USA > New York > Monroe County > History of Monroe county, New York with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, Palatial residences > Part 97
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Jacob Stull, in ISO1, set out with Philip Price, from Frederick county. Maryland; accompanied by large funilivs, they mule but alus progress. Then. were days when not more than five miles were passed over, and welluigh a month was consumed in the journey. A few days rest was taken with John, a soul of Mr. Price, at Hopewell, and then the party proceeded tu their destination. Small log cabins were at once erected and vecupied. A block house built by Law. Stull in 1802 was the first one erveted north of the Iluncoye. Word Way son! fur a distance of six miles in every direction for help to raise it. In dailei contrast to the enormous framework of that early day is the light and get er- viceable architecture uf the present. A second block-house was built by l'hilip Price, Sr., in 1803. This structure is yet standing. The sons uf Jacub Stu-l were Juln P., born September, 1842, and the first birth north of the ereck m the town, George, and Jatues, all residents of' Rush through life. The family of Philip Price numbered seven sons and a daughter. John Price was long a county judge of Ontario, served in the legislature, and was in 1821 a member of the State convention. Peter served as a lieutenant upon the Niagara frontier during the war of 1812, was an early judge of Mourve, a justice of the peace. this eighteen years a supervisor of Rush, and for years chairman of the brand of' su- pervisors of Monroe county, studied law, was admitted to practice in Monny. com. mon pleas court, and finally to the supreme court, -self-made aml well made. 11 .. die, February, 1848. His wife, daughter of Nathan Jefords, yet survive, at the age of eighty five years, and from her memory onsterial and valuable information bas been derived concerning the events of' which we write. Jacob. Adam, Philip. and one other son emigrated to Michigan in 1821. George Price resided though life upon the honuestrad, where he died, and the daughter was the wife of Jacub Stull.
Another of the settlers from Maryland during 1801 was Mr. Out, where wif was sister to Philip Price. Me. Ott bunght three hundred acres of land bying along the Hunevye, and ujmu this traut has grown up the northern part of the village of East Rush. He went to work and felled the tiusber upon a small pair-
254
John Banes came into the Town of Ruch later than 1810. P.254
PLATE CXXI.
HOE. PETER PRICE.
JUDGE PureT, of Laob, was a prominent and todosopal ertisen. a realdent of Montes County since its organization. Ho Fu the son of Captain Philip Price, of Marviant, and moved into Western New York m 1401, and the following year settled in the towa af Rush. At that date the Gonnace Valley was a wil- deruass. He married Rabacta Jetforda, who came froma Coups t- towo, Otsego county, New York, and was the Art white child born In that county, Mr. Price served in the war of 1912 as . Lieutenant of volunteers, being stationed on the Niagara froo- tier. Hlo was elected a justice of the peace, su office he beld many years. for ughteen successive years be wan elw zed supervisor of his town, sad at the time of bie death held that office, being also, is be bad been for many years, president of the board of supervisors of the county. He also represented Monroe County for several sessions in the Stote lecunature The discharge of the duties of bis varrone ochces led him to a study and practice of the law. He was admitted as an attorney And counselor of the Court of Common Pleas, and later to e i:ke standing in the Supreme Court. Coder Chaton's administration he was appointed . county judge, in which capacity he became vary popular with the members of the bar, who, on the occasion af bie death, tvorened at the court-house, and unanimously adopted the following resolutions :
" Resolved, That the member of the bar of this county have heard with slocere and beart-felt regret of the sudden death of the Hon. ParEs Paicz, of the town of Bush,
" Resolred, That we bear cheerful tretimooy to his private character as an honest, upright man, and to his uotform ceor- tous demeanor in all bis publle and social reletlone Having been frequently bubured by his fellow-citizens with offices of pubite trust, be discharged their dutira with distinguished ability and fidelity. For a great number of year be represented bu Inwo lo the board of supervisor, of which he was chairman. Twice be represented his county in the State legislature, and for several years was one of the Judges of the Monroe Conaty coort. While e practicing lawyer he brought to bear upyn the cansee intrusted to his management e wood mind and good. practical, common sense, and bis meruory will be long cherished by a large circle of friends to whom he was intimately koowe sod endeared by ble many virtuwe.
" Resolved, That we tender our sincere condolences to bls be- rested family, and deeply sympathize with them in their lots of the best uf earthly friends.
" Reanived, That we will attend bie fogermi, to-morrow, at one o'clock, Fx, and wear the usual badge of mourning.
" Resolvert, That the proceedings of this meeting be pub. ished to the asverel city pepers, and a copy of the mine be furnished to :he family of the deceased."
