History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 51

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Phelps and Gorham sold to Robert Morris, who in turn sold to Messrs. Sir Wil- liam Pulteney, John Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun, who appointed Charles Wil- liamson their agent. In February, 1792, Mr. Williamson visited the Genesee country and became much interested in the new village, in which he at once began to make improvements. His great work was the erection of the Geneva Hotel, which was completed December, 1794. Now, after a lapse of fourscore years, the building, once the wonder of the traveler and the home of the stranger, is occupied by Dr. Smith, and known as " The Hygienic Institute." The building is situated on one side of a pleasant park, on Main street, and is to-day one of the finest locations in the village. (An illustration and history of the building may be seen in other parts of this work.)

Captain Williamson began laying out the village on the bluff, on what is now Main street. They were three-quarters of an acre deep, and half an acre in front, and valued at $375 each lot. One article in the agreement with Captain W. was that no buildings should be erected on the east side of the street, that the view of the lake might not be obstructed.

Beginning with the year 1800 spans a period of progress in the history of this village to which her citizens may justly point with the finger of pride. Streets were laid out, dwellings, mercantile and manufacturing establishments erected, all pointing unmistakably to the glorious future so grandly realised in the Geneva of to-day.

The following comprises a list of the original purchasers of the lots from the Pulteney estate. John Johnston was the purchaser of much of the land lying on either side of South Main street, and Major James Reese was an extensive land- owner on the west side of Main street. Other purchasers were R. Hughes, R. Cuyler, D. Walsh, G. Lawson, J. Heslop, J. Chesley, J. Collins, P. B. Wisner, H. Beckman, J. Colt, D. Allen, J. W. Hallett, P. Bortle, Jr., H. H. Bogert, T. Wilbur, J. Clark, J. Butler, J. Drury, J. Colt, G. Rankin, B. Barton, E. Patter- son, N. W. Howell, A. Rawsome, H. Beekman, E. Jackson, J. Hornby, D. Good- win, W. Adams, E. and C. Gorden, D. Walsh, T. Allen, D. Dennett, J. and 8. Latta, D. Abbey, J. Annin, J. Lummis, W. Houten, R. M. Williams, S. Wil- liams, S. Burrows, A. Bonnie, Gordon and Evans, S. Colt, J. Moffat, and a Mr. Tappan.

In 1806, Geneva had grown to a village of sixty-eight houses. Thirty-five were located on Main street, seven on Seneca street, five on Castle street, two on Genesee street, and one on Pulteney street.

In 1806, the village had a population of three hundred and twenty-five in- habitants, but as yet had no church, and scarcely a congregation. During this year a steamboat was put in operation on the lake and a steam-mill erected,-two events that contributed much towards the advancement of the little hamlet. It

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was in this year, also, that Colonel James Bogert issued the first number of The Expositor, which he continued until 1809, when it was changed to the Geneva Gazette, and published by him until 1833, and is the same paper now published by S. H. Parker.

In the first number of The Expositor, issued Wednesday, November 19, 1806, we find the following advertisements :

A. Dox advertises dry-goods, groceries, hardware, etc.

Septimus Evans, one of the early merchants, announces that he has taken into partnership his brother-in-law, John S. Chabers, and requests all those indebted to him to make immediate payment; and that the scarcity of money may be no excuse, he will take grain, etc., in payment.

Williams announces his services as a watch- and clock-maker.

Samuel Warner calls for ashes, to be delivered at his ash works at the " Old Castle."

William Voorhees calls for lumber. Reuben Bordwell advertises a drug-store, and Foster Barnard a clothing business. Major James Reese, Richard M. Stod- dard, and E. H. Gordon have business notices. The latter was postmaster, and advertises a list of eighty-six letters remaining in his office.

