History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 100

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Several meetings were held by the proprietors, at one of which a vote was car- ried to " take beef and pork at the common price in payment for land they might sell." Land on the flats was held at one dollar to two dollars an acre, while that remote was bartered away at different prices. Subsequently, Robert Bowne, of New York city, purchased eighty-five lots.

Roads out from the "settlement" were not known prior to 1796; communi- cation was had by the lake and its inlets. The first record of a road was made April 5, 1795, leading from the place of Nathan Watkins, and surveyed by Ephraim Cleveland, assisted by Levi Parrish and Isaac Watkins. The road to- wards Augusta (Rushville) was surveyed by Jabez French in 1794. He was assisted by Othniel Taylor, Ephraim Wilder, and Abner Barlow, and the record was made at Kanandarque.

On November 15, 1796, a road was surveyed by John Hooker from the house of Reuben Parrish to the Indian landing. The old Bristol road was laid out in 1795, from " Gilbert's, No. 8, to the place of Joel Watkins." The road which intersects the Honeoye road, beginning at the northwest corner of the town, in Hunt hollow, was laid in a southerly direction to the "great" Bath road. Its survey was made December 19, 1799, by John Hooker, assisted by Levi Parrish and Benjamin Clark, commissioners. Early roads were lined through the woods and over hills to the nearest settler, avoiding sharp declivities and low swampy places. The first bridge was built over the "big creek," and crossed the flats on the sixteen rodway.

From 1792 to 1800 the flow of New England emigration brought cheer and comfort to the discontented and the suffering. Breadstuffs fell short, and none could be procured short of Hopetown, thirty miles distant, and upon no road. Families subsisted upon unripe fruits and vegetables, grain from the field, and game from the forest. When corn ripened, there was no mill wherein to grind it. An oak stump standing on the present site of the "Old Square" was hol- lowed out to hold the corn, and here the pestle was in use from morning till even- ing. The Indians took their turn after their white neighbors at the "morning" block. Benjamin Clark conceived the plan of bringing the water in a race from below the falls, a mile distant, to form three mill sites, including the present site

of the Ontario mill. Several " bees" were made, and the settlers turned out to construct the race-way through the woods. When completed, Mr. Clark and Jabez Metcalf erected thereon the first saw-mill in town. The irons were brought from Providence, Rhode Island, and eleven weeks were occupied in their trans- portation. When the mill was completed, the settlers assembled to see the first board sawed, with the same spirit that the inhabitants of an inland town welcome the first train of cars passing through their incorporation.

A saw-mill was erected by Reuben Parrish at the mouth of the Parrish gully, and, in 1796, Benjamin Clark built a grist-mill, in size thirty by forty feet, on the present site of the Ontario mill. Richard Henderson and Oliver Tenney were the millwrights, and Charles Wilcox was the carpenter. On the day set apart for the raising, all the men, women, and children in the settlement had gathered to aid or to look on as the heavy, substantial bents were raised. The mill-stones were brought from Wyoming, Pennsylvania. Four yoke of oxen were used, and the road was cut from Newtown, through a forest of hemlock. The route led through the little villages of Bath and Painted Post. The mill cost about one thousand dollars, and would grind from sixty to one hundred bushels in a day. Previous to the completion of this mill the settlers went to Bath and Wil- der's Point, carrying their grists upon their backs to their canoes. A cloth-dress- ing and wool-carding machine was put in operation by Jason Goodrich below the " big bridge on the big creek ;" not a vestige of it remains. Later, Paul Grimes built a large woolen-factory below the Grimes' bridge, and it was operated for a number of years. The same property is now owned by E. A. Griswald, by whom it has been converted into a steam saw-, planing-, lath-, and shingle-mill, with smaller machinery for other purposes.

Perry Holcomb erected a wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill below the Ontario mill. He was assisted in business by Chester Reed, and later by H. F. Wisewell, who sold to Mr. Housel, who improved and sold to Morehouse & Co., by whom extensive improvements were added. A large steam flour- and grist-mill, owned by James Covel & Sons, occupies the spot where stood the mill of Mr. Clark. Various machinery has been attached for planing, moulding, scroll-sawing, and other work. Not a trace of the ancient saw- or grist-mills now remains save the old race.