Judge Price possessed a quich, active mind, evinclog great mgacity, combined with sound common sense. His sympathie with the masses were strong, and bis efforts were constant and Judicious to protect aud #levate them He was a true Democrat and bis life and conduct well Illustrated his political faith Every station be Alied with ability and integrity. Hs enjoyed the confidence sod esteem of his fellow-citizens, and his death, wbich occurred Anguat 31. 1848, was generally lamented. Ho was fifty-eight years of age. Hu wide v still survives, and, et the age of eighty-four, possoasese stroug and retentive memury.
Rebecca Price
IJ. JEFFORDS.
RES. OF THOMAS J. JEFFORDS, EAST RUSH, MONROE CO.N.Y.
25%
PLATE CXX11.
PARTHENIA DAVIS.
JOSEPH DAVIS.
RES. S. FARM OF MRS. PARTHENIA DAVIS, RUSH, MONROE CO. N Y
.
255
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
tion of his land, bot was taken sick and .lind. His family returned to Maryland. Mrs. Ott came back to the neighborhood in 1811, and married a Mr. Shoemaker, with whom she attled upon the farm which was later lost by the guile of a rela- ti" .. John Bell settled in 1801 upon lands north of the creek. He was of the I aryland party, and left two sons, John and Frederick. the former of whom is owner of the old homiestea. The pioneer history of this section occasionaily notes the presence of a negro population as early as 1779. A mulatto, by name Abraham Wright, had established himself prior to 1797 in what is now district No. 10, at what bter became known as the " negro settlement." and which is now called Abraham's Plains. Otbers of his race came in later, and finally he and they removed ebewhere.
THE BAPTIST COLONY.
In February, 1796, James Wadsworth went to Europe to make sale of lands to foreign capitalists. During his stay there he was quite successful, and effected a large amount of sales. He returned to New England in Nuvemuher, 179S. He had become well known as the patron of Genesee river settlement, and was given he agency for the sale of lands belonging to Jeremiah Wadsworth and other land- holders of the east. As European agent he had obtained an interest equal to that of the proprietors, and his efforts to make sales knew no abatement. Fol- lowing a precedent set by Oliver Phelps, he prosecuted upon a large scale a system of exchanging wild lands for farms when their occupants would become settlers. Nowhere else was obtained a better class of settlers than this policy brought into the valley. Elder Goff, then a resident pastor of a small Baptist society in Harthed, Connecticut, came out to the present town of Rush in the spring of 1804, and, being pleased with the land, purchased of Wadsworth a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, at four dollars and fifty cents per acre. HI. log house was located just west of the .. Public Square." In the year 1S03, Wads- worth had called on the society and given them what encouragement he could to trade their Connecticut properties for western wild land. In the fall of 1803. members of the society had prospected the land, and, being satished therewith, made choice of a location for the settlement of a colony. During the spring and fall of 1804 sixteen families moved in. The heads of these families were Squire Goff, Charles Guff. his brother, Comfort Goff, Sr. and Jr., Guernsey and Enoch Goff, Ephraim Stoddart, Benajah Billings, Clark Davis, Stephen Wil- cox, Thaddeus Harris. John Tupper. Daniel Remington, William Allen, and Eli Brainard. These all settled near the " Square" in West Rush, and found already settled in the vicinity the parties of whom carly meorion has been made. Ilere were Cbristle Thomas and Thomas Dailey. John Markhamn was at West Rush, us was John Barnes. William Markham was living in the southwest part of the town. The only families then living north of the creek were those of John Bell, Jacob Stull, and Mr. Price.
