of the First togreat church of Nowark, New Jersey, is a wm; and Rev. Antoinette Brown Backs. i. the first ordained female preacher in the country, now living in New York u's. is a daughter.

RES. OF JAMES ME NALL , WEST HENRIETTA, MONROE CO., N. Y.

PLATE CXX

· TTVNEW STIVE'SUN

TIVNON SIWYC

253

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETIES OF HENRIETTA.

Ministers of this denomination came into Henrietta at a very early dir. hold- ing services wherever convenient to the settlement. Lung prior to them. however, religious meetings were held occasionally at the house of Muses Wilder, and at Solomon Ilovey's, in West Henrietta, where the roadence of Marvin Williamis Dow stands, Elders James Bulger, S. Puffer, A. W. l'illuore. J. Lacy. and Palmer Roberts were the principal early preachers,-the latter preaching at Mr. Hovey's house.

The first Methodist Episcopal society of Henrietta was formed at this place about 1822. It was soon after removed to Methodist Ilill. so nated from Calvin Brainard, a pioneer Methodist preacher, who purchased four hundred acres of Inod and settled at that place and early became active in the religions interests of the town. The sceond society, which was formed in East Henrietta village, docs not seem to have been organized until about 1526 when the Monroe academy was built, although regular preaching bad for several years been held in the village school-house, and no house of worship was erected until many years after- ward. The new society held one weekly service in the Academy hall until 1841, when it purchased the brick church in the village, erected by the Baptist society ten years before. This was used as a house of worship until 13GS. when the present fine structure in the East village was erveted, at a cost of eight thousand dollars. Meanwhile, a third society of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hen- rietta was organized on the river road, by the members living in the west part of the town, in the year 1830, and a house of worship soon after erected. It is impos- sible to give a complete history of these churches. or list of preachers, on account of the very indifferent records of each. The names of the pastors. in order. : fur as can be ascertained, are as follows. viz. : Revs. James Hemmingway, Asa Cum- mings, W. F. Rowe, Philo Woodruff. Daniel Anderson. William M. Ferguson. Gideon Laning, Jacob Scott. George Taylor, Oliver Bartlett, Cyrus Story, Henry Wisner, Oliver Doolittle, Hideon D. Perry, Michael Senger, I. R Castle Sammel Parker, Amos Hard. S. A. Baker, William H. Sampson, Alexander Farrell, Reu- ben E. Foot, J. B. Alverson, R. T. Hancock, Joseph Chapman, A. W. Fillmore, W. W. Mandeville. MI. Barker, J. M. Parks, J. K. Tinkhamn, Mr. Benson, Syl- vester Judd, S. MeGerald, W. A. Runner, Mr. Chapman, D. Hutchins. J. C. Hitchcock, John Spinks. J. T. Arnold, S. B. Crozier, J. T. Humphrey, H. J. Owen, and Darins S. Skiilman.

The churches of East Rush, East Henrietta, and the river road belonged, until quite recently, to the same charge, and ministers preached alternately in each. In 1863 the East and river road charges were separated, and the church building of the latter was transferred to the German Methodists. residing in the west part of the town. Religions services have been held there occasionally since, but at irregular intervals.

THE QUAKER SETTLEMENT AND SOCIETY OF HENRIETTA.

Quite an extensive settlement of Quakers existed in town, north of the Eit village. from about 1820 to 1845. prominent among whom were John Russell. Johu Whippo. Laue Colvin, and others. A society was early organized among them, and a meeting-house soon after erected, on land donated by John Ru -. cH for that purpose, about three-fourths of a mile north of East Henrietta villigr. and now owned by II. M. Calkins. Occasional services were held here until 1846 or 1847. About ISED the Quaker settlers began selling their farms and moving to Mendon, where there already existed a strong settlement of the people. Que of their latest preachers was Daniel Quimby, who conducted meet- ings here until about 186, when he sold his farm to David U. Richardson. mil also removed to Mendon; within four years he was followed by nearly all there remaining. The building in which they met was pulled dowu more than twenty years ago.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JAMES SPERRY.

James Sperry, when only six years old, came with his father to East Bloom- field in 1795. When a young man, finding educational facilities thero deficient. he walked, with an axe and pack on his shoulder, two hundred miles through the wilderness to Fairfield, Herkimer county, where he paid his way with the axe while he studied. Ile returned to Bloomfield, and taught school several winters there and in Mendon. In 1811 he married Fanny Pixley, and the year ati.r. when twenty-three years old. eame with his wife to the wilds of Henrietta. By his own exertions he had acquired a good education. and a practical knowledge of surveying, which he long followed. He was one of the early surveyors of the town, and was long and largely employed by the Wadsworths in the survey of their lands. For nearly fifty years he was a prominent citizen of Ilenrierta, and also a very efficient co-worker in every praiseworthy public enterprise. He was very active in the movement that gave existence tu the Monroe academy, and was one of the prime movers in establishing the early public library of this town,-one of the first in western New York. In 1861, Mr. Sperry removed to Rochester, where he resided until his death, March 28, 1967. ITis wife died about a year earlier. Of eight children five are now living .- Mrs. S. A. Latting, in Baltimore; Henry H., in Henrietta ; George, in Illinois; Muses. in Erie county, New York; and Edward, in Washington.

RUSH.

A WIDE, apparently illimitable, espanse of wild land met the vision of Sullivan's soldiers as they marched on to the valley of the Gemsec. Irresistible in strength and vigilant of movement, there could be no succesful opposition, and the winds of the command were left free to take in the advantages of a settlement in these regions and a prospective competence.