June 10, 1809, an enthusiastic celebration was held in the village, it being the day that commercial relations between Great Britain and America were restored. During the celebration a Federal salute was fired, and the last gun was wadded with the Non-importation Act, Jefferson Proclamation, Embargo Act, Supple- mentary Embargo Act, and Enforcing Act. The oration was delivered by Daniel W. Lewis, Esq.

The village was incorporated June 8, 1812, and the first charter election was held at Powell's hotel on the third Monday in May, 1813, when the following officers were chosen : Foster Barnard, Herman H. Bogert, Abraham Dox, Samuel Colt, David Cook, trustees; James Reese, treasurer; David Hudson, clerk ; Jabez Pease, collector; David Nagle, Jonathan Doane, Elnathan Noble, fire wardens.

The by-laws of the village were adopted at a meeting held at Powell's hotel, June 13, 1813. Among the by-laws is the following :

" Whereas, The indecent and demoralizing practice of bathing in the Seneca lake, opposite the said village, and in open view of the inhabitants thereof, is im- proper, and ought no longer to be tolerated." Whereupon they proceeded to adopt an ordinance imposing a fine of one dollar upon any person bathing within certain prescribed limits.

Main, Washington, Water, Seneca, Castle, Hamilton, Genesee, and Pulteney streets were first designated by their respective names on the 16th of May, 1814. The charter was amended April 17, 1816, and the boundaries of the village des- ignated.

The year 1812 finds Geneva a thriving village, and a point of consider- able business importance. The following advertisements will give the reader a glimpse of the village, and the names mentioned are a part of the history of the place :

Th. Lowthrop and Co. advertise an extensive assortment of dry-goods, blue and yellow nankeens, white jean, India dimities, very beautiful ribbons, etc.

J. and J. Pease acquaint their friends and the public that they have lately commenced business in their new store, where they will continue to carry on the manufacture of boots and shoes.

William Robb announces millinery goods for sale at the corner store formerly occupied by Dr. Field as an apothecary shop. Among the different articles he advertises for sale are, spider-net sleeves, men's night-caps, caps and head-dresses. and humhum muslin.

A. and G. L. Dox offer, cheap for cash, blue and yellow nankeens, bohea tea, fancy collars, frying-pans, etc.

Wm. Tippetts offers seventy sides first-class sole leather for sale. Samuel Colt offers dry-goods, liquors, hardware, etc. Wm. Houten has a new advertisement of the Geneva apothecary store. D. Nagle advertises his hat manufactory, nearly opposite the hotel. Andrew Farling, cabinet-making business; Robert Mont- gomery, leather; A. Dox, store and lot of land for sale; Benedict Robinson, farms for sale ; David Hudson, physician and surgeon, Geneva ; Henry Laight, attorney- ut-law, Pulteneyville; Goodwin & Ellis, physicians and surgeons; R. Hogarth, tailor; Albany Insurance Co .; Bath Academy ; and James Bogert also adver- tises the "Farmer's Diary and Western Almanac" for sale at the Geneva book- store.

Geneva responded promptly to the call in the war of 1812, and as early as August 5, 1807, we find that "Captain Walter Grieve's company of artillery and Captain Septimus Evans' troop of horse have tendered their services to the com- mander-in-chief, as part of the quota required from the State, to be held in readi- ness for active service. In the Geneva Gazette of December 30, 1812, the fol- lowing notice appears :

" TO THE BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC.

" A recruiting rendezvous for a company of United States infantry is opened in the village of Geneva, where all those who are desirous of evincing their at- tachment to the cause of their country by entering the service are invited to call. By a late law of Congress the pay of the soldier has been increased from five to eight dollars per month, in addition to the bounty of sixteen dollars and one bun- dred and sixty acres of land, and have it optional with him to engage for the term of five years or during the present contest with Great Britain. Those who enlist will be immediately supplied with a suit of winter clothing. At a crisis like the present, it behooves all those who are not callous to the voice of patriotism to step forward and distinguish themselves as the firm supporters of the only republic on earth. " MYNDERT M. Dox,

" Captain 13th Regt. U. S. Infantry."