The company first went to work to ervet a temporary shelter, and put up a hark shanty in the woods just east of Thomas' saw mill. In this truly primitive hab- itation twenty-two persons lived for two weeks; but one of the distinguishing traits of the higher civilization is an ability and disposition to provide substan- tial und comfortable homes, and the attention of the pioneers was directed to the construction of a large log house, to raise the timbers of which gave considerable trouble and called for assistance as far away as Genesec. In the earlier days the crowding into one cabin, itself of small size, of several families, was a common procedure, which is indicative of genuine hospitality freely tendered. heartily accepted. Months passed in this close association were reverted to scores of years later as of the most pleasurable in life, -- in such sort does memory rivet itself' upon and throw a radiance around events regarded at the time as ao unavoidable neces- sity. When fairly entered upon their respective homes and engaged in preparing them for comfort and support. the wants of their children in respect to education were considered, and prior to 1805 a log school-luse was erected about half way between the " Sjoure" and West Rush, and Mr. Westfall was engaged ay the first teacher, In 1S06 luniber was obtained at Norton's Mills i now Honeoye Falls) and a cheap frame erected upon the four acres donated by Mr. Wadsworth and given the title " The Square." This second building was first occupied by Dud- ley Miller as an educator, and in after-years by many another now-forgotten school- master. The house was likewise utilized as a place for holding meetings, until a atone built church had been completed in 1830. Their early-settled pastor. Elder Geff, preached in the school-house for the society antil 1816, when he retuoved to Lewiston. and thence to Canada, where he died. Guernsey Goff had learned the trade of a shoemaker, but, having become blind, somehow learned aml followed the occupation of a cooper, and is recognized as the first in that line in the town. Benajah Billing, became an carly justice of the peace, and died in the town. lle Was succeeded on the farm by Jonathan Green. Clark Davis was an carly town officer. His son Anson is a resident njom the homestead. Stephen Wilcox did not long remain in the settlement. His wife followed weaving, and was the first to carry on this bome indowry in the town. Descendants of Stoddart are resi-
dents of Caledonia. John . Mock, the first constable of the town, resided in the south part, and carried on farming for several years. Joseph McFarlan came to the town prior to 1805, and located upon the farm now the property of Simon Olley. He was one of the early town officers, and remained a resident until his death in mature years. The family havo removed to Michigan, where 30100 of them are now living. Jonathan and Wells Clark were early settlers at No. 6 Coraers, as were also Thomas Cummings, John Hartwell, Asa Farrer. and John L. Bliss. The family of Mr. Hartwell removed to Avoo ofter bis death. Job Case came into the country abont 1806, and took up land upon what has since been koown as the Myers place. He was not a permanent townsman. His resi- dence was changed from Avon to Rush, where he was the pioneer shoemaker. and thence, after a few years, he went chewhere. Jonathan and Rufus Burdick came in prior to 1806, and purchased laod on lot No. 5, in the east part of the town. Ichabod Bordick, a third brother, lived in the same neighborhood. Rufus married the daughter of Elder Goff and emigrated to Ohio. Nathaniel Rowley. an early constable, became a resident about 1508, and occupied a farm on lot No. 7. Ile was early known as a constable. His son Simeon was a katter. and now lives at East Bloomfield, Ontario county, ninety years of age. Another of the early consta- bles and a settler previous to 1809 was Oliver Case, whose farm was in the neighbor- bood of West Rash. Jere. Ruland was a resident upon lot 5. Abram and Gabriel Furman were early residents upon farms in the southeast part of the town. The latter was a preacher of the Baptist denomination, and closed his life upon the farm where he had lived. . Elnathan Perry was an early resident upon the farm now owned by Isane Cox. He was a pensioner of the Revolution until his death at a good old age. He has two daughters living in town, Mrs. Green and Mrs. Clapp, while others of the family are present citizens of Henrietta. John Under- hill was an occupant of a farm in the south part of the town prior to 1806. Jabez and Daniel, brothers, lived in the same vicinity at that time. Sammuel H. Hchines was the early tavern-keeper of Rush. Ilis accommodations in 1808 were limited to those which a log cabin could aford. Anything in the shape of a house was gladly seen by the weary westward-bound travelers. The tavern was dear Moore's Corners, where now is the church. Ilelmes was also a shoemaker, and, very likely, more proficient in that than in the later calling, but it did not require much accommodation or experience to keep a pioneer wayside tavern. Emigranta ex- pected but little, and were not usually disappointed. A daughter of Mr. Helmes committed suicide .- an act uncommon, and whose explanation has doubtless cir- cumstances extenuating. He moved to Rochester as that germ of a city began to develop, and his family have become scattered. Eccentric characters in carly days, when men a score of miles away were considered as neighbors, were widely koown. Without the telegraph and even the railroad-car, outside news was rarely known, and hence local affairs and persons were fully observed and freely canvassed. One of the characters of Rush was oamed George Fenner. He was of Falstaffian proportions, and it has come down to the present that on warm days he was accustomed to consult comfort by a seat in his cellar. His home was in the north part of the town. Ethan Davis came in prior to the war of 1812, and his residence gave the name to what was known as Davis' Corners. He was one of those who sought a home in this beautiful land and remained here through life, Descendants are occupants of properties in town. Jacob Shaver was an occupant in 1801 of a farm located on the hill one mile west of Morris' Corners. He removed to Hartland.
REMINISCENCES ( F MRS. REBECCA PRICE.