Here was diversity of soil and variety of timler. Here was land adapted to inclination, and full opportunity for untramuneled choice. Some chuse vicinity of water where businesy centres might be formed, some gladly obtatoed pues-esciun of an Indian clearing, and some there were who, Duting a growth of rushes on flat and upland upon the Genesce and its tributary, Honevye creek, there encamped, end began the settlement of this-the town of Rush.

The town is located on the east bank of the Geneve river, upon the south tier of towns adjacent to Livingston. The surface is rolling aud has a westward in- elination. Upon the higher lands the soil is a sandy loam, and upon the flats ex ! tending along the river it is an alluvium. Rank wild grasses and large patches of rush-corered lands invited the herds of the early settlers of other localities. Cattle were sent in large droves to this locality to winter by the Wadsworths and the pioneers of Lima. Victor and Bloomfield found here a pasture upon which stock throve well, and a gruss whose hay was valuable in that early duy. The heavy posturage destroyed the rushies. but their existence is pruserved in the name of the town.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The name of Wadsworth occurs in close relation to the earliest movements towards possession and orrupation of the valley of the Genesec. Mesers. Phelps and Gorham sold their " lordly domain" by townships and by parts of townships, as the means of lesser proprieturs would admit, and Jeremiah Wadsworth became the purchaser of five thousand acres, and Morgan and his associates of an almost as extensive area of what is now comprised in the town of Rush. The first white settler of this portion of Monroe was l'aptaiu Juhu Ganson, an officer under Sullivan and an occupant of the lund known as the Markham farm. It is known that he utilized the water-power furnished by a sudl stream south of his dwell- ing, and ocar the residence of Mr. Curtis, by the erection thereun of a "tub-mill." It was rude, clumsy, and defvetive, but better than the " samp-mill," and hence a desirable improvement; it stood about twenty-five rods east of the present road, in the town of Avon. Withuut boards, the curb was of hewed plank, the spindie a etmightened cart tire, and the stones were fashioned from rock taken from the vicinity. In lieu of bolt a hand-sieve was made of splints. This will was the first of the Lind in the valley of the tienesre. To this structure Jared Boughton can J from Boughton Ilill, a distance of twenty miles, to have some buckwheat masbed in it. This occurred in the fall of ITS7, shortly after the arrival of Cap- taiu Ganson, who had been preceded upon the land by his sons James and John. They had built a log house and thereiu passed the winter uf 1788-80, and their father had come on in the fall following. Ganson hal made his selection before the treaty of 1784, and claimed title from heere or Indian, and, this proving de- feetive, he removed to land sane four miles east of Avon, and there remained several years. When survey began upin the Holland purchase, Cansou pur- chased a tavern-stand one mile cast of Le Roy. from Charhs Wilbur, and in time became an influential person atuong settlers and Inditos. James and John Gan- won. aboru noticed, breame tavern-keepers at Le Roy and Stafford. Both have descendants prominent in mercantile and professional lite.

;

Colonel William Markham succeeded to the lands of thanson, and was the see- ond settler in what ia wow Ruch. He, in company with Captain Ranson Smith, came west from New Hampshire as early as 17es. He purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Bloomfield, and made payment with the proceeds of one acre planted in potators. With the avails of his Bloomfield farma he purchased the farms on lot No. 71, later the property of his son. Simy Markham. Colonel Mark- ham aidel in the survey of the first road from Canantigua to the Genesee river. He was one of old Ontario's best representatives in the aveuibly, was designated one of the commissioners to locate the county wat in Livingston, and hold a high position in the estimation of all his a quintance. It is said of him that he was publie-spirited, and Lind to the distressed. One of the first distilleries in the

neighborhood was located oo his farm. About IS10 he erected a mill in district No. 9, and at later period, built two others. At one time he owned one-sixteenth of the town of lush. He died at the age of' sisty-seven, in the year 1:26. He had five children. Ira and Guy were born on the farm, and at the respective ages of seventy-eight and seventy-sis continued to make their homes here. while of three daughters two are living, Mrs. Dr. & Smith, of Rush, and Mrs. Whitney, of Michigan, the latter aged eighty-five years. John Markhatu came in with William, and became the pioneer of West Rush. The brothers came down the Genesce in saiall boats, and conveyed therein a siu.dl quantity of furniture. Among the essentials of pioneers, but troublesome as a part of a boat'a load, was a pestle, which was the occasion of a singulair proceeding. Many times one of the party threw the instrument overboard, and as often the tool was rescued by another of the party, who, to reach it. had to enter the water up to his shoulders. On their arrival they were thankful that they had brought it along, for they found it very useful. Years later Markham sold bis property in Rush, and moving to Michigan, there died.

Juhn Birne, came in later and located near Markhamu, and for several years was his sole neighbor. The community of interest, the inherent desire for society, male a neighbor as ons's self, and the logging, raising, or changed works in harvesting were pleasurable as they were kind, and knit the piuneer society. although far scattered, closer than esists the sociality of the present day. Foi- lowing the advent uf Juhn Barnes came Thumas Dailey, about 1737, and located where now lives bis grandson, U. A. Dailey. The pioneer died at the age of ninety years, but the old house where he had presed so many seasons yet stands .- the work outlasting its builder. A son, Thomas, lives in Avou, another, John. in Lima, and a dvaghter, Rachel, in Avon, A sixth of the pioneers, Christie Thous.te. from Maryland, caure in about 151 and located where his gramulson, D. C. Thoma -. Dow lives. Thomas built the first saw-mill put up in the town. It was erected in the year 1303, and two years later he built the first bridge across the Hlouere io this towu. His death took place in 1844. Three sons, Jacob, Christle, au! David, have likewise passed away.

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History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences, Part 96

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