Merchandising was begun in 1796 by Hesselgesser, a Hollander, who brought a small stock of goods into the settlement and offered them for sale in a small out-building near William Watkins' residence, on the flats. He asked three dol- lars to ten dollars a yard for broadcloth; calico, seven shillings; homespun, six shillings; nails per pound, four shillings ; powder, eight shillings. Trading was principally done in Kanandarque. The scalps of wild animals, furs, Indian trink- ets, maple sugar, and lumber were taken in exchange for goods. Warren Clark opened a small store on the site of the Monier store and carried on a large ashery, hauling his potash to Albany and exchanging for goods, which were brought to Kanandarque in wagons, and up the lake in bateaux. The early merchants were Pardon T. Brownell, Robert Fleming, and Calvin H. Luther, each of whom had kept a small retail store. Captain Nathan Watkins opened the first tavern with plain accommodations; drinks were sold at three cents, lodgings, sixpence, and meals for a shilling. Jabez Metcalf built a frame house under the hill west of the Square. The Duke of Liancourt, afterwards known as Louis Philippe, of France, was his guest while passing from Bath to Kanandarque, in 1795. Paul Grimes opened a tavern above the bridge. Joseph Clark kept a tavern on the flats. Buildings and builders have both passed away. Joshua Abbey worked at blacksmithing at the Indian landing, opposite the present residence of Thomas Hooker, and afterwards built a shop opposite the " Old Pond." Lyman Hawes and Lyman Abbey were his apprentices. Jubez Metcalf, Jason Goodrich, Oliver Tenney, Amaziah Cornish, and Charles Wilcox, were the first carpenters, and built by the " scribe-rule." The first houses were low, one-storied, and of New England style of architecture. There were three distilleries in operation at an early date. The first was built and run by Reuben Parrish, the second by Warren Clark, and the third by Zaccheus Barber, at the south end of the settlement. There was much of labor in field and village, but time was found for pleasant, social gatherings, and here a mutual admiration brought about the first marriage in the "settlement,"-that of Benjamin Clark to Thankful Watkins, daughter of William Watkins. The first birth was of Phineas P. Lee, son of Colonel James Lee. He died in Sherwood, Michigan, at an advanced age. Death, too, came in the train of mooted blessings, and the first known to the pioneers was that of the Seneca chief, Kanesque, at the age of one hundred years. He was conveyed upon a sled from Squaky Hill, a distance of forty miles, by two of the tribe, to where he had chosen to die. Every kindness that humanity could suggest was shown him during his remaining hours by his white friends. His funeral was the first one attended by the early settlers. His remains were placed in the Indian burying-place, upon a sand knoll opposite Toby street. The second death was that of Eli Kibbe, son of Captain Kibbe.

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Education of the common kind, to teach reading, writing, and the fundamental rules of arithmetic, was ever a leading thought with New Englanders, and chil- dren were not permitted, even in the settlements, to grow up wild and ignorant. The first school was taught by Miss Olive Cleveland, in her father's log barn. Miss Susan taught the second school. The first frame school-house was erected in 1797 on the square, and was used for a town-house and meeting-house. The first teacher in this new house was Isaac Blanchard. Caleb Abernathy taught there during the winter of 1799 and 1800. He was the composer of the words and music, and delivered the eulogy on the death of Washington, which was solemn- ized the 22d of February, 1800. The scholars that sang the ode and appeared in mourning were Miss Lovina Clark, Sally Kibbe, Thena, Submit, Lucy, Lydia, and Rebecca Clark, Fanny Metcalf, Olive Cleveland, and John and Elias Lee. Among the teachers in the pioneer days were John Hooker, J. B. Parrish, Mrs. Sally Wilcox, and Judith Hawes. Mrs. Sally Anable, now ninety-one, and Mrs. Laura Fuller, eighty-four years of age, were school-girls of the last century. J. B. Sutton, now eighty-four, was a pupil of J. . B. Parrish; and among survivors of those who attended the school taught by Miss Judith Hawes in the old town- house are Wm. W. Tyler, Ishmael James, Mrs. Dean, and Mrs. Ruth Porter.

The professions were represented by able men. Dr. Thomas Maxwell came to the Genesee lands in 1796, and bought in Watkins' town, now Naples. He was the first practicing physician, and remained until Drs. Silas and Dillis Newcomb opened what grew to be an extensive practice. Otis Fuller came in 1813, and Harvey Pettibone later ; both were faithful members of their Samaritan calling, and the latter is yet living at Crown Point, Indiana. William Clark was for many years from the early settlement a justice of the peace by appointment, and all cases of adjudication were brought before him, and by him all the early mar- riages were consummated. Jeremiah B. Parrish and Hiram Sabin were the first to study and practice law in the settlement. They presented their cases ably, and won a local reputation.