In 1806, Nathan Jeffords, Sr., moved from Richfield. Otsego cunnty, to Rush, Monroe County, then known as Hartford, Ontario county. He arrived in March. bringing with him two span of horses, three cows, and being accompanied by five hired men employed to chop timber and clear up land. From March to Sep- teniber, sixty aeres of land had been chopped, logged, cleared, and fenced, and some eight hundred pounds of mapde sugar had been made during the proper season. In the fall of 1805 a log house had been built ; in the spring an orchard had been set out and grew finely, and during the summer a log baru was raised. At this date, business meetings, trainings, clections. and public gatherings were at Avon. To a school taught by Nathan Jeffords, Jr., in a little log hut north of HIoneoye ereek, in the year 1807. there were but four families to send children. There were' but eight funilies north of the ercek in 1806. It was twelve miles to the present site of Rochester, sod not a house in all that distance. On the day following the arrival of the fannly a party of Indians called at the cibin, and with them had five woif cubs, which they had taken to secure a bounty. Game in great variety and numbers abounded. Hogy were kept close to escape the attack of hears, and the cows were brought in from the woods before night Ml atensily and food, save the fruit, grain, and vegetables grown in the truck-patch and field, were brought to the country. Nothing had a price. fur there was noter wishing to huy, except as strangers came iu to make the locality their hour.
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256
1
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The want of fruit was esteemed a deprivation. A few praches from an orchard a few miles distant were esteemed a rarity. The earth was fertile, and brought forth abundantly. and melons were used as a substitute for fruit.
The first celebration in Rush was held in 1511. The neighbors gathered at the log hut of Sammuel Holmes, and in company partook of an excellent dioner. The occasion was one of pleasure: it gave a day to recreation and feasting, and brought the settlers together to make acquaintancesand compare notes of progress. Two brothers, Cyrenus and Elisha Brown. mule it their business to build log huts, about which they would clear an aere or two and sell to new-comers. In this way they constructed and disposed of eighteen huts. In 1809 several families named Martin came out from Maryland : they were known as Jacob. Abraham. John. Henry, and Daniel. All located upon farm-, and gave their attention to their clearing and improvement. In 1810, Daniel Hart, wife, three sons, and two daughters became settlers, and had begun to establish a home, when the father was removed by fever, and, with labor nuknown unless experienced. the widow managed to pay for ber farm sud keep her family together. Daniel and llenry Hurt, two suns. are living in the town, and are in good circumstances. Iu Is12, George Lyday. of Mary- land, purchased a lot upon which there were several neres of cleared land and a fine growth ot einestuut timber. There was a family of ich clnunca. Oud daughter, Rebecca, lives in Michigan ; another, Naney, is living in Rush. Large frame houses were built, by Peter Price a frame in 1811, Jacob Stall in 1815, and Nathan Jeffords in 1816. Philip Price built a distillery, which he ran for a few years. Potash was first made in the town by Nathan Jeffords. Martin Goodrich and Jennings started a tannery in East Rush: the business came into the hands of Philip Keeler, brother to Mayor Keeler, of Rochester. The first stage road from Genesee to Rochester passed through East Rush. Upon the election of Peter Price as justice of the pence in 1811, he sent by post-rider to Canandaigua for his first luw book. There have been nine meeting-houses built in Rush,- two Christian, two Baptist, one Lutheran, and four Methodist. Eleven wooden bridges, and three of iren, have been built over Homense cook and two across the Genesee .- one of iron, for passage, and one for the railway.
Joseph Sibley was a settler in the Genesee country, in 1804, from Rensselaer county. In 1806 he came to Rush, and six years later removed to Riga, and began the clearing of the first farm improved near Churchville. Shifting to Chili, he originated the mill on Black creek later owned by D. Cope. He was an early anpervisor in Genesee and Monroe, was a State legislator, canal superintendent. and collector of the port of Genesce. He had a family of ten children, of whom the latest survivors were Horace J. Sibley. attorney, at Rochester, Mrs John P. Stull, of Rush, and Mrs. James Mcfill, of Cincinnati. Mr. Sibley wrote some remi- niscences, from which we learn respecting crops and prices as follows. Twenty acres of land were ehopped, cleared, and sowed in wheat during 1806. The following summer from six to seven hundred bushels were harvested from this field. The grain was a drug, and, save in a few cases, it could not be exchanged. As an in- stance, a blacksmith in Bloomfield, Ontario, was given a bushel of wheat for insert- iog a wire bail in a tea-kettle. Sales were few. barter was general. Cow4. osen, and other animals were held at so many bushels of wheat. not dollars. There was barely sufficient money in the community to pay the light taxes impo-ed. Men went clad in buckskin, and a suit of clothes cost a young man the labor of half a year .. Foot-gear was not known in sommier. atul farmers afterwards grown wealthy were seen barefoot long after the first snow-falls of winter. Cowhide boots cost seven dollars a pair with wheat at five shillings a bushel. Hon. Peter Price paid ten bushels of corn for showing his horse, and horses commonly went auchud. During the winter of 1815 a general wolf-drive was had. The entire male popu- lation turned out, and their circuit embraced the swamps of Gales, Chili, Wheat. land, and Caledonia. With horn and you. hallo and shout, the lines closed in, and deer, bear, and fox in numbers were killexl. The wolves fled, and few were ever again seen in that region.