H. Gates Spafford, speaking of Geneva in 1812, says, " It is a handsome, flourishing, and populous post village, finely seated on the west shore, just at the north end of Seneca lake, sixteen miles east of Canandaigua, and one hundred and ninety-two miles west of Albany. It commands a fine view of the lake here, nearly three miles in width, and its waters pure and limpid. There are one hun- dred and thirty houses and stores, several elegant mansions, an Episcopal, a Dutch Reformed, and a Presbyterian church ; four school-houses; three apothecaries' shops ; a printing office; and about eight hundred inhabitants. The mercantile business is said to exceed in amount that of Canandaigua, the capital of the county. An extensive glass-factory has lately been erected on the west shore of the lake, a short distance south of the village, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars."

The year 1813 is chiefly noticeable in the history of this village, it being the year of incorporation of the Geneva Academy. March 29 of this year, an act of incorporation was obtained for this academy, for which was subscribed the sum of sixteen hundred dollars by the following persons, not less than fifty dollars being paid by any individual :

Polydore B. Wisner, H. H. Bogert, Robert W. Stoddard, Samuel C. Colt, Wil- liam Horsten, Jona Doane, Thomas Lowthrop, James Reese, James Carter, John Nicholas, David Cook, John Woods, Thomas D. Burrall, Joseph Stow, Walter Greive, Robert Scott, Fred A. De Zeng, William Tippetts, Abner Cole, Abraham Dox. The following comprised the first board of trustees : Rev. Jedediah Chap- man, Polydore B. Wisner, James Reese, Samuel Colt, John Nicholas, H. H. Bo- gert, Robert Scott, David Cook, Thomas Lowthrop, Jona. Doane, Walter Grieve, William Tippetts, and Fred. A. De Zeng.

July 4, 1814, was celebrated with much pomp and magnificence, it being the day that the large schooner built by Mr. Spaulding, called the "Robert Troop," was launched. This was the largest vessel, at that time, that had been floated on the waters of the Seneca; it was fifty feet keel, and carried sixty tons.

The village, in 1820, had a population of one thousand three hundred and fifty- seven, one hundred and seventeen of whom were colored.

The year 1822 dawns upon Geneva, and finds it a flourishing village of one thousand seven hundred and twenty-three inhabitants; two hundred and fifty-one dwelling-houses ; twenty-six stores; two printing-offices, publishing each a weekly newspaper, and one literary paper ; a bank ; a land office; a warehouse for the sale of glass, for the manufacture of which there were two factories about two miles from the village; fifty mechanics' shops; one academy, with seventy-five students; three houses of worship, viz., Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Metho- dist. Its annual trade was estimated at half a million dollars. Three daily stages left for Rochester and Buffalo, west; Utica, Albany, and Cherry Valley, east ; to Bath and Angelica twice; Ithaca, Oswego, and Newberg, three times; and to Lyons and Sodus, once a week.

LA FAYETTE'S VISIT TO GENEVA.

In 1825, when America's illustrious benefactor touched our shores, Geneva was not backward in extending to him a hearty welcome. A committee was appointed to address a letter of invitation to the general, and the following is a copy of the document :

" GENEVA, ONTARIO COUNTY, STATE OF NEW YORK, 28th May, 1825. " GENERAL LA FAYETTE :

" DEAR SIR,-We have been appointed by the inhabitants of this village a committee to invite you to pay them a visit while on your tour through this sec- tion of country.

" Our vicinity was the theatre of some very interesting operations during the Revolutionary war, in which you acted so distinguished a part, with a generosity and disinterestedness which are without a parallel in the annals of the world. It will afford our neighbors and ourselves the highest gratification to have an oppor-

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tunity of expressing to you in person the very grateful sense we entertain of the public service rendered by you to our country, and of the great esteem we bear you for your private virtues.