The early proprietors having made choice of the most valuable and best located lands, began their improvements on the flats. As the town became settled and population increased, the young men of that day "took up lands" by contract from the office of Zachariah, and subsequently his son, Charles Seymour, agent of Bowne, and made the first clearings, and frequently made sale of their " bet- terments" at an advance. Few remain in possession of the first purchase. Set- tlements began soon after 1800 in the out-parts of the town. For local accom- modation a civil subdivision into school districts was early made, and these were increased and changed until at present there are in the town of Naples eighteen school districts or parts of such districts, with a various attendance upon the school of each. "As the trustee so the teacher, as the teacher so the school." Of the common schools little need be said where one cannot praise; silence is sufficient censure. The enumeration of districts will serve to locate the earliest settlers upon the various tracts. In the northeast corner of the town on the hill is district No. 1, where Colonel James Lee first settled on lot No. 1, second range. Richard Hooker was the pioneer in 1811 on lot No. 2, the same range, and in 1812, John Sibhart settled lot No. 1 in the third range. The pioneers of district No. 2 were William James, Asa Perry, Paul Grimes, Guy Henckley, and E. Stiles ; of No. 3, Rev. Thomas Peck, John Powers, and Seymour Gillett; of No. 4, Peter Whitney, William Oakley, Amaziah Cornell, Nathan Tyler, Abijah Shaw, and Israel Meads; of No. 5, Zaccheus Barber, Oliver Tenney, and Lemuel and John Barber, who made settlement in 1798; No. 6, or West Hollow, lying on each side of the " Eight rod-way," adjoining South Bristol, was first settled by Abraham Sutton, March 20, 1811. The old gentleman, hale and healthy at the the age of ninety years, still resides in the neighborhood. John Sutton, a brother, settled on lot No. 2, seventh range, on July 4, 1812, upon land now owned by his son, S. H. Sutton, Esq. During the same year settlement was made in the locality by Samuel Shaw, Jacob Dagget, Nathan Clark, and Russel Parrish. The wild lands were mostly owned by Robert Bowne and sold by Zachariah, and sub- sequently by his son Charles Seymour, his agent, at his office in Canandaigua, on contract, at two dollars and fifty cents per acre. District No. 7 was designated, after its first settler, Hunt's Hollow. Aaron Hunt, a soldier of the Revolution, came out from Maryland about 1800 and purchased six hundred acres of land, and thereon erected the first saw- and grist-mill in that neighborhood. Jacob Holdren, Jonas Belknap, Gail Washburn, and Wm. Sullivan were among the pioneer settlers upon the Bolingbroke tract. District No. 8 was occupied by Stephen Garlinghouse, Jesse Peck, Mr. Tallman, Wm. West, Sr., and Joseph Grant, a settler in 1813; of No. 9, were Isaac Whitney, Benjamin Clark, Simeon Lyon, Stephen Story, and Dr. Newcomb. The pioneers in school district No. 10 were Isaac Sutton, Thomas Blodget, John Blodget, Thomas Bentley, William Bush, and David Fletcher. Those-in No. 11 were Alanson Lyon, Elisha Sutton, Charles Wilcox, Bushnell Cleveland, and Uriah Davids. The date of occupation is 1810. On No. 13 there had been Dea. Carrier, Pitts Parker, Ichabod Green,

Samuel Stancliff, John Cronk, Ithamer Carrier, and Michael Keith. District No. 15 was first settled by Reuben Parrish, Peabody Kinne, Robert Wiley; on the east and elsewhere were Nathan and William Watkins, Messrs. Clark, Cleveland, and Kibbe, John Johnson and Levi and Samuel Parrish. Passing on to No. 17 we find its pioneers to have been John Hinkley, Nathan Goodell, Ami Baker, Joshua Lyon, Joseph Battles, and Hiram and Stephen Sayles.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Nathan Watkins, April 5, 1796, the whole male population being present, and still the assembly was not large. During the previous year the town had taken the name Middletown, from its situation midway between Kanadarque and Bath, then in Ontario County. The first town clerk was Joel Watkins; supervisor, William Clark; assessors, Jabez Metcalf, Edward Kibbe, and Edward Low. Highway commissioners were Nathan Watkins, William Danton, and Elijah Clark. It was voted that William Watkins, E. Cleveland, and Robert Wiley be poor-masters, and Elisha Parrish, constable. The path-masters were Levi and Reuben Parrish, John Mower, and Isaiah Poast; the fence-viewers, John Johnson, Benjamin Hardin, and Isaac Whitney, while Jabez Metcalf was voted pound-master. In this connection, it was voted that the yard of William Clark be made a pound for the year ensuing. Whether the honor was deemed sufficient recompense, or the duties were too light, or the people desired to guard against a " salary grab," the vote is on record " that all persons shall serve the town without any reward for their services." At this time, panthers, wolves, wild-cata, and other animals prowled about the settle- ment, and made hideous din by their half-human screams and blood-curdling howis. To reduce these dangerous visitors, it was voted to pay two pounds for each wolf or panther that should be killed by any inhabitant of said town, and eight shillings for each wild-cat. For several years the bounty fund was voted, and hunters stimulated to exterminate these wild beasts. Encounters were related as a fitting part of the tales of the early settlement, and the bravery of the actors was fully illustrated by details of attack and victory. It was the sense of the meeting " that the hogs that have been wintered through may run by having a yoke sufficient and according to size," and a final vote imposes a tax for town use of ten dollars.