Elisha Sibley, brother of Joseph. came in during 1810, and settled. He had passed two years npon the Holland purchase, and now sought a home. He first leased and occupied ou lot No. 63. where HI. Ryan now owns. Ilis lease included one hundred and fifty aeres. le resided in the town until his demise in 1831. aged fifty years. Of descendants a son, Rev. Jeremiah Sihley, lives near the home- atcad; others reside in Michigan and other localities. Mr. Sibley was a volunteer in 1812, and held the rank of Erst sergeant. He remained on the lines through the war. Dr. Alexander Kelley came from Chenango county. in 181 1, and located upon two hundred and fifty aeres, west of Morris' Corners. The title proved de- fective, and the place was lost to him. Ile practiced medicine in the town, and enjoyed or suffered a monopudy of practice. Public estimation was shown by his election to the legislature in I>16-17. He was killed by the fall of a tree about 18:35. Ixvi Keley, a son, was a member of assembly from Monroe. Mrs. Jere- miah Sibley is the only child living. John Diver was a new-comer in 1818. He erected a cabin just north of the ereck upon lot 51. Ile was well advanced in
life, and died in 1819. At the same time of his settlement, a son, Daniel, Iowated upon a tract just south of the ereck. Years after he moved to Henrietta, and there died. A son, Norton, lives at Honvoye Falls.
THE EARLY PHYSICIANS
of Rush were not numerous, although sickness was general and death no stranger. Physicians were worn out with labor; a day wmuhl pass after the summons before time evull be found to attend the rall. Death came with no medical aid at hand, and entire families were prostrated. Under such circumstances. the duties of a physician were philanthropie, and, rescued from the sufferings of that eventful period, it is not wonderful if a kindly feeling is cherished for the olden-time. ductors. The pioneer physician of Rush was Charles Little, of Avon. six miks distant. The first in the town was Dr. Farr, who remained but a short time. The next was Dr. Fio, who for a few months boarded in the family of Mr. Price. He became debtor to a small amount, and, being unable to make payment, his ereditor sent him to jail at Canandaigua. He had been bailed by Mr. Price, and stayed his time to clear his bail, and then, having willed his body for dissection to the medical society, opened a vein and bled to death, Dr. Kelsey came next to the town, as we have noted. His successor was Dr. Kingsbury, who was con- temporary with Kelsey. Socrates Smith was studying with Kelsey. and his death threw the student into practice with the friends of the old physician. He soon married Matilda, daughter of Colonel William Markham, and took a position he was able to maintain. Dr. Kingsbury had been a surgeon in the army. and located in this town after the declaration of peace. His reputation ny a careful. faithful practitioner was good. He died but a few years since. Ilis widow and two sons are living in Caledonia. A daughter, Mrs. Anson Davis, is now resident of Rush. The first persons buried in Rush cemetery were Mr. Norris and wife, Mr. Tiffany, and Milton Weed. They were carried off by the epidemic within a few days of each other. Elder Jerams and wife and Elder Wicks were swept off by this disorder, which ran through the country like wild-fire.
SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Anticipating the declaration of war, Governor Tompkins ordered drafts from the militia. Six hundred volunteers promptly set out for the frontier, under command of Colonel Philetus Swift, Joseph Sibley, Major John Markham, Benjamin Jef- fordis, aud Joseph his brother. John Case, John Sherwood, Calvin Diver, and Mr. Schimmerhorn were of those who went out from Rush during the first year. The volunteers assembled on three days' notice, and, setting forward to Niagara, were absent about three months, and returned just before the burning of Fort Niagara. On December 19, 1813, a company was formed and marched to the furt, but remained only a short time. Among these were Dr. Kelsey, Jacob Stull, George, Jacob, and Peter Price, Alfred Jaynes, Nathan Jeffords, Micah Fishall, Peter Ackley, and Warren Caswell. During the war the people lived in excitement, and at times made all preparations. even to turning out their stock and packing up clothing and provision. Peace came, and the current of events went smoothly forward.
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