"Hoping that it will be agreeable to you to gratify our wishes, we subscribe ourselves, with every sentiment of respect and esteem,

" Dear sir, your humble servants, James Reese, Samuel Colt, Henry Dwight, John Shethar, Joseph Fellows, William Tillman, George Goundry, W. S. De Zeng, Richard M. Bayley, John Sweeney, and Phineas Prouty."*

The letter was transmitted to Buffalo for delivery. The committee, however, being aware of the celerity of the general's movements, deputed two of their number to meet him at Rochester, and, in case a favorable answer was given, to wait upon him to the village. They met him at Rochester, and he kindly consented to visit them. This information was immediately forwarded by express to Geneva and the neighboring towns. The court of Yates county, being in session, was adjourned, and an opportunity given the citizens to unite with Geneva in the ceremonies of the day. Captain Sherman, of Yates county, immediately called out his company of cavalry, and repaired with them to Ball's tavern, the place designated for meeting the visitor. Carriages were provided to meet the general and suite, consisting of his son, George Washington La Fayette, his secretary, Mr. Le Vasseur, and his friends Mr. Camus and Mr. Sion. An elegant open carriage was furnished by Mr. De Zeng for the use of the general, which was drawn by six beautiful gray horses. He was escorted to the village by a committee and Captain Sherman's company of cavalry, followed by a body of citizens on horseback. Near the vil- lago were posted Captain Ruggles and Captain Meem's company of cavalry, Cap- tain Bailey's (under the command of Lieutenant Lum), Captain Bartle's, and Captain Manning's companies of artillery, Captain Ottley's and Captain Van Auken's companies of riflemen, Ensign Brizee's company of light infantry, to- gether with many officers of neighboring regiments in uniforms, and a great body of citizens. As soon as the carriages came in sight the signal-gun was fired, and the military escort was increased by the above-mentioned companies uniting with Captain Sherman's company, and took up the line of march conducted by Captain Bayley, as marshal of the day, assisted by Captain Dox, Lieutenant Stanley, and Mr. Butler. The private citizens, all being uncovered, formed two lines, through which the carriages passed to a stage erected on the public square, in front of which was a platform. Columns supported tastefully festooned arches, with wreaths and flowers, bearing the inscriptions, " Welcome to La Fayette," " Washington and La Fayette."

As the honored visitor approached the stage, his path was strewn with flowers, and he was welcomed by the following ode, finely rendered in song by a bevy of young ladies :

" Welcome, patriot, to the shore Where none but freemen tread ; Welcome to the land once more, Where freedom's warriors bled ; Columbia's sons shall ne'er forget The brave, illustrious La Fayette.

"When wrapt in war's terrific gloom, Encompassed round with foes, You left your country and your home To bleed for foreign woos ; Columbia's sons will ne'er forget Their benefactor, La Fayette."

The general was introduced by Major Reese, and the address of welcome was delivered by Colonel Whiting, at the close of which he responded in a few fitting remarks, and then examined two cannons, one brought by Captain Manning's company from Ovid, and the other by Captain Bartle's company from Vienna (Phelps). The former bore the following inscription : "Surrendered by the capitulation of Yorktown, October 19, 1781 ; cast 1762," and the latter, " Sur- rendered by the capitulation of St. John's, November 25, 1775; cast 1756." He was escorted to the Franklin House, where a sumptuous breakfast was pre- pared by Mr. Noyes, and two hundred citizens gathered around the festive board with the general and his suite. At the close of the repast, he bade a tearful farewell to the soldiers of the Revolution who had gathered about him, and who had followed. his leadership on many a hard-contested field. He took a kindly leave of the citizens; stepped into the coach ; the crack of the driver's whip was heard, and the Marquis de La Fayette left Geneva, bearing with him the heartfelt sympathy and admiration of those for the defense of whose liberty he had offered his distinguished services.