Early residents and officers deserve a fitting recognition. The pioneers had served as soldiers of the Revolution, and as the town advanced to an organization, Colonel Wm. Clark, and Captains Edward Kibbe, Nathan Watkins, and Ephraim Cleveland, officers in the Provincial army, were wanted to assume the offices of government. Colonel Clark, by appointment, was made the first magistrate, and by election was continued in the office nearly through life; Captain Kibbe was elected supervisor twelve consecutive years. Captain Cleveland was widely known as a surveyor. The notice of native-born citizens introduces J. B. Parrish, son of Reuben, as a studious scholar, a teacher of 1808, a soldier in 1812, then a lawyer, the first member of the Legislature from Naples, and a supervisor of the town. Ephraim W. Cleveland was an early surveyor, justice of the peace, and the second member of the Legislature from the town. Lorenzo Clark, son of Wil- liam, was a justice for years, and a legislator of 1843-44. Emory B. Pottle, grandson of Captain Kibbe, was a lawyer, a legislator of 1846, and was elected to Congress from 1856 to 1861. Samuel H. Torrey, Esq., was member of Assembly from Naples in 1868 and 1869. C. S. Lincoln was a legislator of 1871, 1873, and 1874. Hiram Maxfield, for several years supervisor, was elected to the Aseem- bly in 1875. Myron H. Clark, oldest son of Joseph Clark, and grandeon of Colonel William Clark, was major and colonel of a rifle regiment, served as deputy sheriff, was elected high sheriff from Naples in 1837, and in 1851 was elected to the State Senate, and in 1853 re-elected to the same office. In the year following he was elected Governor on the temperance, free soil, and Whig ticket. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln collector of internal revenue for the twenty-fifth Congressional district, and is at present engaged in banking at Canan- daigua. Calvin H. Sutton served as magistrate for sixteen years in Naples.

The early settlers had built their houses and places of business around the public square given by the proprietors for such use. As population increased, lands in small quantities for homes and business purposes could not be purchased from owners of real estate, and this being noted by Simeon Lyon, the owner of lot No. 8, fifth range, embracing the "Scrub Oak plains," then considered worth- less, he began to sell his land adjacent to his grist- and saw-mills, and roads were " crooked about" from mill to mill. In 1808, the name Naples was given to the town by the Legislature, and the original settlement began to assume the propor- tions of a village. Mr. Lyon built a tavern in 1820, a part of the old building being now occupied by C. S. Jaques. The mills and cheep lands attracted some settlers, but permanent business established the village of Naples upon its present site. The village contains many beautiful residences, public and business build- ings. It has two hotels, six dry-goods stores, three hardware stores, three flour- ing-mills, four carriage manufactories, an art gallery, a sash and door factory, two grape-box factories, a printing office, and four blacksmith-shops. There were

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four milliner, two clothing, and two drug stores, one music, two jewelry, and four boot and shoe stores. There is a wool-carding machine and two saw-mills on the place. There are four lawyers, as many physicians, and a population of eleven hun- dred and forty. The appended war record indicates the inherited martial ardor of the citizens. That the pioneers were not derelict in patriotic duty is evidenced by their prompt response to the first call for volunteers in 1812. A company of militia was led by Elijah Clark. Three drafts were made upon his company dur- ing the war. At each call the number of men was stated, and the captain form- ing his command in line, with martial music, would march along their front and call out, " Who will volunteer to go upon the lines?" After volunteering, a draft Was made.