THE GENEVA WATER-WORKS .- This organization was established August 20, 1796, and the following subscribed to the shares set opposite their names:

Jacob Hallett, for Chas. Williamson, 20 ; Jacob Hallett, 6; Timothy Allen, 3; J. W. Hallett, 1; David Cook, 1; David Abbey, 1; Samuel Hooker, 1 ; Clark Jennings, 1 ; C. Hart, 2; Phineas Pierce, 1; Thos. Sisson, 1; P. Allen, for Ambrose Hull, 2; Elias Jackson, 3; Thos. Williams, 1; Ezra Patterson, 2; Samuel Colt, 2; T. Walbur and W. Lathur, 1 ; Jerome Lummis, 1; Job Smith, 2; Grieve and Moffatt, 4; Robert Jourdan, 1; Bean and Luzalere, 1; Jacob Back- enstose, 1; Howard and Griffen, 1 ; Wm. M. Gunning, 1 ; J. Johnston, 2. The following also subscribed to one share each : J. Sayre, William Adams, Park Allyn, Alex. Bermie, Nath. W. Howell, Joseph Annin, Edward White, Samuel Latta.

The company was incorporated March 31, 1803, with the following charter members : Herman H. Bogert, Jacob Hallett, Jacob W. Hallett, Samuel Colt, Nathaniel Merrill, David Cook, David Magee, Ezra Patterson, Wm. Houtfen, Chas. Williamson, Thos. Powell, John Johnston, Polydore B. Wisner, and Joseph Annin.

The following is the board of directors as at present constituted : Stephen H. Hammond, Stewart S. Cobb, Phineas Prouty, Samuel H. Verplanck, Edward Kingsland. Mr. Hammond, president ; Mr. Verplanck, treasurer; Mr. Kings- land, secretary.

The reservoir is located upon the " White Springs Farm," lately owned and occupied by James O. Sheldon, about one and one half miles west of Main street, on the old pre-emption road. The spring is two hundred and eighty-three feet above Seneca lake, and furnishes an abundance of water for the supply of the village.

GENEVA FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The first fire of any importance of which any record can be obtained occurred at two o'clock A.M., December 29, 1807, when the still-houses of David Benton and the Messrs. Reeds were con- sumed. Loss eighteen hundred dollars. Incendiary origin.

March 13, 1855, a fire broke out in the dry-goods store of D. D. Spier, No. . 32 Seneca street, and before the fiery element could be checked great damage was done.

In the following year, November 7, 1856, at ten P.M., a fire was discovered in the canal barns of Gilbert & Co., which spread with amazing rapidity, consum- ing, aside from the barns, a grocery, store-house, dwelling, blacksmith-shop, forty- four horses and mules, two cows, and a lot of swine and fowls.

The village was spared from a visitation of fire of any particular consequence until 1871, when occurred the largest conflagration with which Geneva has ever been visited. On the morning of February 4 of that year a fire broke out in Field & Affect's elevator, which raged fiercely, baffling the attempts of the fire- men, and consumed the elevator, flouring-mill and malt-house, canal collector's office, two barns, twelve houses, etc. The losses were estimated at one hundred and ten thousand dollars.

At twelve o'clock on the morning of May 14, 1872, a fire broke out in the building owned by G. C. Allen, and occupied by Facer & Underhill, and S. H. & E. Parker, publishers and proprietors of the Geneva Gazette. In fifteen minutes from the time the alarm was sounded the engines were at work, but the building, being dry, burned like tinder. Facer & Underhill's loss was two thousand dollars ; insurance, eight hundred dollars. The Messrs. Parker, publishers of the Gazette, suffered to the extent of about ten thousand dollars. Captain J. S. Lewis was injured, and John Ide's shop and dwelling totally destroyed.

Three months had not elapsed from the date of the destruction of the Gazette office when a fire was again discovered, July 27, in the planing-mill of Conger & Mackey, situated on Lake street, which, owing to the light and inflammable material of the building, was soon consumed. Loss, eighteen thousand dollars.