The roll of Naples soldiery in the war of 1812 is as follows : Captain Elijah Clark, Lieutenant Joseph Clark, Fisher Metcalf, Elias B. Kinne, Levi Watkins, Otis and Jonathan Pierce, William Danton, Mr. Kimball (killed), Mr. Matoon (killed), Mr. Dodge (died on the lines), Mr. Wheeler (died in camp), John Cronk, Pitts Parker, Dantel Parker, Ichabod Lyon, Benjamin Johnson, Edward Low, Jacob B. Sutton, Zelotus Sacket, Captain William Watkins (appointed paymaster), Henry Porter, Robert Vickory, Ephraim W. Cleveland, John W. Hinckley, Amos Johnson, Amasa 8. Tifft, Loring Pottle, Sergeant Lyman Hawes. Captain Clark and Joseph Clark were taken prisoners at the sortie on Fort Erie, and sent to Halifax. They remained captive for a year and a half, when they were paroled. The captain died, during 1814, of a prevailing disease termed the epidemic. The public institutions of Naples are prominent features of the locality. At the close of the recent war popular opinion was in favor of erecting a soldiers' monument, and to utilize the expenditure the idea was advanced of a memorial town hall. Meetings were called in different sections of the town prior to the annual town meeting. A vote was taken with two hundred and fifty for, and thirty against a tax to raise eight thousand dollars to purchase a lot on which to build a " Memo- rial Town Hall." A purchase was made April 2, 1869, of one and a half acres on the corner of Main and Monroe streets, for a site, from James L. Monier. A design was made by S. H. Sutton, which was accepted by the board, of which Edwin H. Hamblin was supervisor, Lyman Tobey, clerk, and C. S. Lincoln, E. P. Babcock, S. H. Sutton, and V. O. Hart were justices. Specifications were made by A. J. Warner & Co., of Rochester. The additional sum of five thousand five hundred dollars was raised to complete the work. The contract was taken by E. W. Buck and R. N. Coons, and the structure was completed November 16, 1872. The building is of brick, two-storied, with a basement. Its dimensions are forty- four by sixty-six feet, and the property has a value of sixteen thousand dollars.

Naples Academy is located in the village on the west side of Main, and on the corner of Academy street. An effort had been made in 1858 to establish a union school, and resulted in failure. An academy was then projected, and for the pur- chase of a lot and the erection of a building a subscription of twelve thousand dollars was raised by citizens. The building was to be fifty-four by seventy six feet. The work was let to Harry Torrey. The corner-stone was laid June 12, 1860, with appropriate ceremonies. E. Wells, president of the day, delivered the opening address, which was followed by an oration by Rev. M. B. Gelson, and con- cluding remarks by Rev. Isaac Gifford and C. S. Lincoln, Esq. The academy has a library of one thousand volumes, and a philosophical apparatus valued at eight hundred and fifty dollars. The property, including three acres of land, is valued at twenty thousand three hundred and sixty-five dollars. The members of the first board of trustees were James L. Monier, Edwin R. Parrish, Brunson K. Lyon, Shotwell Powell, Samuel H. Torrey, James Covel, Seymour H. Sutton, Henry H. Watrous, and Hiram Maxfield. The principals in the institution from the establishment to the present have been Professors M. M. Merrill, Charles Jacobus, P. V. N. Myers, L. G. Thrall, Charles Osburn, and C. H. Davis. The building will accommodate two hundred students. It is in a healthful and accessi- ble location. Ita course of study suits a varied want, and the various departments are in charge of eficient instructors.

The town has not been without the pleasant, instructive, and elevating influence of the press. The Naples Free Press was the first paper published in Naples. It was edited by Charles P. Waterman, and the first issue bore date January 1, 1833. David Fairchild commenced the Neapolitan in 1840, and R. Denton pub- lished the Naples Journal in 1853. The Naples Record was begun in 1870 by Messrs. Doyo and MeJannet, and has a heavy and growing patronage. Com- munication by post routes to Canadarque via Rushville was established in 1812. Mails were carried on horseback by Messrs. Chapin, Foster, and William C. Wiley. Pardon F. Brownell was the first appointed postmaster. Stages for carrying the mail were first introduced by John L. Clark. The place is accessible by steam boat and by stage from Canandaigua, by stage from Blood's Station, on the Buf- falo, New York and Erie Railroad; and the Geneva and S. W. Railroad, now in process of construction, will furnish a general outside connection.

The Washington Benevolent Society was formed soon after 1800; it included

a large number of the town's most respectable citizens. They were fraternal politically, adhering to the policy of Washington and Hamilton, and opposed to Jefferson. The members wore silken badges containing pictures of Washington at their meetings. Copies of Washington's Farewell Address were distributed among the members. Captain Edward Kibbe was for many years president of the society:

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 100

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 391

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 391