The remainder of the year was marked with no conflagration, but on the 28th of April, 1873, a fire broke out in the steam bending works of T. Smith & Co. Before the steamers arrived on the spot the flames were lapping and seething wildly up from ten to fifteen feet above the burning building, and all attempts to rescue the property from the fiery element was of no avail. The building was destroyed, and over thirty thousand dollars' worth of property burned, with no insurance.

In the following year, September 29, 1874, the livery-stable occupied by S. K. Johnson, in the rear of the Franklin House, was discovered to be on fire, and the flames quickly communicated to Coursey's tannery, Davis' store-house, and several other buildings, and continued its fiery travels until twenty-two thousand dollars' worth of property was consumed.

October 30, 1875, the steam-grist- and flouring-mill belonging to W. S. Church was entirely consumed ; loss, fifteen thousand dollars.

The village suffered severely from a fire which broke out May 24, 1876, in the tinware and stove store occupied by Fulton & Shiebly, on the east side of Ex- change street. The fire spread southward, and enveloped in its lurid folds the extensive hardware store of Skilton & Co., occupying two fronts on the street.

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. But one of these individuals is now living, William S. De Zeng, who resides at his pleasant home on Hamilton street, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

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The total loss of the various parties amounted to forty-five thousand two hundred dollars.

On Tuesday morning, June 1, the alarm of fire was again sounded in Geneva, just one week to an hour from the time of the destruction of the Prouty block on Exchange street. The fire broke out in the canal barns belonging to Richard Knight, Jr., and before the flames could be checked the Seneca House and barns were burned, together with twenty-five horses. One man, Martin Langdon, was consumed in the flames. The damage to property in this fire was twenty thousand dollars.

GENEVA FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The charter of the village of Geneva gave the trustees power to " purchase one or more fire-engine or engines, and to raise money by tax for the purpose of de- fraying the expense of erecting suitable buildings for the protection of said engine or engines." At a meeting of the board of trustees, held May 27, 1816, & reso- lution was passed authorizing, by tax, the raising of one thousand dollars for the above-mentioned purpose. May 28, 1816, the first fire company in Geneva was appointed, and comprised the following persons :

William Gifing, captain; Silas Chapin, James Lawson, A. McNab, Phineas Prouty, Francis Dey, William Powell, Peter Thomas, Daniel Cook, David Field, Jr., A. B. Hall, Hiram Walbridge, Castle Southerland, Boswick Noble, Nathaniel Noble, Gains Clark, Roswell Baker, Eli Bannister.

At a meeting of the board of trustees held May 18, 1818, the organization of three fire companies was authorized, and the following persons were appointed to compose said companies :

No. 1 .- Daniel L. Skaats, Jabez Pease, David Field, Jr., James Black, Wil- liam Tippets, Richard Hogarth, Comfort Hawley, D. L. Lum, Matthew Lum, Andrew P. Tillman, Joseph M. Davinney, Silas Chapin, Samuel Jacobs, Moses Hall, Francis Nares, William Alcock, John Wilson, Samuel P. Hall, George Mumford, William W. Watson.

No. 2 .- William Field, John Singer, Truman Smith, John Dox, Perez Has- tings, John Staunton, Stephen Brock, James G. Dorchester, Orson Brise, Elias Beach, Peter R. Thomas, Hiram Walbridge, Abraham B. Hall, James Radliff, David Folford, William Cortleson, Frederick Haas, William Goff, Daniel Cook, Jonathan Keeney.

No. 3 .- Griffeth P. Griffeth, James R. Rees, Andrew McNab, Roswell Baker, G. Clark, Jonathan Spingstead, Eli Bannister, William Sutton, James Hays, Seth Chapin, Anthony Hemings, Epaphroditus Northam, Burton Monroe, Christopher Campbell, William Nutting, Bowen Whiting, Charles A. Cook, Castle Souther_ land, Aaron Young, David Wilson,

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 51

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

Author:
Publication date:
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Number of Pages: 391